PaoloSmythe

terrorism is the use of violence and force to promote a politically based agenda.

why would these 'terrorists' hope to target western (do not egocentrically presume solely UK or US citizens).... because we have the sort of media coverage that would oblige in promoting the attrocities, cry them a river and give them (Pun intended) the biggest bang for the buck!

there is no direct link between what they wished to do and our rightfully feeling targetted or victimised. this is a hysterical product of media speculation; remember, never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

doubt me? consider the percentage of those killed who were local and those who were western. nuff said.

and as for warning to india preceding the attack? such claims of immininent strike are daily. one comes to fruition and its as tho the FBI (or whoever else) has got the world's biggest crystal ball. pat yersleves on the back if you like, but CNN is grasping for prestige in this pile of dung. IMO.

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Flick Montana

We should definitely put our troops to better use in the "War on Terrorism!" Err, I mean the "War on Global Warming!" No, wait I mean the "War on Drugs!" Agh! I'm stuck in cliche-cycle...

I think everyone has a reason to be afraid, local or egomaniacal westerners. These people will kill anyone within a blast radius of wherever they happen to be. There's no reason to believe they will come after us, but, given the slightly unpredictable nature or fanatical suicide bombers, who can say they won't?

PaoloSmythe

too true. until our most recent skirmish into the middle east, Irak and indeed London had never before seen backpackers who go pop.

it almost makes you yearn for the good old days of telephone coded warnings from the irish accented balaclava brigade!

mind you, with India claiming a pakistani source of the mumbai terrorists, and with Pakistan getting defensive in response, pakistan will either:

1. be left to accept any western strategies to combat the terrorists who lie wihtin its borders, or

2. india can provoke pakistan to move its troops eastwards, thus allowing coalition troops over the afghani border into pakistan, with a lesser risk of their being detected.

suddenly, those mumbai trouble makers could be seen to CIA trained!

i bet you OBL is found in time for Xmas!
all praise Santa Bush! he stayed the course and secured victory in the end!

motive - check
opportunity - check
evidence -oh no! plausible deniability makes this all tin foil hat time!

job done!

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slimpanzee

Does Santa Bush's sleigh run on fear and distrust, similar to how Santa Clause's sleigh runs on faith and believing in mankind?

PaoloSmythe

^^^of course.

if everybody expected Bush to succeed and then he did.... well then so what?

but if he appears to a complete baffoon and yet prevails, his achievement is made all the more incredible because of it. all that has occurred is that our expectations have been lowered.

and so many will willingly forget his 8 years of calamity and praise him as being the one who 'stayed the course' and 'got his man'!

Bin Laden on CNN by Boxing Day!

Bush legacy assurred; talks of war crimes and impeachment snuffed.

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slimpanzee

I don't think people will forget Bush's botched presidency if he does get OBL. The Iraq war was not the number one factor in this last election. It was the economy, the energy crisis, the credit crises and all the bailouts. Bush's dis-approval isn't just based on the war any more.

And in the area I live, most of the political speak isn't about the war so much as it's the current economic situation and what we should be doing. It's about health care, job creation, etc...

PaoloSmythe

i think for the sake of national pride, even when considering the obvious failings of the Bush administration, success in any avenue of endeavour would help calm the sting of any lasting legacy.

for sure it would be like using a sugar cube is disguise the taste of a heap of dung.... but few people, even those less prone to the 'USA #1' way of chanting, would see OBL's capture as anything less than fantastic.

and to persist on this conspiratorial tip.... i think the Mumbai attacks would ensure minimal if any increase in western troops in the region MPD.

to be specific, the pakistan / afghanistan region has long been touted as the location of interest for training camps and AQ hide outs etc. and Kashmir is still a contested territory.

with india claiming pakistan bases for the mumbai attacks, pakistan will either be expected to use its own resources to clear out any terroristic nusances, or will feel compelled to move defences eastwards to repel any indian based advancements.

this latter i suspect is preferrable, as a pakistan having to fight on two borders, will be less able and thus not likely to oppose or report incursions into its territory by US / NATO forces.

pakistan has been reported as a hinderance on the 'war on terror'.... it is now being pinched into either taking the lead or becoming irrelevent.

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oneplankawanka

YES YES<.....A war on terrorism is like a war on dandruff..... YOu will never get rid of all of (it) them.. and they (it) will always come back.. one mans terrrorist is another mans freedom fighter.... whadya gonna do??

PaoloSmythe

conform or die!

ONE WORLD ORDER RULES!

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