If you go by population it’s actually equivalent to about 1/5th of the US. That’s a mighty big state!
I grew up in a 30K-people town and knowing that terrorism was part and parcel of living there. You don’t even need to be in a big city to be at risk of terrorism. And being prepared for danger is something one should do as part of being alive.
This is spectacularly wrong. It happens all the time. Hell, there was a big meeting of religious scholars in Islamabad just last week:
There’s also the case of the young lady who got tired of ignorant people insisting that Muslims don’t speak out against extremism and made a 712-page list of examples of Muslims doing just that. Not 712 items - 712 pages.
To be fair, I accept that you don’t see Muslims speaking out, but I would suggest that this has a lot more to do with you and your choice of information sources than with what is actually happening.
A mere twenty years ago (and for decades before) it was the Irish who were blowing the shit out of UK cities, and were doing a lot more damage that Muslims are. And radical right-wing terrorism is considered a significant threat in both the US and Europe. While suicide bombings are currently in vogue amongst impressionable idiots, I assure you that Islam wasn’t invented in the past two or three decades and even now it hasn’t cornered the market on terrorism.
So to sum up:
This thread is going great so far, no?
Surprisingly, Tel Aviv was better at hiding their security theatrics than many other places. I saw a grand total of one armed soldier at a bus stop, I suspect waiting for the bus.
In any case, We travel a lot, separate and as a family, to several continents, and I haven’t experienced what the OP mentions. He needs to get out more.
Israeli security clearly shows the difference between security measures and security theatrics. They leave the drama for the theater department.
For some americans of a certain political tendency, it is needed to engage in the Reality Show theatrics and run around screaming in panic while shouting about how they lead the free world
Wow, so much silliness in so few lines!
A) No, I’m not English, much less a Londoner. But Londoners offer opinions on American politicians all the time. Why shouldn’t I express an opinion on a British pol?
B) If you get this huffy when I DEFEND Khan, I look forward to seeing your reaction when I actually do insult him.
C) I have no doubt that Khan would show genuine anger if the killers had been “right wing” skinheads, as opposed to the qualified regret Muslim attacks usually inspire.
Well, no offense, I hope, but I don’t think the threat of terror attacks in Tel Aviv is a good baseline for the threat in London or Paris or New York. Terrorism ought not to occur in Tel Aviv either, but the irreducible minimum there is going to be higher than in cities in general.
If the London mayor is saying “there’s nothing we can do to reduce the incidence of terror attacks to zero”, then he’s probably right. Islamic terrorism is a thing. The UK could impose martial law and shoot every Muslim they can find, and there would still be terror attacks.
If the London mayor is saying “there’s nothing we can do to reduce the incidence of terror attacks below what it is now”, then he’s probably wrong. One of the recent terrorists was, I believe, featured in a documentary film about jihadists. Of course this is partially an example of Monday morning quarterbacking, or the British equivalent, but partially not. IANABritishL, but there ought to be something between “keep a better eye on people who go on camera and preach death to the infidels” and “there’s really nothing to be done, and we will all have to accept that”.
My prayers are with the people of the UK. Over-reaction is a bad thing. Blaming people who aren’t to blame is a bad thing. So is “we’ll just have to get used to burying our children”.
Regards,
Shodan
No silliness, just a reminder of a silly abandoned thread.
although also the silliness of an american who seems not to know much at all about London or the Europe, or the mayor “having use” for the mayor.
I think his instincts have been right with regards to his own career and election prospects. Whether his instincts are correct with regards serious security matters, fighting extremism and the issue of community integration are as yet unknown. It’s the type of thing that will only become known in future decades. I think Khan is following a noble tradition of welcoming foreigners into the West. In order to accomplish this he(and plenty of others) have perhaps looked the other way when it comes to some extremist elements within certain communities. Whether this softness is entirely part of this noble tradition, or nasty political electioneering, only Khan himself truly knows.
I have no idea on what you base that opinion, as there is no evidence of Khan doing such a thing. It also shows your lack of knowledge about Khan’s approach in general, which is calm, rational and non-partisan.
‘Qualified regret’? What a bizarre form of words. You can, should you choose, look up his actual statement in response to the attacks. It’s a matter of public record.
Link to his Facebook statement
Sample:
[QUOTE=Mayor of London]
We don’t yet know the full details, but this was a deliberate and cowardly attack on innocent Londoners and visitors to our city enjoying their Saturday night. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. There is no justification whatsoever for such barbaric acts.
[/QUOTE]
‘Qualified regret’???
Here’s another statement for you;
[QUOTE=Mayor of London]
We stand together tonight to honour the memories of the innocent lives lost and people injured in the barbaric attack on our city on Saturday night. And to thank our courageous emergency services and the brave Londoners who risked their lives to care for others. London stands in defiance against this cowardly attack on our city, our people, our values and our way of life. As the Mayor of London, I want to send a clear message to the sick and evil extremists who commit these hideous crimes:
We will defeat you.
You will not win.
And you will never succeed in dividing our city.
[/QUOTE]
The kind of the opinion based on a domestic partisan political pre judgements without the actual knowledge of the city or the mayor.
Some people treat anything short of a full condemnation of all Muslims everywhere as a “qualified” statement, or even as an apology.
What the fuck is wrong with you?
OMG HE’S A MUSLIM!!! THE HORROR!!!
Big deal. They only deal in marriage or financial issues between Muslims. Before I got married, my wife’s previous marriage had to be annulled in a Vatican court. Not much difference, in my opinion. Religious courts deal with religious issues among the faithful, not interfering with normal criminal and/or civil courts. Don’t let the word Sharia scare you into senselessness.
The OP and several of the posts are nothing but anti-Muslim hysteria.
No way not to earn a warning with that one, Lemur. Don’t do it again.
This American agrees. Reality shows aren’t reality, and drama is scripted in for ratings. Our jingoism however, goes much further back.
The point is, no one is saying ‘nothing can be done’, except the US media and President putting words into the mouth of Sidiq Khan. This entire thread is built on a false report.
I dunno but I’m pretty sure a potty mouth like you isn’t going to be much help figuring it out.
They don’t need guns. Just trucks and knives. The UK should round up and kick those on the terrorist watch list out of the nation.
Just like yelling fire is not free speech, I suggest using the web to communicate terrorism is against the law. I’m sure some snowflakes here would cry foul to that suggestion.
Expecting the minority Muslim population to stop doing terrorism is pure fantasy. Is not going to happen, and with a bone head, and perhaps religiously aligned mayor at the helm trying to downplay this, it’s only going to get worse.
Where do you kick them to if they’re citizens?
And once you start censoring the web, where do you stop?
You seriously think the Mayor approves of terrorism? Where do you see him downplaying this?