What We Can Learn Of The Attacks In London

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What We Can Learn Of The Attacks In London

By Johan Peters
July 22, 2005

New York, Java, Saudi Arabia, Istanbul, Bagdad and other Iraqi cities, Madrid, London. Which city will be next and when? No one can tell. However, a few lessons can be drawn.

First and most important, because most terrifying one: the war on terror can never be won. No matter what President Bush, prime minister Blair and others claim. Where´s Osama? Is he still alive or dead? How big is his actual influence? Does he still co-ordinate fundamentalist terrorists or is he a symbol only? Who cares and what does it matter? The point is that with or without Osama, attacks will continue. Terrorists always find an excuse for their ´holy inspired´ deeds.

Lesson two: attacks can´t be stopped or prevented with 100% certainty. It´s impossible to check each piece of luggage on possible bombing devices. Apart from the fact of discriminatory matters, it´s most of all a problem of manpower and time. Terrorists do have the time. The terrorists of the NY attacks had a preparation of years. The London attackers of July 7th went to Pakistan last year. Maybe they were inspired there then. Maybe they had made up their plans already. Hundreds of thousands of people use public transport each day. You can´t check all of them every day. Even if one could, a possible terrorist could think of other targets very easily. I can, at least. Do we have to protect those in advance already now as well? For how long?

Third and final lesson: countries who support the war on terror and/or the American war against Iraq are most vulnerable. See Madrid. See London. Mr. Blair knows very well he´s not right rejecting a straight link between the British presence in Iraq and the London attacks. Do you think any fundamental terrorist would for example consider an attack in Switzerland or Argentina? There would be enough interesting targets, but they do want to hit their ´enemies´ in the heart.

Dutch government also supported actively the American presence in Iraq. I´m waiting for the first Dutch bang. Seen the very indolent/indifferent attitude of Dutch security instances and public, it wouldn´t be that difficult. I hope no terrorist will read this column.

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About the author Johan Peters: I'm a freelance journalist/editor from Rotterdam, The Netherlands. I write articles, columns and books. I'm also available for making simple translations from/into English, German, French and of course Dutch. More information about me can be found on: www.johanpeters.net (partly in English). Email Johan Peters: johan.peters@johanpeters.net

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