|
Ron Jackson's Perspective
The Sunday Journal -
Think
Kankakee, Illinois
July 10, 2005
Measures to stop
terrorism lack sense |
 |
|
This event is not on the scale of
our famous 9-11, but London's 7-7 will stick with us for a while.
After waking to the news reports that a London subway
had been bombed, I am tempted to submit the international scramble
to become an Olympic event.
The initial news reports were that four explosions had
occurred during London's morning rush hour. Bombs hit a subway
and double-decker buses. Reports of casualties and injuries varied
by network.
Prime Minster Tony Blair immediately released a
statement calling the bombings terrorist related and claiming the
attacks were "designed to coincide with the opening of the G-8
summit in Scotland."
Next came the scramble. Homeland Chief Michael
Chertoff urged major U.S. cities to raise their transit system
security. Washington, D.C., immediately put its transit system
on high alert. The Chicago Transit Authority did likewise.
San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit closed all its bathrooms as a
precautionary measure. Cleveland, New York, New Jersey, and
Boston all increased security of their transit systems. The
international scramble consisted of Italy, The Czech Republic,
Hungary, Russia, the Netherlands, France and Spain.
Speculation ran amok about those responsible for the
attacks. One group calling itself ''The Secret Organization of
al-Qaida in Europe'' claimed responsibility. While experts
have authenticated no responsibility, other terrorist analysts have
pointed out the coordination and sophistication of the attacks are
traits consistent with al-Qaida methods.
Why do the experts seem to operate under a reactionary
mode? Is it not logical to think that if terrorists were going
to bomb several countries using the same technique, wouldn't they be
in place before the first attack? Are terrorists so stupid to
think they can attack us after our terrorist alert is on high?
If the Washington, D.C., and Chicago transit systems
were targets, wouldn't the bombs already be in place? Could
the terrorists have installed their devices two years ago while we
were strip-searching little old ladies in airports?
While writing this, the death toll and injury count
continue to rise.
Call me a cynic, but just the day before the bombings,
didn’t London receive the award to host the 2012 Olympics?
Wasn't one of its biggest selling points its transportation network?
Didn't it beat out France?
The public sentiment is overwhelmingly in support of
this being a terrorist attack. Does al-Qaida really care about
the Olympics?
London
authorities have called for its citizens to be more alert and
vigilant. It might be a little bit too late for that.
But they have seven years to prepare for the 2012 Olympics. |
|
|
Thanks for stopping by! |
|
|
Home
| About | What's New |
Books | Columns |
Archives |
Seminars | Search |
Contact |
| |
|
|
|
