A Closer Look At The Attacks.

I have talked to a few people who have pointed out that Edgware, Aldgate (and Moorgate) and King's Cross all are in or adjacent to Muslim communities. King's Cross is the locale of The School of Oriental and African Studies, a highly respected institution teaching and researching Asia, Africa and the Middle East. It is possible that the attacks were as much directed at the Muslim population as the city at large.

I am always aware of the target Caitlin's University is for radical Islamists. Her's is an American University in London with attending students from 106 countries, a great many of which are Muslim nations. A great many she calls friend. They study together, eat and drink together, live and love and toil and travel through the streets of the world's most international city.

Those who carried out today's attacks hate this. They want nothing more than to divide Caitlin and her friends. They want her out of Morocco, for instance, and her friends back inside a box that they have decided that some God made. But her Muslim friends have shown her another face of Islam; one that, although she doesn't accept as her own philosophy, she can appreciate and honor because of her friends and their acceptance and love of her.

When she heard of the attacks, Caitlin's first reaction was to grab her cell phone and start dialing her friends in London. She loves these kids and they truly adore her. They have built a community that will not be sundered by bombs. If the attacks were designed to make her hate, they failed miserably.

But I don't think that these particular attacks were directed at people like her. I think that these are the same sort of people who are now preying on Iraqi citizens. Somewhere in their twisted psyches they have decided that if killing infidels won't work, maybe they can terrorize fellow Muslims into joining their cause. Again, they are failing and will continue to fail.

Britons in general and Londoners in particular are a stout bunch and will meet this latest obscenity with the same casual bravado they have met every other attack in the past.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke:

"Britain has long experience of terrorism. We have joined together to fight it in the past. Now, we do so again. For now, the terrorism that walks the streets of London has no face. But whatever its origin, whatever its motive, our response is the same: the British people will not be cowed and the terrorists will not win."

Yes.

Comments

[Ben Bauman]

My question is...were the areas Shia or Sunni area's? Could that play in the bombing too?

[fred lapides]

no reason for such speculation...no proof. no evidence. simply:muslims detest non-muslims. wherte are the voices of outrage in the Muslim community?

[Ross]

I'm sure a lot of the muslims in London will make such a connection, at least privately. Doesn't seem like a good strategic move on the part of the terrorists.

[David]

It also could be something as simple as access. Go to the edge of a community you know blow up something and disappear back into the community.

[Gerry]

Muslim outrage, sorrow and sympathy in Australia, from a muslim organization: Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy Network. See Tim Blair's blog today from OZ. Scroll down through his UPDATES. http://timblair.net/

[jp]

Confirm Bolton.
THe US needs a UN Representative to vote for condolences at the UN. The Democrats have been obstructing him for months, and now we don't have a UN rep.

[Dondan]

It's very shocking to see that the Muslim suicide bombers chose the skirt of their neiborhood living places to fulfill their missions. On one hand they were eager to execute their mission by exposing themselves the minimum period of time while in the other hand they tried to get farer as possible, not to harm Muslims and to harm as many as white (British). It's quite hard, and may some Muslims died too, but in that case they say:"It's Allah's will" and go on on their day.

Getting farer takes more time which could have halt their missions by exposing their intention and raise suspicion on local police.

[Dondan]

It's very shocking to see that the Muslim suicide bombers chose the skirt of their neiborhood living places to fulfill their missions. On one hand they were eager to execute their mission by exposing themselves the minimum period of time while in the other hand they tried to get farer as possible, not to harm Muslims and to harm as many as white (British). It's quite hard, and may some Muslims died too, but in that case they say:"It's Allah's will" and go on on their day.

Getting farer takes more time which could have halt their missions by exposing their intention and raise suspicion on local police.

[Vavoom]

Daniel: Great job on keeping us updated on the situation. Please keep up the good work.

[p.t.r]

I would guess could reproduce a map showing the existance to yoga studios adjacent to the attack sites, and I doubt if this is intentional. It is just that London is a big city, and you are likely to be able to find a connection to anything if you look for it.

[-keith in mtn. view]

taggers and gangbangers mark their own houses, it's dumb behavior but frequent and common, so it's not surprising to me that these morons blow themselves and others up in areas where they are familiar and comfortable.

[Wedia]

When will the 'good' Muslims come up from their prayers to point out the terrorists among them.

Apparently, such many and numerous pointings shall not be Allah's will.