TERROR PLOT: Police and MI5 foil plot to blow up many planes

[Mr. Bono Vox]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4778575.stm

Quote:

A terrorist plot to blow up planes in mid-flight from the UK to the US has been disrupted, Scotland Yard has said. It is thought the plan was to detonate explosive devices smuggled on aircraft in hand luggage.

Police have arrested about 18 people in the London area after an anti-terrorist operation lasting several months.

Security at all airports in the UK has been tightened and delays are expected. MI5 has raised the UK threat level to critical - the highest possible.
According to MI5's website, critical threat level means "an attack is expected imminently and indicates an extremely high level of threat to the UK".

BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford says he does not think the police believe an attack is imminent.

I was handed a piece of paper saying that pretty much nothing could be taken on board the plane


"The reason for raising the threat level is in case there is some other sub-plot, back-up plot around this that the police aren't aware of," he said.

Scotland Yard said in a statement that their investigation into the alleged plot was a "major operation" which would be "lengthy and complex".

"We would like to reassure the public that this operation was carried out with public safety uppermost in our minds."

Home Secretary John Reid confirmed that there had been a plot "to bring down a number of aircraft through mid-flight explosions causing a considerable loss of life".

Prime Minister Tony Blair is on holiday in the Caribbean, but Downing Street said the police operation was undertaken with his full support and he has been "in constant touch".

A spokesman for Number 10 added that Mr Blair had briefed US President George Bush on the situation during the night.

Transparent bags

The Department for Transport set out the details of the security measures at UK airports.


Reid's terror plea

Passengers will not be allowed to take any hand luggage on to any flights in the UK, the department said.

Only the barest essentials - including passports and wallets - will be allowed to be carried on board in transparent plastic bags.

"We hope that these measures, which are being kept under review by the government, will need to be in place for a limited period only," the statement said.

'Jam-packed'

At Heathrow Airport, BBC presenter Fiona Bruce said there were "ranks of people" unable to get into the terminal.

"Terminal One is completely at a standstill. Nobody is being checked in at all."

She said it was "jam-packed", but passengers were managing to remain "good natured".

BBC journalist Joe Lynam encountered the increased security measures at Gatwick airport.

"I was handed a piece of paper saying that pretty much nothing could be taken on board the plane," he said.

"Everything had to be checked in and that includes mobile phones, ipods, wallets - even spectacle cases had to be checked in."

David Learmount from Flight International Magazine said he expected passengers to be searched much more carefully.

He added: "This is the first time this measure has actually been taken. Certainly I've never seen hand luggage banned."

Further reports have stated that the plotters are British citizens from the London and Thames valley area who of Asian decent.

Note... while trying to not offend Muslims (because that is what these people are...) the media have committed the henious act of racial profiling.

Wait until you see... within a few days Dr 'Lets all take on Islamic values' Bari from the MCB will be on the tv talking about a 'backlash'.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4778817.stm
Ministerial statement

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4778615.stm
Passenger advice



other news sites...

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1230417,00.html sky story - main

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13536971,00.html sky story - airliners fear chaos

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1230422,00.html sky story - Ried significant plot



Discuss

the world wide jihad currently being waged on the west
why the would be bombers plotted the attack (the nature of jihad etc etc)
the nature and timing of the plot
the affect it will have on the mid terms in the US
the affect it will have on the Israeli-Hizbollah war in relation to diplomatic efforts
the impact it will have on the Dems in the US, baring in mind they have just selected an anti war nobody over a seasoned senator.
the impact it will have on the UK
the terror laws in the UK and how they may or may not have helped foil the bombers
freedoms

etc etc etc..  

[Maliana]

What gets me is the fact that most of the 'terrorists' are likely to be English. They came near to blowing up their own poeple. It's just... unimagonable how they could ever think what they were doing was right.  

[Mr. Bono Vox]

Maliana

What gets me is the fact that most of the 'terrorists' are likely to be English. They came near to blowing up their own poeple. It's just... unimagonable how they could ever think what they were doing was right.

Who needs reason when you have got Islam?  

[A Lost Iguana]

Mr. Bono Vox

Maliana

What gets me is the fact that most of the 'terrorists' are likely to be English. They came near to blowing up their own poeple. It's just... unimagonable how they could ever think what they were doing was right.

Who needs reason when you have got Islam?

Let's not go there. The major "Islamic terrorist organisations" have political motivations:

• Hamas - a Palestinian state
• Hezbollah - liberation of southern Lebanon from Israel [see later note]
• al-Qaida - the ending of Western interference in the Middle East and withdrawl of troops from the Arabian peninsula

To say that it is Islam driving these bodies is being simplistic. The texts of Islam are no more bloody than Christianity and it is naïve to blame the religion; nor will it solve anything.
___________
Hezbollah was set up in the 80s to fight to resist the occupation of southern Lebanon by the IDF. In 2000, Israel pulled out of southern Lebanon in accordance with a UNSC resolution; however, they still were in occupation of Sheba'a Farms from the Six Day War with Syria. This location is of strategic importance and Israel were not obligied to leave it under the aformentioned resolution because it was Syrian land at the time of the Six Day War. Then the Lebanese government claimed that Sheba'a Farms was in fact Lebanese land and that Israel was still in violation of the resolution. This gave Hezbollah a "cause" to still attack Israel because Israel refuses to accept the Lebanese claim to the area.  

[Mr. Bono Vox]

A Lost Iguana

Mr. Bono Vox

Maliana

What gets me is the fact that most of the 'terrorists' are likely to be English. They came near to blowing up their own poeple. It's just... unimagonable how they could ever think what they were doing was right.

Who needs reason when you have got Islam?

Let's not go there. The major "Islamic terrorist organisations" have political motivations:

• Hamas - a Palestinian state
• Hezbollah - liberation of southern Lebanon from Israel [see later note]
• al-Qaida - the ending of Western interference in the Middle East and withdrawl of troops from the Arabian peninsula

To say that it is Islam driving these bodies is being simplistic. The texts of Islam are no more bloody than Christianity and it is naïve to blame the religion; nor will it solve anything.
___________
Hezbollah was set up in the 80s to fight to resist the occupation of southern Lebanon by the IDF. In 2000, Israel pulled out of southern Lebanon in accordance with a UNSC resolution; however, they still were in occupation of Sheba'a Farms from the Six Day War with Syria. This location is of strategic importance and Israel were not obligied to leave it under the aformentioned resolution because it was Syrian land at the time of the Six Day War. Then the Lebanese government claimed that Sheba'a Farms was in fact Lebanese land and that Israel was still in violation of the resolution. This gave Hezbollah a "cause" to still attack Israel because Israel refuses to accept the Lebanese claim to the area.

Yes, lets go there.

Firstly, to correct you, Hamas exists to destroy Israel, not create a Palestinian state. This is clearly shown in its charter where it states that; "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam obliterates it. Just as it has obliterated others before."

Secondly, Hizbollah, which was created under the auspices of the Iranians, it exists to give the Iranians a foothold in Lebanon with the use of policy against Israeli ‘occupation’ on which to attack Israel and clearly seeks to destroy Israel as well considering Ahmadinejad’s comments and the comments of Nasrallah.

("Israel must be wiped off of the map," and "Israel is our enemy. This is an aggressive, illegal and illegitimate entity which has no future in our land. Its destiny is manifested in our motto: Death to Israel." These being just two of their anti Semitic comments…)


Now… It is true that these three groups have political visages. However, below that surface is the driving force of these aims. Hamas, Al Qaeda, and Hizbollah have been successful in moulding Arab nationalism with Islamic jihad. (And in the Hizbollah and Hamas cases traditional Islamic anti Semitism is thrown in as well). They are driven by the same ideology (jihad for the advancement and defense of Islam) as those who have attacked and tried to attack us.
It is clearer than ever that this battle is about recessive, theocratic, jihadist thinking against the enlightened values of the West.

It is nonsence to claim that Islamic texts are just as bad as Christain text. They are far far worse.

It is naive to claim their relgion had nothing to do with it. We did not see hindu's bombing london, we didn't see Buddists hit NYC and WDC and we didn't see Christains or Jews bomb bali. We ignore the Islamic roots of this problem at our peril.  

[and_solo_said]

Mr. Bono Vox

A Lost Iguana

Mr. Bono Vox

Maliana

What gets me is the fact that most of the 'terrorists' are likely to be English. They came near to blowing up their own poeple. It's just... unimagonable how they could ever think what they were doing was right.

Who needs reason when you have got Islam?

Let's not go there. The major "Islamic terrorist organisations" have political motivations:

• Hamas - a Palestinian state
• Hezbollah - liberation of southern Lebanon from Israel [see later note]
• al-Qaida - the ending of Western interference in the Middle East and withdrawl of troops from the Arabian peninsula

To say that it is Islam driving these bodies is being simplistic. The texts of Islam are no more bloody than Christianity and it is naïve to blame the religion; nor will it solve anything.
___________
Hezbollah was set up in the 80s to fight to resist the occupation of southern Lebanon by the IDF. In 2000, Israel pulled out of southern Lebanon in accordance with a UNSC resolution; however, they still were in occupation of Sheba'a Farms from the Six Day War with Syria. This location is of strategic importance and Israel were not obligied to leave it under the aformentioned resolution because it was Syrian land at the time of the Six Day War. Then the Lebanese government claimed that Sheba'a Farms was in fact Lebanese land and that Israel was still in violation of the resolution. This gave Hezbollah a "cause" to still attack Israel because Israel refuses to accept the Lebanese claim to the area.

Yes, lets go there.

Firstly, to correct you, Hamas exists to destroy Israel, not create a Palestinian state. This is clearly shown in its charter where it states that; "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam obliterates it. Just as it has obliterated others before."

Secondly, Hizbollah, which was created under the auspices of the Iranians, it exists to give the Iranians a foothold in Lebanon with the use of policy against Israeli ‘occupation’ on which to attack Israel and clearly seeks to destroy Israel as well considering Ahmadinejad’s comments and the comments of Nasrallah.

("Israel must be wiped off of the map," and "Israel is our enemy. This is an aggressive, illegal and illegitimate entity which has no future in our land. Its destiny is manifested in our motto: Death to Israel." These being just two of their anti Semitic comments…)


Now… It is true that these three groups have political visages. However, below that surface is the driving force of these aims. Hamas, Al Qaeda, and Hizbollah have been successful in moulding Arab nationalism with Islamic jihad. (And in the Hizbollah and Hamas cases traditional Islamic anti Semitism is thrown in as well). They are driven by the same ideology (jihad for the advancement and defense of Islam) as those who have attacked and tried to attack us.
It is clearer than ever that this battle is about recessive, theocratic, jihadist thinking against the enlightened values of the West.

It is nonsence to claim that Islamic texts are just as bad as Christain text. They are far far worse.

It is naive to claim their relgion had nothing to do with it. We did not see hindu's bombing london, we didn't see Buddists hit NYC and WDC and we didn't see Christains or Jews bomb bali. We ignore the Islamic roots of this problem at our peril.

Being an Irishman, you wouldn't be saying that Christians don't bomb people would you?  

[Mr. Bono Vox]

and_solo_said

Mr. Bono Vox

A Lost Iguana

Mr. Bono Vox

Maliana

What gets me is the fact that most of the 'terrorists' are likely to be English. They came near to blowing up their own poeple. It's just... unimagonable how they could ever think what they were doing was right.

Who needs reason when you have got Islam?

Let's not go there. The major "Islamic terrorist organisations" have political motivations:

• Hamas - a Palestinian state
• Hezbollah - liberation of southern Lebanon from Israel [see later note]
• al-Qaida - the ending of Western interference in the Middle East and withdrawl of troops from the Arabian peninsula

To say that it is Islam driving these bodies is being simplistic. The texts of Islam are no more bloody than Christianity and it is naïve to blame the religion; nor will it solve anything.
___________
Hezbollah was set up in the 80s to fight to resist the occupation of southern Lebanon by the IDF. In 2000, Israel pulled out of southern Lebanon in accordance with a UNSC resolution; however, they still were in occupation of Sheba'a Farms from the Six Day War with Syria. This location is of strategic importance and Israel were not obligied to leave it under the aformentioned resolution because it was Syrian land at the time of the Six Day War. Then the Lebanese government claimed that Sheba'a Farms was in fact Lebanese land and that Israel was still in violation of the resolution. This gave Hezbollah a "cause" to still attack Israel because Israel refuses to accept the Lebanese claim to the area.

Yes, lets go there.

Firstly, to correct you, Hamas exists to destroy Israel, not create a Palestinian state. This is clearly shown in its charter where it states that; "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam obliterates it. Just as it has obliterated others before."

Secondly, Hizbollah, which was created under the auspices of the Iranians, it exists to give the Iranians a foothold in Lebanon with the use of policy against Israeli ‘occupation’ on which to attack Israel and clearly seeks to destroy Israel as well considering Ahmadinejad’s comments and the comments of Nasrallah.

("Israel must be wiped off of the map," and "Israel is our enemy. This is an aggressive, illegal and illegitimate entity which has no future in our land. Its destiny is manifested in our motto: Death to Israel." These being just two of their anti Semitic comments…)


Now… It is true that these three groups have political visages. However, below that surface is the driving force of these aims. Hamas, Al Qaeda, and Hizbollah have been successful in moulding Arab nationalism with Islamic jihad. (And in the Hizbollah and Hamas cases traditional Islamic anti Semitism is thrown in as well). They are driven by the same ideology (jihad for the advancement and defense of Islam) as those who have attacked and tried to attack us.
It is clearer than ever that this battle is about recessive, theocratic, jihadist thinking against the enlightened values of the West.

It is nonsence to claim that Islamic texts are just as bad as Christain text. They are far far worse.

It is naive to claim their relgion had nothing to do with it. We did not see hindu's bombing london, we didn't see Buddists hit NYC and WDC and we didn't see Christains or Jews bomb bali. We ignore the Islamic roots of this problem at our peril.

Being an Irishman, you wouldn't be saying that Christians don't bomb people would you?

As a Briton and an Ulsterman I am saying that the IRA did indeed have various religious Roman Catholics in it but their campaign of terror and murder has no religious roots in that it is not Catholicism v anyone, it is Republican v Unionist and that there is no Roman Catholic religious teaching or papal decree declaring that there should be a war in Northern Ireland to turn it into a Roman Catholic country.

In short, the Northern Ireland situation is about land and only land. There is no papal, biblical or other Roman Catholic teaching about claiming Northern Ireland for the 'house of Roman Catholicism' or any such thing.

And, in future, if you have a point to make, make it clearly, don't dance around it. ninja  

[and_solo_said]

How is that dancing around it?

Would you prefer that I said:

Quote:

*ahem* IRA ninja ninja