Thursday, July 07, 2005
London attacked, updating post
We'll be updating this post all day long with news of the attacks on London. Individual posts will be numbered. First post here, including a live-blog of Tony Blair's statement this morning, which was resolute.
1. Instapundit's round-up here.
Fox just reported, second-hand, that Arab media are reporting that this is the work of al Qaeda.
IRA experts have made it clear that this is not the IRA's M.O.
Fox reports that the British have not panicked. They have shut down all public transportation. Also, they have apparently found an unexploded bomb, which should generate "great intelligence."
There is a rescue operation going on underground, it is something that the British have practiced.
2. Fox says that U.S. sources say that we have "no" intelligence of an impending attack here.
3. Sky News has reported that the bus was blown up by a suicide bomber.
4. Tim Worstall says that we will now learn whether Britons are still Britons:
I have a prediction to make, that tomorrow we’ll find out whether Britons are, still, in fact, Britons. Many years ago I was working in The City and there were two events that made travel into work almost impossible.
The first was a series of storms that brought down power lines, blocked train routes and so on. Not surprisingly, the place was empty the next day. Why bother to struggle through?
The other event was an IRA bomb which caused massive damage and loss of life. Trains were disrupted, travel to work the next day was horribly difficult and yet there were more people at work than on a normal day. There was no co-ordination to this, no instructions went out, but it appeared that people were crawling off their sick beds in order to be there at work the next day, thrusting their mewling and pewling infants into the arms of anyone at all so that they could be there.
Yes, we’ll take an excuse for a day off, throw a sickie. But you threaten us, try to kill us? Kill and injure some of us?
Fuck you, sunshine.
We’ll not be having that.
No grand demonstrations, few warlike chants, a desire for revenge, of course, but the reaction of the average man and woman in the street? Yes, you’ve tried it now bugger off. We’re not scared, no, you won’t change us. Even if we are scared, you can still bugger off.
Bugger off, indeed.
5. Lest there be any doubt that al Qaeda is behind this, the press is already reporting rumors that the Israelis had advanced warning of this. I smell another Michael Moore documentary already.
6. Fox says that an al Qaeda affiliate has taken credit. Missed the name, though. Fox also says that there are "at least 90 casualties" according to Scotland Yard. There are a total of seven confirmed detonated bombs, six in the Tube and one on a London bus.
7. Blair reads the joint G-8 statement, with Bush and Chirac standing right behind him.
We condemn utterly these barbaric attacks. We send our profound condolences to the victims and their families. All of our countries have suffered form the impact of terrorism. Those responsible have no respect for human life. We are united in our resolve to confront and defeat this terrorism that is not an attack on one nation but on all nations and on civilized people everywhere. We will not allow violence to change our societies or our values, nor will we allow it to stop the work of this summit. We will continue our deliberations in the interests of a better world. Here at this summit, the world's leaders are striving to combat world poverty and save and improve human life. The perpetrators of today's attacks are intent on destroying human life. The terrorists will not succeed. Today's bombings will not weaken in any way our resolve to uphold the most deeply held principles of our societies, and to defeat those who would impose their fanaticism and extremism on all of us. We shall prevail, and they shall not.
I think al Qaeda, once again grossly misunderstanding the West, miscalculated by attacking when all these guys were together. Bush and Chirac were obviously positioned right behind Blair in a gesture of grim solidarity that will make a compelling vision in the West. We shall see if the G-8 announces a new united initiative to go after the jihadis in light of this obviously attempt to humiliate the leaders of the world's great countries.
8. Live-blogging Bush's statement:
I spent some time recently with the Prime Minsiter Tony Blair, and had the opportunity to express our heartfelt condolences to the people of London, the people who lost lives. I appreciate Prime Minister Blair's steadfast determination, his strength. He is on his way now to London, here from the G-8 to speak directly to the people of London and carry a message of solidarity with him.
This morning I have been in contact with our Homeland Security folks, and instructed them to be in touch with local and state officials about the facts of what took place in London and to be extra vigilent as our folks start heading to work.
The contrast between what we have seen on our TV screens, what's taking place in London, what's taking place here is incredibly vivid to me. On the one hand, you have people here are working to alleviate poverty and to help rid the world of the pandemic of AIDS, and are working on ways to have a clean environment, and on the other hand you have people killing innocent people. The contrast could not be clearer between the intentions and the hearts of those of us who care deeply about human rights and human liberty, and those who kill, those who have such evil in their heart that they will take the lives of innocent folks.
The war on terror goes on. I was most impressed by the resolve of all the leaders in the room. Their resolve is as strong as my resolve, we will not yield to these people We will not yield to the terrorists. We will find them. We will bring them to justice, and at the same time we will spread an ideology of hope and compassion that will overwhelm their ideology of hate.
Meanwhile, an Islamic jihad group has said that this is "payback for Iraq and Afghanistan," and it has threatened Italy and Denmark.
9. I've been busy doing actual work for the last three hours, but here's the latest as of roughly 11:30:
Al Qaeda
Claudia Lane saw "Red Ken" Livingston's statement, and thought it was excellent. I saw it as well -- while running out of the house for my conference call -- and agree completely.
Casualty estimates are, not surprisingly, increasing as new facts come in. The Associated Press is reporting 90 dead and 350 wounded. I am pleased to say that my company, which makes medical instruments and implants for traumatic head injury and severe burns, is moving heaven and earth to get necessary products into London to help surgeons manage the injured.
Cardinalpark's partner is based in London, and he speculates that MI6 will have "bugs up every imam's" er, clothes, in short order. He also observes, and I agree, that if this is the best al Qaeda can do, it is "pretty friggin' lame."
10. Keep going back to Instapundit's round-up post -- there's a lot of new stuff up in the last few hours. Cassandra has lots more here. Among other things, she links to this timeline from Times.online.
11. According to Stratfor, there are rumors circulating in the intelligence community that Israel actually warned the British about the possibility of a jihadist attack two days ago. If it is confirmed, this will be explosive news.
12. The current (5:30 pm EDT) casualty estimate is 37 dead, more than 700 wounded.
4 Comments:
By 
Counter Trey, at
Thu Jul 07, 12:33:00 PM:
Comment heard on Fox and Friends this morning:
"Global warming and African Aid will be replaced by terrorism as the main topic at the G8 summit."
Let's hope so. The rest of the free world needs to wake up, stand next to us, and fight this scourge.
By 
, at
Thu Jul 07, 03:23:00 PM:
I also agree with Cardinalplank. These attacks give away weakness more than they show terrorist strength. Look at the timing, in concert with the execution of the Egyptian Ambassador. Maximum publicity & effect of the two events wasn't achieved--and it's another change in strategy by AQ. What, their fourth?
Fuller argument at www.houblog.com
By Gordon Smith, at
Thu Jul 07, 04:23:00 PM:
Thanks for the nonpartisan news roundup, Hawk. I can't bear going to InstaWhatnot, so keep updating please!
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