| Submit your comments on this article | |
| Britain | |
| Bombers must die, say Brits | |
| 2004-04-03 | |
| THE British public want NO mercy for al-Qaeda suicide bombers or their terrorist leaders. And they demand bombers be shot on sight...and their scheming bosses be taken out too. An exclusive News of the World ICM poll—the most extensive since the atrocity in Madrid a fortnight ago— shows Britons are standing firm in the face of terror. Two-thirds (66 per cent) support the government’s policy to take an active part in the war against al-Qaeda. Just a quarter are against the fight. And an overwhelming 73 per cent want to see a shoot-to-kill policy against suicide bombers. ... though that does mean a quarter seem to be champing at the bit for a Darwin Award... That commitment extends to a wider crackdown, with a strong belief that the shadowy terrorist leaders who plan the campaigns from afar should be taken out. After the Israeli government’s decision to assassinate Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a substantial proportion— 47 per cent—support such attacks. The hard-line approach is strongest among 18 to 24-year-olds. Almost two-thirds want to see the leaders assassinated. Heh. And here was I thinking wishy-washy liberal edumakashun was ruining our young’uns. And more than four out of five polled want to see extremists such as Abu Hamza, the cleric who preaches hate on the streets of north London, expelled. The current high level of alert in Britain has also galvanised support for compulsory ID cards. More than two-thirds (67 per cent) believe they would help protect Britain against attack. Even though precisely how effectively still isn’t clear. However, there is anger at the government’s decision to free the four Britons held in Guantanamo Bay—55 per cent think the British government were wrong. But the public also recognise that diplomacy is a vital part of the war on terror. A clear majority, 53 per cent, think PM Tony Blair was right to meet Libya’s Colonel Gaddafi. Britons are also defiant in the face of warnings that a major terrorist attack here is now inevitable. A narrow majority, 51 per cent, are more concerned for their safety after the 9/11 and Madrid attacks. But there are fears over London—38 per cent say they’d be deterred from using the Tube.
Comment: We’re right to demand tough stand By Andrew Garfield, European Director of Terrorism Research Centre & Director of the International Centre for Security Analysis IT IS no surprise the British public believe the government must take a firm line against terrorism. In the wake of the Madrid bombings, today’s poll shows opinions here differ widely from those in Spain. The British have rarely shown any sympathy for those killed while engaged in terrorist activity and there has always been broad support, over three decades, for robust anti-terrorist legislation. This new survey suggests that public support for the government’s active role in the war against terrorism remains firm. A significant majority also believe enhanced security measures are needed in order to secure freedom from the scourge of terrorism. This will come as a relief to Home Secretary David Blunkett as he prepares new legislation to counter the threat posed by groups like al-Qaeda. It is certainly understandable, in the wake of the Madrid bombings, that a majority of the public would consider it acceptable to assassinate terrorist leaders. While the government has criticised Israel for killing the Hamas leader, few will have shed a tear for the death of a man who ordered numerous terrorist atrocities that killed countless innocent Israelis. Given that the support and co-operation of the public is vital in this war, and that a key aim of the terrorists is to divide and conquer, this survey should serve as a warning to the government. It must make every effort to convince doubters that its strategy is necessary, proportionate and effective. The majority of those polled (60 per cent) are not being intimidated into changing their daily routine. The spirit of the Blitz is clearly alive and well in modern Britain. | |
| Posted by:Bulldog |
| #13 Way to go Britain ! Kill the terrorists on the "battlefield" is the cleanest solution, and it looks like a significant number of people do not have their head up their behind and realize that. |
| Posted by: Carl in NH 2004-04-03 8:36:45 PM |
| #12 Zaen - why? Individuals may feel that an attack is ineveitable (forever is a long time to be vigilant), but that they don't want to give in to their fears (the best attitude)and that the chance of personally being injured is small (likely) It is delusional that nearly half of Britain's people do not recognize terrorism's imminent threat while remaining defiant about being attacked. However small the chance of individual injury might be, an attack on one is an attack on all. It is freedom that is being assaulted, not just a person's corporeal body. Being concerned solely for one's own personal safety is the terrorists' precise aim. It permits the victims to justify acceptance of their demands. Simple defiance is wholly insufficient to defeat terrorism. It is mandatory to have an intransigent and lethal response to all who assail individual liberty so monstrously. Anything less is suicidal surrender to a remorseless killer. Terrorists are not trying to kill just a people, race, culture or competing religion. They seek no less than to extinguish the memes of freedom and equality. We are witnessing a naked attempt to kill off the principal of self determination and even that of liberty itself. Which portion of these inalienable human rights do you propose to let them extort from us? |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-04-03 8:36:30 PM |
| #11 Good post, Bulldog. When the British public support a "shoot to kill" policy (That's called "suicide by cop" here in America) for terrorists, I suppose it's a way to go around the fact that their criminal justice system did away with the death penalty. |
| Posted by: Jen 2004-04-03 6:37:30 PM |
| #10 Zaen - why? Individuals may feel that an attack is ineveitable (forever is a long time to be vigilant), but that they don't want to give in to their fears (the best attitude)and that the chance of personally being injured is small (likely) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-04-03 6:24:37 PM |
| #9 Two statistics from the source site are pretty mystifying. ------------------------- "A narrow majority, 51 per cent, are more concerned for their safety after the 9/11 and Madrid attacks. ... Britons are also defiant in the face of warnings that a major terrorist attack here is now inevitable." ------------------------- Those are alarming manifestations of outright deluded thinking. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-04-03 6:17:19 PM |
| #8 Bulldog and/or Tony, about which entity that the British public prefers be the vehicle for the offensive portion of the WOT? Out of the choices of the UK alone, the UN, the EU, NATO or the Coalition of the Willing, my guess would be that you would prefer that the focus be through NATO. The Iraq War seems to be crumbling NATO. Do the British still put a lot of stock in NATO when the group seems to have devolved into two heavy lifters and several other special-teamers? |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-04-03 5:37:22 PM |
| #7 This is a breath of fresh air. I long have known the Brits wouldn't take an attack stiing down. My concerns were based on the large anti-war marches. Obviously most Britons don't agree with the liberal left loonies. |
| Posted by: Bill Nelson 2004-04-03 5:32:41 PM |
| #6 Heh. And here was I thinking wishy-washy liberal edumakashun was ruining our young’uns. Who are you calling a young'un, Gramps? |
| Posted by: Charles 2004-04-03 5:03:22 PM |
| #5 I neeed to stop experimenting with pseudonymous posting... |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2004-04-03 4:30:29 PM |
| #4 DAMMIT! That was me. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2004-04-03 4:27:17 PM |
| #3 Of course you have to strike a line between resolution and defiance, and this kind of shit. |
| Posted by: Leftwat 2004-04-03 4:26:32 PM |
| #2 Two-thirds (66 per cent) support the government’s policy to take an active part in the war against al-Qaeda. Just a quarter are against the fight. And an overwhelming 73 per cent want to see a shoot-to-kill policy against suicide bombers. Interesting result. And if you discount the MPopulation.... then.... hmmmm. I assume (and have no clue) but this means that 7 percent are against the war on terror but a for a shoot to kill policy.... Geeez. Actually I figure it means 7 percent of the population wants to escalate the WOT. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-04-03 4:06:31 PM |
| #1 Wait till we have our first bombing attrocity in the UK - it *will* happen. Expect to see that 73% increase - and if you discount the Musllum population, I would expect that number to be high 90's. |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2004-04-03 3:34:58 PM |