I'd just like our British "mates" to know that they're in the thoughts and prayers of many Americans this day. Hopefully the attacks are over, and the guilty will be quickly and appropriately punished.

Amen. Keep your chin up and your eyes peeled, and best wishes to those injured and the families of those killed.

In agreement

I come to and from work on the Piccadilly line, one of the lines that got hit. I had been on a train where the bomb went off about 40 minutes before. There but for the grace of God....

Looking forward to a long journey home......

I come to and from work on the Piccadilly line, one of the lines that got hit. I had been on a train where the bomb went off about 40 minutes before. There but for the grace of God....

Looking forward to a long journey home......
Of journeys past, present and yet to come, blessings to you and yours! :)

...and you're definitely in the minds of many Canadians as well. It makes me sick to think that there are people in this world that could even conceive of this kind of action, much less carry it out...

I am thinking about all of you across the pond, and hope that the story doesn't get any worse than it already is. Take care of each other...

Yes indeed.

Our prayers are with you all.

Those who cowardly kill innocent people have no right to inhabit this earth. We should never forget that there is no justification for this type of violence.

We have a word for it. Its called murder.

These people need to be rooted out and exterminated.

I sincerely sympathise with my British brethren.

Terrorism;
It's unfortunate that the terrorists of yesterday and today, become the statemen and women of tommorow.

I'm reminded of the time some years ago, while I was visiting Belfast, Ulster.
Cowardly attacks of terrorism were going on indiscrimenately at that time, and I believed then as I do now; Urban terrorism is almost undefeatable using conventional counter techniques.
Al Qaida, IRA, UVF; you name it. They all run deep into societies sub cultures. It makes me so sick, but I have to admit this; you have to at some point directly talk with these organizations.
Just my thoughts.
Wallace

A shame. They always say its not the people but the government they dislike, but it ends up being the people that get hurt. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends left behind.

Al Qaida, IRA, UVF; you name it. They all run deep into societies sub cultures. It makes me so sick, but I have to admit this; you have to at some point directly talk with these organizations.


Wallace said it best. The vows to avenge, and the tough talk, has to stop at some point - and we need to re-evaluate our approach. What about all of those innocent civilians in Iraq? What about all of the Iraqis who have lost their parents - siblings - friends - who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time? There are awful losses on both sides of the story - and when we are so quick to avenge, we are bound to lose even more in the long run. War begets more war...until we can approach this peacefully, we're not going to get anywhere.

Again, just my opinion - take it for what it's worth. I don't want to get into a political debate...but I thought it was worth mentioning.

War begets more war...until we can approach this peacefully, we're not going to get anywhere.
How does one peacefully approach the terrorist?

How does one peacefully approach the terrorist?

That's the million-dollar question...and it's a little less literal than you've phrased it. What I'm trying to say is that the "eye-for-an-eye" attitudes are only fuel for the fire. Our vows of revenge are only perceived as attacks by the other side - in exactly the same way that we perceive their threats and actions as attacks.

I don't claim to be a political expert...or a terrorism expert...I'm just saying that there are casualties on both sides of the story. Without trying to downplay the gravity and brutality of what happened yesterday - similar events have been occurring in Iraq for months on end. Why don't those events stir up in us the kind of emotion that we felt yesterday?

Please folks...I wanted this thread to just be a place where we could offer our condolances, thoughts, prayers, and support to our British friends if you so desired. Don't start political debate or make political comments in Cove threads -- it is not allowed here at the Cove.

Believe me, I have lots of thoughts on this subject, and would like to reply to Wallace and Rachel, but this forum is not the place. Do it (get into politics) and the thread will be killed by a moderator.

I typically visit London 3 or 4 times a month and yesterdays attack were shocking. Fortunatley none of my friends were affected by this and my sympathies and condolences to anyone that was affected by this tradgedy.

How does one peacefully approach the terrorist?

Let’s not be naïve.
Governments speak to factions and terrorists for sure. The Brit’s spoke with the terrorists and their factions to alleviate the Ulster issues. As I said before, the terrorists of yesterday, are the potential statesmen of tommorow.
I heard Mr. Rumsfeld speak on CNN recently saying, the US is actively seeking communications with terror groups.
Wallace.

My thoughts go out to those families & loved ones of those horrifically killed as they went about their daily business.

My sympathies go out to those who are going to be mentally unprepared to continue on without not looking over their shoulder every day.

My kudos go out to the men and women of the London police, EMT and Fire Departments for their brave and heroic actions.

My hatred continues to grow for those that are too cowardly to stand up and say what they believe in and not have the balls to look their enemy in the face.

I just finished up with our ISO 9001 third party auditor, who lives in the U.K. Although he lives on the other side of the country, he was still visibly quite upset.

I remember how it felt when I saw on the news that the band played the Star Spangled Banner during the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace in the days after 9/11. I wish there was some way we could do the same type of thing for them.

Leaving politics completely out of it, even if a saint did something like what happened in London yesterday it would be wrong. There is no justification whatsoever.

I remember how it felt when I saw on the news that the band played the Star Spangled Banner during the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace in the days after 9/11. I wish there was some way we could do the same type of thing for them.

I know what you mean. Flags at half-mast just doesn't seem to cut it.

Leaving politics completely out of it, even if a saint did something like what happened in London yesterday it would be wrong. There is no justification whatsoever.

Agreed, 100%.

A shame. They always say its not the people but the government they dislike, but it ends up being the people that get hurt. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends left behind.

How true. I still have family members over in the Uk outside of Cambridge. I called yesterday when I first heard because I know my Uncle spends alot of time
in London for work. Fortunately, he wasn't scheduled to up there this week.

There have already been threats made against Italy, Denmark, and Belgium I believe. Hopefully they won't be subjected to this tragedy.

Wayne

I remember how it felt when I saw on the news that the band played the Star Spangled Banner during the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace in the days after 9/11. I wish there was some way we could do the same type of thing for them.
We had a local standing out on our Causeway (very "traffic heavy") all day yesterday waving the British flag at all passersby. He felt it was the best way he could thank the Brits for what they did for us. I can only hope the video makes its way over to the BBC.

My prayers also go out to the families and friends (and any/all those affected by terrorist actions) and hope an end can be found to such atrocities.

Apparently the perpitrators have no sense of history. If they did they would be aware of the resolutness of our British cousins proven during the Blitz.

The purpose of terrorism is to terrorize (studied it, taught it). The greatest way to combat it is to not change, but to continue on.

Ditto on all of the heart felt comments from our multi-national compendium. Today's news does sound good though. They're putting together the "pieces of the dastardly plan" are coming together quickly. Here's hoping that, if there are others who took part in this COWARDLY ACT, they are brought to justice soon.

Wallace said it best. The vows to avenge, and the tough talk, has to stop at some point - and we need to re-evaluate our approach. What about all of those innocent civilians in Iraq? What about all of the Iraqis who have lost their parents - siblings - friends - who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time? There are awful losses on both sides of the story - and when we are so quick to avenge, we are bound to lose even more in the long run. War begets more war...until we can approach this peacefully, we're not going to get anywhere.

Again, just my opinion - take it for what it's worth. I don't want to get into a political debate...but I thought it was worth mentioning.I agree. So you want to stop the bombers? Overwhelmingly, terrorist attacks are not driven by religion as much as they are by a clear strategic objective: To compel countries to withdraw military forces from the territories that the terrorists view as their homelands. Terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and Iraq will stop as soon as the occupiers leave. 9-11 was Saudi terrorists and it should be noted that since then Saudi Arabia has made all US troops leave.

Can anyone say Blowback? For the new generation of jihadis, the Anglo-American coalition - as well as civilians - must live in fear, just as people live in fear in Iraq and Palestine. Only the US armed forces leaving Iraq, and other middle east countries, and an internationally-accepted agreement between Israelis and Palestinians, will end the cycle.

I have erased my response 3 times now so I'm trying to be real careful. We did nothing but Pearl Harbor was still bombed, they did nothing but Germany invaded Poland, they did nothing but Germany invaded France.
History teaches us that neutrality and isolationism does not work. And, you can talk all you want, but if the person or people you are talking to do not want to listen you get no where.

Bottom line, I'm sure everyone is sorry London was bombed and feels for all those injured, killed and their families. The thread has moved to politics so - I think enough has been said. Closed thread. On with less reactive topics.