2017 In Retrospect

[Khandro]

One of the most striking images from the night of the London Borough Market terror attack was of drinkers being marched out of the Market under police escort with their hands on their heads. The British public at that point looked not like stoical, pugnacious heroes, but like a defeated army being marched into captivity.
Contrary to all our public statements, we have become terrorised, just as the terrorists want.
Douglas Murray

With concrete blocks surrounding Christmas markets, New York's cycle path now almost unusable, police and army everywhere, does he have a point? Why do politicians keep telling us how we won't be defeated rather than take more robust action against jihadists?

[ToraToraTora]

what a load of old pony

[Zacs-Master]

Define: taking more robust action. Placing concrete blocks around markets, perhaps?

[Khandro]

//Define: taking more robust action.//
We could go as far as even shooting them without upsetting Islamic sensibilities due to the fact that there are thousands of fatwas been issued against them by Muslim clerics all over the world.
They are technically no longer Muslims and are the equivalent of being excommunicated.

[Zacs-Master]

Ah. No sensible idea then. As I thought.

[Gromit]

Since 9/11 2001, the UK public have subjected to ever more draconian legislation which is both obtrusive and sinister. The state now has the power to read all our communications and hold us weeks if not years with no charge.
The Government has assumed these powers in the name of anti-terrorism. It has been a godsend to the secret services. And all achieved with the help of Al Qaeda, ISIS, Daesh etc. Funny how things work out (or are designed).

[ToraToraTora]

so I assume you think we should do noting then gromit?

[ToraToraTora]

for what it's worth I do think the damage of terrorism is what we do to ourselves eg filling airports with idiots confiscating your nail clippers but I guess we must take some sort of obvious measures.

[ichkeria]

Re VB, will Brexit be hung by its very own Petain?

Sorry - back to discussing why Nigel isn't getting a knighthood :-)

[ichkeria]

Sorry wrong thread (oh dear I'm in trouble now!!)

[jno]

worth it for the joke, though, ichkeria

[sp1814]

TTT

I recently flew back from Turkey, where airport security is much more stringent than anything I've ever seen (even America, where I was on holiday in the Spring). I am more than happy to remove my shoes, belt and store my iPad in the hold if needs be. It's not a bother as far as I'm concerned.

What concerns me is the idea that the authorities are 'doing nothing'. That's not the evidence in front of us. The security services and the police aren't passively waiting for the next attack. They are actively preventing them.

How many they have prevented is impossible to know - but we can make a guess every time we read a story of a terrorist cell which has been shut down and arrests made.

[ichkeria]

"We could go as far as even shooting them without upsetting Islamic sensibilities due to the fact that there are thousands of fatwas been issued against them by Muslim clerics all over the world.
They are technically no longer Muslims and are the equivalent of being excommunicated. "

We have been shooting them, haven't we? And blowing some to kingdom come with targeted drone attacks etc.
I think in this instance Dougles is on a flight of fancy. The incident he describes was at the height of a terror attack, with people being led to safety. I visit that area in particular quite a lot and 7 months on it doesn't look all that terrorised to me. People are getting on with their lives and the pubs are buzzing.
You seem to be suggesting the adoption of panic measures, and surely THAT would be a sign of being "terrorised"

[Khandro]

Under a proposal known as Operation Constrain, jihadists would be offered help, including mental health treatment, to persuade them to reject violence. If they did not have suitable accommodation, they could be put in social housing and given welfare payments.

[Zacs-Master]

All in an effort to keep tabs on them.

[Khandro]

Zacs //All in an effort to keep tabs on them.//

Have you any idea how stupid that sounds?

[Baldric]

Have you any idea how stupid your post @ 14:09 sounds?

[ichkeria]

Not much appreciation of irony going on here :-)

[Zacs-Master]

Erm.....about as stupid as your OP, Khandro.

[Khandro]

baldric //Have you any idea how stupid your post @ 14:09 sounds?//

That isn't my words, it is cut and paste from the Times - (also in the Telegraph). In haste I omitted the quotation marks.

[Zacs-Master]

I think your 12:40 post kinda sealed the fate of this post Khandro. My drivelometer went into the red at that point.