StormWarning’s Counterterrorism

The sequential terror attacks in the UK have alot of the world on edge.  The car bomb attacks, even though unsuccessful, were likely suicide bomb attacks; the Glasgow flaming Cherokee was also likely a suicide mission (one dead, one arrested shouting "allah, allah"). UK has raised its alert to critical.  As of today (6/30), the U.S. is still on elevated.  It also appears pretty clear that the Glasgow Attack Is Seen Tied to London Bombs.

UPDATE 1:  At least according to a report in the Telegraph, Botched London plot leaves ‘gold mine’ of clues, my conclusion that both British attacks were suicide attacks was wrong.  For now, lets accept this alternative conclusion:

It is the first time that so-called vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices have been used in an attack in Britain since the IRA abandoned its terror campaign. The IRA, however, always tested its bombs before embarking on a mission. It appeared the London bombers had been unable to try theirs out, as both failed to explode.

The decision not to use suicide bombers is regarded as noteworthy because it makes the planning of operations far more complex. It may also suggest a shortage of volunteers prepared to die in al-Qaeda’s pursuit of global holy war.

I earlier wrote that the car bomb attacks (gasoline, gas canisters and nails) were possibly a "greeting" to new Prime Minister Gordon Brown.  Today’s Glasgow Airport attack, may also have been as a message to Brown since he is a Scot, although as I mentioned earlier today, Queen Elizabeth is also in Scotland for today’s inauguration of the Scottish Parliament.  But clearly, the Glasgow attack was perpetrated by persons of interest from usually suspect countries (Pakistani population in the UK is 1.3% of the total - there are a total of 1.8 million Muslims in the UK):

Police subdued the driver and a passenger, both described by witnesses as South Asian _ a term used to refer to people from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries in the region. The previous round of terrorist activity in Britain, in July 2005, was largely carried out by local Muslims, raising ethnic tensions in Britain.

Elsewhere in England, they are braced for a weekend of high-profile  events, including a concert to honor the memory of Princess Diana (450 police were supposed to be patroling  the concert), a Gay Pride March; and the Wimbledon tennis tournament.

In the New York area, officials at the airports went on a heightened state of alert and manned vehicle checkpoints. No threats had been made against
the airports.

What’s ahead for the Fourth of July?  Well, as of yesterday, and according to a source there is no credible evidence to suggest that terrorists are planning to target July 4th celebrations.  Also, check out Chertoff’s statement following the Glasgow attack.  So what do we face?

OPINIONS
We now face what I see as a serious shift in tactics of the Global Terrorists.  We may also be seeing a dumbing down of terrorists themselves, some may be "wannabees."

• there are similarities in tactics with Iraq (car bombs with nails and accelerants)…and maybe even the same as in Israel…keep it simple, blow it up…hit civilians for maximum effect

• these two events have failed largely because of incompetence (they may not have been directly connected to al Qaeda - thus less or little training)

• It is an unavoidable reality that "terrorists are among us"

• Overall, I expect that terrorist tactics have shifted…this is a severely important change

UPDATE 2 regarding "wannabees":  In an article published today, 4 Held in Scottish Attack as British See Broader Plot -

In London, counterterrorism experts suggested that whoever abandoned
the two explosives-laden Mercedes might have been what a senior Western
official called “less directed from Al Qaeda and more a matter of a
homegrown group,” although their plan seemed to be modeled on terrorist
attacks in Iraq.

Whatever anyone else may claim (and I read one "igno-idiot" earlier today claiming that the "libs want to help train the terrorists who haven’t been well trained in setting up explosives to blow us up"), the War in Iraq has changed the tactics of terrorism.  It has also brought back to their countries, insurgents who have been field trained.

When our Government says to be aware of your surroundings, damn well do it!  I believe, regrettably, that things have changed just this weekend for the worse, and may never again be the same.

At least this post offers opinions and some out and out assessment of the situation as it emerges, rahter than repeating and rehashing the "pundits" talking points. 

If you agree or are intrigued by this, please say yes by "voting" at RCP. 

And read more at Right Truth, British terror, dhimmitude, multiculturalism.

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