London's Mayor's Statement

[TexasTiger 13,016]

“This was a cowardly attack, which has resulted in injury and loss of life. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been injured, or lost loved ones. I want to thank the emergency services for the way they have responded.

Following the al-Qaeda attacks on September 11 in America we conducted a series of exercises in London in order to be prepared for just such an attack. One of the exercises undertaken by the government, my office and the emergency and security services was based on the possibility of multiple explosions on the transport system during the Friday rush hour. The plan that came out of that exercise is being executed today, with remarkable efficiency and courage, and I praise those staff who are involved.

I’d like to thank Londoners for the calm way in which they have responded to this cowardly attack and echo the advice of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair - do everything possible to assist the police and take the advice of the police about getting home today.

I have no doubt whatsoever that this is a terrorist attack. We did hope in the first few minutes after hearing about the events on the Underground that it might simply be a maintenance tragedy. That was not the case. I have been able to stay in touch through the very excellent communications that were established for the eventuality that I might be out of the city at the time of a terrorist attack and they have worked with remarkable effectiveness. I will be in continual contact until I am back in London.

I want to say one thing specifically to the world today. This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty and the powerful. It was not aimed at Presidents or Prime Ministers. It was aimed at ordinary, working-class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christian, Hindu and Jew, young and old. It was an indiscriminate attempt to slaughter, irrespective of any considerations for age, for class, for religion, or whatever.

That isn’t an ideology, it isn’t even a perverted faith - it is just an indiscriminate attempt at mass murder and we know what the objective is. They seek to divide Londoners. They seek to turn Londoners against each other. I said yesterday to the International Olympic Committee, that the city of London is the greatest in the world, because everybody lives side by side in harmony. Londoners will not be divided by this cowardly attack. They will stand together in solidarity alongside those who have been injured and those who have been bereaved and that is why I’m proud to be the mayor of that city.

Finally, I wish to speak directly to those who came to London today to take life.

I know that you personally do not fear giving up your own life in order to take others - that is why you are so dangerous. But I know you fear that you may fail in your long-term objective to destroy our free society and I can show you why you will fail.

In the days that follow look at our airports, look at our sea ports and look at our railway stations and, even after your cowardly attack, you will see that people from the rest of Britain, people from around the world will arrive in London to become Londoners and to fulfil their dreams and achieve their potential.

They choose to come to London, as so many have come before because they come to be free, they come to live the life they choose, they come to be able to be themselves. They flee you because you tell them how they should live. They don’t want that and nothing you do, however many of us you kill, will stop that flight to our city where freedom is strong and where people can live in harmony with one another. Whatever you do, however many you kill, you will fail.”

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/dcdfe116-ef08-11d...000e2511c8.html

[Tiger in Spain 0]

Here's what "Ken the Red" was saying before yesterday:

Bird flu greater risk than terrorists, says Ken

Telegraph.co.uk

(Filed: 13/03/2005)

Excerpt:

Ken Livingstone, the London Mayor, has hit out at the new anti-terror laws, saying people were at more risk from bird flu than al-Qa'eda.

Tony Blair and his Cabinet colleagues argue the unprecedented threat from Islamic fanatics justifies the introduction of control orders for suspects who cannot be tried.

But Mr Livingstone said there was no prospect of a second September 11 and the danger was now less than during the IRA's heyday.

And the mayor, who was readmitted to the Labour Party last year, said if he was still an MP he would have voted against the new measures.

The current terror threat was "a bit less than the threat we had during the IRA", he told BBC1's Breakfast with Frost.

"There is always the danger that we will fail and someone will get through," he continued.

"We do not believe there is the chance of another September 11...

"The danger comes from two or three disaffected men doing something more like a car bomb ..... we are more at risk of dying from bird flu than we are from being blown up by any terrorist."

...

Link

Edited to add

Although London Mayor Ken Livingstone issued a strong condemnation of Thursday's attacks, the attacks may put him in a tight spot. Livingstone has strongly defended Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi — the so-called "Theologian of Terror," who called suicide bombings "heroic operations of martyrdom" and "divine justice," and urged Muslims to "destroy the aggressive Jews."

Last year, Livingstone invited and welcomed Al-Qaradhawi to London. And amid protests, insisted Qaradhawi was a man of "moderation and tolerance," calling his visit an "honor."

Link

Terrorists even attack those that appease them.

[DKW 86 7,440]

Appeasement gets you what you allow...

What a moron.

[Jenny AU-92 0]

Remember the parable of the scorpion and the frog? Never mind that the frog carried him across the river - the scorpion still stung the frog to death. When the frog cried out "WHY!" the scorpion said "I am still a scorpion."

Does Neville Chamberlain ring a bell to this guy? Promises from evil men are not worth the breath used to utter them.

Hypocrite.