Of all the fevered expressions of the "terrorist threat" popping up in the UK, most of which have turned to be either wilfully manufactured or extremely exaggerated, this one has the stink of Operation Gladio all over it. The timing is amazing, the culprit a buffoon or at least conveys the appearance of such. Check out Larry Johnson's take on the episode:

London Bomb--What a Crock of Crap!!

-k
thebhc | Homepage | 06.29.07 - 4:03 pm | #

the odds are on some homemade Islamist group of ad hoc terrorists

Any idea why you would get to that conclusion. Why not some homophobic "nail bomber" (remember the one in 2000), some nut christian who wants to blow up a night club of sins, an IRA relict who wants to prove himself?

Why do you even think this is "islamic"?

Please let me know.
b | Homepage | 06.29.07 - 4:16 pm | #

b,

"The odds" mean exactly that - the odds. If the last five races have been won by a brown horse I'm not betting on the grey one if I'm a cautious gambler. That being said, quite often a dark horse upsets the odds.

Did you read further in the post to the bit where I said it could well be several other culprits or did you just switch off when you thought you'd reached my conclusion?

Regards, C
Cernig | Homepage | 06.29.07 - 4:22 pm | #

BHC, I've already read larry's post today and there's a couple of inaccuracies of logic and evidence in it which means I decided not to link it. I'm in broad agreement that the bomb wasn't a huge threat but disagree on the details.

Regards, C
Cernig | Homepage | 06.29.07 - 4:23 pm | #

I just saw that they're saying they found a second car bomb similar to the first.

So still amateurs, but multiple car bombs, even if poorly made ones, adds to the threat level.
Northman | Homepage | 06.29.07 - 4:36 pm | #

You couldn't have posted this BEFORE I did my own?

Sheesh, now I have to go and update and link to this...

work work work.
Mr. M | Homepage | 06.29.07 - 4:49 pm | #

Great analysis Cernig - and a much needed one at that!

Nice to have some "cool-headed" discerning analysis through the deafening cacophony this story generated.
Mentarch | Homepage | 06.29.07 - 5:02 pm | #

Hey M, sorry

Thanks for the compliment, Mentarch.

Regards, C
Cernig | Homepage | 06.29.07 - 5:38 pm | #

I'm just joshin' with ya.

Did remind me of two summers ago. Heh, Hell, I even have the vague recollection of calling you and seeing if you were cool and you almost had to calm me down.
Mr. M | Homepage | 06.29.07 - 5:40 pm | #

I would accept the "home grown Islamic terrorist" angle if they'd used cheaper cars.

Blowing up TWO Mercedes is not exactly a feat that is within the means of the average Islamic immigrant, or some guy named abudllah who is selling incense in Little Bombay for 8 bucks an hour. Do you have any idea how much a Mercedes costs?

This may seem like a trivial concern at first glance, but think about it! Over $100,000 worth of vehicles to be thrown away? Obviously this is the action of people who were not spending their own money.

My bet would be on government provocateurs, Saudis, or other cynical factions in cahoots with the Western US-Brit cabal to sow seeds of fear, mistrust, bigotry and embrace of fascism.
joanne g murphy | 06.30.07 - 6:50 pm | #

Hi joanne,

Let me tell you from 12 years empirical experience as an insurance broker in Glasgow that the used Merc 280 E, especially the deisel format, is the single most popular car with Muslim small businessmen in Scotland - classy without being too flashy, inexpensive to run, low insurance costs, solidly reliable and...cheap to buy. You can get a used Merc 280 E in the UK for under 10,000 sterling ($20,000) easily. The Merc 280E is also one of the most popular cars in the UK for taxi drivers, for the same reasons

You forgot that the US charges a huge import tax on top of far higher import costs for mercs and other euro "luxury" models.

Regards, C
Cernig | Homepage | 06.30.07 - 7:17 pm | #