A group calling itself “The Secret Organization of al-Qaida in Europe� posted a claim of responsibility for Thursday’s blasts in London, saying they were in retaliation for Britain’s involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The authenticity of the message could not be immediately confirmed.

-- MSNBC.com (link)

Looks like it may indeed be al-Qaida, or at least an organization tied to them.

GM and I lived in London a couple of years ago, just as the IRA resumed their bombing campaign. While we’re not strangers to bombs going off in London, it suppose you feel more deeply if you’ve been to the places that have been hit.

At least one of the Tube stations was part of the daily commute of people we knew back then. We’re trying to find out if they’re okay.

A claim of responsibility and being responsible are two different things, but I wouldn’t bet against al-Qaida, one way or the other.

What’s sad… is that I actually have that thought in the back of my head where it would not suprise me if it was just a set up - claiming it is al-Qaida.  I distrust some of the people in charge that much.

After all, we are not hearing much about stuff like this http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4637509.stm and that actually made it to the news.  Maybe I just have an overactive imagination but I do not think I’m odd for believing they are up to much worse.

My thoughts to all those who are affected though.  I wish they’d make an island or something where any group that has a beef with another group can duke it out and leave innocent people alone.

I can see some young people in the Middle East who are poor, improvished, stupid and ignorant, being indoctrinated by these religious extremeists. What REALLY gets me though, is the fact that there are some well educated (Western education) people living in North America and Europe who also believe this crap the fundamentalist put out.
This is twelfth century thinking, and anyone who lives in the twenty first centrury and still buys into it is seriously bent! And I mean SERIOUSLY!

I would be willing to bet the party claiming responcibility had jack shit to do with it.

It seems quite par for the world.. it’s just not on the west bank or in the congo or eritrea. overall the us and britan are
probably coming in dead last when it comes to percentage of population decimated by some horrible atrocities.

whoever it was, I hope they get em.

If it was Al Queda, they must be desperate for headlines. They’ve recently built up a lot of support and sympathy among Britains more extremist Muslims, so bombing London is shitting on their own doorstep.

That said, other candidates that have been suggested are anarchists (my first thought, I’m embarassed to say) and the Irish. Both require a massive leap of the imagination.

As Qoayn said, I hope that whoever it is the British get them.

Everyone I know seems to be okay.

Another wonderful faith-based programme takes off in the city I love and work in.

Doubtful it’s the IRA.  They’ve backed off as they’ve been recognized.  It’d be just as stupid, or more so for them to resume bombings right now as for Al Queda.

What’s sad… is that I actually have that thought in the back of my head where it would not suprise me if it was just a set up - claiming it is al-Qaida.  I distrust some of the people in charge that much.

Subhopping, much as I also distrust the “people in charge”, I seriously doubt that the British or the Americans would bomb London.  The link you provided is a case of “extraordinary rendition”, where a suspect is kidnapped and turned over to a third-world country for “interrogation”.  As reprehensible as this is, it’s not the same as random bombing of civilians.

I don’t know who did it, but I’m betting on Al Qaeda or an allied group.  Apparently the attack on the bus was a suicide bomber, which would pretty much rule out the CIA or the M16.

zilch said:

...which would pretty much rule out the CIA or the M16.

I don’t usually run around correcting people. For the sake of anyone reading this thread that isn’t familiar with British government terminology (and hasn’t seen any James Bond movies), however, I’d like to point out that zilch meant to say MI6, not M16.

MI6 is a British spy agency similar to the American CIA. The M16 is an assault rifle used by the U.S. military as their primary infantry weapon.

whoops! thanks for the correction, Adam M.!

We still don’t have answers about who was responsible for this one, but it bears many of the earmarks of an Al Quaeda operation, or that of an Al Quaeda affiliate--attacks on the U.S. or those guilty by association (other Crusaders), coordinated events (timers may have been used this time), and selection of soft targets resulting in mass killings of civilians. The timing of the last two attacks to corresponding to a major event in the target country may indicate an evolving strategy.

moses: What REALLY gets me though, is the fact that there are some well educated (Western education) people living in North America and Europe who also believe this crap the fundamentalist put out.

Remember that many of the 911 hijackers were well educated and came from reasonably affluent families. I suspect that the folks who planted explosives on the subway cars fit a similar profile.

An article by Lee Harris provides an interesting and somewhat chilling insight into the terrorist attack of 911 and those that followed. Harris maintains that these attack have the characteristics of a blood feud rather than those of a war. A little different slant on things, but we already knew that the so-called war on terror would be a long term affair.

Expanding a little on something else moses said; yes it’s twelfth (eighth?) century, and yes it’s tribal. Do “they” hate us because of our freedom? I think Bush had it wrong on this one. The probably hate us because we are, to them, infidel crusaders.

Considering number of victims these clearly weren’t targeted against that ordinary western citizen like claimed.
If perpetrators would have aimed to mass killing of ordinary people they could have easily killed hundreds of people, just think what mess Claymore like explosives ("bomber" could easily carry couple of those under clothing) would have caused when detonated in public place like trainstation in rush hour.

I think people should understand what is in the Koran to understand what is happening in the world. The Koran calls for all Muslims to fight and kill infidels ie. non-muslims. This guarantees you into heaven. in fact, in Islam that is the only guarantee into heaven.  According to the koran you can live a good life, help people, and be exemplary in every respect, and still you have to be judged by Allah.  Kill some infidels and you are in - guaranteed.  The language and words in the koran are clear unlike some of the stories in the Bible. The argument some people have is that these terrorists are somehow “twisting islam”, but that is not the case at all - they are following Islam and what is written in the koran. Fully 60% of the writings in the koran deal with killing, fighting, and jihad. While it is true that not all muslims kill innocents or believe that it is right, these muslims are not “good muslims” in that they do not follow the koran to the letter.
Let me ask you something - how many times have you heard a high ranking Islam scholar condemn terrorist attacks against non-muslims?? answer: you dont. Also people say that there are passages that promote peace and love and harmony with other religions in the koran - this is true, however these are muhammed’s early writings and the top Islam scholars have declared that muhammed’s later writings supercede these earlier peaceful tolerant writings. we have a major problem on our hands as americans and non-muslims. simply stated - they want us(and everyone) converted to islam or dead. this problem will not go away in our lifetimes.

Same way Bible includes source for racism, idea that those believing to it are better than others, “god’s chosen people”.
Weak-minded brainless fools and religion is always dangerous combination.

http://dna.whi.net/data/z-misc/how to make war work.jpg

Grand Mufti condemns attack on U.S. consulate

The Kingdom’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh, condemned and denounced the terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Jeddah on Monday 6th December 2004.

In a statement published in the Jeddah-based Al-Madinah newspapers today, Al Al-Sheikh said that attacking the U.S. consulate, throwing explosives, killing and wounding innocent people, and undermining stability and security utterly contradict the teachings of Islam.

He said that all citizens and residents in the Kingdom are entitled to peace and security under the law, and no religious scholar could condone such criminal, terrorist attacks on innocent people.

Source: SPA

http://islam.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=islam&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fatwa-online.com%2Fworship%2Fjihaad%2Fjih004%2Findex.htm

Makkah Imam Urges Muslims to Shun Terror

As millions of faithful marked ‘Eed al-Adhaa yesterday, Muslims were warned against heeding militant calls to wage terrorist attacks in the name of Islam.

The warning came, amid a surge in militant attacks in Muslim countries and beyond, from Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, while addressing Haj pilgrims in a customary ‘Eed sermon. The imam also advised Islamic scholars to preach moderation to confront this “rottenâ€? phenomenon.

“Islam is the religion of moderation. There is no room for extremism in Islam,� he said.

He called on Muslims to “protect non-Muslims in the Kingdom and not to attack them in the country or anywhere. Islam is a religion of peace that abhors attack on innocents.� Militants were using misguided interpretations of Islam to justify violence, he added.

“Because Muslims have strayed from moderation, we are now suffering from this dangerous phenomenon of branding people infidels and inciting Muslims to rise against their leaders to cause instability,� Al-Sudais said.

“The reason for this is a delinquent and void interpretation of Islam based on ignorance...faith does not mean killing Muslims or non-Muslims who live among us, it does not mean shedding blood, terrorizing or sending body parts flying.�

Al-Sudais warned that extremism would ruin the Muslim nation, adding: “This phenomenon has expanded so much that scholars must confront it with concrete proof from Islam to protect our youth from its stench and rottenness.�

He added: “One of the main issues that needs to be tackled in principle is reform�. He criticized dissident Saad Al-Faqeeh who is calling to rebel against the government in order to create disunity among the people. He described him as a reckless adventurer who is obsessed with publicity.

“Don’t Abuse the Concept of Jihaad”

RIYADH, 22 August 2003 — Saudi Arabia’s highest religious authority urged Muslims yesterday to shun extremism and avoid waging unjustified jihaad as the Kingdom cracks down on militants.

In a lengthy statement, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh told Saudis to listen to their religious authorities and ignore fanatical interpretations of Islaam.

“One of the fallouts from extremism in understanding Islaam is that some people call for jihaad for the sake of God without justification,� Sheikh Abdul Aziz said.

“These people raise the banner of jihaad to draw the young into their ranks and not to fight for God,� he added.

Militants like Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden have often called for jihaad against countries they consider “infidel� such as the United States, urging his followers to target Western interests in Saudi Arabia and abroad.

Other militants have also used Islaam as a rallying cry, justifying attacks by saying they are doing God’s will.

“Young Muslims must try and better themselves and their country but not through violence, because Islaam is not a violent religion, it is a merciful religion,� he said.

“A Muslim must understand his religion. It is the duty of the young and the whole Muslim world to know that violence is not a way to achieve reform,� Al-Sheikh said.

The grand mufti emphasized that the struggle against a perceived evil should not lead to a greater evil.

“The Prophet (peace be upon him) told us to combat evil. But there is a general rule to look at both advantages and disadvantages. And if fighting an evil leads to a greater one, then that fight is forbidden,� he said.

The grand mufti said one of the reasons some people attacked and frightened others was ignorance.

“Ignorance is a killer disease because a person thinks that he is right when he is wrong,� he said and stressed the importance of right guidance. “One of the reasons also is mistrust of our scholars. It is people’s duty to trust their scholars and leaders,� he said.

Last week, the Kingdom’s highest Islaamic authority denounced terror attacks in the Kingdom, describing them as “serious criminal acts,� and pledged its full support for the government.

“Acts of sabotage such as bombings, murder and destruction of property are serious criminal acts and an aggression against innocent people… which warrant severe and deterrent punishment,â€? the Council of Senior Islaamic Scholars said in a statement.

The 17-member council, headed by the grand mufti, declared its support for the actions being taken by the state to track down terrorists in an effort to shield the country from their actions.

The Islaamic body had called on the Saudi people to “stand behind the country’s leadership and their scholars,� at these difficult times in the fight against “evildoers.�

The statement dubbed “misguided and ignorant� those who claim that terrorism was part of jihaad, or holy war. It said people who provide shelter to suspected militants were committing a “grave sin.�

..........
Arab News

The extent of support for “Islamist terrorism” within the Muslim population is disputed, although it is generally agreed that only the most extremist fringes support it. Many Muslims have denounced support for terrorism[1]. For example, the Free Muslims Coalition rallied against terror, stating that they wanted to send “a message to radical Muslims and supporters of terrorism that we reject them and that we will defeat them,” and Imams in the United Kingdom told their followers to denounce violence and stand united against this “grave dangerâ€? from terrorism. The Imams of the two holy mosques of Saudi Arabia also denounced Islamist terrorism [2]]. Imam is an Arabic word meaning Leader. The ruler of a country might be called the Imam, for example. ...

Abdel Rahman al-Rashed, the general manager of Al-Arabiya said:

It is a certain fact that not all Muslims are terrorists, but it is equally certain, and exceptionally painful, that almost all terrorists are Muslims.
The ‘almost all’ claim is unlikely and would be difficult to verify, however, and there are certainly many non-Muslim terrorist groups with various political and religious backgrounds. (See Religious terrorism) Religious terrorists use violence to further what they see as divinely commanded purposes. ...

Muslim scholars in North America, in a statement just after the September 11, 2001 attacks, wrote: The September 11, 2001 attacks were a series of coordinated terrorist attacks carried out in the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. ...

We encourage Muslim medical professionals and Muslim relief agencies to assist in whatever possible way with humanitarian and relief efforts both locally and nationally. Moreover, we urge people of diverse religious traditions, faith groups and spiritual expressions, including Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and members of other communities, to share their grief and sorrow together as one family, the human family.
Many Muslims also share the view that IslÄ?m ("submission") comes from the same root word as SalÄ?m, meaning “peace”, and that terrorism in the name of Islam; Islamic terrorism, is an oxymoron.

http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Islamist-terrorism

Christian terrorism refers to terroristic acts or doctrine motivated by the promotion of Christianity, either putatively or actually. Examples include the abortion clinic bombing by Eric Robert Rudolph, said to be a member of the extremist Christian Identity movement; the murder by Christians of physicians who provide abortions, such as James Charles Kopp’s shooting of Dr. Barnett Slepian; and the tactics of strategic rape and abduction of child soldiers by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda—linking each of these examples is the claim by those committing the acts of terrorism that such acts are performed in furtherance of Christian goals or teachings, which distinguishes Christian terrorism per se from criminal acts performed by people who merely happen to be Christians. Terrorism is a controversial and subjective term with multiple definitions. ... There is no universally accepted definition of terrorism. ... There are eleven major multilateral international conventions related to states responsibilities for combating terrorism. ... Counter-terrorism refers to the practices, tactics, and strategies that governments, militaries, and other groups adopt in order to fight terrorism. ... A terrorist organisation is an organisation that engages in terrorist tactics, they are also (perhaps more neutrally) referred to as militant organisations. ... The following is a timeline of acts and failed attempts that can be considered terrorism. ... Nationalist terrorism is a form of terrorism through which participants attempt to form an independent state against what they consider an occupying, imperial, or otherwise illegitimate state. ... Religious terrorism - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Left-wing terrorism seeks to destroy capitalism and replace it with socialism or anarchism. ... Right-wing terrorism, or neo-Fascist terrorism, seeks to do away with liberal democratic governments and create fascist states in their place. ... State terrorism is a controversial term that is separate from the more common term state sponsored terrorism. ... Ethnically-motivated terrorism (also Ethnic terrorism or racial terrorism) involves frequent attacks on foreign-born immigrants and ethnic minorities, motivated by racism and xenophobic hatred. ... Narcoterrorism is a term coined by former President Belaunde Terry of Peru in 1983 when describing terrorist-type attacks against his nations anti-narcotics police. ... Domestic terrorism is a phrase used to describe some acts of political violence within a state that are carried out or commissioned by forces inside or originating from that state, as opposed to external attacks. ... The heyday of anarchist terrorism was from the 1870s to the 1920s. ... Political terrorism is a form of terrorism (a tactic of violence that targets civilians) used to influence socio-political events so that gains occur that might not have otherwise happened by peaceful means. ... The term eco-terrorism is a neologism which has been used to describe threats and acts of violence (both against people and against property), sabotage, vandalism, property damage and intimidation committed in the name of environmentalism. ... This article is in need of attention. ... Jack Ruby murdered the alleged assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, in a very public manner. ... A car bomb is a bomb that is placed in a car or truck and is intended to be exploded while there. ... Warning: Graphic imagery, including pictures that include corpses or scenes of violence, may follow. ... Bioterrorism is terrorism using germ warfare, an intentional human release of a naturally_occurring or human_modified toxin or biological agent. ... Nuclear terrorism can be used to describe any of the following terrorist assaults: Use of nuclear weapons against a civilian target Use of a radiological weapon or dirty bomb against a civilian target An attack against a nuclear power plant Some believe that no such act has ever taken place. ... Cyber-terrorism is terrorism that uses cracking over computer networks and Internet-based attacks in the service of terrorism. ... A terrorist front organization is created to conceal activities or provide logistical or financial support to the illegal activities. ... An independent terrorist actor works outside a command structure, unaccountable to the claimed collective cause of a group. ... Terrorism is a controversial and subjective term with multiple definitions. ... An abortion clinic is a medical facility providing certain kinds of outpatient medical care, including abortions, to women. ... Eric Robert Rudolph (born September 19, 1966) is an extreme right-wing American terrorist, associated with the racist fundamentalist movement of Christian Identity, who committed a series of murders by bombings across the southern United States, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to at least 150 others. ... Christian Identity is a label applied to a wide variety of loosely-affiliated groups and churches with a racialized theology. ... James Charles Kopp was convicted in 2003 for the murder of Dr. Barnett Slepian, a New York state physician who performed abortions. ... Doctor Barnett Slepian (April 23, 1946 - October 22, 1998) was a physician in Amherst, New York in the United States who was murdered in his home by an anti-abortion activist, James Charles Kopp. ... Labuje IDP camp near Kitgum Town The Lords Resistance Army (LRA), formed in 1987, is a rebel paramilitary group operating mainly in northern Uganda. ...

Mainstream believers typically consider acts by “Christian terrorists” to be egregious violations of the religion’s ethics and regularly condemn all acts of terrorism, including those perpetuated by self-professed Christian terrorists. The violent Christian Identity movement, for instance, is regarded as a highly un-Christian organization by non-members. Critics observe that this is a marked change from the often-bloody history of Christianity, specifically the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, and numerous witchhunts.

It’s all a matter of perspective.  In general, religions tend to breed radicals.  Some of these radicals will use violence against others to try to further their agendas.  There were plenty more quotes from Muslim scholars and religious leaders- there were 19 fataawa issued against terrorism on the site I looked at (link was provided below quote).  Claiming that all Muslims are evil terrorists is as nonsensical as saying that all Christians are intolerant warmongers based on the bloody history of the religion as well as some of the actions of its fringe membership.  Along the same lines, claiming that all environmentalists are terrorists who want to destroy capitalism based on the actions of ecoterrorists like ELF, Green rage, et al is equally unfounded.

im no bible thumper - trust me.  the most important difference between the bible and koran is that the bible does not endorse killing of non-believers. the koran does. and thats not an interpretation or my thoughts....here is the passage:  Those who reject Islam must be killed. If they turn back from Islam, take hold of them and kill them wherever you find them.
and another:  Fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them, and seize them, surround them, and lie in wait for them.
these muslim terrorist are not weak-minded or psychopaths or nuts, they simply follow islam and its teachings.

Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him.

If a prophet arises among you… But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death…

Deuteronomy 13.1-5

If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, entices you secretly,… ,but you shall kill him…

Deuteronomy 13.6-9

By the way, my previous post was more debating the veracity of this claim:

how many times have you heard a high ranking Islam scholar condemn terrorist attacks against non-muslims?? answer: you dont.

I think that I showed enough quotes and links to disprove that assertion.

im not here to defend the bible or acts done by people in the bible.  the bible was written by men, and the koran was written by one man.  I was speaking of the basic tenets of christianity and islam.  christianity today is not a violent, murderous, world-conquering religion and islam is.  and non-muslims should know what we are up against, ie. a bunch of people actively seeking, according to the koran, to either convert us or kill us.

Sayeth bill:

christianity today is not a violent, murderous, world-conquering religion and islam is.

Perhaps you can provide some data on exactly what percentage of Muslims are currently terrorists?

If Islam is a murderous, world-conquering religion today, then why isn’t France (which has a substantial and growing Muslim population) currently in the throes of a civil war?

i have no idea what percentage are terrorists.  I am only telling you that the koran commands its followers to kill the infidels which are non-muslims.  As far as France goes, i have no idea what the political structure/atmosphere is there.  I know there are a large number of muslims there.
According to Mark Gabriel, author of the book Islam and Terrorism, and who was an Islamic scholar for 12 years in Egypt, they promote a peaceful image of Islam is actively following the plan laid down in the Koran. Here’s the plan: First, where Muslims are a minority, they should build their numbers within the country by converting people and having lots of babies. Then, as their numbers increase, they should start to prepare for an eventual overthrow of the government. And when the time is right, it is their duty as Muslims to rise up and establish an Islamic state. Yes, this is apparently in the Koran. And also included are instructions for deceiving the unbelievers. So you will hear people who say “Islam is a religion of peace” who themselves are actively working toward the eventual violent takeover of a country.

According to Gabriel, deceiving the enemy is recommended in the Koran. An enemy is defined as a non-Muslim.

Uber, just after I read your post, PBS started a rerun of the Frontline special Al Qaeda’s New Front. This is from their profile on France.

+ On Christmas Eve, 1994, members of the GIA, an Algerian terrorist group, hijacked an Air France jet and planned to crash it into the Eiffel Tower. French commandos stormed the plane when it stopped to refuel in Marseilles, killing the four hijackers and rescuing the 170 passengers. The GIA said it ordered the hijacking to punish France for its support of the Algerian government in Algeria’s civil war.

+ In the summer and fall of 1995, a wave of bombings hit the Paris metro system, killing eight and wounding 200. In October 2002, two GIA members were sentenced to life in prison in for their role in the attacks.

+ In 1998, French counterterror judge Jean-Louis Bruguiére and others uncovered a plot against the World Cup soccer tournament. Around 150 suspects were detained in sweeps in multiple European countries and several people were convicted for their roles in the plot.

+ Islamic militants planned to blow up the famous Christmas Market in Strasbourg on New Year’s Eve 2000; cooperation between French and German police helped uncover the plot. In December 2004, 10 Algerians and French nationals of Algerian descent were convicted for the plot and sentenced to between one and 10 years in prison.

+ On Sept. 10, 2001, French authorities opened an investigation into a plot to bomb the U.S. embassy in Paris. Djamel Beghal, a French-Algerian, was arrested in Dubai in July 2001. Authorities there said he confessed to planning the attack, but Beghal later claimed his confession was extracted under torture. In March 2005, Djamel Beghal and five others were convicted by a French court of conspiring to carry out the Paris embassy plot, and Beghal was sentenced to the maximum 10 years. Counting time already served since his initial arrest, Beghal is due to be released in 2011.

Not exactly the peaceable kingdom either.

There a couple of problems here. The Imams who serve the Mosques in Europe are not home grown and tend to come from the middle east. Some number of them are radical. Radical Imams form North Africa have toured and spoken in the European Mosques. Further many Muslims believe that suicide bombing and other forms of violence against civilian targets is acceptable in defense of Islam. There is a breakdown by country on page 15 of this 2002 Pew survey. The table does not include Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Iran, Sudan, Iraq, and Palestinian territories. No I haven’t looked up population figures and done the math, but we’re not talking about small numbers of people holding these beliefs. Certainly, no one can say how many Muslim terrorists there are but the ground sure seems fertile.

I look at the London bombing as a classroom excercise for a cell-in-training, and says nothing of alQaeda’s strength.  The metrics have changed, and here’s why…

It’s unlikely this was a “traditional” alQaeda operation, akin to the Cole or 9/11.  More likely, it was a franchise-esque type of operation.  More to the point, the size and quality of the attack speaks much to alQaeda’s new, currently still forming type of re-organization and new way of operation.

After the US destroyed alQaeda’s centralized operations in Afghanistan their leadership developed a different structure of authority.  Traditionally, intelligence/terror/insurgency cells operate with one head, who then reports to a regional/station chief who, in turn, reports back to an even more central authority.  Think of a pyramid.

(The purpose of this structure is to try to eliminate your greatest liability of operation: humans working in the field.  People working in the field tend to get caught, or flagged for surveilence when their doing what they do (scoping out potential targets, detaling the site’s layout, performing tests gauging public/security reponses at the site, and actual dry runs).  If they get caught, then they’ll usually give-up their fellow cellmates. But, their handler will, traditionally, keep the cell’s head in the dark as to who he himself is, lives, works, etc.  They usually only know a regular meeting area, signals, etc.  So, with this structure, cells fall alone, not together.  It’s like automatically cauterizing a fault in the system, disallowing it to spread.)

After Afghanistan, alQaeda went into hyper-mode redacting all sorts of “knowledge of the way”, stealing a phrase from London’s black cabs, ironically.  The idea being, train a few to train many, and keep the proven techniques widely available (and adhered to) in word form.  It’s a franchise mode of operation.

This means that the 7/7 cell in London, most likely, has one, maybe two, people who know how to conduct a time co-ordinated bombing across multiple targets (not an easy thing to do, despite what MSNBC/Fox/et al might say).  Many people are looking at this operation as a teaching-ground type of event.

As a result, many believe that suicide bombers were not used, but are being training (and saved) for a greater, more lethal operation in London’s future.

(BTW, the deathtoll would have been much, much, much greater if the carriages themselves were not so greatly packed with people.  Many people were saved by the simple fact that other, tightly packed human bodies absorbed the force of the blast, and the accompanying shrapnel.  Claymores, believe it or not, would have similiar deathtolls—and probably much less than the 4-5 kilos used in each attack on 7/7)

VernR, interesting reading material.  Thank you.

A flowchart highlight the conspiracy that no doubt exists and is behind all the world’s troubles:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/atomicconspiracy/lgf.jpg