I wish a speedy recovery, both physically and mentally, to the people stabbed at Leytonstone tube station. It must have been horrifying.
The following comments are in part predicated on a presumption that the media reports of the incident are broadly true. This comes with a serious health warning. At this stage after another tube station incident, we were universally assured that various official “sources” and “eye-witnesses” had affirmed that Jean Charles leapt the barriers and ran through the tunnels, wearing a bulky jacket with wires sticking out. All of those turned out to be absolute lies deliberately spread by the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office.
But assuming this time the account of his shouting about Syria is not lies, what we can see from video is that a single man in a very silly hat, armed with a very small knife indeed, can carry out a vicious terrorist attack with apparently no need for planning at all. Not even planning enough to get a less tiny knife from his kitchen.
Because, sadly terrorism is easy. As I stated recently, if I were crazed enough to want to kill somebody tomorrow, and did not care how I did it, who I killed or if I died myself, I could kill a few people without too much effort or planning. That is why the continual propaganda about “seven foiled ISIS terrorist plots” or “4,000 active Islamic terrorists in the UK” is quite simply untrue. If all those terrorists existed, they would not be so entirely unproductive. What the authorities do catch continually are fantasists, often children, boasting and “plotting” online about being terrorists. That is quite a different thing. It is worth noting that nobody has been charged over any of these seven foiled ISIS plots. Strange that, isn’t it?
As for the man in the silly hat, I fear he is mentally unstable. That is no comfort to his victims. The truth is, of course, that it is always the little people who get hurt. None of the 1% who foment, promote and profit from war have ever set foot in Leytonstone Tube Station. But their agenda is forwarded today. By its continual acts of violence and repression, the neo-con state eventually goads a mentally unstable person into a nasty, vicious and pointless act. They then use that act to justify more wars and repression.
For the security and armaments industry it is a very profitable cycle.
Anyone losing the plot and harming people can and will be added as fuel to the fire of the media controlled narrative of “terrorism”: increase fear and paranoia amongst the citizenry leading to further state control by the oligarchy and profits for the “defense” and “security” sector they own.
It used to be called running Amok.
“…Running amok, sometimes referred to as simply amok, also spelled amuk, from the Malay language is “an episode of sudden mass assault against people or objects usually by a single individual following a period of brooding that has traditionally been regarded as occurring especially in Malay culture but is now increasingly viewed as psychopathological behavior occurring worldwide in numerous countries and cultures”. The syndrome of “Amok” is found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders…”
No longer is it a symptom of individual breakdown due to personal and societal pressures:rather, our elite prefer it be seen as a conspiracy…
I am intrigued as to why it is being treated as a “terrorist incident”. If indeed he shouted ‘this is for Syria’, does that not make it a revenge attack? Or – as you suggest – the handiwork of someone mentally unstable.
I see the potential propaganda value in describing such an incident as ‘terrorist’ to keep fear levels, high, but the word is losing (if it has not already lost) all meaning.
Thanks Craig. Of course they are all for and endless cycle of violence. Jobs. I wonder if they get the same shallow feeling of significance.
I really don’t see the difference between politicians cheering murder or regular independent terrorists. Both the same violent irrational responses.
BTW people can check out a more nuanced view of the incident in France on Novara Media, I suspect there will be mentions of this incident in next weeks episode.
‘Paris Attacks: The Aftermath and the History’- http://novaramedia.com/2015/11/paris-attacks-the-aftermath-and-the-history/
Most of the real nutters have been lured by free drugs, slave women and curiously unoccupied rent-free accommodation to ‘up silly country’ Raqqa, Syria. we saw one being collected at Sulaymaniya airport having travelled from the UK on our plane to Kurdistan in the summer. 2 metres high, heavily tattoed on his legs, huge square bearded and ethnically non-Muslim.
The age old mental health question is whether a person who flourishes under Hitler is sane? To all intents and purposes Cameron is sane, but we all know that the type of mental health sufferer who strikes out at passers-by verbally or with a knife is finding the Cameron version of ‘sanity’ too much for them.
I thought of the post you wrote about terrorism being easy, Craig, when the news about Leytonstone came out last night. Before 9/11, we were all told that care in the community had unleashed a tsunami of dangerous schizophrenics who would run amok amongst us with knives. As you say, we now have a much more profitable way of frightening the populace half to death.
… over a handful of fantasists.
(Sorry, for some reason I stopped typing early!)
“the handiwork of someone mentally unstable”…Seems like it.
I imagine he will have the same vague idealogical justifications as they did bombing Syria. Emotive arguments and strange notions of justice not based in any kind of reality. With no foreseeable good outcome, just innocent people becoming victims.
Did he bring his passport:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CT8bEgnWIAA49qG.jpg
http://img-9gag-fun.9cache.com/photo/aYw0N0q_700b.jpg
Everyone should know the rules by now.
“terrorism is easy”
Yes. If you’ve got access to military grade explosives and weapons, a bag full of fake passports and the ability to disable security cameras then you’re laughing. Chuck in an identical and simultaneous security drill and the world is your oyster.
The point for me seems to be that Islam readily provides an excuse for the violent and mentally ill to go on the rampage in a way that Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism etc. really do not.
So there is something qualitatively different about Islam compared to other religions. At the end of the day it makes no difference. How can anybody ever say the one person is a “real” Muslim and another is not? If they say that what they do is in the name of Islam, who are we to argue with them? Especially if they’ve got an explosive belt on…
This business of foiling terrorist plots to justify their actions just does not “sit” with me without proof.
Oh we can’t tell you because of “National Security”.
WE in Scotland are about to get another English cop to lord it over us to replace House, who leaves with a barrow load of our money.
Once again failure rewarded!!!
Something that accrued to me last night I thought i’d share; Feel free scroll past.
Taking a view that a country is a bit like a person. The state is schizophrenic as are many people in the west. Including many I know.
It goes like this. – You can’t cumulative both brutality and kindness. Many come across like kind people, I see them on the BBC constantly, they act nice and civilised, but underneath they are hard violent uncivilised people who endorse murder and control weapons of mass death.
And like a person defence is actually quite different. The intention behind it, and it’s actually very effective to be defensive, But this is not defence, it’s how this country is set up, to attack. To use massive aggressive violence.
It reminds me of many authoritarian figures i’v known. They cultivate this air, so caring, but you know the violence domination and control that underlines there being. And even as they do brutality, it’s for ‘our own good’.
You can have very effective defence if that’s actually your intention. But like the local wannabe gangsters, most are really about how it makes them feel to dominate other people. And that’s really how this country is set up. To have a few dominating the rest, or anyone they feel they can under the wing of US power.
To these people it’s violence or your not doing anything “standing on the sidelines” so really they are endorsing the behaviour of this latests nut-job. They don’t see all the other things that could be done, or are done that actually help. What they want to do is stand out and that’s the function aggression and violence serve very well…
Countries that have good defence against terrorism. They are not ‘significant’ ones are they? They are ones that stay out of trouble if they can. Or provide actual humanitarian aid. Or who try and bring some sanity to the situation.
It’s criminal/ totally immoral for the actions of the state to imperil peoples lives, as it is for people. But that’s exactly what they do for their own ‘glorious’ feelings. And they say the ‘terrorists’ are evil. We put ours up for public consumption on a regular bases. They sit at the head of the establishment calling us appeasers for wanting other than violence. .
I hear it’s much the same for many living under ISIS control. A small gangster like state.
“I hear it’s much the same for many living under ISIS control.”
Complete and utter bollocks. What do you think would be the consequences if you voiced the same level of dissent against the authorities in Raqaa?
The incident is sharing top billing on the news channels along with the flooding. Ms Truss is chairing a COBRA meeting about it (hilarious in light of the usual reason for calling one) and the neocons will be heading up later with their mops and buckets to help with the clear up.
Murnaghan had the US Ambassador on. He announced a new US initiative for those who visit the US more than four times a year. It will enable them to bypass the immigration and passport queues. He said it will entail a very lengthy TSA process to obtain one, involving a two part system.
Every job you have ever had and every address where you have lived will be investigated. In other words, this country will be giving them all the information that the Americans don’t already have on you.
Lovely.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_Security_Administration
Its administrator. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_V._Neffenger
“The point for me seems to be that Islam readily provides an excuse for the violent and mentally ill to go on the rampage in a way that Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism etc. really do not.”
When Christianity has arguably been the backbone of current imperialist (pretty genocidal, hegemony)…I really don’t imagine much difference in the potential, as yet unmatched by so called Islamic countries.
What does provide the actual motivation for many in the ME is facts of the ground. Of course. But let’s ignore all that and make it about ‘their’ religion?
like our state, it’s also used by those who want this kind of conflict. But it’s really more about money and power and profits from conflict in any way they can.
Do you think it was a terrorist attack as stated by police? If guy did should this is for Syria it is I would say as even if ges doing it on his own as an IS sympathiser its a terrorist attack surely ?
Oops sorry meant shout This is for Syria
Thanks Craig. Keep saying it.
I’m pretty sure a few years ago it wouldn’t have entered anyone’s head to label this terrorism. Now everything is terrorism. There was even someone on the radio yesterday saying the online intimidation of Labour MPs was ‘psychological terrorism’. Soon we’ll need a new word to describe what the IRA used to do.
“What do you think would be the consequences if you voiced the same level of dissent against the authorities in Raqaa?”
I’m talking about the idealogical underpinning, IE, If our state could they would. And we are really heading in that direction.
But abroad, to brown people or Muslims? Their innocent lives mean nothing all the same. Foreigners…
And i’m not ‘pure’ English, or rich, So i’m sure i’m also not high up on there list of people who matter. Why i’m constantly persecuted by the state for even trying to get a minimum income to eat properly, witch i don’t.
Less lucky poor black people simply get shot. And the police can do know wrong. Is it really so different? Inquest-inquiry—-whitewash.
Isn’t it worse to the extent it’s the same here ? ie, That it’s well established and ‘official’ ? embedded in the makeup of the state and served as legitimate? I’m sure the bullet feels just the same..
I’d hate to think how many people get stabbed in London on a Saturday night. To label the incident at Leytonstone station an ‘act of terrorism’ is ridiculous in the extreme. If anything it highlights the fact that the mainstream media, and indeed much of the ‘alternate’ media, is now completely controlled and all singing from the same hymn sheet. The song is a major conflict in the Middle East, Russia be damned.
RE Paris: the Ministry of Truth keeps saying it’s the worst massacre in Europe since the Second World War. Well, leaving aside the Madrid bombings in 2004, in which 191 people were killed and thousands injured, in Paris in 1961 more than 200 Algerian protesters were murdered, by the police.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_massacre_of_1961
What’s a terrorist?
Incidentally, the day after the Madrid bombings there were massive protests all across Spain, and I do mean massive. The protesters were showing sympathy with the victims of the bombings, and also asking how the Spanish government could have allowed it to happen. To cut a long story short, it led to the fall of the government and the newly elected government pulled Spanish troops out of the Iraq war.
This might be why the Ministry of Truth doesn’t mention the Madrid bombings in relation to the recent Paris massacre.
You can start with a nice little Terrorist Incident in your back garden. All you need is a box of fireworks and a copy of the Koran. Don’t forget to shout “Allahu Akbar!”. If the neighbours report you, Frank Gardner will be discussing you in the context of global Islamist terror networks before the day is out.
Israel has ‘terrorists’. The IDF shoot them.
Swedish FM accuses Israel of ‘extrajudicial executions’ of terrorists
Israel’s ambassador to Sweden slams Wallström, saying that ‘focusing on actions terror victims take in self-defense only serves to draw attention away from the horrors of terrorism.’
12.05.15
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström caused another diplomatic crisis on Friday when she accused Israel of conducting “extrajudicial executions” of Palestinians committing terror attacks.
Wallström’s comments were made during a discussion at the Swedish parliament about the ongoing wave of violence and terror attacks raging in Israel.
/..
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4735042,00.html
As someone said this morning, the ‘man with the knife’ would have been dead rather than tasered if the incident had happened in America or Israel.
MJ, you left out the COBRA meeting.
Sure, any lone nut can flail a sharp around but to really make news you need Israeli government help. You’ll see when we contact-chain the killers back to their Israeli handlers. Don’t take it from some nym on the Internet, ask UNDOF
https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/undof/reports.shtml
UNDOF has documented how the government of Israel keeps the Islamic state on a very short leash. (Better hope that crate doesn’t fall into 4+1 hands!) One more crime against humanity for the trials following the war.
And the police can do know wrong. NO*
God I have so many stupid writing habits that are actually harder then spelling properly. If people want to know the root case. It’s a lack of confidence born of criticism from a young age at school. Making me overcompensate.
Cruel, vindictive, backward society we live in.
Leytonstone Tube station ‘terror attack’: Police appeal for footage
2 minutes ago
As June Kelly reports, video of the aftermath of the attack has been posted online
Police investigating a “terrorist incident” at an east London Tube station have urged witnesses who filmed the stabbing to share their footage with detectives.
A 56-year-old man was seriously wounded at Leytonstone in east London at 19:06 GMT on Saturday.
The knifeman reportedly shouted “this is for Syria”.
A man, 29, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and a residential address in London is being searched.
The 56-year-old is believed to be in a stable condition in hospital. A second man received minor injuries in the attack and a woman was threatened but unhurt.
Police Tasered the suspect, who remains in police custody. The stabbing is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Service’s counter terrorism officers.
Downing Street said it was monitoring the situation closely.
[..]
Roy Ramm, a former Met Police commander, said the attack appeared to be “random” and was “not like the Lee Rigby attack on a soldier.”
He said the knifeman did not appear to have an exit strategy.
Leytonstone Islamic Association released a statement in which it strongly condemned any sort of violence.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-35021094
~~~
I like the inverted commas. “terrorist incident”.
I wonder what religion the UK regime’s terror bomber pilots are? Is it a great, the only factor in their voluntary mass-murdering killing sprees? Triggered by the incantations of the sinister ‘Prime-Minister’ and the mystagogic cultish ‘House of Parliament’ that echo as one his solemn holy words and genocidal decrees. What a crazed deranged philosophy they must hold, instilled into them in the extremist ‘schools’ and ‘churches’ they’re delivered to, drugged, at a young age by state decree for ruthless indoctrination. At an advanced stage they even use so-called flight-simulators for dry-run preparation for their criminal acts of terror. If only the tax-payers who unwittingly fund them knew?
Anti-psychotics for neo-nates the new wonder-pacifier are now near ubiquitous, and have extra uses too, as a paint-stripper, a handy explosive when mixed with water, and sprayed on they’re beyond compare in removing barnacles from the surfaces of ships.
Rob
“I’d hate to think how many people get stabbed in London on a Saturday night”
I had the same basic thought, stabbings are frequent where I live. Not many death’s fortunately (some). But many fantasize about violence and have been part of some, glory in it.
Just yell ‘Syria!, or ‘allah akbar!’ it all changes then. Front line news.
Corbyn predicted before the Syria vote that there would be terrorist attacks, and that the blood would be on the hands of those who voted for the resolution.
Craig Murray.
I would like a good story, a success story for a change. Something uplifting.
I am sick of reading and watching killing, destruction, poverty creation and restrictions on Freedom. It is making me depressed.
I am going to say this again,” what you think about you bring about”. Do you not believe me?
Try this, think about sex and see what happens. Did it work?