July 16, 2005
Brainwashing
One of the more depressing things about the recent bombings is the refusal of a lot of people to try and understand why the bombers did what they did. The family of one is claiming this morning that he was 'brainwashed' - a concept, that I remember from childhood, that you can re-program someone into something they weren't before. Even worse on question time last night on radio 4 on of the participants when questioned by whichever Dimbelby presents the show said point blank that he did not believe that the bombers had a motive and that it was a rational act. This kind of head in the sand reaction will just keep the bombers coming.
The first thing to recognize is that these people believe in an afterlife that is as real as Paris or Bognor Regis. After the bombings they are going to go there and they will be heros. One of the questions children have about heaven - is if it's so great why don't people kill themselves and go straight there? and of course all religions have a whole raft of memes to get rid of this kind of thinking along the lines of killing yourself being a sin so you don't go there. Listen to the interviews with the bombers though - they are not thinking "Oh I will die on tuesday and then...?". They are thinking "On tuesday I will let off a bomb and then go to heaven".
As for killing innocent people - they don't think that we are innocent. History is full of one group of people deciding that another "don't count" so this is much easier to understand.
If we don't get our heads round this and see that these bombers feel that what they are doing is a very real contribution to the war that they perceive as being fought then we will never stand a chance. Some of the things that have been said recently have been very insightful. It has been suggested that the Muslim community needs to engage its young people and address these issues, to show that there are political solutions to these problems without resorting to violence. And the west needs to consider its actions carefully before the "war on terror" becomes the primary cause of terrorism. We already went to war with Iraq on false premises - there where no WMDs and there was no link with Al Queda at the time although there is now. You might argue that we brought democracy but try telling that to the families of people who die every day.
UPDATE: Tony Blairs comments today show at least some sign he understands this, perhaps he is finally beginning to understand.
July 13, 2005
War and Terror
It is very interesting that research on the materials left behind by suicide bombers, and interviews with would be or failed suicide bombers, reveals that the primary motivation behind the attacks is to stop occupation of their 'homelands' by western military. So far from reducing the risk, our war on Iraq as actually massively increased the risk to ourselves and our allies.
The Logic of Suicide Terrorism
Also of minor note is that the suspected bombers seem to have been UK citizens and therefore would have had legitimate ID cards if such as system was in place.
July 12, 2005
Number 3
We have another child on the way. I think this is going to be the last one.
July 07, 2005
A good day to be working from home....
Just thought I would check in and say I'm fine and fortunately out of London today.
One thing I really wanted to comment on is how well the emergency response in London is working. I am most impressed.
Its is also worth reading my friend Ricks comments on my last entry on ID cards. An interesting perspective.