Episteme
06-04-2004, 18:07
A large quantity of the chemical Osmium Tetroxide, which though unlikely to be fatal can cause blindness and severe skin irritation, has been found in the UK by Police and Intelligence forces (with US help), with several suspects arrested and more wanted by Police. Apparently the substance would have been packed into an explosive device to be detonated in a crowded, confined area like a shopping centre or nightclub. Along with the arrests made across the country last week, this appears to be proof that the British are doing their best to prevent a terrorist atrocity...
...but- the Newspapers appear to be more concerned with stories like the David Beckham's alleged affair with his interpreter. If an attack was successful, like in Madrid or Bali, the papers would be full of it for weeks, probably (given the current mood of most of the press in the UK) blaming the current government, especially Blair and Blunkett, for 'failure' to protect the public. I'm not the biggest fan of Blair, and I think Blunkett is the worst Home Secretary of my lifetime so far, but they and the Police and Intelligence services are often not being credit where it's due... it's as if the press are waiting for that attack to happen and understating the importance of current moves to prevent terrorist acts. I'm not saying we should boast about the success of these operations as it's likely there is someone, somewhere who is planning an attack and isn't being monitored (for example, the concentration on Islamists as potential threats might blinker us from stopping a Tim McVeigh-type nutjob), but it seems not enough attention is being paid to the successes as to the failures.
...but- the Newspapers appear to be more concerned with stories like the David Beckham's alleged affair with his interpreter. If an attack was successful, like in Madrid or Bali, the papers would be full of it for weeks, probably (given the current mood of most of the press in the UK) blaming the current government, especially Blair and Blunkett, for 'failure' to protect the public. I'm not the biggest fan of Blair, and I think Blunkett is the worst Home Secretary of my lifetime so far, but they and the Police and Intelligence services are often not being credit where it's due... it's as if the press are waiting for that attack to happen and understating the importance of current moves to prevent terrorist acts. I'm not saying we should boast about the success of these operations as it's likely there is someone, somewhere who is planning an attack and isn't being monitored (for example, the concentration on Islamists as potential threats might blinker us from stopping a Tim McVeigh-type nutjob), but it seems not enough attention is being paid to the successes as to the failures.