Tuesday, August 09, 2005

London Bombers are Not Al-Qaida


This is something that I have been thinking about for some time now, and I believe I've reached a logical conclusion. The opinions I am going to express today are my own. I haven't seen these theories expressed anywhere else. Nor have I heard any pundits on radio or television advance this theory.

I believe that the terrorists attacks in Londonn, England were not perpetrated by Al -Qaida. I believe these attacks were unauthorized copy-cat attacks by terrorists "wanna-be's".

You might well ask, "Why do you say that, O humble friend and uneducated blogger?"

Here is my response: For one thing, they failed in their second attempt. Al-Qaida wouldn't have failed. Oh I know that one of the captured attempted bombers has stated that the intention was to scare, and not kill people. But that one fact alone leads me to believe that they are not associated with Al-Qaida. Al-Qaida has every intention to kill and maim. Only scaring people without inflicting injury on them is simply not on their agenda.

Second, the leaders of Al Qaida have a flare for both the dramatic and symbolism, something that wasn't considered in the London attacks. This was demonstrated in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Does anyone really think that Al-Qaida attacked those particular targets because that was the way they could kill the most people?

I believe the targets of Al-Qaida on that fateful day were symbolic. Let's consider this for a moment.

1. The World Trade center represents to Al-Qaida the economic power of the United States.

2. The Pentagon represents the military power of the United States.

3. It is generally believed now, that the fourth plane was heading for the White House, or the Capitol building in Washington DC, The symbol of the Political power of the United States.

Think about that. Had the terrorists simply wanted to take out as many innocent people as they could they would have struck at a baseball game, or a football game or any other event with 30,000 to 80,000 people in attendance.


This is not to say that the terrorists did not want to kill and maim innocent people. They most certainly did. I am saying that the numbers of people they wanted to kill was of secondary concern for them. Their real targets were symbols of America's power in the World.

No, the London bombers are not affiliated with Al-Qaida. Of course, I'm sure Al-Qaida appreciates their efforts, nevertheless.

Also, let me add that Al-Qaida was most certainly aware, that had they succeeded in destroying the White House or the Capitol, it would not have brought down the most powerful government on Earth. It would have temporarily crippled us, but it would not have destroyed us. Even if they had killed President Bush and Vice- President Cheney with one attack it wouldn't have destroyed America. Don't think they are that naive.

I would like to say that that Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaida are not intelligent people but that would be seriously underestimating them. And that would be fatal.

7 comments:

The WordSmith from Nantucket said...

I haven't followed everything that's come out, Mark...but I'm pretty sure I've seen some news articles that suggests similar ideas to yours. This was early on, after the events of 7/7, when they were trying to determine the legitimacy of al-Qaeda connection. I'm not sure how centralized al-Qaeda is now as much of their old leadership is killed or captured....there are probably splinter cells and others inspired...al-Qaeda-wannabes and sympathizers (the copycats, you speak of).

Anonymous said...

Blogging goes mainstream
There's growing evidence that blogging is taking up a lot of online time. About 50 million Americans visited blogging sites during the first three months of 2005, according to a new survey by comScore Media ...
Very nice blog site!! Lots of info, bookmarked it.

I have a Tropical Ceiling Fan Blade site/blog. It pretty much covers Tropical Ceiling Fan Blade related stuff.

Come and check it out if you get time.

tugboatcapn said...

What's with the "ceiling fan" dude?
One thing that I would remind you of...
The U.S. Military has wiped out much of Al Qaeda's structure over the last few years. It may now be that all that has to happen for Al Qaeda to be responsible for something is for whoever IS responsible to say that they identify with Al Qaeda.
After all, the insurgents (Murderous Radical Islamic Scum) in Iraq right now are not really Taliban, or even Al Qaeda.
Just an observation...

Anonymous said...

Tug: I'm guessing spambots. Mark: You may be correct that the London Terrorists may well not be Al-Quaeda, but they certainly are terrorists. AQ has kind of become a brand name type thing anyway, like calling a pain reliever Tylenol, or an mp3 player an iPod, wheter it's that actual brand or not. It's also possible, Like, Tug suggested, that AQ has been so decimated that this all they have left to resort to, and the failed detonations may just be ineptitude.

Francis Lynn said...

When it comes to the terrosphere I think they are like the population of West Virginia - in some way they are all related.

If I buy a ceiling fan, will you promise to go away, Anonymous?

By the way, I've got a nifty four-legged tripod to sell. Check it out www.niftyfourleggedtripodcollectors.com

Mary said...

For the record, I'm not in the market for a ceiling fan or accounting software.

I think since we took the battle to the terrorists in fall of 2001, al Qaeda has been in disarray.

They don't seem capable of carrying out a spectacular attack.

Who knows if the London terrorists were al Qaeda members?

There may be many who are wannabes. Maybe they aren't receiving orders from al
Qaeda, but they are helping to do its work.

Right after 9/11, when Bush said that you're either with us or againt us, he basically said that the terrorist enemies of freedom are our enemies.

The London bombers fall in the "against us" category, al Qaeda or not.


Mark, I do think you theory makes sense.

Daffy76 said...

Yeah, good theory Mark. I'm not sure we can decisively say that the Al-Quackers are behind all this, but no matter what group they identify with, terrorists are still terrorists. I think it's important to maintain that whether you are Al-Queda or Al Sharpton, if you set off a bomb to scare people or to annihilate 1/4 of of the world's population, you're still a terrorist. They all should be punished accordingly. And if these people are copy-cats, they are still sick people.