Blunkett plays down terror threat

From the BBC Website.

Home Secretary David Blunkett has rejected suggestions that an attack in Britain by al-Qaeda is "inevitable".

I'm sure we all hope he is right but I feel that one day, unless the world gets better at fighting terrorism, it is "inevitable". I think the only reason we have not been "hit" yet is because the UK is one of their better bases. The benefits are good and fraud is even better. Even if you are outed as a terrorist, ala Hamza the Hook, they can't even deport you.

For me the problem doesn't lie with al-Qaeda the organization as much as al-Qaeda the movement. I keep reading how they have morphed into autonomous, regional cells, making their own decisions locally. All we need is for some al-Qaeda wanabe group to learn from others as in Spain. As Darth Vader so aptly put it "all too easy". Substitute Osama or your favorite terrorist for Vader.

There are lots of lessons to be learned from the Spain bombings. One that stands out for me is, you don't need a 9/11 when a 3/11 will do nicely. Why? Because 9/11 galvanized a nation while 3/11 changed a government and that is, after all, al-Qaeda's only goal. On 3/11 terrorist all around the world had a "eureka" moment - so, that's how you do it. No need to kill thousands and become hated by the west.

UK elections are due in about one years time. Now is not the time to quibble over words Mr. Blunkett. Believe it or not but I am an optimist. However, in this case, my money is on Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens.