(2005-07-07) London Bombings

London is Dealing With Terrorism - multiple explosions. There's a blog covering the event and a Wikipedia page.

An AlQaeda group has claimed credit.

• John Robb notes Unfortunately, what we may find is that this group had few, if any, direct ties to known al Qaeda entities. In fact, it is likely to be an operation accomplished completely by terrorist entrepreneurs that are using it to gain entry (through contribution) into al Qaeda.

Was it because of London getting the Olympics bid? Or the G8 conference? Or Britain support for the War On Iraq? The AlQaeda statement implies the latter.

• John Robb posits Attacks of this type aren't aimed at the moral defeat of the UK's population. They are an "insult" meant to prompt more global fragmentation (an increase in military activity, isolation, and instability). Think in terms of "effects based" operations, particularly effects that damage the economies of target countries.

Britt Blaser on Tim Bray's suggestion to just ignore the terrorists. Our brain - specifically the reticular formation (so-called "ReptileBrain" (Lizard Brain)) is set up to face threats first and only seek opportunities when not threatened. That bias for threat info sells stuff to us. To that end, the media has grabbed and holds our attention, robbing us of the chance to pay attention to something other than the media. The coverage has no content relevant to personal safety. Our obsession with every imaginable "threat" to our person has overwhelmed our ability to maintain our personal compass in the life we really live in.

Jul21 update - another series of blasts, only very small this time (they only used detonators with no bomb).

• Mike Bloomberg/Ray Kelly respond by instituting NYPD random searches in the SubWay. Officials at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) said today that internal discussions about random checks had been going on for several weeks - before the bombings of subway trains and buses in London on July 7 and again today. Right into their Grand Strategy, say buh-bye to the Open Society.

  • Bruce Schneier comments - It's another "movie plot threat." It's another "public relations security system." It's a waste of money, it substantially reduces our liberties, and it won't make us any safer. And as a constructive recommendation says Counterterrorism is most effective when it doesn't make arbitrary assumptions about the terrorists' plans. Stop searching bags on the subways, and spend the money on 1) intelligence and investigation - stopping the terrorists regardless of what their plans are, and 2) emergency response (Disaster Response) - lessening the impact of a terrorist attack, regardless of what the plans are. Countermeasures that defend against particular targets, or assume particular tactics, or cause the terrorists to make insignificant modifications in their plans, or that surveil the entire population looking for the few terrorists, are largely not worth it.

  • And If an officer looking for explosives finds some other form of contraband, police said that person would be subject to arrest. John Perry Barlow can attest to that aspect of the War On Drugs.