Home Politics & Debate
If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.

Al Qaeda's hidden victories?

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Recent events in the US have been saddening. The loss of life in a Chicago nightclub, the Rhode Island concert and the NY fire and my thoughts go out to very family affected.

But have each of these events actually been a "victory" for Al Qaeda?

Each has seen large scale panic ad some affcted have suggested that their fear of a terrorist attack has increased their sense of concern at the time of the event. Many of the news reports coming out of NY on Friday referred to WTC and similarities, and the first reaction of the law enforcement teams was a search for terrorist connections.

The gas in the nightclub turned out to be mace (or CS) and yet this wasn't apparent at first, and so people panicked, thinking it could be something worse.

So, does this increased level of fear actually play into the hands of OBL and his cronies? Or is it a reflection of the constant US Govt threat warnings creating paranoia?

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Since one of the objectives of terrorism is by definition to cause terror you could say Al Qaeda are doing well for themselves. It's a tricky situation for the government. In the (I believe) highly unlikely event that Al Qaeda managed to successfully mount a chemical or biological attack on US soil, precautions could save lives, and as such it is the responsibility of the government to keep the public informed and give them safety advice. However it is easy to go into overdrive about it, and at least on this side of the pond we have seen what hysterical load of bollocks the whole thing has descended into as stores throughout the US ran out of duct tape overnight.

    If you happen to live just on the outer limits of a nuclear, bio or chemical fallout, sealing yourself up with duct tape and plastic sheets might make the difference. But I doubt many untrained civilians could see through such attack hidden in their basements if they were right in the fallout zone.

    It'd be wiser to give them the just the basics on protection against WMDs, and concentrate on staying alert in their everyday lives and on the lookout for more conventional attacks.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    In Rhode Island, the whole thing was caught on film. The owners of the bar/club knew someone who worked at the local t.v. station. The t.v. crew went to that club to film what makes a club safe...as compared to the Chicago club.

    The sparks from the pyrotechnics used in the club are cool...you could run your hand through them. But the stick creating the sparks is red hot. There's supposed to be a fire marshal present if a band is using pyrotechnics inside. The owners say the band didn't have permission and some owners from other bars have side the band pulled that on them. Another band said they used pyrotechnics in that bar and the owners didn't care.

    The panic, which is on film, occured because there was cardboard behind the band...the kind used to pack eggs...that went up very fast and the flames went along the low ceiling. Heavy black smoke filled the room very fast. People tried to crawl their way out. Many people passed out by the door and blocked it. The panic was also caused because people could smell flesh burning. Also, people couldn't see the wide open door because the smoke was so black. One guy found it because someone was yelling come out here. He wouldn't have seen the big door in front of him.

    I think the terror warning will cause a panic some day though. I also thing in this era of terror, the warnings are warrented. We let a lot of creeps in and we have to get them when they go to make their move.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Incidents like these occured before Al Queda existed. They aren't anything new. They are just accidents that shouldn't happen, but do.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by Greenhat
    Incidents like these occured before Al Queda existed. They aren't anything new. They are just accidents that shouldn't happen, but do.

    I'm not suggesting that these incidents never happened before, just that the reaction to such incident marks a victory for Al Qaeda - either through people panicking, or through the media/police forces first reactions being to consider terrorism as a reason.

    That was all.

    It just shows a change in US mindsets, and that is a victory for the terrorists.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    *points up at his last post*:p
Sign In or Register to comment.