Brits growing increasingly skeptical about “war on terror”

[sonz]

Shortly after UK police foiled a “terror plot” to blow up planes flying to the United States last week, and the sweep of arrests that followed, the U.S. President Bush said that the arrests are a "stark reminder" that the U.S. is "at war with Islamic fascists,” widening the enemy to many if not all Muslims.

Mr. Bush thanked British Prime Minister Tony Blair for "busting this plot."

But Bush’s words of support a week after Britain announced it had foiled a plot to blow up airliners over the Atlantic didn’t improve his image among the Brits.

A recent article on Malaysia Sun stated that the public support for the British government's alliance with President Bush and his so-called “war on terror”, has remarkably dwindled down since claims by British forces they foiled the “terror plot”.

Regular Brits are growing increasingly skeptical about the credibility of the so-called plot, the need and effectiveness of the increased security, and the government's motives for its "paranoia" with terrorism.

Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary publicly expressed both frustration and skepticism, saying that terrorists are “laughing at us," referring to what he described as over-reaction to recent events.

He further criticised the government’s recently imposed security measures as "farcical, keystone cop-like, completely insane, and ineffectual."

Ryanair's Chief Executive urged Blair’s government to loosen those strict measures and restore the in-flight luggage restrictions to what they were before the exposed “terror plot” by the police.

Delays at airports in recent days had been "entirely preventable if the government had put in a couple of hundred police or army personnel" to help airport staff, he said.

Ryanair further criticised authorities’ decision to ban items such as water bottles and toothpaste as "nuts".

He said it was "complete horse manure" to infer that passengers either faced delays or death.

"We are not in danger of dying at the hands of toiletries. Normal security measures have successfully prevented any terrorist attack on any British plane in the last 25 years," he added.

Also Captain Mervyn Granshaw, of the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) told The Scotsman, that pilots traveling away from home for days at a time had been told they could not take into their cockpits toothpaste, contact-lens solution and other liquids and gels.

"Since the extra security measures have been introduced there have been endless practical and frustrating problems for flight crew who has to operate the aircraft," he said.

"Do officials really believe that we need to be prevented from using liquids, given that we freely load and carry many thousands of litres of volatile aviation kerosene every day? The measure is illogical and frankly bizarre," he said, calling for holding a summit of airport operators, airlines, Department for Transport (DfT) officials and others.

"If we don't learn from the lessons of the past two weeks we shall be in trouble and aviation could grind to a halt for all the wrong reasons. This is not about special pleading but pilots are already responsible for hundreds of lives."

The DfT said it had "no intention of compromising security".

Readers of The Scotsman expressed great support for the British pilots and the Ryanair chief. Tom of Edinburgh said, "Michael O'Leary is spot on. Blair and Bruiser Reid are trying to scare us into the hands of the long-departed Josef Stalin."

Fred Stornway said, "This pathetic attempt by our so called labour government to frighten people sufficiently to allow them to impose draconian legislation and thus eliminate what remains of our human rights is, to say the least, farcical. I assume that taking a manicure set from an 88 year old woman traveling from the islands to Glasgow is ensuring that our security is not compromised. Likewise taking a small set of nail clippers from someone. Can you imagine an 88 year old woman slowly hobbling through the cabin, waving her manicure set and demanding to be taken to Benbecula? The whole thing is a joke, and is made worse by certain sections of the police, civil servants, as well as assorted jobsworths, trying to boost their own self importance. The sooner we get rid of the war criminal Blair the sooner we can return to some form of normality."

Robert of the USA also said: "Too funny. It's nice that someone in the airline industry is standing up for "reasonable searches" for all travelers. I agree that "we're not in danger of dying at the hands of toiletries" and we need to depoliticize these reactions from our governments. None of us wants to die at the hands of a terrorist...that's a given. But we also don't want to live in a police state and have terrorists "win" by taking away the very things that make us great: freedom and efficiency. We need to draw a line in the sand as a society when our governments cross it. Finally someone is beginning to voice that it is being crossed, even temporarily."
Malcom said, "Over 100 years ago, Alfred Nobel discovered that cellulose-based fabrics could be rendered explosive. So perhaps the next step will be that all passengers will have to change into special overalls (orange colored?) before boarding their flights. Their clothes would be returned to them upon arrival at destination!"

Ubi of Edinburgh said;

"What we're seeing now amounts to terrorism by the state: the government is using terror to control its citizens."

And Serena of London said;

"It is so refreshing and reassuring to read these comments supporting the voice of common reason amid the psychobabble of psychotic beauro/eurocrats."

Chris of Edinburgh said;

"All good points made and good to see people speaking their minds... how long before just doing that will get you arrested. With regards to the Geneva Convention and the rules these 'evil terrorists' are breaking... things like parading or humiliating political prisoners in the media... what about when they caught Saddam and every network from the BBC [“Blair” broadcasting co.] to CNN showed him being inspected medically... on television. A direct breaking of the agreements we are currently cursing others for. And the greatest irony... worrying about terrorists sneaking onto planes at Edinburgh Airport to cause pain and suffering whilst at the very same time we are allowing the CIA to fly innocent people via the same tarmac and terminals in order to torture them legally.

“Surely we all know about forced confessions... the number of framed 'IRA bombers' released after the 'confessions' were proven to be extracted at force through violence by UK police... none of our alleged wishes for world peace seem to start at home...I only feel shame for this set of messed up countries that is the not-so-United Kingdom... absolute shame."

[Keltoi]

I noticed your contention that a war on "Islamic fascists" is a war on "many if not all Muslims." How do you come to this conclusion? Unless you assume that many if not all Muslims are fascists, this makes no sense. Or is simply the use of the word "Islamic" the basis of this belief?

[AvarAllahNoor]

This made me laugh out loud! It's in relation to the two arabs (i think they were arabs) who were thrown off the flight by the rest of the passengers.

''Yes, of course they should have been thrown off the flight. They asked for it, flying with beards and speaking Arabic was provocative in the current climate. They should have learnt another language, perhaps Finnish, and gone with the goatee look. Also, they should have worn amusing 'Gonzo' hats and smiled to show they have a good sense of humour, because they were frowning way too much. When I fly, I always munch on a bacon sarnie and do Homer Simpson impressions in the waiting lounge.''