Shootings and explosion in Paris!

[lawros left foot]

We are right to give credit to the various agencies for foiling a series of plots within the UK - and also for recognising that 'luck' has been a significant factor too.

It's easy to overlook that only two weeks after 7/7/2005 a similar series of attacks penetrated the transport system within London - and only failed due to the incompetence of the bombers getting their DIY chemistry slightly wrong. Subsequently two car bomb attacks also failed. Vigilance by members of the public was a factor in these attacks being discovered. There was also the botched attack on Glasgow airport and the Lee Rigby tragedy. However a series of other attacks were disrupted in the advanced stage of planning or implementation. I suspect there may be other potential attacks that have remained secret, for intelligence reasons.

So while we should be thankful for the continuing vigilance of our security services - and long may this continue, I also fear that we are on borrowed time.

It does concern me that the respective thin blue, red and green lines within our emergency services, the NHS and the military are now (or becoming) sufficiently stretched that they may struggle to respond to and contain any significant attacks, especially if there are simultaneous incidents, which we know is likely. Of particular worry is when the bad guys/girls eventually resort to using 'dirty' devices that will substantially complicate the containment of incidents.

After 9/11 the Blair Govt introduced a raft of new legal powers and supported this with a range of specialist equipment and training for the emergency services and other agencies. A range of 'dirty' scenarios were anticipated and planned for. Dealing with such incidents will be very resource intensive. However it concerns me that the personnel trained and practiced in this response are already becoming depleted or struggling to maintain proficiency in their 'clean' roles, let alone a 'dirty' incident. It could be very challenging to deploy sufficient resources in a timely and effective manner, with the implication that containment and resolution of incidents is likely to be more protracted.

All very true, it is all very well to throw money at preventing these atrocities, but when the madmen get lucky, we are going to need all the emergency services we have .

As in a lot of things, this government knows the cost of everything, and the value of nothing

 

[easynow]

We are right to give credit to the various agencies for foiling a series of plots within the UK - and also for recognising that 'luck' has been a significant factor too.

It's easy to overlook that only two weeks after 7/7/2005 a similar series of attacks penetrated the transport system within London - and only failed due to the incompetence of the bombers getting their DIY chemistry slightly wrong. Subsequently two car bomb attacks also failed. Vigilance by members of the public was a factor in these attacks being discovered. There was also the botched attack on Glasgow airport and the Lee Rigby tragedy. However a series of other attacks were disrupted in the advanced stage of planning or implementation. I suspect there may be other potential attacks that have remained secret, for intelligence reasons.

So while we should be thankful for the continuing vigilance of our security services - and long may this continue, I also fear that we are on borrowed time.

It does concern me that the respective thin blue, red and green lines within our emergency services, the NHS and the military are now (or becoming) sufficiently stretched that they may struggle to respond to and contain any significant attacks, especially if there are simultaneous incidents, which we know is likely. Of particular worry is when the bad guys/girls eventually resort to using 'dirty' devices that will substantially complicate the containment of incidents.

After 9/11 the Blair Govt introduced a raft of new legal powers and supported this with a range of specialist equipment and training for the emergency services and other agencies. A range of 'dirty' scenarios were anticipated and planned for. Dealing with such incidents will be very resource intensive. However it concerns me that the personnel trained and practiced in this response are already becoming depleted or struggling to maintain proficiency in their 'clean' roles, let alone a 'dirty' incident. It could be very challenging to deploy sufficient resources in a timely and effective manner, with the implication that containment and resolution of incidents is likely to be more protracted.

I think the military would be perfectly capable of deploying forces around the major cities of the UK. It wouldn't that much of a stretch.

 

[sir albion]

Just saw that clip from the camera in the restaurant...
Christ how lucky were those two girls?
Stood over them to shoot them at point blank range while they was on the floor and the gun had no bullets left...Christ unreal or what.

 

[dazzer6666]

I think the military would be perfectly capable of deploying forces around the major cities of the UK. It wouldn't that much of a stretch.

Agreed, but can't help thinking there is going to be a very real atrocity in the UK at some point. Almost impossible to prevent, but I suspect our services are doing a remarkable job of prevention.

 

[cloud]

Given the way that they like picking significant dates, eg Friday the 13th, 911
I would wager that something will happen on Christmas Day, when many will be off-duty

 

[dazzer6666]

Given the way that they like picking significant dates, eg Friday the 13th, 911
I would wager that something will happen on Christmas Day, when many will be off-duty

Nah....not enough people around. I'd be more worried about something like the switching on of the lights on Oxford Street (very easy to hide in the crowd), pre-christmas shopping mall or similar.

 

[alfredmizen]

Nah....not enough people around. I'd be more worried about something like the switching on of the lights on Oxford Street (very easy to hide in the crowd), pre-christmas shopping mall or similar.

did you used to work in les deux alpes ?

 

[dazzer6666]

did you used to work in les deux alpes ?

Don't even know what that means......Twin Peaks ?!

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Don't even know what that means......Twin Peaks ?!

Ski resort

 

[knocky1]

Chucky's here.

 

[Hastings gull]

I think the military would be perfectly capable of deploying forces around the major cities of the UK. It wouldn't that much of a stretch.

Yes, agreed. The original post offers no real evidence for his assertions, other than his opinions by saying that there are cuts, services are stretched, and he fears for the future.

 

[dazzer6666]

Ski resort

Never skied.......knees wouldn't take it now.........#oldgit

 

[easynow]

Agreed, but can't help thinking there is going to be a very real atrocity in the UK at some point. Almost impossible to prevent, but I suspect our services are doing a remarkable job of prevention.

yeah it does feel like a possibility, but like you said, I'm sure the best people are on the job.

 

[alfredmizen]

Don't even know what that means......Twin Peaks ?!

no worries, its someone else on here.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Never skied.......knees wouldn't take it now.........#oldgit

But you're a long distance runner?

 

[dazzer6666]

But you're a long distance runner?

Try to be......just not a very good one........can guarantee an injury in the first 5 mins if I try skiing.....

 

[Machiavelli]

Your completely right, it's pretty pathetic that political correctness will be placed higher than the security of our countries. Whatever they like to tell us, the problem is within the religion, the religion is in a mess and I don't see anything changing. They will just keep allowing more and more people to flood in to the EU, which will also drag all the political, cultural and religious problems. This is why people are starting to protest, they feel uncomfortable with the rate of change and are starting to feel unsafe.

Things are going well on this thread, then.

 

[Hastings gull]

Things are going well on this thread, then.

Any chance of a constructive comment at all?

 

[Soulman]

Things are going well on this thread, then.

I think that now the penny has dropped, or at least dropping, then obviously a more depressed stance is starting to emerge.

 

[Machiavelli]

Any chance of a constructive comment at all?

Sometimes it's better to let others do the talking.
But if you really want me to say something constructive, to the best of my knowledge there are about 1.5billion Muslims in this world. I'd suggest that there's quite a wide variety of views and people within that number. Just as there are in the world's Christian community. And in the other religions. And also within the atheists, which is a far smaller number.
Feel free to reciprocate.