carnival of get a grip

Says Max Hastings:

The usual compromise is that extreme security checks are introduced for some days following a major incident. Then, when the headlines cool and the economic disruption becomes intolerable, security reverts to "normal". This does not represent a logical approach, but it is hard to see any way around it in a democracy vulnerable to media frenzies.

But it’s not the democracy that’s vulnerable. If you check out this google trends analysis, the weekend’s attacks resulted in a spike of interest in terrorism of almost precisely zero. The response of Londoners to the attacks was to get up in the morning and go to work. And the response of Glaswegians was, well, Glaswegian.

Asked on CNN how he restrained the guy, Smeaton's response was, apparently: "Me and other folk were just tryin tae get the boot in and some other guy banjoed him"

see also: and this: The government response so far has been more verbally measured than during the Blair era and presumably the terror alert has been raised to critical to cover their flank in the issue. But if the dial’s been moved to eleven for a network some of whose members are in custody and who don’t know how to make bombs anyway what do you do if and when someone more capable comes along? Anyway, here’s a small carnival of get a grip. First up, John Robb:

The interesting analysis is that while the desire to manufacture of car bombs has percolated to London (in this case, an amateur DIY fireball through the use of propane cylinders, gasoline and cell phone triggers), the operational technique is still underdeveloped and likely to remain so in the majority of instances (until certain preconditions are met). However, in this security environment, there doesn't need to be much of an explosion in order to prompt a considerable and expensive over-reaction.

On the Baghdad on the Thames proposition:

Iraq is a de facto failed state awash in weapons, bomb-making materials and people professional experienced in the art of making infernally effective improvised bombs. As far as DD can tell, London is not a failed state and it is not obviously overflowing with handy and always available large bomb-making materials. So while it may be tempting to make comparisons between the two for the sake of the argument that since it's happening there, it will eventually happen in London in the same way, it is not ruthlessly logical to embrace the idea.

From Dick Destiny, who’s also good on the Glasgow attack:

Your friendly neighborhood GlobalSecurity.Org Senior Fellow will assume readers may agree pouring gasoline under your crashed vehicle on the fly and setting yourself on fire isn't probably the best way to rig an improvised vehicular bomb. And a very good thing that is, too!

Larry Johnson:

Are there jihadist extremists in the world who are willing to kill innocents? Absolutely. Are they amenable to negotiation? No. I am not in the, "have you hugged a terrorist today" camp. However, we need to stop equating their hatred with actual capability.

If today's events at Glasgow prove to be linked to the two non-events yesterday in London, then we should heave a sigh of relief. We may be witnessing the implosion of takfiri jihadists--religious fanatics who are incredibly inept.

And don't forget to buy the T shirt.

UPDATE: Interesting ARRSE thread; mentions Jarking too, as per Tom Griffin downblog,

Comments

[john b]

In other news, a Swindon shopkeeper wins the award for "most paranoid loony":

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/6264548.stm

"Shall I sweep up this white powder and not worry about it, or shall I assume it's t3H @NThr@x?"