大象传媒

The current British laws and twisted "freedoms" made it possible for British youths to become what they became and to do what they have done. The lax approach of the British authorities to that problem had already created havoc across the world. With every freedom comes a responsibility and the British have been amongst the most irresponsible of all "western" countries.

On one hand the government backs the United States in each and every military adventure, howsoever illegal it may be and on the other it lets extremists preach on the streets of your cities. It is a very curious policy.

The killer of American writer Daniel Pearl was a British citizen who was released from an Indian prison in exchange for the safety of hijacked Indian Airlines passengers. There were British born car bombers in Kashmir, suicide bombers in Israel and yes there were also Brits enlised in the Taliban. I hardly need to mention the shoe bomber.

None of that made the British government realize the dangers your citizens were posing to the world. There was no move to ban certain clerics who were openly fanning seeds of violence in impressionable youths. There was no move to wake up to the reality that your current laws (or the lack of them) have created an atmosphere conducive for the growth of crazy fanatics since those problems never came home. And then to top it up, you went on a war on the basis of a plagiarized Phd thesis off the internet!

My plea is not against an open society, but against an irresponsible one. The apalling fact is that the British government and lawmakers chose to solve a problem by ignoring it.

For heaven's sake get your act together. It's already late. Don't make it too late.

I am a little concerned about the term 'unimaginable scale'

This either means that they think the terrorists were going to use WMD in their plot or that the government thinks that I lack the imagination to contemplate an attack on a similar scale of 9/11.

The fact that they are concentrating their efforts on liquids and gels makes me think that it is possible that there is some kind of biological or chemical weapon involved. I doubt the government would tell us if this was the case. That would really set people off.

It is absolutely amazing how tactically unimaginative these Islamic terrorists are, We in America are very lucky that the terrorists have not attacked relatively easy soft-targets such as shopping malls. The day they realize the fear such an attack could cause on our population will one of unimaginable terror and consequence.

Hi World,
How do we know that this bomb plot is legitimate? From my perspective, it could just as easily be U.S. election year politics. And the UK is involved because when it comes to terror alerts, the U.S. government has no credibility.

After 9/11 when I flew to Florida from Boston they made me take a sip of my soda to prove it was soda. They stopped doing that for a couple years but it seems the paranoia was warranted.

I feel musch more anxious about a terrorist attack, given how close we obviously were, my daughter is a flight attendant, flying to Orlando regularly, I live in the USA and my family travel across the atlantic frequently, my family are coming over from the UK in November and from France at Christmas, I feel very nervous about that now! On the other hand they have done some excellent work in foiling the attempt! What can we do life can't stop, it didn't after 9/11!

As UK and USA are twin in foreign policy, sometimes standing alone on world stage as it is the case of their policy in Iraq, both have to work jointly in fighting terrorism at the national and international level. For terrorists, hitting UK or USA is the same for them as Pt Bush and PM Blair frequently use the same diplomatic language when talking about international crises, which terrorists use as a pretext to carry their deadly attacks.

The world can differ with USA and UK about some political matters. But everyone should unite to fight a common threat. If terrorists can’t make it in areas where security measures are high, they can select trouble areas to swell the number of their recruits, waiting for the opportune time to hit, wherever.

Your speaker asked if citizens knew what they're supposed to do in different threat levels. It's a good idea, but it misses the point of the U.S. Homeland Security Advisory System.

The HSAS is designed to implement government-level and commercial responses. For example, in the NRC's regulatory system, nuclear power plants are expected to take certain actions under yellow, which are augmented by actions by the state government in orange, which are further augmented by actions by the Federal government under red. This model of scaled response is similar in many industries.

No specific set of actions has been published for use by citizens at each of the levels of the HSAS.

We have to ask why Hezbollah was first created. It was created to be a deterant for Isreal. Isreal still occupies the Shaba Farms, so Isreal has never left the Labonan. It's Isreal who has invaded Labonan.

in Great Britain and The United States water filled bras are on sale. Could a female suicide bomber smuggle liquid explosive on a plane that way? How would you screen for that? .... And explosive filled breast implants ?

A cockney n Los Angeles

keep in mind that a small amount of explosive paste mixed onboard, perhaps in the lav,placed against a window would be enough to destroy an aircraft due to a sudden lose of cabin preasure.

i think the previous caller hagus, is ridiculus with his passionate claims i believe there is a real threat and i believe Isreal has a right to defend herself from hezbolla, and their supporters.

It is truly saddening that a sizable portion of the 大象传媒's listeners appear to see some absurd conspiracy theory (which almost always seems to involve the nefarious Jews, BTW) behind every actual or attempted terrorist attack in the world. Carl Sagan put it best when he said that "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence". In the absence of such evidence, the simplest explanation is also most likely to be the most true.

I'm a bit amused that the incidental finding of pornography justifies what was very much an intelligence fiasco - how easy is it going to be for those two young men to shake the air of suspicion that will now surround them? And given the nature of the many disrupted 'plots' in the USA and Canada, as well as the unfortunate Brazilian electrician shot dead by Special Branch with no apparent consequence.. well, some degree of skepticism is somewhat natural! Which is not to say that this plot was de facto not genuine, but surely the full facts will emerge in weeks and not hours.. I'll restrain from praise or condemnation 'til later!

Assad
Cleveland, OH

I am sick and tired of hearing Muslims from around the world being in a constant state of denial. Their religion is the cause of more misery and destruction than all other religions combined. They march in mass when a cartoon is published (I forget how many died) but when a Muslim blows up a wedding party or a pizza parlor you don’t hear a peep out of them.

Mustafa, the UN certified Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon on 16 June 2000. We can debate why Hezbollah was created, but it's intent with regard to Israel is clear -- to destroy it. Why not just be honest and admit that's a goal you support?

To the conspiracy theorists that think this is a government ploy to distract us from the lebanon conflict -- the terror plot was probably planned ahead of time but was going to be carried out as a response to the lebanon conflict. British intelligence probably acted to thwart it as they knew it was going to be carried out soon.

It is time for America and the United Kingdom to stop being politically correct and work the problem. You cannot adopt a policy of appeasement and still protect your people. We have not "demonized" the Muslim community, they have done it to themselves. If they do not want to be confused with terrorists, then they damn well need to start drawing bold lines that separate themselves from that appearance. They also need to go home to whatever country they are from and fix the problem themselves rather than expect others to do it for them.

I am a working class American, and believe that ANYONE who sees this as anything other than an attack on our way of life, is asleep at the wheel. I have always supported my government actions, my President, and our allies. It makes me feel wonderful to know that GB is on the ball. I salute you all for a job well done! I also stand behind what Martha in Washington said, You strike true with your remarks!!
-patrick, Port St. Lucie.

2 things ..

1) I'm not doubting the possibility that there are people out there that want to harm others thru explosions and/or whatnot .. do I doubt the possibility of this being a convenient time to have this divert the attention from the asinine war between israel and lebanon? No, I don't doubt the possibility, but I am reluctant to believe that because I choose to have faith in the goodness of people. In turn, I'm very happy to hear that the plot was thwarted.

2) How many of you heard this call from the US from Martha? She sounded unbelievably racist towards Muslims. People like her really disturb me. And no, I'm not one of those people who wants to seize opportunities to cry racism, but she was adamant in believing that it's people within muslim communities are hiding information about terrorists. Catherine was definitely right in calling Martha "ignorant" because that's exactly how she sounded on air. Hey Martha, if you read this, do you also think that Israel is "defending" itself against terrorists? You know, since clearly Israel doesn't do anything to any neighboring nations.

Wow, Martha's comments on your radio program today about all Muslims being responsible for the current state of affairs is short sighted and ignorant. She demonizes an entire population when she says something like that. It would be much like saying all Germans were responsible for the Nazi invasion during WWII. (I raise this example since she brought it up in the radio conversation.) And we know that was not true. There were Germans living all over the world at that time just as there are Muslims and Arabs today. Surely, they did not all support the Nazis let alone know what was happening. Let us not forget to differentiate between extremists and peace-loving human beings...regardless of their nationality or religion. Let us not forget that there are extreme Christians in our country too. Perhaps they have not committed a wide-scale autrocity such as at the WTC but they still have committed horrible crimes in the name of their beliefs (blowing up abortion clinics, determining whether they have the right to interfere in a woman's right to death.) Changing laws to suit one's religious beliefs is can be just as harmful as killing a thousan people.

I ask Martha, how is it productive to demonize an entire population? How will that help the world to "win the war on terror?" Should we find them all guilty and annex them like the Nazis did to the Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals and physically & mentally disabled?

Finally, where does Martha get her information to form her opinions and ideas?

Blair's continuous attempt to share Bush's pain has proven to be successful in this latest terror plot. I wonder if the english approve of this close alliance between the two presidents. If not, is Democracy really being preserved by the so called spreader of Democracy.

Shame on our president for repeatedly using the language, "Islamic Facists" and Islamo-fascists." Whatever happened to separating responsible, law abiding Muslims from terrorists? It is the presiden't responsibility to reiterate that there are good people in the world regardless of their religion. He is demonizing all Muslims by speaking in this way, only making it easier for Americans--some who trust his words (why?) as truth--to hate and have prejudice against one particular religion.

I am grateful to the British authorities that the plot was thwarted, but we need real leadership in the U.S., informed, cultured, educated and diplomatic leadership. Not someone who revels in "bustin" plots and intentionally, or sadly perhaps unintentionally spreads seeds of hate.

Subject: A Growing Case Against Muslim Integration

The muslims in the U.K., U.S. and other parts of the world go to their mosques or other places five time a day to pray to Allah, (presumably) so where do they find the time to engender all this hatred towards and homicidal motivation to conspire to kill their very own neighbors and countrymen, people who've done nothing more than give them a place in their country and society to live and a place in their community to work?

It's impossible for all members of the muslim community to be oblivious to what their sons, friends, neighbors and fellow muslims are doing, so why, unless of course they secretly agree with them or are themselves complicit in the violent acts they are perpetrating against the rest of us, is there not a single instance of a muslim extremist being turned into authorities by other muslims?

All evidence points to the fact that muslims put muslims first, before country, before allegiance, before loyalty. If that's the case muslims are building a serious case against themselves to be returned to their place or origin.

I thought the caller Martha's comments were completely racist and I was very disappointed to hear such an uninformed opinion about the Muslim community. She presumes to know something about an entire group based on the actions of very few. It is ridiculous to assume that most Muslims knows terrorists.

It appears that the world is split again between conspiracy theorists and alarmists. Meanwhile, people in the middle are left scratching their heads.

Truth is somewhere in between, where exactly, only the involved governments know.

Common sense dictates that if the terrorists really wanted to cause chaos and disruption then there are a lot of other soft targets that can have huge impact and chaos. That alone leads me to lean towards the conspiracy theory element of this news story. We all know Nov elections are around the corner and all of us in US still remember Chaney's remarks that if Kerry is elected, we will certainly be attacked. This is just another friendly reminder to American electoral that War on Terror is real. Apparently the gov't has continously failed to drive that point home and need constant reminder.

As a common average Muslim, it is hard for me to fathom any Muslim willing to take these measures to take innocent lives when there is no concept of collateral damage in islamic doctrine.

I want to say that "Martha from Arlington, VA's" comments earlier in the program are precisely the arrogant and ignorant nonsense that got us into this mess to begin with. To make broad accusations about a people who practice one particular religion is not only unfair, it smacks of moral superiority that has no place in our world if we truly want peace. I'm presuming Martha to be a so-called Christian, so I would like to say to her that the Jesus Christ whose teachings I follow would NEVER advocate the type of hatred (or any hatred) that she seems to possess. Martha, if you want peace, look within and heal your own issues first. Remember, when you point your finger at someone, there are three more fingers pointing back at you. Try it with your hand and see what I mean.

I am so overwhelmed by all the comments. What the world does not see is that this Terrorist Alert will only reinforced ignorance and racism against all Muslims and the Islamic faith. The United States and the UK does not see that their report of this new terrorist scare will only cause their people to continue to hate and blame a group of people who are not responsible for others' actions. How can we, as human beings, blame a whole race or religious groups based on certain actions performed by people who may look like them or practice the same religion? I am very afraid that this will lead to more hate crimes and violence against innocent Muslims who live in the US and the UK. I would like the US and the UK to declare “NO RACIAL PROFILING” at this time so these innocent people would not be blame for something they are not a part of just because they may hold the same religion or may look like the terrorist. If we are to call a certain race or religious group terrorist than isn't it be fair for others to do the same. For example, African Americans can call white supremacist “terrorists” because of their hatred in the past hundreds of years with lynching more than thousands of Blacks during the time of slavery and continues to do so in southern US. If we reject this as a form of terrorist attack and does not see it as the same, then what is it?

I am extremely alarmed at the recent news but thankful to Britian for taking action and working to protect their own citizens and citizens of this world.

I am also alarmed at the skepticism that this is real threat and that it is instead a plot between Bush and Blair to boost Bush's ratings.

Now everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I have to ask, does the hate you have for Bush cause you to disregard this constant threat? Does it help you sleep better at night to believe that this is not real? I'm just amazed at people who live in such denial.

I am not a Bush fan nor am I a fan of any politician, but to bury your head in the sand instead of taking this serious makes me very worried.

The threat is real and countries need to do all they can when they discover terrorists in their midsts. Afterall, if they take down the USA, do you honestly think you will be safe?

The caller blaming the terrorist problem on Islam is a bit lost. I want to point out that the reason that radical Christians don’t blow themselves up is because most Christian doctrine doesn’t allow the taking of ones own life - It is a sin. Whereas in some Islamic practices it is a honor to die in such fashion. This is a very important fact to recognize.

We must identify the reasons why people are willing to die to kill us and end our way of life. We can't continue to just isolate ourselves and hope to twart the terrorist plans. We have to deal with it from all angles. That includes examing our policy and actions.
I hope we will help the people of Lebanon recover from the Isreali invasion. Providing economic assistance that is not tied to horrific, unmanageable debt will help heal wounds.