The Attack on Innocents and Parliament

Until Thursday, I had not heard of Aysha Frade, a teacher and mother of two young children, nor had I heard of PC Keith Palmer, who guarded an entrance at the Houses of Parliament. Both are dead, victims of yesterday’s shocking act of terrorism. The terrorist used a car as a lethal weapon as he mowed down dozens of people on Westminster Bridge and soon after knifed PC Palmer to death. ISIL has claimed responsibility for the outrage.

Almost in an instant, the media went into frantic mode, constantly reporting on the event, accompanied by pictures showing virtually nothing. At first, there was actually little to report. For good reason, the authorities were not releasing information in case there were other terrorists ready to let loose their evil trade. Yet the media felt the need to get into “Princess Diana Mode”, reporting on non-news for hours and hours.

Terrorist acts must be so frightening for those close to the scene but there seemed to be little panic elsewhere in town. We Brits are known for our stiff upper lip and a determination to get on with life.  However, this attitude did not percolate through to the press who were in full hot-air flight. Quite how this helps or impresses is difficult to understand. Is it peer pressure? Is it because what one media outlet says needs to be repeated by the others?

Within hours, news anchors were asking whether the event was a failure on the part of our security services. After all the terrorist was a convicted criminal and known to the police. Incidentally, his last conviction was twelve years ago. Quite rightly, the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, said it was far too soon to make any judgments about security but thus far, she knew of no such failure. Although it was left unsaid, it has been many years since terrorist activities have been on our streets. The London bombings of 2005, the raid on Glasgow Airport in 2007 and the murder of Lee Rigby four years ago are the only examples of which I am aware. At a time when there are far too regular terrorist outrages all over the world, our security services have performed brilliantly keeping us safe. Not that this is a reason to feel complacent. Successive governments and the security services have been vigilant and prevented numerous terrorist acts.

If you are wondering why this event has an American political element, it is because the Trump family have decided to stick their oar in. Yesterday, Donald Trump, Junior, criticized London Mayor Sadiq Khan for saying: “Terror attacks are part and parcel of living in a big city. I am afraid that London, New York and other major cities around the world have got to be prepared for these sort of things. That means being vigilant and having a police force that is in touch with communities.”

Baby Trump has copied his father’s habit of turning to Twitter to air his views: “You have to be kidding me?!” He then copied part of Khan’s statement that terror attacks are part of living in big city. The first obvious comment is that Junior cannot punctuate. Second, what experience does he have of running anything, except a division of his father’s business? He has no experience whatsoever of running a city or even part of it. Third, how is it helpful to take the Mayor’s comments out of context? Khan made these comment six months ago, when he slated the future President for his “ignorant” take on Muslims. Also, Khan was sympathising with Americans for an outrage in Chelsea, Manhattan, with the loss of many lives.

America has no record for Junior to boast about when it comes to prevention of terrorist outrages. In July, 2016, six people were killed and ten injured in Dallas, Texas. Many of the victims were police officers. In November, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio, a vehicle was used to kill one and injure eleven. In January, 2017, at Fort Lauderdale Airport, five people were killed, six were injured and 12,000 were evacuated. In the face of the evidence, does Junior really believe terror attacks are not part of city living?

Why did Junior get involved? The impetuous lack of wisdom and misuse of Khan’s old comments reminds me of the way his father conducts politics, making unconsidered and ridiculous tweets. I would not be surprised to find that Junior’s actions were the result of instructions from his father, whose official comments on Thursday were dignified and low key. Certainly, the brief tweet made by Junior has that senior Trump feel to it. Khan had attacked the President as ignorant. This was the President getting his own back.

Wednesday’s victims came from eleven countries. The Mother of Parliaments has been turned in to a crime scene. And our government now has a very difficult balancing act to perform, weighing liberty and security. What is needed is support from friendly governments, not cheap shots from someone who is totally unqualified and should know better.

 

Donald Trump has been diagnosed with POTUS Interruptus. His second Immigration EO is stuck in the Courts and his American Healthcare Bill is in shreds. Perhaps he might consider that the businessmen, global warming deniers and racists in his cabinet are falling short and that he needs much better guidance on how to co-exist with the legislative and judicial branches of the US Government.