BLINKERED BY SPIN
>Re: Shakje
I largely agree with most posters concerns regarding T5 sweep fingerprinting and, to a slightly lesser extent, the relentless growth of Council run CCTV systems, though perhaps from a slightly different perspective than that normally aired here, However, this is not why I’m posting.
For my sins my profession dictates that I am actively – and unfortunately frequently – involved in a variety of counter terrorist operations here in the UK. I have been so involved for over 2 decades now and well remember our commitment and defence against Irish terrorism like it was yesterday, that’s because in reality it hasn’t altogether gone yet, not everyone gave up the struggle – you just don’t hear about it as its now largely (but not exclusively) confined to NI. That was a very real conflict to me as, amongst other ‘things’, I came perilously close to catching a secondary device, fortunately it was found in time and only the ‘come on’ detonated – and that was here on the mainland.
Today our focus is clearly on certain rogue forms of Islamic fundamentalism and, regardless of the who, what, when where and why this all came about, it’s still the likes of me who have to deal with it; and the simple fact of the matter is that we have been busy, very busy indeed. I can honestly say that my involvement in this particular issue has been far more extensive (and indeed eye opening) than anything I previously encountered with the Irish variety – not least because a) we all knew that they intended surviving their activities and b) it was at least theoretically possible to infiltrate or compromise their groups.
I have seen and experienced some disturbing people and events this last couple of years, materials and intentions that I would once have dismissed as utterly improbable - but now no longer. It has been an uncomfortable education. So much has happened in fact that I often find it difficult to believe quite how we’ve got away with it so lightly. The law of averages dictate that this kind of luck cannot continue indefinitely. There is much I can’t and shouldn’t say in such a forum as this for, I hope, quite obvious reasons, however, I will state that one relatively recent operation was directly responsible for saving far more lives than was lost in 9/11, perhaps 3 times as many! I know because I was there and saw what was intended. The fact that you may or may not ever hear the full story is largely irrelevant to the reality of the situation (though look out for a forthcoming trial).
I am continuously surprised that as media savvy as the average Register reader purports/appears to be, so many of you seem just as vulnerable and beguiled by the simplistic claptrap peddled by the press as do the masses. Few seem to consider what stories never get reported and why; the absence of information does not negate the reality of events. All things being equal, the odds of you as an individual being involved in a terrorist attack are indeed highly unlikely, but that does not equate with the odds faced by certain UK citizens in general, sadly there will be families here in the UK destined to be forever blighted by terrorism – to believe otherwise is desperately misguided or, at best, wishful thinking. And with regard to CBRN based devices, ignorance is clearly bliss!
The threat is very real and potentially far more immediate than anything we’ve experienced before.
You don’t have to believe me and you probably won’t if your particular dogma biases you to a different viewpoint. I really do wish I was wrong and none of this was happening but I’m afraid that’s not the case. Fortunately, everyone here has the right to their own opinion and, dare I say, their own particular cloud-cuckoo land – and in the big scheme of things that’s probably for the best, at least you guys get to sleep at night.
You can flame all you like, it changes nothing.