The Glasgow Attack

I’ve been on the road lately, visiting some family in Camp Lejeune because, y’know, I hate the troops so much. While I was getting ready and getting moving, I missed the story concerning an attempted (or possibly successful, depending on how you look at things) terrorist attack on an airport in Glasgow.

Two men rammed a jeep into the entrance of the main terminal at Glasgow Airport on Saturday, sending a burst of flames into the air and terrifying bystanders. Authorities said the attack was linked to two attempted car bombings Friday in London and raised the national alert to “critical,” the highest level, which means they believe another attack is imminent.

Scary stuff, no? This was an actual attack, though it was a stupid one. So far all we’ve heard here in the US was the “Miami 7″ bullshit or a so-called attempt to blow up the Sears Tower. In this case, the men actually went through with it. The hunt is on, and a fifth arrest was recently made.

British officials intensified the hunt Sunday for what they called an al-Qaida-linked network behind three attempted terrorist attacks, announcing a fifth arrest and conducting pinpoint raids across a country on its highest level of alert.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said “it is clear that we are dealing, in general terms, with people who are associated with al-Qaida.” He warned Britons that the threat would be “long-term and sustained” but said the country would not cowed by the plot targeting central London and Glasgow’s airport.

Now, this seems rather legit. We’ve been looking at terrorism as an “over-there” thing all this while, and the attacks we see tend to feel like large-scale military endeavors. Coordinated efforts to bring down towers and blow-up landmarks. But that isn’t the reality of terrorism that people in Iraq have to deal with.

In Baghdad, people aren’t afraid that 15 men are going to assemble a neutron bomb while riding an airplane and fly it into Parliament. It’s roadside bombs on every corner, suicide bombers running into crowded buildings and buses before detonating their vests. As Prime Minister Brown’s terrorism expert said, they’re importing the tactics they learn in Iraq into the UK, and one can only assume to the US as well.

We’ve never had car bombers in the States, no suicide bombers and churches being set on fire. Yet it seems like that’s what’s coming. So tell me why on earth doesn’t our government seem to care that much? Take Tony Snow’s comments.

There will some inconvenience to passengers in terms of longer wait times — that’s already being reported on some of the networks. Local police also have the option of invoking whatever measures they may deem necessary or appropriate. Again, the most you’re going to see right now is some inconvenience, some increased inconvenience for airline passengers, more likely at large airports than small.

The threat level doesn’t go up, and we’re basically telling them that we won’t be increasing security at small airports so go ahead and attack. Way to take things seriously, Tony Baloney.