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Tony's Legacy? | 35 comments (35 topical)

Re: Tony's Legacy? (#19)

by LeftrightLeftright on Mon Jul 02, 2007 at 12:43:08 PM GMT

Terror Attacks from end of GW1 to GW2
1993 WTC  
1998 US Embassies (Nairobi & Dar es Salaam)
2000 USS Cole (tho' not a civilian target)
2001 9/11 
2002 Bali nightclubs

Terror Attacks since GW2
2003 - Istanbul (Synagogues)
2003 - Istanbul (HSBC & British Consulate)
2004  -Madrid trains
2005 7/7 - London tube & buses
2005 - Bali (town square & restaurants)
2007 Haymarket & Glasgow

Two things to say. This is a select list and statistics are notoriously unreliable. I do think that 6 major attacks (I have left out suspected attacks and the hundreds upon hundfred in Iraq itself)  in 4 years is something of an escalation from 5 attacks in 12 years though.  And it is also important to remember that in Al Qaeda's world, the occupation began in 1991, not with the overthrow of Saddam in 2003.

statistcis can be manipulated just as easily as the majority view, but I do think it is bizarre to suggest that terorrism is disconnected from the west's actions  in the region - including of course, using Saddam as a proxy against - wait for it - Islamic fundamentalists in Iran - back in the early 80s.


[ Parent ]

Re: Tony's Legacy? (#20)

by swatantra on Mon Jul 02, 2007 at 02:33:55 PM GMT

Thank goodness for statisticians. Leftrightleft is absolutely correct, there has been an escalation.
And anyone who doesn't see that needs their heads examined.


[ Parent ]

Re: Tony's Legacy? (#21)

by laurencemarshall on Mon Jul 02, 2007 at 04:15:15 PM GMT

This data is highly selective. If you actually look at the number of terrorist incidents in western europe it has actually declined since 1999. For a full breakdown, and possibly the means to refute my statement, see the terrorist knowledge base www.tkb.org.


[ Parent ]

Re: Tony's Legacy? (#22)

by Curlew on Mon Jul 02, 2007 at 05:16:07 PM GMT

If you look at the "who are we" section of that website Laurence, you'll see their close links with the US Department of Homeland Security, not exactly unbiased one would think. 

However thanks for the link - it will be interesting to see what they are up to!


[ Parent ]

Re: Tony's Legacy? (#24)

by CitizenAndreas on Mon Jul 02, 2007 at 05:41:24 PM GMT

It's a bit of a stretch to suggest that a body with links to the Department of Homeland Security would skew and misreport their data merely for the purpose of winning this particular argument.


[ Parent ]

Re: Tony's Legacy? (#25)

by laurencemarshall on Mon Jul 02, 2007 at 05:52:11 PM GMT

I did my masters dissertation on terrorism, and this site is the bible of all terrorist attacks for all researchers. Granted it has links to homeland security, but is run by RAND, who are a pretty neatral think tank.


[ Parent ]

Re: Tony's Legacy? (#26)

by jkitleft on Mon Jul 02, 2007 at 06:34:44 PM GMT

i don't think that's biased. A right-winger could make the same 'biased' charge if a Democrat was in charge of the department of security.


[ Parent ]

Re: Tony's Legacy? (#27)

by LeftrightLeftright on Mon Jul 02, 2007 at 08:16:18 PM GMT

Agreed it is selective data - in fact, I did say so -  but I think the general point I was making still stands - that what the West does in the Middle East is a cause and rallying cry for terrorists.

I wanted to ask - not having had time to look at the tkb site in detail, would the falling off in number of terrorist attacks in Western Europe not be enormously affected by political developments in NI and the Basque region? These have long been two of the most intenese conflicts, certinaly in terms of terror/armed resistance for decades, but would have to be seen separately from Al Qaeda inspired attacks.


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Tony's Legacy? | 35 comments (35 topical)
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