Brussels Attacks

[Suff]

i cannot believe that the airports can be so poorly attended by military., we all know the dangers we face with these terrorists who openly claim they will rule the world, heartbreaking situation for the innocent's caught up in this carnage.

Much as I blame the Belgian government for how they have reacted to the whole thing (as if it's a criminal gang you can just round up), troops in this case would not have helped. Brussels airport already had a high Police and Army presence. If they had suffered a Paris style attack they would have been completely prepared.

But what can the Army do when someone wears winter coats (not uncommon), with an explosive vest under it, invisible, then just presses a button. No warming, no way to detect it, just, boom. It takes more time to recognise the threat, lift your weapon, release the safety catch, aim and press the trigger than it does to simply press a button, even if the troops could see it and recognise it.

The only way to deal with this is the way the UK and the US are dealing with it. Essentially they are invading our privacy to catch the 0.01% of conversations which are terrorist related. I don't like it but I recognise that it is essential to provide our safety. Well either that or a pre-emptive strike on the religion itself but, apparently, nobody has the will for that.

[Workingman]

Thanks Kaz. It is a sobering thought. It's the decision I had to make when I decided to leave. Mrs S was pretty rattled when I explained how close it could have been if I'd stayed in my first job for a year longer (which they wanted me to do).

There, but for the grace of God. Good move, well timed.

Now, as I said earlier, this is not an army type war, nor is it one of hearts and minds. These murderers have no hearts and their minds have already been warped. What they are doing is using our hearts and minds against us, and it is working to some extent.

What we have to do in return is to be hard. It is unfortunate but, as Suff says, we have to accept some intrusion into our privacy in order to obtain intelligence. Where I disagree with government and the security agencies is this: If someone comes on the radar they should be taken out - no questions asked. That news should then be made clear to the "community" concerned, with the promise that more will follow. If members of that community then wish to leave the UK I would help them, making it clear that any that choose to stay will be constantly, 24/7, observed and if they even 'tweet' a threat it will be curtains for them.

[Suff]

It's pretty bad isn't it? Honestly there may come the time where anyone who is proven to have been radicalised; who then makes a threat, is treated as if they had carried out the threat.

The connotations for abuse are totally horrific and the laws which would need to be enacted to make it happen seem to be impossible for us to contemplate. Yet, the French have forced through a law which allows the government to strip a French citizen of their citizenship and expel them from France. There was huge outcry at that. But, in the end, it was passed.

What I mourn is the loss of our simple life.

When I was at school I cycled into RAF Waddington camp, to play squash, go swimming or play snooker in the naafi. On foot we used to walk through the hedges onto camp. Never really an ID check unless you cycled through the front gate where they might want to see your swimming pass.

This was the 1970's, IRA was a real threat, Quarters were open for all to walk into and we just got on with our lives.

Today if I want to go to RAF Waddington camp, I have to present ID, Quarters are surrounded with high fencing and gates on all the paths in. The only real easy way in is by the road and you are watched if you do not belong. The camp is separated from Quarters by high fencing also, no question of just wandering through the hedges.

I look at what my country has become and I wonder how much further we have to go down this road before it invades our entire lives? Until we become other than what we are?

For that, if I could just flip a switch and every jihadi terrorist on the planet dropped dead, I would flip that switch and not lose one seconds sleep over it. If that makes me a monster, we know exactly who created it.

[Kaz]

You aren't a monster. I am a woman, a mother of three, and one of the most soft-hearted people around, but I would also flip that switch in a heartbeat.

[Workingman]

Suff, when I went to RAFG Laarbruch in 1973 it was a dream. All the buildings were white with vegetation creeping up the walls. Then came Baader Minehof and the Red Army Faction, and along with the IRA operations things changed.

Suddenly we had razor wire everywhere. Everything was camouflaged in green and brown. Getting in and out of camp meant signing out, then signing back in. We put up with it because it was for our safety.

On my second RAFG tour, at RAF Wildenrath, things were still tight. You had to prove a need to be on camp or you were escorted to the cells. Even troopers without their 1250s got a night in the guard house until they were cleared.

It is time we used similar methods on our migrant populations whoever they are.

[meriad]

coming into this conversation a bit late... Suff, you were one of the first people I thought of when I heard the news yesterday morning and as has already been said by everyone; thank goodness you weren't living there anymore. That really was far too close to home.

But interestingly enough, I dropped of Karl and his family at LHR Terminal 2 yesterday for their flight to South Africa. We were aiming to leave well in time anyway to avoid the M25 rush hour but because of the happenings left just that bit earlier and really didn't need to. No traffic controls at the airport; no visible police presence anywhere it was quite astounding. I really would have thought they'd do a bit more, but unless it was all undercover, I didn't see a single police person.

As for flicking that switch - I'm right with you on that one WM; I wouldn't hesitate a single second

[cromwell]

I am not a Guardian reader but like Os, I visit their website. It is amazing.

Firstly because after every terrorist attack they rush into print with some journo or other saying how we mustn't be hasty, no knee jerk reaction, don't vote for the right wing, danger of an anti-muslim backlash, vast majority of peace loving etc etc.

And secondly because 90% of comments (when they allow comments) are saying what an absolute load of RUBBISH you are talking, mate. It's the same with the articles they print about the refugee crisis, all waffly half witted liberalism which immediately gets shot down by 90% of of replies.

On this subject most people are fed up with being told what they should be doing and how they should be feeling, I think.

ps - Glad you are OK Suff.

[Suff]

Thanks everyone.

It's why I took the decision. Seriously annoyed the company I was working with at the time, but justified.

Horrified for all those killed/maimed. Several people I worked with at ING used that route daily. It has probably touched me personally but I just don't know yet.

[Workingman]

I have been watching PMQ's and listening to the words of their right honourables and how outraged they are and how we must stand shoulder to shoulder with the Belgians. It was like a re-run after the Paris attacks - just words.

Meanwhile Donald Trump says that if he becomes President he will hit IS with everything America has got, wherever and whoever they are.

Trump might be right, but isn't that NATO's job? IS is a de facto state. It has a 'parliament', it collects taxes, it pays its workforce, it has an army. Members of the IS army have attacked NATO states including the UK, France, Belgium and Turkey so shouldn't NATO hit back? Its core tenet is "You hit one, you hit us all". Well, more than one has been it so it is time for all the others to hit back.

BTW, Suff. Did you know the IT guy David Dixon? He is the one Briton missing and was known to use the Maelbeek metro.

[Suff]

BTW, Suff. Did you know the IT guy David Dixon? He is the one Briton missing and was known to use the Maelbeek metro.

Name sounds familiar. I have a feeling we've met but can't clearly remember. Wasn't someone I was working with. Even more poignant.

[update]
Just seen the photo, he looks familiar too,,,