Friday, July 22, 2011

Maybe we won't be noticed

Wikileaks cables say Norway's intelligence services have been complacent about terrorism.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/norway/8655964/WikiLeaks-files-show-Norway-unprepared-for-terror-attack.html

We still don't know for sure who carried out the attacks. It could yet be a mad loner. I doubt it. The attack likely means no one can simply assume they are safe, though, no matter how progressive they are. The home city of the Nobel Peace Prize committee is strewn with debris.

Too much of the western response to terror has been to talk softly - and hope terrorists attack someone else. As if terrorists care about how well-meaning you are. There was a story a few weeks ago about the Taliban strapping a bomb to an eight year old girl. At some point we must realize we are dealing with people who have an entirely different way of thinking than we do.

http://www.france24.com/en/20110626-afghanistan-young-eight-girl-used-in-taliban-bomb-attack-police

It is not that the underlying liberalism of the west is wrong, that foundational liberalism of our societies that is much deeper than any party differences. It is just quite rare in human history. Most people who have ever lived do not see the world that way. We forget that, vainly hoping the world will mirror our own reflection.

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