Rosemary's Thoughts: UK: 30 active terrorist plots

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

UK: 30 active terrorist plots

Posted by Rosemary Welch at 4/15/2008 04:17:00 PM Labels: enemies, g-News, open tb

In response to A NEWT ONE who is wondering why there are no 'big media' writing about this issue, I have an e-mail from ACT! For America that discusses al-Reuters article about this same issue. Here is the article:

30 plots on UK

Jacqui Smith reveals new terror threat
By Ian Kirby

HOME Secretary Jacqui Smith last night revealed security forces are investigating THIRTY deadly terror plots which threaten mayhem across Britain. She told the News of the World: "We now face a threat level that is severe. It's actually growing. "There are 2,000 individuals who are being monitored. There are 200 networks involved and 30 active plots."

And she warned the menace of Islamic fanatics is mounting so fast that police will be unable to cope within a year—unless they are given new powers to lock up terror suspects for longer. At present cops can hold suspects for up to 28 days, but the Home Office wants that increased to 42 days.

"We can't wait for an attack to succeed and then rush in new powers," said Mrs Smith. "We have got to stay ahead. Because we now understand the scale of what is being plotted, the police have to step in earlier—which means they need more time to put evidence together.

Computers

"We task the police and the security agencies with protecting us. Frankly, if they say to me it's getting more difficult and we need more time to investigate thoroughly, it is my duty to provide them with the tools they need.

"The danger has increased over the past two years. Since the beginning of 2007, there have been 57 people convicted on terrorist plots. "Nearly half of those pleaded guilty—so this is not some figment of the imagination. It is a real risk and a real issue we need to respond to."

In our exclusive interview Mrs Smith also revealed that in 2001, at the time of the 9/11 bombings, Britain's anti-terror cops seized and analysed just ONE computer and no computer discs. Yet by last year their haul had risen to a staggering 400 computers and 8,000 computer discs containing BILLIONS of vital items of data.

At the same time, the records held by Scotland Yard's anti-terror force have soared from 69,000 files four years ago to 200,000 this year.

The Home Secretary also pointed out that before the detention period for suspects was raised from its original 14 days to 28, many people argued the new law was unnecessary because the powers would never need to be used. But Mrs Smith said: "Well, we did need to. Since that time we have needed to hold 11 people for longer than 14 days—and six of them for a total of 28 days.

"The complexity of these plots is growing and the number of international investigations is greater than before. Each time a plot is uncovered, the terrorists learn and they develop. "That's why there is a massive increase in the way they are using technology and encrypting information. So it takes time to get the evidence you need to charge somebody."

This week the Home Secretary will step up the government's "Prevent" campaign—its battle against Islamic extremists who preach hate and indoctrinate potential jihadi recruits. On Wednesday she will announce a new deal she struck with the Pakistani government on a visit last week. It will allow respected moderate Islamic clerics to be brought over from Pakistan to help British imams combat extremism in the Islamic communities.

Mrs Smith explained: "The vast majority of British Muslims have a Pakistani heritage. If we work with the government there we can win the arguments. "We need to do more to tackle those places where radicalisation is developing—in prisons, schools, higher education—so that people are getting the right messages about what it means to be a British Muslim." She added: "We will also work to ensure we identify vulnerable people being groomed for terror—in the same way we protect young people from being dragged into crime and abuse." [Source: News of the World - UK.]

Reuters interpreted to mean:

BRITISH police and security agencies are monitoring 30 terrorism plots, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said in extracts of a newspaper interview released today. "We now face a threat level that is severe. It's not getting any less, it's actually growing," she said in an interview to be published tomorrow in News of the World.

"We task the police and the security agencies with protecting us ... There are 22,000 individuals they are monitoring. There are 200 networks. There are 30 active plots," she said.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour government is seeking to extend pre-charge detention of terrorism suspects to 42 days from the current 28-day limit. But Smith faces a tough task steering the controversial provisions through parliament. The opposition Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties have both said they will vote against extended detention. Labour backbenchers are also threatening to rebel and vote down the clause in the Counter-Terrorism Bill.

"We can't wait for an attack to succeed and then rush in new powers," Smith said. "We've got to stay ahead. Because we now understand the scale of what is being plotted, the police have to step in earlier, which means they need more time to put evidence together."

Britain has seen a marked increase in militant Islamist plots since it joined the US in invading Iraq in 2003.

This is why I call it al-Reuters. These people were already there for years before GWB was president!

In 2005 four British suicide bombers killed 52 people in London. Other attempts have been thwarted by police or failed when devices did not detonate. "Since the beginning of 2007, 57 people have been convicted on terrorist plots," said Smith. "Nearly half of those pleaded guilty so this is not some figment of the imagination. It is a real risk and a real issue we need to respond to." [Source: al-Reuters.]

So my question is this, "Why are the presidential candidates not discussing this issue?" Could it be because they have not a clue about what to do? And THAT should scare you. Not for warmongering or just to play the fear card, but because they are not discussing an issue which would you give a better sense for which to judge them. That is the simple truth. Well, I'll give them a little lee-way. Maybe they do not know anything about it? Would you vote for someone so ignorant of the facts on the ground? Why?

Right Truth [A MUST READ] asks this question, "Are we prepared [for another attack]?" I ask this question, "Are You Prepared for another terrorist attack in an area near you? If not, for what are you waiting? These are questions only you can answer...

PS. I do not know why there is a discrepancy between the 2,000 individuals in the News of the World - UK article and the 22,000 individuals that are being watched in the Reuters articles. No, it is not my typo. They actually have 2 different numbers! Also, I showed both articles so that you may decipher for yourself which article reads more accurately (and unbiased) the news of a greater threat from Islamists. They sure as heck aren't Catholic!

Source(s): ACT! For America, A NEWT ONE, and Right Truth.

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Posts I've trackbacked to at Linkfest and other sites: The Virtuous Republic: Bakken Oil Formation: Update, Allie is Wired: Allie is Wired Hot Links, Adam's Blog: Post of the Day for April 15, 2008, Right Truth: Negotiating North America, Celebrity Smack: Sausage Links 98, Wolf Pangloss: Tax Day Tuesday Open Trackbacks, Right Voices: BET TV Founder billionaire businessman Bob Johnson said Monday that Sen. Barack Obama would not be his party's leading candidate if he were white, D equals S: I Heart China, A NEWT ONE: War News AND Global Cultural Jihad? Boy Howdy!, Right Truth: Are We Prepared?, Thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.