• London suicide bombers : Cell phones London suicide bombers : Cell phones Daily Telegraph, London — July 20, 2005 Two days after the atrocities of July 7, we congratulated British Muslim leaders for their patriotism. “None of the Islamic
• London suicide bombers : Cell phones
London suicide bombers : Cell phones
Daily Telegraph, London — July 20, 2005
Two days after the atrocities of July 7, we congratulated British Muslim leaders for their patriotism. “None of the Islamic organisations was so tasteless as to try to add a ‘but’,” we said. No longer. Yesterday the “buts” were in full cry, with people lining up to suggest that the bombers had been forced into their terrible actions by the policies pursued by our own government.
In Downing Street, the Prime Minister hosted “moderate” Islamic leaders. Meanwhile, Sheikh Omar Bakri, a prominent British Islamist, stated that the British people brought 7/7 on themselves by initiating a “cycle of bloodshed” in Iraq. And Ken Livingstone asserted that “we (the West) created these people” by assisting the mujahideen in Afghanistan. …
The real project is the extension of the Islamic territory across the globe, and the establishment of a worldwide “caliphate” founded on Sharia law and the temporal reign of ayatollahs and imams. In such a struggle, the “moderate” Muslim leaders in whom Mr. Blair reposes his hope are as loathed by the fanatics as Mr. Blair himself, George W. Bush and Ariel Sharon. …
What is required is a far bolder, but less illiberal measure. The Prime Minister must follow through on his rhetoric, distinguishing between those who believe that Islam is compatible with liberal democracy and those who do not. Individuals such as Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who may be coming to the UK next month, must be banned summarily. And those who blame Britain for the tragedy of 7/7 must be anathematised.
Anderson (S.C.) Independent-Mail — July 17, 2005
A study reporting that drivers using cell phones are four times more likely to have a wreck probably didn’t ring any alarm bells with the people who should have heard about it — cell phone users. …
Who hasn’t almost been sideswiped by someone on a cell phone, trying to punch in the numbers for a call on a cell phone, or taking their eyes off the road while they root around in a purse or the passenger seat for a ringing cell phone? And if we combine the propensity to think our call is just too important to wait with traffic these days, driving while talking is risky business. …
We’ve often thought that having a receiver plugged into one’s ear can be doubly dangerous. Not only is the driver concentrating on a conversation, he’s also partially blocking a major safety factor — his hearing. That means a siren might not get through to his consciousness as quickly as it should and puts not just other drivers at risk but whoever is awaiting the emergency attention the siren indicates. …
Most calls can wait. Or if it can’t, pull out of traffic and do your talking in a parking lot. Not only will you be safer, your fellow travelers will as well.
- Provided by the Associated Press.
