The End of the Beginning

Jed Babbin on London:

Two features dominate our thinking about terrorism at home. We are, first, complacent. Nothing has happened since 9-11, and we have begun to believe that nothing ever will. Grimly tolerant of what passes for security at airports and train stations, we are -- second -- annoyed at the thought that more and different security measures may be needed. The London bombings last Thursday, the Brits' reaction to them, and the revelations of how the problem has been building there are highly instructive. Or will be if we look at the unvarnished facts.

What happened in London last week could happen here today, and will -- in one form or another -- all too soon. We can, and must, do more to control our borders, but the sad fact is that -- like Britain -- the people who are intent on conducting such attacks are here already, and are allowed too much support from too many quarters in America, as well as abroad. Just like those who struck London, and apparently are still at large to strike again.

The Brit reaction was, on one hand, all stiff upper lip and, on the other, unrestrained irresponsibility. Those whose voices count -- such as Tory MP John Redwood and historian Paul Johnson -- were adamant in condemning the terrorists and compassionate in mourning the dead. Johnson, in particular, almost scoffed at the idea that such small attacks were going to change British policy. Those who have to call the TV bookers to get attention, such as former Labourite Tony Benn, were unrestrained in moral equivalence and "give peace a chance" cant. It was too much for even his BBC interviewer. Benn went so far as to equate the people killed in London with those "innocents" we'd killed in Fallujah. Tell it to the Marines, Mr. Benn.