Terror's war on us Ian's Rural Ramblings

The Manchester bombing was appalling. Words are not adequate to describe the killing, maiming, fear and terror the bomber caused. It is not the first terrorist act against the west and I fear it will not be the last. I was also more than a little disturbed about the global media coverage, which has led to an intelligence leaking rebuke from the UK to the U.S. This is not a time when cooperation should be curtailed.

What do we do? The politicians strut around and proclaim, “a war on terror.” But what is terror? Where is it? It’s not a country, a territory an ideology even. Terror can be anything, anywhere, anytime. If we have a war on terror does that mean that terror has a war on us? How can we fight a word or a word fight us?

As more information comes out about the Manchester bomber, I won’t use his name, I’ve read that he has fought in Syria, presumably with ISIS and was witness to air strikes killing women and children. Perhaps that is where his choice of target came from. But if bad acts beget other bad acts this is never going to end. It’s been nearly a thousand years now since the first crusade in 1095. It’s been over a thousand years since the Arab and Islamic invasions of the seventh century. Honestly, do we really think we can fix this with bombs, bullets and security in the 21st century? To use a favourite phrase of mine, I think the chances are, “slim to none.”

I’m not a religious person but have always respected other people’s beliefs and I like to hope that most people would respect mine or the lack of them. For over a thousand years we have had a clash of religions, ideologies and I’m sorry to say it, race. Over time, the dominant side has switched back and forth in terms of imposition upon the other. I think there have only been fleeting periods of victory for both sides if you can call it that. Was it worth the cost?

So, what’s the solution? Complete segregation? Mass expulsions? Leave each other alone? Is that going to happen? Going back to Manchester, if there had been a travel ban in place the bomber would not have been able to return to the UK from Libya. Could someone else have done the deed? Quite possibly. Would that travel ban have created negative consequences for innocent people? Very likely.

If there ever was a time for some aliens to show up, knock some of our heads together that need it and say, “You know what guys? This is the truth and here’s the proof, “it is now.