British consulate "bomb" in NYC - A JOKE IMHO

[GCP]

Nobody knows history any more. In 1605 Guy Fawkes and some Catholic plotters tried to blow up the king and the Houses of Parliament . The gunpowder kegs were found before they could blow up. Guy Fawkes was hung, drawn and quartered for treason and the British celebrate the foiling of the plot every year on Nov 5th with bonfires and fireworks, where Guy is burned in effigy.

http://www.rhymes.org.uk/remember_remember_the_5th_november.htm

Think about it - the British election - some toy "hand grenades" with a little bit of gunpowder that could only break a window - it's pure British humor plain and simple.

IT'S NOT TERRORISM - GET A GRIP.

[jayfish]

1. What Part:...

the "bombing" itself or the overheated media coverage?

Jay

[GCP]

2. Good point!

If this had happened before 9/11 - it would have been laughed off.

[htuttle]

3. That would make more sense if it were Guy Fawke's day

Given the experience of the British with the IRA in the 20th century, I wouldn't expect most Britons to assume that bombs nowdays, even small ones, have anything to do with Guy Fawkes.

It's possible that it was just 'lame' terrorism, too.

[notadmblnd]

4. no, it's not terrorism..

I suspect if it was anything.. it was staged, whether it was done to send a message to the UK their election day or if it was done to keep the sheeple in fear. Who knows it could even be a little show by Rove Productions in a desperate attempt to improve the little monkeys low poll ratings.

[GCP]

6. There's a long history of pranks like this in Britain

Not usually explosive, I'll agree, but it was in the dead of night, when there's comparatively few people around, and it was minor in explosive capacity.
It wasn't a Grand Central station at rush hour.
And the timing is to do with the election, I would suggest not to frighten people away from voting, but to remind them that the Iraq War has been very unpopular in Britain, and this was a message to Tony.

[mcscajun]

5. Headlines screaming "Explosions in Midtown"

When all the damage was confined to a concrete planter and a couple of plate-glass windows.

I saw the headline, and having a sister who works in Midtown, had a brief adrenaline rush before I found out it was a 4 am 'incident' that injured no one.

[bullimiami]

13. omg. they blew up a planter?

those bastards!

[mtnsnake]

7. Exactly, it was nothing more than a glorified firecracker.

Yet the media was treating it at first as if we were just bombed by airplanes.

CNN, even after realizing it was just toys, said "Stay tuned to CNN, your best news network for your safety and security."

[GCP]

8. It never ceases to amaze me how they can "blow up" a non-story

No pun intended. It's getting Pythonesque out there.

[Danmel]

9. They scared me this morning

I live in the NYC burbs and when the alarm went off at 6 am they were talking about terrorist attack in midtown. I shot out of bed, and then heard it was a toy grenade on a planter at 4 am. Jesus, good thing my heart is strong. Has the White House chimed in yet? Is there an Orange Alert?

[DistressedAmerican]

10. I Think You Are Probably Right. However, I Hope They Are Caught

just the same. Probably won't be. Our track record on such things is not great. I agree that the media is in a frenzy. But, it is not like it is not a predictable MSM reaction "in a post 9/11 world".

However, that does not change that fact that the action was wildly reckless.

Joke or not, detonating even small explosives in a densely populated urban center endangers people (even in the middle of the night). That is not acceptable in my book. I hope the responsible party or parties do some jail time. Should have lost a couple of fingers for their stupidity.

OK, Flame away if you must.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

11. Check out this spin!!!

from one of my local stations...

http://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=76945

"After piecing together the shrapnel, police determined the devices were toy grenades that had been filled with gunpowder. Officers estimated that one was the size of a pineapple; the other the size of a lemon."

From the BBC reports in LBN, they were candy containers SHAPED like a pineapple and a lemon. You know the ones about 1 1/2 inches across and filled with pixie powder. NOT THE SIZE OF A PINEAPPLE! jezus!

edit: furgot the link...

[sweetheart]

12. The symbolism of attacking an embassy is no joke

On the day of the british general election, this cinco de mayo, the
british government has been the only major foreign ally to stand by
the bush criminals and their corporatocracy.

To take an explosive to that relationship, even a small one, is a
warning to the british to back off that relationship. Frankly, the
british should mind the message and publically break with the bush
criminals after this general poll, as indeed, the british public has
had enough of being dragged in to criminal conflicts.

That the attack was in New York and not washington symbolizes further
that the links that are in quesiton are the big business corporate
links between the UK and the US, not the political ones per se.

Frankly, given that symbolism, it was a wise move, and an omen to the
british public of the serious danger their criminal PM has gotten
themselves in to.