Terror attacks in Brussels

[elphaba91]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35869254

Bombs in the airport and the metro. Reports at least 23 are dead. It really is a scary world we live in isn't it?

 

[IndyRnRfan]

Sadly, it is becoming the "normal" for today. Until you cut the head off the snake and then chop the rest of the snake up not much is going to change. Then, I feel someone or group will just fill their shoes. The entire world needs to get behind the destruction of terrorist groups and until that happens, we are fighting a losing battle.

 

[Jennasis]

Just terrible.

 

[Oreo Cookie]

Horrific. Prayers for the people of Belgium.

Sadly, this is the world we live in. I agree with the PP that all countries need to unite and fight the terrorists groups. It's a global threat and it needs a coordinated and strategic plan to destroy the various terrorist networks.

 

[AppleDumpling]

Oh no, not again.

Makes me so sad and angry at the same time.

 

[lynxstch]

Many prayers being said. This is just never going to end, and it's so scary

 

[L&Lfan]

It will never end until the worldwide caliphate is re-established.

 

[ford family]

What a disgusting, defeatist sentiment.

ford family

 

[mom2rtk]

What a disgusting, defeatist sentiment.

ford family

Who's going to stop them?

 

[Magpie]

What a disgusting, defeatist sentiment.

ford family

Well... I do agree it will never end. But, not because we can't win. Rather, because it is human nature to cleave to destructive ideologies and try to make everyone else suffer as a result. This is NOT the world coming to an end. We've had bombings and terrorist actions in the past and we will have them in the future. If it's not Islamist extremists, it's Anarchists, Basque separatists, Right and Left wing ideologues, the Sicarii in sixth century Rome, the Reign of Terror in Revolutionary France.

What do we do? We deal. Cope with the immediate crisis, investigate the roots of the conflict, work to resolve things and try to prevent future tragedies.

Ten thousand years from now, if we're still here, we'll still be dealing with extremism and the pain that results. We can hope, though, there'll be a lot less of it in the world.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I just saw this on the news and it's so sad, I have to agree that it is becoming the 'norm' and it's not as shocking as it used to be, how sad is that?

 

[mom2rtk]

I think it's interesting that they said they attacked the airport just outside the security perimeter. I've been saying for a long time that Disney solved nothing by adding metal detectors right outside the gates. All it did was made a big holding tank for everyone with no security up to that point. I think high value targets need to re-evaluate how they're approaching this. I don't have the answer, but the current arrangement seems wrong.

 

[LisaR]

I think it's interesting that they said they attacked the airport just outside the security perimeter. I've been saying for a long time that Disney solved nothing by adding metal detectors right outside the gates. All it did was made a big holding tank for everyone with no security up to that point. I think high value targets need to re-evaluate how they're approaching this. I don't have the answer, but the current arrangement seems wrong.

My husband has been in China for a few days. One of the first things he noticed is that they have security everywhere. He's pretty well traveled and this is the first time he has gone somewhere that they check your bags again after you land. As the bags come down to the carousal from the plane, you can't take it until the bag has been checked by the dogs. DH's bag was tagged for something! They took him and the bag aside and he needed additional screening before he could LEAVE the airport. He said he also noticed security personal checking cars/cabs as they pulled up to pick up passengers. He didn't know if they checked each one individually, but he saw them sweeping with a mirror or detector under a couple waiting cars. I've always thought baggage pickup in most airports was such an easy target.

Disney's screening has always been a joke and they are just making it worse now.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Interesting choice of locations suicide bombers chose to do their thing.

 

[galaxygirl76]

My parents live near Amsterdam airport and it's getting closer and closer to them. My heart goes out to the people of Belgium.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Sounds as if pipe bombs with nails were used as well. Utterly devastating injuries to those nearby, not unlike the Boston Marathon bombings where those who survived had limbs blown off, with many survivors now walking around with prostheses.

 

[NotUrsula]

The timing of this one is interesting, and I suspect not what they were initially planning to do. My bet is that they were probably initially planning to set these off on Thursday or Friday, but moved it up because of the recent capture of some of the prominent ringleaders in the area. I hate to say it, horrible as these events are, but I have a sinking feeling that it might have been much, much worse if the French authorities hadn't recently captured some of these people. (And, God help Belgium and rest of the Low Countries, it is possible that it still could be if they have missed more of them.)

Why? Because in that part of Europe, the Thursday and Friday before Easter (Holy Thursday and Good Friday), are some of the busiest travel days of the year, very similar to the way that the day before Thanksgiving is in the US. In the UK and Ireland, Easter is the most popular holiday for going home to visit your parents, so the trains and planes are full of those folks making their way home from jobs in Europe to visit their folks. (Also, if you are fighting a holy war, it has double significance as the most sacred of Christian holidays.)

 

[Pea-n-Me]

ISIS claiming responsibility.

 

[wvjules]

My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this tragedy.

I ride the DC Metro to work almost every day. (I drive occasionally.) I travel through three really busy stations, Union Station, Gallery Place, and Metro Center. I think it's just a matter of time before it happens here and it terrifies me. I'm <this> close to just sucking up the cost of parking and driving every day.

 

[Domo]

Sad. Mans inhumanity toward man.