SpyBlog is rightly questioning the purpose of the MI5 Terrorist Threat Level. How are we supposed to react exactly ? According to every trite government statement the answer is for us all to be “extra vigilant” but of course that advice is as hollow and meaningless as the government ministers that spout it.
Also, and I may be wrong about this, the increase in threat levels seem to follow explosions and bomb discoveries rather than precede them – wouldn’t that be more helpful ? As it stands, anyone with access to the news could have the job of setting the threat level. If a bomb gets discovered raise it. If nothing happens after a few weeks, drop it again. It’s almost as if the security services have as little idea about the actual threat as the public.
In the 70s and 80s, especially in London, the terrorist threat was almost exactly the same as now, with the possible exception of deliberate suicide bombers. Bomb scares regularly helped mask the crapness of London Transport and occasionally something would blow up. The idea of being scared about it is utterly ridiculous to me and always will be. It’s like worrying about being hit by a meteorite.
Regardless we will all be forced to endure many more government spokespeople banging on about “defiance”, “vigilance” and “serious threats” for the next million weeks.

Meanwhile in my personal life many significant, and in some cases tragic, events have coincided that have forced me to start making some serious life decisions. I don’t want to blog about them yet…sorry I mentioned it really.