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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think we should note how quickly the media suggests the causes of attrocities?

254 replies

JeremyCunt · 22/03/2016 10:42

First, and above all, my thoughts are with all those affected by the terrible events in Belgium. I'm so very sorry this has happened.

I think it is notable how quickly the mainstream media suggests who is behind it (this started even before the event - "expect 'revenge attacks' " etc). Facts simply cannot be adequately known at this stage. Certainly there's been no time for any thorough/impartial investigation (not that the impartiality element is likely to ever happen). And yet we're being led quite quickly to certain conclusions ("The attacks come four days after Salah Abdeslam, the main fugitive in the Paris attacks, was seized in Brussels" states the BBC). I'm making no comment about the veracity of these conclusions, but I think they're yet another demonstration of how easy we - the populus - are to lead.

OP posts:
Lockheart · 22/03/2016 10:51

You can think what you want of course, however personally if it was me I would be prepared to bet a good deal of my money on this being an Islamic terrorist incident.

To ignore known threats is naive at best, dangerous at worst.

Original poster
JeremyCunt · 22/03/2016 10:52

I would also be prepared to bet a good deal of money that it will soon be concluded that this is an "Islamic terrorist incident".

OP posts:
VagueIdeas · 22/03/2016 10:55

I read on Twitter that at least one of the airport explosions is set to be confirmed as a suicide bomber. I wouldn't be surprised if all the explosions turn out to be suicide bombers.

Mainstream media aren't jumping to conclusions because, sadly, the conclusions are pretty obvious.

DurhamDurham · 22/03/2016 10:59

I'm not sure I understand what your point is. Everything does point towards it being an Islamic terrorist incident.

When I heard the news my first thoughts were for the poor people caught up in it all, clearly you have somewhat different priorities.

Olddear · 22/03/2016 11:00

I don't think they are jumping to conclusions. They heard shots being fired and shouts in Arabic before the explosions. And coming hard on the heels of this weeks arrest, I think it would be fairly obvious who was behind it.

ApricotSorbet99 · 22/03/2016 11:01

Oh, for fuck's sake......

You know perfectly well that the vast, vast, vast majority of incidents like this are, in fact, acts of Islamic terrorism.

Certain members of the "religion of peace" are holding the world to ransom, nobly helped by the "It has nothing to do with religion" brigade. The "let's not jump to conclusions in case we look like racists...." crew (always remarkably well represented on this site in particular).

And you know what, if in the extremely unlikely event that this does not turn out to be Muslim extremists none of us should feel even faintly ashamed for assuming in the first instance that was. When your religion is directly responsible for over 90% of the terrorism in the world, tough shit if everyone looks at you when something similar happens again.

sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 22/03/2016 11:02

Of course it wouldn't be ISIS they wouldn't stoop so low....oh, hang on...

Sparklingbrook · 22/03/2016 11:03

YABU. All the signs were there.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 22/03/2016 11:04

I see what you're saying OP but it's pretty obvious. It does make me think about Hillsborough though - many people watching the scenes initially thought that it was hooliganism.

I think the media will always speculate, but on this occasion YABU.

WorraLiberty · 22/03/2016 11:06

"The attacks come four days after Salah Abdeslam, the main fugitive in the Paris attacks, was seized in Brussels"

That ^^ is a fact.

Should they not report facts any more?

I'm not sure how that means the populous are easy to lead.

meditrina · 22/03/2016 11:07

The news I was watching in the immediate aftermath was very measured and referred only to explosions, cause unknown. Until the explosion at the metro (about 1 hour after first attack, so about 40 minutes after reporting began in UK), but if a purse by that Tim the Belgian authorities themselves were briefing in terms of terrorist event, and eyewitnesses were speaking on the record about the shouting in Arabic before the airport detonations.

Now, the eyewitnesses might be confused. And there may be another perpetrator capable of launching sophisticated and co-ordinated multi-location attack.

But that it is terrorism seems beyond doubt, according to the Belgium crisis centre.

meditrina · 22/03/2016 11:08

my apologies for my keyboard!

I meant to write: "but of course by that time the Belgian authorities themselves were briefing in terms of terrorist event,"

evilcherub · 22/03/2016 11:08

YABU and disingenuous.

passmethewineplease · 22/03/2016 11:10

YABU.

Sometimes it's just bloody obvious.

SagaAndMartinsLiftConvos · 22/03/2016 11:11

Yeah it might have been Buddhist extremists

Or militant vegetarians

Hmm
trollopolis · 22/03/2016 11:11

Other than Daesh and AQ, what organisations are there that can carry out this kind of multiple target operation?

Or are you saying that it is coincidence that there were attacks in two locations within an hour of each other? And that it is not going to be the work of one of the (very few possibly only two) organisations known to be able to do operations of this type?

AticAtac · 22/03/2016 11:13

The suicide bombers were heard shouting in Arabic. The Islamic extremists themselves have told us of their plans publicly.
I'm not aware of any other group of people that want to destroy Western democracy, are you OP?
Looks like they'll get what they want, we'll be living in a police state before you know it.

Lockheart · 22/03/2016 11:16

I think OP may be implying the government did it to keep us all in line Hmm

TinySombrero · 22/03/2016 11:18

What do you speculate may have been the cause of what happened in Brussels this morning OP?

EnoughAlready999 · 22/03/2016 11:19

Of course it's Islamic, Brussels is a jihadist breeding ground.

TheDuchessOfArbroathsHat · 22/03/2016 11:21

I'm also unsure what your point is OP. If you see a puppy sitting next to a big pile of poo and there's no other dogs or shitting humans in the house then it's a fair bet that the puppy is guilty. That is a fact.
What would you like the media to do? Include the Chipping Sodbury chapter of the Women's Institute in their list of likely suspects?

evilcherub · 22/03/2016 11:24

OP - Who do you think was responsible? What conclusion did you jump to on hearing the news?

cricketqueen · 22/03/2016 11:25

But they haven't speculated really. It has happened 4 days after they arrested a terrorist, that is a fact not a speculation. The bbc at least haven't said that it has been carried out by a specific group just that it is being dealt with as an act of terrorism.
Oh and it's obvious who has done it, they have publicly threatened it numerous times.

pambeesley · 22/03/2016 11:27

Yes someone on Twitter has already suggested This was done by the Tories to move the story in from them Hmm

YABVU

Drquin · 22/03/2016 11:38

I don't disagree with your point (I think) OP in that very often media outlets will present "speculation" in such a way as to imply it is "the truth", when technically not enough time has passed for a formal investigation to have declared "the truth".

But there are some times when it's pretty safe to say "the speculation" is / will be "the truth".

Sometimes it's even blindingly obvious.
I'm fairly sure this will turn out to be one of those times. I suspect the authorities aren't looking for my nan, or the wee kid at no.27.

Other times, fair enough, speculation turns out to be just that and nothing like the truth.