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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 10-Aug-06
Sophisticated plot to blow up 9 aircraft may be related to July 7, 2005, London subway bombings

Web Log - August, 2006

Sophisticated plot to blow up 9 aircraft may be related to July 7, 2005, London subway bombings

First reports indicate that suspected perpetrators are believed to be British citizens of Pakistani origin, linked to al-Qaeda.

If the Pakistani origin is confirmed, it would hardly be a surprise, in view of what's come out in investigations following the July 7, 2005, London subway bombings.

There's a clear generation gap among Muslims in London. Many young Muslims, British citizens born of immigrants from Pakistan and other Muslim countries, grow up in the same homes as their parents, but in a completely different world nonetheless. To them, the British are responsible for the London subway bombings, because they're also responsible for the suffering of Muslim Palestinians, Muslims in Kashmir, and suffering Muslims elsewhere in the world. These young teen Muslims are taught these concepts in classes associated with London mosques. Kashmir is of particular importance to Pakistani immigrants, since the Kashmir region is disputed by (mostly Muslim) Pakistan and (mostly Hindu) India.

The London subway bombings were a shock to everyone, but no more so than to the people living in the same neighborhood of the bombers. One Muslim man told CNN that he was worried about the attitudes of his own children. "The bombers were just like us. And if they're just us, then more of them could be anywhere, couldn't they?"

However, teaching ideology isn't enough, as training is required. The four London subway bombers had recently visited Pakistan and received training from al-Qaeda.

The new terrorist plot is extremely sophisticated, and obviously required a great deal of training.

Based on information that Scotland Yard has released so far, the plot would blow up 9 planes in three waves, as follows: The suicide bombers would carry explosive liquids in soda bottles on to planes traveling from England to America. Three aircraft would explode nearly simultaneously in midair, and the wreckage would fall into the ocean, where the source of the explosives could not be identified. Then, a few days later, when things have calmed down, they would launch a second attack, and then perhaps a third attack a few days later.

Such a sophisticated attack would have required a fair amount of training and coordination. As details of the investigation come out, it will be of interest to see where the would-be bombers received both ideological and terrorist training.

From the point of view of Generational Dynamics, this incident provides further opportunity to investigate the dynamics that lead to terrorist acts and to crisis war.

By studying the stories behind terrorist acts of the last few years, as well as historical acts such as the development of anti-Jewish attitudes in 1930s Germany, we're developing what I call the "Hero / Parent / Prophet" model.

In brief, it works as follows: There's a group of "Prophets" that teenagers listen to; these are usually (but not always) elders, and they might be government officials, religious clerics, or even media personalities (like Jon Stewart of Comedy Central's Daily Show). Each of these prophets presents a different political philosophy to teenagers. Groups of teens select from among these alternative Prophet political philosophies in the same way that they might select a rock star or fashion item. Rebellious groups select political philosophies that provide for action against society, and the most extreme of these rebellious groups select political philosophies that call for terrorist acts and suicide bombings. These rebellious teen groups become "Heroes" by altruistic suicide (killing themselves for the good of the greater community). Do their parents have any influence? Yes, but in an unexpected manner: In a formula described by Hannah Arendt, they become Heroes by adopting "the attitudes and convictions of the bourgeoisie, cleansed of hypocrisy."

The development of this "Hero / Parent / Prophet" model is ongoing, but unfortunately the only person in the world working on it is yours truly. Anyone who has done or would like to do research in this area is invited to contact me. (10-Aug-06) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 10-Aug-06 Sophisticated plot to blow up 9 aircraft may be related to July 7, 2005, London subway bombings

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 10-Aug-06
Sophisticated plot to blow up 9 aircraft may be related to July 7, 2005, London subway bombings