'The public should be kept permanently aware of the level of threat faced by the UK of terrorist attacks.'

Patrick Mercer

Someone needs to define Terror, Terrorist and Terrorism in this context. Here's a starter for 10;

"Official or State Terrorism – referring to nations whose rule is based upon fear and oppression that reach similar to terrorism or such proportions.”

"It sounded like the War on Terror would be a permanent state of affairs and the audience seemed pleased."

Gosh, I bet they were pleased. It's as if a sow told her piglets that the milk would keep flowing from her teats forever.

"In fact, she'd been surprised by how few refused to undergo security screening."

I wouldn't have been, but then my faith in humanity died several years ago, and I can't even remember to visit the grave most weeks.

'The public should be kept permanently aware of the level of threat faced by the UK of terrorist attacks.'

'The outlook at midnight tonight. Politically oppressive with waves of extremism sweeping in from the Middle East here - and here. Generally there's a slight chance of ricin or caesium in the South East, so best take a gas mask and don't forget your identity card. And now the shitting forecast:

'Blunkett, scary becoming terrifying soon...'

"There is no way we can tell but the number of casualties will be in the thousands."

No way to tell you say? Then how the F can you come up with the 1000's number? Also judging by the current terror activities, thousands seems a bit too far fetched don't you think? Ooh ooh ooh, maybe it's the government which are terrorising the populace, in which case "thousands" is a gross under estimate - something the government is all too good at doing.

@Spleen:

Pretty much everybody has higher priorities in their life than the creeping extention of surveilance in society. I know I do, and if you've flown in the past 5, 10 years, I would presume you do too.

Its understandable really. Generaly achieved in such a way it doesnt impinge on life or productivity, no more likely to effect your life than say the fact that prosecutors can reclaim money from convicted criminals they beleive is ill gained, simply because you are (at a guess) not a terrorist or a criminal.

Its not good, and its not nice. As the author rather implies the risks are exagerated, but I fear these increasing measures are more due to profit motivated cooperate lobying, and a desire by polititians to appear to do something, than some desire for control.

After all, its in the natures of both players.

I often observe that fear of big brother would better be directed at subtle corruption, intrustive lobbying, and nepotism quietly inherrant in government affairs.