You have taken one sentence out of the article, which I think minimizes the potential threat. Here are the paragraphs that follow the statement you cherry picked from the article:
"Six per cent may seem a small proportion but in absolute numbers it amounts to about 100,000 individuals who, if not prepared to carry out terrorist acts, are ready to support those who do.
Moreover, the proportion of YouGov's respondents who, while not condoning the London attacks, have some sympathy with the feelings and motives of those who carried them out is considerably larger - 24 per cent.
A substantial majority, 56 per cent, say that, whether or not they sympathise with the bombers, they can at least understand why some people might want to behave in this way."
Don't get me wrong--I am delighted that you are able to continue to enjoy your life immensely without worrying. I realize this is nothing like the hardship and fear of some other times in history. For example, being a European during World War II must have been just terrifying. But I do think it is significant, and that huge decisions have to be made, hopefully correctly, by western nations. I do definitely think this is a war, and I'm not sure whether you do or not.
From what I can recall, the IRA managed to kill around 3,000 people during the Troubles, and the Prods a similar number. Of course every life is significant and precious, but certainly the magnitude of the Islamic terrorist threat in Europe and America threatens a lot more lives. |
