Posted 4:12 AM by Paul
Istanbul

Today suicide bombers attacked the HQ of HSBC and the British Consulate in Istanbul. British insitutional targets and Moslem Turkish victims. Scores of people have been killed and hundreds injured. It's a nightmare.

On both sides of this grotesque argument people will be saying "I told you so". Jack Straw has already been on the radio offering these atrocities as evidence that we have to re-double our efforts in the War on Terror. On the other side people will undoubtedly say that this is a predictable response to the bombing and occupation of Iraq.

For my part I feel that Bush and Blair responded to a forest fire by dowsing it with petrol and then asking the rest of us to put it out. I fear for my kids in a world that is getting more unsafe by the day.

But few will consider the ordinary victims of Istanbul. They have already become debating points. I wonder if there is any way I can give blood?