Coventry

I am reading Anthony C. Brown's wonderful bok on the Second World War called "Bodyguard of Lies". The book deals with code breaking, secret agents, and the conduct of war mainly from the British perspective.

The chapter "Coventry" deals with a particular heart breaking incident where Churchill decided that to prevent the Germans from learning the British had broken the German code system he gave the city of Coventry no early warning of a German attack that he knew was coming. It states that he had at least 48 hours warning. The city and many of its ancient buildings were all but destroyed. All to keep an advantage in the war. An advantage that many think was crucial in the defeat of Germany.

And then I get this news report about the latest bombs going off in Britain and the response of the British police. As you know the police shot and killed a Brazilian man that was thought might be carrying a bomb onto an underground train. The fact that five bullets were put into his head at close range and that he was not carrying a bomb has outraged many members of the British public and put the fear of God into the British Muslim community. The rules have changed.

LONDON (Reuters) - British police say more members of the public could be shot in error as they escalate their battle against terrorism and hunt for four men who tried to set off explosions on London's transport system last week.

The warning comes after police, who are engaged in one of the biggest manhunts in British history, mistakenly shot dead a Brazilian man on Friday, thinking he was a suicide bomber.

Britain's most senior policeman, Ian Blair, defended the shoot-to-kill policy for dealing with suspected suicide bombers and said police were in a race against time to find those behind last Thursday's attempted bombings of three underground trains and a bus, the second attack on the capital in two weeks.

"This is a terrifying set of circumstances for individuals to make decisions," Blair told Sky News television. "Somebody else could be shot."

I'd say this means the Brits are in this war for keeps. No quarter.

As with WW2 I do believe there will be many mistakes and errors of judgement. Innocents will die.

And yet I feel sorry for those who started this war. They will be shown no mercy, and they will not win. Every time the Brits have shown this kind of determination they have prevailed. As the saying goes they are in it up to their eyebrows, playing for keeps.

We are with you mates.