Adverse Publicity

In the Straits Times today, the pages were splashed with reports from the terrorists' blasts in London.

I'm thinking to myself, what's the world coming to?

What do these people want?

How can blowing people achieve their ends? Sympathy to whatever cause they want?

Even in madness, there must be logic, albeit a twisted one.

It may be vengence.

But as I look at the papers and listen to the news of carnage, political speeches and all, I wonder what the terrorists are thinking? Why are they doing this?

I imagine, these group of people watching the news, reading the papers - everyone's talking about them; they've made the headlines! The world thought that it ended with 9/11? The wars in Iraq, did they think we will forget? Well, the bombs showed them who's boss!

Betcha these loons are feeling quite pleased with themselves. Their aim is achieved.

What's their main aim?

To get people talking about them. To instil and spread fear.

How?

Through the medium of the papers and the media. "Yes, go on! Talk about what we do! How terrible we are! How we'll make the West pay!"

I'm sick and tired of all these pages of description of fear and carnages, pictures and a toll that conscientiously track death.

May I say this in all due respect. Yes, the media has a duty to inform. But the line has to be etched in stone (not drawn on sand) on when is enough information to inform.

Otherwise, the media is doing precisely what the terrorists want - publicity. The terrorists are playing the media like a well-tuned instrument.

Why choose the West instead of the East?

It's not only that the West are the enemies (holding a grudge since the Crusades??), but that, the media is, well, so much more attentive.

Attention. That's what they want. And we're giving them plenty of air-time. They must be well-pleased.