EF! has never bombed anyone and it's never been their M.O. They go for tree-spiking and property damage. In fact, Judi Bari was advocating for EF! to abandon tree-spiking. ELF doesn't go for bombing either; they prefer arson.

Of course, if you knew anything about the environmental terrorist movement, you wouldn't be such an asshat about this. You'd also know that ELF is the #1 domestic terror organization in America, is highly secretive and organized, and needs to be destroyed before they complete their movement towards being a bunch of homicidal thugs.

There is actually quite a bit of interaction between trade unionists and environmentalist. The most interesting is the Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and the Environment which has members associated with Earth First! and members of the AFL/CIO. Rather than being proponents of violence, they are actually constructing alternative forms of forestation and energy industry jobs.

As opposed to being terrorists, members of their organization have been victims of terrorist violence--namely Darryl Cherney and the late Judi Bari. The FBI couldn't solve the case and actually blamed Cherney and Bari for the bombing. Cherney and Bari won a landmark lawsuit against the FBI and this case of domestic terrorism remains unsolved.

It's another example of justice department incompetence at solving terror cases.

Still, why would your first thought be anti-globalization protestors and not, say, a splinter faction of the IRA? Look at the diversity within the anti-globalization movement -- liberals, socialists, conservatives, trade unions, churches, rock stars. Where would you get the terrorists from here? How would they organize? What would the demographic profile of the average terrorist be?

Considering the size, strength, and average age of the anti-globalization movement, one would expect a hardcore faction would have already splintered off and been able to pull off a sophisticated attack with some level of carnage. But it hasn't. In a way, it's not getting any more violent. What happened in Seattle led to violence no longer being an aberration, but it also was so detrimental to the cause that the violence almost leveled out. I mean, has an anti-globalization splinter group shot up a McDonalds, or shot leaders of the IMF or WTO? No.

And I think that's because, on the whole, the size, diversity, and strength of the movement has given them a number of different outlets to make themselves heard. This is because of democracy, a free press, and the ability to get their message out.

As well, I think you need to separate the anti-globalization movement from the radical environmental movement. The Earth Liberation Front, which has repeatedly used arson attacks in the West, isn't related to the anti-globalization people at all. There is some fellow traveller crossover in spots, but try to find an ELF member who's even talked to the leadership of the AFL-CIO.

Kos and Atrios go political, Kevin shows some class.

Anderson: I use "extremists" in the most literal sense. The vast majority of those in the "fair trade" camp are, in my judgment, wrongheaded but yet perfectly legitimate. There is a violent, anarchist element within their ranks, however, as there is in the anti-abortion movement.

Herb, are for *&^%ing real!!! Wait do you suggest that all Muslim Americans be stuck in concentration camps like we did to the Japanese in WW2? Nevermind the orderly is here with your medication

Maybe the people who rioted in Seattle when there was a trade conference there? Just a suggestion.

You're kidding, right Kevin? I live in Seattle. I met some of these people. Union guys, unwashed college students, Kuncinich types. Not terrorists. There was a band of anarchists, but they really were anarchists -- they couldn't decide what they wanted to destroy. Look at any of the demonstrations of the last few years and you'll see the same modus operandi. In the cases where you've seen property damage, you see a lot of people wrecking a McDonalds. Not once have you seen political assassinations or carnage, just a bunch of broken windows and fires.

Now, look at what happened today. Multiple, coordinated bombings across a large city transit system. Where is there a similarity between the two? The anti-globalization forces are only capable of getting people on the streets, not of launching multiple bombings. Al-Queda, though, has done this in Madrid. And how would you convince 4-6 white college kids to blow themselves up on Underground trains without any promise of a heaven?

Stop jumping to the "it's gotta be those eevl liberals" petard every time something like this happens, Kevin.

The anti-trade extremists have been getting more violent as time has gone on.

Violent, yes. But coordinated? THIS coordinated? The most coordinated they can be is burn down houses on the same cul-de-sac. If anything, Seattle was a prime example of an uncoordinated set of incidents.

I think you guys should retract your earlier random lashings-out and just get back to the facts.

I think I'll save my planned but-now-trivial post of the morning for later. Heh. We are all Brits now, eh? Even, perhaps, some of my Irish-descended colleagues. I'll be stopping by the PX this noon for a Union Jack to...

This is just my opinion but I think this is a bait attack, bait enough to keep UK from bringing troops back home so that they can wear away at them little bit by little bit.

This could back fire id UK got serious now and sent enought troops ( equal to US ) to end this thing faster. But they won't send more becuase we are trying to let the New Iraqi gov't call the shoots.

It is a sign a great condifedence on their part.

4 bombs (some earlier reports said 7) exploded in London during today's morning rush hour. Current reports indicate that 3 exploded in the Underground and 1 on a double decker bus. I will attempt to round up the blogosphere's news...