After the foiled plot, I meet Bagent
Friday 11 August 2006
This morning twenty-four terrorist suspects are being held over an alleged plot to blow up as many as 10 transatlantic jets. Britain remains on a "critical" level of alert. Anti-terrorist police have raided and searched properties in Buckinghamshire, east London, and Birmingham. Sources said they had found "a number of things that are causing interest". Many of those being questioned are believed to be Britons of Pakistani origin, although police have not confirmed that.
The British arrests were made after security sources decided that plans to explode liquid bombs on airliners flying from the United Kingdom to America could have been carried out within 48 hours.
Paul Stephenson, the Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner, said: "This was intended to be mass murder on an unimaginable scale."
It is believed that the plan was for different passengers to carry peroxide-based liquid explosive in drinks containers and detonators disguised as everyday electronic devices and combine them on board.
US officials said the airlines to be attacked fly to New York, Washington and California, and that the alleged plot bore some of the marks of al-Qa´eda. It is thought that the terrorists planned to blow up the aircraft in three simultaneous waves, possibly over major cities to cause maximum loss of life.
For the first time, America raised the threat level to "red" for all flights from Britain, indicating a severe risk of attack. It also sent US marshals to Britain to provide increased security on flights bound for America.
The clampdown caused chaos at British and American airports. Thousands of holidaymakers and business passengers were stranded as hundreds of flights were cancelled across Britain. Passengers who managed to join a flight after lengthy queuing faced the strictest security checks. Hand luggage was confined to money, travel documents, baby milk and food and essential medical items, which had to be carried in transparent plastic bags. All other liquids, including contact lens solution, makeup, toothpaste and sun lotion were banned.
No 10 said that Tony Blair, on holiday in the Caribbean, was "in constant contact" and had briefed President George W Bush overnight. It is said that at least one of the suspects being held converted to Islam only recently. President Bush apparently had no doubts about the sort of people who were behind the alleged plot. He said it was "a stark reminder that this nation is at war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom".
John Reid, the British Home Secretary, regretted the disruption to travellers but said it was vital that people tried to go about their daily business as usual, "otherwise those who seek to destroy our country, our values and our spirit will win. We are involved in a long and deep struggle against evil people who do not distinguish between those of different religions, men and women, or adults and children".
With these thoughts in mind, on a warm and sunny afternoon, I took to my bike. I cycled down the lane to the Old Mill, across the little stone bridge over the River Yeo, and up the hill to the entrance to the vineyard. Leaving my bike in the gateway, I walked along the path above the terraces and enjoyed the view of Dartmoor in the distance.
At the circular patch of grass at the end of the path I met a man. He was about my height and also sported a greying beard. He had the clearest eyes I have ever seen and smiled at me.
“We have never met,” he said.
“No,” I replied. “Are you from these parts?”
“I am not,” he said. “My name is Bagent and my home is a long way from here.”
“What do you think of today’s news?” I asked.
“Do you mean the news of disruption at the airports?”
“Yes. I have been thinking of Bush’s immediate reaction. Was he wise, do you think, to be so quick to blame Islamic fascists?”
“We cannot know on what intelligence he based those remarks,” said Bagent, “but I am not sure he was wise to use the words he did.”
“I suppose his blunt certainties may strike a chord in Texas,” I ventured.
“That may be true,” Bagent replied.
It was already clear from his manner and responses that he did not want to pass the time of day discussing either the weather or trivialities.
“Do you think that when Bush speaks of a love of freedom,” I asked, “that he is using language to which no right thinking could take exception?”
Bagent paused before replying and looked steadily into my eyes. For a moment his smile vanished but then it returned.
“Freedom may be used well,” he said, “but it may also be abused.”
“Are there any values which can unite every man and woman?” I asked. “How about the trusty trio of beauty, goodness and truth.”
Bagent paused again before replying.
“Do you think of beauty as a value?” he asked.
When he saw that I hesitated before replying he continued: “I am told it is because of what you call the ‘trusty trio’ that my father insisted that I be called Bagent.”
I pictured the words in my mind
BeAuty
GoodNEss
Truth
and thought I got the point.
“Beauty is certainly better than ugliness,” he said, “goodness is better than evil and truth is better than either lies or half-truth.”
“So do you agree with our Home Secretary that we are engaged in struggle against evil people?” I asked. “And where should the values he spoke of come from? From where do humans get what Reid called their spirit?”
“You ask some important questions,” Bagent replied. “Come back tomorrow and we shall talk some more.”
With that he was gone. I decided I would come back and report my conversation on this blog.
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