London Explosions: Comment - Londoners show true Iraqi spirit

In February 2005, The Dallas News published an article in which American soldiers spoke of the resilience of the Iraqi people.

"Their ability to continue with their lives is outstanding."

"I have noticed that, no matter how bad things were for the Iraqi people, they stayed positive."

"although the country was at war for a number of weeks, they for the most part went on with what seemed to be their normal lives as much as they could"

It is one of the relatively few articles that praise the courage of the Iraqi people. People who since March 2003, have faced violence, allied bombing, foreign insurgents, car bombings and suicide bombings on a daily basis.

Day after day, after bloody day. You can read that last part in more than ways than one.

Yet how often do you hear of their determination to carry on their normal daily lives? How often since the awful bombings in London, have we heard of the determination of Londoners to go about their daily routine.

A car bomb in Iraq killing over 50 people is forgotten by the world press within 36-48 hours at the most. Perhaps if the people of Baghdad had Cockney accents, the market stall sellers who try to make a living in the face of violence, would have what it takes to "sell" a story.

Think ahead six years. People will still remember and talk about the London bombings. They will recall the "Bulldog Spirit."

How many people today remember that Belgrade was bombed virtually nightly for three months. During the NATO bombing of Belgrade in 1999, even targets in the very centre of the city were hit.

Pay a visit to Beograd.org and remind yourself of what the people of Belgrade had to face. Not just one morning, but for nearly three months.

Again, little was heard of their plight, courage or perseverance. Another case of, "Yeah, yeah, very sad, but it wont sell. Don't call us, we'll call you."

The people of London are doing what comes naturally; as did the people of Belgrade and the people of Baghdad are doing now. The difference is that unlike London, they are not fortunate enough to be the beneficiaries of a perception management campaign.

The fabled "Blitz Spirit" we hear so much about is as factual as the beloved Robin Hood story.

In reality, it was a masterful, carefully orchestrated 1940s perception management campaign to boost sagging British moral. The same thing is happening now, hence the multitude of interviews with stereotype Londoners.

I lived and worked in London during the bombing campaign by the American backed, supported and financed IRA. Unlike many who may feel moved to attack this post, I know what it is like to be scared of unattended luggage, use tube stations or visit a department store.

I feel very sad for a city and people I love. But I am also a believer in putting things in perspective.

People all over the world are asking, "Why are they doing this." In Zimbabwe; in Iraq; in the Ivory Coast; the Sudan; Ethiopia; and in far away places with strange sounding names that nothing to most. Many can't answer their question as they don't know the reason it's being asked.

As for now, I will continue to read about the London bombings - and wait for the Tom Hanks movie to be released.

The Guv'nor