London Blitz.

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 put on the pole at Castle Argghhh!

Update. I went to the PX over lunch to score a flag. I am pleased to report the vendor had a run on them this morning. More are inbound for tomorrow. I guess I'll just have to use this one.

The Denizens of Castle Argghhh! extend our condolences to the families and friends of the dead and injured of today's attack in London. Others will do a far better job of covering this than we could hope, so I don't intend to try. Others among us, however, might. Feel free to email anything you find worth linking to on the story as it develops through the day.

As for the British people and government - well, I'm sure they will not react as Spain did, though surely some will seize the moment to advocate just that. A reminder, however, for the residents of that Scepter'd Isle:

You've been here before, only worse... the Blitz.

Remember the outcome of that, Berlin, 1945...

Al-Qaeda is like much like the IRA, but worse. You stayed the course with the IRA, and while perhaps no one is happy with the situation as it stands in Northern Ireland, progress is being made, however incrementally. Keep that in mind as you look at Iraq in light of today's events.

Christiane Amanpour of CNN asked, "What is to be done?" Well, there's always the Spanish Response... or, there is the Churchillian response. I know which one I hope to see in Tony Blair's words and deeds.

As Winnie observed:

"I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone.

At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of His Majesty's Government-every man of them. That is the will of Parliament and the nation.

The British Empire and the French Republic, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength.

Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail.

We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old."

Show us your steel.

Update on the Churchill Speech. Mike Sargent, found the whole text of the speech - which includes this, very relevant, passage:

John,

Looking at the full text here Sir Winston gives us another good suggestion:

“There is, however, another class for which I feel not the slightest sympathy. Parliament has given us powers to put down fifth column activities with the strongest hand, and we shall use those powers subject to the supervision and correcting of the House without hesitation until we are satisfied and more than satisfied that this malignancy in our midst has been effectually stamped out…”

'fifth column' - heh.

Emphasis in the speech is mine. Make a few topical changes, and it fits equally well today. Leave aside the snarks about France, please. And lest anyone think I found a picture of a Union Jack damaged in todays attack - no. That is a pic of a brit flag in Antarctica - it just seemed appropriate.

Other's blogging the story (do send along the links, in comments or email the greatest service we can provide today is that of aggregator):

Instapundit (d-uh)
Ghost of a Flea has a nice running post.
Silent Running.
Tim Blair
Tim Worstall
The Command Post.
Brothers Judd.
RedState
The Corner
Wizbang
Scrappleface
The Guardian (UK) Blog.
Jane Galt.
Jeff Jarvis

First update already...

Confederate Yankee makes an interesting observation. We'll see.
Reuters (via AFSis)

"Some will counsel fleeing"...

Like George Galloway.

We extend our condolences to those who have lost their lives today and our heartfelt sympathy to all those who have been injured by the bombs in London.

No one can condone acts of violence aimed at working people going about their daily lives. They have not been a party to, nor are they responsible for, the decisions of their government. They are entirely innocent and we condemn those who have killed or injured them.

The loss of innocent lives, whether in this country or Iraq, is precisely the result of a world that has become a less safe and peaceful place in recent years.

We have worked without rest to remove the causes of such violence from our world. We argued, as did the Security Services in this country, that the attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq would increase the threat of terrorist attack in Britain. Tragically Londoners have now paid the price of the government ignoring such warnings.

We urge the government to remove people in this country from harms way, as the Spanish government acted to remove its people from harm, by ending the occupation of Iraq and by turning its full attention to the development of a real solution to the wider conflicts in the Middle East.

Only then will the innocents here and abroad be able to enjoy a life free of the threat of needless violence.

"Only then will the innocents here and abroad be able to enjoy a life free of the threat of needless violence."

Ah, George, you clever man. The 'innocents abroad' in Iraq who died at the hands of your pal and mentor, Saddam Hussein, well, they were the victims of "needful violence," in order to preserve the perks and style of your buddies regime, eh?

Poltroon.

Others blogging or updated from above:

Jeff Quinton

James Joyner

Captain Ed

Cernig

Barbara O'Brien

Arthur Chrenkoff

Norm Geras

Ann Althouse

La Shawn Barber

Confederate Yankee

Norbizness

Jesse Taylor

Smash

Dean Esmay

Susanna Cornett

Michelle Malkin

Hugh Hewitt

Reporter's Log

Villainous Company

Joe Gandelman

Gateway Pundit

Feddie

Scared Monkeys

Jane Galt

Polipundit

Powerline

John Hawkins

Instapundit

Wizbang

Jeff Jarvis

Accidental Verbosity

Say Anything

INCITE

Jared

Uncle Sam's Cabin

Blogs of War

Chris Short

RantingRightWingHowler