Although the news is still coming in at this time, today's significant terrorist attack in London is an appalling example of barbaric and indiscriminate violence.  Whether it was timed to coincide with the G8 summit — a summit to address the poverty situation in Africa — and whether it was carried out by al-Qaida or a related group are both still open questions.  What is known is that the attacks were specifically planned to impact rush hour in order to maximize the carnage.  It does certainly brush aside whatever elation Londoners may have been feeling after being awarded the 2012 Olympics just yesterday.

It's unclear if the bus attack was actually intended for another subway or was timed to catch those escaping the subway attacks.  In either case, the preliminary reports indicate dozens have been killed and hundreds injured.

It's very sad that any person or group would measure success by casualty counts, but this is indeed the world we live in.  It will be even more disheartening should it be proven that this attack was carried out by Islamic terrorists since Islam is a peaceful religion and, for anyone who has actually read and understood it, the Qur'an makes clear that terrorism is unacceptable to Allah.  True Muslims abhor such behavior, as do all reasonable people.

I am understandably concerned with the fact that the same attack vector was utilized in Spain.  In that attack, the terrorists achieved their goals and saw Spain recoil in horror and quickly undergo a significant political shift in response — a political shift which worked in favor of the attackers.

My thoughts are with the people of London, especially those impacted directly by this atrocious act of cowardice.  I can assure you that the people of America, unaware and uninformed though they are, stand behind the UK and its people.