7/7

How do you follow the high of winning an Olympic bid?

You become the target of deadly terrorist bombs.

London experienced their version of 9/11 on Thursday morning and I am mighty glad I left the city just the night before. Not so much because during my brief 5 day visit I was riding the Tube and buses that became such tasty targets for the terrorists responsible for this pathetic attack, but because I would have been virtually stuck and unable to get around freely due to the disruption to all traffic in and out of London.

The official body count is now at 37. I suspect it will be higher when I wake up in the morning. Fortunately, as far as I know, no one I visited or know in London was hurt. However, I have heard that the daughter of my London hosts was possibly in one of the trains that was bombed, although she thankfully managed to escape, shaken and covered in soot, but with no injuries.

There is so much to write about, but it doesn't all have to be said now. Instead, my thoughts are with all those who were affected by these awful attacks. On 9/11 we were all Americans. Today we are all British. I've always been both since birth, lucky one that I am, so this cuts deeply, but not as deeply as for those that have lost loved ones, or been personally touched by these events.

Have we done enough in the war against terrorism? Can anything really be done to stop such attacks in the future? Is some rogue nation now quivering in fear they will be attacked in retribution? These are all going to be questions many will ask in the coming days.

Whichever way you look at it, or even format the date, 7/7 will be remembered as one of the worst days London has experienced since the World War II Blitz, coming only one day after people were hailing one of the best days in the City's recent history. Probably only a coincidence, but a cruel one nevertheless.