What is shocking, is that anyone is truly shocked.

Watching the public rhetoric since the 7-6-2005 bombings in London has become truly painful. I cannot imagine either the British or Winston Churchill in their era being either shocked or so befuddled that they could not find their derriers with both hands. That, however, seems to be the response of Prime Minister Blair and his retinue.

Falling in line are the MSM (main stream media) of America. ABC reports on July 12 could hardly contain their utter mystification about who did the bombings, and, above all, WHY. Chiming in with Prime Minister Blair, they were simply astonished that Britons could have done this. What could possibly have been their motivation? Apparently, being in government and/or the press requires surrendering one's brain in advance on both sides of the Atlantic.

And, not doing one's homework is not just an American phenomenon. What is shocking is how bloody damned ignorant about Islam figures of power and influence insist on being.

Not only have the chickens come home to roost in England, but they are up to their Merry Old Eyeballs in guano. And, they are caught by surprise. I am glad Winston did not have to witness this display.

It is hard to believe that the sundry authorities in England were caught off guard, and it is even harder to believe that they are surprised by who-what-where-when-why-and-how. Have they been tucking their heads in their derriers all this time? They would have made more sense had they quoted Homer Simpson: "Doh!"

Now, Mr. Blair wants to rush to dialogue with British Muslims. He obviously has not a clue about Islam, Islam in Britain, Islam in the world, and the true nature of Muslims. Mr. Blair has been asleep at the socialist switch. He cannot believe the evidence of his senses. He has trouble integrating the obvious, because he does not want to see the obvious. He must have been taking President Bush lessons. Maybe they could become known as Prime Minister Tweedledum and President Tweedledee.

Just listen to the "understanding" of the problem exiting from Blair's layrnx. Islam is a great religion. Islam has been hijacked by a small group of fanatics. Almost all Muslims are peace-loving. Here are Blair-ism quotes from his 13 July address to Parliament:

"This is not an isolated criminal act we are dealing with," he said. "It is an extreme and evil ideology whose roots lie in a perverted and poisonous misinterpretation of the religion of Islam. ... We will seek to debate the right way forward in combatting this evil within the Muslim community with Muslim leaders and it is our intention to begin this process immediately.

"In the end this can only be taken on and defeated by the community itself, but we all can help and facilitate," added Blair, who met Wednesday with British Muslim lawmakers.

"We are talking to other nations, Muslim and non-Muslim, about how to mobilize internationally the moderate and true voice of Islam. Round the world, such action is taking place, though we need to see how it can be better coordinated, publicized and driven through."

Does Grover Norquist advise Blair as well as Bush?

If this is the level of British leadership in the war against Islam, then we can say with total confidence to Mr. Blair the same we can say to Mr. Bush: Stand by for incoming. Each man thinks he is holding the olive branch of peace. In reality, each is holding a lightning rod outside in an electrical storm, instead of taking proper actions.