Editorial: Foreign policy is never a good enough excuse
The recent foiling of what would have been the biggest terrorist atrocity ever to hit Britain, and the fact that most of the arrested conspirators are British born Muslims, has left Britain feeling understandably vulnerable.Discussion of what could drive British born men and women to plot terrorist attacks against Britain has been a major issue of national debate. The finger is often pointed at foreign policy.
August 21st, 2006 at 11:34 am
Complains on Foreign Policy are just flimsy excuses, do these people the rest of the world is stupid. This kind of Terrorist activities are the highest kind of treason.
The British Government is proving to be too weak they should act now without segregation to others.
I am British and proud of it. Under no circumstances will I tolatare any mischief or threat of any kind against my country.
August 22nd, 2006 at 8:44 am
The understanding of nonviolance (AHIMSA) means to peace are lacking in all groups. You can not solve your problems by terrorising the other.
August 22nd, 2006 at 7:41 pm
It is indeed worrying that any body is trying to dictate government policy through terrorism and you are right to say it would open the door to many other groups carrying out attacks in order to cause policy change. However, I guess it may be argued that these terrorist attacks are perhaps the only thing that will cause people to take note. Yes, at first we may all condone these things but it is evident from guerilla warfare all over the world that violent attacks have often caused political change that simply diplomacy cannot. I don’t think this justifies these attacks, but that is probably because I disagree with much of the points held by these people and I will freely admit I have very little faith in the ‘goodness’ of Islam. If it were a point I felt very strongly about, and diplomatic, peaceful measures were having no effect, I would like to think I would not resort to such measures but until I am in that position I cannot be sure.
August 22nd, 2006 at 9:01 pm
The 3 MP’s should be censored. The various organisations checked out with their allegiance. I wouldn’t be surprised that they get some form of funding from the government!
I bet that they (the various signatories) would not have the freedoms that they enjoy here, in the country of their origin!
One may not pass Norman Tebbits’s cricket test but one cannot terrorise the citizens one lives with.
August 22nd, 2006 at 9:27 pm
I have never heard of such a load of rubbish when someone defends terrorism in homeland by giving excuse of government’s foreign policy.
The government is democratic and policies can be changed by ballot boxes.
Once you take away the terrorists rights and send them back where the punishment is by hanging or flogging, they will soon give up their stance against the government.
I am not preaching violence, merely giving the taste of their own medicine.
Blair is too busy making a name of himself to become a Europen President and therefore not repeal the so called ‘Human Rights’ law. The law that seems only suitable to the terrorists such as the Afghanistani hijackers!
Do you agree?
August 23rd, 2006 at 1:48 am
I live in the US, but lived for over 30 years in the UK. I was surprised to see
so many asians showing their muslim identity ,on recent visits. I don’t see Hindus or Budhists flaunting their relegion.
My take is, when in Rome do as Romans do when in public. Do what ever in private. Muslims get quite alot of exposure in the press ;Hindus should make their voices heard. Call yourselves British Hindus , don’t get lumped with the terrorists.
Take out pages in the national papers , stating you don’t condone the antics of terrorists so that you are not targeted by the native population.
August 23rd, 2006 at 11:28 am
Koenraad Elst has written a (to me, quite surprising) piece entitled “Paki Come Home!” which refers to the British Muslims involved in the recently foiled air terror plot. The full text of the article is at:
http://koenraadelst.voiceofdharma.com/articles/misc/PakiComeHome.html
It is somewhat reminiscent of Sir V S Naipaul’s observations in his two books from his travels in Pakistan, though Elst takes the argument somewhat further (indeed, quite strangely so).
August 23rd, 2006 at 9:25 pm
^ Good article by Elst!
August 26th, 2006 at 1:21 pm
First it was claimed that poverty breeds terrorism, then it was occupied land (eg Kashmir, Israel, Chechanya etc) and now it is foreign policy. Couldn’t it be possible that it is the religion which is breeding terrorism
August 30th, 2006 at 12:20 am
To Rani - Why a “good article” by Elst? Any thoughts on it beyond your one-liner? I thought it was quite a rude and arrogant piece.
August 30th, 2006 at 7:03 pm
Because his article says something which is true, but that most people are too caught up in PC to say.
As to ‘one liners’, have you got any reason why you don’t like the article beyond your one liner? Practice what you preach.
August 31st, 2006 at 7:48 pm
All men and women are perfect for from perfection comes perfection.
This is the discussants and even the muslims. But in this world of perfection we must confront ourselves. We can not hate persons and then expect them not to hate us.
But we can not be fools. Elst’s apparent anger is legitimate as is the worlds. If the muslims want to correct foreign policy errors they should be correcting the governmental policies of the middle east, darfur,… If there are moderate muslims out there there is a solution: Make Mecca multicultural. Force the Saudis to build Hindu temples, Chritian chruches, Buddhist temples, Temples to Secularism… I think a million moderate muslims that beseiged mecca with a hunger strike until the Saudi’s did this would be proof to the world that they are serious. If they insist on martyrdom while killlng others then let them attack the Mosque builders of Mecca. If they create such a mecca, then 5 times a day all muslims will bow to a town that is multicultural.
Like Elst I don’t think that that is what they want. Then they should leave Kashi and all other sacred Hindu, Buddhist, Secular… sites and let multiculturism be equal and separate. But they don’t want that either. They want special treatment (think spoied children) they want a caste superior to every one else.
I hope some day the muslims will prove me wrong but I’m not holding my breath.
Again - it is not the muslim who is wrong, it is his/her ideology (like Christian Nazi-ism) that is to be abhored (and it exists even in us when we demand things in a like spirit).
hariaum
September 3rd, 2006 at 5:03 am
British foreign policy can be very cruel. I think this is particularly so regarding the creation of Israel, which was created by driving out or killing the Palestine Arabs.
However, the fact is that even if Britain or USA were to support the Palestine Arabs, Muslims wouldn’t be greatful for very long. The Soviet Union or Russia has supported the Palestine Arabs totally, giving them money and weapons to fight Israel. Even then, Islamic terrorists have killed 400 Russian children in Beslan, several thousand Georgians in North Georgia in 1993-94 or Osetia which is now an Islamic Republic, many thousands Armenians in Azerbaizan in 1989-90.
India has created Bangladesh, helping the Muslim Bengalis, but in 2000-2001 several thousand Hindus were killed in Bangladesh and about half a million Hindus had to run for their lives from the country.