British Empire Blamed for Modern conflicts!
The UK Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, has blamed Britain’s imperial past for many of the modern political problems, including the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Kashmir dispute.
“A lot of the problems we are having to deal with now - I have to deal with now - are a consequence of our colonial past,” he said.
He said the Balfour Declaration of 1917 - in which Britain pledged support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine - and the contradictory assurances given to Palestinians, were not entirely honourable.
Mr Straw acknowledged “some quite serious mistakes” in India and Pakistan, jewels of the British empire before their 1947 independence, as well as Britain’s “less than glorious role” in Afghanistan.
Mr Straw blamed many territorial disputes on the illogical borders created by colonial powers.
“The odd lines for Iraq’s borders were drawn by Brits,” he said.
And he said the British Government had been complacent about Kashmir at the time of Indian independence, when it quickly became the most contentious issue between India and Pakistan.
comment: We been saying it for years now all of a sudden a british minister openly admits the biased and racist policies of the British empire. My only question is why now **Guilty Conscience ** :bummer:
These statements attempt to portray Britain as regretful of its past so that it is seen in a better light in the international arena whilst ignoring the reality of its present colonialism. The pursuit of material interests lies at the heart of capitalism. Colonialism is therefore an inherent part of it as it is the enforcement of political, military, cultural and economic control over weak nations in order to exploit them. Therefore Britain like all capitalist states primary aim in foreign policy is furthering national interests.
Britains support for Israel continues unabated even selling military equipment for fighter planes which in turn end up bombing civillian apartments in occupied palestine.
*If Britain was truly remorseful of its colonialism then it would immediately stop interfering in the political affairs of the third world including the Muslim world, it would break its alliance with America against Iraq, pay reparations for the damage it has caused and return the stolen property from the third world such as the Kohi Noor diamond exhibited in the Queen’s crown and many other stolen jewels and artefacts. *
There is no guilty conscience its more tricks and muslims should be aware of this
hmmm, I on the other hand think they should let Mugabe be. Since they no longer have a hold over their African colonies, why are they still playing the role of ex-colonial power?