In the grim days since last week’s bombing of London, the bulk of Britain’s political class and media has distinguished itself by a wilful and dangerous refusal to face up to reality. Just as it was branded unpatriotic in the US after the 2001 attacks on New York and Washington to talk about the link with American policy in the Middle East, so those who have raised the evident connection between the London atrocities and Britain’s role in Iraq and Afghanistan have been denounced as traitors. And anyone who has questioned Tony Blair’s echo of George Bush’s fateful words on September 11 that this was an assault on freedom and our way of life has been treated as an apologist for terror…
…The London bombers were to blame for attacks on civilians that are neither morally nor politically defensible. But the prime minister - who was warned by British intelligence of the risks in the run-up to the war - is also responsible for knowingly putting his own people at risk in the service of a foreign power. The security crackdowns and campaign to uproot an “evil ideology” the government announced yesterday will not extinguish the threat. Only a British commitment to end its role in the bloody occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan is likely to do that.
Can’t say I agree with it all but some valid points about where a good portion, if not all of the blame for these attacks lies.
Re: It is an insult to the dead to deny the link with Iraq
Oh, so now it’s not a government conspiracy?
So where is this good potion of the blame asigned to? Pakistani madrassas? Adherence to a violent interpretation of religion? Or a justification for individuals to kill civlians and strike terror within a nation because they are not happy with their foreign policy?
Re: It is an insult to the dead to deny the link with Iraq
I would definitely agree Thap...Time for sympathy is over...Britts have to think the main cause of these suicide attacks...British forces are involved in the worst occupation ever in it's recent history in Iraq right now,& they are thinking no body would react...This US mentality is not a part of British society...They have to come out of that foolishness...and would have to try to accept the reality...ANTI WAR IS NOT A TRAITORSHIP...& ACCEPT THAT MUSLIMS ARE OPPRESSED RIGHT NOW BEING OPPRESSED BY THE UK,USA & ISRAEL...well,India naa no where near these 3 Bullies...
Re: It is an insult to the dead to deny the link with Iraq
bah, who’s to say the govt. wouldn’t have had to stage this attack had they not embroiled themselves in the Iraq war. This thread is quite distinct from a who dunnit’ more of a ‘what caused it’.
Re: It is an insult to the dead to deny the link with Iraq
ermmm read my first post..
*the prime minister - who was warned by British intelligence of the risks in the run-up to the war - is also responsible for knowingly putting his own people at risk in the service of a foreign power. *
ermm read it again, obviously the risk was noted and obviously believed to be acceptable.
Re: It is an insult to the dead to deny the link with Iraq
Ok, so now all foreign policy decisions a natoin makes must take into consideration that their citizens (influenced by foreign religious fanatics) may blow up their subway systems if they disagree with their policy.
Re: It is an insult to the dead to deny the link with Iraq
IRaq has nothing to do with this. If islamic terrorist use iraq to blow up thei rfellow citizens, then it is not a matter of policy but the sick thinking that these vermin espouse. Look at spain, even after removing troops from Iraq, they were still catching terrorists hell bent on killing civilians.
Re: It is an insult to the dead to deny the link with Iraq
If you think western countries should/will base their foreign policy on the degree of risk of homicide bombers attacking their country you are whacked.
Re: It is an insult to the dead to deny the link with Iraq
I wonder why the Guatemalans never flew planes into our buildings. Panamanians, filipinos, Chileans, hondurans..etc..etc.. Why didn't the serbians blow up the DC subway? why oh why?
Re: It is an insult to the dead to deny the link with Iraq
ofcourse it is linked to iraq. that is where they get their motivation from.
i view these acts in the same colour as i see 'taking the attack to them'. both parties are equally brutal and flippant in their acceptance of civilian deaths (who want nothing with this conflict) so long as it serves a 'higher purpose'.
both have their minions justifying the act and civilian deaths in the name of higher ideals after the fact.
Re: It is an insult to the dead to deny the link with Iraq
The whole blame goes to America and the British government for invading Iraq, and this is now being openly said so by the British people and parliamentarians.