I agree with every word he writes.....

 

IF YOU'RE A MUSLIM - IT'S YOUR PROBLEM

 

WHEN will the Muslims of Britain stand up to be counted?

 

When will they declare, loud and clear, with no qualifications or quibbles about Britain's foreign policy, that Islamic terrorism is WRONG?

 

Most of all, when will the Muslim community in this country accept an absolute, undeniable, total truth: that Islamic terrorism is THEIR problem? THEY own it. And it is THEIR duty to face it and eradicate it.

 

To stop the denial, endless fudging and constant wailing that somehow it is everyone else's problem and, if Islamic terrorism exists at all, they are somehow the main victims.

 

Because until that happens the problem will never be resolved. And there will be more 7/7s and, sometime in the future, another airplane plot will succeed with horrific loss of innocent life.

 

Equally important, those British politicians who have seemed obsessed with pandering to, and even encouraging, this state of denial, must throw off their politically-correct blinkers and recognise the same truth—that Muslim terrorism in Britain is the direct responsibility of British Muslims.

 

If only they would follow the lead of Home Secretary John Reid, whose tough, pragmatic, clear-sighted approach has been a breath of fresh air. Only then can they properly work out how to tackle it.

 

For instance, every airport in Britain is in chaos over the plane bomb-plot alert as every passenger is subjected to rigorous security checks. Why? They take lots of time, lots of staff, and are extremely expensive.

 

I'm a white 62-year-old 6ft 4ins suit-wearing ex-cop—I fly often, but do I really fit the profile of suicide bomber? Does the young mum with three tots? The gay couple, the rugby team, the middle-aged businessman?

 

No. But they are all getting exactly the same amount and devouring huge resources for no logical reason whatsoever. Yet the truth is Islamic terrorism in the West has been universally carried out by young Muslim men, usually of ethnic appearance, almost always travelling alone or in very small groups. A tiny percentage, I bet, of those delayed today have such characteristics.

 

This targeting of airport resources is called passenger profiling—the Israelis invented it and they've got probably the safest airports and airlines in the world.

 

In all my years at the front line of fighting terrorism, one truth was always clear — communities beat terrorists, not governments or security forces. But communities can't beat terrorism unless they have the will to do so. My heart sank this week as I saw and read the knee-jerk reaction of friends and neighbours of those arrested in this latest incident, insisting it was all a mistake and the anti-terrorist squad had the wrong people.

 

I have no idea whether those arrested are guilty or not. But neither have those friends and neighbours. They spoke as if it was inconceivable such a thing could happen in their community; that those arrested were all good Muslims; that Islam is a religion of peace so no Muslim could dream of planning such an act.

 

But we heard the same from the family and friends of the 7/7 bombers, didn't we?

 

And the two young British Muslims who died as suicide bombers in Israel. Then there are the British Muslims known to have become suicide bombers in Iraq.

 

There is currently a huge, long-running and complex alleged Islamist bomb plot being tried at the Old Bailey. And a fistful of other cases of alleged Muslim terrorism plots such as the 21/7 London Underground case are also awaiting trial.

 

All this would suggest the blindingly obvious—that terrorism is a major problem for the Muslim community of Britain. Of course, there will be instant squealings that this is racism. It's not. It's exactly the same as recognising that, during the Northern Ireland troubles that left thousands dead, the IRA were totally based in the Catholic community and the UVF in the Protestant.

 

And that, most importantly, IRA terrorism only began to draw to a close when that Catholic community it was based in decided as a whole that it was no longer prepared to back violence as the only way forward. Interestingly, it was Catholic revulsion over republican terrorist atrocities such as Enniskillen and Omagh that fuelled that change.

 

Well, Muslim terrorism in Britain is based in, has its roots in, and grows in, our Muslim community. The madmen of 7/7 and other suicide bombings didn't hide among the Hindu communities, worship in the Sikh temples, recruit at Catholic churches, did they? It may be true that events in Iraq have angered sections of the Muslim community. I have no doubts, whatever Tony Blair says, that it was a catalyst. I also think it's entirely fair for Muslims, if they wish, to vocally oppose Britain's continuing involvement there.

 

I can recognise, too, that recent events in Lebanon inflame some people, and they want their voices of protest heard. The absolutely unacceptable problem is that this opposition is used by too many to turn a blind eye to, or excuse, terrorists in their midst.

 

Blasting a passenger airliner out of the sky, killing hundreds of innocent men, women and children, is NEVER acceptable. Under any circumstances. There is NEVER an excuse.

 

A terrible tragedy costing Muslim lives in Lebanon or Iraq or Afghanistan is never ever an excuse for terrorism here.

 

It is totally unacceptable, totally wrong. What one party perceives as a wrong, no matter how strongly they feel, does not, in turn, justify another wrong being done to avenge it.

 

And until every single member of the Muslim community believes that and preaches that—from an ordinary parent to imam or madrassa teacher—terrorism can't be beaten.

 

Politicians must accept this truth, and do something about it. One example would be to tackle this chaos at our airports and the passenger profiling I described earlier. Another must is to reconsider ID cards. The importance of knowing whether someone really is who they say they are has never been higher.

 

This must be combined with improved border controls, logging exactly who goes OUT of the country as well as who comes in should also be reconsidered, whatever the politically correct among us may say. The time terrorism suspects are kept in custody before charge has also caused dissent. Currently the maximum is 28 days—it may well be this should be reconsidered and, if necessary, raised again to, say, 42 days.

 

Plainly, Muslim terrorism isn't going away. We need to consider everything in our battle to defeat it. But that's the responsibility of all.

 

Not least the community where, sadly for them, it is festering.

Edited August 13, 200619 yr by russt68

havent got the time to read that

 

cant you do bullet points?

Lord Stevens is spot on all his points made IMHO.

 

There has been a number of polls carried out in since 9/11 but consistently around 20-25% of British Muslims do not condone terrorist attacks.

 

I find that obscene - that these people think it is perfectly OK to claim our benefits, housing & health care provided in the UK & yet they think it is OK to try to cause the deliberate death of innocent civilians.

 

Too many politicians are running scared & are apologising for this sort of behaviour.

 

Just look at the Test Cricket this week where England's Muslim fast bowler Mahmood was heckled & abused by a large Muslim section of the crowd for playing for England.

 

If that had been a English crowd abusing a player of non-Caucasian original it would have been a headline story on TV & the newspapers, yet because it is a Muslim-section condemning a Muslim player for playing for England next to nothing gets said.

 

Like a lot of people in this country I felt it was wrong (this time around) to go to war in Iraq. It smacked of a son trying to finish off his "daddies unfinished business", while "poodle" Blair happily followed along.

 

 

havent got the time to read that

 

cant you do bullet points?

 

 

are you serious????

at the moment it is fair to say most muslims are not terrorists, but most terrorists are muslim.

Blasting a passenger airliner out of the sky, killing hundreds of innocent men, women and children, is NEVER acceptable. Under any circumstances. There is NEVER an excuse.

 

A terrible tragedy costing Muslim lives in Lebanon or Iraq or Afghanistan is never ever an excuse for terrorism here.

 

It is totally unacceptable, totally wrong. What one party perceives as a wrong, no matter how strongly they feel, does not, in turn, justify another wrong being done to avenge it.

 

And until every single member of the Muslim community believes that and preaches that—from an ordinary parent to imam or madrassa teacher—terrorism can't be beaten.

 

 

Thanks for your post, you make some interesting points. Some sentiments I agree with and some not, but overall for me I think it's everyones problem. The killing of any people is wrong, no matter where, how or why it's happening, or what label is applied to it, so I think we're all responsible and have a duty to preach non-violence of any kind.

I agree. It's everyones problem. This is from a British born muslim. I am not a very religious person but I am moral. And I think terrorism is disgusting. I was born in the United Kingdom and am apaulled that because I am a muslim I can be repestened with awful people that think its okay to kill people.

Edited August 14, 200619 yr by Ozx

I don't agree it's everyone's problem whatsoever.

 

To try to justify and apportion blame for the Muslim atrocities planned and carried out is an insult to every decent law abiding citizen in this, and every other, country.

 

The Muslim Council of Britain have acted abysmally over the terrorists in the midst of the Muslim communities - SCANT half-hearted statements, little or no regard for the feelings and attitudes of British non-Muslims and a dismissive, insulting attitude to the country that has, let's be honest, given them a damn good home. I'd like to see British people cause as much aggro and upset in a Muslim country as the Muslims are doing in the UK. Try building a chutch in a Muslim country and demand the right to prayer - I think you'll find they'll be far less accommodating than we in Britain are.

 

The fact remains that Britain is NOT a Muslim country - the morals, opinions and beliefs of Islam do NOT sit comfortably with British society and to try to demand changes in law and attitude to suit this most oppressive of religions is at best rude, at worst outrageous.

 

The whole Muslim attitude to specifically women and also homosexuality is disgraceful - especially after the women and gays in Britain have fought a long, hard and painful battle for equality and acceptance. For a foreign religion to come here and try to change any of these laws of accptance and equality is absurd.

 

If the Muslims here find us so immoral - well, the world's a big place - if you can't integrate - then emigrate.

I understand what you are saying. I myself am gay but I was born into islam. I think anybody that lives in the UK has to respect and follow the laws set and if they don't like it they should leave. I completly agree in that sense. Its just the danger is being labelled. I am a peace loving muslim. Not a terrorist. And its worrying when "muslim" is followed by the word terrorist. I hate islamic people that bring basically, people like me down.

I think the problems we have here lie with the British Muslim Council who, it seems, seriously need to re-evaluate their place in British society, their position on terrorism and absolutely need to work harder with the communities to integrate as opposed to separate.

 

To blame Britain's foreign policy for radicalism within Britain is absurd. I myself think invading Iraq was wrong, I marched against it several times and to this day I think Blair should stop lying and do the decent thing and resign over his errors and inaccuracies in his reasoning for joining America with the attack - but to look on Iraq as an attack on Islam is wholly inaccurate.

 

I admire you, Ozx, for standing up and for being brave enough to follow your sexuality within a religion that has abhorrent, outdated and unacceptable views toward gays.

Thank you. It's was really hard coming out to my family who is quite religious. And ultimately, I lost them because of it. But I stand by my convictions and I don't think I am wrong. Attitutes and views do need to change. And if more people would just speak up then change will happen.

That's really sad that your sexuality has caused a rift with your family because of their Muslim religious views.

 

It kind of reiterates my point that Brtain must never, ever allow attitudes toward women and gays to change because of religious pressure.

 

We are what we are - how dare ANY religion try to dictate to us what we are, be it Muslim, Sikh, Rastafari, Catholic, Christian... whatever...

im in broad agreement with you russ... just for a change :)

but most terrorists are muslim.

 

What a load of rubbish, I view the actions of our State and America and Israel as State-sponsored terrorism which has murdered tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of innocent people in the past five years.. And we express all this 'moral outrage' when a few Muslims kill a few of dozen of us??? This is hypocritical bullsh!t of the highest order; WE, the West, are the biggest killers, the biggest terrorists in the world, and we dont do it in the name of religion or in the name of some grand political cause, we do it in the name of MAKING MONEY!! WE supply arms to hundreds of disgusting repressive regimes EVERY YEAR, and these weapons that we supply in places like the Docklands Arms Fair are used to KILL WOMEN AND CHILDREN!!! And yet we get all outraged at a few bombs going off London... Isn't it funny how when THEY kill US, it's called 'Terrorism' and 'Murder', but when WE kill THEM it's called 'Collateral Damage'.....

 

Disgusting..... <_<

 

You ever wonder where these terrorists are actually getting their sophisticated 'liquid explosives' from...? Who is it that develops and creates these weapons (as well as bio-weapons, etc)? Labs in America and Europe that's where. WE ARE SOWING THE SEEDS OF OUR OWN DESTRUCTION....

 

As Michael Moore so clearly and succinctly put in the excellent documentary film "The Corporation" - "A Capitalist will sell you the rope you'll use to hang him if it made him a buck"....

 

Most Muslims that I've met are a DAMN sight more morally centred than the slimy Capitalist, neo-conservative b/astards we allow to lord over us.....

 

 

disagree with you scott

disagree with you scott

 

Would you say that most catholics are terrorists because the IRA are catholic ? do you think every catholic or majority around the world support the IRA ?

 

I would say 0.001% of muslims around the world support Al Qaeda

 

You clearly know nothing about terrorism, go do some research on the Red Brigade and the Bader Meinhoff group and ETA and the IRA and INLA and UDF and other such groups, are they muslims ???

 

I suggest you call your newsagent and ask him to cancel your delivery of The Sun and the Daily Mail

Edited August 14, 200619 yr by Ozzy Osbourne

im in broad agreement with you russ... just for a change :)

 

phew.... thanks, Rob.... I was expecting a barrage of false accusations of racism for these posts..... ;)

Would you say that most catholics are terrorists because the IRA are catholic ? do you think every catholic or majority around the world support the IRA ?

 

I would say 0.001% of muslims around the world support Al Qaeda

 

You clearly know nothing about terrorism, go do some research on the Red Brigade and the Bader Meinhoff group and ETA and the IRA and INLA and UDF and other such groups, are they muslims ???

 

I suggest you call your newsagent and ask him to cancel your delivery of The Sun and the Daily Mail

 

i was talking about now ,today not 10,20, or 30 years ago. I don't live in Germany,Spain, or N Ireland but these other terrorist groups are not targetting me now today in the UK. Do you agree with everything Scott says, even about the Israelis.

disagree with you scott

 

You disagree that we've killed tens of thousands in Iraq....?

 

You disagree that we refer to civilian deaths as "collateral damage"...?

 

You disagree that the Docklands Arms Fair supplies arms to repressive regimes....?

 

You're a fool who clearly only reads Tabloids....

 

I suppose you believe that our reasons for going into Iraq were all totally moral and above board and absolutely NOTHING to do with the fact that Iraq has the third biggest oil reserves in the world......

 

And I suppose when America put across some rubbish excuse for invading Venezuela (like trying to claim that Chavez bankrolls Al Qaeda's operations or some sh!te like that) you'll believe that too.....

Would you say that most catholics are terrorists because the IRA are catholic ? do you think every catholic or majority around the world support the IRA ?

 

I would say 0.001% of muslims around the world support Al Qaeda

 

You clearly know nothing about terrorism, go do some research on the Red Brigade and the Bader Meinhoff group and ETA and the IRA and INLA and UDF and other such groups, are they muslims ???

 

I suggest you call your newsagent and ask him to cancel your delivery of The Sun and the Daily Mail

 

Well put Ozzy...