The brief wave of Islamic terrorism in the UK followed our invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, and effectively stopped when those occupations ended. In every case of actual terrorist attack, the terrorists involved cited those invasions as a key part of their motive. There may yet be another residual attack, but as a campaign it is over, and historical perspective will show it related purely to our invasion of Islamic lands.
Yet we have suffered a week of media propaganda aimed at repeating the mantra that Isis’ success in Iraq will lead to terrorist attacks in the UK. The only apparent purpose of this mantra is to justify some degree of US/UK intervention in Iraq’s current civil war. As it was the US/UK invasion which caused this civil war in the first place, this is ironic. As any form of UK intervention is the only thing that might in fact provoke Iraq related terrorist attacks in the UK, it is a crazed argument; the absolute opposite of the truth.
The brief period of Islamic linked terrorism in the UK killed about eighty people – a tiny percentage of those who died in the UK from Irish linked violence in the 70’s and 80’s – but had two disproportionately dreadful effects. The first was a massive reduction in civil liberties in the UK. The second was the spawning of a vast and parasitic security industry, both within government, and in the private sector but government funded.
The patent absence of any genuine Islamic terrorism in the UK to fight is an obvious threat to the funding of this huge industry. Hence the current hype about the threat from Birmingham school governors or British residents fighting in Iraq and Syria. We have the usual propagandists for this threat thrust upon the airwaves again – Frank “Goebbels” Gardner and even the utterly discredited “Quilliam Foundation” who have been back on the BBC. At the moment they are peddling the utterly untrue line that 9% of those who travel from the UK to participate in fighting abroad, on return get involved in terrorist activity in the UK. Frank Gardner has been repeating this ad nauseam.
This claim is absolutely unfounded. It is brought to you by the same people who claim there are 4,000 active terrorists in the UK, or that MI5 foiled 34 active terrorist plots.
How gullible do you have to be to believe that in the last seven years this 4,000 committed terrorists in the UK, with their 34 active plots, managed to kill nobody at all, except for the two deranged and utterly disorganised Nigerians who murdered the unfortunate Lee Rigby? The other 3,998 must be the world’s least productive terrorists. Surely between 3,998 fanatical and committed murderous terrorists they could at least have injured somebody? The truth is that in the last seven years Irish political violence has again killed more people in the UK than Islamist political violence.
If you have 4,000 totally non-productive fantasy terrorists, then it is not surprising that you think that one in nine of those who go to fight abroad are involved in such “terrorism” in the UK. In fact, the terrorist threat in the UK is miniscule and the entire narrative is a nonsense. You have a much greater chance of drowning in your own bath than of being killed by a terrorist. The death of Gerald Conlon should be a sobering reminder of the willingness of English juries to make completely improbable terrorist convictions on the say-so of the authorities.
There has probably not been a war abroad in the last two hundred years in which some UK resident did not go and fight. The BBC and Sky news headline today is about someone from Aberdeen who went to fight for Isis. That is meant to terrify us about terrorism here.
Nonsense.
Somebody else from Aberdeen went to fight in a war abroad. George Gordon, Lord Byron, went to fight for the Greek revolt against Ottoman rule, and died of fever in a Balkan swamp. (Under Blair’s “anti-terror” legislation, that would have made Byron guilty of terrorism in the UK). In the same decade George De Lacey Evans went to fight for the Spanish Infanta against her uncle. Several Britons including David Urquhart fought against the Russian invasion of Circassia. I am talking in all these cases of politically motivated volunteers, not mercenaries. A number of British residents fought in the Franco-Prussian war. Several Britons fought for the Confederates in the US civil war – almost certainly some fought for the Union as well, but I can’t claim to know of them. Garibaldi had a Welsh officer called Griffiths. We should all be terrifically proud of the Britons in the International Brigades in Spain. British residents fought on all sides in the recent civil wars in the Balkans. I should be astonished if some British residents of Ukrainian and Russian heritage had not gone to join militias there at present.
Nor should we forget that the same political establishment which so deplores Britons going abroad to fight, has legalised, massively encouraged and financed the mercenary activities of hired killers like Tim Spicer and Tony Buckingham. The hypocrisy is rank and stinking.
The dreadful violence and destruction the West has inflicted and promoted in recent years in its efforts to gain control of the mineral resources of the Middle East continues to play out. Those who see communities with which they identify abroad engaged in military conflict will always produce a small number of people going to join the fight. This is in no sense unusual, and in no sense a threat to ordinary citizens in the UK. The link to terrorism here is entirely a fiction. The unfortunate thing is that the mainstream media allows no outlet for people to mock its false assertions and point out its sinister agenda.
Coulson guilty! Woman who shared a ride with Cameron is innocent as the red snow.
“Coulson guilty!”
Yes, prosecuted under section 1 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (“RIPA”).
Brooks found not guilty ffs!!
Location of skeletons equates to a get out of jail card.
Agent Cameron is very very humble in the manner of Uriah Heep and admits to making a big mistake in employing Coulson. He has been and is tarnished by association with these low lifes.
And her twat husband gets off too. Big party in Chipping Norton tonight. Look out for Cam and Sam…
“Agent Cameron is very very humble in the manner of Uriah Heep and admits to making a big mistake in employing Coulson.”
_____________________
Another monumental bit of nauseating hypocrisy from the troll-sniffing Bitch.
Had Cameron said nothing, he would have been accused of arrogance. But as he did say something, he’s accused of being like Uriah Heep.
That sort of hypocrisy is sooooo Labour (Old and Nu). 🙂
sorry still o/t
Craig’s previous on the flame haired temptress.
http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/?s=rebekah+brooks
On topic too in a way. Remember Gotcha and all the Murdoch propaganda for the war on terrrrrrr?
Still no answer from California Ben and the Adult Celtic Poetaster to the following rather simple question :
“Just to be able to evaluate your bona fides, so to speak – apart from frequently sounding off on this blog (and perhaps on others), what do you do in concrete and practical terms to support the Palestinian cause and help the Palestinian people?”
Other Israel-haters and Palestinian supporters feel free to join in!
*******************
Habbabkuk says : being a keyboard hero is easy (and anonymous).
No party political affiliations for me EVER thank you Habbakuk.
SORREEE, peasants! (Ask Natasha to polish my best shoes, Sam – we’ll pop off early to Chippers)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/10922491/Phone-hacking-David-Cameron-profoundly-sorry-over-bad-decision-to-hire-Andy-Coulson.html
Mary, what was the point you were trying to make regarding HM’s visit to the Crumlin Road Gaol?
Habbakuk No comments on Craig’s latest post?? Surely you must have something to say about the war on terrrrrr before you head off to Chipping Norton for the celebrations. Not too far for you to travel?
Work it out Anon.
Treats and rewards are available for the silent, positions of respect and seats on councils, acceptance of bribes for restaurant licences and dodgier things than that. The silent ones have to be seen to put clear green water between themselves and the outspoken seekers after truth.
I am all for outspoken seekers after truth. But the ones who think they’ve found the unique and exclusive truth, and propose to shoot me if I don’t believe it myself, worry me, I have to admit. And advocates of a larger Sunni caliphate don’t seem a lot different in substance from advocates of American hegemony. Only less tolerant still of dissent.
OT, sorry, but here is the acid test of Blair’s effectiveness as Quartet envoy: is anyone at all listening to him? –
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=25608
“I am deeply troubled by the ongoing events in Israel and the Palestinian territories, including the deaths of Palestinian civilians, and the wide-scale arrests.”
“Israel must act with restraint when operating in populated Palestinian areas – including Gaza – and ensure that civilians are not harmed. Steps must also be taken to limit restrictions on movement and access in the West Bank,” he stated.
Now see the moving banner head of the same page for the Israeli response.
Louder, Tony.
“I am talking in all these cases of politically motivated volunteers, not mercenaries.”
How many in Iraq/Syria/Ukraine at present from the UK, is hard to guess, I’m sure the authorities have a fair idea. 250 possibly. They should know, they recruited them.
This interesting blog breaks down the ISIS rabble as: “mercenaries, private military contractors, intelligence operatives, thrill-seekers and deluded zealots, hoodwinking the desperate and vulnerable subjects of social immiseration; a paramilitary force that is by no means autogenous and whose social condition is reliant upon the imperial class that has engineered and now sustains it.”
http://notthemsmdotcom.wordpress.com/2014/06/18/isis-an-expression-of-imperialism-in-iraq/
The new danger Gardner suggests then lies in the deluded zealots, as the private military contractors, intelligence operatives and mercenaries have always been regarded as loose cannons, mad bad and dangerous to know. The zealots (the thrill-seekers being contented with an occasional go on the Big Dipper at Blackpool) are a small minority overall and only a portion of whom will not close that chapter of their life upon return, and will be problem of re-integration, but will not be reliving their terror glory days, might rather instead be ostracised and ashamed, and as the manner and consequences of how they were used and their crimes, sinks in, should be. Every death in Syria and Iraq attributable to them should be laid at their door in open court, if they think they’re immune, they’ll be in for a shock and if provably involved in killings, in many cases it will be unquestionable, they will duly be incarcerated and thus pose little risk, only a greater financial burden, unless the Saudis or tottering-US empire wish to meet these ‘socialised’ costs of their proxy wars.
The real danger lies in those so involved being entrapped by the security services to subsequently do their bidding, on some other matters closer to home. The security services hype has all the ingredients of a self-fulfilling prophecy, for which they will exert themselves to prove themselves ‘right’, hell if all else they can always frame one of these mugs, for their own vile handiwork. They proudly boast that they ‘make reality’.
For public safety and avoidance of future such dilemmas, I suggest those state-backed agencies who recruited for and facilitated their Grand Tour of the hotspots, be brought to book, the terror apparatus of the redundant NATO and the Saudi despot run GCC be disbanded.
Mary,
I get the point about irony etc. I was more interested in the remark, ‘amazing what people will do for a shake of the royal {gloved) hand.’ It is significant progress that a former terrorist commander and HMQ can meet, shake hands and enjoy a civil conversation. It is a shame that some of their followers, former followers in Marty’s case, are unwilling to follow their lead and hold out the hand of friendship to the other side.
Liam Fox is back: The security services need more powers to create a fascist police state.
“The whole area of intercept needs to be looked at. We have got a real debate, and it’s a genuine debate in a democracy, between the libertarians who say the state must not get too powerful and pretty much the rest of us who say the state must protect itself.”
“You have people at the moment, in light of Snowden, saying the state has too many powers, we have to restrict the powers of the state. We’d better start to reconsider that.”
“There are those who say if we don’t get involved, if we hunker down, then we will be fine. There will be no backlash. That is utterly, utterly wrong because the Jihadists don’t hate us because of what we do. They hate us because of who we are. We can’t change that. It is our values and our history that they detest more than anything else.”
Daily Telegraph (Mon 23rd June 2014)
Mary
“No party political affiliations for me EVER thank you Habbakuk.”
________________
No, I wasn’t trying to say your were Labour (Old or Nuuuu). What I meant was is that your line appears to be the very convenient one of damning someone you don’t like if he does and damning him if he doesn’t. So we’re talking about an attitude of mind here, and it’s an attitude you share with Labour.
Hope that clarifies.
The Gerbil has emerged from its hiding place, questions put to him conveniently forgotten (the post at 15h03 refers).
It’s bad luck to kill an albatross.
That would sound better if Liam were a little more transparent about his own connections, eh, Doug?…
Old example:
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/26/donor-liam-fox-defence-lobbyist-stephen-crouch
Wonder what Tony Buckingham’s up to these days?
What happens when someone who goes to fight comes back?
His mum and dad get him married off to anyone they can find to stop him going off again.
He gets a Job, has babies. And then is too busy with all that stuff to do anything much ever again.
That or he doesn’t come back. If “they win” in Iraq. The British boys will marry Iraqi girls. And live there for the rest of their lives. The will have kids, get jobs and will not dream of ever coming back here ever again.
Anne Field: a very interesting and well-researched article. Thanks for that.
http://xtcuk.wordpress.com/2014/06/22/isis-what-crisis/
Habbabkuk (La vita è bella) !
24 Jun, 2014 – 3:07 pm
“The Gerbil has emerged from its hiding place, questions put to him conveniently forgotten (the post at 15h03 refers).”
I haven’t forgotten Habbabkuk, I’ve been away on a mission.
Yet another distortion above about me from the H troll.
Craig’s “hired killers” link leads to a blind alley. The video, showing mercenaries shooting up cars for fun, has been removed by Google because it violates the copyright of the mercenaries employers. Copyright trumps war crimes.
The video has also been removed by the Telegraph and Human Rights First. Channel 4 seem to have removed any mention of the videos. The videos were originally posted to aegisiraq.co.uk, since closed by court order and now redirects to the main Aegis site.
Aegis chairman is MP fatman Soames. Founder Tim Spicer was previously, as a British army officer, involved in shooting unarmed Irish kids in the back.
It seems nine+ videos of Aegis mercenaries running amok in Iraq were originally posted online. Today I managed to find one. Aegis currently has a special promotion on for security in Iraq.
http://wikispooks.com/wiki/Aegis_Defence_Services
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegis_Defence_Services
Yes, I’m sure this Islamic Terrorism tripe is massively over-hyped. If there really are 4,000 of ’em in the kingdom then they must be the most incompetent bunch imaginable. The figure of 400 core members sticks in my head in regard to the I.R.A. (though my memory may be at fault) and they did far more damage over a very long time. They also hit on the rather good wheeze of being as far away from their own bombs as possible. Thus they could be de-briefed and lessons could be learned for the next time. Any tips or ideas the tube bombers picked up during their operation went with them into the next world.
Where I would demur is in the suggestion that Iraqi and other invasions “caused” the terrorism we have had. Yes, I’m sure that’s the justification given, but I don’t believe it. Lots of people are against either the Iraqi invasion or “Liberal Interventionism” in general, including me. But it never occurred to me that sticking a bomb in a public space somewhere would improve the situation. On the contrary; it just makes more victims. The guy who did his little farewell video before the tube bombings came across to me as a complete wanker. A highly dangerous wanker, no doubt, but inarticulate, thoughtless and ultimately stupid. He was a teaching assistant, I believe …
In that vein, what I noticed most in the tv reports recently was that one tit, who was said to be a medical student said – if I heard correctly – “We has come here innit…”. Aren’t you glad they closed down the grammar schools in favour of the egalitarian paradise in which we now find ourselves? It gives you an idea of the quality of medical care we can all expect in years to come.
Good luck all; you’ll need it.
Phil Not so disrespectful please about one of Her Maj’s Knights of the Realm.
Sir Arthur Nicholas Winston Soames MP was knighted in the Birthday Honours list for ‘services to politics’ as opposed to ‘services to mercenary killers’.