It IS the foreign policy stupid! (part deux)

Not too long ago I wrote a piece on why I was thought it was utter tosh about how our government(s) have tried to reason with us that we are in danger from groups who want to destroy “our way of life”. And that the hordes of “ragheads” (my words) are about to descend upon us; and at the point of the sword convert us (the men will have to wear sandals and grow bushy beards; the women will have to be covered head to toe with peepholes being the only access to the outside world). My argument was, the government finds it easier to cajole the public into giving up civil rights/liberties when they are told that their way of life is under threat, rather than admitting, that the phuckers are after us, because we have right royally screwed them in their own lands. Bit strong? No, not by far...

I came across an interesting article on the BBC website, which I think vindicated my perspective. The subject of the report was the problem of increasing numbers of young Muslim men who were becoming “radicalised”. The reporter, Peter Taylor highlighted the case of an apparently well integrated young French Muslim man of North African origin (Peter, not the most Muslim sounding name!) and his white, French, half Christian and half Jewish girlfriend (Barbara). “Peter”, was described as a normal young man, who slowly became withdrawn (to be fair his behaviour changed once he started going to a different mosque). The changes include “Peter” progressively reducing contact with his girlfriend, before finally terminating all communication.

“Peter” then took leave from his family to go to Syria citing religious and language studies as his reason. He promised to keep in touch, and indeed kept to his promise. This continued until he warned his family that he would be going into an area without the internet. For several months there was nothing. Then a call to his girlfriend, Barbara. He left no number, however Barbara was able to trace the country code to Iraq. That was the last she heard from him until the French Foreign Ministry relayed information confirming that “Peter” was held by occupying US forces at the infamous Abu Gharib prison. He was later sentenced to 15 years in gaol.

For whatever reason “Peter” had decided that he could no longer stand by. It’s quite apparent that something pushed him over the edge, until he felt compelled to fight – it was not enough to “fight” politically.

What was revealing in the article (as far as I am concerned for a mainstream media outlet) was the acknowledgement of the writer of the effect of the foreign policy in the Middle East in radicalising Muslims. From the writer’s discussions with security and Middle East experts, he was left under no delusions, “I was left in no doubt from all those I spoke to that Iraq above all else was the motivating factor behind the radicalisation and recruitment of young Muslims, and that the US-led invasion has gifted Osama bin Laden with a Jihad he could only dream of".

As I said in my previous post, in none of the statements and releases made by Al Qaida have ever mentioned the establishment of a pan-Islamic Caliphate extending from Spain to China, instead what is obvious is the anger and aggression directed at us for our government(s) role in humiliating, occupying and ensuring that muppets/puppets continue to lead in their country.

In reality, the issue is US foreign policy.

To be or not to be.. (a moderate Muslim or an extremist Muslim)

I feel compelled to write after reading and hearing quite a lot about how moderate Muslims must stop other Muslims from becoming extremists. I'm not quite sure what people exactly mean. Are they implying that Islam is a religion, which if one becomes a devout believer and a practicing worshipper you are liable to blow yourself up along with innocent bystanders? Am I correct in interpreting this to mean that if a Christian decides to devoutly follow their faith, it is seen as a commendable act, they are pious people serving God.

For me it's quite simple. If you are saying that you can be too much of a Muslim and end up an "extremist". How far are we from actually dehumanising Muslims to the point that the Jews were demonised under the Nazis? Why is it difficult to understand that faith is not the issue (see yesterday's post). What Blair and Bush have succeeded in doing is to play into the hands of the terrorists and provide them with propaganda to set up a "them and us" scenario.

It IS the foreign policy stupid!

My apologies for the lack of updates, but as I said unlike other bloggers I can't guarantee that I'll be able to keep up to publishing a daily post! And anyway, like all good things its best to be patient and to wait for them to arrive!

Right, back to business... I'm writing this post, because frankly I'm utterly bemused at the brazen manner in which Blair's government dismissed the open letter written by representatives of the Muslim community. As a Muslim myself and from speaking to many friends who are also Muslim, each and every single one of us certainly believes that the unbalanced approach (to put it very mildly!) Blair and Bush have adopted with regards to the policies in the Middle East ARE the major sources of grievance.


Blair and Bush spout untold amounts of BULLSHIT. As citizens we are continually being told that the terrorists are out there (and among us) doing all they can to destroy "our way of life". HELLO!!! I think I must have missed that news bulletin. I don't ever recall reading nor hearing any of the speeches made by Osama Bin Laden and his cronies actually stating that their aim was the destruction of the "Western" way of life. Correct me if I am wrong, but what I HAVE heard and read on countless occasions is that al Qa'ida has stated that it's aims are the removal of the House of Saud and all "occupying" forces from Muslim lands.

I guess the point I am trying to make is this, without a doubt we are facing a threat to our national security and consequently we live in very uncertain, dangerous times. But to lie to us, the people who elected these politicians into power with crap about WHY we are in these uncertain times is immoral and so very wrong. As a friend of mine said to me, "it's much easier to bend a population to your own will if you can convince them that their way of life is at risk in itself, rather than because of what we do in their "enemy's" land. It's a sad truth, but truth all the same".