I remember when we marched in the ‘don’t attack iraq’ protests, we all kept on saying that this would make more terrorists. we were, of course, dismissed and mocked. Now a leaked document shows that Blair was warned last year that Iraq was fuelling islamic anger:
The letter, dated 18 May 2004, says British foreign policy was a ‘recurring theme’ in the Muslim community, ‘especially in the context of the Middle East peace process and Iraq’.
‘Colleagues have flagged up some of the potential underlying causes of extremism that can affect the Muslim community, such as discrimination, disadvantage and exclusion,’ the letter says. ‘But another recurring theme is the issue of British foreign policy, especially in the context of the Middle East peace process and Iraq.
‘Experience of both ministers and officials … suggests that … British foreign policy and the perception of its negative effect on Muslims globally plays a significant role in creating a feeling of anger and impotence among especially the younger generation of British Muslims.’
The article in the Guardian also shows how the UK is now viewed as being alongside the US as a ‘crusading state’
Britain is now viewed as a ‘crusader state’, on a par with America as a potential target. ‘Muslim resentment towards the West is worse than ever,’ the document, ‘Building Bridges with Mainstream Islam’, says.
‘This was previously focused on the US, but the war in Iraq has meant the UK is now seen in similar terms – both are now seen by many Muslims as “Crusader states”.
None of this is any surprise to me: the only surprise is the number of documents that are being ‘leaked’. it seems that Bliar may be as unpopular among civil servants as he is with all the people I know.
While it doesn’t compare to waging war, he has also been caught out lending the shrub a famous piece of artwork for the white house – the Epstein bronze bust of Churchill. This comes from a government collection that is usually only loaned to UK government agencies.
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/arts/story/0,13319,1558139,00.html