From correspondents in London January 28,
BRITAIN security and counter-terrorism minister, Lord Alan West, warned yesterday that the conflict in Gaza has set back the Government's attempts to tackle radicalism in Muslim communities.
"There is no doubt that when you see these pictures coming back, that in the mind of people making hate, there is a linkage between the US, Israel and the UK. Without a doubt it will have set us back," he said.
Lord West also dismissed the refusal by former prime minister Tony Blair to acknowledge the link between foreign policy and security threats.
"We never used to accept that our foreign policy ever had any effect on terrorism. Well, that was clearly bollocks," he said, according to widespread and concurring reports.
"They the Blair Administration were very unwilling to have any debate about how our foreign policy impacted on radicalisation."
Lord West, a former navy chief brought into government by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said this view had changed since the new premier took over in June 2007.
Addressing architects in a seminar on ensuring buildings are resilient to terrorism, he said: "The business in Gaza has not helped us at all in our counter-radicalism strategy.
"We have key people in the Muslim community who we are in dialogue with, and they are quick to let us know there is an issue that is causing us a worry.
"They said it the conflict was coming over very badly.
"It fits in with the al-Qaeda message, so we have to be very quick to respond to that and we have been quick to make sure that for Friday prayers, it is clear what our position is."
Britain's communities secretary, Hazel Blears, said earlier this month that she was "very concerned" that Israel's military offensive in Gaza could be used by extremists to recruit vulnerable young people.
BRITAIN security and counter-terrorism minister, Lord Alan West, warned yesterday that the conflict in Gaza has set back the Government's attempts to tackle radicalism in Muslim communities.
"There is no doubt that when you see these pictures coming back, that in the mind of people making hate, there is a linkage between the US, Israel and the UK. Without a doubt it will have set us back," he said.
Lord West also dismissed the refusal by former prime minister Tony Blair to acknowledge the link between foreign policy and security threats.
"We never used to accept that our foreign policy ever had any effect on terrorism. Well, that was clearly bollocks," he said, according to widespread and concurring reports.
"They the Blair Administration were very unwilling to have any debate about how our foreign policy impacted on radicalisation."
Lord West, a former navy chief brought into government by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said this view had changed since the new premier took over in June 2007.
Addressing architects in a seminar on ensuring buildings are resilient to terrorism, he said: "The business in Gaza has not helped us at all in our counter-radicalism strategy.
"We have key people in the Muslim community who we are in dialogue with, and they are quick to let us know there is an issue that is causing us a worry.
"They said it the conflict was coming over very badly.
"It fits in with the al-Qaeda message, so we have to be very quick to respond to that and we have been quick to make sure that for Friday prayers, it is clear what our position is."
Britain's communities secretary, Hazel Blears, said earlier this month that she was "very concerned" that Israel's military offensive in Gaza could be used by extremists to recruit vulnerable young people.
Source: The Australian
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