London, UK, November 9 – In a speech today at the Royal United Services
Institute, the UK Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, warned that the
threat from international terrorism was "serious and increasing" and
that the situation in Iraq may get worse. However, she did not admit
that it is the foreign policy of Western governments that is 'fuelling
terror activity', as recently stated by a leaked memo from Cabinet
officials and the head of the British Army.
Dr Imran Waheed, media representative of Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain, said, "If Beckett was serious about tackling violence and instability in the world then why does she defend the foreign policy of Western governments which support dictators, undertake illegal invasions and show intransigence towards Israel's aggression? She calls on all those who 'reject violence' to 'stand up and be counted' while her Government has been a partner in the killing of over 650,000 civilians in Iraq. Only yesterday, a former senior UK diplomat, labelled the Iraq war as a 'greater disaster than Suez' and the US electorate sent a resounding message against the crimes bring committed in their name."
"Beckett talked of the need for 'moderates' to 'stand up and be counted' but did not say who these moderates were, other than praising some of the tyrannical monarchs of the Muslim world. In truth, she wants Muslims who are willing to support the invasion of Iraq and the dictators of the Muslim world who for so long have loyally served colonial interests."
[Ends]