Multiculturalism fights back!

It is perhaps the greatest lie in British politics today, one that could ultimately puts our own nation at risk from a terrorist attack: A few months ago during a debate specifically about extremism and terrorism held in Germany, our Prime Minister David Cameron articulated a narrative that goes something like this: State Multiculturalism has encouraged non-violent extremism; Non violent extremism is but a short step from violent extremism and terrorism. Government policy and focus would therefore begin a ‘War on Multiculturalism’, to help defeat terrorism.

And yet the Prime Minister's view is sharply challenged in a   ground breaking documentary by the BBC, ‘ The Secret war on Terrorism’. In its first programme  top intelligence bosses -charged with understanding terrorism- both here and in the USA, talked about many reasons for the radicalisation of some British Muslims, but never once mentioned that state funding for minority ethnic groups as a potential reason.

In her first TV interview since leaving the head of MI5, Baroness Manning Buller spoke about the UK’s Joint Committee on Intelligence informing the then Prime Minister Tony Blair, that with the Muslim world outraged against any imminent invasion of Iraq, many British Muslim’s were becoming radicalised as a direct consequence. She went on to say that the humiliation, torture and rendition of Muslims  were, ‘Propaganda coups’ for Al Qaeda and their recruitment. In 2004 Spain was bombed. In 2007 London. Martyrdom videos for both highlighted the Iraq war and the ‘war on terror’.

It is too easy and dangerous to blame home grown terrorism on State multiculturalism. Easy because it negates any responsibility that we as a nation might have had in regards to preparing the fertile ground to which extremists exploit. Surely it is fair to ask the question: would Spain and the UK have received these acts of terrorism if we had not engaged in the Iraq war? And knowing how extremist work, does the present climate of rampant Islamaphobia assist them –the extremist-or undermine their poisonous views?

For our nations well being and our safety we have got to get this right, so we must start telling the truth. Stop bashing multiculturalism and start delivering justice, equality and mutual respect, and then we can begin to snuff out the oxygen of hate that all extremists thrive upon.

Simon Woolley

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00zmccx/The_Secret_War_on_Terror_Episode_1/