One year on - September 11

While thoughts should be with those victims and their families we should not forget the suffering also wrought on the people of Afghanistan and Iraq at this present moment, and also attempt to understand the often desperate environment that creates the hijackers that were held responsible for last years events. Our response to these things will be critical to moral and political standing internationally.

It now seems that the likelihood of a military attack spreading from Afghanistan to full-blown war in Iraq is almost inevitable. I think the warmongers within our Parliament and within our society must be prepared for the result of war - human causalities and a rise in asylum seekers fleeing death from bombings or starvation.

The Afghan refugee family claiming sanctuary in Lye, Stowbridge is a case in point, whether fleeing persecution from a totalitarian regime or carpet bombings, they have human rights. Yet the Home Secretary in his arrogance orders the raid on a mosque offending many Muslims and the sanctity of this holy place of worship.

The High Court ruled the raid and deportation order unlawful, yet Blunkett in his belligerence makes no statement or expresses on regret, in fact, he is one of the hawks around the cabinet table calling for a full military strike on Iraq.

The Government and its advisors cannot expect a war without a sharp rise in those fleeing the war; only a fortnight ago I saw projection figures that indicated one of the largest group applying for asylum at present are Iraqi. How will the Government deal with these applications from individuals and families? Hopefully, it will be more respect to the dignity of those fleeing for their lives than they had for the Afghans at the mosque in Stowbridge.

For every action there is a reaction. The Government would be wise to remember this over the coming months. Many acts will be done by Government in our name during these pressing times, we will help create the climate for asylum seekers to come to the UK from war-torn places, we are also at risk, through war, of perpetuating the desperate predicaments of many that create the terrorism we see in the world today.

Our response to September 11 one year on and its ramifications at home and abroad will be the measure by which this Government will be judged. It will also be a measure of the maturity of our so-called civilised society.

It is worth remembering Ghandi's words when asked by a journalist while attending the roundtable conference at Downing Street to discuss Indian Independence: What do you think of British civilisation Mr Ghandi? "I think it would be a very good thing."