Monday, August 14, 2006

Going postal

Some “British Muslims” have written an open letter to Tony Blair:

”Prime Minister,
As British Muslims we urge you to do more to fight against all those who target civilians with violence, whenever and wherever that happens.
It is our view that current British government policy risks putting civilians at increased risk both in the UK and abroad.
To combat terror the government has focused extensively on domestic legislation. While some of this will have an impact, the government must not ignore the role of its foreign policy.
The debacle of Iraq and now the failure to do more to secure an immediate end to the attacks on civilians in the Middle East not only increases the risk to ordinary people in that region, it is also ammunition to extremists who threaten us all.
Attacking civilians is never justified. This message is a global one. We urge the Prime Minister to redouble his efforts to tackle terror and extremism and change our foreign policy to show the world that we value the lives of civilians wherever they live and whatever their religion.
Such a move would make us all safer.”


Well, that’s nice; letter-writing is a dying art. I thought I might try one of my own:

Dear Terrorists,
As a human being I urge you to do more to stop targeting civilians with violence, whenever and wherever that happens.
It is my view that current terrorist policy risks putting civilians at increased risk both in the UK and abroad.
To combat civilised society the terrorists have focused extensively on trying to kill people. While some of this will have an impact, the terrorists must not ignore the fact that killing people is wrong.
The debacle of 9/11 and now the failure to stop launching attacks on civilians in the Middle East not only increases the risk to ordinary people in that region, it is also ammunition to your ideological comrades who threaten us all.
Attacking civilians is never justified. This message is a global one. I urge all terrorists to start making some efforts to adopt humane aims and non-violent ways of pursing them, to show the world that you value the lives of civilians wherever they live and whatever their religion.
Such a move would make us all safer.
Love and kisses,
Tom

(Scribbles says exactly what should be said, and says it well.)

8 comments:

mooney said...

Can you explain 'terrorism' in any terms other than the badness or inhumanity of the terrorists?

Your analysis is so simplistic as to be cretinous.

Have you ever thought of applying for a job writing for The Sun or working in the State Department?

Tom Freeman said...

"Your analysis is so simplistic as to be cretinous."

If that is so, then I have successfully mimicked the calibre of the original letter.

Matt M said...

We have a State Department?

mooney said...

Matt

Are you suggesting that the Blair government has a foreign policy that is independent of the US State Department?

Matt M said...

More questioning Tom's eligibility for working in a foreign government office.

Besides, everyone knows that - views of the current PM aside - the FCO has always been more pro-Arab than pro-Israel. And, I don't remember Bush making big noises about EU reform or tackling poverty in Africa, either.

mooney said...

I'm sure I'll always remember Blair's government for the work it put into EU reform.

I look forward to the day when I can say to my grandchildren... 'I was there when Blair said "I insist that the EU must be reformed."

And my grandchildren might reply..

'Is that the same Ramsey McBlair who lied to the people and involved the country in the greatest foreign disaster of the century, grandad?'

And I will say... could be. Better check it with those eejits at 'Bloggers4Labour'.

Matt M said...

There really has to be a point to sarcasm you know...

Despite what some people might think or wish, Blair is not the totality of the British government - merely the most influential figure. British foreign policy is expansive and extremely detailed, it is not just Iraq, or Afghanistan, or any other specific instance you can think up. It consists of relationships with numerous foreign powers which predated Blair and which will outlast him, and the current New Labour government - some of which are extremely important, even if they do lack media attention.

So yes, regardless of Blair's close relationship with the idiot in the White House we do have an independent foreign policy - and thus a real need for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

greatest foreign disaster of the century

You're expecting the next 94 years to be rather quiet then?

mooney said...

I don't expect the next 94 years to be particularl;y 'quiet', as you put it.

I sincerely hope that no British government during that time commits an act as crassly counter productive as Blair's decision to go to war with Iraq.