Translated material
London underestimated al-Qaeda
Tony Blair will fight terrorist instigators
The UK Labor government yesterday began consultations with the parliamentary opposition. Their goal is to jointly develop new legislative steps to prevent the terrorist threat. Interior Minister Charles Clarke began negotiations with his “shadow” opposition colleagues - Conservative David Davis and Liberal Democrat Mark Outen. London was prompted to take this step by terrorist attacks in the British capital, which killed 55 people and maimed more than 700.Tony Blair's cabinet is recommending that parliament adopt four amendments to current legislation. If approved, terrorist organizations banned in the country will no longer be able to avoid criminal prosecution by changing their names. Any form of participation in teaching the practice of terrorism in the country and abroad will be illegal. Posting instructions on the Internet for making explosive devices will be regarded as “preparation of terrorist attacks”; it will actually be equated to terrorist activity. Finally, “indirect incitement” to terrorism will be criminalized. This primarily refers to the propaganda of Islamic extremism and the glorification of suicide bombers, including in British mosques.
In general, the opposition supports the government, but would like to determine the details. David Davis has doubts about the indictment base in the fight against terrorists if it is built on telephone wiretapping materials. Mr. Outen would like to see a more precise formulation of “indirect incitement” in the name of respect for human rights. Apparently, no major problems are expected when voting in parliament for new anti-terrorism laws.
But the report published yesterday by the authoritative research organization Chatham House could seriously harm the prime minister . The document claims that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have made Albion more susceptible to extremist attacks because it has given al-Qaeda the opportunity to "increase its propaganda, fundraising and volunteer recruitment." Cooperation with Washington has weakened rather than strengthened the UK’s capabilities, since the country’s government, “carrying out an anti-terrorism policy shoulder to shoulder with the United States, does not have equal decision-making rights with them” and “resembles a passenger in the back seat of a car.”
The authors of the document are respected scientists and experienced civil servants from the Chatham House members of the Royal Institute of International Affairs and the Council for the Study of Economic and Social Problems. In their opinion, the authorities underestimated the danger posed by al-Qaeda. But already in the mid-90s, “London was increasingly used as a base for those involved in planning and financing terrorist attacks.”
Defense Minister John Reid and Foreign Minister Jack Straw came to the defense of the prime minister. They recalled that terrorism is a global phenomenon and that Britain would hardly be safer if it did not fight back. According to Straw, terrorist attacks are also occurring in countries that did not support the US-British action in Iraq, for example in Turkey. However, the website of the Abu Hafs al-Misri Brigade, considered an affiliate of al-Qaeda in Western Europe, yesterday threatened to start a “cruel and bloody war” against European countries if they do not reconsider their relations with the United States and will not withdraw troops from Iraq.
Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies Sergei Oznobishchev, in a conversation with a Vremya Novostey correspondent, said: “In recent years, complacency has reigned in Europe - perhaps with the exception of Spain, which was affected by terrorist attacks. This is especially true for Britain, which has created comfortable conditions for representatives of the Islamic world. There is nothing wrong with this, and it is historically justified. But now Britain needs a comprehensive review of the entire internal security structure, something like what was done in the United States, where there has not been a single major terrorist attack since 2001. Any, even the smallest, practical one can only be welcomed. a step that would undermine the ideology and potential environment for terrorism. Another question is how effective the proposed measures will be."