While Britain’s policy in the Middle East is encouraging terrorists to act against our interests at home and abroad, those who resort to or support terrorism should no longer be welcome in our country.
That was the message of Island MP Andrew Turner to Wroxall and Godshill Conservatives at their afternoon party held on Sunday 13th August.
Mr Turner said:
“The Government’s approach to the Middle East has encouraged terrorism at home and abroad. Following the destruction of the twin towers in New York I supported action in Afghanistan to remove the Taliban and root out the command structure of Al-Qaeda. But subsequent action by the US has been uncritically supported by Tony Blair – first through the invasion of Iraq and now in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
“Meanwhile their policy of unrestricted immigration has allowed the creation of a 1.6 million Moslem community over 200,000 of whom, according to a recent poll in the Times, supported the action of the London bus and tube bombers last year. What could more potently drive more waverers in that direction than the Government’s refusal to call for an immediate cease-fire in the Middle East?
“There are wrongs on both sides in that conflict – Hezbollah has broken international law by using women and children to shelter their weapons and personnel; Israel has used disproportionate force in response, killing ten times as many Lebanese civilians as Israeli. And yet Tony Blair refused to even call for a cease-fire until Condoleeza Rice had done so. As better Prime Ministers than he have discovered, the United States make a good ally but a poor master.
“Blair’s whole approach to the Middle East and the war on terror has made it more difficult for either moderate Arab governments abroad or moderate Moslems at home to support this Government. And I too am very sorry not to be able to support the Government’s foreign policy, but when many brave Labour MPs are speaking their minds I must voice the concerns that Islanders have brought to me.
“The letter in the Times from so-called ‘leaders’ of the Moslem community has been criticized by the Government as offering an excuse for terrorism. It does no such thing. It warns that there are some people who will – completely unjustifiably and unforgivably – react, as 200,000 Moslems already have, by supporting terror. They have been described as ‘the enemy within’. And until the Government deals with the enemy within we cannot justify exposing our people, at home, at airports or abroad, to greater danger. The Government’s message should be clear – whether they were born here or have moved her they should not stay here unless they adopt our way of life and customs and our democratic way of settling disputes.”
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