IS UK FOREIGN POLICY TO BLAME FOR TERRORISM?
(17 August 2006)

On 10 August 2006, British police took action against an alleged terrorist plot to blow up a number of aeroplanes. Speculation since about what could motivate individuals to undertake such action has included allegations that British foreign policy is 'anti-Islamic' or to blame for terrorism.

Responding to this speculation, Foreign Office Minister Lord Triesman said: "As Des Browne, Minister for Defence, rightly said on 15 August "we have an obligation to explain to people, including members of the Islamic community who live with us and make a valuable contribution to our society, what our foreign policy objectives are".

There will always be controversial aspects of British foreign policy, which extremists can use as ammunition to fuel hatred. Their rhetoric claims not so much that our foreign policy is mistaken as that it is deliberately anti-Islamic. They seek to portray a clash between incompatible cultures in order to perpetuate suspicion, hatred and violence. They do not speak for, or serve the interests of, the majority of Muslims. Many Muslims around the world have died in their terrorist attacks. They encourage Iraqi Muslims to kill each other as well as their 'occupiers', but offer them no solutions. Terrorists exploit any cause to justify their actions. More troubling is others' willingness to accept these justifications.

British foreign policy is not "anti-Islamic". In the Middle East, we share the wish of most people in the region for a peaceful solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, based on a two-state solution, and we have dedicated a great deal of impartial diplomatic effort towards supporting the Road Map. We condemn the killing of civilians, whether they are targetted by a suicide bomber in Tel Aviv; or caught up in Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip or Lebanon. The UK pushed hard for a sustainable cease-fire because the people of Lebanon and Israel deserve the real peace of a lasting solution and not just a temporary, fragile reprieve. Our commitment to helping the people of Iraq and Afghanistan achieve a better future is worthy of support, whether or not you agreed with our interventions in the first place.

There is no hidden agenda. The overarching aim of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is summarised in our mission statement 'working for UK interests in a safe, just and prosperous world'. We work in pursuit of the UK's international strategic priorities, as identified in our White Paper published this year. There are currently ten priorities, on issues ranging from consular support for British citizens overseas to countering the risks from climate change, crime, or terrorism. Foreign Office ministers and officials also regularly engage in dialogue with both the Islamic world and communities here in the UK, to promote mutual trust and understanding, to hear others' views, and to work on our challenges together. Details of our strategic priorities, and what we are doing to achieve them are freely available on our website.

The priorities are underpinned by the core values of freedom, justice and opportunity - the same values that drive government policy at home. We want all governments to be accountable to their people, and we want a strong international system based on the rule of law. Because this offers the best chance for a just and secure world, in which human rights and freedoms are respected, and we all have the opportunity to prosper. The UK government spends billions of pounds each year on humanitarian and development assistance in support of these aims.

No disagreement over foreign policy can ever justify terrorism. As Dr Howells has said, you cannot rationalise an argument that says a part of a population is allowed to use terrorist tactics because it doesn't like government foreign policy. Although terrorism predates many of the UK's current foreign policies, it is unsurprising that extremists try to exploit sensitive foreign policy issues to justify the unjustifiable - they use distorted interpretations of Islamic texts in the same way. It would be a dreadful mistake to accept either as explanations of what causes terrorism, or to re-evaluate our policies on this basis. To do so would empower those advocating or engaging in violence to the detriment of that huge majority of law-abiding people. It would encourage further violence, or exploitation of the UK climate of free speech to propagate fear.

Everyone has the right to question UK foreign policy and the freedom to debate, discuss and disagree. Our political system allows grievances to be expressed and acted upon through effective peaceful methods. Democratic governments are accountable through the political process, and can ultimately be removed by elections. There is never a need - or excuse - to resort to violence."

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