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Review
A well argued and very informative book. Much better than the recently published government-inspired report. (The News Line )
Product Description
This is the book Tony Blair doesn't want you to read about 7/7.
In February 2003, Tony Blair was warned by British intelligence that the invasion of Iraq would 'heighten' the risk of terrorism in Britain.
In July 2005, al-Qaeda struck in the heart of London. Despite the British Government's increasingly desperate attempts at denial, polls show that an overwhelming majority of people in Britain are convinced that there is a connection between the London bombings and the war on Iraq. A majority of Britons fault Tony Blair himself.
Using secret government documents declassified since the bombings, and leaks from British intelligence, Milan Rai exposes official deceit at the highest levels, and establishes the crucial role of British foreign policy in generating a home-grown version of al-Qaeda. Rai shows how an official report drawn up by the Home Office and Foreign Office in early 2004 identified 'foreign policy' - and the war in Iraq in particular - as a major cause of alienation among young British Muslims.
Examining the backgrounds of the 7/7 bombers, Milan Rai demonstrates that Islam is not to blame. Most importantly, the book shows us how to make sure that this never happens again -- and offers brief obituaries for the 52 people who lost their lives that day.
In February 2003, Tony Blair was warned by British intelligence that the invasion of Iraq would 'heighten' the risk of terrorism in Britain.
In July 2005, al-Qaeda struck in the heart of London. Despite the British Government's increasingly desperate attempts at denial, polls show that an overwhelming majority of people in Britain are convinced that there is a connection between the London bombings and the war on Iraq. A majority of Britons fault Tony Blair himself.
Using secret government documents declassified since the bombings, and leaks from British intelligence, Milan Rai exposes official deceit at the highest levels, and establishes the crucial role of British foreign policy in generating a home-grown version of al-Qaeda. Rai shows how an official report drawn up by the Home Office and Foreign Office in early 2004 identified 'foreign policy' - and the war in Iraq in particular - as a major cause of alienation among young British Muslims.
Examining the backgrounds of the 7/7 bombers, Milan Rai demonstrates that Islam is not to blame. Most importantly, the book shows us how to make sure that this never happens again -- and offers brief obituaries for the 52 people who lost their lives that day.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Milan Rai's conclusion at the end of this quite detailed report is quite forthright...
'Violent fundamentalist Islam is a danger to the world. So is violent fundamentalist Christianity, and violent fundamentalist Judaism. What British Muslims have been united in demanding since the July bombings ... is honesty from the British government about the part played in this disaster by Britain's violent and inflexible - 'fundamentalist' - foreign policy.'
This isn't a great book in the sense that it goes all round the houses to reach a predictable conclusion - extreme foreign policy breeds extreme resentment. However, it offers an unsensationalised alternative to any government packaged 'narration' of events.
The biographical detail of the bombers is interesting, particularly that of Mohammad Sidique Khan. We hear from his Headteacher that as a primary school learning mentor 'He was great with the children and they all loved him. He did so much for them, helping and supporting them and running extra clubs and activities. Sidique was a real asset to the school and always showed 100% commitment.'
And so this book succeeds in bringing the 'war on terrorism' back to a very human level of good people, despairing at the bad stuff they feel powerless to change. Men of very good character, we learn, are capable of suicide bombing. Men of good character, Iraq tells us, are also capable of bombing and torturing and allowing children to starve under sanctions. But, only one storyline has the full weight of the government's spin machine supporting it. Finally, in this tome, both sides of the equation are allowed a voice and a human face...
'our words have no impact upon you, therefore I'm going to talk to you in a language that you understand. Our words are dead until we give them life with our blood... Your democratically-elected governments continuously perpetuate atrocities against my people all over the world. And your support of them makes you directly responsible, just as I am directly responsible for protecting and avenging my Muslim brothers and sisters. Until we feel security, you will be our targets. And until you stop the bombing, gassing, imprisonment and torture of my people we will not stop this fight. We are at war and I am a soldier. Now you too will taste the reality of this situation...'
Mohammad Sidique Khans statement (broadcast by al-Jazeera on 1 Sep 05)
'The invasion of Iraq may not have caused the bombings in any simple linear causality but when they chose to attack the US, London, Madrid, Australia - the allies - it's symbolic. These are not acts of mindless murderers but strategic symbolic acts. It is absolutely no coincedience that what happened in London happened at the time of G8. Far more than feeling angry with the bombers or angry about what has happened to me, I feel angry with the political leaders.'
Professor John Tulloch, who was severely injured on the Edgware Road train. (Guardian 10 Nov 05)
Khan allows the reader to connect the dots.
The book also includes lists of those killed in the London bombings, a list remarkable for the number of people in their 20s, of varied ethnicity, each with their own jobs, hopes and aspirations.
Finally this is a very human tale, for those that care.
'Violent fundamentalist Islam is a danger to the world. So is violent fundamentalist Christianity, and violent fundamentalist Judaism. What British Muslims have been united in demanding since the July bombings ... is honesty from the British government about the part played in this disaster by Britain's violent and inflexible - 'fundamentalist' - foreign policy.'
This isn't a great book in the sense that it goes all round the houses to reach a predictable conclusion - extreme foreign policy breeds extreme resentment. However, it offers an unsensationalised alternative to any government packaged 'narration' of events.
The biographical detail of the bombers is interesting, particularly that of Mohammad Sidique Khan. We hear from his Headteacher that as a primary school learning mentor 'He was great with the children and they all loved him. He did so much for them, helping and supporting them and running extra clubs and activities. Sidique was a real asset to the school and always showed 100% commitment.'
And so this book succeeds in bringing the 'war on terrorism' back to a very human level of good people, despairing at the bad stuff they feel powerless to change. Men of very good character, we learn, are capable of suicide bombing. Men of good character, Iraq tells us, are also capable of bombing and torturing and allowing children to starve under sanctions. But, only one storyline has the full weight of the government's spin machine supporting it. Finally, in this tome, both sides of the equation are allowed a voice and a human face...
'our words have no impact upon you, therefore I'm going to talk to you in a language that you understand. Our words are dead until we give them life with our blood... Your democratically-elected governments continuously perpetuate atrocities against my people all over the world. And your support of them makes you directly responsible, just as I am directly responsible for protecting and avenging my Muslim brothers and sisters. Until we feel security, you will be our targets. And until you stop the bombing, gassing, imprisonment and torture of my people we will not stop this fight. We are at war and I am a soldier. Now you too will taste the reality of this situation...'
Mohammad Sidique Khans statement (broadcast by al-Jazeera on 1 Sep 05)
'The invasion of Iraq may not have caused the bombings in any simple linear causality but when they chose to attack the US, London, Madrid, Australia - the allies - it's symbolic. These are not acts of mindless murderers but strategic symbolic acts. It is absolutely no coincedience that what happened in London happened at the time of G8. Far more than feeling angry with the bombers or angry about what has happened to me, I feel angry with the political leaders.'
Professor John Tulloch, who was severely injured on the Edgware Road train. (Guardian 10 Nov 05)
Khan allows the reader to connect the dots.
The book also includes lists of those killed in the London bombings, a list remarkable for the number of people in their 20s, of varied ethnicity, each with their own jobs, hopes and aspirations.
Finally this is a very human tale, for those that care.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
why British Muslim terrorists?
15 Oct 2006
Format:Paperback
The London bombings of 2005 are scarcely a year old. And the surviving bombers have yet to come to trial. But this book tries to investigate the events and the surrounding political and social fabrics that influenced events. We see a recap of how the dead bombers were identified, and the surviving bombers captured. There are bios of both groups. Raising the unsettling question of how disaffection amongst some British Muslims could lead to acts of terror. Was it brainwashing by other radicals? One chapter asserts that it might have been a self-radicalisation.
Other chapters look at the level of integration of Muslims in Britain. Where this involves issues also of national origin as well as religion.
The book necessarily ends on an unfinished note. Not least because the bombers' trials are in the future. But also because of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Afghanistan, that are claimed by some to be open wounds on British society.
Other chapters look at the level of integration of Muslims in Britain. Where this involves issues also of national origin as well as religion.
The book necessarily ends on an unfinished note. Not least because the bombers' trials are in the future. But also because of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Afghanistan, that are claimed by some to be open wounds on British society.
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