Dealing with “terrorists”

The West doesn’t deal with terrorists, until, of course, it does:

“The British government has a terrible dilemma. Should it refuse to deal with radical Islamic movements altogether, and so risk alienating large parts of the Muslim world, or should it make overtures towards the leaders of these movements and face down accusations that it is appeasing Islamofascists?

“The New Statesman can reveal that the [UK] Foreign and Commonwealth Office has opted for the latter course, and has decided on a policy of engagement with what it calls ‘political Islam’. To this end, it proposes to develop “working-level contacts” in Egypt with one of the Middle East’s most militant groups, the Muslim Brotherhood, which is banned in many countries in the region and considered a terrorist organisation by the United States.”

Political Islam is rising across the Middle East and represents a rejection of the West’s longheld colonial attitude to the region. Until our governments both recognise and understand the reason Muslims shun Western-backed dictatorships and oil-protectorates – while trying to undermine democratically elected governments – deep cynicism will remain.

Text and images ©2024 Antony Loewenstein. All rights reserved.

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