Perhaps we need to apply some persuasion.
Posted on 12/09/2006 4:37:30 PM PST by NormsRevenge
LONDON (AFP) - Britain's Foreign Office is urging government officials to stop using the US term "war on terror" amid concerns it angers British Muslims and undermines government aims, a weekly newspaper said.
The government wants to "avoid reinforcing and giving succour to the terrorists' narrative by using language that, taken out of context, could be counter-productive," a Foreign Office spokesman told The Observer.
The Foreign Office has sent the same message to cabinet ministers as well as diplomats and other government representatives around the world, according to the report.
"We tend to emphasize upholding shared values as a means to counter terrorists," the spokesman was quoted as saying.
Many British officials and experts, the weekly said, suspect that Islamist extremists find it easier to recruit followers when western governments speak of a war on terror, by suggesting it is actually a war against Islam.
Gary Hindle, terrorism expert at the Royal United Services Institute in London, hailed the decision to drop the term, though it was not clear whether it was being widely carried out.
"It's about time," Hindle told The Observer. "Military terminology is completely counter-productive, merely contributing to isolating communities. This is a very positive move."
The White House began referring to the "war on terror" in the weeks after Al-Qaeda attacked New York and Washington on September 11, 2001.
Fine. And we'll stop using some terms that make no sense either. Like "United Kingdom" and "British Intelligence"...
Perhaps this will make the Brits feel better while they live in their fool's paradise. Me I'd rather know the truth.
'War on Terror' has always been too vague for me.
When will this happen? Be specific.
Oh, that's not a problem. Getting the liberals out of America's Congress (after patriotic Americans voted them in there) will be a bigger feat. But I understand the necessity some conservatives feel to stick a finger in the eye of someone else when things are not going well at home. America's hunky-dory. It's the rest of the world that's messed up.
'We?' I speak only for myself. Who else are you representing?
Another ISG talking point in the making.
I think we should stop using the "war on terror" phrase also. It's far too abstract and obtuse, like the "war on drugs". We are at war with terrorists and the nation states who support them- or, at least, we should be. Of course, we don't wantot be too harsh or hurt sensibilities, so we market it as a "war on terror".
wantot = want to. Typing too fast. Not enough coffee.
We CAN'T win a "War against Terror" until we win a "War against Political Correctness". If you can't demonize your enemy then you've lost a means of fighting him.
Me and your mom.
January 2009, perhaps?
No specifics, just before it happens here. What's your point? Mine is that Britian is acting like our canary in the coalmine, imho.
Unless one is a terrorist, why would one be offended by the term "war on terror"?
I'm sorry, but that photo is laughable, given Bush said--a mere six days after 9/11--"Islam is Peace", while taking his shoes off in a flithy D.C. mosque.
There is nothing that can be done to save the increasingly misnamed "Great" Britain.
The only thing to be debated is wether you will surrender to Brussels before you surrender to someone else.
I hear that you may be withdrawing from the JSF program too.
Well, good riddance.
Perhaps we need to apply some persuasion.
Well, what he says publically for political reasons and what he actually thinks are two different things. The man did take down both the Taliban and Saddam, and also straightened Khadafi up, so you have to at least give him credit for that.
"Nevil Chamberli would be orgasmic."
No, he wouldn't be - he learned his lesson the hard way. Our present day politicians are the new breed of Chamberlains.
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