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Britain starts to drop US term 'war on terror,' report says (Foreign Office urges term usage cease)
AFP on Yahoo ^ | 12/9/06 | AFP

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.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: britain; foreignoffice; waronterror
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1 posted on 12/09/2006 4:37:35 PM PST by NormsRevenge
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To: NormsRevenge
Chamberlain would probably concur with that decision.

Peace in our time - Chamberlain
2 posted on 12/09/2006 4:41:11 PM PST by TomGuy
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To: NormsRevenge

Bet they cleared this with Bin Laddie too. A$$hole$!


3 posted on 12/09/2006 4:41:15 PM PST by Waco
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To: NormsRevenge

Yes, the term "war on terror" should be abolished. It should
be replaced by the more accurate term, "war on Islam".


4 posted on 12/09/2006 4:41:40 PM PST by beethovenfan (If Islam is the solution, the "problem" must be freedom.)
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To: NormsRevenge
It'll be really sad when I have to tell my grandchildren that I remember when there was a "United Kingdom", and it wasn't the Saudis
5 posted on 12/09/2006 4:42:38 PM PST by xcamel (Press to Test, Release to Detonate)
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To: NormsRevenge

Excellent! Replace it with "War on Islam."


6 posted on 12/09/2006 4:44:03 PM PST by TeenagedConservative
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To: NormsRevenge
Britain's Foreign Office is urging government officials to stop using the US term "war on terror" amid concerns it angers British Muslims ...

Mary, Mother of God. Why would it "anger" any of those multitudes of "peace-loving, moderate Muslims" we're reassured constantly are out there? If you don't plan to use terror, why would a reference to the "war" on it bother you?!

Further, if you (meaning Great Britain) are letting your country fill up with a population so inclined, maybe that ought to concern you!

But let's do change the name. Let's start calling it what it is: the war on Islamic fascism! Even though we've apparently lost the nerve to actually fight it.

7 posted on 12/09/2006 4:45:36 PM PST by Western Civ 4ever
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To: NormsRevenge

It won't be long before we will do the same.


8 posted on 12/09/2006 4:46:43 PM PST by 353FMG (I never met a liberal I didn't dislike.)
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To: NormsRevenge

Why don't they just surrender to Iran now and get it over with? I'm so sick of this kind of politics. Do these people really believe a change in terminology will win radical Muslims over to peace? What kind of moron believes such a thing? A moron who deserves to die at the hands of radical islamists.


9 posted on 12/09/2006 4:46:58 PM PST by Maelstorm (May our weak leaders be swept away by the winds of history and may our enemies wake an Alexander.)
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To: NormsRevenge
I agree with them -- "war on terror" should be replaced with "effort to encourage people outside our love circle to hold hands and join us in singing Kumbaya"

It will be infinitely more effective than Bush's overly aggressive "cowboy" approach to our detractors. Not only that, it will decrease the frustration they have with us by making us easier to kill, if that's their bag.
10 posted on 12/09/2006 4:47:00 PM PST by vetsvette (Bring Him Back)
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To: beethovenfan
I prefer the term 'Crusade,' myself.


11 posted on 12/09/2006 4:49:26 PM PST by Virginia Ridgerunner ("Si vis pacem para bellum")
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner

Yeah, that too.


12 posted on 12/09/2006 4:52:51 PM PST by beethovenfan (If Islam is the solution, the "problem" must be freedom.)
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To: NormsRevenge
Britain's Foreign Office is urging government officials to stop using the US term "war on terror" amid concerns it angers British Muslims...

There's only one way that should be answered...


13 posted on 12/09/2006 4:55:30 PM PST by Gritty (We think we can just call off the game early, and go back home and watch TV - Mark Steyn)
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To: NormsRevenge

Ok, lets call it the War on Islam then..


14 posted on 12/09/2006 4:57:07 PM PST by cardinal4
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To: 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---"

When "British" muslims unite and apply their rage to stop their government from labeling muslim extremists as 'terrorists', this is in itself a form of terrorism. Foisting their ideals and beliefs upon others through their rage and threats is the very personification of 'terrorism'. Why are Western leaders so blind to this fact? Why fight foreign "terrorists" and appease their homegrown islamoficist terrorists? The minds of Western leaders are so tied up in the knots of political correctness that they cannot think rationally anymore, save the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Howard. He is the only Western leader with a pair of ba!!$ and a rational mind.

15 posted on 12/09/2006 4:57:54 PM PST by TheCrusader
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To: vetsvette

The consolation prize will be ours. Britian will accept sharia law and Islam long before it threatens the US. I pray they've not killed hundreds of thousands here before we wake up.


16 posted on 12/09/2006 4:59:54 PM PST by chiller (Old Media is not yet dead. Turn them off and they will die. For the sake of sanity.)
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To: chiller

Careful MadIvan will threaten to punch you in the nose


17 posted on 12/09/2006 5:26:58 PM PST by uncbob (m first)
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To: NormsRevenge

I agree.This War on terror title is crap.This is not even a war the way its being fought.Its more like a police action.

That's not to denigrate the military but the politicians in both parties are stinking things up and placing this country at risk.A very big risk.

If this were a war we would be going after the sponsores of these terrorist groups,Saudi Arabia,Iran,Syria,etc.But we don't.

We are fighting a proxy war and it seems like we don't even know it.


18 posted on 12/09/2006 5:27:22 PM PST by puppypusher
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To: NormsRevenge

This is all the left wing which want to surrender immediatly.

They foreign department must be as left wing as the US state department.

No surprise since the left has been consulting with the democrats.

Big Brother would be proud.

Nevil Chamberli would be orgasmic.


19 posted on 12/09/2006 5:59:30 PM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: NormsRevenge
Good, because it is the international war against (snigger)"radical"(/snigger) Islam...

I hope the Euro-weaklings get that smug liberal smile slapped off their stupid suicidal faces.
20 posted on 12/09/2006 6:01:31 PM PST by Porterville (Fight without rules. Fight until only one side stands.)
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