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'War on terror' was a mistake, says Miliband
guardian.co.uk ^ | January 15, 2009 | Julian Borger

Posted on 01/14/2009 7:26:16 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY

The foreign secretary, David Miliband, today argues that the use of the "war on terror" as a western rallying cry since the September 11 attacks has been a mistake that may have caused "more harm than good".

In an article in today's Guardian, five days before the Bush administration leaves the White House, Miliband delivers a comprehensive critique of its defining mission, saying the war on terror was misconceived and that the west cannot "kill its way" out of the threats it faces.

British officials quietly stopped using the phrase "war on terror" in 2006, but this is the first time it has been comprehensively discarded in the most outspoken remarks on US counterterrorism strategy to date by a British minister.

In remarks that will also be made in a speech today in Mumbai, in one of the hotels that was a target of terrorist attacks in November, the foreign secretary says the concept of a war on terror is "misleading and mistaken".

"Historians will judge whether it has done more harm than good," Miliband says, adding that, in his opinion, the whole strategy has been dangerously counterproductive, helping otherwise disparate groups find common cause against the west.

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: appeasement; counterterrorism; handwringers; islam; jihad; jihadwatch; stealthjihad; sympathizers

1 posted on 01/14/2009 7:26:16 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY
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To: Free ThinkerNY

I agree - it should have been called the “War on Islam.”


2 posted on 01/14/2009 7:28:05 PM PST by indcons (An eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

He’s right. It should have been called what it really is. A War on militant Islam.


3 posted on 01/14/2009 7:28:11 PM PST by milestogo
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Okay...how ‘bout war against terrorists? or radical Muslims?


4 posted on 01/14/2009 7:28:29 PM PST by madison10
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Immediately after this speech, Mr. Milliband was rushed to the Royal Hospital for an emergency craniorectotomy.


5 posted on 01/14/2009 7:28:31 PM PST by ZULU ( God, guts and guns made America great. Non nobis, non nobis Domine, sed nomini tuo da gloriam.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

“...the west cannot “kill its way” out of the threats it faces.”

Yes it can.

It is the way of warfare.

The insanity of Islam leaves us no other choice.

You British poof.


6 posted on 01/14/2009 7:28:47 PM PST by EyeGuy
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To: Free ThinkerNY

More PC BS!


7 posted on 01/14/2009 7:28:55 PM PST by Reagan Man ("In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.")
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To: Free ThinkerNY
The foreign secretary, David Miliband, today argues that the use of the "war on terror" ... may have caused "more harm than good".

If the UK wants to have "peace in our time" appeasement with those bent on terror -- go for it. I just hope some colleagues there escape the result.

8 posted on 01/14/2009 7:30:38 PM PST by sionnsar (Iran Azadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY)|http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com/|RCongressIn2Years)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Well, now that both Britain and the US are being run by cream puffs, we will see how the other approach works. Unfortunately, I suspect the results will be less that satisfactory, and we will be back to do it the right way a little on down the road.


9 posted on 01/14/2009 7:31:37 PM PST by ilgipper
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To: Free ThinkerNY

the west cannot “kill its way” out of the threats it faces


It can, but not with bubblehead pinheads like this guy.


10 posted on 01/14/2009 7:32:17 PM PST by eleni121 (EN TOUTO NIKA!! + In this sign Conquer! +)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

We need a supply of TESTOSTERONE....to send to idiots like this...and many in the Republican Party....stat


11 posted on 01/14/2009 7:33:04 PM PST by goodnesswins (Tell the truth - GOEBBELIZATION (propaganda) is what many voters suffer from.....)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

“Historians will judge whether it has done more harm than good,” Miliband says, adding that, in his opinion, the whole strategy has been dangerously counterproductive, helping otherwise disparate groups find common cause against the west.

....right millibrain- but when we did nothing and didn’t fight back the camel jockey’s didn’t have a cause and were blowing up buildings and flying planes into buildings just for fun....


12 posted on 01/14/2009 7:33:13 PM PST by God luvs America (When the silent majority speaks the earth trembles!)
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To: indcons

Give up op 9 year old daughter, moron...


13 posted on 01/14/2009 7:33:43 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: EyeGuy

Exactly. Islamic militants keep saying over and over how they are ready to die for their cause.

That makes it pretty simple, IMO. We just have to kill every last one of them.


14 posted on 01/14/2009 7:33:50 PM PST by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (I figure the odds be fifty-fifty I just might have somethin' to say)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Well Britain it will not be too many years hence when your phrase, “God save the Queen” is replaced by “ Allah save the Imam.”

So long chaps.

We’ll be too screwed up from 4 years of 0bama to even remotely save your behinds when you fall to the Caliph.


15 posted on 01/14/2009 7:36:51 PM PST by A message
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To: Rank_And_File_Fighting_Losers

How about the phrase: "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes", like for that one?

16 posted on 01/14/2009 7:38:00 PM PST by I see my hands (_8(|)
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To: Free ThinkerNY
Utterly moronic. Without even the slightest hint of factual merit. Complete University dorm room bubble world thinking without even a hint of a notion of a possibility of a clue. PC run amok.

Another example of the Euro trash Leftists mindless desperation to cling hysterically to their pet political dogma despite all factual reality proving them wholly ignorant and bigoted.

Unfortunately while this would be merely laughable in a published media figures comments, coming from a Govt official it is a sign of dangerous, nigh criminal, incompetence. Guy should get the axe. He is completely unfit for the job.

17 posted on 01/14/2009 7:39:46 PM PST by MNJohnnie (Obamanomics: we have to destroy the US Economy in order to save it!)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

So Britian’s our new role model now - muslim communities that have run legacy Brit families from their own home towns and now can apply Sharia Law! Geez, sounds like the way to go. Why didn’t we think of that in the first place? Duh, we are a bunch of redneck cowboy dummies over here in the States.


18 posted on 01/14/2009 7:42:05 PM PST by castowell (...and all weez can say is "Merci beaucoup." - BHO, 7/8/08 (he really said "weez!"))
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To: All

Anyone have an email addy for this A hole?


19 posted on 01/14/2009 7:43:44 PM PST by sonic109
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To: castowell

Britian = Britain.

Damn Blacberry anyhow.


20 posted on 01/14/2009 7:44:13 PM PST by castowell (...and all weez can say is "Merci beaucoup." - BHO, 7/8/08 (he really said "weez!"))
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Cretin


21 posted on 01/14/2009 7:45:43 PM PST by pankot
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Did Bin Laddie clear this microbe to speak?


22 posted on 01/14/2009 7:46:19 PM PST by Waco
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To: Free ThinkerNY
Been there, done that.


23 posted on 01/14/2009 7:48:32 PM PST by Straight Vermonter (Posting from deep behind the Maple Curtain)
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To: eleni121
the west cannot “kill its way” out of the threats it faces

Well, we can darn sure try!! I beats surrendering any day.

24 posted on 01/14/2009 8:14:45 PM PST by brushcop (We remember SSG Harrison Brown, PVT Andrew Simmons B CO 2/69 3ID KIA Iraq OIF IV)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Miliband delivers a comprehensive critique of its defining mission, saying the war on terror was misconceived and that the west cannot “kill its way” out of the threats it faces

First let me say that I have no problem with killing our way through dirtbag terrosist athat seek to destroy my Nation slaughter its citizens and otherwise destroy civilization.
But if this Political Hack has some secret method to prevent the Islamofacists from destroying the world short of killing them all off them he best put it out there....


25 posted on 01/14/2009 8:19:13 PM PST by SECURE AMERICA (Coming to You From the Front Lines of Occupied America)
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To: Free ThinkerNY
"the west cannot "kill its way" out of the threats it faces. "

I suppose they would rather we surrender in the face of such threats.

26 posted on 01/14/2009 8:21:38 PM PST by DannyTN
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To: All
"the west cannot "kill its way" out of the threats it faces."

Well, yes it could if it had the will. Kill 100 million muslims and the problem goes away for 500 years. But there are less extreme measures that could be taken that would have the same effect. Unfortunately, like Rome at the end we will likely just get on our knees and give up our wives and daughters.

By the way - please, please read the koran. We are at war with Islam - not militants - not terrorists.

Photobucket

27 posted on 01/14/2009 8:36:02 PM PST by Uhaul (Time to water the tree of liberty...)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Milibrand is a fool and a coward. Oh, I forgot, he’s British. Sorry.

My apologies to Winston Churchill and those from the WW2 generation who didn’t give a damn what they called their enemies or the war; they fought to kill their enemies instead of having tea with them.

England: You are royally f&cked.


28 posted on 01/14/2009 8:36:20 PM PST by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: Free ThinkerNY

Not for one second of one minute of one hour has the US or British strategy been so one dimensional as simply killing our way to victory.

Yet this is constantly asserted as a criticism of our strategy.


29 posted on 01/14/2009 8:37:41 PM PST by Buckhead
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To: sionnsar

Mr. Miliband,

What is your basis for saying this? Can you quantify the harm and the good?


30 posted on 01/14/2009 8:45:25 PM PST by madameguinot (Our Father's God to Thee, Author of Liberty)
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To: Free ThinkerNY

It is not the war that caused any escalation. It was the appeasement and political correctness. If everyone had remained on the same page, it might even be almost over.


31 posted on 01/14/2009 8:58:16 PM PST by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade, There are only two sides. Pick one.)
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To: Free ThinkerNY
Just another boy wonder.
32 posted on 01/14/2009 9:01:28 PM PST by 1066AD
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