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Articles > Bhuwan Thapaliya > Home Grown Terrorists are testing the boundaries of the United Kingdom

Home Grown Terrorists are testing the boundaries of the United Kingdom

Bhuwan Thapaliya
10 Jul 2007
It all sounds too good to be true. And it probably is. After staining America ’s reputation and maiming its core, the terrorists have shifted gears, and they are now testing the boundaries of the United Kingdom. They began with a bang, killing 52 and injuring 700 others in the London ’s public transport system in the year 2005. They tried replicating the attack two weeks later again but failed to detonate their explosives in underground trains, much to the relief of Britain . But they were constantly seeking for an opening and they almost found one but then too their effort was foiled. In August last year, bunch of terrorists planned to blow up several transatlantic airliners mid-flight through the liquid explosives.

Meanwhile, two failed attacks in Britain last week suggest that the terrorists are lurking in Britain with an evil intension, and more of the same may indeed be expected in the future too. A car-bomb was driven into Glasgow airport on Saturday June 30th, and two car-bombs (packed with petrol, gas canisters and nails) were discovered in London the day before. These failed to kill anyone, but it has created panic all over England . If the terrorist had succeeded then the bombs could have killed many innocent peoples.

Apart from injecting dire psychological fear, fortunately, nothing grave happened in the United Kingdom . But this great nation now must be vigilant and let not the terrorists dictate their identity. British people are united as ever upon the aftermath of the failed terrorist plot and they must not at any cost allow anyone to undermine their very British way of life. They must not at all surrender to the terrorist’s ploy though they are fighting against the home grown terrorists.

What made the British attack more dangerous is this fact: It was committed by the home grown high skilled (Doctor) terrorists. Now Britain is faced with a dilemma. Whom and whom not to trust. What prompted the very doctors who were supposed to serve England with their high skills to wage a lethal attack against Britain is not known yet. Perhaps, they have their own version. But whatever it is, their terrorism act can never be justified as an act of faith. Terrorism is an evil act in all circumstances no matter how hard terrorists preach to justify their acts. The verity is this. They don’t have any right to kill innocent people to justify their faith.

American experience in Iraq has shown that it is tough dealing with the home grown terrorists. Meanwhile, Britain too has realized this right from the beginning (2005). It was crystal clear that one of the foremost tasks in the fight against the home-grown terrorists was going to be that of defining success. For a while, that point was obscured by another difficulty: that of achieving success of any sort in an urban place like London . For instance, the terrorists were captured but such achievements will still not amount to victory.

British police have foiled the Car Bomb attack and the suspects are behind the bar, these are important achievements. For any terrorist organization, failed attack and thereafter the capture of their members is a crushing blow. It is too early to predict who were behind the plot but all the evidence suggests that al- Qaeda was behind the latest British plots. But fortunately, due to the timely action nothing happened as the July 5th 2005 bombing. Another notable achievement is already near completion: by capturing the plotters, and pushing them further, Britain has given a clear demonstration that those who act unruly in Britain will pay a hefty price.

The task does not, however, stop here, for two short term reasons and one longer-term one. The first and most vital reason is that, although British police have captured the plotters, future threats against Britain is unlikely simply to disappear because the terrorist resources are many. Upon the foiled attack, for sometime they may take a step backward but this doesn’t mean that they won’t strike again, there is always a possibility of them regrouping and recovering their lost impetus. This will of course be particularly true if the plotters manage to slip away from Britain , but it will also be true even if they don’t.

Hence, the campaign against al- Qaeda will have to continue beyond Mr. Bin Laden. The campaign, in all its forms, that began after the 11th will have to continue because the central fact about the threat to peace and security will continue beyond Afghanistan . The effort to deter and punish international terrorism and to contain the threat of weapons of mass destruction will have to be one of the main axes around which the British foreign policy revolves.

What might that mean? No liberty for the terrorism of any sorts? It will entail serious, sustained work to improve international agreements on terrorism, and the enforcement of them. Hence, Britain must make the question of whether a country sponsors or gives succor to terrorists the basic determinant of whether it is treated as a friend or a foe; and alongside that will stand the question of whether that country is developing weapons of mass destruction or disseminating the wherewithal to do so. Those past sponsors of proliferators who now prove their willingness to change can expect rewards. Those who do not can expect punishments.

The next question to be answered, therefore, is who is in which category. What Britain will need to do is give countries a chance to choose, and to prove that they mean it.

Gordon Brown administration is at one in wanting to protect Britain from the threats of Islamist Militants, but divided on how to do so, and how much to risk in the process. Better perhaps, many voices in London argue, to concentrate on limiting the damage, trying to assuage Extremists doubt by showing concern and willingness, and calming things down, at least for the moment.

Gordon Brown is not pouncing, tolerance is his key. “The government will not be "rushing into" creating new laws following the recent car bomb attacks, Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman has said,” according to the BBC. Furthermore, British Prime Minister in an interview with the BBC has already stated that it is important to separate the majority of moderate Muslims from the few who use violent means to oppose "British values". Their actions, he said, were based upon "a perversion" of religion.

In this spirit, and however far Mr. Brown’s own vision may stretch, Britain ’s immediate goal is to save itself from the Sep 11 like happening as terrorist are constantly testing their boundaries followed by a cooling off period and a series of confidence – building measures to bridge the gap between the current tension and a resumption of long term negotiations.

Many Muslims would agree the Extremists armed uprising against Britain has become self- defeating. But having spent most of their time in Britain , a dangerously large numbers are in the mood to go on hurting themselves so long as they can hurt Britain too. However inexcusable, their bitterness is a breeding ground for terrorism against British citizens.

The great fear, therefore, is that al-Qaeda and its home grown terrorists will attempt to strike Britain again and again, with a hope that one day they will succeed. Britain must be vigilant and she cannot afford to close her eyes, even for an iota of a second because home grown terrorists are testing her boundaries.

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