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British government: We wasted millions chasing wrong terrorist threats

Cem Ertür | 11.06.2011 10:12 | Anti-militarism | Other Press | Repression | Sheffield | World

British government's outrageous new "counter-terrorism" measures are receiving a public relations backlash because of their extreme, fascist overtones.


The Times, 7 June 2011
The Times, 7 June 2011

Daily Telegraph, 6 June 2011
Daily Telegraph, 6 June 2011

Yorkshire Post, 8 June 2011
Yorkshire Post, 8 June 2011

Sunday Telegraph, 5 June 2011
Sunday Telegraph, 5 June 2011

The Independent, 6 May 2011
The Independent, 6 May 2011


US President Barack Obama lays a wreath at the 9/11 Memorial in New York, days after the killing of Osama Bin Laden.
Right, a memorial to the victims of the 7th July 2005 bombings, Hyde Park, London.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



British government: We wasted millions chasing wrong terrorist threats


[propaganda alert]

compiled by Cem Ertür

11 June 2011




1) British government: We wasted millions chasing wrong terrorist threats (7 June 2011)

2) British minister: Universities complacent over Islamic radicals (5 June 2011)

3) Britain’s top police officer defends the use of dum dum bullets (17 May 2011)


__________________________________




“Intelligence indicates that a terrorist attack in our country is ‘highly likely’. Experience tells us that the threat comes not just from foreign nationals but also from terrorists born and bred in Britain. It is therefore vital that our counter-terrorism strategy contains a plan to prevent radicalisation and stop would-be terrorists from committing mass murder. Osama bin Laden may be dead, but the threat from Al Qa’ida inspired terrorism is not.” [1]

“Millions of pounds have been squandered overseas on anti-extremism projects that produced no security benefits, while crucial efforts to counter home-grown terrorism remain underfunded, the [British] Government will admit today.” [2]

“The new Prevent [counter-terrorism strategy] [...] makes clear that there will be no more ungoverned spaces — particularly in higher and further education, in the NHS [Britain’s National Health Service] and the charities sector. To this end the review imposes a duty of care on universities to safeguard students, staff, and the wider community from dangerous radicals. [...] [T]he Preventing Extremism Unit within the Department for Education is seen by many as a role model” [3]



__________________________________




“[Britain’s Interior Minister] Theresa May told The Daily Telegraph that universities were not taking the issue of radicalisation seriously enough and that it was too easy for Muslim extremists to form groups on campuses “without anyone knowing”. [...]

Mrs May made her comments ahead of the publication this week of the updated version of the Prevent counter-terrorism strategy.

“I think for too long there’s been complacency around universities,” she said. “I don’t think they have been sufficiently willing to recognise what can be happening on their campuses and the radicalisation that can take place. I think there is more that universities can do.”

Mrs May said universities had to “send very clear messages” and “ask themselves some questions about what happens on their campuses”. [...]

As part of the Prevent [counter-terrorism] strategy, the [British] Government will define as extremists anyone who “does not subscribe to human rights, equality before the law, democracy and full participation in society”, including those who “promote or implicitly tolerate the killing of British soldiers”. ” [4]



__________________________________




“[London’s] Metropolitan Police is to issue all its firearms officers with the type of ammunition used to kill Jean Charles De Menezes. Hollow point bullets flatten and widen on impact, causing maximum damage to vital organs. [..] Mr De Menezes, a Brazillian falsely identified as a suicide bomber, was shot dead in 2005 with hollow point bullets.” [5]

“Britain's most senior police officer has defended issuing bullets similar to so-called dum dum ammunition as standard to Scotland Yard marksmen. Sir Paul Stephenson said the hollow-point bullets were chosen by his force after a series of trials because they were less likely to pass through a body and hit an innocent passer-by. [...]

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner told LBC radio that the reasons behind the decision were “not for the squeamish”, adding that the bullet “reduces the potential of collateral damage”. [...] “The reality is we think it's appropriate.” ” [6]



__________________________________



notes:


[1] Prevent Strategy

Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for the Home Department by Command of Her Majesty

Home Office website, June 2011

 http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/counter-terrorism/prevent/prevent-strategy/prevent-strategy-review?view=Binary



[2] Millions wasted chasing 'wrong' terrorist threats (*)

Money spent abroad was needed at home, report says

by Sean O'Neill, The Times, 7 June 2011



[3] The Prevent test for Islamists is just fair play (*)

Commitment to our values should be compulsory. We cannot tolerate intolerance

by Dean Godson, The Times, 7 June 2011



[4] 'Complacency’ in universities over Islamic radicals (*)

by Duncan Gardham, Daily Telegraph, 5 June 2011

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/8558499/Universities-complacent-over-Islamic-radicals-Theresa-May-warns.html



[5] Met Police to use Jean Charles De Menezes death bullets

BBC, 11 May 2011

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13364365



[6] Police head defends dum dum bullets

Press Association, 17 May 2011

 http://www.pressassociation.com/component/pafeeds/2011/05/17/police_head_defends_dum_dum_bullets?camefrom=regional



(*) title of the print edition


__________________________________



related documents:


Remarks by the President to Parliament in London, United Kingdom

White House website, 25 May 2011

 http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/05/25/remarks-president-parliament-london-united-kingdom



Not just special, but an essential relationship (*)

Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama have written a joint article for the Times at the start of the US State Visit to the UK.

by David Cameron and Barack Obama, The Times, 24 May 2011

 http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=600145482


Prime Minister: “While Bin Laden is gone, the threat of Al Qaeda remains”

Prime Minister David Cameron delivered a statement to the House of Commons on the death of Osama Bin Laden and wider counter-terrorism issues.

Number10.gov.uk (the official website of the UK Prime Minister's Office), 3 May 2011

 http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=PressS&id=591331982



Teaching methods that help to build resilience to extremism: rapid evidence assessment

Department for Education, May 2011

 https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/DFE-RR120.pdf



PM’s speech at Munich Security Conference

Prime Minister David Cameron has delivered a speech setting out his view on radicalisation and Islamist extremism.

Number10.gov.uk (the official website of the UK Prime Minister's Office), 5 February 2011

 http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/speeches-and-transcripts/2011/02/pms-speech-at-munich-security-conference-60293



Channel: Supporting individuals vulnerable to recruitment by violent extremists
A guide for local partnerships

Produced in partnership with the Association of Chief Police Officers

Association of Police Authorities website, March 2010

 http://tna.europarchive.org/20100419081706/http:/security.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/prevent/channel-guidance?view=Binary



(*) title of the print edition


__________________________________



related news:


Yorkshire cities to lead renewed drive against Islamist terror (*)

Yorkshire Post, 8 June 2011

 http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at-a-glance/main-section/leeds_and_bradford_to_lead_renewed_drive_against_islamist_terror_1_3457078



Shops warned over terrorist threat to food (*)

Food and drink sold in Britain is under a growing threat from terrorist groups which might try to poison supplies, the Government’s security advisers have warned.

by Richard Gray, Sunday Telegraph, 5 June 2011

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/8557373/Food-chain-at-risk-of-being-poisoned-by-terrorist-groups.html



A moment of closure for victims of terror (*)

As Barack Obama lays a wreath at Ground Zero, and the inquest into the 2005 London bombings prepares to give its verdict...

by Cahal Milmo and Sarah Morrison, The Independent, 6 May 2011

 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/a-moment-of-closure-for-victims-of-terror-2279847.html



Police need more powerful weapons to combat ‘Mumbai-style terror attacks’ says police chief

Daily Mail, 15 April 2010

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1266001/Police-need-powerful-weapons-combat-Mumbai-style-te rror-attacks-says-police-chief.html#ixzz10wQ6Eask



(*) title of the print edition


__________________________________



related articles:


Government recruits doctors to become thought police, pinpoint potential terrorists among their patients

by Ethan A. Huff, Natural News, 8 June 2011

 http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=25132



The Anglo-American relationship: Vision of a war without end
Obama's visit. Part II

by Felicity Arbuthnot, Global Research, 5 June 2011

 http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=25132



Obama's UK-fest : Vision of a war without end

by Felicity Arbuthnot, Global Research, 31 May 2011

 http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=25065



The Anglo-American military axis: West backs holy alliance for control of Arab world and Persian Gulf

by Rick Rozoff, Global Research, 26 May 2011

 http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=24976



Britain's war on Islam

by Stephen Lendman, SteveLendmanBlog, 11 January 2011

 http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2011/01/britains-war-on-islam.html



Britain: More revelations about secret shoot-to-kill policy at de Menezes inquest

by Paul Mitchell, World Socialist Website, 25 November 2008

 http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/nov2008/mene-n25.shtml


__________________________________



propaganda alerts:


UK Foreign Minister: We will continue to fight against terrorism wherever it rears its head

by Cem Ertür, 911Blogger, 5 May 2011

 http://911blogger.com/news/2011-05-04/uk-foreign-minister-we-will-continue-fight-against-terrorism-wherever-it-rears-its-head



WikiLeaks: London is a hub of al-Qaeda’s global terrorism network

by Cem Ertür, 911Blogger, 29 April 2011

 http://911blogger.com/news/2011-04-28/wikileaks-london-hub-al-qaeda-s-global-terrorism-network



MI5: Our ‘regret’ over failing to prevent 7/7 bombings

by Cem Ertür, 911Blogger, 22 February 2011

 http://911blogger.com/news/2011-02-21/mi5-our-regret-over-failing-prevent-77-bombings


__________________________________

Cem Ertür
- Homepage: http://911blogger.com/news/2011-06-10/british-government-we-wasted-millions-chasing-wrong-terrorist-threats

Comments

Hide the following 2 comments

we don't use these, our enemies do!

11.06.2011 12:55

In my army basic training I remember being taught about hollow point and mercury filled rounds. We were told that this is the sort of thing that our enemies may use, but in the British army we don't use such things. They are banned under the Jenieva Convention, and if any one is ever found tampering with a round, that they will be court-martialed.

Is this not putting the public at unacceptable risk? If a police officer were to accidentally hit an innocent member of the public, the chances of survival would be greatly reduced.

And in any case are the armed civilian police not bound by the Jenieva convention in the same way as the armed forces?

Soldier


@soldier

11.06.2011 20:07

no....thats wrong

Despite not available in warfare, they are the most common bullet used in law enforcement due to its improved safety on the public. When they take a target down, there is less chance of the bullet exiting the target and hitting an innocent person.

quote:
The Hague Convention of 1899, Declaration III, prohibits the use in warfare of bullets that easily expand or flatten in the body.[3] This is often incorrectly believed to be prohibited in the Geneva Conventions, but it significantly predates those conventions, and is in fact a continuance of the St. Petersburg Declaration of 1868, which banned exploding projectiles of less than 400 grams, as well as weapons designed to aggravate injured soldiers or make their death inevitable. NATO members do not use small arms ammunition that is prohibited by the Hague Convention.
Despite the ban on military use, hollow-point bullets are one of the most common types of civilian and police ammunition, due largely to the reduced risk of bystanders being hit by over-penetrating or ricocheted bullets, and the increased speed of incapacitation. In many jurisdictions, even ones such as the United Kingdom, where expanding ammunition is generally prohibited, it is illegal to hunt certain types of game with ammunition that does not expand.[4][5] Some target ranges forbid full metal jacket ammunition, due to its greater tendency to damage metal targets and backstops.[6]

another soldier


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