Leak shows Blair told of Iraq war terror link

[rodeodance]

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,6903,1558066,00.html

Leak shows Blair told of Iraq war terror link

· Top official warned in 2004 of British Muslim anger
· Secret document said UK seen as 'crusader state'

Read the document here

Martin Bright, home affairs editor
Sunday August 28, 2005
The Observer

The Foreign Office's top official warned Downing Street that the Iraq war was fuelling Muslim extremism in Britain a year before the 7 July bombings, The Observer can reveal.

Despite repeated denials by Number 10 that the war made Britain a target for terrorists, a letter from Michael Jay, the Foreign Office permanent under-secretary, to the cabinet secretary, Sir Andrew Turnbull - obtained by this newspaper - makes the connection clear.

The letter, dated 18 May 2004, says British foreign policy was a 'recurring theme' in the Muslim community, 'especially in the context of the Middle East peace process and Iraq'.

'Colleagues have flagged up some of the potential underlying causes of extremism that can affect the Muslim community, such as discrimination, disadvantage and exclusion,' the letter says. 'But another recurring theme is the issue of British foreign policy, especially in the context of the Middle East peace process and Iraq.
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[rodeodance]

1. both bush and blair are pretty low people.

[Straight Shooter]

2. Amen. I don't understand the "admiration" for Blair.

He's a warbot, just like bush. He's almost worse, because his act is a bit more difficult to deconstruct. But it's an act, all the same.

[wli]

4. higher IQ than Bush = less obviousness to his thuggery n/t

[bribri16]

3. Oh, no don't believe it. Please don't believe the enemy when they tell us

why they hate us and why they take the actions they take. You just have to believe what the neocons and PNACers tell us...there the honest people, they can be trusted. Besides, why would our enemies know why they hate us? :sarcasm:

[salin]

5. So in short hand - more important to stay in the good graces of W, than to

worry about Britons' security.

Not a pretty depiction.

[struggle4progress]

6. kick