[...] the patronising attitude that somehow naming Islamism will result in loss of Muslim support is based on the premise that "the Muslim community" is what the game-players of sectarian politics define it to be.
Brits of all backgrounds deserve higher standards and greater transparency from the government. We are not stupid. We can distinguish between Islam the religion, and Islamism the political ideology. A Labour government should know better. I am acutely aware that, at home, candour can mean upsetting those who play the separatist, Muslim representation game. And abroad, the government risks the ire of the mighty Saudi petrol attendants. But being held hostage by these interests, and thus muzzled from explaining "The Ideology" to key stakeholders in public life means that in the long term the security threat will only increase.
It is Qutbite Islamism, combined with extreme Wahhabism that produced jihadism. Al-Qaida is only one symptom of this deadly combination.
Like most non-Muslims, Muslims are unaware of the difference between Islam and Islamism. Rather than assume that "they won't get it", and spend millions of taxpayers' money on foreign wars and domestic surveillance programmes, the government should be transparent and help raise awareness of the true nature of "The Ideology".
Without clearly defining the problem, we can't even begin to unravel it. Little wonder, then, that the terrorist threat level remains severe. It's still not too late. In democracies, governments should be transparent when dealing with terrorism. Read more
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