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UK "soft touch" for terrorists, defence institute warns

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, Feb 15, IRNA
UK RUSI-Terrorism
The British government Friday rejected the main thrust of the report from the country's oldest defence institute that the UK was a soft touch for terrorists and "flabby" in contrast to the implacability of extremists.

In a report, the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) claimed that the UK "presents itself as a target, as a fragmenting, post- Christian society, increasingly divided about interpretations of its history, about its national aims, its values and in its political identity."

The problem, RUSI argued, "is worsened by the lack of leadership from the majority which in misplaced deference to 'multiculturalism' failed to lay down the line to immigrant communities, thus undercutting those within trying to fight extremism."

But the Cabinet Office insisted that safety and security of our citizens is the government's main priority and rejected "any suggestion that Britain is a soft touch for terrorists."

RUSI said its report, claiming that the UK faces an implacable terrorist enemy and its security is at risk because of a national loss of self-confidence, was based on the findings of former military chiefs, diplomats, analysts and academics.

"Some may believe we are already at war; but all may agree that generally a peacetime mentality prevails," it said. "The country's lack of self-confidence is in stark contrast to the implacability of its Islamist terrorist enemy."

According to the Guardian newspaper, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) also rejected the suggestion that undue pressure was being put on the armed services in the "war on terror."

"The UK's armed forces have the ability to meet the broad range of tasks that they may be required to undertake, often at short notice.

They have a battle-winning capability that is second to none," an MoD spokesman said.

Chairman of parliament's Home Affairs Committee, Keith Vaz, also said that the authors of the report were "absolutely wrong" to suggest multiculturalism was to blame for encouraging terrorism.

Vaz, who is of Indian descent himself, criticized RUSI for not acknowledging the benefits of multiculturalism.

Britain, he also told the BBC, had some of the toughest anti-terrorism laws in Europe and that it was now "extremely difficult" to claim asylum.

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