The British government has officially quit using the term “war on terror,” arguing that Bush’s slogan has backfired and, instead of weakening the world’s polyglot bands of terrorists, has in fact strengthened them.

BBC:

[Secretary of State for International Development Hilary Benn] said: “In the UK, we do not use the phrase ‘war on terror’ because we can’t win by military means alone.

“And because this isn’t us against one organised enemy with a clear identity and a coherent set of objectives.”

It is “the vast majority of the people in the world” against “a small number of loose, shifting and disparate groups who have relatively little in common,” he said.

“What these groups want is to force their individual and narrow values on others, without dialogue, without debate, through violence.

“And by letting them feel part of something bigger, we give them strength.”

Read more

WAIT BEFORE YOU GO...

This year, the ground feels uncertain — facts are buried and those in power are working to keep them hidden. Now more than ever, independent journalism must go beneath the surface.

At Truthdig, we don’t just report what's happening — we investigate how and why. We follow the threads others leave behind and uncover the forces shaping our future.

Your tax-deductible donation fuels journalism that asks harder questions and digs where others won’t.

Don’t settle for surface-level coverage.

Unearth what matters. Help dig deeper.

Donate now.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG
In this Article:
#britain#terrorism#war on terror