The BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, was predictably sailing close to the wind again on Wednesday with some off—the—cuff remarks on BBC News 24, just after 3:00pm GMT.

Mr. Gardner and the afternoon anchor were chatting about the letter sent by the Muslim Council of Britain to all the Mosques in the UK, asking for the community to be vigilant for any suspicious activity which might be related to Islamic terrorism. On their website the BBC described it as an unprecedented initiative by a Muslim organization in the UK.

Frank Gardner then proceeded to inform BBC viewers that he had received an email from another organization; the Muslim Association of Britain, better known as MAB.

Mr. Gardner went on to say that MAB —— which he described as a moderate voice in the British Muslim community —— told him in their email that they thought Islamic terrorism was the fault of the British government's foreign policy.

Same old story and excuse from a so—called 'moderate' organization of Muslims. Blaming the British government for terrorist attacks seems to be fairly immoderate, and is simply more justification for further terrorism.

Coincidentally, it also happens to be exactly the same excuse used by Islamic terrorists to commit more atrocities.

The only difference appears to be that MAB aren't actually going to go out and commit the terrorism themselves. They'll just tell you why it happened, and why there will be more pyrotechnics to come.

That kind of justification for terrorism, if the BBC's Frank Gardner's reading of the MAB email is accurate, stands in stark contrast to the responsible and sensible letter sent by the genuinely moderate Muslim Council of Britain. They don't make any excuses, they just ask the Muslim community to be vigilant.

Visiting the website of the so—called 'moderate' MAB, leaves one in no doubt that they clearly feel that Islamic terrorism is justified. The balance of reports and events on their home—page seem to be tilted towards their own sense of persecution, and an overwhelming need —— four articles of it —— to mourn the assassination of Sheik Yassin, the late 'spiritual' leader of Hamas.

Of course, we all know that cuddly old Yassin was the prince of moderation.

Their website also features news of an event with the British Liberal Democrat politician —— of suicide bomber empathy fame —— Dr Jenny Tonge. That cozy coffee—morning, called 'Crisis in the Middle East', also features the Friends of Al—Aqsa, but unfortunately you missed it because it happened on Tuesday.

Another self pitying inclusion on the site is a story about how Muslims are being unfairly stopped and searched by the Police, and another one on how Muslim voters are deserting the Labour party. That last one's obviously a hint to Tony Blair.

Of course, the one thing that is missing from their website —— which is extraordinary when you think that this organization is supposed to report and cover events within the Muslim community —— is news of the arrest of eight terrorist suspects in London yesterday. There is not one word about them or that inconspicuous half ton of ammonium nitrate found in their lockup.

Fertilizer happens, as they say. But you won't find any news of it on MAB online.

It's clear to anyone who visits their website, that the so—called 'moderate' MAB are far more pre—occupied with making excuses for terrorists and themselves, than making any practical efforts to help their own community expose radical elements, in my opinion.

So how the BBC's Frank Gardner can define MAB as a so—called 'moderate' organization is incomprehensible, especially in light of the email he mentioned which blames the British government for terrorism.

Perhaps Mr. Gardner agrees with MAB that terrorism is caused by British foreign policy, or maybe he is mis—representing their views expressed in the 'email'.

Or then again, he may just be a substandard analyst that can't tell the difference between a real moderate, and a so—called 'moderate'.

posted by Michael    04 01 04