The Prime Minister, today:
As has been stated already, there will be new anti-terrorism legislation in the autumn. This will include an offence of condoning or glorifying terrorism. The sort of remarks made in recent days should be covered by such laws. But this will also be applied to justifying or glorifying terrorism anywhere, not just in the UK.
My emphasis. I wonder who he could be talking about?
What's interesting about this is that the initial reaction to Galloway's remarks was to play them down as the words of a marginal figure.
Conservative shadow foreign secretary Liam Fox said Mr Galloway had a right to express his views but many people would find them offensive."George Galloway is a sad and twisted but ultimately irrelevant politician," said Dr Fox.
The Dear Leader doesn't seem to think so. Well, if he wants a ruck I'm sure Ravishing George Rude will give him one. Which is good. It's a stupid law clearly designed to intimidate opponents of government policy in Iraq and the Midle East. But there's no particular public appetite for a witch hunt and if the first major target is the kind of person who refuses to be intimidated then it could well get stopped before it's had time to gain momentum.
I wonder if anyone will have the bollocks to take out a private prosectution against Blair on the grounds that he's allowed the jihadis to justify themselves by association with a movement to rid a country of military occupation. And his treatment of Gerry Adams clearly shows that a taking up terrorism can lead to a successful political career. What better justification can you find for a young man thinking of making his mark on the world and eager to explore all the options?
Good Ghastly. Fascism lite. Talk about "Osama's useful fucking idiots". The entire purpose of these terror attacks is to goad the authorities into repressive and targeted retaliation in order to nurse the local sense of grievance. How many bored young chaps are we gonna push over the edge with this little lot?
Posted by: dsquared | August 05, 2005 at 02:54 PM