The document summarizes the UK government's latest anti-terrorism strategy "Contest 2" which aims to reform Islam and make Muslims more secular, westernized, and liberal. It does this by defining core Islamic beliefs and values as "extremist" and linking them to terrorism. These include supporting sharia law, a caliphate, armed resistance against occupation, and opposing homosexuality. The strategy emphasizes countering Islamic ideology over addressing issues like occupation, oppression and injustice. It presents a threat to Muslims by pressuring them to abandon their faith and values under the guise of preventing violence and extremism.
The Real Agenda behind the War on Terror: Reforming Islam and NATO as the West's Armed Wing
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O you who believe, respond to the call of Allah and His Messenger when He calls you to that which would give you life...
JUMADA AL-AWWAL - JUMADA AL-AKHIR 1430 ··· MAY 2009 ··· ISSUE: 06
The Real Agenda
behind the War on Terror
REFORMING ISLAM IN THE NAME OF ‘TERRORISM’ - ‘NATO –
ARMED WING OF THE WEST’ - THE BANGLADESH ARMY
MASSACRE - THE BASIS OF AUTHORITY IN THE ISLAMIC STATE -
RECESSION - WHEN THE CASINO ECONOMY MEETS THE REAL
ECONOMY - THE CORRUPT VALUES OF BRITISH POLITICS
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NEWSBITES
please.
In contrast, true leaders, of the likes of
'Umar bin Khattab (ra) are known for
leading such austere lives, that whilst in
office foreign dignitaries could not
distinguish 'Umar from the rest of the
people for his simple dress. It is narrated
that even the governors under 'Umar were
required to make a promise not to wear fine
clothes or eat of sifted flour. These were
12 TERROR SUSPECTS RELEASED DUE TO men who truly served the people, and did WOMEN ON THE FRONTLINE
NO EVIDENCE not use the people to serve themselves. In the book The Lonely Soldier: The Private
The recent case of 12 terror suspects in a Such qualities can only be found in leaders War of Women Serving in Iraq by Helen
bomb plot in the UK being released without with taqwah. Benedict the harsh realities of life in the US
charges is nothing surprising. Home Office military for women was exposed. Whilst
statistics showed 669 of the 1,228 people proclaiming to be the champion of women’s
arrested in terrorist investigations were later rights globally, the United States is proven to
freed during the period September 2001 to be spectacularly failing to protect the
July 2007. What is poignant about this security and needs of females in its armed
episode is to whip up a media frenzy over services.
how Pakistan is supposedly becoming a With female soldiers often fearing rape and
“failed state”. harassment from their male colleagues more
UK prime minister, Gordon Brown used the than the enemy they are fighting in order to
episode for political propaganda, challenging spread ‘freedom and democracy’, it is the
Pakistan to do more to root out terrorism. UN ANTI – RACISM FOLLY values of the US forces which are exposed
With the US-driven military onslaught in Western delegates walked out when Iran’s as being barbaric and backward rather than
NWFP by America and stoking up fear of President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad made those of ‘the enemy’ in Iraq, Afghanistan and
“militants” taking over, world public opinion comments at the UN’s racism conference in other Muslim lands.
is being prepared that Pakistan possibly Geneva saying Israel was a racist entity, If according to several studies of the US
needs a Western intervention like the ones created and backed by Britain and America. military funded by the Department of
in Iraq and Afghanistan. Millions around the world would not Veteran Affairs 30% of military women are
disagree with this analysis, after Israel’s raped while serving, 71% are sexually
Having destroyed the lives of these young brutality against the Palestinians became assaulted, and 90% sexually harassed, one
Muslims who had aspirations for the future ever more blatant following the recent has to wonder if this is how the men of the
but are now facing imminent deportation, massacre in Gaza. However, many are still US armed forces treat their own women,
the concepts of justice, innocent until bewildered as to why Iran sat back and what sort of behaviour would they exhibit
proven guilty and fair trial, all have become hypocritically blamed other regimes in with those they consider to be their
a misnomer in this society for Muslims. The Muslim countries for doing nothing, instead enemies?
blasé method in rounding up Muslims and of acting decisively to stop Israel’s assault,
creating havoc in their lives for little more and even liberating the land. SOME UK SCHOOLS HIRING BOUNCERS TO
than political reasons has become the norm, COVER LESSONS
provoking the question – Is the government The main act of the day, however, came from The Daily Mail newspaper has reported that
trying to create ‘cohesion’ or mayhem at a some of the 23 nations that walked out. The some schools are employing ex-nightclub
grassroots level. US state department had previously said that bouncers, ex-soldiers and ex-prison officers
it found the conference guiding document’s to stand in for absent teachers. Classroom
MPS EXPENSES ROW discouragement of the “incitement to discipline, it seems, has become so bad that
Given the grim economic picture, it is little religious hatred” unacceptable as this ran the schools are forced to sometimes think of
surprise to hear of the intense scrutiny that counter to the “US commitment to educational supervision more like 'crowd
government MP's have come under, after it unfettered free speech”. Yet when it comes control'. The news came at the conference
was revealed that MP's in the past financial to exposing Israel these same western of the National Union of Teachers, where it
year have managed to clock up over £93 nations and bastions of free speech refuse to was also heard that many teachers face so
million in expenses. This famously includes even share a room with someone who much stress during term time that mental
the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, who simply wishes to speak freely about an health problems are rife.
despite earning £142,000 a year, has uncomfortable truth. Western societies have eroded respect to
managed to pass off her husbands ‘dirty’ It seems free speech is a value held dear such an extent that increasingly teachers are
viewing habits, plant pots and even a only when it serves a political interest. abused by pupils, and indeed their parents.
bathroom plug as 'expenses'. Hardly surprising given the track record of This latest strategy merely illustrates how
Yet, despite the shameless abuse of the double standards we routinely see from the bad things have become. It seems the
expense system by British MP's, they appear west when it comes to Islam and Muslims. solutions proposed always end up being
destitute as a church mouse compared to more authoritarian instead of thinking about
the current democratic politicians and the core values in society that give young
people the example that they should be free
leaders of the Muslim world -who don’t
to disrespect anyone they want, regardless
need to bother filling out expense claims,
of the consequences.
instead just robbing the Ummah as they
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students), and a new push to win
Editorial
‘hearts and minds’ in the UK. This part
of the strategy known as ‘Prevent’ is an
explicitly ideological and totalitarian
campaign against Islam, portraying
Islamic values as extreme, and trying to
bully Muslims into accepting western
liberal values.
The question arises why the need to
for the torture undertaken by the CIA, bully, bomb and beat Muslims like this?
and that outsourced to foreign regimes. When one sees that in the space of the
But rebranding the ‘War on Terror’ will past few weeks alone, we have seen the
be about as successful as the attempts sentencing of the European sick
to rebrand Swine flu. Their tone, styles pervert Josef Fritzl, the shame of MPs
and terminology might have changed expenses in the UK, the rise in burglary
but essentially the policies are the and theft in Britain – all set against the
same. backdrop of the G20 conference trying
to salvage disaster Capitalism – the
The military aspect of the war has answer becomes more obvious.
simply changed to focus away from Iraq
and onto NATO’s so-called Af-Pak Selling secularism, liberalism and
strategy. Other than Obama’s offensive Capitalism to Muslims is becoming like
title for this strategy (as one
Rebranding commentator said, could you ever
imagine a conflict between China and
trying to sell derivatives to an investor
– they are seen as toxic. Islam is clearly
seen as the only alternative to this way
Japan being named ‘Chink-Jap’) the US- of life, and its re-emergence as an
the ‘War on led NATO conference showed, if
nothing else, that the lies haven’t
changed. NATO has tried to justify the
ideology threatens to loosen the grip
that the west has on the assets of the
Muslim world.
on-going operation with rhetoric
Terror’ suggesting that the opposition facing
them in Afghanistan is equivalent or
As Allah (swt) instructs in the Qur’an.
greater to the threat of the Warsaw pact “And when it is said to them, ‘Do not
countries. In truth, the US has its cause corruption in the earth’, they
In April 2009 former British Prime
designs set much wider than say: ‘We are only putting things right’.
Minister Tony Blair made a speech
Afghanistan. Its aggression in Pakistan is Verily, they are the ones who make
justifying military intervention and
escalating, and the instability there corruption but they perceive not” -
colonialism in order to crush the global
grows greater every day. [TMQ Al-Baqarah:11-12]
Islamic revival. He called for the
military occupation of Afghanistan to
Double-speak both in Britain and the And Allah Almighty speaks the truth.
continue "until the job is done" and
US, regarding Pakistan, has never been
interference in Pakistan's education
so great, with alternate day briefings
system to counter the rise in Islamic
from ‘good cop’ and ‘bad cop’ – one
values.
attacks Pakistan as the source of all
terrorism, a failed state, imminently
But while Blair openly exposed that the
about to collapse, with a pacifying
‘war on terror’ is actually a war on
statement from the other the very next
Islam, Western governments have
day.
desperately trying to change the image
of their colonial and, frankly, murderous
In the UK, the government launched its
foreign policy. They have ditched the
new anti-terror strategy Contest 2.
term ‘war on terror’, but are still
Contest 2 proposed education reforms
bombing Muslims in the border region
in Pakistan, locking up terror suspects
between Pakistan and Afghanistan. They
(which it promptly implemented with
have denounced their use of torture,
the arrest of twelve innocent Pakistani
but decided not to prosecute anyone
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Dr Abdul Wahid
Reforming Islam in
the name of
‘Terrorism’
The UK Government’s latest
anti-terrorism strategy
“Contest 2” includes
detailed plans to make
Muslims secular, westernised
and liberal. Abdul Wahid has
taken a detailed look at the
strategy
INTRODUCTION
In February 2009, draft plans by the UK
government were leaked to the Guardian
newspaper and the BBC Panorama
programme, which exposed that the
British government has an updated
policy for Islam and Muslims. The leak
focused on the definition of ‘extremism’.
It was followed by a speech by
Communities secretary Hazel Blears that
reinforced the message that, according to
the government, the definition of an
‘extremist’ included:
• Belief in a Caliphate (Khilafah) in
the Muslim world.
• Promote Shariah law – for
anywhere in the world, and even
the personal aspects of Shariah
in the UK.
• Belief that Jihad, or armed
resistance, is permitted -
anywhere in the world including
armed resistance by Palestinians
against the Israeli military.
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gathering intelligence (though the police It explicitly labels the struggles in
deny this) and their grants are to lead our Palestine, Chechnya, Bosnia, Afghanistan,
communities in becoming addicted to Iraq and Kashmir as ‘terrorism’.
government money, so they can then It blames ‘Islamism’ – naming Syed Qutb
dictate to us what we can and cannot and Maududi as proponents of this
think, believe or say. thinking – as one cause of ‘terrorism’ and
underplays the significance of oppression,
Overall, the policy is likely to fail, as it occupation and injustice in the Islamic
seeks to target matters that are too central world and western foreign policy –
to Islam. However, even if it fails overall, it repeating Tony Blair’s talk about false
may succeed in corrupting some small grievances - and talking about Muslim
numbers of Muslims. And only Allah perceptions of foreign policy.
knows who that small number who fall
victim to that plan could be. It could be It describes the political ideas of Al-Qaida
your children that think that sex outside and in doing so implies that anyone who
marriage and homosexuality are normal; believes this believes in the political
that cut off their ties to the Ummah; that agenda of what they call ‘Islamic
• Belief that Islam bans start to abhor the Shariah of Allah (SWT) terrorism’. The ideas they name are:
homosexuality and that it is a sin – and may Allah protect us from that.
against Allah. Those who accept the money that is a) Viewing all regimes in the
given under the guise of preventing Muslim world as un-Islamic or
• If you fail to condemn the killing violence, thinking we can control it, or apostate
of British soldiers in Iraq or that if we turn it down other
Afghanistan. communities will get it instead, need to b) ‘Claims’ that western states
support these regimes
It could be your children that think that sex outside c) Fighting occupation and fighting
regimes as rewardable in the
marriage and homosexuality are normal; that cut off akhira
their ties to the Ummah; that start to abhor the Shariah d) A desire to overthrow these
of Allah (SWT) – and may Allah protect us from that. regimes by force or subversion
e) A desire to establish a Caliphate
think again. The money we are being
The leak caused such uproar amongst asked to take is not for combating terror f) A desire to remove western
Muslims that when the actual 160-page but for suppressing Islamic values. presence from Muslim lands
policy was published the detailed Our duty is not to be passive, but to
definitions were noticeably absent. distinguish our values from theirs, and Hence, there is a huge emphasis in the
Instead, there were general statements build a community able to resist the whole strategy to deal with ideology as
about ‘extremism’, those who oppose attempts to change Islam. We should compared with dealing with occupation,
‘shared values’ and the political ideas of Al understand the noble Islamic values. We oppression and injustice.
Qaida – linking some of these core must stand for Islam and carry these
Islamic ideas to a group that is constantly values to others by word and example, to 2) It explicitly links the domestic
linked in the media to violence. save them from the harm of their own policy to the global war on terror.
destructive way of life. It talks about ‘failed states’ as a cause of
However, there can be no doubt that this ‘radicalisation’ and mentions Pakistan and
latest strategy is nothing more than a plan DETAILS WITHIN THE ‘CONTEST 2’ the FATA region. One strand of the
to westernise Muslims, to make them STRATEGY PAPER “Prevent” agenda is so that there can be a
secular and liberal. They wish to detach The policy is divided into 4 parts: “Pursue” “positive UK contribution to ‘violent
Muslims from any Islamic political ideas – “Prevent” – “Protect” – “Prepare”. The extremism’ in priority overseas countries”-
and either be apolitical or follow political sections called “Protect” and “Prepare” do i.e. it justifies on-going interference by the
ideas that are accepted in western address the threat of a terrorist attack like west in the Muslim world. To this end
societies. 7/7. But it is the “Pursue” and “Prevent” ‘Contest 2’ mentions funding 700 schools
agendas that are worth looking at in projects in Pakistan and Afghanistan, to
The policy provides detailed evidence detail. Below are some points that emerge prevent radicalisation. It talks about
that the government's projects and from the strategy paper. promoting “moderate” scholars tours to
funding for mosques, community centres, Muslim lands, hoping they will promote
youth groups and women's groups are 1) The policy blames Islamic ideas the UK government agenda. They wish to
aimed at changing the deen that the (labelled as “Islamism”), not political promote the UK overseas, as a centre for
Muslims hold. These projects are about problems for the causes of terrorism. Islam outside the Muslim world. They
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even plan to use aid from the Department values. Instead they want an atmosphere and Muslim faith leaders who
for International Development as a kind like 1950’s America under the ‘witch- have undergone state sponsored
of PR function. So far they have used hunts’ of Senator McCarthy. training.
Muslim charities and well known Muslim
personalities like MPs to do this. They say they wish to demonise people - Policies to clamp down on Islamic
who hold Islamic views and block them views and promote secular views
3) It continues with their established from being active by intimidation. They in schools – through an
controversial draconian anti-terror have projects under the umbrellas of: ‘extremism’ toolkit and in
policies Universities under the guise of
• ‘Preventing Violent Extremism’ fighting ‘extremism’ on campus.
The “Pursue” strand of the strategy is said programmes (PVE) – to be
to be about foiling terrorist networks and implemented by Local councils, - Citizenship programmes in
plans. There is lip service to human the Voluntary sector and statutory Madrassas to promote secular
rights/rule of law but essentially stop and organisations (like the local views and diminish Islamic views.
- Promoting what they call
“moderate” Muslim scholars to
The money we are being asked to take is not for speak on any matter EXCEPT
combating terror but for suppressing Islamic values.
Islam’s political ideas or ideas that
challenge western secular values.
search, arbitrary arrest and prosecutions, Commission for Human Rights). CONCLUSION
28-day detention without trial, control The British government led a campaign to
orders to detain suspects indefinitely • The Prevent strategy delivery plan destroy Islam and promote secular values
without trial, financial sanctions, – run by the Police with an extra in the Muslim world in the period of
deprivation of citizenship, monitoring 300 paid support staff. This decline during the Khilafah, to try to
communication, covert surveillance and includes Operation Nicole where weaken the power Islam had over the
co-operation with other states e.g. police run workshops in which region. They did the same when the
Pakistan – are all set to continue. community members are put in Indian sub-continent was occupied under
Some of these tools have been used scenario's where they take the the British Empire – to break the strength
against peaceful demonstrators (not only role of counter-terrorism police of the Muslim resistance.
Muslim), charities, people browsing officers who watch a 'cell' and
websites, people making emotional debate if they should move in. These policies worked for only a short
speeches, in addition to the people time period. Now a huge and growing
suspected of “terrorist plots” – whether • The Channel Project - this is a Islamic revival across the Muslim world –
within the UK or in places such as Iraq. government funded project where as this strategy paper even acknowledges
police meet with young people in – is testimony to its defeat.
4) The “Prevent” strand of the forums and have open discussions
strategy has little to do with preventing and, through this, identify who In recent years the British government
‘terrorism’ or promoting ‘community they think are potential developed new policies. One was to
cohesion’; as we are told is said to extremists. There has been similar establish a body to sit over Muslims, and
prevent the spread of ideology and advice given to teachers in carry government policy to Muslims. This
radicalisation in the UK & Globally. schools with classroom failed to achieve its objective.
The majority of the “Prevent” strategy discussions on political issues, and
aimed at Muslims in the UK: to control to university lecturers. It then tried ‘Contest’ to promote a British
Muslim communities, establish a new version of Islam. This too has clearly
leadership, make Muslims reject Islam’s WHAT ARE THE DETAILED PROJECTS failed.
political ideas, and ultimately to secularise AND MEANS OF CONTROL MENTIONED
Muslims. It is the assimilation agenda - to UNDER THESE UMBRELLAS? Now, we have ‘Contest 2’. Overall this
prevent the spread of Islamic values – policy will fail to achieve its secularisation
what they call ‘extremism’ - and promote These include the following: agenda precisely because they simply do
‘shared’ (western liberal) values. not understand Islam and Muslims.
How do they plan to achieve the - Creating new Muslim leaderships. We await ‘Contest 3’!
westernisation agenda of the “Prevent” In particular amongst Muslim
strategy? Women (National Muslim They seek to extinguish the light of Allah
Women’s advisory group and with their mouths; but Allah refuses but
At the moment they don’t plan to use other women’s group), Muslim to perfect His light, though the
legal means to get Muslims to drop Youth (Young Muslim Advisory disbelievers may resent it.
Islamic views and to adopt western liberal group and other youth counsels) (Translated meaning Quran 9:32)
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Sajjad Khan
‘NATO – Armed
wing of the West’
warheads and overwhelming superiority
in conventional forces. The Taliban with
their AK 47’s are now considered by
NATO to be more powerful than the
mighty Red Army which will be news to
most people. NATO members are
obviously becoming desperate in trying
to justify their continued existence and
an unpopular war to their apathetic
domestic populations.
• And following close and intense
consultations with the United States on its
Afghanistan-Pakistan review, updated
NATO’s strategic political-military plan for
its ISAF mission, stressing that success
requires a stronger regional approach that
involves all of Afghanistan's neighbors and
greater civil-military coordination and
civilian resources.
It was once said by a former US Secretary endorse President Obama’s strategy for Comment: With respect to Pakistan, the
of State about Britain that it had lost an Afghanistan and Pakistan. They also signed AfPak strategy is now clear and involves
empire but had yet to find a role. The up to the following series of bland and more of everything. More economic aid
NATO summit recently held in banal statements over the course of the for Pakistan based on performance based
Strasbourg/Kehl marked the sixtieth two day summit, results, more diplomacy (Mike Mullen
anniversary of an organisation which has Chair of the Joint Chiefs has been to the
lost the Soviet Union but which is still • Agreed that NATO’s International region 9-10 times in the last year and
struggling to find a role almost two Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Richard Holbrooke is as ubiquitous in
decades later. What started off as an Afghanistan – NATO’s largest and most Islamabad as he is in Washington )
alliance to keep the Russians out, the challenging mission in its history – is key alongside more troops and more drones.
Americans in and the Germans down, is to preventing Afghanistan from becoming a Day by day Pakistan becomes the central
now scratching around trying to find a safe haven for Al Qaeda and the Taliban, front in America’s war on terror, a
reason for its very existence. Sixty years in, and a base for terror attacks that threaten nation of 170 million with Islam in their
NATO is growing stale, disunited and more all allies and the entire international hearts and nukes on their soil, Pakistan
imperialist in its old age. Rather than community; is what keeps western policymakers
putting on meaningless summits, NATO awake at night. The fear of the greater
needs to be put in a museum. Comment : Afghanistan is now Middle East and the growing strategic
In the most recent summit, NATO leaders considered by NATO to be more importance of the Indian ocean which a
came together to discuss the latest challenging than was defeating the recent US Marine Corps report (Vision
challenges facing the alliance (no mean mighty Soviet Union and the Warsaw and Strategy 2025) cited as being a
feat as there aren’t any) and to formally Pact with its thousands of nuclear central theatre of global conflict and
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competition this century clearly explains massive instability, the kind of instability preparation of a new "Strategic Concept,"
the importance of US action. By that led to Russia’s attack on Georgia in NATO’s mission statement for the future
specifying the vague goal of defeating al 2008. (last updated in 1999), to ensure that
Qaeda, this will allow a US presence in • Committed to a new transatlantic NATO remains as vital to our common
the region for decades to come, causing approach on Russia and Europe’s East that security in the 21st century as it was in the
not just destabilisation for Pakistan but deepens cooperation with NATO aspirants 20th century.
for the whole of Central Asia. America’s and advances positive engagement with
plan if successful would sign the death Russia, including by restarting dialogue and Comment: Great words which could have
warrant for Pakistan. cooperation through the NATO-Russia come from a firm of management
consultants, but still no clarity as to what
the mission should be, what is NATO for?
America has history, from Hiroshima to Korea to Vietnam
to its own Civil War, and its bitter divisions of region and • Selected a new Secretary General,
Prime Minster Anders Fogh Rasmussen, to
race, it continues to choose violence over stability, lead the reform of the Alliance so that it
imperialism over morality and hatred over hope retains the flexibility and resources to
meet the new challenges of our time.
Council, and agreed to build pragmatic Comment: Yes a Secretary General who
• Celebrated the 60th anniversary cooperation with Russia in areas of shared has no respect for Islam and who as
of NATO, highlighting the Alliance’s interest, such as in Afghanistan, counter- Prime Minister of Denmark justified the
successes while reaffirming the value and piracy initiatives, arms control, and publication of obnoxious cartoons
the strategic purpose of the Alliance in counterterrorism; degrading the holy Prophet (sallalahu
providing collective defense and working alaihi wassalam). This is the man who
to build a Europe whole and free and at Comment: Is Russia that naive? that it will now be the face for NATO’s
peace; will be bought off with an invite to a campaigns in the Muslim world (you
NATO talking shop? Doessn’t it remember couldn’t make it up), after the Turkish
Comment: Defense from who, the what NATO did and said after the government sacrificed their “principled”
Russians, the Chinese, the Iranians? Who Georgia attack? opposition to Rasmussen for a few staff
is exactly threatening NATO at present? positions at NATO headquarters.
Isn’t it NATO that is doing the attacking? • Committed NATO to meeting
new challenges; confronting new For a NATO summit meeting marking the
• Agreed to renew NATO’s shared asymmetric threats to include terrorism, 60th anniversary of the alliance and
sense of family united by common values; a proliferation of weapons of mass intended to be about real substance, the
commitment to democracy, human rights, destruction, cyber-attacks, environmental event was more a damp squib, with NATO
and the rule of law; degradation and energy disruptions, and allies at best providing lukewarm support
the fallout from failed states and the to Obama’s new AfPAK strategy. This was
Comment: Are these the same values that economic crisis; despite Obama detailing on the surface of
inspired Abu Ghraib, Guantanomo, it a narrowed war mission: emphasising
extraordinary rendition, the Iraq war, Comment: Most of these problems are intense action against Al Qaeda even above
torture, secret prisons, corrupt politicians caused directly by NATO members. State implementing secular democracy and
and their corporate buddies and support terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, western human rights.
for Israel’s massacres in Gaza. Does NATO proliferating their own nuclear arsenals
really have any credibility talking about e.g. Trident in the UK and mini nukes in “We want to do everything we can to
values? America. Environmental degradation and encourage and promote rule of law, human
the economic crisis were created in the rights, the education of women and girls in
• Welcomed Albania and Croatia as west due to a capitalist ideology that is Afghanistan, economic development,
NATO’s newest Allies, reinforcing the collapsing under its own excess. Who infrastructure development,” he said. “But I
message that NATO’s door remains open created failed states like Somalia, it was also want people to understand that the
and that countries in Europe’s East can America and her ally Ethiopia who first reason we are there is to root out Al
become members when they meet NATO’s removed the one government (Islamic Qaeda, so that they cannot attack members
performance-based standards and are able Courts) which had brought stability to of the alliance.”
and ready to contribute to Allies' common Somalia in the last fifteen years.
security; The Afghan war remains a dividing line for
• Issued a "Declaration of Alliance alliance leaders. In October of this year
Comment: A clear provocation aimed at Security" as a first step towards balancing NATO’s war in Afghanistan will enter its
Russia. What would happen if the latter NATO’s traditional collective defense ninth year, by any measure the Afghan
sought a military alliance with Cuba, responsibilities with the need to campaign has already been a long war and
Mexico and Venezuela. NATO enlargement modernise and transform to address new most commentators expect will end up
devoid of a defined mission is causing threats through the subsequent becoming significantly longer than WW1
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and WW2 combined. For the US military insistence that they have learnt the lessons Pakistani people what America’s intentions
bruised with nearly 4,500 fatalities in Iraq of Iraq. The US cannot rid Afghanistan and are. The United States pursues an imperial
– the Afghan war is fast becoming one of Pakistan of Al-Qaeda (when Al Qaeda can claim on their territory and on their
the most demoralising chapters in the exist everywhere in the world including in resources. For them controlling South Asia
history of the United States. Despite the United States) nor can it root out or would not only degrade Pakistan’s
widespread praise for President Obama’s kill everyone who opposes America or capability of becoming a cornerstone of
new inclusive approach, his calls for a sympathises with its adversaries. America the future Khilafah, but is a stepping stool
more significant European troop increase cannot police the borders of Pakistan until in the latest manifestation of the Great
for Afghanistan were politely ignored, as they are completely secure (it can’t even Game being fought with Russia and China.
America contrary to its public policy does
Controlling South Asia would not only degrade Pakistan’s not respect the sovereignty of either
country (daily drone attacks in Pakistan
capability of becoming a cornerstone of the future coupled with a separate US mission in
Khilafah, but is a stepping stool in the latest Afghanistan answering to the Pentagon are
a testament to that) and it constantly
manifestation of the Great Game being fought with belittles the tremendous sacrifices that the
Afghans and Pakistanis have made in
Russia and China securing their own countries from foreign
interference. The US is not seeking a full
they had been in negotiations leading up police its own border with Mexico) transition to Afghan responsibility nor do
to the meeting. European allies agreed to especially as the US military is the main they seek real security for Pakistan. And
provide only 5,000 new troops for source of the insecurity on both sides of going forward, American forces will ensure
Afghanistan with 3,000 deployed only the border. that both states are weakened like Iraq
temporarily to provide security for the before it and become yet another
August elections in Afghanistan. A further 3. By not having defined metrics, stepping stone to America’s new world
1,400 to 2,000 soldiers will be sent to train the US administration can continue a order. The future of Afghanistan and
teams for the Afghan Army and the police. prolonged war in a strategic location that Pakistan is inseparable from the future of
So much for Afghanistan being critical for borders the energy resources of Central the broader Middle East, so it is key that
western national interests. The Afghan war Asia as well as the geopolitical epicenter of America’s nefarious plan to control
like the Iraq war before it is fast becoming the world, the Indian Ocean. Its location Afghanistan and weaken Pakistan be
an American war with Europe steering well also has the advantage of neutralising stopped.
clear. President Obama’s decision to Russian and Chinese influence in a key
increase the number of American troops region of the world. There are many lessons to be learned, from
this year to about 68,000 from the current what we’ve experienced since 9-11. We
38,000 will significantly Americanize the 4. America also doesn’t realise that have learned that America’s addiction to
war. In a recent article in the New York it cannot build nations, after systematically war in the Muslim world, continues
Times a senior European diplomat said “No destroying them with their missiles, drones unabated regardless of who sits in the
one will say this publicly, but the true fact and aircraft. It is America that is stopping White House. We have learned that in the
is that we are all talking about our exit Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan from having 21st century, we must use all elements of
strategy from Afghanistan. We are getting a better future, by insisting that those who the Muslim world’s power to achieve our
out. It may take a couple of years, but we oppose her imperial agenda can only be objectives, which is why we need to
are all looking to get out.” met by more killing. The US represents the politically unify our resources, our lands,
forces that over the age have constantly and our armies to ensure that no one
It is clear that the new American strategy destroyed nations for material and strategic individual nation has to fight and sacrifice
for Afghanistan and Pakistan is flawed for gain, a situation which today has led the alone. We have learned that our leaders are
several reasons world into further cycles of violence and corrupt and not up to the task which is
insecurity. America has history, from why they must be removed if we are ever
1. The numbers of forces are still Hiroshima to Korea to Vietnam to its own to meet the tough challenges of our era.
insufficient to win in Afghanistan (just ask Civil War, and its bitter divisions of region And we have learned the importance of
the Russians) and are therefore designed to and race, it continues to choose violence our iman, that by implementing Islam
hold Afghanistan while projecting further over stability, imperialism over morality politically we can provide a better life not
into Pakistan. As a variety of US officials and hatred over hope. But hostility and just for our children but for everyone else’s
have stated, the strategic prize is Islamabad violence will never be a match for justice; as well.
not Kabul. they offer no pathway to a better world;
and they cannot stand between the people
2. The goal to defeat Al-Qaeda is of Afghanistan and Pakistan and the wider
vague and ambiguous and has been Muslim world from a future of
deliberately kept so. At the point of writing, reconciliation and political unity.
the US administration has failed to publish
any performance metrics despite their It should be clear to the Afghan and
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The Bangladesh
Army Massacre
weaken the defence forces of
Bangladesh i.e. the Army and the BDR.
Thirdly, the government played a
dubious role in the dealing with the so-
called mutiny. Finally, only the Khilafah
government can strengthen the defence
forces and challenge the imperialists.
2. Many believe this incident had
an external influence but are not
necessarily specifying which country.
What makes you so certain this external
force was Indian?
We presented an analysis of the event in
our leaflet. There are three points that
we need to keep in mind: What did it
achieve? Who benefits from that? Why at
this time?
The answer to the first question can be
On the 25th of February 74 officers of I am sure you have followed some news found in the reality of what has
the Bangladesh Army were massacred in of the massacre. What happened is really happened – the Bangladesh Rifles has
Pilkhana in the heart of the Bangladeshi brutal and horrific. The killers had with been more or less destroyed especially
capital, Dhaka. This atrocity was alleged them a hit list of the officers whom they its chain of command. The Army has lost
to be committed by a group within the searched out and massacred. They did some of its brilliant officers and it has
Bangladesh Rifles, a paramilitary force of not stop at that – they mutilated dead been dealt a severe blow. It will take a
70,000 men responsible for securing the bodies of the officers; buried them in long time to rebuild the Bangladesh
4,000 km long border with India and mass graves; burnt dead bodies; buried Rifles and for the Army to recover.
Burma. Khilafah Magazine interviews alive some of the officers; and raped, There is only one external force that
Mohiuddin Ahmed, official spokesman of tortured and killed their wives and benefits from all this – India. Firstly
Hizb ut-Tahrir Bangladesh (HTB) to children including pregnant women. weakening the defence forces of
understand the events of that day and Regarding our position, we made it clear Bangladesh has been a long term Indian
the implications for Bangladesh’s in our leaflet issued on 28 February plan and she has tried to do this on
security. 2009. If I summarize that for you, we many occasions in the past. Secondly the
made four important points in that Bangladesh Rifles protects the
1. Can you give your account of leaflet: Firstly, the so-called mutiny was Bangladesh border from the Indian
what really happened on 25th February, part of a long-term plot and it was border forces (BSF). And the Indians
and what is HTB’s position on this carried out by India and her agents view the Bangladesh Rifles as a problem.
tragedy? inside and outside the government. One former senior Indian intelligence
Secondly, the aim of the plot was to official B Raman wrote a column in the
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magazine ‘Outlook’ on 27 February, 2009 destabilize Sheikh Hasina’s government
where he said the Bangladesh Rifles’ that if they continue to do this, India will
anti-Indian stance is an obstacle to the not remain silent, if necessary, India will
India-Bangladesh relationship. The directly intervene”. In other words the
Bangladesh Rifles is trained by the Army Indian political leadership is prepared
of Bangladesh because of which it does for the fallout of the incident. It seems
the job very well to the point that the that India wants Sheikh Hasina to reform
BSF fear the Bangladesh Rifles. There and restructure Bangladesh Rifles after
have been many incidents of clashes the 25 February incident. Also, if
between the two forces where the BSF possible, they want to reform the Awami league government is playing a
simply fled from the fight. Therefore Bangladesh Army in their favour. dubious role from the beginning of the
weakening or even destroying the As for the timing, at present with the event. Although the government is
Bangladesh Rifles leaves the Bangladesh Hasina government in power they found campaigning that it has successfully
border unprotected from Indian BSF a favourable moment to execute their dealt with the mutiny, we can present an
aggression. Thirdly as a Muslim country, plan. They found internal forces that will analogy here in the form of a popular
the armed forces of Bangladesh are assist them in organizing the event and saying in Bangladesh – the operation
always viewed as a security threat by more importantly their future plans was successful, but the patient died. The
India. The Bangladesh Rifles massacre regarding the re-structuring of the reality is that the mutiny could have
has severely harmed the Bangladesh Bangladesh Rifles and the Army. been put down within an hour or two,
military. Previously when Hasina was in power but it was allowed to last for two days.
they had executed some of their plans. The army officers could have been
We should also consider the Indian Before going to the next question let me saved, but they were not. The chain of
response during and after the incident. just clarify another point here. As you command in the Bangladesh Rifles has
BSF sends SMS messages during the know in recent years Bangladesh has been destroyed and the murderers were
rebellion to soldiers in the Bangladesh gained strategic importance in terms of allowed to flee.
Rifles assuring them of assistance. The regional geo-politics. Right now in the
Indian media launches a frenzied attack aftermath of the Bangladesh Rifles I am sure by now you are aware of the
on Islamic Militants and the Bangladesh incident all the imperialist powers are questions being raised by almost
opposition parties trying to divert the undertaking efforts to advance their everyone concerned. We raised these
people’s minds. The Indian Army and air interests. The US, the British, and India – questions when every one else thought
force was kept ready for assisting the all are conspiring for control over the it was a mutiny due to some legitimate
Hasina government; not in dealing with Bangladesh Army. You know about the grievances. The questions that we raised
the mutiny (the Bangladesh Army is FBI and the Scotland Yard’s visit here in are very important. It is in our leaflet
capable of doing that) but rather to save the name of providing so-called and I will not repeat them here. There
the government in case of any threats to assistance in the investigations. So now are many more questions that are being
its existence. And now the Indian the issue for us is to expose the asked now. Our point is that there is a
government is making statements that conspiracies of all these imperialist line that needs to be drawn between
the Hasina government has their full enemies of the Ummah. failure to deal with the plot on the one
hand and complicity on the other hand.
It is a part of the government’s ploy to save the conspirators. How many unanswered questions do
Nobody believes it. It was an attempt to divert people’s you need for proving complicity? Let us
understand one very important point –
attention and it miserably failed as people were not fooled at those ministers who went to the spot to
all. The politicians, intellectuals, media, and business leaders negotiate with the rebels are well
known agents of India. They brought the
have rejected this idea openly and publicly. rebels to meet the PM and no record
about these people was noted down
backing and they will not sit idly by if whereas we know the tight security
there are any threats to it arising from 3. In your press release you procedures that are followed before
events post the mutiny. The Indian mentioned the involvement of elements anyone can get close to the PM’s office,
magazine ‘Outlook’ reported that Indian within the Bangladesh government in let alone sit down and talk with the PM.
Foreign Minister Pranab Mukharjee said orchestrating this disaster. You must have Furthermore one of these ministers
in a closed door meeting of Congress strong arguments to make such a bold makes a public statement two days after
leaders that “... in the current scenario, and brave allegation. Can you explain? the event that millions of taka was spent
India is ready to provide any help to in planning and executing the
Bangladesh ...I want to send strong From the analysis of events it can be conspiracy while investigations had not
warnings to those who are trying to easily understood that the current
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even started. This is nothing but a ploy 6. Hizb ut-Tahrir have launched a establish the Khilafah.
by the government to put the blame on campaign on this issue. What do you
other than the real culprits. Your readers want to achieve from your campaign So support the work for Khilafah as you
will be interested to know that the and what is your action plan? can. I can make some suggestions. Firstly,
government has so far prevented the those of you who have relatives in
minister from being questioned as to his HT is a global political party working for Bangladesh and make frequent visits
source for that information. re-establishment of the Khilafah. All our here - inform them about the Khilafah
activities are aimed at achieving that and the work of HTB especially the
4. It appears the government goal. We undertake the work of culturing politicians, intellectuals and the media.
believes that Islamic militants are the Muslims with the Islamic thoughts Second, win over the Bangladeshi media
responsible. How credible is this? and opinions. We also expose the in the UK so that they publish news of
conspiracies of the colonialist states the work for Khilafah. This will make the
It is a part of the government’s ploy to against the Muslims. As well as this we community aware of the Khilafah, who
save the conspirators. Nobody believes take the rulers in the Muslim countries can then convey the concept to their
it. It was an attempt to divert people’s to task for their failure, negligence and friends and families in Bangladesh. Third,
attention and it miserably failed as subservience to the imperialist enemies. talk to the politicians belonging to
people were not fooled at all. The This is what we aim to achieve from this Bangladeshi based political parties in the
politicians, intellectuals, media, and campaign i.e. expose the imperialist UK; they make visits to Bangladesh and
business leaders have rejected this idea enemies and their agents so that the have influence. Fourth, many politicians
openly and publicly. The minister who people reject them and at the same time and influential people such as writers,
made the statement has now backed off create public opinion about the need for journalists, columnists and ulama from
from his statement due to the public the Khilafah. Bangladesh visit the UK. Contact them,
backlash. We all know the crusaders and talk to them and convince them about
their agents are carrying out a vicious As for our action plan we are continuing the Khilafah as the only viable
campaign against Islam throughout the with various programmes making the alternative for the multitude of problems
world and they look for any opportunity people aware of the conspiracy. We are facing Bangladesh.
to advance that goal. doing political activities such as
demonstrations, posters, etc. We are Specifically on the Bangladesh Rifles
5. Many of your members have contacting the people, for example the massacre you need to realize the grave
been arrested and charged. Can you teachers, doctors, imams and the mass dangers of this conspiracy. I have no
explain why they have been arrested people through interactions in public words to describe it. It is one of the
and your views of the charges? places such as mosques, markets, biggest conspiracies in the country’s
schools, and so on. We are holding history. It is not the issue of one party
31 of our members and activists have discussions with influential people in nor should the issue be looked at from
been arrested for distributing leaflets. the society. As part of that we organized partisan interests. It is a plot against the
Cases have been filed against them on a roundtable discussion on the 18th of Bangladesh army – the defenders of
the charge of attempting to cause a riot; March which was attended by many key Islam and Muslims, the defenders of the
attempting to create mutiny in the army, figures in the country’s intellectual and future Khilafah. You should protest
and attempting to harm relationships political arena. We have also produced a against this and all imperialist
with friendly states. These charges are small booklet presenting our analysis of conspiracies against the Muslims of
really untenable. There is nothing in the the event and how the Khilafah will Bangladesh. You should apply pressure
leaflet to justify it. We simply invited the challenge the imperialists. upon the government of Bangladesh
people to resist the Indian plot to through organizing protest actions such
destroy our army and the Bangladesh 7. What is your message for the as demonstrating outside the Bangladesh
Rifles and take the government to task Muslims living in the UK? embassy, demanding that the
for its mysterious role. The government government explains its dubious role in
undertook this oppressive action exactly In general, we need to understand that the so-called mutiny; refrains from its
because of this i.e. we exposed the our life and provisions are in the hand of ploy to save the conspirators and also
government and their masters. They are Allah (SWT) to whom we will all return. releases our members and supporters.
afraid of our ideology i.e. Islam, which We have no control over this. We will The media should be contacted,
commands the proclamation of the truth take with us nothing from this world information about the conspiracy should
openly and bravely without an iota of except our deeds. Thus our daily lives be passed to them and they should be
fear even if the whole people are afraid must not make us forget our Islamic motivated to publish news about it so
and silent. obligations – the most important of that the community is aware of the plot.
which are the obligation to remove
these corrupt rulers and the colonial
powers from the Islamic lands and to re-
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Culture
The Basis of
Authority in the
Islamic State
“O you who believe, Obey Allah, Obey principle upon which Muslims are told Consider for example the following
His Messenger and those in authority to live by and this is the principle on hadith: It has been reported that Ali (ra)
from amongst you and if you differ which Muslims are instructed to view said, "The Messenger of Allah sent a
then refer it to Allah and His Messenger their rulers. Here the word for rulers or troop under the command of a man
if you believe in Allah and the Last those in authority is ulul amr. It is not from Al-Ansar. When they left, he became
Day.” restricted to the Khaleefah, but also angry with them for some reason and
[An-Nisa: 59] includes the walis, wazeers and all those said to them, `Has not the Messenger of
who have authority, especially since the Allah commanded you to obey me' They
This noble verse in Surah an-Nisa comes word has been used in the plural (ulul said, `Yes.' He said, `Collect some wood,'
after verse 58 which focused on the amr and not waliyul amr which is in the and then he started a fire with the wood,
rulers when they were enjoined to rule singular). It is interesting that the ayah
by justice which is none other than does not repeat the verb 'atee'u' when it
what Allah (SWT) has revealed. In this comes to the rulers as it did in respect
verse the focus is on the Muslims under to Allah and His Messenger, which is an
the authority of the rulers and their additional indication alongside the clear
responsibility. In this respect the verses and hadith which state that rulers
message of this ayah is addressed to the must obey Allah and His Messenger in
Ummah at large and we can learn from it their ruling and exercise of authority. For
the following matters: example the Messenger (saw) said:
'There is no obedience to the
The verse begins with the verb 'atee'u' disobedience of the Creator.' [Sahih
('obey') in the imperative form and the Bukhari, Volume 9: Hadith 363] Here
object of obedience is Allah (swt). The there is an absolute prohibition of
verse then commands 'Atee'u' (obey) following an order that goes against the
and this time it is referring to the order of Allah (swt), whoever makes that
Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wassalam). order. This hadith came specifically in
The repetition of the word 'obey' and the context of authority and ruling. Its
the order indicates the two basic mafhum or implied meaning indicates
reference points that Muslims have and that just as the person cannot obey a
they are the Qur'an and Sunnah. ruler who disobeys Allah (swt) so in the
Therefore, anything in contravention of same way, a ruler or amir cannot order,
Qur'an and Sunnah must be disobeyed enact laws or rule by anything that is in
and anything from the Qur'an and violation of what Allah (swt) has ordered.
Sunnah must be obeyed. This is the
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Culture
arbiter must be Allah and His Messenger
ie the Qur'an and Sunnah. It states: “if
you differ then refer it to Allah and His
Messenger if you believe in Allah and the
Last Day.” Just as the young man in the
above hadith disputed with his Amir
when he commanded them to enter the
fire and referred the matter to the
Messenger, we are also obliged to refer
to the Islamic reference point ie the
Quran and Sunnah when there is a
dispute. The last words of the ayah
enjoin on the believers the importance
of referring to Allah and His Messenger
in ruling, by drawing attention to the
fact that not to do so is a negation of
iman and hence it says: '...if you believe
in Allah and the Last Day.”
This is how the Sahabah (ra) understood
this matter and nothing shows this more
clearly than the speech of Abu Bakr as-
Siddique when he assumed the post of
saying, `I command you to enter the the disobedience to the Messenger as Khaleefah, he said: "Help me, if I am in
fire.' The people almost entered the fire, the Ayah obliges obedience to Allah and the right; set me right, if I am in the
but a young man among them said, `You His Messenger. That is why the wrong. The weak among you shall be
ran away from the Fire to Allah's Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him strong with me until, Allah willing, his
Messenger. Therefore, do not rush until and grant him peace, said in a hadith rights have been vindicated. The strong
you go back to Allah's Messenger, and if reported by Abu Hurairah, 'Whoever among you shall be weak with me until,
he commands you to enter it, then enter obeys me has obeyed Allah and whoever if Allah wills, I have taken what is due
it.' When they went back to Allah's disobeys me has disobeyed Allah. from him. Obey me as long as I obey
Messenger, they told him what had Whoever obeys the amir has obeyed me Allah and His Prophet; when I disobey
happened, and the Messenger said, Had and whoever disobeys the amir has Him and his Prophet, obey me not."
you entered it, you would never have disobeyed me'" [Agreed upon] As for the
departed from it. Obedience is only in statement 'whoever obeys the amir has Thus, we can see from the above ayah
righteousness.'' (Reported by Bukhari obeyed me and whoever disobeys the the basis of ruling, ie the commanding
Volume 9, Book 91, Number 363:). Here amir has disobeyed me' in the above the good and forbidding the evil by the
the Messenger (saw) stated that hadith or the following hadith: "Anyone rulers and obedience to them must be in
obedience is only in the 'maroof' and who dislikes something from his amir obedience to Allah and His Messenger.
not in the 'munkar'. So the one in should be patient. Anyone who abandons This means that the basis of the Islamic
authority cannot command anything but obedience to the amir for even a short State is Islam and none other. The state
ma'ruuf and people cannot obey time dies the death of the Jahiliyya of the Muslims must be Islamic, ie where
anything but maroof. What is 'ma'roof is (ignorance)." [Agreed upon] This does Allah and His Messenger are obeyed
what Islam has defined as good and not mean their absolute obedience to both by the rulers and by those who are
munkar is what Islam has defined as evil. the rulers. These hadiths are talking of ruled. It must be a state where the
It is not left to the discretion of man to not rebelling against the rulers due to Muslims refer to Allah and His Messenger
decide these matters. their misappropriation of the people’s and this is a requirement of their belief
rights and not about obeying the rulers in Allah and the Last Day.
The verse also obliges the obedience to in the matters which are a clear
the command of the Messenger (saw) violation of the Shariah. Rather, when
and links that to the rulers. As long as the ruler commands a clear munkar the
the rulers or those in authority obey the Muslim must disobey that command and
Messenger then there is the obedience cannot say he was following orders.
to him, otherwise there is no obedience.
It is ludicrous after saying that there is The verse then concludes that if there is
no obedience in the disobedience to the a difference over a matter between the
Creator that there can be obedience in Muslims and their rulers then the final
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Arif Samad
RECESSION -
When the casino economy
meets the real economy
goods led to production cut-backs and
rising unemployment. In the fourth
quarter of 2008 the UK economy was
officially in recession - defined as two
quarters of negative economic growth.
This is how the casino financial
economy initiated and caused a
devastating recession in the real
economy.
DEBT FUELLED GROWTH
The finance sector (comprising mainly
of banking, finance and insurance
industries) has grown in significance in
the last decade. While the manufacturing
sector was in terminal decline, jobs in
finance grew from 5 million to 6.6
million between 1997 and 2007 (1),
accounting for 1 in 5 of all jobs in the
UK. It is no coincidence that debt levels
Falling economic activity in one or more markets. The failure of this specific area over this period also surged.
industries or sectors is not uncommon of finance initiated a chain reaction that
even during more general periods of resulted in, until recently, highly Britain’s total debt exploded during the
sustained economic growth. As an profitable century-old global financial economic boom. The total debt owed by
example manufacturing employment in institutions filing for bankruptcy, government, businesses and individuals –
the UK fell from 4.5 million to 3.2 sometimes, overnight. In the UK, commonly known as gross external debt
million (1) between 1997 and 2007 – a Northern Rock, a bank from the North – rose from 1.7 trillion in 1997 to £5.7
10 year period over which UK-wide East of England, went bankrupt, after million in 2007, an increase of 238% (3).
economic growth rose by a robust 3% which other banks were kept afloat only It was this astounding growth in debt
per annum on average in real terms (2). as a result of Government bail-outs and from all sections of society that
It is however rare for a sub sector to guarantees. With domestic and propelled continuous economic growth
cause the whole economy to go into international financial sectors in turmoil, over the last decade. At the end of 2007,
recession. However, this is exactly what’s the many heavily indebted businesses Britain’s total external debt stood at over
happened during the current financial found it difficult to raise funds while 400% of GDP (the total value of goods
crisis and subsequent recession. debt-ridden individuals could no longer and services produced by the UK) of
The collapse of high risk ‘sub-prime’ afford to borrow to finance approximately £1.5 trillion per annum.
lending in the USA exposed the fragility unsustainable consumption levels. The That’s equivalent to a debt of £94,000
and global interdependence of financial subsequent fall in demand for consumer for every man, woman and child in the
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