I’ve been astonished by a string of news stories in recent days that seem to suggest we haven’t a clue how to deal with terrorism. Click on each item to read the full report.
The Joseph Rowntree Trust and The Roddick Foundation have over recent years given £170,000 and £25,000 respectively to a protest group set up to lobby for prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay. The group praises the radical Yemen-based cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki, describing him as an “inspiration”.
The “inspirational” Anwar al-Awlaki, see above, has released a new online video in which he calls for Americans to be killed, saying they are from the “party of devils” and so don’t require any special religious permission to kill.
46 convicted terrorists have been or are are to be released from prison despite security concerns and evidence that many are simply disappearing once freed.
Osama bin Laden is reported to be living comfortably in North Waziristan, protected by local militias and elements of Pakistan’s security services.
Meanwhile, China is to build another nuclear power station for Pakistan, adding to the one completed and the other four already planned or under construction. Agencies warn that Pakistan has accelerated the pace of its nuclear weapons programme and a row of new cooling towers at the first plant suggest production of plutonium could soon begin.