In arguing thus, the Prime Minister is directly confronting large elements of officialdom. The Prevent programme of counter-terrorism, currently under review, is managed by Charles Farr, an MI6 man seconded to the Home Office to run counter-terrorism.
His approach depends on the idea of doing deals with extremists to rein in their own – fulfilling the old Iranian saying, dating from our colonial era, that “behind every beard there is a British agent”. Because of this doctrine of “it takes one to know one”, Islamists are employed under Mr Farr’s wing. The dangerous men are thus empowered by the state, becoming the gatekeepers for all Muslims.
Now Mr Cameron is saying goodbye to all that – no more public money, powers of patronage, honours (it’s fascinating how many of these extremists relish OBEs and knighthoods) and invitations to No 10 for people who do not share the open values of British civil society. [telegraph.co.uk] Read more
