Tony Blair teeters on the brink of having an idea. From the BBC, with thanks to Rebecca Bynum:
Prime Minister Tony Blair has hit out at the “evil ideology” behind the London bomb attacks which killed at least 55 people.
The PM said it was vital to confront the bombers’ beliefs as well as introducing anti-terrorist measures.
“This is the battle that must be won. A battle not just about terrorist methods, but their views,” he said.
“It cannot be beaten, in my view, except by confronting it, symptoms and causes, head on,” he added.
Right. I couldn’t agree more, Tony, old man. But will you be willing to allow some of your most cherished assumptions to be challenged by this confrontation? Assumptions like these?
The prime minister denied there was a “clash of civilisations” and that all people – including Muslims – were united in their abhorrence at terrorist activities.
He said they had to work with the Muslim community in Britain to take on the extremists.
“It is a battle of ideas and hearts and minds, both within Islam and outside it,” said Mr Blair.
I am quite certain that some Muslims oppose terrorism. But neither Iqbal Sacranie nor anyone else has articulated a theology of Islam that refutes the terrorist version. Why not?
The Prime Minister was speaking to Labour party members in London, shortly after the number of people who in died in the tube and bus attacks rose to 55.
I wonder if Jon Trickett was there.