Birmingham Terror arrests

Once again a muslim community in Britain is feeling divided by arrests in its midst. I have two feelings on this matter based on what I've seen of the news coverage.

Firstly, the protestations of relatives and neighbours that the men are absolutely innocent. Cast your mind back to when the arrests of the attempted London bombers took place. The exact same happened there. Outrage in the community. Although they're innocent until proven guilty the evidence looks absolutely damning on these poor excuses for human beings. We'll see what happens from the current arrests, however. We should resist the urge to follow in the footsteps of the media and jump to conclusions before being aware of the facts. If the men are freed without charge, then perhaps there's room for complaint. If the men are arrested, however, the local community should look at the police's track record. It's not unblemished, certainly, but the police don't generally act in this manner unless they've amassed a fair amount of evidence and are expecting the 'cell' (or whatever the group is in this instance) to act imminently.

As for the reasons of elements of the muslim community getting so worked up as to plan such acts, I would say this: do you really feel that you're the only group opposed to the situation in Iraq? I would put to them that a majority of the British population is now opposed to Blair's war, and a great many always have been. (Remember the marches past Westminster?) However the population of this country as a whole believe in making their feelings known in a democratic manner; through lobbying and at the ballot box. If there are people in this country who believe that violence and death is the route they have to take to be heard they are not only wrong but they forfeit their part in our community and country. Shout from the pulpits, or rather the minarets if that's more appropriate. Write to your MP, protest - peacefully - against the failing foreign policy of the Blair government. Lobby, shout, do what you can, but remain within the democratic and lawful system that we enjoy and that keeps our country stable and prosperous. Don't believe you are being marginalised, as on the topic of foreign policy you will find yourselves in good and plentiful company. Peace. (at home and abroad.)