The Bishop probably blames governments because it's easier and doesn't cause much offence. "Conversion" is a tricky phenomenon, about which it's difficult to generalize. Ten out of ten for publicizing the book.

anthony alcock, kassel, germany

It reminds of what Provisional IRA spokesmen did for years (and still do, when occasion requires) which is to blame the violence in Northern Ireland on "the Bretish Goverment". It was almost a hobby of mine to use a stopwatch whenever Gerry Adams or Martin McGuinness were interviewed and see how long it took them to get to this particular phrase.

Of course, there was some truth in the matter. British government policy did affect Northern Ireland, usually adversely. But it was not the government of Great Britain which made people shoot, bomb, intimidate and maim their fellow human beings. It was human wickedness.

John Richardson, Elsenham, UK

i think that extremism has many reasons the main important one the lack of comprehensive knowledge about islam its a very hudge knowledge and there is universities for islamic studies i have never seen an ultra muslim or extremist from these universites like al azhar in egypt for example binladen is an engineer and al zawarhy is medecine they did not study the islamic law well so they are acting in the name of islam and applying their ideas which the majority of it is contrary to islam but also mouslims feel with the double standrd treatment from the west and us backup to israel increase the idea of using violence to avenge from the west

ahmed amir , cairo, egypt

Your statement above 'If there’s a common theme, it is the total absence of British foreign policy.'. It's our government lack of action in criticising or helping to stop these atrocities against Muslims that causes younger muslims in this country to feel the British government is not interested their views and opinions. When you have no body to represent your concerns and are disenfranchised, these extremist organisations find fertilised grounds.

Haider, London, UK

There is NO EXCUSE for resorting to violence and terror, PERIOD. The pretext that british foreign policy (or lack thereof) is responsible for the current jihadist/islamist violence among disaffected muslims does not wash. I'm Hindu and believe cows are holy, but that does'nt give me the license to blow up every MacDonalds in the land that serves beefburgers. I can, however, stand at the entrance of my local MacDonalds with a placard denouncing cow slaughter--that is my democratic right, should I choose to exercise it. My point is: I do not dispute Iraq/ Palestine etc may be causing frustration and anger among muslims, but this anger must be vented in peaceful ways, using the avenues that a democracy affords us.

Sandeep, Birmingham, UK

The standard media view of the Middle East seems to be that the main issue between Islam and the West is the existence of, and the West's attitude to, the state of Israel.

This does not correspond with several observed facts. Arab attacks on Jews (who had legally bought homes and land) in Palestine go back well before WW2. Islamist attacks on the West are not focused on any foreign policy issue - it is hard to identify a motive, but it seems to be an attempt generally to destabilise a liberal society and to break our confidence.

I suggest that, far from hostility to Jews being because they are associated with Israel, hostility to Israel is because it is full of Jews. I suspect too that the West's attitude to Israel is only an ostensible motive for attacks; what is really happening is an assault on the idea of a free society.

I hope, though without conviction, that I am wrong. If this situation continues, it is hard to see how it will be resolved without yet more violence.

Michael Bruce, Selby, Yorkshire

The British government should be sensitive to all it's citizens views with regard to the creation of a ethical foreign policy. There are many British citizens of Asian descent. Assisting the the USA in the creation of a European state in Asia, is only going inflame opinions in the UK. We need to get out and stay out of the empire building business.

Haider, London, UK

There will always be extremists: animal, christian, secularist, yobs, yardies, racists. What Tom Bulter is aboslutely right to point out is that British policy has claimed the moral high ground when it has cynically subverted and prostituted even democratic principles to serve narrow self-interest. Mr. Aaranovitch, Mr. Blair: condemn what the US and GB did in Iran in 1952, condemn Rumsfeld meeting Saddam and working with him in the 1980s, nay putting him into power, condemn inaction to protect Bosnian self-determination whilst non-Muslim self-determination is promoted, condemn not apply loads of UN resolutions against Israel yet we go to war re: Iraq. British foreign policy is unethical, not holistic and out of tune with the aspirations of Muslim , ethical and young people in all sections of this society.

simonS, Bolton,

"British foreign policy does not create terrorists" ...? A wide-ranging conclusion to draw from the scant evidence presented. Do you really think British involvement in Iraq is regarded with equanimity by the local Muslim community?

Iman, Watford, UK

Intellectual reasoning didn’t create the human condition, and intellectual rationalization won’t change it. Nature created our condition. Her selective criterion was our offsprings’ reproductive fitness for their evolutionary environment. We are what eons of the competition for survival have made us, not what a few centuries of Church and University would have us be. Were Priests and Professors to artificially select future generations, we might millennia hence succeed in changing our condition. Meanwhile, however, we need to understand and accept our imperfection rather than pretending it doesn’t exist. Understanding and accepting it promises its better management, but pretending it doesn’t exist misleads us into our own deception’s ambush. Islam is religion’s most extreme remaining example of destructive self-deception. Bishop Butler’s apologia are its accomplices. Neither is productive. Only reality can protect us from prophecy. We must limp on toward authenticity.

Michael Grable, Silver Spring, USA/MD

The head of the British Army admitted that the presence of British troops in Iraq "exacerbates the security problems". A memo by senior Cabinet officials called for "a significant reduction in the number and intensity of regional conflicts that fuel terror activity". A research paper for the MOD Defence Academy notes that "The war in Iraq...has acted as a recruiting sergeant for extremists across the Muslim world…Iraq has served to radicalise an already disillusioned youth". In a speech in November 2006, even the former head of MI5 Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller said that it was clear from "martyrdom" videos that suicide bombers were motivated in part by "their interpretation as anti-Muslim of UK foreign policy, in particular the UK's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan".

John Simpson, Alton, England

Good article -and I don't think anyone could really contest the main narrative. There has been a radicalisation-both here and in many other countries-and "western" foreign policy is only one component of a complex story.

However, I think your point about Blair busting a gut to support a two-state solution is quite wrong and indicative of your bias in this matter (I'm sorry to put it so bluntly , David).


But on the wider point I think you are correct. Why British muslims should be concerned about Palestine is beyond me. Some of the words you cite with regard Bosnia remind me of what I used to hear at university. Depressing.

khalid mir, london, England

I am confused. In the same article you argue that individuals were radicalised by, for example, Chechnya and antiMuslim riots in Gujarat and then discount or diminish the effect of British foreign policy. I may be wrong but I don't remember too many individuals blowing themselves up on the tube before the Iraq war, no matter how radicalised they were. Your thesis seems to be that we should be ambivalent to our effects on these individuals because they would be radicalised anyway, if that is the case then at least be honest and admit that Iraq has radicalised them and led to their fury being directed inwards at the UK. This in itself is, I agree, no reason to change foreign policy. But to ignore it as a truth and to try and play it down claiming that they would have become radicalised anyway is disingenuous and probably untrue. Certainly many would have become radicalised, but as a recruiting sergeant for these grotesque individuals Iraq has been the most successful of recent years.

Thomas D, London, UK

As usual I have to keep on repeating the same old line. Religion is for the loonies. How can anyone possibly believe such rubbish. It is time for anti-religious broadcasts on TV to balance the monopoly that the bishops and priests have. The world cannot afford to wait. Maybe it is time for a jihad and an anti-jihad. If they can bomb us in the name of their god, we should be able to retaliate.

m wilson, bidache, france

Islamists are like Nazis. Chechoslavakia was not enough for Hitler. Israel is not enough for Islamists. Kashmir, Chechnia, etc. will not be enough either. Saudi Arabia will not be enough either. Either we defend all countries against Islamists or we are doomed for a war such that WW2 will look insignificant.

Greg, London, UK

( We should call for Israel to majic itself out of existance). No Sir we should asked Israel to respect human right, to follow and adher to the many UN resoluations and to stop occuping other peaple land.
( The lack of willingness to confront the implecable nature of an ideology embarrassingly based on faith). This is a very practical ideas if applied to all religions and not to Islam or Christianty alone, we should not froget that the State of Israel and its existance depend tottaly on faith and the old testement and the chosen people ideas which are all faith ideas over two thousand years old. not forgetting that what is right for one religion can be wrong for the other.

M A Serewel, Crewe, Cheshire

Good piece, David. Husain's book is an eye-opener and should be required reading for anyone who claims the right to analyze Islam and the West (such as the "Mission and Public Affairs Council of the Church of England"). The book is a call to action by the British (and other Europeans) before they completely lose their country to radical Islam. Husain provides some good insight into the underground network that is radicilizing Islam throughout Europe. The book should also be read by moderate Moslems who are having their own religion hijacked from them by an extreme minority.

Ehad HaAm, Raanana, ISRAEL

Is there any religion that is not also a political force? Political and religious organisations are all about changing the way others live.
People should treat religions with the same scepticism as political parties and stop making excuses for them.

John Carr, Colchester, Essex

Fat chance. Resurrect Peter Sellers to play The Spaced -out Bishop (allusion to film intended).

Alex Dryden, Ottawa, Canada

He says "Until now the Government has bent every sinew to promote a two-state solution along the lines of the road map". But Britain is part of the EU and the EU is a member of the 'Quartet' charged with resolving the Israeli-Palestinian problem. Yet in 2004 Bush agreed that Israel could keep the illegal settlements in the West Bank thus completely screwing up the 'road map'. What was Blair's response this damaging unilateral act by a member of the Quartet? Nothing at all. Why? Because he did not wish to upset the US or Britain's dear friend Israel. Yuk.

William Garrett, Harrow,