Kevin Dowling
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British Muslims are actively supporting the Taliban and al Qaida in attacks on UK soldiers, the former commander of Britain’s forces in Afghanistan said today.
Brigadier Ed Butler, 46, claimed his troops also uncovered evidence that militant Islamic groups in Helmand Province are suspected of assisting terrorist plots in the UK.
Earlier this year suspicions were raised that the Taliban were recruiting an increasing number of fighters from Britain after RAF experts overheard secret transmissions spoken in broad Midlands and Yorkshire accents.
At the end of the week that saw the toll of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan reach 114, Brig Butler said a growing number of British-born Muslims were assisting the Taliban.
He said: “There are British passport holders who live in the UK who are being found in places like Kandahar.
“There is a link between Kandahar and urban conurbations in the UK. This is something the military understands, but the British public does not.”
Brig Butler, who led British troops in Helmand Province for six months and has served in conflict zones including the Balkans, Iraq, Africa and Northern Ireland, described the operation in Helmand as “the most challenging mission I have done in my career”.
Widely regarded as one of the best British officers of his generation, he announced his decision to retire from the Army earlier this year.
Despite claims his premature retirement was in protest at the Government’s under-funding of the armed forces, Brig Butler insisted his decision to step down was prompted by the desire to spend more time with his family.
He is currently Commander of Joint Force Operations based at Northwood, near London, and will formally leave the Army next year.
British troops have been warned to expect to be toiling through the desert plains and mountain passes of Afghanistan for years to come because of the resurgent Taliban.
In the last two months 17 British soldiers have been killed in the country but politicians and commanders alike agree that there can be no early exit for UK forces.
The British ambassador Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles even suggested last year that a British presence may be needed in the country for another 30 years - although he hastily clarified his remarks to make clear that he was not necessarily talking about a full-scale military force.
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do what you would to any citizien irrespective of religion but don't harp on about generalities.As a British citizien there are rights and should be resposibilities.Collections made esp. during ramadan tend to go and feed the orphans and destitute for which see Blair et al but THIS IS NO JUSTIFCN
RIMA, Sheffield, U.K
Surely if British citizens are aiding and abetting a people against whom British troops are fighting, isn't that treason and punishable by execution?
Anthony Whitmarsh, Melbourne, Australia
Ah, isn't "diversity" marvellous!
Brian Clacey, Croydon, UK
The scary thing the spoken Muslims where born in UK. Slightly educated with No clear aspirations or hardship comparisons to make not allowed to mix with the people that gave their parents a new life it stems from bad practices this thinking is taught from an Early age, Bradford etc! Pete(ex para)
pete jones, london, uk
John Winsome
Im of Finnish decent if it were not for colonialism, many countries practiced it.. British strength at the time..Hmm...would i be using spanish or dutch now...or would all the others be in the stone age and speaking finnish
which i am very proud to be..Finnish/Canadian that is
mike, sudbury, canada
If British muslims are aiding then charge them with treason, don't pussyfoot around come down hard on them.
Stephen, St. Ives, England
Is this not the direct result of British colonialism and meddling in other nation's affairs. All UK Muslims are 'as British as Finchley'. How they choose to act is up to them. Loyalty to UK nation and crown has always has an element of coersion to it -the Scots, Irish and Welsh were thus subjugated
John Windsom, Ipswich, UK
Looks like GB is waking up. had your politicans as ours (germany) used their brains, they could see this al coming.
400after Oliver Cromwell there will be a new civil war in GB. The soldiers now in Afghanistan are your biggest hope. They will return and they will be the ones to act when its time.
tom, berlin, germany
T. Andre, London.. The Foreign Legion (in which I served in the 80's) is part of Nato and an ally of Britain. Brits (and other nationalities) that join up mainly do so as an adventure, and are still patriotic towards their own country. No indigenous Brit in the legion would fight against Britain.
Bob, London,
Britain sending its military to Afghanistan to kill religious extremists is equivalent to China sending helicopter gunships to England to kill Catholics.
Pete Loud, Milton Keynes, UK
We have a civil war being played out in a third country. Slowly it will spread back to the UK. Enoch Powell was denounced as a racist. He was a visionary. He foresaw the social problems associated with immigration.
ivan, bolton, uk
Doubt this will get a mention on the BBC
Chris, Woodbridge, England
No,I cannot believe that these peace loving people that NuLabour lets in and the BBC loves can do anything like this,you are racist for printing srories like this and should be prosecuted
mr barnett, schafhausen, zimbabwe
It's only a matter of time before the next atrocity in this country. The polititians will line up to condemn it; the immans will say it''s nothing to do with true Islam; and the cemetaries will fill up. It will happen. And there's not a politician in the land who will do a thing to stop it.
Raymond, somerset,
What is so strange about it ? A Muslim will anyday fight for other Muslim against the Non-Muslim and care least for anything else.That's why the war aginst Terrorism is so tough and unrelenting. I am sure Muslims in USA also fund the Taliban.
Bhaskar Gollapudi, London, UK
Does the death penalty still apply in cases of treason? If so, it should be used on any person who takes up arms against his own countrymen. It doesn't matter which group this might offend.
Religion must never come before loyalty to the State.
leila , manchester, uk
With no border controls, these individuals will be welcomed back with their friends, as they are part of the NULAB rotten borough system helping keep NULAB in Power. A guaranteed constituency. Oh yes one started under Mrs T who dismantled border controls
Dave, Chorley,
Muslim immigration must be stopped now, for reasons outlined in this story.
If Pakistan falls apart, expect multi-millions seeking asylum in the UK...and Nu Labor will fling open the doors.
JEFF SANDERS, Cambridge,
It is beyond me why British citizens who fight against British troops - regardless of where in the world - are not immediately charged with high treason. Beyond me.
John F, London,
Nothing will happen. This will be blamed on their "disaffection" or British foreign policy. Those who continue to speak out will be branded "islamophobes," and ignored. If most muslims were white, however, their ideology would be condemned as racist and anti-semitic. We're doomed.
Nick, Rotherham, UK
These peple are Muslims,my friends.Nothing will be done to them.They are free to come and go as they please.
ron, toronto,
Skip the outrage, the problem is the pursuit of wasting wars that can have no positive outcome and are hugely counterproductive in terms of simple stability. Is this too hard to understand, or do you just prefer self-delusion?
tarquinis, Seattle, USA
"Name and shame these people. If they want to fight for another country, take their UK passports of them and deport them !!"
AGREE, goes for Brits that serve with the Foreign Legion or US forces, and South Africans, Figdians and Gurkhas etc which Britain now relies on to fight its wars
T. Andre, London,
Perhaps the EU should implement a standard for immigration equal to that of the Arabian countries wherein you are allowed to settle but not ever take on the host country's nationality (nor your children etc) and if a criminal act occurs you are repatriated to your country of origin. case solved.
richard, Mazeres, France
Why on earth are we stupid enough to allow people who are fighting our troops in Afghanistan to come back to this Country. Deport them or Jail them upon their return. There should be no place in this Country for traitors and either they are 100% for us or against us.
alex, london, uk
If these British Muslims are indeed "British Citizens", then if they are captured they MUST be charged with High Treason!
If they are not actual citizens, then if identified they must never be allowed to set foot in the UK again.
Douglas Newell, Saltcoats, UK
I know many people who have fought against the Taliban in Afghanistan. They say that they used to hear local accents shouting across to them. These were so called "British" muslims fighting against the host nation who gave them freedom.
Ken, Sheffield, UK
Name and shame these people. If they want to fight for another country, take their UK passports of them and deport them !!
Brian Wilson, Edinburgh,
To paraphrase Chairman Mao, "it aint over till the guerrillas win".
Phil Ishmael, Liverpool,
Their British passports and Nationality should be immediately revoked and they should be tried in their absence for treason. Lets see how long they survive without state benefits and free council housing and medical care. Not so cushy in Kandahar is it?
Lucas, Herts., uk
It is not time to become "old" Europeans and turn on Muslims in general. Muslims in general are decent people, like all religous groups. Amongst them are some pure filth, as in all religous groups and indeed, all groups of any kind.
It is time to name and examine the actions of individuals.
Mike, Newmarket, UK
British Muslims have always supported and funded violence and terrorism in Kashmir. Thousands of innocent people - Muslims and non-Muslims - have lost their lives as a direct result of these donations. Money is still collected in every UK Muslim corner shop and mosque: what does it actually pay for?
Ramaswamy, Brighton, United Kingdom
Many Muslims are loyal to Islam first. The nation where they enjoy all the facilities comes down the line.
Most Muslims, who immigrated to Britain, knew about Britain and came for a better life.
Brig Butler is confirming strange but true reality! Time to rethink on immigration of Muslims!
Krishna R. Kumar, Udupi, India