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UK should talk to al-Qaeda, says former head of MI5 | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The British government should be "reaching out" to al-Qaeda, the former head of MI5 has suggested. | The British government should be "reaching out" to al-Qaeda, the former head of MI5 has suggested. |
Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller said she believed the "war on terror" was not winnable in a military sense. | Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller said she believed the "war on terror" was not winnable in a military sense. |
"It's always better to talk to the people who are attacking you than attacking them, if you can," she said. | "It's always better to talk to the people who are attacking you than attacking them, if you can," she said. |
However, a former CIA director says the use of unmanned drone aircraft to target al-Qaeda leaders is turning the conflict. | However, a former CIA director says the use of unmanned drone aircraft to target al-Qaeda leaders is turning the conflict. |
In her first television interview, Baroness Manningham-Buller reflects on the UK's intelligence services' role in tackling home-grown terror plots supported or encouraged by al-Qaeda. | In her first television interview, Baroness Manningham-Buller reflects on the UK's intelligence services' role in tackling home-grown terror plots supported or encouraged by al-Qaeda. |
She suggests a safer future with fewer attacks is achievable. | She suggests a safer future with fewer attacks is achievable. |
"If we can get to a state where there are fewer attacks, less lethal attacks, fewer young people being drawn into this, less causes - resolution of the Palestinian question, less impetus for this activity, I think we can get to a stage where the threat is thus reduced," she told Peter Taylor for the BBC Two series, The Secret War on Terror. | "If we can get to a state where there are fewer attacks, less lethal attacks, fewer young people being drawn into this, less causes - resolution of the Palestinian question, less impetus for this activity, I think we can get to a stage where the threat is thus reduced," she told Peter Taylor for the BBC Two series, The Secret War on Terror. |
The baroness said she hoped people were trying to talk to "people on the edges of al-Qaeda". | The baroness said she hoped people were trying to talk to "people on the edges of al-Qaeda". |
"There won't be a Waterloo or an El-Alamein," she added. | "There won't be a Waterloo or an El-Alamein," she added. |
Critics of the "war on terror" have argued that the torture of terror suspects and the continuing use of Guantanamo Bay for detainees has led to a propaganda victory for al-Qaeda. | Critics of the "war on terror" have argued that the torture of terror suspects and the continuing use of Guantanamo Bay for detainees has led to a propaganda victory for al-Qaeda. |
Baroness Manningham-Buller says hearts and minds are critical in combating terrorism. | Baroness Manningham-Buller says hearts and minds are critical in combating terrorism. |
"I think making sure we hold to our values, our ethical standards, our laws, and are not tempted to go down a route which others, in my view have made the profound mistake of going down, means in the longer run we'll have a chance from that moral authority of addressing some of the underlying causes of these problems," she said. | "I think making sure we hold to our values, our ethical standards, our laws, and are not tempted to go down a route which others, in my view have made the profound mistake of going down, means in the longer run we'll have a chance from that moral authority of addressing some of the underlying causes of these problems," she said. |
Drone attacks | Drone attacks |
Meanwhile, a former CIA chief told the programme that the increasing use of pilotless aircraft armed with weapons is helping the US win the fight against terrorism. | Meanwhile, a former CIA chief told the programme that the increasing use of pilotless aircraft armed with weapons is helping the US win the fight against terrorism. |
Gen Michael Hayden was director of the CIA until 2009 and in a rare interview he described the secretive CIA drone operation as: "The best game in town. The one that's shifted the battlefield in our favour... | Gen Michael Hayden was director of the CIA until 2009 and in a rare interview he described the secretive CIA drone operation as: "The best game in town. The one that's shifted the battlefield in our favour... |
"It has been a very strong significant force in making the al-Qaeda senior leadership spend most of their waking moments worrying about their survival, rather than threatening yours or mine. And that is a war-winning effort." | "It has been a very strong significant force in making the al-Qaeda senior leadership spend most of their waking moments worrying about their survival, rather than threatening yours or mine. And that is a war-winning effort." |
The CIA's programme has been criticised as "state-sponsored assassination" but Gen Hayden denies they are unlawful assassinations. | The CIA's programme has been criticised as "state-sponsored assassination" but Gen Hayden denies they are unlawful assassinations. |
"In the traditional conduct of war and that's the punchline here, this is a war, you asked the question 'Aren't these assassinations?'. No they're not assassinations," he said. | "In the traditional conduct of war and that's the punchline here, this is a war, you asked the question 'Aren't these assassinations?'. No they're not assassinations," he said. |
"This is armed conflict, this is action against opposing armed enemy force, this is an inherent right of the American state to self-defence." | "This is armed conflict, this is action against opposing armed enemy force, this is an inherent right of the American state to self-defence." |
Peter Taylor will report for BBC Two's The Secret War on Terror on Monday, 21 March, at 2100 GMT. Catch up afterwards on BBC iPlayer. | Peter Taylor will report for BBC Two's The Secret War on Terror on Monday, 21 March, at 2100 GMT. Catch up afterwards on BBC iPlayer. |
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