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UK facing '15-year terror threat' Terror fight 'may take 15 years'
(about 2 hours later)
The battle against the terror threat posed to the UK could last for 15 years, the new security minister has told the Sunday Telegraph. The battle to deal with radicalisation in the fight against terrorism could take up to 15 years to achieve, says the UK's new security minister.
Former navy chief Admiral Sir Alan West said the UK was fighting a "disparate core" of people, primarily based abroad, who were racist and bigoted. Former navy chief Admiral Sir Alan West was speaking to the Sunday Telegraph in his first interview since being appointed by Gordon Brown.
He urged people to be "a little bit un-British" by "snitching" and telling the authorities of any threats. He said the country was up against a "disparate core" of "racist" people - often based abroad - who wanted power.
He added that he "hated" the expression "war on terror". And he urged people to be "un-British" by "snitching" to the authorities.
"It's not like a war in that sense at all. It demeans the value of a war and it demeans the value of a lot of things," he said. Sir Alan added that he "hated" the expression "war on terror", saying it was "totally wrong" for the current situation.
"It's not like a war in that sense at all. It demeans the value of a war and it demeans the value of a lot of things," he told the paper.
The people we are talking about are trying to destroy our entire way of life Admiral Sir Alan WestSecurity ministerThe people we are talking about are trying to destroy our entire way of life Admiral Sir Alan WestSecurity minister
Sir Alan, who was appointed by Gordon Brown last week, described those threatening Britain as "a disparate core of people - based abroad primarily - whom I'm afraid are racist, they're bigoted, they seek power, they're avaricious in money terms and they talk of the caliphate." He said the new prime minister had asked him to help "sort out" the government's response to the terror threat, when he appointed him last week.
He added: "I don't like the fact that we talk about 'the Muslim community' and this sort of thing. "We are not getting our message across properly," he added.
The most important aspect of countering the terror threat was prevention, he said, which the newspaper said referred to dealing with the radicalisation of young Muslims.
Assessing the threat to the UK as having grown, he said: "This is not a quick thing. I believe it will take 10 to 15 years.
"But I think it can be done as long as we as a nation apply ourselves to it and it's done across the board."
'Muslim community'
Sir Alan described those threatening Britain as "a disparate core of people - based abroad primarily - whom I'm afraid are racist, they're bigoted, they seek power, they're avaricious in money terms and they talk of the caliphate."
The term caliphate generally refers to the dream of unified Islamic rule, with Sharia law applying to all.
Sir Alan also disagreed with the use of general phrases such as "the Muslim community".
"I have a lot of Muslim friends and they see themselves as British. We've got to be very careful. The threat is to our British way of life and all of our British people.""I have a lot of Muslim friends and they see themselves as British. We've got to be very careful. The threat is to our British way of life and all of our British people."
He added: "Britishness does not normally involve snitching or talking about someone.He added: "Britishness does not normally involve snitching or talking about someone.
"I'm afraid, in this situation, anyone who's got any information should say something because the people we are talking about are trying to destroy our entire way of life.""I'm afraid, in this situation, anyone who's got any information should say something because the people we are talking about are trying to destroy our entire way of life."
Assessing the threat to the UK as greater than ever, he said: "This is not a quick thing.
"I believe it will take 10 to 15 years. But I think it can be done as long as we as a nation apply ourselves to it and it's done across the board."
His comments come the day after the second anniversary of the 7 July suicide bombings in London, and in the wake of the recent raised state of terror alert in the UK.His comments come the day after the second anniversary of the 7 July suicide bombings in London, and in the wake of the recent raised state of terror alert in the UK.
On Saturday, the Muslim Council of Britain issued a statement telling Muslims it was their "Islamic duty" to co-operate with the police to ensure Britain's safety.On Saturday, the Muslim Council of Britain issued a statement telling Muslims it was their "Islamic duty" to co-operate with the police to ensure Britain's safety.
It was agreed at a meeting in London held by the MCB and attended by more than 200 people, including imams, community activists and police representatives.It was agreed at a meeting in London held by the MCB and attended by more than 200 people, including imams, community activists and police representatives.