Ken Loach: terror policies lead to a downward spiral

international | miscellaneous | other press Wednesday August 10, 2005 13:04 by Dave - swp

Acclaimed film director Ken Loach spoke to Socialist Worker about the latest anti-terror proposals

Ken Loach: terror policies lead to a downward spiral
Acclaimed film director Ken Loach spoke to Socialist Worker about the latest anti-terror proposals:

“Tony Blair’s latest plans in attacking our rights are a continuation of the downward spiral that has been his foreign policy — where one bad thing leads on to another.

“He has set himself on a course where each twist makes the situation worse and prompts the next set of problems.

“Blair has already managed to alienate many people who have sympathy with or ties to the Middle East.

“And with each new twist he alienates more people, and pushes people into the extremes — because he is so extreme himself.

“Muslims are being targeted at the moment, and every measure that Blair takes makes the problem worse.

“I find it ridiculous that US president George Bush and Blair both parade their Christianity in the way they do.

“They make it clear that they base decisions on their faith and that it gives them certainty.

“Why isn’t Christianity in the dock rather than Islam? It has produced two of the words biggest extremists.

“Religion is a dangerous tool that is used as a motivator and as a scapegoat for people’s own ideas.”
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