Confessions of a Terrorist by Professor Richard Jackson

Author:Professor Richard Jackson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zed Books
Published: 2015-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Hopefully, they’ve forgotten about it, although that seems unlikely. It will be highly embarrassing to publicise some of these deals, as I’m sure you’re aware. GH

M: [inaudible]

P: —No, no… listen to me… the British government must announce a full public inquiry into British involvement in torture… and provide lawyers and human rights groups with any and all information relevant to the prosecution of those American agents who have engaged in torture over the past ten years… Britain will also need to announce that it will limit its cooperation with American intelligence because of its long and well-known involvement in torture…

Michael, this is important… non-negotiable, in fact. Your government must immediately announce the payment of compensation to Iraqi and Afghan civilians killed by British forces and make a public apology for its role in the war on terror. In addition, it must… must… erect a memorial to stand in London to the victims of British violence in Iraq and Afghanistan…

Do you need me to go on, Michael? Are you starting to get the idea?

M: Yes, Professor, I hear what you’re saying… although there is simply no way the British government will accede to any of your demands while you are holding one of its people hostage. They don’t take kindly to things like that. […] As you well know, no government can be seen to give in to the demands of terrorists. We never gave any concession in exchange for hostages in Iraq, and we won’t do it on home soil… And I am also bound to say that this is probably not the best time to be engaging in a terrorist campaign. Everyone is preoccupied with other things… like the recession—

P: —No, no, no! You are wrong about this. You are forgetting how the media responds to anything related to terrorism. They are obsessed with it. An al-Qaeda operative sneezes and they give it wall-to-wall coverage for a week… experts are wheeled out… COBRA is convened… the president of America calls your prime minister. […] No, no, no… You will see, my friend… our actions will shake the whole world… even if there is a recession. The whole world loves a good terrorism story—

M: —Be that as it may, Professor, what I don’t understand is why you didn’t do this a few years ago when public dissatisfaction with foreign military adventures was much higher… in 2005… or 2006? When there was real talk of ending Britain’s involvement in the war on terror?

P: Enta ‘abeet ya akh Mikel?36 Can you not see how the world is changing… what a historical moment this is? Think of all the protests… the, the… the occupations… the, the… the ferment taking place all over the world. This is not a, a, a ‘Spring’… it is a tidal wave! But these countries… these mass movements… will require real independence to succeed. They will need to be free from foreign domination… and pressure… all that continual interference. I think the next few years will be crucial… they will change everything.

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