Product Description

When London was hit by British suicide bombers, the secret was finally out. Under the noses of the British government, parliament, intelligence services and police, Britain has become the European hub for the promotion, recruitment and financing of Islamist terror and extremism. Terrorists have used it to plot, finance, recruit and train for atrocities throughout the world, and now also at home. Such is the scale of these operations that Britain is referred to as 'Londonistan' by anti-terrorist specialists abroad. How could this happen? In this ground-breaking analysis, Melanie Phillips interviews key politicians, Muslims, academics and intelligence experts. She uncovers a persistent state of denial by the British establishment both on the left and right. In universities, the historical context of Islamitic texts is no longer taught. 'Londonistan' has become a country within the country that is growing in strength. Its radical demands are being appeased by multiculturalism rather than challenged by common sense. Melanie Phillips compellingly argues that Britain should face up to the threat to its way of life. The picture she paints of modern Britain is a forceful warning not to subscribe to the false causes of religious radicalism that have misled us so far.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #119550 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 304 pages

Observer
'Explosive.'

Guardian
'Penetrating.’

Daily Telegraph
‘Well researched… finely written.’

Customer Reviews

Root Cause
Every terrorist atrocity is followed by the question "Why?". All too often, the answers provided by politicians and pundits are simply figments of their own imagination. A campaigner against poverty will claim that poverty causes terrorism; a fan of national self-determination will claim that the terrorists are "freedom fighters". In this book, Melanie Philips delves into the ideology of islamism (or islamo-fascism) and explores the total failure of the British chattering class to understand or resist the march of this ideology within Britain. Others, such as Craig Wynn and Robert Spencer, have explored islam more deeply, and former islamist Ed Hussain has provided an insider's guide to the process of islamist agit-prop in britain. However, Melanie's book must rank as by far the best guide to the mind-blowing passivity of the British State which has allowed London to become a hotbed of islamo-fascism and terrorist activity.

Damning attack on PC, multiculturalism and the human rights industry
This book describes how a mixture of government policies by successive Tory and Labour governments created a large and fierce fifth column of radical Muslim inside the UK's borders. The book points the finger of blame at four things. Firstly, is the human rights industry, which under the excuse of protecting human rights has enabled even very reasonable security and deportation measures to be struck down as alleged "human rights violations". Secondly, is the doctrine of multiculturalism, which forbids a frank discussion of the compatibility of Islam and liberal democracy as well as certain cultural practises like honour killings. Thirdly, is the collapse in Western cultural confidence engineered by the far left PC "elites", which makes radical Muslims view the UK as weak, decadent and deserving of conquest. Finally, is the way Israel is being viewed as a sacrificial lamb to appease radical Islam.

Phillips also show cases the peculiar alliance between the far left and radical Islam, exemplified by Ken Livingstone and George Galloway. she says that this alliance has led to two things, a growth in anti-Semitism and a vicious anti-Israel climate in the media and academia. She writes a spirited and extremely frank defence of Israel, and dispels a few myths in the process.

The book does not have any obvious weaknesses. Some readers may disagree with here views on Israel, even if they agree about the threat poses by radical Islam and the problems associated with multiculturalism. All in all, the book is a must read for anyone concerned about radical Islam and curious as to why our political elites fail to deal with it.

Read and think
On the whole extremely readable, but don't just nod in agreement. Understand her argument and see where she may be wrong or overstate. For instance, I agree that the blind support of Left Liberals for Palestinian terrorism whilst at the same time denouncing the Middle East's only democracy has done terrible harm. But on this point Melanie does rather go on. Generally though, it shows how Bush's 'War on Terror' needs to seen for what he intended, a war on the ideas that seek to destroy our way of life, rather than one of marching armies. And that it is the Left predominately that wants to endlessly posture and preen, to blame Bush for everything without addressing the real enemy in our midst. Is Islam a terror for us all? No, but as Melanie points out forcefully, by deploying crass indifference to those Muslims that do wish us harm, we terribly let down those that don't and we ultimately put ourselves in harms way.