Taxman Features

Spot the terrorist!

19th October 2005

Since 7/7 our prime minister has been on a mission to rid the world of terrorism. He has updated the Terrorism Act with a new bill that is currently before the House of Commons. In it there is a modified definition of terrorism, one that Tony Blair has been trying to approve globally, and one that we, kind people of The Taxman, have summarised here for your reading pleasure.

"Terrorism means the use or threat of action where -

the action involves serious violence against a person or serious damage to property,

the action is designed to influence the government or an international governmental organisation or to intimidate the public,

the action is made for the purpose of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause."

In September 2001 four passenger aircraft were hijacked by suicide bombers and were used to commit serious violence against innocent people and cause serious damage to property. These actions were designed to influence the government and intimidate the public and were made for the purpose of advancing a political and religious cause.

In March 2003 George Bush and Tony Blair declared war on Iraq without the authority of the United Nations, the globally unified body established to uphold peace. This action involved serious violence against innocent people and caused serious damage to property. These actions were designed to influence an international governmental organisation and to intimidate the public and were made for the purpose of advancing a political cause.

Spot the act of terrorism.

It could be argued that the latter was also made for the purpose of advancing a religious cause, as demonstrated by George Bush in a conversation that was recently made public:

"I'm driven with a mission from God. God would tell me: 'George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq' - and I did."

Compare that statement to the one made by Mohammad Sidique Khan on why he carried out a suicide bomb attack in London:

"Our religion is Islam - obedience to the one true god, Allah, and following the footsteps of the final prophet and messenger Muhammad."

Spot the terrorist.