SEPTEMBER was interesting for Western-Muslim relations.
For just a few days the myths of 9/11 tended to overshadow all else. The other ‘big one’ was the Palestinian bid for UN membership.
One speculated over whether Labour Party Conference delegates discussing Palestine would avoid outright hostility to Israel (Miliband being Jewish). In the event they soft-pedalled.
Customary acts of murder and mayhem continued throughout the month.
The turban-bomb killing of Rabbani, the Afghan leader, proved how hard it is to talk with the Taliban.
There were calm, clear political statements from US presidential hopeful Ron Paul, who is always worth listening to.
He warned against any planned US aggression towards Iran.
Tony Blair (BBC Today interview) said: “The war would only end when we defeat the ideology” and that Muslims are not radicalised by war against terrorism, but because “they believe in their philosophy” and anyone who believes they would renounce their present violence is guilty of “extreme naivety”.
Was he telling it as it is, 10 years too late, without mention of Israel?
Still, one bright spot – there’s talk of changing the Zambian national anthem to Oh, Mister Porter!
STEPHEN WARD, Tudor Close, Oxford
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