New York: A British minister aspiring to higher office later this year will take aim at key elements of the Bush administration's policy on Monday, dismissing its phrase "war on terror" as only likely to encourage terrorists.
Speaking in New York, International Development Secretary Hilary Benn will dispute the notion that military and economic force alone can solve world problems and restate support for the International Criminal Court, shunned by Washington.
Excerpts of Benn's speech to the Center on International Cooperation think tank were released on Sunday by his office.
Benn attended weekend meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Washington, where he said the scandal over World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz's promotion of his girlfriend had damaged the institution.
After British Prime Minister Tony Blair resigns in the next few months after 10 years in power, Benn is seen as a contender for either deputy premier or foreign secretary if, as expected, Finance Minister Gordon Brown replaces Blair.
In the excerpts of his speech in New York, scene of the September 11 attacks in 2001, Benn contests the words "war on terror" to describe a policy launched by US President George W. Bush after those attacks. The excerpts issued in advance did not specifically mention US policy.
"In the UK, we do not use the phrase 'war on terror' because we can't win by military means alone, and because this isn't us against one organized enemy with a clear identity and coherent set of objectives," he says.
"What these (terrorist) groups want is to force their individual and narrow values on others, without dialogue, without debate, through violence. And by letting them feel part of something bigger, we give them strength."
Benn's speech appeared to reflect a shifting tide in British politics after the strongly pro-American policies of Blair, which antagonized left-wingers in his Labor Party.
Comments
0 comment