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MANY PEOPLE in Britain did not and do not support the country's engagement in Iraq, especially after it turned out the weapons of mass destruction that were the supposed reason for our entry into the war did not exist.
But most people manage to draw a distinction between support for the conflict itself, from which Britain has almost entirely extricated itself, and for the soldiers who were sent to fight there, as well as in Afghanistan.
The trouble with the Muslim demonstrators in Luton who turned out yesterday to heckle and abuse members of the Royal Anglian regiment who had returned home from their posting is that they conflated opposition to the conflict with contempt for the soldiers. It was that which upset people who had turned out to cheer the returning troops.
We must defend the democratic right of people to demonstrate against policies of which they do not approve. Granted, too, there were few demonstrators.
But the incident was nonetheless significant. As we report today, there appears to be a link between the protesters and an extremist group, the London School of Sharia. Such small-scale organisations may represent more general disaffection among radical Muslims.
Plainly, attempts by the Government to win hearts and minds in the Islamic community and undermine radicals have not been entirely successful. They need reconsidering.
The parades by returning troops from Iraq and Afghanistan were initiated by the Prime Minister as a way of shoring up support for Britain's military engagements in the Middle East. It has worked in part — witness those who turned out to support the troops — but the unintended effect has been to expose divisions in some areas between extremist Muslims and the rest of society. Ministers have yet to address that troubling picture convincingly.
Olympic vision
The view that we publish today of London's Olympic stadium highlights the impressive progress being made towards creating the 2012 Olympic park.
The installation of the stadium's seating offers a clear picture of a venue rapidly taking shape. Londoners rightly have concerns about the burgeoning Olympic budget, but those should not obscure the Olympic Delivery Authority's steady progress.
Work on the site is on schedule, and far ahead of where, for example, Athens was at the equivalent point in the run-up to the 2004 Games.
That progress should act as an added spur to those at City Hall and elsewhere now planning the legacy of the Olympic venues. The stadium will not now be used by a football club, as originally mooted, which is a missed opportunity.
But there are ample opportunities to create a real legacy elsewhere provided that is given a high enough priority and that it gets private as well as public funding. The Mayor, Boris Johnson, is today in Cannes trying to persuade foreign businesses to locate in London; now we need a drive with real imagination from the newly created Olympic Park Legacy Company to ensure that business invests to secure the legacy of the venues and the planned city academy.
Superpark
THE MAYOR'S London Plan calls for the creation of joined-up green spaces, and if proposals for a “superpark” for the River Wandle, go ahead, south London suburbs will get 13 miles-worth. This bold proposal would link a patchwork of open spaces along the river with new wildlife areas and riverside walks, straddling four boroughs.
It would help sustain many species, not least the threatened water vole. And at 8,000 acres it would be almost 23 times the size of Hyde Park.
Our idea of London's green spaces is dominated by the great and royal parks. The Wandle park, however, would help green the suburbs and enhance human habitat as well as that of London's wildlife.
Reader views (1)
It now turns out that one of the demonstrators actualy works in Luton Airport,loading baggage onto the Planes,I for one will not be using Luton.
- David., Chertsey.UK., 12/03/2009 10:59
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