From a European to a US Congressman:
Dear Congressman Peter King,
I heard your interview on the BBC 1pm radio news programme on 30 May 2006. Among
other things you expressed the view that the events of 9/11 meant that the USA
was more aware of the seriousness of the so-called "war" against terrorism than
Europeans who had not experienced terrorism on such a scale.
I assume, perhaps wrongly, that you must be aware of the terrorist attacks that
have taken place in different European countries over very many years, since
long before 9/11. Basque atrocities in Spain, bombs on the metro in Paris,
murders by the Red Brigade in Germany and nearly 20 years of terrorist murders
in Greece are some which immediately come to mind. But, above all, IRA bombings,
in Northern Ireland and mainland Britain, and assassinations ofBritish officials
serving in foreign countries, must be very familiar to you with your connections
with Noraid. I see from its website that Noraid accuses the British Government
of subjecting 50% of the population of Northern Ireland to terrorism and that
you are one of several Congressmen signing a letter sponsored by an organisation
which, in common with a great many other British people, I have found terrifying
for years. Like most Londoners I have had to wonder every time my children went
out whether today would be the day when their lives would be ended or damaged
for ever by some new IRA outrage. In many ways it was worse than the German
Blitz on London during the second world war, which I also experienced. At least
then we knew who our enemy was. One of the reasons for the warm sympathy felt
and expressed all over Europe for our American friends after 9/11 was that we
Europeans know from long and bitter experience how it feels to be the victims of
such a terrible attack. It's a pity that those Americans who earlier supported
the IRA and condoned its murders of innocent people in Ireland and Britain
couldn't feel the same understanding for its victims.
Congressman, please don't lecture me about terrorism.
Yours sincerely,
[JB]
London, UK
8 June 2006
Representative Pete King is a member of the House of Representatives from New York and Chairperson of the House Committee on Homeland Security