It is not easy to fathom the mind of a terrorist. It is even harder to figure out the motive of a militant who targets his own people: what gives rise to so much hatred? But that is the critical question raised by the July 7 bombings in London. And to prevent another tragedy, it is important to find the right answer.
Many Britons are struggling to understand how four young Muslim men who grew up in their midst could have become the suicide bombers who killed at least 56 and injured more than 700 of their fellow citizens. They are also wondering how many other potential homegrown extremists are out there.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Tony Blair met a group of British Muslim leaders to appeal for their help in rooting out radical Islamists who may be ready to strike again. He told them it was their collective responsibility to confront the 'evil ideology' of Muslim extremists.
Mr Blair's approach, alas, is too crude. While wanton killings in the name of their religion ought to prompt intense soul-searching within the Muslim community, it is disingenuous for Mr Blair to pin all the blame on Islamist fanatics. The British government should give more thought to the root causes of extremism.
A poll in The Guardian newspaper published just before Mr Blair's meeting with the Muslim leaders showed that two-thirds of his compatriots think the London bombings are connected to Britain's decision to participate in the US-led invasion of Iraq. Moreover, a report released on Monday by the highly respected Royal Institute of International Affairs said Britain is at particular risk of terrorist attacks because 'it is the closest ally of the United States'.
The Blair administration emphatically denies any link between the London terror and the war in Iraq, arguing that al-Qaeda operatives have been active around the world well before the 2003 invasion. This is true. But it is fooling itself if it believes all the negative news coming out of Iraq has had no effect on Muslim sensibilities, especially among hot-blooded youngsters.
