Blair responsible for London Bombings
An influential think-tank said on Monday that backing the United States in Iraq put Britain more at risk from terrorist attacks, an accusation forcefully rejected by Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government. Security experts said the Iraq war had boosted recruitment and fund-raising for Al Qaeda, suspected of being behind London bombings on July 7 that killed 55 people. The report was issued as Britain’s interior minister, Charles Clarke, met opposition party leaders to seek a consensus in drawing up tougher anti-terror legislation, such as outlawing acts preparing or inciting acts of terrorism. The report from the respected Royal Institute of International Affairs said Britain had suffered by playing “pillion passenger” to Washington. “The UK is at particular risk because it is the closest ally of the United States,” said security experts Frank Gregory and Paul Wilkinson.