Bomb Plot

In an open letter, the 3 Muslim members of Britain's Parliament have blamed the country's policy in Iraq, and its failure to bring about a cease fire in Lebanon, for terrorist threats. While I disagree with Britain's Iraq policy, and believe that the Lebanese conflict is outside of Britain's control, Britain's foreign policy is not to blame for the terrorist attacks. The alleged plotters were apparently Pakistani nationals, or British nationals of Pakistani origin. Their only connection to Lebanon or Iraq is a Muslim heritage.

From comments to the Press, it appears that they have never been directly harmed by British foreign policy. Their grievance is ideological. Their planned action goes beyond any reasonable action given their concerns. This is globalization and the wealth of nations at its worst. Privileged citizens of wealthy countries get more upset about the effect of their governments' policies in foreign countries than their own.

If the press is correct, and these terrorists were going to blow up planes over two countries they had never visited, the problem is not with Britain's foreign policy but how wealthy countries assimilate marginalized groups.