For once, Trump is right... UK jihadis are our problem
IN the past two years, I can count on Captain Hook’s bad hand how many times I have agreed with Donald Trump.
Since coming to power, he has single-handedly brought mayhem, malice and madness to the once highly-respected Oval Office.
However, following his latest Twitter outburst, I found myself unusually agreeing with his thoughts.
At the weekend, Trump called on the UK to take back and put on trial British ISIS fighters who have been captured in Syria.
The President demanded Theresa May “step up and do the job”, as he asked other European leaders to do the same with more than 800 foreign jihadists being held by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces.
“The Caliphate is ready to fall, Trump wrote. “The alternative is not a good one in that we will be forced to release them.
“The US does not want to watch as these ISIS fighters permeate Europe, which is where they are expected to go. We do so much and spend so much.
“Time for others to step up and do the job that they are so capable of doing. We are pulling back after 100% Caliphate victory.”
Again Trump demonstrated his ineptitude at trying to bully European allies by threatening to release the jihadists if no action was taken, but the sentiment about taking care of our own is correct.
For far too long, Europe has relied on the States to solve what are effectively is its problems.
In response to Trump’s warning, EU countries said they would not be steamrollered into taking back citizens caught fighting for Islamic State just because he told them to.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said Britain would “not hesitate” to prevent the return of ISIS fighters to the UK.
“We have a range of tough measures to stop people who pose a serious threat from returning to the UK, including depriving them of their British citizenship or excluding them from the UK,” Javid said.
He added it was his priority to “ensure the safety and security of the UK” and that he won’t “let anything jeopardise this.”
France said it would assess each case on its merits, while Germany added it wouldn’t accept those returning without guarantees they can be taken into custody straight away.
Of course, no country should want such heinous thugs in their midsts. It is understandable, too, why so many say they deserve not one iota of fairness. After all, did they show the same fairness to those they slaughtered on the battlefield.
Ultimately though, ISIS is a global terror that requires a global response, it should not left to the countries in which they fought.
It is imperative these goons, no matter how deep our hatred towards them and their ideals, are dealt with to help prevent others in the UK being radicalised. British ISIS fighters should be brought back, held, questioned, put through due process and imprisoned.
The danger is that, if we turn our backs, their treatment could have significant consequences, becoming a recruiting tool for ISIS.
Perish the thought that other ticking timebombs in the UK become radicalised due to our inaction abroad.
The British are our responsibility, but those found guilty must be dealt with appropriately.
They are, quite simply, traitors. For too long we’ve seen too many given an easy ride, released back onto the streets, gifted all the benefits Britain affords its citizens.
The freedoms we hold so dear, and which these treasonous jihadists so bitterly rejected in their support of ISIS, should never be bestowed upon them again.
To those found guilty, life should mean life, and from there may they rot in hell.