The Blog

Buy Bombs, Not Therapy

10:39 AM, Jun 3, 2008 • By JAIME SNEIDER
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The Home Office in Britain has allocated $25 million for therapy for Islamic extremists, and says counseling is more suitable than criminal charges for those who belong to violent hate-groups.

The central element of the Home Office plan is a new national "deradicalisation" programme that would persuade converts to violent and extremist causes to change their views.

Controversially, the new plan makes clear that people who fall under the influence of violent organisations will not automatically face prosecution.

Instead, the presumption should be that some such individuals would face therapy and counselling from community groups instead of criminal charges.

The notion that if Osama Bin Laden were on a head-doctor's couch and not in a cave, another 9/11 could be averted reflects deeply flawed reasoning. When he becomes Prime Minister, David Cameron should urge Parliament to divert these funds to buy bombs, not therapy. After all, fundamentalists are not insane-they just happen to be very wrong and extremely dangerous.

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