Spot the missing paragraph

Yesterday Gordon Brown wrote a column on terrorism in the Sun. Much of it was rather blah, as these things (not just his, but ministerial columns) often are.

However, alongside 300 words or so telling us that security is important (er, yes), there were two policy thoughts for the future. There was this:

So, alongside the national ID card scheme, our next step must be the introduction of biometrics in new passports and visas, and the screening of all passengers.

And this:

Besides targeting the terrorists themselves, we must win the battle for hearts and minds in their communities.....

So, as well as supporting our police, security services and armed forces in the front line of the war on terror at home and abroad, we also need to mobilise the power of argument and ideas to expose and defeat the ideology of hate.

This second point is rather vague, of course, but that is excusable. He's certainly not wrong. And it's encouraging to know he wants to make broader points than a reform of the Passports Agency.

However, there was a notable omission from the article.

Tony Blair believes that spreading democracy around the world is a vital part of our security policy. There is no mention of that in Mr Brown's article. He has a token reference to Iraq and Afghanistan, but the usual Blair point is missing.

Perhaps he ran out of space and had to cut the crucial paragraph. Or perhaps he left it out on purpose because he doesn't share the Blair view.

I think we should be told.

Comments

[Frank Schnittger]

What do you expect Daniel - he's not a neo-con. Even the neo-cons are going off that idea. It shows he's learnt something from Iraq and won't repeat the same mistake. Would you? I think we should be told!