Secret Affairs: Britain's Collusion with Radical Islam

(Paperback, Main - Re-issue)

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The updated edition of Secret Affairs covers the momentous events of the past year in the Middle East and at home in the UK. It reveals the unreported attempts by Britain to cultivate relations with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt after the fall of Mubarak, the military intervention on the side of Libyan rebel forces which include pro-al-Qaeda elements, and the ongoing reliance on the region's ultimate fundamentalist state, Saudi Arabia, to safeguard its interest in the Middle East.

It illuminates path of Salman Abedi, the bomber who attacked Manchester in May 2017, and his terror network: how he fought in Libya in 2011 as part of a group of fighters which the UK allowed to leave the country to go and battle against Gadafi to topple him. Abedi's father, also one of the group who left Manchester with the blessing of the UK, also fought in Libya at this time with an Islamist group that was armed and financed by Qatar. Qatar poured money into the opposition forces at this time at the specific request and with the approval of the UK. They armed mainly Islamist groups and many of the weapons they delivered were sent to jihadi groups in Syria after Gadafi was overthrown, stoking the Islamist/jihadi cause there.

In this ground-breaking book, Mark Curtis reveals the covert history of British collusion with radical Islamic and terrorist groups. Secret Affairs shows how governments since the 1940s have connived with militant forces to control oil resources and overthrow governments. The story of how Britain has helped nurture the rise of global terrorism has never been told.

Reviews

As much of history is appropriated by the media and we are beckoned into an era of endless war, this superb book could not be more timely. Sensational in the best sense, it examines the darkest corners of the imperial past to reveal the truth behind today's news -- John Pilger
Unearthing this largely hidden history is a contribution of the highest significance, and could hardly be more timely. -- Noam Chomsky
This valuable and important book by Mark Curtis, the result of painstaking and extensive research into declassified files on British policy towards the Islamic world over the last half century, presents a far more accurate and balanced picture than the shallow simplicities fed by Bushs so-called war on terror. It shows in extensive detail how Britain and the US have repeatedly sided with radical Islamic forces in the Middle East and elsewhere as counterweights to check the rise of nationalism, as shock troops to bring about pro-Western regime change, and as proxies to fight wars against the Wests enemies. There is no war between civilizations (Bush), no Manichaean struggle between the good and evil forces of Islam (Blair), rather the ever-present serpentine thread of shifting alliances to maintain British control of key energy resources and Britains place in a pro-Western global financial order centred on Saudi Arabia. This is a fascinating account which can change outlooks and deepen comprehension of a hugely misunderstood drama, and it should be compelling reading before any further Middle East wars are set in train. -- Michael Meacher, MP
Secret Affairs deserves to become a key reference point in the debate over terrorism and Middle East policy * Metro *
a work of great importance and sobering conclusions * Tribune *
enthralling, encyclopedic and damning * Chartist *
Gripping stuff * Sunday Business Post *
In a world full of Western government-created propaganda, Secret Affairs is absolutely essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand the reality of Britain foreign policy. -- Ian Sinclair * Morning Star *

Author Bio

Mark Curtis is an author, journalist and consultant: his previous books include Web of Deceit and Unpeople. He is a former Research Fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) and was until recently Director of the World Development Movement. He has worked in the field of international development for fourteen years, including as Head of Global Advocacy and Policy at Christian Aid and Head of Policy at ActionAid. Serpent's tail published the previous edition [9781846687631].