Britain in December 2003

JihadWatch:

"Foreign Office minister Denis MacShane today made a fresh apology for remarks he planned to make about British Muslims but was later forced to tone down." So says The Scotsman.

"In an article for his local paper the Sheffield Star, the Rotherham MP said he 'could have chosen some of his words more carefully'.

"Mr MacShane was forced to tone down a speech in his constituency last month in which he had been planning to urge British Muslims to choose between the 'British way' of democratic dialogue and the way of Islamic terrorism.

"The speech, which was distributed by his office in advance, sparked outrage and Mr MacShane amended the offending passage before delivering it, adding remarks to welcome the condemnation of terrorism by British Muslim leaders.

"Today he told the paper: 'In that report, I acknowledged that the Muslim community and their local and national representatives were as appalled as any other at the terrible terrorists atrocity in Istanbul 10 days ago.

"'However, I accept that I could have chosen some of my words more carefully, and I apologise to anyone who felt that I suggested that British Muslims sympathise with such terrorist actions. That was certainly not my intent."

Looks like MacShane should have gone ahead with his original remarks instead of playing the political correctness card.

Muslims "Must Choose the British Way - Or Terrorism"

Pity poor Denis - attacked for saying the right thing too soon