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Fri 29/10/2010 16:25

Dear colleague,

Please find attached this week’s News Summary. The weekly summary is intended to provide
background information to topical news stories and issues that may resonate in communities. The
weekly summary also includes links to interesting news articles that people may wish to circulate
further.

This week’s summary includes:

 Speech by the Chief of MI6

 Progress in Afghanistan is vital to our National Security
 The Home Secretary’s visit to Pakistan

We encourage you to share this unrestricted document with your contacts.

As ever we would appreciate your feedback on the format, content and timing of the News
Summary as well as suggestions on issues you would like it to cover. Please email
ricu@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk with comments or if you would like to subscribe.

Kind regards,

Naomi

Naomi Line
Strategic Communications Advisor, News Co-ordination Team
RICU (Research, Information and Communications Unit)
Office for Security and Counter Terrorism
Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF
Tel: 0207 035 0236

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Weekly News Summary

Friday 29th October 2010

Key Issues
Chief of MI6 says ‘no single reason for the terrorist phenomenon’

In his first public speech as head of MI6, Sir John Sawers spoke at length about the work of the Secret
Service and its role in fighting terrorism to the Society of Editors conference on Thursday. He focussed on
the fight against al-Qaeda and combating cyber terrorism, saying that there was no single reason for the
current terrorist phenomenon. As an explanation of this statement he said:

"Some blame political issues like Palestine or Kashmir or Iraq. Others cite economic disadvantage,
distortions of the Islamic faith, male supremacy, the lack of normal checks and balances in some countries.
There are many theories. I’ve worked a lot in the Islamic World. I agree with those who say we need to be
steady and stand by our friends... It’s not just the border areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Al-Qaeda
affiliates in Yemen, Somalia and North Africa pose real threats to the UK. From his remote base in Yemen,
Al-Qaeda leader and US national Anwar al-Awlaki, broadcasts propaganda and terrorist instruction in fluent
English, over the internet”.

Key Points

This is the first public speech given by a serving Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service.
The Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, operates abroad, dealing with threats overseas and gathering
intelligence mainly from human sources.
The Security Service, MI5, works here in the UK, protecting the homeland from terrorist attack and
other threats.
Over a third of SIS resources are directed against international terrorism. It’s the largest single area
of SIS’s work.

Associated articles:
The Independent – MI6 Chief speaks up for secrecy

Progress in Afghanistan is a vital to our national security

On Wednesday, William Hague the Foreign Secretary presented his first quarterly report on Afghanistan to
Parliament, informing the House of Commons of progress made so far towards the UK’s objectives in the
country. He said that it "remains vital to our national security that Afghanistan be able to maintain its own
security to prevent al-Qaeda from returning”. He highlighted progress in Afghanistan as one of the top
priorities for the UK’s foreign policy and confirmed the UK’s support of President Karzai’s continued efforts
in working towards a political settlement.

Key Points
This is the first of the quarterly reports on Afghanistan that the Prime Minister announced in his
statement to the House on 14 June and is the Government’s assessment of progress towards UK
objectives in Afghanistan.
This report represents the combined assessment of the FCO, MoD and DfID and the next quarterly
report will be delivered by the Secretary of State for Defence in the New Year.
The Prime Minister will attend the NATO Summit in Lisbon on 19 November, when the Government
expects NATO to agree the process of transferring lead responsibility for security across
Afghanistan to the Afghan Security Forces by the end of 2014.

Associated article:
Foreign Office website – Click here to read the full statement

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The UK and Pakistan must continue to work together in the fight against terror

This week Theresa May the Home Secretary visited Pakistan for the first time as Secretary of State,
attending meetings with the President, Prime Minister and the Interior Minister. On Monday the Home
Secretary addressed a press conference in Islamabad alongside Interior Minister Rehman Malik, where she
described how the UK and Pakistan continue to work together in the fight against terror: “There is mutual
benefit in working together in the fight against terror. This is the threat that both our countries face. Pakistan
has made enormous sacrifices as a result of terrorism in Pakistan and we are very conscious of that. So
this is something we need to fight for both our countries’ sake.”

Interior Minister Malik added that there was “total co-operation” between intelligence agencies over any
threats. He said: “The world has become a global village, Terrorists sitting in Karachi will be sitting in UK
tomorrow and the next morning, he will be in New York. International intelligence agencies are now working
in total co-operation to avert any such incident if it is reported.”

After meeting with the Home Secretary on Monday, Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani said that despite
daunting challenges Pakistan would continue to fight the menace of terrorism for the sake of peace and
prosperity of the world.

Associated articles:
The Pakistan Daily Mail - Pakistan and Britain share a common stance
Please click here to read the Home Secretary’s article in the Daily Jang

Calls for an over-haul of anti-terror measures at airports

On Wednesday the Guardian reported that British Aviation Authority (BAA) the UK's largest airport owner is
backing calls for an overhaul of Britain's aviation security regime after the chairman of British Airways called
anti-terror measures “redundant”. BAA said the screening of travellers' shoes was one example of a safety
regime that had become uncomfortable for passengers. A spokesperson for EasyJet said: "As the threat
that faces us becomes increasingly sophisticated, we need to adopt smarter ways of dealing with that
threat. We want to work with the authorities and the rest of the industry to move away from crude, blanket
security checks, which inconvenience all passengers, to more intelligent processes."

Key Points
The security of passengers is the Government’s highest priority and will not allow this to be
compromised. Sometimes this will inevitably cause some disruption for passengers.
However, as the Secretary of State for Transport made clear on Monday, the Government agrees
there is a need to reform the way aviation security is regulated.
The Government has committed to developing a new regulatory system for aviation security - one
that concentrates on setting the security outcomes that need to be achieved, giving operators the
freedom to devise the security processes needed to deliver them.
This will allow airports to deliver new, more efficient and passenger-friendly security processes
without compromising security.
Associated articles:
The Guardian – Are anti-terror measures now redundant?
The FT - Security checks fuel airport frustrations

Other News Stories from this Week

The following are interesting news items that we think people may want to circulate further:
Heroin seized and burned in Afghanistan
A large amount of heroin that would fetch more than £10 million on UK streets has been seized by UK
forces in Afghanistan. The haul is the result of seventy nine raids over several months in Helmand
Province. The raids have deprived warlords of funds to buy weapons and pay the gunmen and bombers
who attack British troops. Taliban chiefs raise billions by taxing the farmers who grow drug-producing
poppies.

Please email ricu@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

with comments or if you would like to subscribe