David Cameron has condemned a new Islamic State propaganda video as “desperate stuff” from an organisation that is guilty of perpetrating “utterly despicable and ghastly acts”.
As Downing Street cast doubt on claims by Isis that the five hostages murdered in the video had acted as UK spies, the prime minister said Isis was losing ground under pressure from allied airstrikes.
Speaking during a visit to east London on Monday, Cameron said: “It’s desperate stuff from an organisation that really does do the most utterly despicable and ghastly acts and people can see that again today. But this is an organisation that’s losing territory, it’s losing ground, it’s, I think, increasingly losing anybody’s sympathy, and this again shows what an appalling organisation we’re up against.
“They hate us not for what we do but for what we are – the fact that we are a successful, tolerant, democratic, multi-faith, multi-ethnic nation. They hate that and that’s why they want to take us on and that’s why they do what they do. But I know that Britain will never be cowed by this sort of terrorism. Our values are so much stronger than theirs. It may take a very long time but they will be defeated.”
Downing Street had earlier condemned the video, which appears to show the murder of five hostages accused of being UK spies, as a “propaganda tool”. The prime minister’s spokeswoman cast doubt on claims in the video that the apparent victims were spies, and said Isis was facing strong pressure from allied airstrikes. “This does appear to be a propaganda tool and not all of Isil’s propaganda in the past has been true,” she said using another name for the group.
No 10 illustrated its claim that Isis was facing severe pressure by saying that RAF aircraft had taken part in 11 airstrikes against Isis targets in Syria since parliament approved the extension of the military operation from Iraq. These included the targeting of Isis targets south of its Syrian base on Raqqa on Christmas Day.
Response:
I agree with the way David Cameroon handled the situation. It is very clear that all ISIS wants to do is to evoke terror in the lives of people so that they will eventually give in. His response to UK citizens is direct and encouraging, because truly ISIS is desperate to let the world know who they are and what they are capable of. The UKs step in attacking back was all simply defense and I wouldn't call it "sever pressure" compared to what ISIS is doing in other nations.
The author did a great job, presenting both views clearly and concisely. I would say however that there is some bias because in this situation it is hard to see David Cameroon in a negative light.
Bibliography
Watt, Nicholas. "Cameron: Isis Video Is 'desperate Stuff' from a Group Losing Ground." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited, 4 Jan. 2016. Web. 4 Jan. 2016.
<http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/04/isis-video-is-propaganda-and-a-reminder-of-barbarity-of-daesh-says-no-10>.
Watt, Nicholas. "Cameron: Isis Video Is 'desperate Stuff' from a Group Losing Ground." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited, 4 Jan. 2016. Web. 4 Jan. 2016.
<http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/04/isis-video-is-propaganda-and-a-reminder-of-barbarity-of-daesh-says-no-10>.
Interesting article and response. You mentioned that you didn't think that the UK was pressuring ISIS severely which I think it interesting because the article says that efforts have been increased quite a bit but on the other hand they could have maybe done more. You summarized the article well though you could have maybe expounded in what you meant when you said that there was some bias against David Cameron.
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