Should they recruit Muslims?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5949775 /MI5-targeted-by-Islamic-extremists-in-rushed- recruitment-drive-after-July-2005-attacks-on-L ondon.html

MI5 is facing questions over whether it recruited up to six al Qaeda sympathisers in the rush to find Islamic recruits in the wake of the worst terrorist attacks on mainland Britain for a generation.

Once again in the ever searching quest to be seen an equal opportunity employer, they made an unforgivable blunder.

Wouldn't it be in the countries best interest not to employ Islamic personnel in these highly sensitive posts?

Even sixty odd years ago, I don't think we would have been foolish enough to employ Germans, at top security venues.

[LazyGun]

LoL, so to you this was purely an equal opportunities blunder by the Govt, was it?

Nothing at all to do with recruiting individuals from a similar cultural background then?
Nothing to do with the fact that it would be easier to infiltrate a terrorist cell if you can convincingly act the part?
Nothing to do with the fact that it might be a pesky nuisance if those terrorists noticed the blond aryan sitting in the corner taking notes?

I would agree with you (shock horror) that the vetting procedure self evidently failed, in this instance.

I dont know how many times you have to be told really, AOG - being a muslim does not automatically make you a terrorist - this is something you fail to grasp. Being a muslim does not automatically make you sympathetic to al-quaeda. Being a muslim does not automatically mean you would not feel patriotic about the country you were born in.

[sp1814]

Yes, they should be recruiting Muslims. What's the alternative? A ban on Muslims entering the security services?

That would feed right into the hands of right wing bigots who won't be happy unless we all become Islamophobes.

However, if the question was rephrased "Should MI5 employ Islamic extremists?" then the answer is an emphatic "No".

Seems like another tar/brush interface situation...again.

[tamborine]

There are 'westernised' muslims; Alice Cooper, M.Ali, Obama & our own Amir Khan (boxer) to name a few. I think even M.Jackson was a sympathiser.

Turkey, Malaysia muslim countries but not radicalised - as yet!

[LeMarchand]

Isn't Alice Cooper a "born again" Christian? Obama is a Christian, too (though may have Muslim relatives). Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam converted to Islam though.