ABSTRACT
A major criticism of the conduct of the war on terror has been the focus of the British Government on its campaigns first in Iraq and then Afghanistan. The critical front in this conflict was not these far away theatres of operation, but the terrorist threat that faced the United Kingdom at home. In spite of the creation of what appeared to be a sophisticated domestic response to the threat posed by Al Qaeda, British counterterrorism seemed to rely more on coercion than prevention through engagement and this undermined the effectiveness of Contest. This chapter examines the measures implemented by the Labour Government to address the threat on the home front. It explains why and how the actions it took exacerbated, and addresses the discontent and hostility of a minority of Muslims in the UK. The chapter explores the basic elements of the UK's counterterrorist strategy, and focuses on why Contest proved so problematic.
