As the shocking news of the conviction of five British Muslims for a planned terrorist attack in Britain breaks, people are already beginning to ask how on earth this was allowed to happen and why did it go unchecked for so long?

Firstly credit where credit is due. The Security Services should be commended for a job well done. To prevent the deaths of possibly hundreds of innocents, including Muslim causalities, under the current climate is tough despite the imbalance in collateral arrests and the attempts by third parties to alienate entire Muslim communities.

The answer to the question however is simple and it answers a third question which is far more relevant. How can we stop this from happening in the future?

The problem is two fold, the Muslim “leadership” coupled with the arrogance of our government. Stuck between the two are the Security Services and the overwhelming peace loving British public. Muslim leaders, including those that run a majority of Mosques today, are simply not addressing the issue of youth radicalism. Muslim youths in Britain are genuinely devastated to see Muslims being killed and Muslims lands being looted in apparent unjust wars. For some, this anger is solely because of that reason but for others it can be lack of social opportunity. As with any form of anger a release mechanism is needed. In this country that mechanism is called democracy, but amazingly enough it is an avenue that is unknown to many disaffected youth. Only by getting involved in the political mainstream can youths, especially Muslim youths remove the obstacles and failures that disappoint them daily. Muslim leaders are not doing their bit to alleviate this problem. Content to sit on their peerages and embroiled in clan politics they are ignoring their duty.

The government isn't exactly helping. Its constant denial that foreign policy has nothing to do with the anger felt by Muslims is a danger to us all. Study after study has shown how dissatisfied Muslims are by our government’s one sided foreign policy. Blair's poodle like support for the American war on Iraq and the absence of any condemnation of Israeli brutality in Palestinian territory and Lebanon has amplified Muslim anger. While a majority of Muslims have successfully managed to contain their resentment, others have felt unable to do so and the results are clear. The Government seems to wish it can police its way out of this crisis but successes such as the one seen today aside, can we really expect our Security Services to be able to apprehend every one who poses a threat? The government must stop throwing fuel onto the fire. Even after pleas from family members of the July 7th 2005 bombings, scrutiny of what is causing this radicalisation is the one thing the government wants to avoid. Hence the refusal to have an independent inquiry into the matter. What could be more pressing than matter of our security?

Muslim leaders, particularly those who occupy the pulpits of Mosques need to re-think their duties. It is "do or die" time. They must begin to install some form of political awareness programmes and instigate good governance in order to stop rogue elements from taking advantage of a frustrated following. Not only should the government give financial aid for such initiatives it should penalise any institution that fail to take up the opportunity. Until then the future is dire. Misdirected individuals will continue to cause more havoc and Islamophobes will pounce and use this and every other opportunity to paint all Muslims as the "true enemy within".

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