Quote Originally Posted by Pannonian View Post
1 > 0. The questions I want to ask are, why are ISIS, al-Qaeda and their like attacking the UK, and how do we end it? Talking about foreign policy means nothing to me, as I already favour us having nothing to do with the middle east, thus removing the interference argument. In any case, I once believed in that argument, except that evidence coming up refutes that argument. I've taken on that evidence and changed my belief in what it is that causes ISIS and other Islamists to attack the UK.
I'm guessing withdrawing militarily and politically from ME would be a start. Stop providing direct and indirect assistance to those who won't withdraw. Stop dominating international political fora. There are ways to start and see if you're going in the right direction.

But, as Furunculus states, being a great power means exerting influence on others, and dealing with the occasional backlash.

Also, if on purely moral terms, we probably should have no business in the middle east, do you accept the reciprocal, which is the basis of all diplomacy? That the middle east should have no business with us? If the middle east views any westerners, and more specifically, any Britons in the middle east as infringing on their autonomy, should we reciprocate, in whatever manner our society can accept? If not, why is the argument applicable in one direction but not in the other?
Of course, although in this case, no business means stop exerting military, political and economic pressure on state level. Doesn't mean that no single Briton should ever step there.