“More Muslims have died in terrorist attacks since 2001” than anyone else, said Blunkett. “Terrorists have been indiscriminate.”
The government is “bending over backwards” in its efforts to ensure that rights are not infringed upon, according to Blunkett.
“Taking hard stances is not reneging on freedoms,” said Blunkett. He pointed out that throughout history, governments who took soft stances allowed the rise of Fascism and Nazism.
He also warned about undermining the leadership of countries trying to fight the War on Terror, such as the government of Pakistan. “We have to be supportive and sensitive. For the future we have two choices: isolation, or finding mechanisms to put behind us divisions to find solutions for the future,” said Blunkett.
A Fletcher School student who refused to give her name said that Blunkett “was very persuasive,” and that it was interesting to see the contrast between the British and U.S. perspectives.
Other students, such as Tariq Baloch and Siddhauth Ohar of HLS said they were a bit disappointed that Blunkett did not oppose the detentions at Guatanamo Bay more vociferously. “He needs to stand for his principles,” Baloch said.
—Material from the Associated Press was used in the reporting of this article.