Our national news continues to be dominated by the threat of Islamic extremism while our leaders talk of sending in the RAF to join in the bombing of Isis in their Syrian and Iraqi strongholds. As if bombing alone will sort it out.

On the contrary, a campaign of bombing is likely to exacerbate the problem since when, inevitably, news is broadcast of the deaths of innocent civilians killed in the raids, it will act as a further call to arms to yet more extremists and potential extremists from within our midst. The problem from within is the most challenging of all issues facing not just the UK but all other countries who were foolish enough to open their borders to all and sundry without proper screening.

This is the problem that even our most liberal minded politicians are at last beginning to comprehend. They cannot say that they weren’t warned since, nearly 6 years ago, Nigerian author and Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, who divides his time between Nigeria and the UK, spoke of the consequences of our misguided tolerance by stating  –

“England is a cesspit. England is the breeding ground of fundamentalist ­Muslims. Its social logic is to allow all religions to preach openly. But this is illogic, because none of the other religions preach apocalyptic violence. And yet England allows it.”

We in England and elsewhere in Europe have had experience of that “apocalyptic violence” at first hand, with undoubtedly more to follow.

Well over 100 years ago, a 25 year old Winston Churchill (whose birthday it is today) serving as an army officer in both India and Africa, gave prophetic warning of the dangers of Islam in his book “The River War”. Churchill had gained wide experience of  Islam both fighting with and against Muslim soldiers in India and Africa. Whilst he had a favourable view of the individuals who served under him he feared the religion and the “fanatical frenzy which is as dangerous to a man as hydrophobia (rabies) in a dog”.

He further warned that “the influence of the religion paralyzes the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world.”

Nothing has changed in that time except that the danger has increased and has now come to our doorstep.  Only a fool ignores the counsel of the wise but, unfortunately for us, it seems we have been governed by fools for quite a few years now.