Pompeo lectures UK on Daesh, says British militants should be taken home
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has rejected Britain’s policy to revoke citizenship of people who have fought along terrorists in the Middle East, saying London should take them back.
In a Wednesday press conference with his British counterpart Jeremy Hunt in London, Pompeo said Britain had a responsibility to take back its citizens who fought along the ranks of groups like Daesh in Syria.
“The United Kingdom has contributed mightily to the coalition to defeat ISIS (Daesh) ... we need to keep up that fight against radical Islamic terrorism,” said Pompeo, adding, “A key part of that fight is that every coalition member must take back terrorist fighters captured on the battlefield.”
US and allies like Britain has held a military presence in Iraq and Syria with an alleged mission to fight Daesh since 2014.
That comes as hundreds of Western nationals have joined militant groups in those countries over the past years, prompting concerns that they might pose security risks once they return home.
In a shock decision earlier this year, Britain’s interior ministry said it had revoked citizenship of Shamima Begum, a schoolgirl from east London who wished to return to the UK and resume her normal life after breaking away from Daesh in Syria.
Pompeo’s remarks come as Washington has itself blocked the return of several American nationals suspected of involvement in Middle East militancy.
Corbyn is 'disgusting'
Elsewhere in his press conference, Pompeo used insulting remarks to describe Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, saying his expression of support for Venezuela’s legitimate government was “disgusting”.
“It is disgusting to see .... American leaders or leaders from this country continue to provide support and comfort to a regime that has created so much devastation, so much devastation,” said Pompeo while asked about Corbyn’s position on a political crisis in Venezuela.
A Labour spokesman reacted to the comments, saying the party was still opposed to US interference in Venezuela.
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