Regime Change by force is an "act of terrorism" in UK Law

Since May 1993 to use force to "directed towards influencing or overthrowing" any government is an "act of terrorism".

Section 2(2) of the Reinsurance (Acts of Terrorism) Act 2000 reads as follows:

(2) In this section “acts of terrorism” means acts of persons acting on behalf of, or in connection with, any organisation which carries out activities directed towards the overthrowing or influencing, by force or violence, of Her Majesty’s government in the United Kingdom or any other government de jure or de facto.

"Operation Enduring Freedom" in Afghanistan in 2001, in which UK Armed Forces participated, had the effect of overthrowing the then Taliban government of Afghanistan.

In the terms of the Reinsurance (Acts of Terrorism) Act 1993, Operation Enduring Freedom was an "act of terrorism" in UK Law.

"Operation Telic", the codename for the British aspect of the Iraq War of 2003, also contributed to the overthrowing of the then Iraqi government.

In the terms of the Reinsurance (Acts of Terrorism) Act 1993, Operation Telic was an "act of terrorism" in UK Law.

The previously mentioned "acts of terrorism" occurred following the enactment of the Terrorism Act 2000 (in July 2000). That Act has many implications which I'll consider in more detail in future posts.

What are the political and legal implications for those associated with these "acts of terrorism"?

Here are just a few:

For Tony "The Terrorist" Blair, it means that his "moral crusade" of a "war on terrorism" was itself "terrorism" (in UK Law).

For politicians, civil servants and military officers who participated in directing such "acts of terrorism" there is a risk of prosecution under Section 56 of the Terrorism Act 2000. On conviction, the penalty is life imprisonment.

For soldiers who participated in these "acts of terrorism" there is a risk of prosecution under Section 57 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The penalty on conviction on indictment can be 10 years in prison.

For the relatives of soldiers who died as "terrorists" (in the meaning of Section 40 of the Terrorism Act 2000) there is the pain of realising that their loved one died as a "terrorist", rather than as a "hero".

For those soldiers who have been maimed while "terrorists" (in the meaning of Section 40 of the Terrorism Act 2000) there is the pain of realising that their life has been irrevocably altered while acting as terrorists for Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

In large part, these political and legal chickens have yet to come home to roost.