Anders Breivik and The English Defence League

Anders Breivik wanted to wear a uniform and take on Islamic fundamentalism. Rather than donning a variety of oversized Action Man outfits and slaughtering unarmed, mostly Christian Norwegians, surely he should have joined the Norwegian Army that has been fighting the heavily armed and extremely extreme Taliban in Afghanistan?

At least when Islamic fundamentalists target civilians in the west it has some form of logic - they are blowing up the decadent kafirs who have invaded their homelands (thanks for that, Tony.) So why did Breivik do the same thing, targeting the very people in Europe that he claims to want to defend? Probably because he was extremely violent and of below average intelligence, so it's no wonder he admired the English Defence League.

This week Stephen Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson as he is often referred to), the 28 year old founder of the EDL, was convicted of leading a gang of 100 Luton Town hooligans in a street battle with Newport County Fans. He was charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and was fined £650 plus some community service.

Most right-wing political organisations contain plenty of thuggish psychos (like the Young Conservatives) but it is rare they are lead by one; Lennon, who has plenty of previous for assault, possession of cocaine and disorderly behavior stated, upon sentencing: "In the last 12 months I've been banned from protesting, going to the football and my assets have been frozen. It is a police state."

Firstly, what a gross injustice to ban this man from football matches and secondly, I would say if he admires Hitler as much as most EDL supporters he should be well up for a police state. It is this sort of disconnect that leads one to speculate about just how remedial these characters are, I mean how can a group who is all about defending England idolise Hitler, who most people's grandparents fought against in defence of these shores?

Birmingham EDL member Wayne Baldwin is a classic case study, when interviewed at an EDL march he stated that he's not a racist, only giving himself away slightly with the classic "I've got black mates" line. Unfortunately Wayne's true colours are revealed even more starkly by the widely available pictures of him baring the Swastika and SS tattoo on his chest, doing the Sieg Heil salute and being surrounded by all manner of Nazi memorabilia.

The EDL is partially funded by Alan Lake who was linked by The Daily Telegraph to Breivik. As was another member of the EDL and now the leader of an anti-Islam organisation calling itself the Ancient Order of the Knights Templar, Paul Ray. Ray's 'Lionheart' blog apparently provided some of the inspiration leading to Breivik's own insane crusade, a charge that he has attempted to rebut. Again there is some sort of reach for respectability by denying the Breivik link and Nazi affiliation. Again these denials are unconvincing as The Belfast Telegraph reported that Ray is friendly with Johnny 'Mad Dog' Adair - the unhinged murderer of unarmed Catholics in Belfast and white supremacist Nick Greger, both of whom went and visited Ray at his home base in Malta and then posted a video of the trip, called 'The Gathering', on YouTube.

The far right down play their idolisation of Hitler in order to broaden their appeal but can't seem to resist posting giveaway pictures and videos of themselves on the Internet, which is a symptom of their unsophisticated nature. Their lack of political nouse makes them easier to monitor and less dangerous than they may appear as it will restrict their appeal to mostly mindless football casuals. However, they must be monitored to try and prevent another of their number going on the rampage.