CAIRO, August 26, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – A British defense expert has urged the government to remain committed to its "covenant of security" with Muslims and maintain Britain's culture of tolerance instead of being swept away by the urge to get tough on extremism.

"The covenant of security between the British authorities and leaders of Muslim communities was a well-understood compromise. There would be high levels of toleration in exchange for self-policing," Michael Clarke, professor of defense studies at King's College London, wrote in the Guardian on Friday, August 26.

He maintained that the covenant of security serves in combating religious extremism and helps draw more effective help from the Muslim minority.

"..it encourages local communities to join the intelligence effort and allows interesting individuals to be monitored more easily."

Clarke urged police to develop "more intimate relations within some key Muslim communities, exploiting opportunities for more innovative cooperation, particularly in the education sector."