Notes From the Borderland – Issue 12

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NOTES FROM THE BORDERLAND – Issue 12

An Incendiary Return: All You Ever Wanted to Know About Nazi Terrorism & Lots More

NFB is back! We hadn’t gone away, but were doing other things. This time we are simultaneously releasing two publications (Exocets?) into the informational ether. One is the near definitive update on the Soho nail-bombing scandal, 25 years on, NFB Pamphlet # 2.

NFB 12 returns to an early major research topic, the Far Right, in the form of the now banned neo-Nazi group National Action (NA). Given so many former members have ended up in jail, we analyse selected trial proceedings. In particular the contribution of Crown ‘Expert Witness’ Matthew Feldman, the Modern Witch-Finder General. We also look at NA in three other ways: first by directly comparing them to the miniscule Nazi British National Socialist Movement (name-checked by Michael Gove in the Commons on 1/3/24 as ‘Hateful Extremists’ when most people have never heard of them since their 1980’s heyday) to see whether the latter too could be described as ‘terrorist’. Second, we examine the circumstances surrounding NA proscription in December 2016, in particular their notion to avoid jail by setting up other groups. Not as fanciful as it seems now, because of how the state handled (or didn’t) Islamists Al-Muhajiroun when it came to prosecutions for being in a proscribed organisation. Finally, because they have included prosecutions of the Far Right including NA, we delve into terrorism trials where the Anarchist Cook-Book has featured.

Another story tangentially covering the Far Right looks at Environmentalist Strategies confronting eco-fascism. By contrast an iconoclastic article, Contra Ex Machina explores the dangers of the internet generally and AI specifically. Elon Musk won’t like it: we don’t give a XXXX.

There is a short but salutary reminder that, as is the way, legal provisions in Terrorism legislation are now being used against those protesting IDF genocide. Who’d have thought it? Well, us actually.

Due to the time since issue 11 (we’re sorry but bet our enemies aren’t) two regular sections have been expanded to three pages each: ‘Fancy That’ on people who interest us (a mixed crew), and the ‘Updates Section’ covering past stories back as far as issue 1. We have also covered again The Guardian shafting Julian Assange. Nobody else will!

For some light relief, check out the ‘Body Art Advice Corner’ courtesy of our new friends in the East Midlands Couture Training Programme (formerly the East Midlands Counter-Terror Police).

EDITORIAL

To those who know us NFB’s return will, for most, be a pleasant surprise, a timely hard copy antidote to an increasingly intellectually impoverished digital universe. A return made doubly enticing, we hope, by simultaneous publication of our pamphlet on the 1999 Soho nail bombing scandal: a topic covered for many years in this magazine: see p.60. All supplemented by a revamped website with some new stand-alone articles.

Key theme this issue is ‘Nazi terrorism’, a return to coverage of the far right prominent in earlier NFB issues. Now (a sign of the times) the far right elements we look at have ended up in court/jail, testament to the decline of organised fascist parties in the UK.

Specifically we look at selected trials of alleged/former (Neo-Nazi) National Action members, as partly refracted through the prism of (former?) leading Crown ‘Expert Witness’ Matthew Feldman’s testimony. Also, the Anarchist Cookbook has been used in so many terrorism trials that they too deserve scrutiny. A tentative answer to the question of whether contemporary Nazis are by definition automatically terrorist can be found by comparing National Action and (still legal) long-standing Nazi group, the British Movement. Especially topical as until Gove’s free recruitment advert in the Commons 1/3/24 few will have ever heard of them. To round off this deep dive into the Nazi swamp we analyse the 2016 National Action Proscription, seeking to explain why NA weren’t able to circumvent the legislation banning them as they naïvely hoped.

We sympathise with the view Nazis deserve no pity, but nothing is that simple. For a start, that such reactionary ideas seem radical, and attract (some) alienated youths is another indication the Last Century Left are hardly the attractive option they should be. Furthermore, Terrorism Act provisions used against the Far Right have already been used to muzzle opponents of IDF genocide in Gaza. The Far Right theme continues with Paul Stott’s article on Eco-fascism and the Green movement.

Verona Silenda’s article explores a matter close to our heart: Artificial Intelligence. There are also perennial favourites Fancy That, looked after by the inimitable Heidi and the Update section which Dave admirably curates, as well as a report on the Julian Assange versus The Guardian/US state story from issue 11. What’s Not To Like?

Sadly, no space for a Gareth Williams (murdered GCHQ/MI6 employee) update: it will definitely be included next issue, along with a devastating revelation about the 1997 C18 letter bombs, plus an exchange showing how poor MI5 staff are nowadays….

Previous readers know what to expect: new readers should anticipate immersion in a veritable cornucopia of rigorous fact based subversive analysis, peppered throughout with mordant wit (sorry Robin) joyfully lampooning those who deserve it. Once you read NFB nothing will stay the same: and there’s lots more in back issues.