"President George Bush's "war on terror" rhetoric has strengthened terrorist groups by helping them to create a shared identity, the development secretary, Hilary Benn, warned yesterday. The Foreign Office reportedly asked politicians and diplomats to drop the phrase last year. But Mr Benn's open criticism surprised many observers, and critics suggested he might be attempting to woo grassroots Labour activists in his bid for the party's deputy leadership - an accusation he later described as "unworthy"."