I was in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office for over 20 years and a member of its senior management structure for six years, I served in five countries and took part in 13 formal international negotiations, including the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea and a whole series of maritime boundary treaties. I headed the FCO section of a multidepartmental organisation monitoring the arms embargo on Iraq.
I am an instinctively friendly, open but unassuming person who always found it easy to get on with people, I think because I make fun of myself a lot. I have in consequence a great many friends among ex-colleagues in both British and foregin diplomatic services, security services and militaries.
I lost very few friends when I left the FCO over torture and rendition. In fact I seemed to gain several degrees of warmth with a great many acquantances still on the inside. And I have become known as a reliable outlet for grumbles, who as an ex-insider knows how to handle a discreet and unintercepted conversation.
What I was being told last night was very interesting indeed. NATO HQ in Brussels is today a very unhappy place. There is a strong understanding among the various national militaries that an attack by Israel on a NATO member flagged ship in international waters is an event to which NATO is obliged – legally obliged, as a matter of treaty – to react.
I must be plain – nobody wants or expects military action against Israel. But there is an uneasy recognition that in theory that ought to be on the table, and that NATO is obliged to do something robust to defend Turkey.
Mutual military support of each other is the entire raison d’etre of NATO. You must also remember that to the NATO military the freedom of the high seas guaranteed by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is a vital alliance interest which officers have been conditioned to uphold their whole career.
That is why Turkey was extremely shrewd in reacting immediately to the Israeli attack by calling an emergency NATO meeting. It is why, after the appalling US reaction to the attack with its refusal to name Israel, President Obama has now made a point of phoning President Erdogan to condole.
But the unhappiness in NATO HQ runs much deeper than that, I spoke separately to two friends there, from two different nations. One of them said NATO HQ was “a very unhappy place”. The other described the situation as “Tense – much more strained than at the invasion of Iraq”.
Why? There is a tendency of outsiders to regard the senior workings of governments and international organisations as monolithic. In fact there are plenty of highly intelligent – and competitive – people and diverse interests involved.
There are already deep misgivings, especially amongst the military, over the Afghan mission. There is no sign of a diminution in Afghan resistance attacks and no evidence of a clear gameplan. The military are not stupid and they can see that the Karzai government is deeply corrupt and the Afghan “national” army comprised almost exclusively of tribal enemies of the Pashtuns.
You might be surprised by just how high in Nato scepticism runs at the line that in some way occupying Afghanistan helps protect the west, as opposed to stoking dangerous Islamic anger worldwide.
So this is what is causing frost and stress inside NATO. The organisation is tied up in a massive, expensive and ill-defined mission in Afghanistan that many whisper is counter-productive in terms of the alliance aim of mutual defence. Every European military is facing financial problems as a public deficit financing crisis sweeps the continent. The only glue holding the Afghan mission together is loyalty to and support for the United States.
But what kind of mutual support organisation is NATO when members must make decades long commitments, at huge expense and some loss of life, to support the Unted States, but cannot make even a gesture to support Turkey when Turkey is attacked by a non-member?
Even the Eastern Europeans have not been backing the US line on the Israeli attack. The atmosphere in NATO on the issue has been very much the US against the rest, with the US attitude inside NATO described to me by a senior NATO officer as “amazingly arrogant – they don’t seem to think it matters what anybody else thinks”.
Therefore what is troubling the hearts and souls of non-Americans in NATO HQ is this fundamental question. Is NATO genuinely a mutual defence organisation, or is it just an instrument to carry out US foreign policy? With its unthinking defence of Israel and military occupation of Afghanistan, is US foreign policy really defending Europe, or is it making the World less safe by causing Islamic militancy?
I leave the last word to one of the senior NATO officers – who incidentally is not British:
“Nobody but the Americans doubts the US position on the Gaza attack is wrong and insensitve. But everyone already quietly thought the same about wider American policy. This incident has allowed people to start saying that now privately to each other.”
Craig Murray is a former British Ambassador. He is also a former Head of the Maritime Section of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He negotiated the UK’s current maritime boundaries with Ireland, Denmark (Faeroes), Belgium and France, and boundaries of the Channel Islands, Turks and Caicos and British Virgin Islands. He was alternate Head of the UK Delegation to the UN Preparatory Commission on the Law of the Sea. He was Head of the FCO Section of the Embargo Surveillance Centre, enforcing sanctions on Iraq, and directly responsible for clearance of Royal Navy boarding operations in the Persian Gulf.
Reviews of Craig Murray’s War on Terror Memoir, “Murder in Samarkand” – published in the US as “Dirty Diplomacy”:
“It really is a magnificent achievement” – Noam Chomsky
“A fearless book by a fearless man. Craig Murray tells the truth whether the “authorities” like it or not. I salute a man of integrity” – Harold Pinter
Craig
The reports of demoralisation at NATO HQ in the wake of the Israeli attack on the Turkish flagged vessel in the Eastern Med aren’t surprising. A couple of weeks ago the FT published a sneering article by the CFR President, Richard Haass, essentially saying that post WW11 ‘Euro Atlantic structures’ have had their day.
He concluded thus-
‘The combination of structural economic flaws, political parochialism and military limits will accelerate this transatlantic drift. A weaker Europe will possess a smaller voice and role. Nato will no longer be the default partner for American foreign policy. Instead, the US will forge coalitions of the willing to deal with specific challenges. These clusters will sometimes include European countries, but rarely, if ever, will the US look to either Nato or the EU as a whole.’
What is surprising however is that the Yanks, in showing such partiality to the Israelis over the latest incident, seem to be precluding Turkey’s participation in any ‘coalition of the willing’ it may try to cobble together in the near future. Perhaps they think the likes of Georgia & Romania will take up the slack instead- and if that is the case, it shows it isn’t just the Israelis who are losing their marbles.
Interview with one of the Israeli MPs who was onboard the fotilla. She seems to reckon that the Isralies shot first even before boarding the boat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1sH_RE4CY0&feature=player_embedded
I think Canada is siding with Israel as well. But don’t spend any time thinking of us, we are inconsequential.
‘Regarding Richard Keeble, I haven’t read that link but he is likely to be the same person who wrote a guest alert for Media Lens some while back. I remember it being so good – drawing from a number of current activist sources – that I wrote a note to the editors to pat them on the back. I’ve included the link here if anyone wishes to read.
He doesn’t sound like a conspiracy theorist to me.’
Jon- I agree, but if you mention ‘Church Committee’ or ‘Operation Mockingbird’ to the likes of shitface Larry he extrudes his ‘conspiraloon’ accusations on cue like a clockwork toy.
Is its NATO commitment more important to the US than its commitment to Israel or vice versa?
In line with other posters I too have noticed that the story is now dead in the MSM. The Independent have had no comment section at all on this story. The Mail allowed criticism the first day, after which it has been all pro-Israeli propoganda.
I’m not surprised…
Conrad – thank you for that fascinating post from heart of the Deep South! Keep sane and stay strong! Good on you.
It may be unkind to say this, but why do you folks keep whimpering on?
It’s obvious. Jews rule and there’s really nothing you can do about it.
Look at the fuckers outside the Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv, howling with glee at the murder of those terrorists armed with food parcels.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6a3_1275348204
Some people would distinguish between Jews and Zionists. I understand the impulse. The Jews you probably know are nice people. People you like. People you trust. But they are the deluded little Jews whose childhood religious indoctrination overwhelms any capacity for analytical thought: for if they were to read the Torah with a critical mind they would see that Judaism is a deeply racist religion and the theological basis of Zionism. Jews who don’t wish to be associated with Zionism should find another religion.
So I am sorry, but it is Jews who rule, although it is the Zionists who run the project, which works as follows.
The same Zionist power brokers control both Israel and the United States. The United States dominates Nato, Nato determines European foreign policy. Simple, isn’t it: no extraterrestrial reptiles.
In this connection, it is interesting to note the efforts to distract attention from Obarmy’s subservience to Israel by pretending he and his controller, Rahm Emmanuel, are somehow anti-Semitic and even responsible for the recent outbreak of Zionist mass murder on the high seas. (See the NY Post, I cannot include the link, the software chokes if there is more than one link in a post.) But as Hitler noted, any lie will be believed if it is big enough.
But Alfred, one could say similar things about almost all religions (though focused differently). It’s like saying that ‘all Muslims/ Christians/ Hindus, etc.’ are responsible for such-and-such actions because of such-and-such text in their holy books. With respect, it’s far too simplistic an analysis. This is not to deny the very real impact of religious extremism on contemporary geo-politics, as ‘Conrad’ has just outlined in relation to the ‘Deep South’, for example.
Yeah, Syhayl,
you could say the same about all religions because that is their adaptive function. Adaptation is all about racism. Its about propagating your own genes and suppressing the propagation of the genes of others. The Jews just had that point clearly in mind as they developed their ideology: like the Nazis.
Anyway, here’s to the NY Post article in which the Zionists blame Obarmy for the relief ship murders.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/anti_israel_sharks_sniff_weakness_n5AbqK6bk6NHcy6qEWK5jJ#ixzz0phPKSy8o
Here’s Obarmy confirming total subservience to the Zionist interest.
‘Regardless of the details of the flotilla incident, sources say President Obama is focused on what he sees as the longer term issue here: a successful Mideast peace process.
“The president has always said that it will be much easier for Israel to make peace if it feels secure,” a senior administration official tells ABC News.’
‘The suggestion is that US condemnation of Israel would further isolate that country, and make further peace negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians even more difficult.’
Translation: we cannot have a peace process if Israel is denied the right to murder at will. Stopping them only makes them feel insecure.’
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/anti_israel_sharks_sniff_weakness_n5AbqK6bk6NHcy6qEWK5jJ#ixzz0phPKSy8o
Alfred,
maybe you are being nasty, or trying to be controversial, or perhaps trying to start a flame war. Please desist. Your sensible input is valuable.
The pariah state of Israhell could be brought to account immediately if the jewsa stopped paying that “shitty little country” (as one ambassador rightly called it..) $700 billion (not million)per year. But the jews control US politics & politicians as the sharon quote states on Rense.com. (It’s rumoured that JFK refused to bow to them & was assassinated for it.) The truth is that if any other country behaved like israel it would be spurned politically & diplomatically. But the US supports israel & so gets away with it. The US presidents have a lot to answer for. The only consolation is that God said: VENGEANCE IS MINE….
Alfred:
The US routinely excuses the crimes of it’s allies. By your logic the US is also subservient to the Kosovars and Colombians.
Dear Craig:
thank you, for a fascinating, informative and unbiased article.
I also hope that Turkey and NATO ratchet up the criticism and reaction to Israel.
At some point, it must be made clear that this was a highly provocative action against a nation, and they deserve more of a response than the “activists” attacked our soldiers, and we were forced to defend ourselves.
Clark,
If it seems, by my first sentence, that I have been rude to everyone, I offer humble apologies. I think Craig’s statement is excellent.
Otherwise, I take back nothing.
There are some extremely disquieting features about Israel’s latest atrocity that have not been addressed.
Why, for example, do Israelis cheer mass murder? Is it mere blood thirstyness? Were even the Nazi’s so insane? Or is it more sinister than that? Is it their way of reminding us who rules and of instilling appropriate fear?
Here’s another interesting link:
Obarmy promising to enhance Israel’s strategic capabilities.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/obama-promised-to-bolster-israel-s-strategic-capabilities-jerusalem-officials-say-1.293086
You are right Woobus thank-you – Haneen Zuabi an Israeli politician confirmed that two Israeli craft were firing automatic weapons before the Israeli commandos landed on the convoy ship Mavi Marmara.
The satellite link was destroyed and journalist told not to use their cam recorders. Video cameras were seized by the commandos.
List of British citizens on Mavi Marmara where the Israeli raid took place and 19 of the passengers killed: Laura Macdonald Stuart, Ebrahim Musaji, Jamal Sayed, PARVEEN YAQUB, Baboo ADEM Zanghar, Ahsan Shamruk, Mustafa Cengiz Ahmet, Tauqir Sharif, BOUDJEMA BOUNOUA,
Mohammad BOUNOUA, Sakir Yildirim, Kenneth O’Keefe, Ali El-Awaisi, Mohammed Bhaiyat, Lort Phillips Alexandra Mary, Sarah Nancy Colborne, Ismail Adam Patel, Nader Daher, Mahi Mohammed Abid,
Nur-E-Azom Choudhury, Ovenden Kevin, Peter Venner, Clifford Gardner Hanley, Muzzammil Layth Chogley, Jamaluddin Mohammad Farid Elshayyal, Hassan Al Banna Ghani, Lazrag Salah, Ali Altan.
Mr Murray,
Excellent articles over the last few days. Invaluable for those of us attempting to counter the deluge of lies and misinformation.
However, is it possible for you to ban the anti-semitic scumbags polluting the comments sections of various articles and delete their racist nonsense?
“The US routinely excuses the crimes of it’s allies. By your logic the US is also subservient to the Kosovars and Colombians.”
Rubbish. The US excuses crimes that suit its purpose. Having Kosovars murder Serbs suited their purpose.
The US has no compunction about condemning actions they disapprove of.
They, in effect, overthrew the British Government and terminated the British Empire in 1956, when they refused to support the Anglo-French invasion of Egypt.
This matter will fade as news outlets cut real coverage and replace with propaganda. Spoken words without evidence. Confusing people and wearing them out with all sorts of nonsense until they switch off and find another story. We, the people are in a right mess.
If the US does nothing then NATO has no purpose. I expect that soon nations, including NATO members will form NATO-like alliances to defend themselves against US/Israel.
The Anglo-French-Israeli invasion of Egypt. And that was really that last time the USA opposed Israel in any significant way. Actually, I agree that the position is Israel in relation to US ruling structures is qualitatively different from that of any other state. The USA even allows Israel to spy on it, unpunished and indeed abetted. The ‘old ruling class’ in the USA has no power against the pro-Israel lobby, which has a stranglehold on all politicians in the USA. This is the fundamental imperial deformation that absolutely needs to be addressed.
“Why, for example, do Israelis cheer mass murder? Is it mere blood thirstyness? Were even the Nazi’s so insane? Or is it more sinister than that?”
Same reasons there were some protestants who cheered for a nutter throwing hand grenades at one funeral, and some catholics who cheered the torture and murder of secret police at another.. and westerners today cheering fox news live strike videos, and some groups even cheered the trade towers attack.
Religion can be be a common factor, but more common factors are bitterness, fear, anger, ignorance, loyalty. Focusing on the confused religiousity involved doesn’t help resolve the conflict it enflames it Alfred.
“This matter will fade as news outlets cut real coverage and replace with propaganda.”
Exactly.
But here’s a nice vid of Glen Greenwald giving brothel-going Israel apologist Eliot Spitzer a kick in the balls, as he tries to spin the relief ship murders.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/58958.html
~Sucking air in through my teeth~
Gosh, Alfred makes some compelling, if a little belligerent sense.
I cant deny I have thought a lot of what he has been saying, the US government is, or at least the last time I looked years ago, riddled (hopefully in the nicest sense) with people with Jewish ancestors, at least that’s what their names would suggest. But then in a room full of Kaufman’s I guess the majority of them would be practising Jews. Would that mean they would be sympathetic to their former community than to global justice? perhaps that will become evident over the next few weeks.
Alfred has a point, just a bit too forceful I suspect.
“But here’s a nice vid of Glen Greenwald giving brothel-going Israel apologist Eliot Spitzer a kick in the balls, as he tries to spin the relief ship murders.”
If the people who are manipulating you were truthful, they would show you Spitzer similarly grilling someone who supports Israel’s actions. Just that happened in the same hour of that program.
But thank you for linking to lewrockwell.com. Just about as crazy as linking to infowars.com.
Why the axis of stupidity between the British Left and the American Right?
And can I also say how much I admire Suhayl Saadi’s balanced opinions on a very difficult subject. I haven’t yet read his blog, I’m off to do it now………you never know I might change my mind:)
@ Craig,
Unlike you I do not have a diplomat’s background, merely almost 30 years of practice at my profession as a lawyer.
Despite my limitations, I bring my life’s experiences forward to answer your question:-
“Therefore what is troubling the hearts and souls of non-Americans in NATO HQ is this fundamental question. Is NATO genuinely a mutual defence organisation, or is it just an instrument to carry out US foreign policy?”
My answer – the latter.
“Suhayl Saadi is a novelist and stage and radio dramatist based in Glasgow.”
Didn’t get any further, says it all really. If there is one place in the world where opinion polarisation and the rabid desire for justice co exist in complete harmony its my old home town.
I’ll look you up for a wee dram next time I’m up Suhayl.