It has been pointed out to me that there has been a reply to my Independent on Sunday article on our illiberal foreign policy, by the obscure and evidently untalented Baroness Falkner.
Craig Murray’s polemic against the Liberal Democrats gives examples which are inaccurate, ill-informed or at best unknowing (“The biggest threat to Clegg lies overseas”, 5 June).
On Trident, Mr Murray says we have given up our opposition to an automatic renewal. The policy states that due to the “desire of the Liberal Democrats to make the case for alternatives… we are setting up a study to review the costs, feasibility and credibility of alternatives”.
To imply Lib Dem silence on Bahrain is plain ignorance. We have had discussions with the Foreign Secretary, ministers, the Bahrain ambassador, Bahraini opposition groups, human rights groups and in public meetings, to some effect.
Baroness Falkner of Margravine
Lords Chairman, Lib Dem Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs
On Trident, she fails to answer what I actually said, as opposed to what she says I said. The coalition government has approved £3 billion in development costs for Trident 2. That makes the pretence of consideration of an alternative by a “study” rather difficult to maintain.
On Bahrain, she reinforces my point. What effect have those Lib Dem “discussions” actually had on coalition policy? Where are the ministerial actions, or even statements?
Update: I have corrected Falkner’s name, which I got wrong initially.
As you say, obscure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kishwer_Falkner,_Baroness_Falkner_of_Margravine
Her life seems to have revolved around the LSE and the LDs.
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At first I thought you were referring to Harold Wilson’s Lady Falkender or even the wife of Bliar’s friend Falconer!
Wonder what the LD official comment on this outrage will be?
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Bahrain has sentenced eight Shia opposition activists to life in jail for plotting to overthrow the government, says the state news agency.
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They were among 21 opposition figures tried by a special security court. Others got sentences of up to 15 years.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13872206
Sorry who are these Liberal Democrats? Are they in government or something ….? I hadn’t noticed.
“Lib Dem Foreign Policy”
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They have one!!!. I thought the “Lib Dem Foreign Policy” was like all their other policies…we do as we are told by the Tories.
And is a characteristically relevant article (usual web prefixes) from Ian Bell of The Herald on Afghanistan. It’s really what anno was saying on another thread. 10 years of this stupid war. What matter, then, our ‘democracy’?
heraldscotland.com/comment/ian-bell/we-have-slept-through-10-years-of-an-unjustified-war-1.1107843
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Wars stop when the money runs out. Nearly there…
Lib Dem foreign policy? What? Is this supposedly agreed worshipping of FoI membership in this coalition be called foreign policy? I have yet to hear an Independent clearly distinct policy by the Lib Dems on wars, war criminals, torture of ‘suspects’, the war on terror, Libya, so called horizon events entailing Syria and Iran, etc. etc.
Clegg is full of himself and is seemingly following Paddy’s advise, wrong imho.