The great airline bomb plot was a totally impractical idea in the minds of a very small number (four) of isolated extremists, penetrated from the start by the state, who never did make their liquid bomb cocktail work, never did blow anything up, never did buy plane tickets and for the most part hadn’t actually got round to applying for passports yet. However, these deluded fantasists provided the excuse for billions of taxpayers’ money to be pumped to the security industry, and made air travel even more annoying with the crazy war on shampoo.
They also proved an invaluable bogeyman of last resort for bent Met cops, who could not chase real harmful monsters like Rupert Murdoch because they were too busy colluding with Murdoch in pumping out propaganda about the fantasy monsters – sorry, saving us all from terrorists.
An invaluable analysis on the bent cops from Nick Davies here – although even he feels he has to genuflect to “the terrorist threat”.
Aren’t members of parliament amazing? Suddenly they all have noticed that the Murdoch influence is a cancer in society, which is something the rest of us have known for 30 years. Equally suddenly they have noticed that Andy Hayman is a lying buffoon, whereas before they took him as a great bastion against terrorism whose every word must be treated with respect. This blog and other blogs have been telling them he was a lying buffoon for years, most indisputably over the appalling lies he spread in the media about Jean Charles De Menezes.
Good work on Hayman here. I had missed the fact that Murdoch employed him after he left the cops.
No need for further words
http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/keith-my-murdoch-moment-part-1
Nick Davies mentioned how Yates and Hayward had completely misjudged the public mood, as reflected by MPs, which is one reason for their abysmal performances.
And then today, the The Sun… anyone else thinking this is the most tone-deaf headline and lead story ever? Proof that with the spotlight now on them, some people in Murdoch world have lost the plot completely.
I was stunned by Andy Hayman’s performance. Whoever said ‘dodgy geezer’ got it bang on – but as Craig says, why are they only copping that now. I can’t even think about Jean Charles de Menezes. It still upsets me terribly.
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Meanwhile I read this tripe from “American officials”:
“Al-Qaida could use hidden ‘belly bombs’ to attack passenger planes”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/06/al-qaida-belly-bombs-planes-warns
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There isn’t a shred of evidence given. Just “experts say”. Just think of what “Al Quaeda” would need to carry out such plots. Operating theatres and surgeons. Empty abdomens and breasts. And if airport scanners aren’t going to detect these “belly bombs”, what’s the point in sending out this “warning”? Are they demanding a thorough feel of abdomens, breasts and buttocks now?
Very few know of the existence of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, chaired by a nonentity Sir Christopher Kelly and consisting on TEN members including two recently appointed, Margaret Beckett and Lord Alderdice. What do they do? What are they there for, especially with the stench coming from Parliament, Wapping and Scotland Yard? The CSPL was set up by Major btw.
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The members – http://www.public-standards.gov.uk/About/Biographies.html
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The Seven Principles of Public Life
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The Committee believes that ‘Seven Principles of Public Life’ should apply to all in the public service. These are:
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Selflessness
Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.
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Integrity
Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties.
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Objectivity
In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.
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Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.
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Openness
Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.
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Honesty
Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.
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Leadership
Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.
Craig, Assuming that the kinds of hacking/surveillance in question are routinely carried out by GCHQ and other security branches, and assuming there are many intelligence ‘assets’ in NI on retainers, wouldn’t MI5 be well aware of all this going on over the years? Would they not liaise with Yates, Hyman, Clarke about the security compromises, especially the initial bugging of the Royal family let alone the hacking of Brown? Or were they running around chasing their tails and as seemingly useless as the three wise monkeys on parade yesterday? Isn’t this piece of the jigsaw being overlooked?
Check out the comment at bottom of article.
http://www.firmmagazine.com/news/2485/Breaking_News%3A_Crown_Office_working_with_London%27s_Met_over_%22specific%22_phone_hacks.html
A hilarious (if the plot was not so dreadful) piece by Simon Hoggart on Hayman’s appearance. I think Hayman was instructed to appear to act up as ‘the diamond geezer’ so as to deflect the questions. Surely he could not have risen through the ranks without some grey cells to show. I am being naive probably.
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Andy Hayman stars at phone-hacking committee session
The then top copper in charge of the first inquiry must be given his own sitcom
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/jul/12/andy-hayman-phone-hacking-committee
According to the BBC, Tom Crone, the News International legal manager, has left the company.
That was a great clip. Davies and the Guardian have done some excellent work here. I can’t believe that Tony Yates looks so shocked and surprised at the very idea of him resigning while Lady Hayman clearly doth protest too much. I think it’s just a question of whether they were bribed, blackmailed or are just a bigger pair of tits than you’ll see on page 3 of the Sun.
There is a distinctly second division feel about the membership of the Committee on Standards in Public Life reproduced here- no obvious heavy hitters or spooks. Some of the members terms have actually lapsed (Oliver Heald MP, for instance); either that, or that page of the their website hasn’t been updated for months.
I think we can conclude from that that the Committee serves no real purpose beyond providing a bit of window dressing to the cesspool behind the curtain.
“although even he feels he has to genuflect to “the terrorist threat.”
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Exactly my feelings – and to think this ‘Del Boy’ was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his handling of 7/7. Read the transcript folks and understand the lies this man told. –
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http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0507/08/se.01.html
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Check-out the death of Jean Charles de Menezes and realise once again the more lies put forward for the lack of CCTV – Jean was shot seven times in the head from behind with no warning.
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The de Menezes family received £100,000 in compensation.
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“Perhaps [de Menezes’] life was worth less because he was poor.”
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Hayman resigned from the Service on 4 December 2007, following allegations about expense claims and alleged improper conduct with a female member of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and a female Sergeant.
One of Craig’s favourite Murdoch journalists will be doing his best to put a favourable spin on current events at the LSE tonight-
http://www2.lse.ac.uk/publicEvents/events/2011/20110713t1830vOT.aspx
The loaded phrasing of the event’s title ‘Is it time to get tough on the press?’ is duly noted.
The panel, comprising Aaro, Guido, and the Mischon lawyer often chosen by the Beeb as a talking head at the moment, is joined by a rep from another toothless, window dressing Quango, Martin Moore, director of the Media Standards Trust.
The whole event looks like an attempt to steer discussion away from corruption at the apex of the worlds of politics, media, and the securocracy, and onto a ‘muzzle the press’ agenda.
‘Next on the list is Lord Justice Leveson, 59. He has served as Senior Presiding Judge for not quite two years and the post is seen as a three-year sentence. So he keeps that job and picks up another one, taking over from the soon-to-retire Lord Justice Gage as chairman of the Criminal Justice Council.
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The council is an umbrella group, bringing together people from throughout the criminal justice system to advise ministers on criminal justice reforms. Sir Brian Leveson’s new appointment cements his role as a key member of the Lord Chief Justice’s Judicial Executive Board.’ D Telegraph 2008
See if you can find anything more up to date about this Criminal Justice Council. This is from 2005 http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2005-10-12d.16468.h
Yet another long list of names obviously out of date now.
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Lord Justice Leveson is also a member of the Sentencing Council. Are there not many of these extra-governmental set ups? {http://sentencingcouncil.judiciary.gov.uk/about/council-members.htm}
“Exactly my feelings – and to think this ‘Del Boy’ was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his handling of 7/7.”
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Mr Murray was referring to Nick Davies, not Andy Hayman.
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“I can’t believe that Tony Yates”
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Is his name Tony Yates or John Yates? Did I just make up the Tony? Where did the Tony come from?
There is a child like quality to this blog and some of the comments.The child I am thinking about is the one who mentions the emperor’s stark staring nudity out loud.
It is both heartening that there people with the wits to see through the charade but depressing to think of the mountainous scale of the degradation of public life and process.
I wonder what some MP’s are really thinking. Many must be aware of the absurdity of the positions they are called upon to uphold.
Sitting in a bar in Ohio last night , chatting, I was struck by how alert most of the US population is to the murdoch situation in the UK, and its meaning, and the the more or less default skepticism over matters related to the 9/11 enquiry.
However there is a peculiar incapacity of the enlightened population to act. No one really knows quite how to say the obvious out loud in a way that is not overwhelmed by the avalanche of condemnation that usually follows some independent thinking. Thinking and independence qualities of mind have been marginalized but cannot be extinguished.
We really are down the rabbit-hole and fixated on the looking glass.
angrysoba
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You may have been thinking about…John Yates who was in charge of the cash for honours investigation into Tony Blair, he could find no evidence to prosecute Tony Blair.
Threat of terror lies within UK government says former Police Principal Intelligence Officer:
http://terroronthetube.co.uk/2011/07/09/source-of-terror-threat-is-in-uk-government-says-principal-police-intelligence-analyst/comment-page-1/#comments
News Corporation has withdrawn its bid for BSkyB.
I’m sure the argument that “We couldn’t spare the resources to investigate this crime because TERRORISM!!!” went down really well with everybody nicked for shoplifting or benefit fraud around that time…
Well that’s the end of that then:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14142307
“he could find no evidence to prosecute Tony Blair.”
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Thats because there was no evidence, not a shred of evidence, not a shred!!!. http://educationforum.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=6382&st=0
Angrysober, I was thinking of Peter Clarke the last of the ‘three wise monkeys’ or should I say those that willfully turn a blind eye to the immorality of an act in which they are involved i.e the ‘war of terror’ that resulted in a war with Iraq and Afghanistan based on fraud which murdered, mutilated and traumatized over 300,000 children.
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“shallow-minded persons are the most talkative and dangerous.”
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“Clarke retired as Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations in February 2008, having delayed his retirement at the request of the then Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, following the resignation of Andy Hayman.[7] Clarke has been vocal in his retirement in campaigning for tougher legislation on terrorism including extended detention before charge for terrorist suspects.”
The power of the global Murdoch empire http://www.theage.com.au/business/welcome-antidote-to-news-limited-and-selfserving-spin-20090127-7r0g.html#ixzz1RzXDZlvk
Apologies for being being way off topic but you are interested in Iran you should read the following:
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/07/how-digital-detectives-deciphered-stuxnet/all/1
Mark June 24, 2012 in your diaries folks!
Andy Hayman’s book ‘The Terrorist Hunters’ was serialised by Murdoch’s ‘The Times’ from 23 to 30 June 2009, and was released on 2nd July 2009 – right in the middle of the re-trial of eight men accused in the ‘Transatlantic Airline Liquid Explosive’ alleged plot.
The book contained ‘passages’ of information considered prejudicial to the case.
See: http://tinyurl.com/62lfhkx
Interesting fact #68:
The announcement of the initial arrest of Clive Goodman & Glen Mulcairne of the NOTW on Thursday 10 August 2006, was on the very day that the transatlantic liquid explosives ‘plot’ was aired, as a result of the Bank of England publishing the names of “19 people whose assets it was freezing under UN sanctions rules”.
“Murdoch Shaped British politics for 40 Years”:
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‘The Real News’ interviews Leo Panitch, Canada Research Chair in Comparative Political Economy and Distinguished Research Professor of Political Science at York University in Toronto.
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=7025
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“US now more unpopular in the Arab world than under Bush”:
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{http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/07/13/arabs/index.html} Glenn Greenwald
Andy Hayman – the sewage principle – the solid bits float to the top.
http://postmanpatel.blogspot.com/2006/10/andy-hayman-sewage-principle-solid-bits.html
Keith Olbermann http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5VO7fxupGo
Bombs have gone off in Mumbai:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14141454
@Guest …….he could find no evidence to prosecute Tony Blair.” ….Thats because there was no evidence, not a shred of evidence, not a shred!!!. http://educationforum.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=6382&st=0
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I know you were being ironic but that link was all about Bliar’s financial chichanery. His war crimes for which he should be standing in front of Judges at the ICC in the Hague were not mentioned.