So nobody in the security services was guilty of complicity in torture. Those rendered to torture were in fact whisked off by flying pigs. Or maybe a big boy did it and ran away.
I should say I never had the tiniest bit of doubt that the institutionally corrupt Metropolitan Police would let off the security services. Nobody ever is guilty in these things. It was nobody’s fault that an unarmed and unresisting electrician was shot six times in the head as he sat on a tube train. It was nobody’s fault the police subsequently lied about him. It is nobody’s fault that MI5 and MI6 officers were interviewing detainees with freshly mutilated genitals. It was nobody’s fault that, when I blew the whistle on active UK complicity in torture, I was immediately suspended from duty and charged with eighteen allegations of gross misconduct, every one of which was subsequently adjudged to be false. It was nobody’s fault that David Kelly died a horrible, lonely and mysterious death after letting slip the truth – that there were no Iraqi WMD. It was nobody’s fault that hundreds of thousands died and trillions were squandered due to the lies officially published – by nobody’s fault – about WMD.
I have views on this lying exoneration today which are more complex than you might expect. The MI5 and MI6 officers were following policy set out by Tony Blair and Jack Straw, that we should obtain intelligence from torture. It would have been a hollow justice for some junior spooks to be scapegoated while Straw and Blair are walking around as respected international statesman, coining in the money.
Yhe Met investigation was so remarkably “thorough” it did not approach me at any stage, even though I had given obviously relevant evidence in person to the Council of Europe, European Parliament and UK Parliament.
Do watch my evidence to the UK parliament if you have not already done so. Then judge who you believe.
Meanwhile, there is no sign at all that the so-called Gibson Inquiry into UK Complicity in Torture is ever going even to take the lid off the whitewash bucket and get started.
I agree with every word you say, torture, cover ups and lies, all the things they tell us dictators and villainous leaders of other countries do and would have us believe we live in a wonderful candy cotton world where justice and democracy exists. But its all an illusion that many may buy into because they don`t see it or are affected by it personally, but as Thomas Paine quite rightly pointed out,,,,,,,,,,,”He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.” This country has gone firmly down the drain and people like Blair who have taken it there are profiting from the very unjust system they have created, which is why they wanted it there in the first place. Its a disgrace.
I have no doubt about your claims regarding torture, but British complicity in the process goes much further than you claim, though even your alluding to what happened to Jean Charles de Menezes show that you are on the right track.
But why no mention of the murder of parachutist Stephen Hilder, and the apparent one of GMP Chief Constable MIke Todd?
Hilder was killed to take the pressure off the Mossad for what happened just 4 weeks before to German maverick politician Jurgen Möllemann, and Todd was trying to get to the bottom of British extraordinary rendering of Muslim suspects for torture when he was set up for death.
And Kelly was murdered when he took Möllemann’s place as a whistleblower over the illegal war against Saddam and the Iraqi people.
And why don’t you mention who installed and ran the CCTV cameras whose tapes would have shown much more about the 7/7 terrorists, and the killing of Menezes but somehow went missing after the events.
The Metropolitan Police and the British security services were involved, it seems, in a much bigger conspiracy involving the Mossad and its Verint data-mining services, and all these unnecessary murders were just part of it.
Thanks again for that Craig, your witness and speaking out about torture under Blairs,Straws and D.Millibands regime was the first sign for me, having had a closer look on AQfghanisatn before, that the self perpetuating mechanism behind this war on terror is largely brought about by breaches against the human rights act and that we must oppose such form of primitive and secretive justice.
If there has been a change in policy with regards to torture under the condem government, then they should have had the courtesy to look at your case and decide that you have been hounded out of office by the most vile means and that you, theoretically, should be offered ‘a job’ back for your past pains.
Further, your record show that you have been succesfull until that point in time, that you still can offer value for money today, is a given.
Looking at the reality of a neocon lead FCO and their CFI stooges in all three parties, my guess is that you would probably not want to be part of this cabal.
Norfolk is ready for Independents, In flat west Norfolk 65.000 people, mostly conservative voters, have voted against incineration, conservative Norfolk County Council and Ms. Spelmann seemingly want to force it on them, so they will not want to vote Conservative again, its a cauldron here. Its the EDP and NCC versus the people.
It is amusing but true that the “views” counter on the above videos has gone gradually down over the last couple of years. The “views” counter on the first video has fallen from 6,224 to 6,215 even since I posted it! I am NOT claiming a conspiracy here. But do not be downheareted by the very low viewing figures!
Well, corruption in the highest echelons of British power is not surprising. Met investigating complicity in torture, seriously? Uzbek proves says ‘raven does not beak another raven’s eyes’. How those who were supposedly involved in torture been trusted to investigate involvement in torture. This sound like something that Karimov usually arranges to masquerade justice.
Many thanks for this particular blogspot – very very worthwhile and expressed with incredibly deep and utterly justified cynicism. And so far it’s nobody’s fault that so far nobody has yet been held fully to account for the brutal murderous attack on City of London newspaper seller IAN TOMLINSON. Not much it isn’t huh?
You’re a good man, Craig Murray. When future history books are written condemning Blair and Bush and other murderers and torturers (who never physically get their hands dirty) I hope something is said about people like yourself who were (are) prepared to stand up and be counted for the sake of humanity. Thank you. Keep up the invaluable work you do.
Ah, but Craig, doncha see? – no dirt can be allowed to stick to OUR intel services since that would imply that the American intel services are also up to their ears in it, which would never do. No, we have to keep calm and remember our role, that of vassal to the Big Dog. And whipped dogs lie low and say nowt.
My word, does it get any more craven?
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/concoughlin/100129475/moazzem-begg-and-friends-owe-mi6-and-mi5-an-apology/
The blatant reason why you were informed that it was not wise to put such issues in writing was to maintain deniability, of course they did not want a paper trail of specific reference to information obtained through torture, because should the need arise to implement plausible deniability on the issue a paper trail actually referencing it would be damaging to that. Of course senior ministers knew information was being obtained from torture and given they knew, then the act of turning a blind eye and continuing to receive it absolutely makes them complicit. You end up in a position where a government may be ingratiating itself with our own specifically through its continuous flow of information too it, if we know that that government is systematically torturing to obtain evidence, then in continuing to receive it and obviously in some way or other showing gratitude for that information, not only are we complicit, but I would say that at some point we drive it. I have watched the videos of your evidence and I have no doubt at all regarding your sincerity in what you said, but I see around you a rather profound reluctance to pursue what is blatantly right infront of their noses. I have sincerely no idea how you got through your role as ambassador without going insane.
Funny you should mention Jack Straw, Craig. This morning I was harmlessly listening to the Today programme – as I often do, just to hear what has been happening (that’s fit to broadcast) and the funny, funny things the BBC folk find to say about it. And what do you know? Suddenly there was Jack Straw leading a populist movement against insurance blaggers!
The discussion was as opaque and misleading as one might expect. But, right at the end – and possibly goaded into a precision that he would normally blanket with layers of obfuscation – Straw came out with this gem.
“Everyone is to blame, in a dysfunctional system”.
And there you have the modern politician’s ethical theory, in a nutshell. Of course, as we know from Gilbert and Sullivan, “when everybody’s somebody, then no one’s anybody”. And when we are all guilty, no one is guilty. It’s the system, don’t you see! And no one can be held to blame for the system – not even, apparently, the people who designed it.
How’s the Gareth Williams inquest coming along? It isn’t….
An excellent post.
@ John Goss
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Well I am not sure about all history books but certainly that in history books in Uzbekistan (after Karimov of course) Mr Murray will not only be mentioned but also given deserved attention. He did a LOT of good for Uzbeks and unfortunately paid for this with his own health and career. What a hypocrisy. Blair and Bush who removed Saddam (for supposedly being a dictator), removed Mr Murray who was outspoken against another (even worse) dictator.
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Time will pass and we will eventually learn how many innocent people Karimov and his dogs tortured for US/UK.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/concoughlin/100129475/moazzem-begg-and-friends-owe-mi6-and-mi5-an-apology/
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The nauseating idiot Con Coughlin doing his masters bidding as ever.What an odious little shit he is.
Uzbek, you’re right, and so the Uzbekis should be grateful to a man who stood up for their rights as a matter of principle, when former and subsequent diplomatic staff turned a blind eye. The trouble is that the truth of history is shrouded with secrecy until corrupt politicians achieve corrupt ends and the media is controlled by those with the most to lose from being exposed.
Craig Murray, has Gibson invited you to give evidence yet?
And tyhen there is John sawers saying he’s pleased that his agents are exonerated from being prosecuted for something they have not done.
well, no, they firsdt ask for information to be ‘expressed’ then they sat by and watched them do it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/12/libya-rendition-torture-abduction-mi6
Slightly O/T, but connected. There’s a Lockerbie story here that was in a link added to the Oil Borders story. It may be the truth behind all the ever-changing lies spread by the US and UK.
http://realmofscotland.com/scolandpage.aspx?Cat=13&menu=Lockerbie trial evidence that was ignored
Thank you Craig for continuing to speak out and for writing your most enlightening blog.
On a more humorous note I saw this and thought of you…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/wales/9007562/Diplomat-asked-me-for-sex-on-his-desk-claims-hospital-worker.html
But on checking, it was a different diplomat
Please keep up the good work and best wishes for 2012
Rob Royston
http://www.firmmagazine.com/news/2754/Scottish_police%E2%80%99s_%E2%80%9Cdesperate_attempts%E2%80%9D_to_block_Megrahi_miscarriage_report_to_%E2%80%9Chide%E2%80%9D_bribery_revelations_.html
Off topic but not really.
The stench of corruption and the inability to stop any of it.
I am in tears listening to the Freeemason Leveson circus paving the way to clear the McCanns.Is this the 3 million pound review ? this has nothing to do with little Millie Dowler or her parents, has she been used and abused by Cameron?
If I may Craig I would like to ask your readers to sign the petition for a FULL public inquiry , the McCanns need to be investigated, BUT after reading your article, by whom she asks with deep dismay?
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/289/petition-for-a-full-public-enquiry-into-the-disappearance-of-madeleine-mccann-with-the-power-to/
>The MI5 and MI6 officers were following policy set out by Tony Blair and Jack Straw
Well, interestingly MI5/6 now say they were following ‘ministerial guidance’.
It seems they are quite happy to throw the previous government to the wolves to save their own skin.
Lets hope they start blabbing.
yes x 1 million
I am listening to ZBC’s pm programme about rendition and it is almost unbelievable that they are still backing the government as the story unravels. I suppose the stakes are very high. The UK reputation is at rock bottom. We are at a point at which by rights the UK US position should collapse as the Soviet Empire collapsed. Instead they just step up the level of lying.
Well, Well, A couple of days age we joked about their being more pandas in Scotland than Tory MP’s. Quess what? One of the Pandas has gone down with something. Maybe Cameron has set the boys on him?
Rob Royston, many thanks for the link to the Lockerbie story. I noted in particular this sentence: ‘Tam Dalyell once said that one has to almost be a “Professor of Lockerbie Studies” to comprehend the detail of this complex story, which has arguably become impenetrable to the public at large’.
Mission accomplished, then!
The British have always tortured. And they have always claimed to be morally superior while they torture.
Maybe this sense of superiority is why they go about torturing inferior races?
Now a days when torture by others is used as an excuse to invade their countries, slaughter their people, starve their children, strip their women and torture them. Torture that the British carry out is at first denied, when proven it is justified, when deemed unjustifiable it is blamed on a few bad apples who are give a slap on the wrist followed by a pardon and promotion when the media loses interest.
Well the high ups have made it clear, there will be no scape goats or slaps on the wrist for anyone this time around. This time the torturers have nothing at all to fear, how ever minimal.
Craig,your name is being brought up constantly on Coughlin’s atrocious Torygraph article.There are some some truly deranged pro-torture armchair warriors infesting the comments section but a good few souls are fighting the good fight including one Tony Opmoc,latterly of these parts.I urge everyone to go to that site and offer some wise comments to counter the sockpuppets and idiots.
It’s important.
.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/concoughlin/100129475/moazzem-begg-and-friends-owe-mi6-and-mi5-an-apology/#disqus_thread.
Can’t type today bad hand, but Straw is the archetype of a politician who wants to be a politician, probably having no beliefs of any kind.
In the USA, it seems that the acceptance of various bad acts — kidnapping (rendition), indefinite detention by USA (new statute, NDAA s. 1021), torture, assassination by drone — are ALL becoming so ho-hum that they are in effect accepted. No-one high-up is threatened with prosecution. Indeed, the evident involvement of persons high-up seems to act as a guarantee that the acts are not prosecutable.
Should make any citizen shudder, and not only lawyers.
As somebody previously mentioned, Mr Murray, I don’t know how you managed to fulfill your role as ambassador as long as you did without going insane.
No amount of money or status, would entice me into such a inherently corrupt system.
How people like Straw and Blair can look themselves in the mirror everyday is beyond me.
They are monsters who have no conscience, humanity or integrity and will have to answer to God on their day of judgement.