The Mail on Sunday is doing a very good job on the odious Jack Straw’s involvement in torture and persecution. I think that at last the truth has entered the established narrative. There is a little box in the report about my own evidence to Scotland Yard. I will type it out here as the Mail’s box format here is not internet searchable:
“Torture” Evidence Handed to the Yard
Further pressure was piled on Jack Straw last night over the “rendition” of Libyan dissident Abdel Hakim Belhadj after sensitive documents were handed to Scotland tard detectives.
Craig Murray, former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan, passed the documents to police as part of the inquiry into the behaviour of Ministers and intelligence officials over the detention of Mr Belhadj in Bangkok in March 2004.
The opponent of Colonel Gadaffi was flown to Tripoli, where he claims he was tortured.
Mr Straw, who was Foreign Secretary at the time, has denied ever condoning the use of torture to extract information.
But the documents appear to cast doubt on that position.
One memo, headed “Uzbekistan: Intelligence Possibly Obtained Under Torture” contains minutes of a meeting Mr Murray held with senior Foreign and Commonwealth officials on March 8, 2003 to discuss his concern that the UK could be in breach of international law by possessing intelligence obtained by torture.
The minute, dated March 10 2003, quoted Linda Duffield, then the FCO’s Director of Wider Europe, apparently justifying the use of such material as part of the fight against terrorism.
A second memo, dated March 14 2003, and written by Simon McDonald – the Straw’s principal Private Secretary – to Ms Duffield says Straw has read the minutes and “agrees that you handled this very well”.
Mr Murray is understood to have told police that during Mr Straw’s time at the FCO diplomats were told to only refer to the policy on torture verbally.
Mr Murray said last night “My evidence stated that Jack Straw introduced a policy of allowing evidence obtained by torture to be used. I also told them that written evidence had been destrpyed, and we were told to not commit details into writing.”
There is a slight misquote in the above. It should say Jack Straw introduced a policy of allowing intelligence obtained by torture, not evidence. In fact it was specifically stated such intelligence would not be produced as evidence in court (people were imprisoned without charge or rendered instead). The instruction not to put things in writing was given to me personally, I don’t know if others were told the same. As I was the only one protesting, perhaps not.
These links are to the documents in question.
The first two were obtained by Freedom of Information Act request. Details of the CIA’s colllusion with the Karimiv regime’s torturers have been redacted by the FCO. Last week Jack Straw came out and argued strongly for the effective abolition of the Freedom of Information Act. Now there is a coincidence for you.
Clark, ‘sock-puppets’ can be easily defeated with a login. This would also stop the very annoying spam-bots.
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To allow open posting and then complain that people are using multiple names is sad from an administration perspective. It’s like leaving your wallet on the doorstep and then moaning that someone took your money in the night.
DWTSOT, facts are, Clark was not responsible for setting up this sieve, so your malodourous comment was directed at Craig, a very busy man.
Clark is doing well keeping the desperate floggers of goods at baym, whilst ‘suck puppets’ are doing just that, sucking up.
“Kadima has a weak leader, Komodo, month ago he said he would never join a Government led by Netanyahu, now Mofaz is bending over backwards to accomodate this Churchill remake, baying for war.”
Think you’ll find it was the previous leader, Livni, who said that, Nevermind. Mofaz has put the party into reverse for much the same reason Clegg did with the “Liberal” “Democrats” – to pick up some tasty morsels of power. I think Bibi is trying to dilute the influence of Liberman, which ties him to some pretty unsustainable domestic policies. But he’s happy with Barak; there’s a disturbing undercurrent to the public pronouncements now which indicates that the stupid bastards are set on attacking Iran, despite the optimism of some of the commentariat. The Independent has the picture. Nothing like a war for taking the plebs’ minds off local problems, and what an opportunity to twist the Yanks’ arms for more aid.
Did you not read all of the Indy article? tut tut.
This was written, later on.
“Mr Mofaz, who only two months ago vowed he would never join a government headed by Mr Netanyahu, was harshly criticised for throwing in his hat with Likud.|”
What is alos quiet revealing of this character is that despite this drivel two month ago, he’s now using the funeral of Netanyahu’s father to propose a coalition to Bibi, blatant expediency and bold actions, not something that runs concurrent with him vowing not to get involved with Bibi.
Is it Love hate? is he a hawk in chicken disguise, his approach to Bibi alone makes me think he’s two faced.
Why should these two want to wait for the US elections in November.
Together with the EU’s omminent statement that Iran ‘must’ seize all enrichment, or else, a ultimatum of sorts, makes for another sabre rattlin’ period, or war.
During the last two nights I heard faint high level flight activities.
I think Obama has got it in the bag anyway, he’s the best republican on offer in the contest…;)
so Bibi is not really constraint by him, indeed, going by their past demeanour, he might want to put one over on Hossein.
Everytime the fascists take away one more of our liberties, we are told that ‘if you have done nothing wrong, then you need not worry as you are not affected’.
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I was thinking of this as QEII, dripping in diamonds, was announcing the advent of the electronic snooping bill.
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In the silence following Black Rod having banged thrice on the troughers’ door (what nonsense), standing at the bar, making his announcement to summon said troughers to the other place and bowing to both sides, old Denis Skinner, says out loud ‘Jubilee Year. Double dip recession. What a start!’.
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http://www.readytogo.net/smb/showthread.php?t=698683
Fair enough, nevermind, but that was before Mofaz actually became leader of Kadima (end of March). He was merely echoing the then party line, I think, and that was set by Livni. Now we see the true colours of this chameleon…you’re too kind, I think. He is utterly without principle, and a worthy contender for the Blair Faith Foundation’s(tm) Order of the Double Face. Still, we’ll see how it all shakes down. Not forgetting that 13% of Israelis are already deeply troubled by the direction their country is taking, and those voices are getting a little louder too.
Glad the flights were faint, btw. F15’s playing dogfights @ 5000 ft were a bit nearer me yesterday evening, then. Horrible compressor howl off those things.
Today May 9 is the Victory Day in Russia and in most of the former Soviet republics. The day before this 67 years ago the most brutal and the most savaging campaigns in Human History ended by surrender of one of the most brutal tyrannies.
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Looking back one could see that it was the most blatant strategic errors that led to over 50 million deaths around the world. Genius of Churchill and Roosevelt to turn two despotic regimes against each other have worked but also failed as both underestimated the power of Nazi Germany. Both Hitler and Stalin first divided Europe between themselves and only then collided.
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It is believed that Stalin disappeared from Kremlin for 3 days after Nazi Germany invaded USSR. Myth was born that Stalin was scared for his own life and that he would be tried and executed for ignoring intelligence about Nazi invasion. In fact only naive ‘tourist’ western historians could buy this myth. Before June 1941 Stalin successfully initiated dozens of purges and cleared state apparatus and military of anyone who could potentially challenge him. As a result he was surrounded with spineless underlings like Molotov and Beria and 30 years old army officers who were quickly promoted to generals at the start of the war. Because of this in the first 3 months of the war USSR lost 70% of its military equipment and also of all occupied territory most was occupied in the first 3 months. Stalin did disappear for 3 days. And he was found by his underlings drunk in his dacha BUT not because he feared for his life but because he was totally astonished by how he was outplayed by Hitler. Stalin faced prospect of allying with Anglo-Saxon imperialists who invaded young soviet republic and then ignored it and him for decades.
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Of all participant of the WWII USSR paid the heaviest price. Over 20 million soviet lives have been claimed. Hundreds of tactical errors led to more and more Soviet lives being lost unnecessary.
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Despite emerging as a superpower at the end of the war USSR faced ruined economy, over 40 million casualties both dead and wounded, 8 years of further purges and 46 years of further social and economic calamities.
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The real victors were on the other side of the world.
‘Little’ massacre in the centre of Tashkent (capital of Uzbekistan).
http://enews.fergananews.com/article.php?id=2752
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Do not be fooled with that it was riot of convicts. In Uzbekistan only those who fail to pay themselves out of prison, go to prison. Most get 5 years or more sentences for stealing bread to feed their children.
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Those who commit real crimes are under ‘rightful’ protection of uzbek authorities (who are themselves well known criminals).
Miliband has just been outlining the names of the special advisers – including Werrity – and is saying that it is shocking there is no government bill proposed to limit lobbying.
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He also quoted Dorries ‘two posh boys…’. Thereupon attention seeker Mensch rose and asked Miliband how he was getting on with his costings for his economic policy.
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It is just another act in the continuing theatre. This one is called Replies to the Loyal Address.
ECHR judges turn down Abu Qatada’s bid to appeal against deportation.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17982526
Correction – it was an appeal not an attempt to appeal. His appeal was in time so St Theresa fouled up yet again.
‘purpose built’ communities for Bedouins?
what shamefull words for apartheid, to be found under ‘global development’in the Guardian,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2012/may/09/bedouin-land-culture-israel-resettlement
right next to the development of West bank hill top bastions, available for anyone with rich uncle’s and aunties in America, it comes with a free Uzi gift and a guide on how to rip up an olive grove by night.
‘yes off course we have purpose built nomad cottages’, said the town planner, purpose built, your olde Bedouin style with carpet type wallpaper and no stove, right near to the municipal dump. Should you need water, that has to be applied for via a court and might be installed in ten years time. Grazing land will be fenced in for more security, and ahem, the land you have been living off sustainably since the 16th.century, is not yours, you are illegal Israeli citizens who have no rights, never mind your past. The new nomad style cottages will be part of your own illegal settlement, which we can one day erase again as we see fit.
Now, now. None of that applies if you are a Jewish Russian bedouin….
Where am Craig?
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Him normly apolgising if 30 seconds pass him no posting
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Hope him not snufdit yet
Can I just politely ask everyone to keep discussion civil please? If a discussion is clearly getting either out of hand or nowhere, it is best to agree to disagree, rather than lobbing insults. As regulars know, we have a couple of moderators here for +very+ light snipping, to keep discussions and disagreements positive.
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Hopefully our host will be back in short order 🙂
Sorry, of course: hello to everyone! I’m popping in less frequently these days, but trust all good people here are happy and well.
“I’ve often wondered how it is possible to have open and honest politics in any country with a well funded “intelligence” “service”. Equally I’ve just as often wondered why they are left out of common political analyses or narratives (left or right).”
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They are left out because they own the analysts, including most of the significant blogs!
From Brendan O’Neil’s latest Tellygraaf blog:
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If you want an insight into how cowardly public debate in Britain has become, look no further than the controversy over the Rochdale Asian sex gang. The discussion about the despicable crimes committed by these eight Pakistanis and one Afghani has revealed extraordinary levels of relativism and self-censorship in modern Britain. Indeed, it seems it is now virtually impossible to have a serious discussion about problematic cultural attitudes, because to do so would apparently offend minorities and, even worse, stir up the passions of the latently racist white masses. And so, in the name of protecting Muslim communities’ sensitivities and dampening down white working-class people’s alleged savagery, we keep quiet about certain things; we gag ourselves.
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Scroll to bottom of page…
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“Comments are closed.”
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http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/brendanoneill2/100157120/muslims-sex-gangs-and-white-working-class-women/
More bucketfuls of Euros coming up for another big bail out.
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Spanish lender Bankia to be partly nationalised
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Troubled Spanish lender Bankia is to be partly nationalised, the central bank has confirmed.
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Bankia, which holds 32bn euros (£25.7bn) in distressed property assets and whose boss has resigned, will have a 4.47bn-euro loan by the Spanish bailout fund converted into shares.
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The state fund will emerge with a stake in the bank of 45%.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18014077
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The aptly named boss, Mr Rato, who was Spain’s Economy Minister until 2004, left the sinking ship on Monday.
@ Alec,
” Look out Blair, you know what happens to straw houses when the wind blows, he will take you down with him, first for this incident in question, and then for crimes against humanity in Iraq.”
Maybe – just maybe – but, don’t forget how good the cover up can be to protect those in high places who do wrong – remember Diana?
@Giles,
Your wanky zionist outlook somehow has not picked up on the huge number of the stories covering this sordid story that is running short of encouraging a kristallnacht redux. Your harping on about this sordid story is just to promote divisions, with intent to further inflame the hatred against a minority that has been already marginalized and highly disenfranchised.
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Cowardice is the customary silence in the face of open and overt abuse of the ziofuckwits of our systems that has been gamed by these filthy operatives for a long time and none dare to publish the facts in the media and any reference to such matters anywhere is always suppressed with the usual harangues of antisem…….
Fed up
Any theories/solutions?
How about moral decline.
One of your rellies yesterday Komodo.
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‘He, as ever, maintained a terrific, tooth-grinding, garden-tortoise grimace as he listened to the ephemeral terms the politicians made her utter.’
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http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/05/09/article-2142062-1300AD7C000005DC-8_233x423.jpg
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from a humorous sketch by Quentin Letts.
I see that the attention seeker means business. The Chief Constable of Cumbria is involved.
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‘But even if celebrities themselves don’t call the cops on their trolls, then there are often many willing to do so on their behalf. While Mensch thought her abusers had done nothing illegal, it has been announced that police will be taking her Twitter trolls to court.’ {http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/12423/}
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http://www.theweek.co.uk/politics/46631/louise-mensch-twitter-trolls-face-prosecution-says-police-chief
http://www.winwaste.com/index.php/our-news/70-windsor-waste-management-and-smh-in-market-leading-asbestos-disposal-partnership
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Don’t talk about the dustbin of history…
And in joint 31st place, with Belize…the UK! (Scattered applause)
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/riot-restrictions-super-injunctions-uk-press-freedom-decline/s2/a549041/
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Nul points.
Off any conceivable topic, but I need to share this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17221304
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What do we want? More pay for bishops’ chauffeurs! When do we want it….?
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I see Baldry has been covered elsewhere on this blog.
Wayne David (Caerphilly, Labour)
Given the recent scandals that have engulfed the Government, why is a lobbying Bill not included in the Queen’s Speech?
David Cameron (Prime Minister; Witney, Conservative)
The hon. Gentleman’s party had 13 years to produce a register of lobbyists. We have now published our proposals for a register of lobbyists and we will legislate for a register of lobbyists. [ Interruption. ] I hate to add to hon. Members’ misery, but we have a Queen’s Speech for the 2012-13 Session that is packed with great Bills and we will have one for the 2013-14 Session that is packed with great Bills. We will also have one for the 2014-15 Session that is packed with great Bills, and when we have beaten the rabble in opposition at the next election, we will have another one all over again.
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http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm120509/debtext/120509-0001.htm#12050914000540
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Was the question so terribly hard to answer, David? Is this the response of a world leader, or a snotty wee posh twat whose only employment before presuming to govern us was the gift of his loaded mother – in law? Or even of someone who’d actually worked in PR?
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I want these people out. I want them on the dole. I want them queuing for council houses. I want them waiting for hours in A&E. I want them eating shite. I want them bored out of their minds because there is no work for them, and being told by people on another planet that they are lazy and feckless. And I want their pensions paid directly to collapsed banks in Greece.
David Davies Con Momouth CFoI, Special Constable! and freebie accepter from Virgin Atlantic and the Middle East Council. And a visitor to Syria, Iran and China.
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/regmem/?p=11719
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Baldry Church Commissioner of course, another establishment nest.
{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_Commissioners}
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Let these bishops take off their frocks, pack them into a suitcase and hop on the train, tube or bus.
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For once I agree with the mealy mouthed Carey.