It is ten years since I ended my FCO career by going on the Today programme and blowing the whistle on CIA/MI6 complicity in torture. It was on my 46th birthday, and I was in my second year as an Ambassador and my seventh as a top Whitehall civil servant, a member of the Senior Civil Service.
Looking back now, what is most striking are the blatant lies by the FCO that they were not obtaining intelligence from torture. As the BBC reported:
In one he claimed MI6 had used information passed on to it by the CIA but originally obtained in Uzbek torture cells – something strongly denied by the Foreign Office.
I do not think there is a single person in public life or social media nowadays who would not accept that the FCO were simply lying. Jack Straw was blatantly to lie about it to parliament. But ten years ago the public and media knew much less than they know now. Nobody outside secret circles had ever heard the words extraordinary rendition. It was a year later – May 2005 – before the New York Times revealed the CIA was sending people to Uzbekistan to be tortured, precisely as I had stated.
It sounds incredible, but in October 2004 many people believed it was Craig Murray who was a liar, not Jack Straw. Again I do not think there is a single individual today who does not understand that Jack Straw was lying through his teeth. But back in 2004 life was hard for me.
After going on the Today programme I went on the run, in fear for my life. I am not paranoid, remember David Kelly. I first stayed with my old friend Andy Myles in Edinburgh, then I think Chief Executive of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. He was phoned the next morning by the FCO. When he denied knowledge of my whereabouts, they not only said they knew I was staying with him, they said which bedroom I was sleeping in. Ten years ago today I was hiding in Aviemore in the house of my old friend Dominic.
That was the start of a decade as a dissident where I have devoted my life to exposing, and trying to counter, the evil of the neo-conservative policy pursued by our political class at the behest of the corporations who fund them. I have suffered a huge loss in money, status and most of the other normal aspirations. But what I have gained is invaluable. I have respect and love, while Blair and Straw will forever be despised.
Would anyone else like to sign a letter to the Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Dr Hywel Francis MP (see my comments here on 24 Oct at 4.38 pm)? Iff there is enough interest, I will post here the draft I have already shared with co-signatories of the 9 October letter to Theresa May.
Other on-line comments about today’s Observer front page (see my links at 12.28 pm today)show that no nationality, race, sex, social class, religion, birthplace or website has a monopoly on the language of hate.
http://en.ria.ru/authors/20141025/194585344/Washington-Is-Defaming-Putin.html
ATLANTA, October 25 (RIA Novosti) – On October 24 at the Valdai International Discussion Club meeting in Sochi, Russia’s President Putin correctly and justifiably denounced Washington for destabilizing the world in order to serve its own narrow and selfish interest and the interests of the private interest groups that control Washington at the expense of the rest of the world. It is about time a world leader denounced the thuggish neocon regime in Washington. Putin described Washington’s double standards with the Roman phrase: “What is allowed for God [the US] is not allowed for cattle [the rest of the world].”
In case I need to spell it out further, Ben, your country was guilty of a war crime at Fallujah… the use of a chemical weapon on a civilian population (somewhat ironical in view of Saddam’s WMD, don’t you think!)
http://law.bepress.com/expresso/eps/1959/
As we know, even after the judgement, white phosphorus was used – although not to the same extent – by Israel against Gaza. This has a current relevance because there has already been evidence of use in the environs of Donetsk.
This is a typical BBC article. Absolutely no mention of the civilians killed by UK forces. Let alone the derisory £3000 in compensation. A complete whitewash.
“UK ends Afghan combat operations”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29776544
You needn’t spell it out, but there really aren’t any who cam claim any innocence when it comes to war. The only innocents are the genetically malformed children. We’re all guilty at some level.
If the Labour Party disappears from Scotland – as they will – what are the implications for the UK?
None whatever. SS Ukania will continue to steam steadily towards whatever final iceberg awaits.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUV_YbmHk6Y
Very sorry to hear of your health troubles Mary,
My best wishes to you for a speedy and full recovery,
You could say the same about the riches that came into Britain over the same period as a result of “financial deregulation”. No much of that filtered down either.
But then I didn’t – one can oppose both financial deregulation and Putin – the two are not mutually exclusive as some here like to think.
“Don’t feed the trolls”
_________________
and ignore all puffs on here for other blogs.
“Don’t feed the trolls.”
I agree, the trolls being those who have nothing to contribute or evade all challenges to their own particular viewpoints.
@Ben: I remember going to see my local MP about what was about to happen to Fallujah. He had voted against the Iraq war, and was previously very pro-UN. However, he had by now apparently become part of the pro-war establishment. He happily told myself and other concerned citizens how the pincer movement was going to work to clean out (not his words) the Iraqi resistance. Yes, I went away and did nothing more, other than meditate of peace. I’m saying this now because it is evoking memories, and it is almost exactly 10 years ago.
“I have been following the situation in Banderastan pretty closely and I can only say that the cracks in the regime are visible all over the place. Whether Poroshenko and his US master’s really believe that an attack can succeed (I doubt it) or whether they really want to force Russia into openly intervening (which I see as almost inevitable), the fact is that starting a major war might well be the only way to save the Poroshenko regime which currently is in free fall.”
Well if that is true then they will be able to deliver a pretty strong message at the nex Parliamentary elections – which are being held eh today. My guess is that Ben is watching the situation in Ukraine about as closely as he watched the borders of Germany.
That is very kind of you Jives. I am sure that I will recover given time. I have been in the hands of some amazing people. Loving kindness from all I encountered. Their workloads are enormous. The radiotherapy department is working at 140% of capacity. I heard from one senior planning radiographer that she is paid a retainer of just £15 to be on standby all weekend in case of urgent need. Can you imagine any of the troughers performing a duty of care like that for £15.
I am on Branson’s Virgin Care ‘virtual ward’ btw!!
He acquired Surrey’s community health services for £500m a couple of years back. That is everything incl. community hospitals, mammography, school dentistry, etc. etc. One of his ‘community matrons’ visited here and watched a nutrition nurse (who happened to be visiting too) instruct me on dispensing medicines through my stomach tube. All she did was to provide a list of telephone numbers of care agencies and care homes on the back of a brown envelope!
I employed a live in carer for a week after I left hospital (£800) and have had to buy my own nebulizer. There is NO care in the community.
NHS patients to be treated by Virgin Care in £500m deal
Thousands of patients are to be cared for by staff working for a private company after Virgin Care finalised the biggest outsourcing deal yet for running day-to-day NHS services.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9176733/NHS-patients-to-be-treated-by-Virgin-Care-in-500m-deal.html
God help any poor souls without some savings.
‘Healthy competition’ in the NHS is a sick joke
Real health choice under the NHS reform Bill doesn’t exist, and the so-called market is a mockery. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/features/9193015/Healthy-competition-in-the-NHS-is-a-sick-joke.html
As history has shown us elections don’t change anything. But the desperation to get gas for the coming Winter gives one pause, doesn’t it?
Cobbling some panicked support for a failing regime and economy is the only hope for IMF to get them their gas money ‘toot suite’.
Chapter and verse here Peacewisher. 2.58pm ref Fallujah.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3992263.stm
Many Iraqis are dead but Allawi and Rumsfeld, Bush and Blair are alive. Where is the justice?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayad_Allawi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Rumsfeld
May they rot in hell. They will never appear at The Hague.
@all: The troops are massing for a reason, and Poroshenko voted today in Kramatorsk in military fatigues. I guess the difference with Fallujah is that war crime was far away from the only military power that could potentially have stopped it, and this one… well, it’s on their doorstep! It can certainly be prevented. And maybe that will make Poroshenko think twice. But to go back to my earlier discussion with Habby about puppet leaders… we don’t know what pressure he’ll be under.
Once again democrats are being urged to show at the polls in the mid-terms. I’m quite tired of having to choose the less smelly cheese-eater. What if the republicans take the Senate? It could lead to some public awareness of how republicans believe more in the rights of property ownership than civil rights. ‘property before people’ might have some gravitas in 2016. Maybe we could get another Whitlam for the States. The soil needs to be turned and crops rotated.
@Ben: I’ve just read that another of the Bush family is “almost certain” to run for President.
Yeah, Jeb is being hailed as a ‘moderate’ (Hillary too) PW. The race to ‘who’s the better war-monger’ will start next year.
“As history has shown us elections don’t change anything.”
What garbage – but of course an American Nazi would believe this.
Not totally sure what the vote in parts of Ukraine is supposed to achieve.
Had they wanted legitemacy then the vote would be made after they stole power.
There have been some pretty nasty stuff done since the coup d’etat , I doubt that half the country want that.The Nazi’s who have been responsible for most of the nasti stuff represent only around 10% of Ukrainians and have nothing to gain from the democratic process.
Since everything was fixed from the start by USA trhen no reason to believe the same is not happening now,like an Afghan or Iraqi election.
Problem is it will be just as legitimate as the coup d’etat.Yatsenuk is not popular and not elected so if he remains unelected then no reason for him to be in power.Except that US wants him there.Russia is certainly no paradigm of rightosness but they come up smelling of roses in this situation.The US are becoming sloppy.
Surely the family has been sufficiently discredited by now for the Republicans not to risk him (or maybe they have all decided it will be Hilary anyway, in which case it would be quite a good move!)
Peacewisher 26 Oct, 2014 – 3:56 pm
“I’ve just read that another of the Bush family is “almost certain” to run for President.”
Be afraid. Be very afraid. George Dubya was installed purely to enable 911 and the aftermath. They used him because being a sockpuppet was just about within the limit of his abilities. Jeb actually has some smarts. He wouldn’t subject himself to the tedious ordeal of being made president unless THEY have something really enormous planned. Seriously, this is very very bad news if true.
Oboma was a ‘shiny object’ in 2008…promises, promises; they shine like a dead mackerel at midnight.
“There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know.”
Harry Truman–
Earlier I said Clacton when I should have said Rochester.
http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2014/10/decade-of-dissent/comment-page-2/#comment-488728
Fallon recently promoted from I/c fracking to Defence LOL has been spouting off today about towns being ‘swamped’ by EU migrants.
British towns being ‘swamped’ by immigrants, says Michael Fallon
Defence secretary’s use of word harks back to Thatcher, amid Ukip pressure and Tory calls for renegotiation of EU membership
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/oct/26/british-towns-swamped-immigrants-michael-fallon-eu
Another of the moral pygmies.
@Node: Surely George W was installed thanks to his brother Jeb’s prompt action in one district of Florida, so he was effectively an accomplice. I went to bed with a democrat win predicted and woke up to find that Florida had gone the other way. Didn’t that ever get properly investigated?
Mary, sorry to hear about your condition. Most people here will share sympathy for you. Then of course there will always be exceptions. Good luck with the recovery.
Don’t encourage the trolls.
Beyond a farce now.
Bizarre bid to gag MoS… by ‘Home Office’: Newspaper warned it would be reported to new press complaints watchdog for trying to uncover truth about Fiona Woolf’s appointment to child abuse inquiry
PR man claiming to be working with the Home Office threatened journalist
Said MoS would be reported for arranging interview with panel member
Newspaper hoped abuse survivor would shed light on the controversy
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2808000/Bizarre-bid-gag-MoS-Home-Office-Newspaper-warned-reported-new-press-complaints-watchdog-trying-uncover-truth-Fiona-Woolf-s-appointment-child-abuse-inquiry.html
So was this ANOTHER party with Leon Brittan you forgot, Mrs Woolf?: Pressure grows on beleaguered sex abuse inquiry chief to resign… as MoS uncovers new link to ex-minister who ‘lost’ vital evidence Fiona Woolf hosted VIP drinks reception at which Leon Brittan was a guest
Brittan accused of failing to act on a dossier about VIP paedophile rings
She did not declare the meeting in list of possible conflicts of interest
Mrs Woolf admitted she has also enjoyed dinner parties with Lord Brittan
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2807976/Pressure-grows-beleaguered-sex-abuse-enquiry-chief-Fiona-Woolf-resign.html
Exactly, Peacewisher, that’s what I mean. Jeb Bush is actually capable of achieving things, such as fixing an election. He’s got better things to do than spend 8 years in the public eye being a figurehead. He would only put himself through that if it was very important. Something as game-changing as 911.
It look’s like they’ll go the extra mile, Mary, to protect Leon Brittan.
From what I’ve heard, the abused victims are likely to ignore the inquiry and trust in the new generation of police.