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| Britain |
| Blair has to explain how heroes died |
| 2003-03-28 |
| THE first victim of war is always the truth. This morning Nina Allsopp knows that more than most. Yesterday she saw her Prime Minister tell the world her hero brother Luke was callously executed by Iraqi soldiers and then paraded dead on television. Tony Blair used this sensational assertion to justify why Saddam Hussein has got to be removed. But the Allsopp family had been told a totally different story. Their boy's colonel assured them that Luke was NOT executed and had in fact died instantly in combat when his armoured car was ambushed. There is a huge difference in the two versions of events. Both to the ongoing propaganda war and to the Allsopp family. The same colonel reiterated the truth about how Luke died to them yesterday — and said he was trying to get the record set straight. "We have no idea why the Prime Minister would say a soldier had been executed if he hadn't." Yeah, me neither, why? Even Downing Street last night admitted it wasn't sure how the men died. But for Mr Blair to talk of "execution" when Luke Allsopp's loved ones were being told a different story is inexcusable. What we do know is that this war has already set the benchmark for distortion and denial on both sides. Distortion of what is really happening on the battlefield. Distortion of the facts of why we are there in the first place. And denial of the glaring reality that we are becoming mired in a war we may take years to escape from. For the families of the British servicemen who, like Luke, will fall on the battlefield we can only hope their grief is not made worse by doubts over how their loved ones died. Or by politicians, either through misinformation or for more sinister reasons, twisting the facts to justify their actions. The Allsopp family must be told today how their son DID die. And if he was NOT executed then Tony Blair must say so and apologise. To them and to the world. |
| Posted by:Murat |
| #4 These guys were missing for days. The story was that the convoy dispersed after coming under attack, regrouped and resumed its journey without the vehicle involved. If they 'lost' this vehicle, how could anyone know the men died instantly? I'm inclined to believe this colonel was trying to protect the relatives from the barbaric truth. It has happened before. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2003-03-28 11:57:29 |
| #3 "Blair's spokesman said the execution charge was based on the fact that the two soldiers were lying some distance from their vehicle and had been stripped of their helmets and body armor. Reporters asked if it were possible their equipment was removed after they were killed in action, but got no response." Possible? Perhaps, but hard to believe. |
| Posted by: RonB 2003-03-28 11:43:56 |
| #2 your comment link doesn't work now, if it ever did.... |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-03-28 10:31:53 |
| #1 Britain Less Certain About Iraq Execution Claim |
| Posted by: Murat 2003-03-28 09:34:47 |