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| Britain |
| Clare Short can’t keep her piehole shut either: blasts No. 10 over Kelly |
| 2003-09-07 |
| Former Cabinet minister Clare Short has accused Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence of making weapons expert David Kelly’s life "hell". Not the Beeb huh? Writing in a national newspaper, the former Cabinet minister says an abuse of power drove the weapons expert to suicide. She also criticised Tony Blair for "a lack of respect for proper procedure". "process" is the mantra of someone like Clare The attack is the latest in a series of broadsides from the former International Development Secretary who quit the Cabinet over the Iraq war. Ms Short said: "We have a Prime Minister so focused on presentation that there is inadequate consideration of the merits of policy. Beneath the smiling demeanour, a ruthlessness that is accompanied by a lack of respect for proper procedure, and a willingness to be economical with the actuality." She said Andrew Gilligan’s BBC report that claimed Downing Street "sexed up" the dossier on Iraq’s weapons program was "fundamentally true". She said the conflict between the BBC and No 10 was over presentation, and not to do with policy or national interest. Ms Short said: "Once Dr Kelly came forward and said he had talked to Andrew Gilligan, the power of the state was focused on using Dr Kelly to get Gilligan. Dr Kelly’s wife has described what this did to her husband. "We politicians volunteer for the role, but when the press is after you and No 10 briefing against you, life can be hell. Dr Kelly found the pressure of No 10, the Ministry of Defence, the chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, the threat to his position and job, and `being treated like a fly’ too much to bear. I think most people would break under that strain. To use Dr Kelly in this way - to get at the BBC - was an abuse of power." Ms Short added: "The Prime Minister has told us that the claim that he had knowingly exaggerated the threat from Iraqi chemical and biological weapons would be a resignation issue. It is now clear that the threat was exaggerated. Clear to those not paying attention or smart enuf to understand, Clare? "On top of this, there is the total negligence of failing to prepare for the inevitability of a speedy military victory. Many, many lives have been lost and are being lost in Iraq because of this incompetence." "You should’ve prepared for a Quagmire!" |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #6 Excuse me but isn't "Cakehole" the politically correct expression? |
| Posted by: Not Mike Moore 2003-9-7 11:18:34 PM |
| #5 Clare Short misses the |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-9-7 2:40:12 PM |
| #4 Patton made whole villages tour the site.Wish we could do the same with all the peace ass hats. |
| Posted by: raptor 2003-9-7 11:52:24 AM |
| #3 I deeply regret there wasn't a Nurember trial (or more exactly a Munich trial) for the pacifists who paralized the democracies in the 30s, gave time for Germany to rearm, overrun Europe and then send child to the gas chambers. I deeply regret that whore will never have to face trial for the consequences of her actions. Not even having to talk to those who were tortured, mutilated, raped, those who child were killed. Not even having to look at the photos of what remained of those put in plastic shredders. Patton did just that the first time his troops captured a death camp: he forced the mayor of the town to visit it. The same night, the mayor and his wife committed suicide. Perhaps it was fear of retaliation. Or perhaps even a nazi mayor had more decency than Miss Short. |
| Posted by: JFM 2003-9-7 11:31:24 AM |
| #2 Why would the ex-International Development Secretary be interviewed by anyone about WMD controversy? Her opinion is only of interest to the media because it is negative. Sounds like the British are being played for suckers. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-9-7 10:30:50 AM |
| #1 Often when lefists attack their opponents they use 'facts' which reflect what they themselves would do rather than what actually happened. Many, many lives have been lost and are being lost in Iraq because of this incompetence. No, Claire. Many many, lives lost is what happened when you and your commie buddies at the UN dithered for 12 solid years and made common cause with a killer. And the incompetence belongs to you and the left wing of the Labor party. |
| Posted by: badanov 2003-9-7 10:29:49 AM |