So Jack Straw has admitted (what took you so long, Jack?) that trade issues did have a bearing, indeed a major bearing, on the decision to release al-Megrahi.
Jack Straw has admitted a trade and oil deal with Libya influenced the decision to free the Lockerbie bomber. The justice secretary claimed that the trade was ‘a very big part’ of the decision to include Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi in a Prisoner Transfer Agreement (PTA).
Meanwhile, last week, Gordon Brown was still insisting that there was "no conspiracy, no cover-up, no double dealing, no deal on oil" over his release. So was Gordon lying? Of course not; he was talking about oil, whereas Straw was talking about trade in general. Completely different things, dear boy. Gordon Brown would not lie to the British people, so there must be a get-out somewhere. Indeed there is ...
Straw claimed the prime minister was not involved in the decision to press ahead with the PTA [Prisoner Transfer Agreement] and said: "I certainly didn't talk to the PM. There is no paper trail to suggest he was involved at all."
Translation into English: Of course we discussed it, but it was all off the record and you won't able to prove anything.
So what was obvious from the start to anyone with half a brain is now in the open: al-Megrahi was released so that trade relations with Libya could continue, and this was done by firm but deniable pressure on the Scottish Parliament, who found a legal way to accomplish the release without too obviously tearing up previous international understandings.
When will anyone in Government just tell the truth, for God's sake?
There was a time when politicians resigned over the making of misleading or ill-informed statements.
ReplyDeleteNew Improved Labour have somehow made it not just acceptable but de rigeur for politicians to tell blatant, outright lies and still remain in office as long as they like.
Perhaps they are unaware how blood-boilingly furious it makes some of us that the supposedly most respected members of our elected parliament are unashamed liars, cheats and thieves. Perhaps they cannot see how damaging that complete severance of trust is. Or more likely, they care not a whit about the wishes of the electorate - who are, after all, "little people" put on this earth to make them feel grand. And since nothing we do or say can crowbar any of the bastards out of their cushy little numbers...perhaps they're right. One "X" every five years, and all that does is pick a particular brand of slimeball to put on the gravy train.
Where's my option to vote for somebody worth voting for, is what I'd like to know?
It's an appropriate time to mention that Orwell wrote more than one famous book. "Animal Farm" wasn't intended as a blueprint for future government, any more than "1984" was, but somebody's been reading up...