Don't report , its a secret

[Tribesman]

Shame the other topic on alledged documents about alledged Bush/Blair and Al-Jazeera issues is locked .
Britain is locking the media on the story , its an official secret

[Devastatin Dave]

The official Backroom Tin Foil hats are on back order, I'm sure when they are delivered, soly will unlock that thread...

[ichi]

Seems to me that the first thread was locked when it degenerated from a political discussion to some bickering and name-calling.

This is an interesting topic, since Blair has been Bush's biggest supporter, and now he's starting to feel the heat for that support.

ichi

[Hurin_Rules]

Indeed. One question we might ask is if this conversation never took place, and Bush never said what he is reported to have said, then why is there a court case about this proceeding in Britain?

Again, several independent sources have reported that such a conversation took place.

[Tribesman]

several independent sources have reported that such a conversation took place.
Yes but where they got their information from is covered by the secrecy act so they cannot report it , Britain warned all its media this morning that they can face charges for following the story .
Nice things gagging orders .
They come in very handy when embarrasing stories surface .
Things like selling explosives to terrorists , breaking arms embargoes against brutal dictators , operating death squads . Shhhh its an embarrasing secret don't tell the public .
Though in this case the issue seems to be the context in which the alledged statements were made . I doubt that even a muppet like Bush would seriously consider pissing off the State that houses the regional headquarters by bombing it . Then again maybe he is that stupid .

[Redleg]

Its probably going to turn out to be a big uproar over nothing. Just like Reagan's statement about bombing Russia.

To bad the Government in England decided to put a clamp on it - it give credance to the theory that something is up.

Edit: By the way I understand the stock for Reynolds is climbing again.

[Papewaio]

I thought the secrecy act could not be used if it was for criminal actions?

For instance you can use the secrecy act to coverup a war crime, paedophillia or a preference for pepsi.

[Hurin_Rules]

Apparently not:

LONDON, England (CNN) -- The British government has warned news organizations against publishing details of a secret memo which one London tabloid newspaper said recounted discussions between Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush about bombing the headquarters of the Arabic news network Al-Jazeera.

The Daily Mirror reported Tuesday that Blair talked Bush out of launching an air strike against Al-Jazeera's headquarters in Qatar -- a U.S. ally -- during a 2004 meeting at the White House.

The White House called the report "outlandish," but Al-Jazeera urged the British government to either confirm or deny the report.

The Arabic-language network has been a frequent target of U.S. criticism, and its facilities in Afghanistan and Iraq have been hit by U.S. bombs.

If true, the Mirror report "would cast serious doubts" on U.S. statements that those strikes were accidental, the network said.

Downing Street spokesman Ian Gleeson said Tuesday that Blair's office would have no comment, because the memo the Daily Mirror cited was the subject of court action.

Two men face trial under Britain's Official Secrets Act in connection with release of the memo, and the attorney general's office warned news organizations that the case against them should proceed "without prejudice."

The Mirror reported that Bush was angered by Al-Jazeera's coverage of the April 2004 uprising in the western Iraqi city of Falluja, where U.S. Marines were dispatched to restore order after four American security guards had been killed and mutilated by insurgents.

Blair talked him out of the idea of bombing the network's headquarters, the newspaper reported.

A White House official told CNN, "We are not going to dignify something so outlandish with a response." And a Pentagon official called the Daily Mirror report "absolutely absurd."

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/eu...era/index.html

I wonder if this is just as 'absurd' as Rove and Libby being involved in the leak of Plame's identity. Remember that the White House press secretary also called that allegation 'absurd'. I wonder if 'absurd' is becoming the new Bush euphemism for 'true, but something we can't admit'.

[Just A Girl]

I thought the secrecy act could not be used if it was for criminal actions?

For instance you can use the secrecy act to coverup a war crime, paedophillia or a preference for pepsi.

Dunno... they still wont tell us who jack the ripper was.

[Tribesman]

I thought the secrecy act could not be used if it was for criminal actions?

Nope , they used to have a public interest get out clause , but Thatcher done away with that when someone at GCHQ went public (in the public interest )about the British governments arms shipments to the IRA .

[Papewaio]

I think the public have a right to know in a true democracy or republic who their leaders are defining as enemies.

It is a bit harsh to not know when you have been definied as an enemy of the state.

If the memo is true then it shows that the US has been purposely targeting journalists. The question then becomes why do something of that magnitude unless they have something to coverup?

If the memo does not exist why charge people?

[Tribesman]

I think the public have a right to know in a true democracy or republic who their leaders are defining as enemies.

Well the leaders would like to know as well , but they cannot make up their minds yet .
It is a bit harsh to not know when you have been definied as an enemy of the state.

Right thats it , you are down on the list now you damn subversive , do not question the state on matters of security.

[Hurin_Rules]

Al Jazeera is now demanding an answer, and there are protest in several middle eastern cities:

Jazeera fury over 'U.S. bomb' memo

Thursday, November 24, 2005 Posted: 1732 GMT (0132 HKT)
(CNN) -- Employees of the Arabic news network Al-Jazeera have been protesting over a recent report by a British tabloid that the U.S. allegedly planned to bomb the network's headquarters in Qatar -- a report vehemently denied by the White House.

Men and women stood outside Al-Jazeera's Doha, Qatar offices on Thursday holding signs in Arabic and in English, one reading "Don't bomb the messenger." Another sign read "Hostage of Truth" over a photo of Sami al-Hajj, an Al-Jazeera cameraman imprisoned at the U.S. military facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Al-Hajj was detained in Afghanistan, and the network has been asking for his release.

Employees staged similar protests at bureaus in Cairo, Beirut, and Ramallah, with banners condemning U.S. President George Bush.

The protests are a reaction to London's Daily Mirror report on Tuesday that offered details of a supposed secret memo that the tabloid said recounted discussions between Prime Minister Tony Blair and Bush about bombing Al-Jazeera's headquarters in Qatar -- a U.S. ally.

The paper reported that Blair talked Bush out of launching the airstrike against the network during an April 16, 2004, meeting at the White House. The White House called the report "outlandish," but Al-Jazeera called on the British government to either confirm or deny the report.

The Arabic-language network has been a frequent target of U.S. criticism and its facilities have been hit by U.S. bombs in both Afghanistan and Iraq. The Baghdad strike killed one journalist working for the network. If true, the Mirror report "would cast serious doubts" on U.S. statements that the strikes were accidental, the network said.

The network's employees are demanding investigations into the bombings and an urgent meeting between Blair and the editors-in-chief of major media outlets in London, including Al-Jazeera.

Britain has refused comment on the matter because two men face trial under Britain's Official Secrets Act in connection with release of the memo.

On Wednesday, Britain's attorney general's office warned news organizations not to publish details of the memo to insure the case against the two men proceeds "without prejudice." (Full story)

The Mirror reported that Bush was angered by Al-Jazeera's coverage of the April 2004 uprising in the western Iraqi city of Falluja, where U.S. Marines were dispatched to restore order after four American security guards had been killed and mutilated by insurgents. Blair talked him out of the idea of bombing the network's headquarters, the tabloid reported.

A White House official told CNN: "We are not going to dignify something so outlandish with a response." And a Pentagon official called the Daily Mirror report "absolutely absurd."

Speaking from Doha, Al-Jazeera's Editor-in-Chief Ahmed al-Sheikh Thursday called for an end to what he described as a "campaign against Al-Jazeera."

"If this alleged claim turns out to be true, then this is frightening," al-Sheikh told CNN. "It is time for them (the Bush administration) to re-think their attitude towards us and we are ready to cooperate with them.

"This negative attitude towards us has to stop. You have to believe that if indeed Bush planned to bomb Al-Jazeera, then this is a frightening proposition."

Al-Jazeera's Web site Thursday had a graphic on its main page with images of a bald eagle, a U.S. flag and the Al-Jazeera logo partially covered by a target with a dark background.

CNN Senior Arab Affairs Editor Octavia Nasr contributed to this report.

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/me...est/index.html

[Adrian II]

Al Jazeera is now demanding an answer (..)

So is Boris Johnson. You gotta love the upper class twit, even if you do not support what he stands for.

TORY MP: 'I'll go to jail to print the truth about Bush and al-Jazeera'

Link

[Tribesman]

Interesting piece , If we suppress the truth, we forget what we are fighting for, and in an important respect we become as sick and as bad as our enemies.

Now I wonder , if Boris had spoken instead of writing it would anyone have understood anything he said .

[Adrian II]

Now I wonder, if Boris had spoken instead of writing it would anyone have understood anything he said .

Oh Pfiffle, I mean piffle!

'Plummy' is publicly angling for a copy of the transcript for his rag, which makes it all the more fun.
Go Bozza!

[Tribesman]

Maybe a Liverpudlian will send him a copy just to see him sent to jail

[Adrian II]

Maybe a Liverpudlian will send him a copy just to see him sent to jail

As if anyone would understand a Scouser...

[InsaneApache]

Looks like Goldsmith has been told to 'plausibly deny' that this has been gagged for political and not security reasons.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4472648.stm

Last week Labour MP and former defence minister Peter Kilfoyle tabled a Commons motion calling for the memo to be made public.

He accused ministers of using the Official Secrets Act to save political embarrassment rather than protect national security as it is intended.

Lord Goldsmith also denied the Act was being used to prevent political embarrassment.

"It is not being used to save the embarrassment of a politician. That is completely not the case at all."

He also refused to confirm the contents of the memo.

I'm a long time admirer of Bliars way of circumventing the democratic process...house of cronies ...err Lords anyone?

[Tribesman]

Looks like Goldsmith has been told to 'plausibly deny' that this has been gagged for political and not security reasons.

Better than that , Goldsmith is saying that he isn't gagging the media , he is just telling them that they will be in very serious trouble if they do report it .
So he hasn't banned them from publishing , its just that if they do publish then they can go to jail for publishing something that he isn't banning them from publishing ???????Work that one out

[Geoffrey S]

So is Boris Johnson. You gotta love the upper class twit, even if you do not support what he stands for.

TORY MP: 'I'll go to jail to print the truth about Bush and al-Jazeera'

Whatever else he may be, he's most entertaining; Have I Got News For You was at its best last night with him as the host.

[BDC]

Looks like Goldsmith has been told to 'plausibly deny' that this has been gagged for political and not security reasons.

Better than that , Goldsmith is saying that he isn't gagging the media , he is just telling them that they will be in very serious trouble if they do report it .
So he hasn't banned them from publishing , its just that if they do publish then they can go to jail for publishing something that he isn't banning them from publishing ???????Work that one out

Welcome to Britain under President Blair. We'll be annexing Poland next without any significant amount of Labour MPs commenting (as some column wrote recently).

[Adrian II]

Shame the other topic on alledged documents about alledged Bush/Blair and Al-Jazeera issues is locked .
Britain is locking the media on the story , its an official secret

Now that it has been declared an official secret we can be sure that it will be all over the papers soon.

This morning The Telegraph reports that it is probably not the 'joke' about bombing Al-Jazeera that makes the five page transcript so damning, but the Bush/Blair discussion of the Fallujah battle itself. According to sources quoted in the paper, their discussion was about the 'full-scale levelling' of the town and Blair again failed to exert any moderating influence on the overseas cousins.