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George Galloway ...
How many times can one man be crucified? By how many different, baying mobs? In how many different ways? And, how many times can such man come back?
The story of George Galloway, ex-New Labour MP and serial thorn in Bush & Blair's sides, may well provide the answers. Though not before this extraordinary political maverick's saga reaches it's final chapter -- which remains, as yet, unwritten. Let's hope when it is, the last word goes to Galloway -- NOT to Bush nor Blair. Long may their [self-inflicted] worst nightmare continue.
In today's 'Guardian' is what's possibly the least 'agenderised' and 'fairest' article on Galloway, I've seen. Penned by media commentator, Roy Greenslade -- amongst may other things -- this genuinely honest journalist freely admits the following.
** He [ Galloway ] has regularly sued for libel and, worse still in the eyes of journalists, has always won, sometimes handsomely. I must declare an interest here: I have also lost to him in a libel action; but, unlike many who have suffered similarly, I bear him no grudge. **
Oh, that I had either the time or the journalistic ability to write as well as Greenslade. Oh, that I had just one miniscule, milli-per-cent of Greenslade's readership. No matter; nowadays there's not that much need. Thanks to the modern miracle of the web and the bite of the blog, I can bring to an even wider readership, his every relevant word. To further whet your appetite, here's another clip & paste -- this time, his opening paragraphs .
** I come not to praise George Galloway but - unlike almost the entire media - not to bury him either. There will be many who snort contemptuously when I say that Galloway is now more sinned against than sinning because he has become so unpopular with both the media and political elites that they regard him as outside the normal rules of the game.
Indeed, to defend him places the defender beyond the pale too. But the victim of what has all the hallmarks of a media feeding frenzy deserves a fair hearing, not only for his personal benefit, but for those he now represents - and in order to confront journalists with their own misguided agendas.
In quick succession since his election victory last week in Bethnal Green and Bow, Galloway has been subjected to a television mauling by Jeremy Paxman, a radio sandbagging by the MP he defeated and a raft of newspaper headlines about a set of reheated allegations which he has not only strenuously denied but which ended with him winning a major libel action.
In spite of Galloway's court victory and the accumulated evidence in his favour, the BBC saw fit to lead its news bulletins yesterday with the story of supposedly "new" accusations that he received money from Saddam Hussein's Iraq through its oil-for-food programme. Yet the only difference between the claims made against Galloway by the Daily Telegraph in April 2003 and a US Senate subcommittee this week was that they were based on (already published) documents allegedly retrieved from Iraq's oil ministry rather than its foreign ministry - and not, as wrongly claimed, that they covered different periods.
In all other essentials, the allegations made by the Senate committee are the same as those originally outlined in the Telegraph articles that resulted in Galloway being awarded £150,000 in libel damages and £1.2m in costs, though an appeal against the high court ruling in his favour is still outstanding.
During the case Galloway successfully rebutted every point in the Telegraph story that led its journalists to conclude that he had profited from Saddam's government. So it's hardly any wonder that Galloway has found himself repeating his former denials. **
To read this full, 'fair and balanced' article, which I can't recommend highly enough, click on the link at the bottom. Then, if you're genuinely interested in helping a much maligned man like Galloway, please email links to this blog, to as many friends as possible.
If certain vested interests still think they'll always have things their own way, they're wrong. When we all work together, ordinary/regular people like ourselves can give them a short, sharp shock.
So, if you're as sick of the slimy 'spinners' as "This Old Brit" is -- please pass this on. If you're sincere in your search for truth; if you're tired of our lousy leaders' lies; if you're determined to ditch both them and their dirt; if you're positively puking at all their propaganda; if your blood is boiling; if your convictions are matched by your courage -- please, act today.
Get those emails out, now! The Galloway-U.S. Senate, charade looms large. It's only days away. Please, let everyone know, in time. Forewarned is forearmed.
In anticipation, I thank you for your help. I'm sure many others do/will, too.
* Link to the full Guardian/Greenslade/Galloway (must-read) article, below:
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,9115,1483078,00.html
posted by Richard at Friday, May 13, 2005
8 Comments:
Richard,
When I heard that the U.S. Senate had suddenly scheduled (less than a week's notice) a full scale Senate Hearing for the purpose of discussing George Galloway, I was puzzled. Why on earth is the Senate so interested in an MP in Britain? Why move so fast when there is plenty else on their plate? It looked like it was scheduled so fast that Galloway himself would be unable to attend to defend himself -- most people couldn't clear their calendar and get a flight quickly enough, let alone prepare their defense. What was going on?
And then I had an A-Ha! Moment:
WHAT ELSE WAS GOING ON IN OUR OWN COUNTRY THAT NEEDED A DISTRACTION? The answer to that question is easy. It is the devastating Bush/Blair Iraq War Intensions Memo, of course. This was the 2002 meeting minutes that clearly said Bush wanted war with Iraq and would shape intelligence reports to make it happen.
When the story broke in Britain it was a bombshell, and undoubtedly had a major impact on last week's elections. But news of it was suppressed in our country. Leading newspapers and television ignored the story for almost two weeks. However the internet was buzzing with it and savvy Americans who know they must go outside our country to get accurate news had begun peppering their Congressmen and Senators with questions, including demands for impeachment of the imposter in the White House.
I think the "powers that be" have already tried a few distractions to divert attention and interrupt regular business in the Congress. Desperate ploys, if you ask me.
I have decided this "emergency" U.S. Senate "Galloway Hearing" is another desperate attempt to divert the public's attention and save Bush and Blair from further embarrassment or worse. Galloway will be there. He can hold his own. Will the media report it honestly? Doubtful.
Galloway needs all the moral support we can give him.
This is my 2nd reply, Rosemary. Seems the 1st didn't make it before Blogger went down.
I'd previously complimented you on your ability to see 'the big' picture, and for your ability to 'paint' that picture, so clearly.
I also agreed that Galloway NEEDS all the support we can offer - and that, as you said, it's DOUBTFUL the mainstream media will report on the 'affair' honestly.
I thanked you, too. And, I do again. ;^)
Thanks for all the info, Richard. Many of us here across the pond are looking forward to having Mr. Galloway put the Senate in its place (though I'm angry that he should have to do this, having already won a libel suit over the same ridiculous accusations). He's an MP now, he has better things to do with his time. God, I wish we had people in our Congress who would stand up to Bush the way Mr. Galloway stands up to Blair. And Rosemary is undoubtedly right about memogate playing a role in the Senate's sudden interest in tired old accusations. Anything to try to erase the implications of tired old memos, you know.
Catherine in Ohio
Hi Catherine. Nice to 'meet' you. Below, is he very latest, as I've just posted on a US liberal forum "Tapa".
Galloway latest - as we're getting it here. [ I also put another relevent piece on this blog, just a hour or so ago.] 17th May.
Galloway angrily denies oil claim
George Galloway has dismissed the allegations as ridiculous
George Galloway has angrily dismissed allegations by US senators he profited from oil dealings with Saddam Hussein.
The UK MP denied ever being involved in oil trading and accused senators of being "cavalier" with justice.
"I am not now nor have I ever been an oil trader and neither has anyone on my behalf," Mr Galloway told senators.
"l have never seen a barrel of oil, owned one, bought one sold one and neither has anybody on my behalf."
'Mother of all smokescreens'
Mr Galloway went on the offensive as soon as he began to speak, saying he had met Saddam Hussein on two occasions - the same number of times as US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
"The difference is Donald Rumsfeld met him to sell him guns and maps - the better to target those guns. I met him to try to bring about an end to sanctions, suffering and war," he said.
The accusations levelled against him was the "mother of all smokescreens", he said.
The biggest sanctions busters were American companies "with the connivance" of the US government.
Mr Galloway denied being an apologist for the former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
He said he had been a long-term opponent of Saddam, and had a much better record of opposition to the Iraqi leader than members of the American or British governments.
'Full of holes'
Earlier, Mark Greenblatt, who is acting as counsel to the Committee, told the hearing a senior official in Saddam Hussein's regime confirmed that Fawaz Zureikat, who was chairman of the charity, the Mariam Appeal, which was set up by Mr Galloway, facilitated the MPs oil allocations.
Mr Greenblatt said: "A senior regime official that was interviewed yesterday confirmed that Zureikat facilitated Galloway's oil transactions.
"He told me (and I quote) - 'It's my understanding that Zureikat is oil lifter for Galloway'."
Fawaz Zureikat has strongly denied making any arrangements linked to oil sales on behalf of Mr Galloway.
He is not expecting a sympathetic hearing but hopefully the truth will out
Mr Galloway's spokesman Ron McKay
Profile: George Galloway
US turned 'blind eye' to oil smuggling
Earlier this month, Mr Galloway, who was expelled from the Labour Party for his views on Iraq, narrowly beat Labour's Oona King to win the Bethnal Green and Bow constituency, in East London, for the fledgling Respect party.
Russia allegation
The United Nations-backed oil for food scheme enabled Saddam Hussein to export oil to pay for essential humanitarian aid to help the Iraqi people cope with UN sanctions imposed in 1991.
The options to buy barrels of Iraqi oil were alleged to have been given as rewards for supporting Saddam Hussein.
All they have is a photocopy, handed over by an unnamed source
Respect spokesman
The former Iraqi leader sold the vouchers at below market prices to favoured parties, who were able to sell them on at profit.
On Monday Russian politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky denied the committee's accusations that he accepted millions of dollars in Iraqi oil allocations.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Mr Galloway's Respect party told a press conference the document used by the Senate hearing was a forgery.
The spokesman said: "The actual first document, we don't know where it is, they don't know where it is and all they have is a photocopy handed over by an unnamed source."
Typographical analysis showed Mr Galloway's name was in a different typeface, a lighter shade and at a different angle to the rest of the document, he said.
The spokesman suggested Mr Galloway's name had been stuck to the bottom of the list, and the document photocopied.
He also cited testimony from an Iraqi who claimed he forged lists of people who profited from the oil for food scheme.
Vehement denial
In December, Mr Galloway won £150,000 in libel damages from the Daily Telegraph over its separate claims he had received money from Saddam's regime.
The MP had denied ever seeking or receiving money from Saddam's government, which he said he had long opposed.
Last month the newspaper won permission to appeal against the ruling to pay the damages, plus £1.2m in costs.
The Senate committee's report also accused Mr Pasqua of receiving oil rights from Iraq, something he has vehemently denied.
The report claims both he and Mr Galloway were given potentially lucrative oil allocations as a reward for their support in calling for sanctions against the regime to be loosened.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4556113.stm
Hello, Richard!
Just saw Galloway disembowel the junior Senator from my state of Minnesota -- bravissimo!
Can we clone him? We could use a few more Galloways over here.
Phoenix Woman, hello there! Long time no see or hear [@Tapa]. Bewtter late than never, though. Eh?
As for a Galloway clone -- well, there's always little old me.
Heh. We're both fiery, fightin' Celts, y'know. I might even say he IS ME -- a few years further down the line, Heh. :^)
It's remis of me not reply sooner, 'whisperer' [my nickname for you - heh - it's easir to type]. I did visit, but had trouble with the small type. When I'm fresher, which will be pretty soon I hope, I'll go back there.
I have Michael Scott's permission to pass this on - regarding his own recent actions and future intention[s]. We should all wish Michael well. He is - in his own words - a fire-breathin' Democrat.
He's definitley one of the good guys. He's a fellow blogger,and 'Tapa' poster, too. I'll give his blog-link at the end of this post.
** Not exactly a letter "to the editor," but one I just sent to "Mr George Galloway, MP": (they limit you to 4000 characters)
Mr Galloway: I am an American blogger (bestoftheblogs.com) who will be in London June 18-23 2005, and am wondering if I could interview you (perhaps even as a live webcast)? Many of us in America were greatly impressed by your testimony before Sen. Coleman's subcommittee, and are avidly following the differences between what the European and American presses are saying about both the Iraqi and Afghanistan wars. Some say you are Braveheart standing against the neocons.
I'll let you know if I get any response **
(Michael's blog: http://enemycombatant.blogspot.com/
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