Blogroll Me! How This Old Brit Sees It ...: British Premier & Attorney General Bow To Saudis And Abandon The Rule Of Law

15 December 2006

British Premier & Attorney General Bow To Saudis And Abandon The Rule Of Law



Those Americans who suggested it was stupid to say that their V.P. Dick Cheney, recently (and short-order-suddenly), was literally 'summoned' to Saudi Arabia by the ruling Royal House of Saud, should certainly now give said stated stance some serious second thoughts.

And we do not mean maybe, baby.

Once again it's been made abundantly clear to anyone with a mere modicum of common sense, that whatever the Saudis say they want -- they get. This time it's Blair's British government's turn to be told to toe the line - or pay a price - of catastrophic proportions.

We could hardly believe our eyes when today, confirmation - if it were ever needed - that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's demands definitely do demote the UK's own rule of law into second place when it comes to any 'You're either for us or against us' scenario .

Gasp aloud -- as you get a gander at this clip from today's relevant Guardian report.

A major criminal investigation into alleged corruption by the arms company BAE Systems and its executives was stopped in its tracks yesterday when the prime minister claimed it would endanger Britain's security if the inquiry was allowed to continue.

The remarkable intervention was announced by the attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, who took the decision to end the Serious Fraud Office inquiry into alleged bribes paid by the company to Saudi officials, after consulting cabinet colleagues.
For any who aren't aware, Lord Goldsmith as the United Kingdom's Attorney General virtually IS the law of our land.


He also just happens to be one of Tony Blair's oldest buddies/cronies, having been the boy Blair's old flat-mate during their chummy, ra-therrr, whizz-bang, eh-what?, old chap, university days.

But all that, of course, was well before Blair elevated his old mate to the peerage and provided him with his title, priviledged seat in the House of Lords and accompanying position of great power.

Reeling yet? You will be.

Read on.

In recent weeks, BAE and the Saudi embassy had frantically lobbied the government for the long-running investigation to be discontinued, with the company insisting it was poised to lose another lucrative Saudi contract if it was allowed to go on. This came at a time when the SFO appeared to have made a significant breakthrough, with investigators on the brink of accessing key Swiss bank accounts.

However, Lord Goldsmith consulted the prime minister, the defence secretary, foreign secretary, and the intelligence services, and they decided that "the wider public interest" "outweighed the need to maintain the rule of law".

Can you believe what you've just read? Or what you're about to read next?


Mr Blair said it would be bad for Britain's security if the SFO was allowed to go ahead, according to the statement made in the Lords by Lord Goldsmith.

The statement did not elaborate on the nature of the threat.

At this point we think it's time we took a breather, as we're already too angry to attempt to type much more on this shocking if not absolutely scandalous matter.


And while we were temporarily tempted to tie this piece up by asking what we the ordinary British and American people had done to deserve such louses for leaders, we eventually decided there's no damned need to.

Since almost anyone and/or everyone who is honest with themselves already knows the answer -- that the greatest sedition is silence; our own silence -- for far too long.

In other words, it's our collective serial apathy that has finally led us all into this sickening and seemingly now irreversible, shambles of a sensationally sordid, sewer-level-situation.

Please fasten your seat belt before taking off to read the full, frightening story.

*

19 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

So Goldsmith invoked 'Equal Protection' to stop the investigation, huh?

I guess Bair has the same boss as Bush has, his hand holding buddies. What's the British Press reaction?

2:59 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Flabergasting, Richard. Effing flabergasting.

3:12 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just flabergasting Rex?

How about nausiating, frightening, horrifying and terrifying?

3:18 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mind boggling. Most of us I think had an idea things were a bit like this, but the fact that they've now come right out and said so, leaves me speechless.

The rule of law takes second place ????????????

If we don't kow-tow to Saudi, we've got a big national security problem? WTF are these bastards threatening us with exactly!!!!!

3:35 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Old Brit, your Queen's gonna have to alter your national anthem - and get rid of the bit that say "Britain never, never shall be slaves."

Welcome to the real world.

3:53 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

But something similar has happened before, with the BBC documentary; 'Death of a Princess'. The BBC was forced to cancel the showing of this programme after Saudi Arabia complained. I can't remember why she was publically beheaded, but she hadn't killed anyone. Pretty barbaric, eh? And the Saudi 'royal' family is only three generations old!
*sweetoldlady*

4:57 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

sweet old lady,

Take a look at this link about the Saud family. Others should find it enlightening too.

Here's a snippit from the linked BBC piece;

The Saudi royals prove to be a hyper-articulate lot. But their relations with the Americans resemble those enjoyed by Bertie Wooster and Jeeves.

The Americans of course prove to be a very up-to-date Jeeves.

They will supply anything the Saudis want, except when the question of the existence of Israel is raised.

5:47 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

More good BBC stuff on this Saudi story.

*There will be a few wry smiles in foreign ministries around the world, particularly perhaps at the Quai D'Orsay in Paris and the state department in Washington, at news that the corruption investigation into a huge British defence contract with Saudi Arabia has been suddenly ended.

Foreign competitors will see another performance by 'perfidious Albion', as the British government holds its hand on its heart and promises that commercial interests have played no part.

British lectures on the "rule of law" will lose some of their force.

Other governments - and frankly, many of the British workers engaged on the project - will not believe that the size of the contract in question was not the determining factor. It is for 72 Typhoon Eurofighters from BAE.


Read more here.

6:02 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Here's the latest I can find.

Blair defends Saudi probe ruling.

6:07 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just found this too.

Saudi decision puts focus on law chief

By Jon Silverman
Legal affairs analyst

Lord Goldsmith said the decision was taken by the SFO

The attorney general has described his position regarding the abandoned investigation into alleged bribery by Saudi officials as "uncomfortable".

That must be the under-statement of the month.


(more follows)

Above BBC\Lord Goldsmith link here.

6:12 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Though I have no special knowledge or insight on the matter, the stonewalling the Saudis did with the F.B.I. after the Khobar Towers attack in '96 seems a likely precedent. They sure stopped the pursuit of justice COLD back then!

8:56 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

charles,

Thanks for that link. Interesting, yes?
I don't know where you live, but if you can get hold of any of Jean Sasson's books about Saudi Arabia (reportedly true stories she has ghosted from real live Saudi princesses) they are an eye-opener and no mistake! The one I have is 'Daughters of Arabia'; made me glad I'm not connected to the Saudi royal family in any way shape or form. She also has a website: www.jeansasson.com
*sweetoldlady*

8:58 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sickening to say the least. But a good post, Richard. Thanks ~~ once again.

10:39 pm  
Blogger enigma4ever said...

fucking falbbergasting...hideous....We have to end this horror show...have to...thanks for bloggin on this Rick.

11:40 pm  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It will never change. Civilisation? Let's stop kidding ourselves. We'll all have anihilated each other before we even get close to civilisation.


Truly, the love of money is the root of all evil.

Thanks anyway, Old Brit.

12:53 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Another flame has been lit under Tony's arse-
Diplomat's suppressed document lays bare the lies behind Iraq war

By Colin Brown and Andy McSmith

12/15/06 "The Independent" --- --

3:15 am  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This latest affront by blair et goldsmith re-inforces the rhetoric, that justice is a marketable commodity, the higher the price, the more justice you get.

10:11 am  
Blogger markfromireland said...

Bad News Richard. I'm baaack!

There's nothing really surprising about this story is there? Disgusting yes, surprising, sadly and alas no.

To umm help people get on with it. Umm get a bit of practice in (for when its our turn) and help 'em stop wondering what in the name of Jaysus to buy for christmas I've selected a board game for your readers:


It's got suicide bombers, political kidnaps and intercontinental war. It's got filthy propaganda, rampant paranoia and secret treaties... Buy the War on Terror now! War on Terror, the boardgame in all it's finery. ... and the Axis of Evil is a spinner in the middle of the board. You can fight terrorism, you can fund terrorism, you can even be the terrorists. The only thing that matters is global domination - err, liberation.

They've even got a blog: We're Winning!

12:00 am  
Blogger markfromireland said...

EEK! Sorry Richard hat tip to chicago dyke's blog on correntewire.com

12:04 am  

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