Blair says Saudi arms probe would have "wrecked" ties

[sabra]

Source: DPA

London - British Prime Minister Tony Blair Thursday defended his decision to halt a fraud inquiry into a major Saudi Arabian arms deal because it would have led to the 'complete wreckage' of vital British national interests.

Blair's comments at a press briefing during the Group of Eight (G8) summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, followed revelations in the British media Thursday that a Saudi Arabian prince received huge payments from a British arms company in connection with an arms deal worth more than 40 billion pounds (76 billion dollars).

...

Blair repeated Thursday that, had the fraud investigation continued, Saudi Arabia would possibly have ended all co-operation on intelligence and security matters.

'This investigation, if it had gone ahead, would have involved the most serious allegations and investigations being made of the Saudi royal family,' Blair said in Germany.

Read more: http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/news/article_1314696.php/Blair_says_Saudi_arms_probe_would_have_"wrecked"_ties__2nd_Roundup_

[SpiralHawk]

1. "We cannot invstigate the Saudis - they are my intimate cronies" - Commander AWOL

"Forget that virtually all of the 9/11 terrorists, were Saudis, I'm still on intimate terms with them, because they have helped me and my cabal of corrupt republicon cronies reap MASSIVE PROFITS Smirk, smirk, smirk

- Commander AWOL

[EVDebs]

5. Ptech STILL has access to WH, FAA, military computer systems

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptech

'notable clientele' says it all.

Company now goes by name GoAgile.

[saigon68]

10. Nice Photo

I like this one better

[Phredicles]

2. Thanks, Tony, for reminding us what a man of principle you are

on the way out.

As for the Saudis, they sure are a secretive bunch. Much like their friends in the US (and in the UK too, evidently).

[MrPrax]

3. So because the Saudis are now helpful,

this immunes them from prosecution under domestic UK law for allegations that go way back before 9/11?

Nice amnesty program...protects both Saudis AND British citizens.

[mitchum]

7. The Saudis have NEVER been helpful...Israel is not the ME country...

that meddles in Western affairs (despite what many believe)

[Dhalgren]

9. Well, Israel isn't the ONLY one...

[MrPrax]

12. Um....

So...

even though the OP is about the British stating that the Saudis "co-operation on intelligence and security matters" IS helpful and that's why the British won't investigate their activities regarding BAE, you still feel the need to mention Israel?

How bizarre...

[mitchum]

15. No, that is not what I meant at all...

I was merely alluding to the fact that unfortunately many believe that Israel is always up to some type of sinister machination while Saudi Arabia ALWAYS gets a pass.
While I disagree with some policies of the Israel government, the despots who control Saudi Arabia are actually responsible for far more dirty work.The House of Saud is a cancer.

[frankieT]

19. Israel & Saudi Arabia are driving western policies in ME

They even have a lot of common interests like Lebanon (war against Hizbullah), Iraq or Iran.

[jwirr]

4. Did he ever think that this destructive relationship between Eng/*ss/

Saudi might be the real problem? May its destruction would be the best thing that could happen for the world.

[mitchum]

6. Disgusting lapdog

[saigon68]

11. The Lap Dog

[Dhalgren]

8. So, Blair admitted it in public. The Saudi Royal family is above the law.

Not just British law, but International law, as well. 'This investigation, if it had gone ahead, would have involved the most serious allegations and investigations being made of the Saudi royal family,' Blair said in Germany. So, the Royal family of Saudi Arabia and the Royal family of the US are above the law...

[KoKo]

14. Above the Law....that's how it struck me when I heard that. We deal with Saudi's

"because one has to deal with bad men," in the Blair/Bush War on Terror. I wonder when the connection will be made that most of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi's.

Seems to me Michael Moore made the Bandar/Saudi connection a long time ago in Farenheit 9/11.

Maybe this will come to something. Blair is not liked in GB and it's time this ARMS DEALING EMPIRE that US and GB have tied their people to economically...while exporting the peaceful jobs out of their countries is exposed.

Blair's answer leaves more questions. I wonder if he's getting fearful that all of it will come tumbling down.

[Amonester]

16. fearful? bLiar? No. Like the rest of 'em, he DOES NOT CARE.

Besides. His seat at Carlyle is ready...

[gratuitous]

13. Why does a Saudi prince need to be bribed?

I thought the whole idea of electing overrich white guys was because they couldn't possibly be bribed, and yet here's some Saudi prince getting his palm greased in an arms deal. Between a British arms company, a Saudi prince, bribery, corruption, and fraud, Blair somehow found some public interest so much more compelling that he cut the case off at the knees.

Sounds like bullshit to me.

[terisan]

Maybe Prince Bandar, ambassador to US, was only a link to funnel money elsewhere nt

[terisan]

21. Maybe Prince Bandar, ambassador to US, was only a link to funnel money elsewhere nt

[LeftishBrit]

17. Great, so he's not only Bush's poodle, he's the Saudi royal poodle

''This investigation, if it had gone ahead, would have involved the most serious allegations and investigations being made of the Saudi royal family,' Blair said in Germany.'

And we couldn't allow THAT, could we!

[Desperadoe]

18. Don't forget....

that Blair is still Bill Clinton's bestest buddy. That should tell you something about Bill.

[frankieT]

20. Did you noticed how much light is given

to human rights violations in Iran when worse acts are commited on a regular basis in KSA ?

[muriel_volestrangler]

22. Steve Bell cartoon:

[The Backlash Cometh]

23. Shades of Sibel Edmonds?

Anyone get the feeling that the brits are walking in that nebulous area that resulted in a gag of Sibel Edmonds?

[elehhhhna]

24. BINGO!

[starroute]

25. That's how the British have been playing things lately

Just as the US is currently substituting raw military power for the economic dynamism and cultural influence it's lost, the British for the last 50 years have substituted Machiavellian machinations for the power they enjoyed in the days of empire.

I've even seen it suggested that this is at the heart of what the US gets out of the "special" US/UK relationship -- the superior ability of the Brits to sneak around the planet in places where Americans would fall over their own feet and to pull the strings on subtle financial manipulations. The US/UK/Saudi intelligence-and-financial nexus was behind BCCI in the 80's -- when this whole Yamamah business began -- and it's clearly still in play now.

[The Backlash Cometh]

26. You know, until you posted, I hadn't connected Britain as being one of

the quasi-allies.

[Solly Mack]

27. LMAO Yeah...OK.

and people wonder why the world is all screwed up

[yardwork]

28. So we wrecked Iraq instead.

[BornagainDUer]

29. Blair involved in BAE arms deal!!

I posted this elsewhere:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1064789&mesg_id=1071221

[fujiyama]

30. How wonderful...

He's basically admitting a cover up.

God he sickens me. Thankfully he'll be gone soon.