Editors are threatened over alJazeera bombing claim

[kpete]

The Times November 23, 2005

Editors are threatened over TV station bombing claim
By Rosemary Bennett and Tim Reid

NEWSPAPERS editors were threatened with prosecution under the Official Secrets Act last night if they published details of a conversation between Tony Blair and George Bush in which the President is alleged to have suggested bombing al-Jazeera, the Arab news network. Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney-General, informed newspapers editors including that of The Times that “publication of a document that has been unlawfully disclosed by a Crown servant could be in breach of Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act.”

The Blair Government has obtained court injunctions against newspapers before but it has never prosecuted editors for publishing the contents of leaked documents.

Under a front-page headline “Bush plot to bomb his ally” in the Daily Mirror yesterday, a secret minute of the conversation in April 2004 records the President allegedly suggesting that he would like to bomb the channel’s studios in Doha, capital of Qatar. Richard Wallace, the Editor of the Daily Mirror, said last night: “We made No 10 fully aware of the intention to publish and were given ‘no comment’ officially or unofficially. Suddenly 24 hours later we are threatened under Section 5.”

Charges under the Official Secrets Act have to be approved by the Attorney-General. His involvement suggests the prosecution intends to hold part, if not all, of the trial, behind closed doors.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1885279,00.html

[Tom Joad]

1. Read this post about an officer who refused to close down ...

an media outlet in Mosul, Iraq, because it carried Al Jeezera.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5435195&mesg_id=5435195
Or go directly here:
http://www.tomjoad.org/warheroes2.htm#means

[jmatthan]

2. This means it exists!!

eom

[stillcool]

9. could this be in the mix?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1880286,00.html

The Sunday Times - Britain
The Sunday Times November 20, 2005
Researcher on secrets charge

A FORMER MP’s researcher charged with breaking the Official Secrets Act behaved “perfectly correctly” and is “incredibly unlucky” to have been caught up in the scandal, according to his one-time employer, writes Robert Winnett.
Leo O’Connor, 42, is alleged to have been passed a top secret document about the Iraq war by David Keogh, a 49-year-old Cabinet Office civil servant.

The document is said to be the transcript of a conversation between Tony Blair and President George Bush in spring 2004. It is believed to show Blair disagreed with Bush over their strategy on Iraq.
The men also revealed sensitive information on the situation in Iraq, including intelligence sources and details of future military movements.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

3. There's Nothing To See Here....

No truth to the story whatsoever. Disregard all the anger and criticism for releasing this story. But don't believe it, because Shrub would never ever ever do such a terrible thing. It's unfair to even suggest such a thing. I mean, it's not like this should have ever been known to the public....even if it is.....errrrrrrr......is not true.

[Cleita]

17. Well, can't the President joke about something?

Or so said a freeper on yahoo. Really, they said he was joking. Watch for Lush, O'Creepy and Insannity to report that the President was joking tomorrow.

[tblue37]

20. Yeah, it was, like, a fraternity prank.

Yeah---that's the ticket!

[Oversea Visitor]

4. Sad

When those in power can use their power to prevent acts of wrong doing to be disclose it is real sad.

No more freedom no more liberty.

[HeeBGBz]

21. But sometimes truth slips out

No matter how they deny it.

[Liberal In Texas]

5. Maybe some of our Brit DUers have some take on this?

K/R.

[EuroObserver]

27. See also here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1943321

The BBC up to now still only has this to say (Americas section): http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4459296.stm

'A Downing Street spokesman said: "We have got nothing to say about this story. We don't comment on leaked documents."'

...But the Attorney General's (normally, a BLiar lackey) criminal Official Secrets Act action certainly looks like significant comment.

It's interesting to note that, as Wayne Madsen points out:

"Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) translator and analyst Katharine Gunn had similar charges against her dropped when it became apparent that her trial on the leak of a Top Secret National Security Agency (NSA) directive to GCHQ to begin surge surveillance of UN Security Council members prior to a 2003 vote on an Iraq war resolution would embarrass the Blair government."

--> Gunn apparently would have been able to call witnesses inorder to examine the entire issue of the (il)legality of the invasion of Iraq as part of her defense... The same would seem to potentially apply to any such case - unless people like Goldsmith (Attorney General) or Falconer (Lord Chancellor) come up with some constitutionally dubious way round it.

[Straight Shooter]

6. Let me guess. If full disclosure is made, the details will be even worse.

It's the Clash of the Titans, 21st Century.

[FormerRepublican]

10. No reason to squash the story unless there's worse to come.

[Straight Shooter]

14. It's always that way lately, isn't it, with the bush gang?

OTOH, maybe they're just doing their usual digging in of their heels and refusing to cooperate because that's what they always do.

[upi402]

7. i.n.t.i.m.i.d.a.t.e. the "free" press = authoritarian

this WH is not legalistic now is it?

[Marie26]

8. Perhaps the Daily Mirror will be next on our bombing list. nt

[populistdriven]

22. Anthrax no doubt

[ThomWV]

11. How In Hell Does Blair Survive?

He is at best a lap dog to Bush. How can he continue to hold office?

[MisterP]

15. Airstrip One ahoy!

onward to Victory Eternal, Comrades! We can now take on Eurasia and Eastasia at once! Any further mention of anything contrary is now punishable by death! The Poodle calls! Onwards!

[MisterP]

16. doubleplus double-duplicate

[MelissaB]

12. Sending to the "greatest"

Something doesn't smell right. :grr:

[lumpy]

13. On the road to Fascism.

Hope editors have the guts to keep open the discussion regarding the secret documents concerning Bush's proposal to bomb Al Jazeerz in Quatar. These thugs are running scared, will do anything to keep the truth under wraps. Lets not be silent.

[spindrifter]

18. What is really interesting about this

is that, if true, the memo would put Blair in a good light vis-a-vis the British public that is anxious to get their troops out of Iraq. So--there must be other stuff in there that is HUGH!

[buddysmellgood]

19. Oh, by all means try to stop publication. It will never go away then :)

[alittlelark]

23. The cognitive dissonance that this could create

will F*ck w Thanksgiving tables across the country.

[Catrina]

24. Bomb the Press!! Freedom is on the march!

It just keep getting worse and worse ~ and to think that the press covered for this president all these years. Maybe he threatened them all. If so, now is the time for them to get on the air and say so.

And BRING BACK EASON JORDAN!! CNN should now say they have to review what happened in light of this new information!!

[niallmac]

25. So 10 Downing just gave the Mirror story HUGH credibility!

What a bunch of maroons!
Any one notice Al Jazeera is a teensy bit PO'd
right now?

[Stephanie]

26. If it isn't true, why is it an Official Secret?

hmmm?