UK FOREIGN POLICY IN ACTION

Anyone remember the ethical Foreign Policy?

Let’s assume that Tony did as he claims he did, thought as he said he thought and was sold bum information by the Security Services (who were then knighted or promoted).

No weapons, no 45 minutes. Okay?

Then presumably, as the news about Hussein’s mass child graves was to prove, his role as liberator, the man who will vanquish famine in Africa and face down tyranny wherever it lies can go on, undiminished? His good work through his sturdy colleague Mr Straw can go on, in say, maybe Uzbekistan?

Er, no.

Take for example the British Ambassador to that country, a Scot, Craig Murray who made the mistake to ditch the Ferrero Rocher and make an actual speech about what was going on. And what did his speech say? Amongst other things:

"There is worse: we believe there to be between seven and ten thousand people in detention whom we would consider as political and/or religious prisoners. In many cases they have been falsely convicted of crimes with which there appears to be no credible evidence they had any connection...".

Now under Jack Straw’s enlightened leadership of the Foreign Office Murray ahs been ditched and told to leave Tashkent.

"What I have been told about why I have to leave Tashkent is that the publicity surrounding my position would make my return impossible," he told the Guardian. "I have not been told as to why in any great detail."

In a long line of dirty tricks and smearing operations New Labour have now colluded in wrecking the guys life.

Mr Murray faced trumped-up disciplinary charges in July last year. The investigation into the charges - ranging from being drunk at work to issuing visas to local women for sex - were since dismissed as unfounded. Mr Murray claims the charges caused him to have a nervous breakdown and his wife has since left him.

Things can only get better eh?

Read the Guardian story here...

Full original speech here...