Notice: This is the official website of the All Empires History Community (Reg. 10 Feb 2002)

  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

British Daily Mirror Accuses Bush of Planning to Bomb Aljazeera!?

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
ok ge View Drop Down
Arch Duke
Arch Duke
Avatar
Retired AE Moderator

Joined: 29-Aug-2005
Location: Saudi Arabia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1775
  Quote ok ge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: British Daily Mirror Accuses Bush of Planning to Bomb Aljazeera!?
    Posted: 23-Nov-2005 at 13:12

UK gags paper over Aljazeera memo


Wednesday 23 November 2005, 12:01 Makka Time, 9:01 GMT  

Blair is said to have talked Bush out of any military strike

 Related:
Comments: Bush, Aljazeera memo
Aljazeera probes Bush 'bombing' memo
Memo: Bush wanted Aljazeera bombed

 Tools:
  Email Article
  Print Article
  Send Your Feedback

Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper has been ordered to cease publishing further details from an allegedly top secret memo revealing that US President George Bush wanted to bomb Aljazeera.

The gag order from Attorney-General Lord Goldsmith came nearly 24 hours after the paper published details of what it said was a transcript of talks between Bush and the British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

In those talks, which took place during the prime minister's April 2004 visit to Washington, Blair is said to have talked Bush out of launching "military action" on the television channel's headquarters in Doha, Qatar.

"No 10 did nothing to stop us publishing our front page exclusive yesterday (Tuesday)," the Daily Mirror said on Wednesday, referring to the British prime minister's office.

But the attorney-general warned that publication of any further details from the document would be a breach of the Official Secrets Act.

He threatened an immediate High Court injunction unless the newspaper confirmed it would not publish further details.

"We have essentially agreed to comply," the paper reported.

"We made No 10 fully aware of the intention to publish and were given 'no comment' officially or unofficially, Daily Mirror Editor Richard Wallace was quoted as saying.

"Suddenly 24 hours later we are threatened under Section 5 [of the Official Secrets Act]."

According to Britain's Guardian newspaper, it is the first time that the Blair government has threatened to prosecute a newspaper for publishing the contents of leaked government documents.

'Inconceivable'

Scott McClellan described the
Mirror's report as 'outlandish' 

The White House has dismissed the Daily Mirror report, calling it "outlandish".

"We are not going to dignify something so outlandish and inconceivable with a response," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said on Tuesday.

Aljazeera itself, whose coverage of the war in Iraq has been criticised by the US, says it is also investigating the report.

"If the report is correct then this would be both shocking and worrisome not only to Aljazeera but to media organisations across the world," the station said in a
statement.

Following the Mirror's report there have been calls to release the transcript.

"If the report is correct then this would be both shocking and worrisome not only to Aljazeera but to media organisations across the world"

Aljazeera statement

"If true, then this underlines the desperation of the Bush administration," said Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Sir Menzies Campbell.

"On this occasion, the prime minister may have been successful in averting political disaster, but it shows how dangerous his relationship with President Bush has been."

The Mirror on Tuesday quoted a source as saying: "The memo is explosive and hugely damaging to Bush.

"He made clear he wanted to bomb Aljazeera in Qatar and elsewhere. Blair replied that would cause a big problem.

"There's no doubt what Bush wanted to do - and no doubt Blair didn't want him to do it."

Previous attacks

The threat by Bush also "casts fresh doubt on claims that other attacks on Aljazeera were accidents", the Mirror said in its report on Tuesday.

It cited the 2001 direct hit on the channel's Kabul office in Afghanistan.

In November 2001, Aljazeera's office in Kabul was destroyed by a US missile. None of the crew was at the office at the time.

US officials said they believed the target was a "terrorist" site and did not know it was Aljazeera's office.

In April 2003, an Aljazeera journalist, Tariq Ayub, died when its Baghdad office was struck during a US bombing campaign.

In its statement on Tuesday, Aljazeera said that if the Mirror's report was true, it would "cast serious doubts in regard to the US administration's version of previous incidents involving Aljazeera's journalists and offices."

Charges

A British civil servant has been charged under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly leaking the government memo.

The Daily Mirror said the memo, stamped "Top Secret", turned up last year at the Northampton office of then Labour MP Tony Clarke.

Civil servant David Keogh, 49, is now accused of passing the memo to Leo O'Connor, who once worked for Clarke.

Both Keogh and O'Connor are due to appear in court next week on charges under the Act.

Clarke, who opposed the invasion of Iraq and who lost his seat at the last election, returned the memo to Downing Street.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/171A7C64-F5C0-41EF-A6 13-EBA745ACEF7A.htm



Edited by ok ge
D.J. Kaufman
Wisdom is the reward for a lifetime of listening ... when youd have preferred to talk.
Back to Top
Loknar View Drop Down
Colonel
Colonel
Avatar

Joined: 09-Jun-2005
Location: Somalia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 666
  Quote Loknar Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-Nov-2005 at 13:49

terrorist site

the offices of al-jazerra

 

is there a difference?

I dont care, bomb them. They arent exactly the news station of facts.

Back to Top
Zagros View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor

Suspended

Joined: 11-Aug-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8792
  Quote Zagros Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-Nov-2005 at 13:51

Bushocracy in action!!!

It must be true otherwise the Crown Prosecution would not have acted under the Official Secrets Act.

Something's rotten in the District of Columbia! Rotten? NA! Must be positively putrid by now!

 

Back to Top
Mila View Drop Down
Tsar
Tsar
Avatar
Retired AE Moderator

Joined: 17-Sep-2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4030
  Quote Mila Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-Nov-2005 at 14:37
It seems strange to me that this is considered such
a unusual military tactic.

I assure you, they took out just about every radio and
television station in Serbia during the NATO
bombing there.

EDIT: And the Chinese Embassy.

EDIT 2: They strafed a few refugee convoys as well,
both Christian and Muslim.

Edited by Mila
[IMG]http://img272.imageshack.us/img272/9259/1xw2.jpg">
Back to Top
DukeC View Drop Down
Arch Duke
Arch Duke
Avatar

Joined: 07-Nov-2005
Location: Canada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1564
  Quote DukeC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-Nov-2005 at 16:19

 

How can you claim to promote democracy in the Persian Gulf on one hand and plan to destroy the only independent media outlet in the region on the other.

Back to Top
Thegeneral View Drop Down
Chieftain
Chieftain
Avatar

Joined: 05-Mar-2005
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1117
  Quote Thegeneral Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-Nov-2005 at 16:46
First of all, I'd like to point out it is just another attack on Bush and has NO cedibility.  But even if it were true, what would be so bad about that?  All they do is recruit terrorists?  Why keep cutting limbs when we can cut the trunk?
Back to Top
Maju View Drop Down
King
King
Avatar

Joined: 14-Jul-2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6565
  Quote Maju Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-Nov-2005 at 16:57
Originally posted by Thegeneral

First of all, I'd like to point out it is just another attack on Bush and has NO cedibility.


And it is "outlandish".

But then we gag the paper using the Oficial Secrets legislation. If it's all false, they should use the Libel legislation, not the Oficial Secrets one.

So it's obviously true.

But even if it were true, what would be so bad about that?  All they do is recruit terrorists?  Why keep cutting limbs when we can cut the trunk?


Do you ever read Aljazeera? I do, and it's about the BBC of the Middle East. Nothing else. A little more informative for some things, a little less for others. Critic with the USA? Yes. Critic with terrorism, also. It is a pretty neutral media, where you can read diferent columnists from anywhere, including Californian Jews.

Keep doing the cowboy that you will end in true trouble. Next, 9-11, we will watch and say: So what? They deserved it.

NO GOD, NO MASTER!
Back to Top
pikeshot1600 View Drop Down
Tsar
Tsar


Joined: 22-Jan-2005
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4221
  Quote pikeshot1600 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-Nov-2005 at 17:03

Originally posted by Maju

Originally posted by Thegeneral

First of all, I'd like to point out it is just another attack on Bush and has NO cedibility.


And it is "outlandish".

But then we gag the paper using the Oficial Secrets legislation. If it's all false, they should use the Libel legislation, not the Oficial Secrets one.

So it's obviously true.

But even if it were true, what would be so bad about that?  All they do is recruit terrorists?  Why keep cutting limbs when we can cut the trunk?


Do you ever read Aljazeera? I do, and it's about the BBC of the Middle East. Nothing else. A little more informative for some things, a little less for others. Critic with the USA? Yes. Critic with terrorism, also. It is a pretty neutral media, where you can read diferent columnists from anywhere, including Californian Jews.

Keep doing the cowboy that you will end in true trouble. Next, 9-11, we will watch and say: So what? They deserved it.

Maju:   You are out of line with the last sentence in your previous post.

Back to Top
Thegeneral View Drop Down
Chieftain
Chieftain
Avatar

Joined: 05-Mar-2005
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1117
  Quote Thegeneral Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-Nov-2005 at 17:03

Originally posted by Maju


Keep doing the cowboy that you will end in true trouble. Next, 9-11, we will watch and say: So what? They deserved it.

Problem is, many say this now.

Back to Top
Zagros View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor

Suspended

Joined: 11-Aug-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8792
  Quote Zagros Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-Nov-2005 at 17:09

This is a neutral media outlet in an independent and sort of sovereign nation, condoning its bombing is like condoning terrorism, and far worse, considering it would be direct state terrorism.

Hezbollah fanatics think that the islamic republic governemnt of Iran is infallible and the mere suggestion of something untoward about it provokes an instant gut reaction that blames enemy forces for its circulation  It seems that in the West we have the equivalent, Bushollah and Blairollah, except the latter enjoys pretty lacklustre support in its home nation.



Edited by Zagros
Back to Top
Zagros View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor

Suspended

Joined: 11-Aug-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8792
  Quote Zagros Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-Nov-2005 at 17:12

Originally posted by Thegeneral

But even if it were true, what would be so bad about that?  All they do is recruit terrorists?  Why keep cutting limbs when we can cut the trunk?

With respect, no more out of line than the above.

Back to Top
hugoestr View Drop Down
Tsar
Tsar

Suspended

Joined: 13-Aug-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3987
  Quote hugoestr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-Nov-2005 at 17:53
This must be false... that is why the U.K. is threatening a newspaper with legal action. Just think what other juicy stuff are on those transcripts that the British government risked validating the claims of this story.

As for the U.S. Let me give you the stages of the Bush White House spin with these kinds of news--Abu Ghraib, toture, secret jails, use of white phosporous, etc:

Denial: These are outlandish accusations

Anger: Those who claim this are terrorist!

Bargaining: We did do, but it is legal

Depresion/rationalization: Well, we did, it, but never intended to cause harm, and it is legal in this very technical way, and we are the good guys, aren't we?

Distraction: Hey! Have we told you about how people who opposed us are terrorists?

(What? You think that Bush actually comes to acceptance? That would mean that he would take responsibility for his actions and words... get real.)
Back to Top
Maju View Drop Down
King
King
Avatar

Joined: 14-Jul-2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6565
  Quote Maju Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-Nov-2005 at 20:05
Originally posted by Thegeneral

Originally posted by Maju


Keep doing the cowboy that you will end in true trouble. Next, 9-11, we will watch and say: So what? They deserved it.

Problem is, many say this now.



I wonder why.

NO GOD, NO MASTER!
Back to Top
ArmenianSurvival View Drop Down
Chieftain
Chieftain
Avatar

Joined: 11-Aug-2004
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1460
  Quote ArmenianSurvival Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23-Nov-2005 at 22:03
You know whats funny? Bush had the same type of evidence against Saddam, and we still invaded Iraq. But when our leaders are accused of something, all of a sudden we start to hear talks of "morals", and using terror as a necessary step to achieve our goals. If you agree with the bombing of an independent news station, you are simply a terrorist with no means to terrorize.

Originally posted by pikeshot1600

Maju:   You are out of line with the last sentence in your previous post.


But its okay for people to say things like this?:
Originally posted by Loknar

I dont care, bomb them. They arent exactly the news station of facts.

How objective of you!

Originally posted by Loknar

terrorist site

the offices of al-jazerra

is there a difference?

I dont care, bomb them. They arent exactly the news station of facts.


Interesting hypothesis, but why dont you provide us with facts to back your claim, rather than reciting government jibberish? Remember, according to Donald Rumsfeld, the WMD's were "In the area of Tikrit, Baghdad, and north, south, east and west." So using our government as a source for facts in an argument would devolve our discussion into a  series of mindless ranting. Real sources to back your claim, please.


You people are telling me that if Islamic extremists were going to bomb CNN in Atlanta, that its not a big deal? This is a very big story thats just being pushed to the side, just like everything else Bush does.

DID YOU KNOW?:

That in America, we banned the English version of Al-Jazeera's news station from airing on satellite to paying customers? Our only complaint was that they were showing bodies of dead American soldiers on their broadcasts. But when you show streets littered with dead Iraqis, its considered entertainment, and is on CNN and Fox News on a nightly basis. We are the ones trying to spread democracy and freedom to Iraq, while behind our backs, we terminate the broadcast of independent news channels because they are....doing their job and reporting! Some freedom we are trying to teach the world 

By the way...I have the Arabic version of Al-Jazeera (the version that was not banned in the States), my parents translate it for me, and i have to say, CNN and Fox News seem very narrow-minded and isolationist compared to it. Al-Jazeera actually incorporates a global perspective, covering a wide range of stories from every part of the world. Their footage basically consists of Al-Jazeera reporters going through warzones while recording everything with a camera. How is that not objective news? Meanwhile, American news agencies put Michael Jackson's trial on headline everyday for months, taking hours away from the coverage of global issues. Unless you've watched Al-Jazeera, i dont know why you're commenting on it.

Edited by ArmenianSurvival
Mass Murderers Agree: Gun Control Works!

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

Քիչ ենք բայց Հայ ենք։
Back to Top
Zagros View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor

Suspended

Joined: 11-Aug-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8792
  Quote Zagros Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24-Nov-2005 at 12:38
Damet garm Armenian, that was some post.

Edited by Zagros
Back to Top
Cywr View Drop Down
King
King
Avatar
Retired AE Moderator

Joined: 03-Aug-2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6003
  Quote Cywr Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24-Nov-2005 at 12:51
CNN is bad, and i've never seen FOX, but its supposed to be even more myopic.
The US ranked around 40th when it came to freedom of the press IIRC.
Arrrgh!!"
Back to Top
Guests View Drop Down
Guest
Guest
  Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24-Nov-2005 at 13:39
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=15331
US is 44th, it lost 20 places compared to 2004.
The US in Iraq is even worse, 137th.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.56a [Free Express Edition]
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz

This page was generated in 0.094 seconds.