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January 20, 2006
Gullible or dishonest
Yesterday I noted that the SNP had produced a list detailling potential rendition flights, including aircraft types and registrations. Can the government categorically state that none of the suspect flights were in contravention of our international obligations?
In a written statement to MPs on the matter of rendition flights using British airports, Jack Straw stated that:
We have found no evidence of detainees being rendered through the UK or overseas territory since 11 September 2001. We have found no evidence of detainees being rendered through the UK or overseas territory since 1997 where there were substantial grounds to believe there was a real risk of torture.
So it should be a simple matter for the FO and the security services to produce evidence to corroborate this statement.
Straw further noted that:
We are also clear that the US would not render a detainee through UK territory or airspace (including overseas territory) without our permission.
Really?
Now there is a long track-record of the U.S. being highly selective in what it tells its favourite ally in Europe. While the Government may consider the relationship between the U.S. and U.K. to be special, across the Atlantic it is perceived as convenient.
So either Jack Straw really believes that the U.S. would asked before using British airspace, or he is lying to us.
Either option presents an unedifying image of our Foreign Secretary.
Posted by Clive on January 20, 2006 8:15 PM in the category Terror
Comments
In the ongoing Craig Murray saga, Straw has got himself off the hook by saying that FCO officials didn't brief him on any of Murray's warnings on torture. Therefore, he can use plausible denialbility by claiming he was never told of Uzbek torture.
Now, he's saying there must be no rendition because he would have been told about it by his staff "unless they are deliberately witholding information".
He can't have it both ways - I'm amazed nobody's made this connection yet.
Posted by: Scaryduck at January 21, 2006 1:16 PM