Margaret Beckett Finally Admits Knowledge of Secret CIA Gulags
Our esteemed Foreign Secretary has finally admitted that the British Government knew about secret CIA prisons prior to Bush confirming their existence back in September.
A Foreign Office spokesman, speaking on customary condition of anonymity, said the statement was the first confirmation Britain had prior knowledge of the secret prisons.
This is a change of tune from the Government which up until now has either denied all knowledge of 'extraordinary rendition' and CIA 'black sites', or simply refused to talk about it.
Remember how "unhelpful and evasive" Geoff (Buff) Hoon was when MEPs conducted their own inquiry into rendition and black sites? On January 23rd the European Parliament committee on involvement in rendition will meet to discuss their Draft report (.pdf) which slammed Britain and other EU states for their lack of co-operation with the investigation. I wonder if this might force a few more admissions from Mrs Beckett.
... The Council of Europe
... The Council of Europe report adds nothing new whatever to the information that we have.
Oh! Really! So you knew all of this, Maggie?
Yes, I thought that at the
Yes, I thought that at the time, first off it's not a denial, and second they're saying it doesn't necessitate changing their 'line'. I'm amazed really, that statement should have set off a storm and they got away with it.
Beckett's apparently on the
Beckett's apparently on the Sunday Show on BBC1 with Andrew marr next week - maybe he'll ask her about it, especially if the produictionj team get an email or two reminding them.
Don't hold your breath,
Don't hold your breath, redpesto; it's Andy Marr we are talking about.