Police angry over briefings used to divert attention from Government difficulties
Well who'd have thought it? The police investigation into the recent alleged plot to kidnap a Muslim soldier and behead him has been hampered by a series of leaks and briefings. When we posted on the arrest of Lord Levy, there was some speculation as to whether the timing of the raids in Birmingham was a little convenient, particularly after the asinine statement by Frank Field MP who seems to think that the police only have the resources to cover terrorist threats. It looks like some people in the West Midlands police have been thinking along similar lines.
Police sources in the West Midlands said yesterday they suspected the anonymous briefings may have been intended to deflect attention from the prisons crisis and the cash for honours inquiry, while counter-terrorism officials in London told the Guardian there was concern that the speculation generated is interfering with the investigation by the newly formed Midlands Counter-Terrorism Unit.
This is not to say that there was no plot. At this stage we have no way of knowing if there was a genuine plot or how close to being carried out it was. After mistakes in the past, it's reasonable to assume that the police did have something concrete to go on before creating such disruption, and we are told the raids happened after a long period of surveillance. But with the Home Secretary so involved in the case and his habit of crying wolf at regular intervals, coupled with his renewed attempt to get support for detaining terrorism suspects for more than 28 days without charge, it's only fair to wonder at the timing of the raids. The "inaccuracies" that are appearing in the media due to unauthorised briefings are bound to add to the suspicion.
[...]
Paul Snape, vice chair of West Midlands Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said: "The police force is asking the question, where did it all come from? There may be political reasons for it, such as what was going on at the Home Office and at Downing Street."
Good question, where did it all come from? If the timing of the raids and the "anonymous briefings" was partly a smoke screen to distract us from the cash for honours investigation, how ironic that the news of the raids was somewhat overshadowed by the revelation that Tony Blair was questioned for a second time by the police.
In the good old days - i.e.
In the good old days - i.e. about two years ago - it was the Yanks in the Bush Admin who used to fuck up British Intelligence/Police operations by premature disclosure for political advantage - now it seems the Blairites are doing it too.
From the very start the thing smelt of a political operation rather than a police one. (Tho perhaps the "exploding hair gel fiasco" was the victim of premature political leakage - mainly at that time to boost (with the aid of the Murdoch Press) John Reid's Blairite candidacy as PM over Gordon's.)
Usually a social group
Usually a social group selected for their below average IQ is infiltrated by an intelligence operative who, hoping to exploit Muslim disenchanment with Britsh middle East policies (genocide, resource appropriation, etc.) plants an "get even" idea. Then the group's communications are monitored 24/7 to see how "the plot" develops. These techniques go back to J. Edgar Hoover's infiltration of Black dissident groups in the 60's and 70's.
Money is their love!
Money is their love!
I agree that the tactics
I agree that the tactics described above are probably used, but I find outrageous the implication that British Muslims are a social group with a below average IQ. Unless this was a slip of the pen or an infelicitous rendering of a completely different thought, the writer should be thoroughly ashamed of him(her)self. By the way, I write as a non-Muslim.