..though for the life of me, I can't think why:
A British terror suspect was killed by US forces in Pakistan yesterday. MPs want to know: did they tell Britain first?
Presumably, not so we could buy them a drink for doing it...
Patrick Mercer, the Tory MP for Newark and former shadow security minister, said Rauf’s killing raised serious issues. “This raises the question of how much co-operation the British intelligence agencies provided in what is ultimately the execution of a British subject. The government must explain its involvement and its future policy in this area.”
Good old Tories, polishing up their 'right on' liberal credentials, ready to form our next government. Lord help us...
Sounds as if the Americans have done us a favour. It did not look as if he would have ever come back to Britain to face the music.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Al qaeda terrorism is a war in all but name
(Out of interest, is he a British subject?)
"Sounds as if the Americans have done us a favour."
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
"Out of interest, is he a British subject?"
It would appear so; the 'Times' article agrees, and Wikipedia has him as 'son of a British baker. He was a dual citizen of Britain and Pakistan'.
Though, why that should mean he can't be summarily dealt with if caught plotting mayhem in a foreign country without the say-so of some Tory backbencher, I struggle to imagine...
What a shame he has died. Now there's no way he can be hanged for treason.
ReplyDeleteThis "British subject" was also an enemy combatant (albeit an illegal one). The question they should be asking in parliament is not why he was killed, but why was he fighting against us? Until we start asking those questions we are never going to win the war. As Sun Tzu said "know your enemy ...."
ReplyDeleteThe death of this "Briton" has been at or near the top of the BBC's news bulletins all weekend. Frankly, who cares? What was the guy doing in that part of Pakistan anyway? Teaching English?
ReplyDeletejuliam
I agree with your assessment of Mercer's exercise in bathos here. Why would anyone not vote Labour if this is the (non)alternative on offer?