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[Hogisbald]

Bush 'Wanted to Bomb TV Station'



Newsroom targeted: President Bush allegedly suggested bombing Al-Jazeera's Qatar studios


US President George Bush had to be talked out of launching a military strike on a TV station in a friendly Arab state by Prime Minister Tony Blair, it has been claimed.

The report, published in the Daily Mirror, prompted calls for Downing Street to publish the transcript of a conversation between Mr Blair and President Bush.

According to unnamed sources quoted in the Mirror, the memo - stamped Top Secret - records Mr Bush suggesting that he might order the bombing of Al-Jazeera's studios in Qatar.

And it allegedly details how Mr Blair argued against an attack on the station's buildings in the business district of Doha, the capital city of Qatar, which is a key ally in the Persian Gulf.

Al-Jazeera had sparked the anger of the US administration by broadcasting video messages from al Qaida head Osama bin Laden and leaders of the insurgency in Iraq, as well as showing footage of the bodies of US servicemen and Iraqi civilians killed in fighting.



Controversial: Al-Jazeera has angered the US by screening video messages from al Qaida


According to the Mirror's source, the transcript records a conversation during Mr Blair's visit to the White House on April 16 last year, in the wake of a failed attempt to root out insurgents in the city of Fallujah, in which 30 US Marines died.

A spokesman for 10 Downing Street refused to discuss the leaked memo.

But former defence minister Peter Kilfoyle - a leading Labour opponent of the Iraq war - called for the document to be made public.

"I believe that Downing Street ought to publish this memo in the interests of transparency, given that much of the detail appears to be in the public domain,'' he told the Press Association.

"I think they ought to clarify what exactly happened on this occasion.

"If it was the case that President Bush wanted to bomb al-Jazeera in what is after all a friendly country, it speaks volumes and it raises questions about subsequent attacks that took place on the press that wasn't embedded with coalition forces.''


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The Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, Sir Menzies Campbell, told PA: "If true, then this underlines the desperation of the Bush administration as events in Iraq began to spiral out of control.

"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.''

According to the Mirror, the transcript is the document which allegedly turned up in the constituency office of former Labour MP Tony Clarke in May last year.

Mr Clarke - who voted against the Iraq war and lost his Northampton South seat in this May's election - returned the document to No 10 because of fears that British troops' lives might be put at risk if its contents became public.

Cabinet Office civil servant David Keogh has been charged under the Official Secrets Act of passing it to Mr Clarke's former researcher Leo O'Connor. Both are bailed to appear at Bow Street Magistrates Court next week.

Mr Clarke this morning refused to discuss the contents of the document which he received, telling PA that his priority was supporting Mr O'Connor, who he said did "exactly the right thing'' in bringing it to his attention.

Mr Kilfoyle said that he had not seen the memo, but had learnt of its alleged content at the time of the original leak and believed it tallied with the Mirror's account.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "We have got nothing to say about this story. We don't comment on leaked documents.''

no use mate, nipples and boobies are far more interesting

[Stray Cat]

Just beacuse they don't show corrie? That's a bit extreme.

[Sue Denim..]

This is no revelation. We were aware of this at the time.

[Ray]

i wasnt


that is an interesting article..

[Hogisbald]

Although titties are more interesting

[Bob]

What the hell is wrong with our government? Can't we keep any of our underhand dealings, conversations or fantasies secret? Get the secret services on it for fucks sake. Cut some people's throats, make some people disappear. Torture people. At the very least, nuke Iran as a distraction to your ineptitude. You guys are a fucking embarrassment.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Hog

Although titties are more interesting

clearly that would depend on the titties in question

[Birdman]

Originally Posted by Hog

Bush 'Wanted to Bomb TV Station'



Newsroom targeted: President Bush allegedly suggested bombing Al-Jazeera's Qatar studios


US President George Bush had to be talked out of launching a military strike on a TV station in a friendly Arab state by Prime Minister Tony Blair, it has been claimed.

The report, published in the Daily Mirror, prompted calls for Downing Street to publish the transcript of a conversation between Mr Blair and President Bush.

According to unnamed sources quoted in the Mirror, the memo - stamped Top Secret - records Mr Bush suggesting that he might order the bombing of Al-Jazeera's studios in Qatar.

And it allegedly details how Mr Blair argued against an attack on the station's buildings in the business district of Doha, the capital city of Qatar, which is a key ally in the Persian Gulf.

Al-Jazeera had sparked the anger of the US administration by broadcasting video messages from al Qaida head Osama bin Laden and leaders of the insurgency in Iraq, as well as showing footage of the bodies of US servicemen and Iraqi civilians killed in fighting.



Controversial: Al-Jazeera has angered the US by screening video messages from al Qaida


According to the Mirror's source, the transcript records a conversation during Mr Blair's visit to the White House on April 16 last year, in the wake of a failed attempt to root out insurgents in the city of Fallujah, in which 30 US Marines died.

A spokesman for 10 Downing Street refused to discuss the leaked memo.

But former defence minister Peter Kilfoyle - a leading Labour opponent of the Iraq war - called for the document to be made public.

"I believe that Downing Street ought to publish this memo in the interests of transparency, given that much of the detail appears to be in the public domain,'' he told the Press Association.

"I think they ought to clarify what exactly happened on this occasion.

"If it was the case that President Bush wanted to bomb al-Jazeera in what is after all a friendly country, it speaks volumes and it raises questions about subsequent attacks that took place on the press that wasn't embedded with coalition forces.''


Is Al-Jazeera being persecuted?
Chat about the latest world news

Have your say on the message board


The Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, Sir Menzies Campbell, told PA: "If true, then this underlines the desperation of the Bush administration as events in Iraq began to spiral out of control.

"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.''

According to the Mirror, the transcript is the document which allegedly turned up in the constituency office of former Labour MP Tony Clarke in May last year.

Mr Clarke - who voted against the Iraq war and lost his Northampton South seat in this May's election - returned the document to No 10 because of fears that British troops' lives might be put at risk if its contents became public.

Cabinet Office civil servant David Keogh has been charged under the Official Secrets Act of passing it to Mr Clarke's former researcher Leo O'Connor. Both are bailed to appear at Bow Street Magistrates Court next week.

Mr Clarke this morning refused to discuss the contents of the document which he received, telling PA that his priority was supporting Mr O'Connor, who he said did "exactly the right thing'' in bringing it to his attention.

Mr Kilfoyle said that he had not seen the memo, but had learnt of its alleged content at the time of the original leak and believed it tallied with the Mirror's account.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "We have got nothing to say about this story. We don't comment on leaked documents.''

As much as this is a highly likely scenario from those spastics across the sea, could you add in the source link?

Cheers

[daveofficer]

Originally Posted by Birdman

As much as this is a highly likely scenario from those spastics across the sea, could you add in the source link?

Cheers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4902432.stm