In Britain today, the High Court has stood up for the rule of law. The court issued a scathing indictment against the government for its refusal to cooperate with an investigation into alleged bribery in a BAE Systems-Saudi Arabia arms deal. The ruling is a clear victory for Corner House and the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT). The anti-bribery campaigners had argued that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) decision to stop the investigation was influenced by Blair government concerns about diplomacy and trade with Saudi Arabia.
The groups accused British authorities of caving in to blackmail. They said former Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision to drop the probe was illegal under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD's) Anti-Bribery Convention.
In issuing their decision, the judges said the man behind the threats was Prince Bandar, the head of the Saudi national security council and son of the crown prince. US President George W. Bush refers to Bandar as "Bandar Bush," so close are the Bush family's political ties with the Saudi royal family.
Prince Bandar, former Saudi Ambassador to the US, has been accused of accepting more than £1 billion in secret payments from BAE. Read all about it here and here.
This is yet another reason that the idea of a less "connected" person for President, feels like a good idea... I just have so little trust anymore. It is sad. :(
:)
Posted by: amber | 11 April 2008 at 20:25
Hi Tara, I'd say the same as Constance. Really appreciate you are on top of things...thanks for the link the Guardian and BBC news.
and yes..this is an important victory indeed
ps : your marathon photos are GREAT - was writing you a message and paf, firefox crashed. Also loved your Chanel reportage... :-)
about boycotting Olympic games in China ? I agree, isn't a little bit too late now ? and also isn't hypocritical especially from French government, knowing many French companies externalize their activity over there ?
last ps: Granada hosted the Hay literary festival last week end, you would have loved it !
Warm and sunny greetings from Spain... :-)
Posted by: My Castle in Spain | 11 April 2008 at 11:57
Tara, just wondering if you saw Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 911--that pictured so well the Bush/Saudi relationship?
Tara responds: Yes I did!
Posted by: pepektheassassin | 10 April 2008 at 22:01
Thank you Tara for keeping me posted on important victories like this one. I've been out of the loop as of late.
xox
Constance
Posted by: rochambeau | 10 April 2008 at 21:14