(British) Official sacked over TV remarks (about Blair) on Iraq

[UpInArms]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1268927,00.html

A senior intelligence official has been sacked after publicly criticising Tony Blair for claims the prime minister made about Iraq's weapons programme.

John Morrison, an adviser to the parliamentary intelligence and security committee (ISC), has been told his contract will not be renewed after he appeared in a BBC Panorama programme two weeks ago.

Mr Morrison, a former deputy chief of defence intelligence, had commented on Mr Blair's claim that Saddam Hussein's Iraq posed a "serious and current threat" to Britain.

He told the programme: "When I heard him using those words, I could almost hear the collective raspberry going up around Whitehall."

<snip>

The decision to sack him was taken, it is understood, on the advice of Sir David Omand, the prime minister's security and intelligence coordinator.

...a bit more...

So Blair silences dissent and critism also?

[mom cat]

1. those who surround themselves with yesmen are doomed to

failure. :evilgrin:

[struggle4progress]

2. Labour MPs should give Blair hell for this sort of crap.

Labour MPs will join fight in US to dislodge Bush
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x707223

[struggle4progress]

3. kick

:kick:

[TacticalPeek]

4. Collective Raspberry Kick.

The BBC version:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3925499.stm

:kick:

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Guardian editoral

"Mr Morrison was one of several former intelligence chiefs making critical remarks during that programme. He differed from the others in two respects. First, he still had an official job, albeit, part time; and second - much more important - he criticised the prime minister rather than just policy failures. He was also telling the truth, for what that is worth these days."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/leaders/story/0,3604,1269618,00.html