This could potentially turn into a big diplomatic incident if it looks like Werrity had influence on British foreign policy.

Why? No one is going to care. Few British people are as obsessed about Israel as the British Left is. So an advisor to the Minister had some talks with an ally about a common regional threat. So what?

It’s not that SMFS. It’s that Fox allowed his strings to be pulled by a friend.

As I said, he should have been fired. (And I also support an automatic recall as a MP in those situations…if he hasn’t lost credibility, he’ll be re-elected…right?)

As nobody is attacking Iran, his influence on foreign policy was obviously zero.

Having been in Iran during the brutal crackdown on the democracy movement in 2009 (http://andreasmoser.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/reports-about-my-trip-to-iran-in-junejuly-2009/), I would actually hope that somebody topples the Iranian regime, whether from inside or outside of the country.

Werrity had no business attending any defence meetings with fox this needs a proper investigation investigation cause you can bet he wasn’t there for the benefit of the taxpayer.

SMFS,

Given Werritty’s lack of vetting and substantial unofficial access to Fox, contact by him with any foreign intelligence agency – including allies like the CIA – would be a serious matter.

But in fact you are quite wrong. Israel is not an ally. It is not in NATO and there are no other treaties of alliance between Israel and the UK. Turkey is an ally and the Israeli attack on the Mavi Marmara is an instance of conflict between British and Israeli interests. As is Israel’s illegal possession of a large number of nuclear weapons.

5. Craig Murray

Given Werritty’s lack of vetting and substantial unofficial access to Fox, contact by him with any foreign intelligence agency – including allies like the CIA – would be a serious matter.

On the contrary, it would not matter at all. If he actually took money from them, then perhaps it would matter. But if major newspapers are happy to employ people who take money from the KGB, or free holidays from the Stasi, I don’t see the problem here. Israel is not, after all, the Soviet Union.

But in fact you are quite wrong. Israel is not an ally. It is not in NATO and there are no other treaties of alliance between Israel and the UK. Turkey is an ally and the Israeli attack on the Mavi Marmara is an instance of conflict between British and Israeli interests. As is Israel’s illegal possession of a large number of nuclear weapons.

We have no idea if Israel has nuclear weapons or not. But if it does, it is precisely no skin off our nose at all. It has nothing to do with any of our interests. Israel may not be a formal ally, but it is absurd to pretend it is not one. Not all of our allies are in NATO. Australia isn’t and they offered Naval vessels during the Falklands. Israel defending itself against Islamists, such as those on the MM, is entirely in our interests. Even if it wasn’t, that one of our allies (and a member of NATO) seeking to provoke violence from another ally is regrettable but not contrary to any specific interest.

When you start looking into the funding of Atlantic Bridge, run from Fox’s office in Portcullis House prior to the election, you find a network with links to the American extreme right wing and American lobbyists.

The question to be asked is how influential where they in influencing government spending on defence – ie the continuation of the aircraft carrier contracts, which will use American planes, (eventually), at the cost of scrapping destroyers and frigates, (actually doing real jobs – such as protecting shipping from pirates), sacking soldiers and airman etc.

SMFS

You say “We have no idea if Israel has nuclear weapons or not”.

Are you venturing into metaphysics? if you are a Zionist troll, you really are a very poor one. That statement is laughable.

We do have treaties of alliance with Australia and an intelligence sharing agreement. We have neither with Israel. Israel is not a UK ally in any sense.

It seems more likely to me that Werrity was a chancer with his hand out to anyone with cash to wave about. Of course, he could have lied to Mossad, the CIA and everyone else just to con a few more quid. It changes nothing regarding Fox’s bad judgement and association with mad americans.

I’m surprised that the Police haven’t come out with the traditional line: There is nothing new. All this happened in the past.

Clearly SMFS is here to defend Israel. He needn’t worry. Most of the media (including the BBC) is busy ignoring the Israel aspect of the case. Surprise, surprise!