(Sunday Times) No. 10 refuses to reveal Iraq war e-mails

[evermind]

No 10 refuses to reveal Iraq war e-mails
DAVID CRACKNELL, POLITICAL EDITOR

[ The story is about emails sent to the UK Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith in the period when his views did an about-face on the legality of the pending war in Iraq. The government is refusing to release them, after the Sunday Times made a FOIA request for their publication. ]

Last week, however, Downing Street admitted to The Sunday Times that during that period Baroness Morgan, until recently Blair’s director of government relations, sent e-mails “relating” to the legal advice. It is not clear to whom they were directed.

<snip>

Senior government sources suspect that the e-mails contain a summary of the arguments that No 10 was privately making to Goldsmith that, contrary to his original advice, war was justified because Saddam Hussein was in breach of United Nations resolutions.

It has been reported that Morgan and another key Blair ally, Lord Falconer, the lord chancellor, held a meeting with Goldsmith on March 13 to discuss his opinion. Goldsmith has rejected the idea that pressure was put on him.

<snip>

A senior source at the Department for Constitutional Affairs, which Falconer heads, said colleagues had been been “s***ing” themselves that the Morgan e-mails would be released after No 10 went against precedent and released Goldsmith’s full legal advice during the election.

Full story at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1734151,00.html

[Gregorian]

1. I wonder who the Information Commissioner is.

"Shitting themselves"? That sounds pretty dire. Must be quite revealing.
You know, we have a situation here where we don't just have the Bush administration to rely on for documentation of what happened during the leadup to war. We also have Blair's group. Something tells me they aren't going to get out of this as easily as if it were just one or the other. There's going to be perjury, and there's going to be stories that match. If Fitzgerald doesn't do his part, then someone will, later. Somehow I have a feeling the truth will eventually be discovered. And these people won't be as old as Pinochet when it is.

I wonder if the Information Commissioner has the power to get something done. I sure hope so. He must, or they wouldn't be freaking out.

[MasonJar]

2. When do the Abu and etc. photos get released? That will be the

end of Bush. If it isn't, then this country is not worth saving.

[D-Notice]

4. Richard Thomas

He wrote the introduction to the London School of Economics's ID cards report, in which he said it is

founded on an extensive central register of personal information controlled by government and is disproportionate to the stated objectives behind the introduction of ID cards. It raises substantial data protection concerns about the extent of the information recorded about an individual when the ID card is used in their day to day lives and sparks fears about the potential for wider use/access to this information in the future.

It's also his job to make sure that with the Data Protection Act is complied with.

The Inofrmation Commissioner's website is here

[Gregorian]

7. Thanks. There's an error in the link.

It should be- http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/

It sounds like he has the people's interest in mind. How rare. They're an "independent supervisory authority reporting directly to the UK Parliament." But they have the ability to prosecute violations. Huh, we'll see.

[D-Notice]

12. Thanks for that!

I really should test my links before I post 'em! ;-)

[evermind]

5. Yep, that "S***ing themselves" quote caught my interest.

I doubt there's anything with consequences beyond UK electoral politics in them, but hopefully something pretty bad for Tony boy. Can't really imagine what, though, unless it's like "agree it's legal or we'll sack you!"

[leesa]

3. The Brits have a real press. They will get the e-mails.

Why isn't Blair in jail. I know. Because he pretends he's a born-again Christian. It's all it takes. Pretend you are a born-again Christian and you can lie, rape, murder and loot with abandon.

[goforit]

9. When their apathetical society and ours decide to do something

this will be the day that all who signed the war enactment
will be spending time in Prison.

[Roland99]

11. Is there FOIA-type legislation in Britain?

[D-Notice]

13. Yes

See posts 4 + 7 for details!

It's how the Sunday Times is trying to get hold of the emails

[Barrett808]

6. More leaks, sweet! n/t

[goforit]

8. Hmmm......How much more evidence will be needed?

[Al-CIAda]

10. .

[lovuian]

14. The Brits are scrambling and its hillarious!!!

the death of Kelly was so sad!!! and unecessary!!!