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Blair defends Iraq war, vows new attacks on civil liberties and social conditions
Prime Minister Tony Blair’s July 26 press conference was a sharp warning that his government will intensify both its pro-war alliance with Washington abroad and the imposition of sweeping attacks on civil liberties at home.
Blair’s last monthly press conference before his summer break was held amidst unprecedented events. Just days before, armed police had summarily executed 27-year old Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes in a London subway carriage, firing seven bullets into his head and one into his body at point-blank range as he was pinned to the floor by other officers.
Government ministers, police and the media have sought to portray de Menezes’ killing as the unintended consequence of anti-terrorist measures made necessary by the July 7 bombings in the capital that killed 56 people.
In fact, the young electrician was the innocent victim of a shoot-to-kill policy secretly adopted by police two years ago, without any discussion in parliament, much less public debate.
The Guardian quoted a police source stating that under this new policy, “there is no need for officers to verbally warn a suspect before opening fire.” This admission, together with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair’s earlier warning that more innocent people could be gunned down by police, confirms that the state has been given a licence to kill with impunity under the guise of the “war on terror.”
The prime minister offered no accounting for these developments. Asked whether he had approved the shoot-to-kill policy, he replied, “off-hand I can’t remember whether I have ever had a discussion about it,” but that “if the police had ever talked to me about it I would have agreed with what they said.”
While giving a cheque for police state measures, Blair did not bother to even mention de Menezes by name.
At the same time the prime minister reiterated his intention to aggressively pursue a foreign policy that has made Britain a target for terrorist outrages, and outlined an agenda of deepening social attacks.
His remarks confirm that the turn to imperialist war and the accompanying abrogation of democratic rights is being propelled by the massive class polarisation within Britain, and a deepening offensive against the social conditions of working people.
Read More
http://wsws.org/articles/2005/jul2005/blai-j29.shtml
Government ministers, police and the media have sought to portray de Menezes’ killing as the unintended consequence of anti-terrorist measures made necessary by the July 7 bombings in the capital that killed 56 people.
In fact, the young electrician was the innocent victim of a shoot-to-kill policy secretly adopted by police two years ago, without any discussion in parliament, much less public debate.
The Guardian quoted a police source stating that under this new policy, “there is no need for officers to verbally warn a suspect before opening fire.” This admission, together with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair’s earlier warning that more innocent people could be gunned down by police, confirms that the state has been given a licence to kill with impunity under the guise of the “war on terror.”
The prime minister offered no accounting for these developments. Asked whether he had approved the shoot-to-kill policy, he replied, “off-hand I can’t remember whether I have ever had a discussion about it,” but that “if the police had ever talked to me about it I would have agreed with what they said.”
While giving a cheque for police state measures, Blair did not bother to even mention de Menezes by name.
At the same time the prime minister reiterated his intention to aggressively pursue a foreign policy that has made Britain a target for terrorist outrages, and outlined an agenda of deepening social attacks.
His remarks confirm that the turn to imperialist war and the accompanying abrogation of democratic rights is being propelled by the massive class polarisation within Britain, and a deepening offensive against the social conditions of working people.
Read More
http://wsws.org/articles/2005/jul2005/blai-j29.shtml
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