4 ms·

> Probably an early retirement at best. Or an early grave. As in the case of the person who did try to blow the whistle.

by ErrantX 10y ago

dopamean 10y ago
I'm always surprised by the number of conspiracy theorists on HN. Perhaps I shouldn't be?
- leesalminen 10y ago
  You should not. The vast majority of "conspiracy theories" are outlandish, improbable and not founded in visible fact. However, it is a useful mental exercise to listen to a hypothesis, perform research, synthesize your own theories and form a well rounded opinion on a topic that may, on the surface, seem impossible.
  - sjclemmy 10y ago
    I'm partial to a good conspiracy theory and this one has it in spades... The circumstances of Kelly's death are very odd. And didn't Robin Cook (most prominent and influential opponent on the front bench) meet with an accident after this also?
- onion2k 10y ago
  In this case you shouldn't be. Dr David Kelly was a UK weapons inspector who told the government that he had informed his superiors that there were no WMDs. The government and the media were particularly harsh with him and he committed suicide. There are conspiracies surrounding his death, but regardless of them it is fair to say that he was driven to an early grave. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Kelly_(weapons_expert) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Kelly_(weapons_expert)
  - ErrantX 10y ago
    Yeh; to be clear this is what I was aiming it. I think it's entirely fair to say that the Govt. had some not-insignificant part in driving Dr Kelly to commit suicide. Whether a black op or not... it's certainly discouraging to a potential whistleblower.
  - dopamean 10y ago
    I forgot about David Kelly. However I was referring more to this idea > It was presumably clear to those in MI6 that Blair had already decided to go to war, so what would have been in it for them to try and persuade him otherwise? Probably an early retirement at best. Which was replied to with a comment about ending up in an early grave. David Kelly, even if you believe he was killed by the government, was not killed because he tried to convince the Prime Minister not to go to war. His untimely demise came from pressure related to him leaking confidential information to the press. In my opinion those are two different things and I intended to address the former not the latter. Also, to be clear. I think David Kelly was right and what he went through was incredibly fucked up.
  - rosege 10y ago
    There is also an interview which may be on youtube - Ive seen it in docos of Rumsfeld before 9/11 saying how they had got rid of all his WMD. Then post 9/11 suddenly he had them back
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
- rm445 10y ago
  David Kelly definitely died. At the very least, he was hounded into suicide under intense media, political, professional and personal pressure, without even getting into conspiracy theories.

> Probably an early retirement at best. Or an early grave. As in the case of the person who did try to blow the whistle.

by ErrantX 10y ago

> Probably an early retirement at best. Or an early grave. As in the case of the person who did try to blow the whistle.

dopamean 10y ago

I'm always surprised by the number of conspiracy theorists on HN. Perhaps I shouldn't be?

leesalminen 10y ago
You should not. The vast majority of "conspiracy theories" are outlandish, improbable and not founded in visible fact. However, it is a useful mental exercise to listen to a hypothesis, perform research, synthesize your own theories and form a well rounded opinion on a topic that may, on the surface, seem impossible.
- sjclemmy 10y ago
  I'm partial to a good conspiracy theory and this one has it in spades... The circumstances of Kelly's death are very odd. And didn't Robin Cook (most prominent and influential opponent on the front bench) meet with an accident after this also?
onion2k 10y ago
In this case you shouldn't be. Dr David Kelly was a UK weapons inspector who told the government that he had informed his superiors that there were no WMDs. The government and the media were particularly harsh with him and he committed suicide. There are conspiracies surrounding his death, but regardless of them it is fair to say that he was driven to an early grave. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Kelly_(weapons_expert) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Kelly_(weapons_expert)
- ErrantX 10y ago
  Yeh; to be clear this is what I was aiming it. I think it's entirely fair to say that the Govt. had some not-insignificant part in driving Dr Kelly to commit suicide. Whether a black op or not... it's certainly discouraging to a potential whistleblower.
- dopamean 10y ago
  I forgot about David Kelly. However I was referring more to this idea > It was presumably clear to those in MI6 that Blair had already decided to go to war, so what would have been in it for them to try and persuade him otherwise? Probably an early retirement at best. Which was replied to with a comment about ending up in an early grave. David Kelly, even if you believe he was killed by the government, was not killed because he tried to convince the Prime Minister not to go to war. His untimely demise came from pressure related to him leaking confidential information to the press. In my opinion those are two different things and I intended to address the former not the latter. Also, to be clear. I think David Kelly was right and what he went through was incredibly fucked up.
- rosege 10y ago
  There is also an interview which may be on youtube - Ive seen it in docos of Rumsfeld before 9/11 saying how they had got rid of all his WMD. Then post 9/11 suddenly he had them back
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
rm445 10y ago
David Kelly definitely died. At the very least, he was hounded into suicide under intense media, political, professional and personal pressure, without even getting into conspiracy theories.