5 ms·

“was unlawful”, “is unlawful” and “will be unlawful”. It will not stop just because of the court decision. The rule of law is for mere mortals, and not the alp

“was unlawful”, “is unlawful” and “will be unlawful”. It will not stop just because of the court decision. The rule of law is for mere mortals, and not the alphabet soup of intelligence agencies, unfortunately.

peteretep 12y ago
The UK has a pretty good track record of nobody being above the law.
- arethuza 12y ago
  Lets see what happens to Tony Blair after the Chilcot inquiry report is published: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/07/tony-blair-war-crimes-prosecuted-eel-like-boris-johnson http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/07/tony-bl...
  - peteretep 12y ago
    As per the article, I don't see the ICC bringing it (who obviously aren't under the thumb of the UK), and if they don't, I really don't see the CPS coming to the conclusion that there's a reasonable chance of conviction, or that it would be in the public interest. Depends what the report says I guess.
  - peteretep 12y ago
    Can we also just take a moment to consider the monumental stupidity in accusing Blair of "war crimes" for "crimes against peace" by invoking the Nuremberg principles?? If it's "crime against peace", then it is - under the Nuremberg principles - not a war crime.
    - arethuza 12y ago
      Personally, I don't see what is stupid about charging him with an appropriate crime here in the UK (if there is one - IANAL) if he lied to parliament to start our involvement in a war.
- SideburnsOfDoom 12y ago
  Oh, really? http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/dec/15/saudiarabia.armstrade http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/dec/15/saudiarabia.armstr...
- mike_hearn 12y ago
  This ruling is issued by a kangaroo court that isn't like a normal court, and the "law" in this case says that GCHQ can do pretty much whatever it likes. So I'm afraid this stuff moved outside the realm of law and democracy a long time ago.
  - DanBC 12y ago
    > and the "law" in this case says that GCHQ can do pretty much whatever it likes. No it doesn't! Oversight might have failed but there are laws and GCHQ are expected to obey those laws.
    - LunaSea 12y ago
      Oh well if it's just the oversight of on of the most powerful agencies that failed for a measly seven years then everything is fine. Watch as nothing changes.

peteretep 12y ago

The UK has a pretty good track record of nobody being above the law.

arethuza 12y ago
Lets see what happens to Tony Blair after the Chilcot inquiry report is published: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/07/tony-blair-war-crimes-prosecuted-eel-like-boris-johnson http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/07/tony-bl...
- peteretep 12y ago
  As per the article, I don't see the ICC bringing it (who obviously aren't under the thumb of the UK), and if they don't, I really don't see the CPS coming to the conclusion that there's a reasonable chance of conviction, or that it would be in the public interest. Depends what the report says I guess.
- peteretep 12y ago
  Can we also just take a moment to consider the monumental stupidity in accusing Blair of "war crimes" for "crimes against peace" by invoking the Nuremberg principles?? If it's "crime against peace", then it is - under the Nuremberg principles - not a war crime.
  - arethuza 12y ago
    Personally, I don't see what is stupid about charging him with an appropriate crime here in the UK (if there is one - IANAL) if he lied to parliament to start our involvement in a war.
SideburnsOfDoom 12y ago
Oh, really? http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/dec/15/saudiarabia.armstrade http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/dec/15/saudiarabia.armstr...
mike_hearn 12y ago
This ruling is issued by a kangaroo court that isn't like a normal court, and the "law" in this case says that GCHQ can do pretty much whatever it likes. So I'm afraid this stuff moved outside the realm of law and democracy a long time ago.
- DanBC 12y ago
  > and the "law" in this case says that GCHQ can do pretty much whatever it likes. No it doesn't! Oversight might have failed but there are laws and GCHQ are expected to obey those laws.
  - LunaSea 12y ago
    Oh well if it's just the oversight of on of the most powerful agencies that failed for a measly seven years then everything is fine. Watch as nothing changes.