Raised eyebrows?
26th November, 2008
Comment at end
BLAIR – SPOOKY STUFF
The ‘Spooks onto Blair’ story must have raised an eyebrow or two. Perhaps even the next day denial has too. But the story from whistleblowers yesterday that even Tony Blair, America’s best friend was allegedly being spied upon by the US probably did America’s and President Bush’s reputations fewer favours than it did that of the former British prime minister or Britain itself. The “no comment” from Tony Blair’s office was clear, and to be expected. But then, following perhaps an interesting phone call or three, untapped of course, both countries’ Intelligence organisations have denied any such goings-on.
Another American administration is due to become Britain’s historic ally, and that administration will not want to SPOOK any other ally. For if Blair & Britain CAN’T be trusted, WHO CAN?
Let’s be clear … if either of these two countries’ intelligence services haven’t yet worked out how to avoid or at least detect phone tapping, we’re back in the dark ages. This story was always a non-runner.
If left unchecked, the anti-Blair/anti-America/anti-Iraq war/anti-Bush press would have been frothing at the mouth at this. All the usual theories about keeping Blair on board the Iraq project because of the findings of their alleged “spying” would have been doing the rounds. And the imagined “dirt” they’d say that America had on Blair would embarrass many a confessions priest I’m sure … ‘Father, I have sinned …”
US & UK – “WE DON’T SNOOP ON EACH OTHER”
LONDON (AP) — British and U.S. intelligence officials on Tuesday rejected claims that London and Washington spy on each other’s leaders, following an allegation that the U.S. kept a secret file on former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
ABC News reported Monday that ex-U.S. intercept operator David Murfee Faulk says he saw a dossier on Blair in 2006, allegedly including details of the then-leader’s private life, stored in a U.S. intelligence database.
The news organization said that Faulk worked at a National Security Agency facility in Fort Gordon, Georgia, between 2003 and 2007. It reported that Faulk did not specify what details were held on Blair’s personal life.
“Any notion that the CIA spies on the British government — let alone on Tony Blair — is utterly absurd,” CIA spokesman Paul Gimigliano said.
Blair’s office, Britain’s Downing Street, and the Government Communications Headquarters — Britain’s eavesdropping agency better known as GCHQ — declined to comment Tuesday on the claim.
Intelligence and security officials in London, meanwhile, raised eyebrows at the allegation, noting that Britain and Washington have had a long-standing agreement not to snoop on each other’s leaders.
“We don’t spy on each other — full stop,” a British security official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the work.
He said an understanding not to spy or intercept communications between American and British intelligence agencies had been in existence for more than 30 years.
A second British security official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss intelligence matters with reporters, said even if the U.S. would have intercepted communications within the U.K., it wouldn’t have broken any laws.
British intelligence agencies are barred from tapping the telephones of U.K. lawmakers — not ordinary citizens — under an order made by the then-Prime Minister Harold Wilson in 1966. The rule was intended to protect legislators from surveillance during the Cold War.
The order, however, does not ban British agencies from using material on U.K. lawmakers gathered by foreign intelligence.
Intercepts by other nations would be subject to oversight by their own authorities, not Britain’s Interception of Communications Commissioner, who examines activity only by U.K. organizations.
“The U.K. and the U.S. have a long history of working in close partnership on intelligence matters,” a GCHQ spokesman told AP on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the agency’s work. “Our shared focus is in delivering intelligence to safeguard the people and interests of both nations.”
The agency declined to discuss allegations related to snooping on Blair.
President George W. Bush’s administration has faced sharp criticism over its use of intercepts and wiretapping.
The Terrorist Surveillance Program was secretly authorized by Bush shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and disclosed in late 2005, when civil libertarians questioned its legality.
The program was brought under the oversight of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court in 2006, which last year approved 2,371 warrants targeting people in the United States believed to be linked to international terrorism.
In Britain, the U.S.- and NATO-run Menwith Hill Station is one of the world’s largest eavesdropping facilities. The facility is near Harrogate, in northern England, about 215 miles (346 kilometers) north of London.
British security officials acknowledge that the U.S. intercepts likely include phone calls and e-mail traffic from targets inside the U.K.
Associated Press writers Paisley Dodds in London and Pamela Hess in Washington contributed to this report.
HOW COULD THEY?
If you’re still scratching your head as to quite what this story is all about, you should remember that not all whistleblowers are without an agenda. Even if it’s just selling a book.
Blair nervously waits to speak at a Prime Minister's Questions session in the House of Commons
How COULD they … why WOULD they … the world and its brother asked, when this story broke. Not only did Tony Blair (Britain’s most pro-America leader in generations) leave his job early over backing America (or so some would have us believe) but the ungrateful Americans didn’t even trust him while he was sacrificing himself for their cause!
The "W" on Blair's brow caused many remarks
With the mark of Dubbya imprinted on his heart, soul and forehead, they still wondered if he was up to no good!
America’s Favourite adopted son – their blue-eyed boy – the sainted Tony.
No, I’m not being sarcastic. Would I ever as regards Mr Blair? If I were in charge of handing out sainthoods, he’d be first in line.
In this photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Euronext Chairman Jan-Michiel Hessels, fourth right; joins former Prime Minister of England Tony Blair, fifth right; Alfred E. Smith IV, chairman, Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers, sixth right, and guests for the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, May 30, 2008. Blair formally launched the Tony Blair Faith Foundation in New York, a group that will aim to educate people worldwide about religions other than their own. (AP Photo/NYSE Euronext, Mel Nudelman)
HOW THE STORY BROKE:
ABC News: Whistleblower says US spied on Blair
Blair & Bush - "a relationship forged in battle" (Bush)
A former communications intercept operator says U.S. intelligence snooped on the private lives of two of America’s most important allies in fighting al Qaeda: British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Iraq’s first interim president, Ghazi al-Yawer.
David Murfee Faulk told ABCNews.com he saw and read a file on Blair’s “private life” and heard “pillow talk” phone calls of al-Yawer when he worked as an Army Arab linguist assigned to a secret NSA facility at Fort Gordon, Georgia between 2003 and 2007.
Last month, Faulk and another former military intercept operator assigned to the NSA facility triggered calls for an investigation when they revealed U.S. intelligence intercepted the private phone calls of American journalists, aid workers and soldiers stationed in Iraq.
Faulk says his top secret clearance at Ft. Gordon gave him access to an intelligence data base, called “Anchory,” where he says he saw the file on then-British prime minister Tony Blair in 2006.
Faulk declined to provide details other than to say it contained information of a personal nature.
A spokesman for Blair, who stepped down as Prime Minister in 2007, said there would be “no comment” on Faulk’s allegations.
Collecting information on foreign leaders is a legal and common practice of intelligence agencies around the world but under a long-standing agreement, the U.S. and Britain have pledged “not to collect on each other,” according to several former U.S. intelligence officials.
The NSA works extremely closely and shares data with its British counterpart, the GCHQ, Government Communications Headquarters.
“If it is true that we maintained a file on Blair, it would represent a huge breach of the agreement we have with the Brits,” said one former CIA official.
In the case of the former Iraqi president, al-Yawer, Faulk says his “pillow talk” phone calls were to his fiancé, whom he later married. Faulk says the calls were intercepted by operators in the NSA facility at Ft. Gordon, Back Hall, and posted on the computer system for others to read about and hear.
Faulk described the al-Yawer calls as “courting, wooing and pillow talk” with an Iraqi woman he would later marry Nasrin Barwari, the minister of public works in the interim government.
Al-Yawer was the first President of Iraq’s interim government between 2004 and 2005.
At the same time, U.S. intelligence was monitoring his private calls, al-Yawer was flown to Washington to meet President George Bush in the White House.
“I’m really honored you’re here,” said President Bush as he greeted al-Yawer in front of reporters in the Oval Office.
Al-Yawer, now divorced, could not be reached for comment. His ex-wife told ABC News she did not want to comment on the allegation that her private phone calls with her then fiancé were being intercepted by U.S. intelligence.
The NSA declined to comment on the specifics of Faulk’s allegations involving al-Yawer and Blair.
In a statement, a spokesman said the agency follows all laws.
The Inspector General for the NSA is reported to be conducting an investigation into the allegations by Faulk and another former military intercept operator, Adrienne Kinne, about listening to calls between American citizens.
The Senate Intelligence and Judiciary Committees also are investigating the allegations about calls involving American citizens.
HOW DID THEY COVER THE STORY?
Mostly with great sympathy for Mr Blair, and a lot of “told you so” moans.
- ABC news: Pictures & comments
- TPM Muckraker – Blair’s private life
- Faulk video on spying on Americans’ phone call tappings
- The Times: US spied on Blair
- The Daily Mail
- The Guardian
- Telegraph
- Implied Observer – sympathises with Blair, more or less
- The Raw Story- ‘Blair will be angry’ says a commenter. Not, I’d have thought, as angry as Bush.
This story, like the “Yo Blair” one – also untrue (see video here) – will take on a life of its own, you can be sure. You do have to wonder at times whose side these critics are on.
But whoever you are, and whatever your motives, you can’t drive a wedge between the political and diplomatic ties of the Americans and Brits. Not in this generation, anyway. So don’t waste your time.
“And the truth is that nothing we strive for from the world trade talks to global warming, to terrorism and Palestine can be solved without America or without Europe.”
“Without America … nothing will be achieved”
HISTORY IN PICTURES OF THE BUSH/BLAIR – AMERICA/BRITAIN RELATIONSHIP
Unlikely allies? Republican Bush and New Labour's Blair. Both ending their terms in office with much reduced popularity ratings. Mainly due to their coalition on the "war on terror". They were right; their naysayers wrong. But as Mr Bush put it when asked by a journalist about his place in history: "History? In history we're all dead".
George W. Bush, on British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Washington, D.C., May 17, 2007: "My relationship with this good man is where I've been focused, and that's where my concentration is. And I don't regret any other aspect of it. And so I -- we filled a lot of space together."
Soul mates. Blair and Bush were as one on fighting international terrorism
But Blair managed to explain it better ... though not, clearly, well enough
So, Tony ... this Gordon guy thinks he can just take over your job without an election? Is that how you DO democracy in Britain?
The End of a Special Relationship
Blair leaving his last White House press conference with George W. Bush, May 2007.
The Start of a … relationship
Well, hi there ... are you that British Brutus guy Tony told me about? The one with the knife? Come on now, tell me ... when am I getting Tony back?
Welcome to MY little Downing Street pad, George. Have you seen the REALLY good portraits over on THAT wall?
But some friendships are harder to forget than others …
Hello George, Tony here. Listen ... speak in code ... in case they're buggering... I mean bugging us
Whadyamean, Tony? Haven't I always spoken in code? By the way, I still have your picture.
Other news: CNN News: Men convicted over “charity” donations to Hamas
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Tags: american intelligence spied on blair, David Murfee Faulk, GCHQ, National Security Agency Fort Gordon Georgia, spying on tony blair denied, us & uk don't snoop on each other
November 26, 2008 at 3:03 pm |
[...] US Denies Spying on Tony Blair: US & UK “don’t snoop” …time, U.S. intelligence was monitoring his private calls, al-Yawer was flown to Washington to meet President George Bush in the White House. [...]
November 26, 2008 at 4:04 pm |
tony i think would be laughing over this story not angry on how gullible the press is to believe this and shows the gullibility over what they wrote over iraq. they the press will believe anything they are told about tony blair