tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post3921871440996578973..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Student Radio Interviewer Embarrasses Benn Over TortureIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-16037801732326348852009-02-21T14:24:00.000+00:002009-02-21T14:24:00.000+00:00Thanks Iain for this informative and enjoyable lin...Thanks Iain for this informative and enjoyable link, and to your readers for several illuminating comments. Your post prompted me to read more into the background of the issue, and I feel I understand it a good deal better.<BR/><BR/>I confess to being agnostic on rendition and torture: It would take a lot to convince me that the UK should be complicit, and nothing I have heard has yet persuaded me that we need to compromise our commitment to treat people humanely in order to protect ourselves from attack. <BR/><BR/>I cannot, however, confess an unshakeable commitment to the human rights of actual terrorists, in possession of mission-critical intelligence that would save innocent lives. If - and it's unlikely the evidence could be presented in an open forum - I could be shown that methods of torture had a proven track-record of extracting such intelligence in a proportionate way (i.e. with extremely low yield of bad intelligence, extremely low (though not zero) incidence on torturing innocent people, and a strong track record of averting disaster) I must admit I would probably support it. <BR/><BR/>I find that admission troubling, and am fully aware of its implications, but hypothetically I'd rather live in a country where my government was willing to make that kind of morally difficult choice, than one in which they exposed us all to greater risk, in the face of clear evidence that they could keep us all safer by victimising a small number of guilty individuals who were intent on ending our lives and bringing down our society.Kevin Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17455815043777159181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-38677438927310036812009-02-21T11:46:00.000+00:002009-02-21T11:46:00.000+00:00Haha you're right Iain, the ending was brilliant.Haha you're right Iain, the ending was brilliant.OBC Newshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05199336701581647524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-28757626148640293882009-02-20T20:48:00.000+00:002009-02-20T20:48:00.000+00:00I suppose Hilary Benn could not pick up on the poi...I suppose Hilary Benn could not pick up on the point that Mohammed is not a British citizen because to do so would then invite the question, "Then why are we spending a fortune bringing him here?"<BR/><BR/>In fact, since he is NOT a British citizen, WHY are we spending a fortune bringing him here?Paul Donnelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05426173543787896835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-73672416990587860412009-02-20T16:59:00.000+00:002009-02-20T16:59:00.000+00:00This is actually brilliant. Gosh, I hope he goes ...This is actually brilliant. Gosh, I hope he goes on to a mainstream media job!Jeremiahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15827811738270258891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-58298478874620104032009-02-20T08:23:00.000+00:002009-02-20T08:23:00.000+00:00Excellent interview - if only the main stream medi...Excellent interview - if only the main stream media had adopted a similar 'tough but polite' approach with our current government.Trend Shedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04817609330878848716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-4843320621679502182009-02-20T06:36:00.000+00:002009-02-20T06:36:00.000+00:00Superb interview. Lets hope Joshua Chambers finds ...Superb interview. Lets hope Joshua Chambers finds his way onto the national stage without delay.Nullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14097211775158236323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-4667858186254783352009-02-20T05:41:00.000+00:002009-02-20T05:41:00.000+00:00I don't understand thos etaht said he interupted t...I don't understand thos etaht said he interupted too much...Benn waffles incessantly about New president, Obama, New leadership, Close Guantanamo...all ground he was sure of and so repeats at leats 10 times...then claims he wasn't allowed to answer! Well done Josh for sticking it to him. I don't give a damn about whether the Mohammed is or is not a British citizen but I do so hate lying waffling, prevaricating and totally inept politicians...reminded me of gordon Brown but without the'outraged' tone.Span Owshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10144861546996033462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-19005208425953430052009-02-20T03:45:00.000+00:002009-02-20T03:45:00.000+00:00Chris Paul said..."Is he perchance a Tory?"With su...Chris Paul said...<BR/>"Is he perchance a Tory?"<BR/><BR/>With such dogged refusal to accept the shower of lies, half-truths, evasion and deceit that we have come to expect as being the normal and inevitable consequence of a Labour Minister opening their mouth, possibly, just possibly.<BR/><BR/>One thing is certain, he has at least half a brain, so he can't be Labour.an ex-apprenticehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04967821802512064291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-8041756516062910372009-02-20T03:10:00.000+00:002009-02-20T03:10:00.000+00:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Chris Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679067503215414300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-3553066251670483092009-02-20T00:44:00.000+00:002009-02-20T00:44:00.000+00:00I only listened to the first couple of minutes, bu...I only listened to the first couple of minutes, but I would like to think that an MP of any party would be able to respond to the 'British Citizen' bit. Got a bit bored with the Paxo thing ie not listening to any response so I stopped listening (sorry my boredom threshold is pretty low!)<BR/><BR/>Maybe later in the interview young Hilary noticed the frequent comments about British Citizenship. As far as I know completely unfounded. <BR/><BR/>I'm not saying that only non-brits (sorry not pc to use abbreviations but hey!!!) deserve to be tortured - god forbid (sorry non-pc again!!!!), but factually the interviewer was wrong. And young Hils seemed to accept it!!!<BR/><BR/>I do not believe in torture, and am horrified that our glorious leadership condones it.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05358796296997497243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-22833852146505952832009-02-20T00:43:00.000+00:002009-02-20T00:43:00.000+00:00I tend to agree with Paul Hirst and Stardancer.Cal...I tend to agree with Paul Hirst and Stardancer.<BR/><BR/>Calling Binyam Mohamed a "British Citizen" is inaccurate. The interview falls at the first hurdle.<BR/><BR/><BR/>Binyam Mohamed was brought to this country from Ethiopia when he was 14. The reasons are not clear. While in this country he became a radicalised Muslim. He also became a drug addict and then traveled to Pakistan and Afghanistan, on the pretext, say his supporters, of kicking the habit.<BR/><BR/>The facts then get a little hazy, depending on whose account you believe, but his London lawyer does not deny he attended an Islamic/Taliban Camp.<BR/><BR/>He next appears in April 2002, attempting to board a plane in Karachi with a false passport.<BR/><BR/>Any information that Binyam gave after this was almost certainly obtained under torture, and is therefore worthless.<BR/><BR/>On the issue of British Government involvement and its implications for the sanctity of the rule of law is discussed here:<BR/><BR/>http://www.opendemocracy.net/blog/ourkingdom-theme/john-jackson/2009/02/10/will-international-law-help-benyam-mohamed<BR/><BR/>It is written by John Jackson, the Chairman of leading law firm, Mishcon De Reya.<BR/><BR/>He argues that the main premise of the Governments suppression of the evidence is not only specious, but it has dangerous implications for the rule of law.<BR/><BR/><BR/>But pains me to see that mighty and noble principles are teetering on the precipice because of somebody who is clearly not innocent of some of the charges, and may, for all we know, be guilty of trying to blow us up.Wrinkled Weaselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05291551539649118631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-24276997033964022922009-02-20T00:36:00.000+00:002009-02-20T00:36:00.000+00:00Just proves principals aren't a genetic traitWhat,...<I>Just proves principals aren't a genetic trait</I><BR/><BR/>What, Mostly Ordinary? Tony Benn has principles, yes, but of an extraordinary flexible nature.<BR/><BR/>For example, Hilary went to two prep schools then -totally by luck,of course- Hilary was sent to Holland Park, a very special comprehensive school described as: The Socialist Eton."<BR/><BR/>And I can recall how, days after being pro-nuclear energy as minister responsible for energy, he had a miraculous conversion into a confirmed anti-nuclear power campaigner. He had a proto-Brownian method for dealing with questions on this- he blamed other people for his sudden change of mind!Martin Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04148241391183658112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-70511422062104957002009-02-20T00:30:00.000+00:002009-02-20T00:30:00.000+00:00Oh. As duplicitous and as slippery as his father!Oh. As duplicitous and as slippery as his father!Martin Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04148241391183658112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-29837347397790325202009-02-19T23:49:00.000+00:002009-02-19T23:49:00.000+00:00There may be another little Benn soon. Joy.There may be another little Benn soon. Joy.Dick the Prickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02683095612320513712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-46927510809262586132009-02-19T21:54:00.000+00:002009-02-19T21:54:00.000+00:00I beg to differ with Paul Hurst, almost my namesak...I beg to differ with Paul Hurst, almost my namesake, and I thought it was absolutely brilliant. Under the Convention, the ban on torture is absolute. Hilary Benn was tortured brilliantly by the radio journo. I have not enjoyed myself since my ex-Probation Officer, Phil Hurst, was grilled by my barrister in front of the Parole Board. He was sweating like a pig and squirming just like Hilary Benn during this interview. Trying to defend the indefensible is pointless. I trust that Tony Benn will now put his errant little boy over his knee and spank his bottom?jailhouselawyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03795278184797990706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-38968790174304592572009-02-19T21:40:00.000+00:002009-02-19T21:40:00.000+00:00Didn't think it was all that great, here's why:1....Didn't think it was all that great, here's why:<BR/><BR/>1. He interrupts far too much, you must give the interviewee a chance to answer your questions!<BR/><BR/>2. Aggressive styles means that guests become far too closed. Journo's can't afford to be too heavy on their guests or nobody will want to speak to them in the future. Its a fine line between interviewing and interrogation.<BR/><BR/>Anybody can browbeat/interrupt/anger an interviewee but the real skill is being able to get the same results in a calm, collected manner.<BR/><BR/>I think that this type of interviewing does nothing bar polarise peoples prejudices on any given topic while ironically leaving some crucial avenues of information, unexplored.Paul Hursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17027682355841562092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-49044945558279492342009-02-19T21:38:00.000+00:002009-02-19T21:38:00.000+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Mr Mrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05606310204997824787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-21208776752601048132009-02-19T21:30:00.000+00:002009-02-19T21:30:00.000+00:00Was the interview conducted in a cave?Was the interview conducted in a cave?Gordon Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17026686719065481051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-51152832380781625402009-02-19T21:18:00.000+00:002009-02-19T21:18:00.000+00:00Quality. "with respect" means anything but, and ca...Quality. "with respect" means anything but, and can roughly be translated as who do you think you are to be questioning me like this. <BR/><BR/>This boy will go far.BigMarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07916539420933215988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-53486924735959429332009-02-19T21:13:00.000+00:002009-02-19T21:13:00.000+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Mr Mrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05606310204997824787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-45488993938592788322009-02-19T21:11:00.000+00:002009-02-19T21:11:00.000+00:00Hilary obviously respects this guy.And I didn't re...Hilary obviously respects this guy.<BR/><BR/>And I didn't realise we have so many 'long standing' things going on.<BR/><BR/>Just proves principals aren't a genetic trait.Mostly Ordinaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11940615088493840939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-27674912234554336292009-02-19T21:10:00.000+00:002009-02-19T21:10:00.000+00:00I referred to the headline. I'm sorry I didn't mak...I referred to the headline. I'm sorry I didn't make that clear. I think that most people still consider the most important Benn in this country to be Tony and any header with Benn in the title would probably refer to him.<BR/><BR/>You're right about the story though, I hope the truth will be uncovered and published by the subsequent government. As I can't see the current government lifting the lid on such a putrid mess.Akheloioshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14022002728441183873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-80374215077631424962009-02-19T21:05:00.000+00:002009-02-19T21:05:00.000+00:00Well done Joshua Chambers.A grilling Hilary Benn w...Well done Joshua Chambers.<BR/><BR/>A grilling Hilary Benn won't forget in a hurry.<BR/><BR/>"With respect" his waffle and evasions gave you the answers you were seeking.jon deehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17354116589298046787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-84851692603813376082009-02-19T21:04:00.000+00:002009-02-19T21:04:00.000+00:00What part of "A few days ago he interviewed Hilary...What part of "A few days ago he interviewed Hilary Benn" couldn't you understand?Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-70090357675131681682009-02-19T21:02:00.000+00:002009-02-19T21:02:00.000+00:00It rather annoys me that you've not included infor...It rather annoys me that you've not included information as to which Benn you're alluding to. <BR/><BR/>Tony Benn continues to be a most vociferous opponent to torture alongside David Davies and the multitude of progressives and libertarians in this country. <BR/><BR/>The current government's shame is obvious to everyone, just read the most recent Glenn Greenwald column in Salon.Akheloioshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14022002728441183873noreply@blogger.com