Oh dear (tm): Blair hit by Saudi bribery threat

[wendigo100]

SAUDI ARABIA is threatening to suspend diplomatic ties with Britain unless Downing Street intervenes to block an investigation into a £60m “slush fund” allegedly set up for some members of its royal family.

The payments, in the form of lavish holidays, a fleet of luxury cars including a gold Rolls-Royce, rented apartments and other perks, are alleged
to have been paid to ensure the Saudis continued to buy from BAE under the so-called Al-Yamamah deal, rather than going to another country. Al-Yamamah is the biggest defence contract in British history and has kept BAE in business for 20 years.

The Saudis, key allies in the Middle East, have also threatened to cut intelligence co-operation with Britain over Al-Qaeda, and have repeated their threat that they will terminate payments on a defence contract that could be worth £40 billion and safeguard at least 10,000 British jobs.

The Saudis had been given the impression during a meeting with Blair in July last year that the inquiry would be stopped.

So Blair will either have to cave in and call off the SFO, publicly turning a blind eye to massive bribery, or lose us 10,000 jobs and Saudi support against terror. I wonder which he'll choose?

[sappatz]

saudi

saudi princes are even into drugs (they smuggle it into europe) if you to know the truth

[mcquiggd]

'Saudi support against terror'... is only given when it suits them, of course.

The biggest losers from all this will be the likes of heather mills, allegedly.

[AtW]

Surely PM can't just call off the investigation - that would be obstruction of justice and he simple can't possibly legally do anything like this, especially now that it was leaked - probably intentionally just to tell Saudis that since it is known they can't do anything: the guys from authoritarian regimes simply don't understand how is it the PM or the President can't just pick up a phone and stop investigation.

[ImNotFromIndia]

... simply don't understand how is it the PM or the President can't just pick up a phone and stop investigation.

Really?
The PM/President are willing to kill thousands in the national interest. So you think they will not do it to save their skin and votes?

[AtW]

The PM/President are willing to kill thousands in the national interest.

Don't confuse morale and legal issues - invasion in Iraq is legal under UK laws.

[ImNotFromIndia]

Don't confuse morale and legal issues - invasion in Iraq is legal under UK laws.

True enoug...

All I'm saying is that you have too much faith in the British Democracy/Legal systems. To think that the PM or anyone else would let that BAE contract goes to another country ... you would be sadly mistaken. Let's face it, other countries would only happen to pay the bribe!!!

[AtW]

All I'm saying is that you have too much faith in the British Democracy/Legal systems.

I was in court once (and won), and regularly read about legal cases - so far the impression is more than favourable: UK courts make very good balanced decisions, in some criminal cases they are too lax, but that's because Govt does not build enough prisons and effectively forces them avoid imprisonment, the fault is on the Executive branch.

[threaded]

I was in court once (and won), and regularly read about legal cases - so far the impression is more than favourable: UK courts make very good balanced decisions, in some criminal cases they are too lax, but that's because Govt does not build enough prisons and effectively forces them avoid imprisonment, the fault is on the Executive branch.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Loony

You listen too much to the propaganda.

[AtW]

You listen too much to the propaganda.

Yes, but at least it smells of roses...