Disclaimers
It was difficult not to feel a little queasy yesterday whilst listening to rootin’ tootin’ Charles Clarke thumping his not inconsiderable fist on the dispatch box during his presentation or justification of the Prevention of Terrorism Bill 2005. After all, he was telling us that the terror threat this country faced was so serious that he needed to free nine dangerous terrorists, most of whom had languished in Belmarsh for nearly three years. And in response to the law lords' ruling he was required to re-establish a derogation from Article 5 of the European Human Rights Convention. No doubt Clarke awaits, as they say “with interest”, their lordships' ruling on whether, uniquely amongst signatories to the Convention, they approve the use of torture to secure evidence this man can then use to found a “reasonable suspicion” to impose draconian limitations on the freedom of those persons he has in his sights.We can be happy, I suppose, that this country’s fingerprints are not to be seen on the instruments of torture shown to prisoner before the pain begins. With the chill still lodged in my spine I went off to the Home Office website to see just what this threat was. Pour a stiff drink and have a look at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/terrorism/threat/index.html. And before you drain the last drop, click on the MI5 link and you’ll end up at http://www.mi5.gov.uk/output/Page269.html, where with the same information is copied with the imprimatur of the independent service! But wait, what do I see at the bottom of the page? A disclaimer! As if I was buying a washing machine. But this is a “Security Advice Disclaimer”-
“The Security Service shall have no liability to any person for the accuracy or contents of the security advice published on this website. The Security Service assumes no responsibility to any person. No warranties are given. No liability is accepted for any inclusion or omission here from or the absence of any other information or matter. Furthermore, no liability or responsibility is accepted for any further advice given or omission to give further advice, prior to or subsequent to the advice published on this website.”
It’s a pity Charlie did not add the same disclaimer yesterday.
posted by Tony @ Wednesday, February 23, 2005
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