The hypocrisy writ large in relations with Gaddafi owes much to our arms trade. But others profited from the diplomatic thaw
Jonathan Freedland
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 1 March 2011
"You'd be forgiven for being confused; the pace of change has indeed been dizzying. A matter of weeks ago our rulers could not get enough of the desert tyrants of the Middle East, selling them arms, bowing as they offered up our most hallowed institutions, covering them with moist kisses. Now all that's changed. Now we want to take up arms against these evil dictators, David Cameron rushing to the Commons to rattle his "military assets" and warn of impending action.
If Muammar Gaddafi were not mad already, all this talk of no-fly zones from his erstwhile friends in London would surely drive him insane. What is he to make of such a betrayal? Can this be the same government that vowed no interest in the freedom-spreading zeal of its predecessor, that dismissed as naive the "ethical dimension" of the Robin Cook era, that swore instead to be interested only in interests, the first of these being the profits of British businesses looking for customers abroad?....."
Jonathan Freedland
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 1 March 2011
"You'd be forgiven for being confused; the pace of change has indeed been dizzying. A matter of weeks ago our rulers could not get enough of the desert tyrants of the Middle East, selling them arms, bowing as they offered up our most hallowed institutions, covering them with moist kisses. Now all that's changed. Now we want to take up arms against these evil dictators, David Cameron rushing to the Commons to rattle his "military assets" and warn of impending action.
If Muammar Gaddafi were not mad already, all this talk of no-fly zones from his erstwhile friends in London would surely drive him insane. What is he to make of such a betrayal? Can this be the same government that vowed no interest in the freedom-spreading zeal of its predecessor, that dismissed as naive the "ethical dimension" of the Robin Cook era, that swore instead to be interested only in interests, the first of these being the profits of British businesses looking for customers abroad?....."
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