piers goes bye bye

[may18]

He has stood down

breaking news, full apology, acceptance it was a hoax

apparently they has had tens of thousands of letters complaining

[Mince]

Excellent! He should be sent to Basra. Ian Hislop will cream himself.

[Frank S.]

Does this mean inquiries will stop there? I fervently hope not.
And I may have missed something, but what exactly was Blair apologizing for a few days ago? The pics and reports being fabricated, I just don't understand.

[may18]

sky is reporting it was the army that got him

ie the colonel pointing out that it was a recruitment
advert for al quieda and would result in dead soldiers

[Mince]

Presumably because it was the expedient thing for the Dear Leader to do at the time. They say inquiries are ongoing but are unconnected with the photos. People are coming out of the woodwork left, right and centre claiming British soldiers did this, British soldiers did that.

[may18]

well 2 danish medics are making allegations.
And tonights 8.00pm interview

but ive read the amnesty report and lots seems ..well unbelievable

for instance one amnesty internationa claim is that a soldier deliberately shot an 8 year old girl from 60 yards.. even apart from the absurdity of the claim how would people know who a soldier 60 yards away was aiming at??.

Thing is theres a birmingham lawyer in basra basically asking people if they want to sue the MOD on legal aid under EU laws. Iraq is full of abject poverty ..maybee im being cynical but thats a massive incentive to make claims imho

[Frank S.]

I read on a blog where no link was posted ( ) about a demonstration at the British embassy in Iraq around 7 May. Apparently the paras came out, the CO walked over to the crowd (!!!! Is that British steel or what?!?) and convinced them to disperse.
No shots fired.

Now subsequently, Condoleeza Rice apparently complained to Tone that the protesters should have been arrested as insurgents, and was told to stop meddling in British affairs.

If anyone heard about this I'd love a link!

[AdamR]

I'm glad to see the bastard sacked, he had no right publishing those pictures.

[RobInDaUK]

Great, the barsteward has gone... Just a little bit too late though isn't it

[Chaff]

Good riddance. I'm sure that had these photographs turned out to be genuine The Mirror would have been campaigning for the human rights of the prisoners, with some sort of damage or compensation for their suffering. I only hope they will be as generous should a British subject suffer as a result of these photographs. In fact as the damage has already been done, I expect them to compensate every man woman and child who's life has been put at greater risk as a result of these photos.

[Smiler.wales]

theres a world of difference between being Sacked and stepping down

according to bbc he was unrepentant to the end and they had to sack him

[Aldo]

The apology was a crock in teh paper today. Page 4 basically says "yes we were wrong but the army is to blame" not to mention the headline "Sorry: WE were hoaxed" as though they are the victims. Bloody jounalists.

[goreD.]

Good riddence to the git. I wonder how many British soldiers will die as a result of these stories.

There WILL be some, mark my words.

Gore.

[Mince]

I read on a blog ... about a demonstration at the British embassy in Iraq around 7 May. Apparently the paras came out, the CO walked over to the crowd (!!!! Is that British steel or what?!?) and convinced them to disperse.
No shots fired.

Now subsequently, Condoleeza Rice apparently complained to Tone that the protesters should have been arrested as insurgents, and was told to stop meddling in British affairs.

If anyone heard about this I'd love a link!

I sincerely hope that is true! Pretty cool. I didn't hear about that but there was an incident recently where a guy came out waving an AK-47 and four British soldiers ran up to him and took the gun away. I'm sure they would've been within their rights to shoot him but they did bloody well not to.