Though THE TIMES was condemned by Britain’s Press Council for a lie publshed in 1981 and THE DAILY EXPRESS and THE DAILY STAR were condemned for the exact same lie published in 1982, and the British Government under Margaret Thatcher coordinated its publication neither the Government nor the papers were chastened. They kept on lying regardless.
In 1994, in order to promote peace, Taoiseach Albert Reynolds approached US President Bill Clinton requesting a US Visa for Gerry Adams, President of SinnFein, MP for West Belfast and holder of an Irish Passport.
Thatcher had been succeeded as British Prime Minister, John Major, who when newly appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer had been mentored at EU meetings by Reynolds when Reynolds was a seasoned Finance Minister. Though they had struck up a friendship, Major tried to scupper Reynolds’ peace initiative, and the American State Department was just as hostile to it.
Reynolds put his reputation on the line to convince Clinton that Adams could be trusted. But Simon Jenkins, former Editor of THE TIMES of London betook himself off to Washington to brief White House officials to scupper the chances of peace.
In the 12 years that had elapsed about another 800 lives had been taken in the “Northern Ireland Troubles” bringing the total number since 1969 to just over 3,000.
Twelve years earlier the BIG LIE was that the IRA had killed 2,000 Protestants and the implication was that no Catholics had been killed and the IRA were the only killers.
So Jenkins gave the lie a new twist, telling the White House people that the IRA had killed “3,000 Britons.” And a few years later, writing in THE TIMES, he boasted how he had told that whopper.
Some time after that Simon Jenkins and Harold Evans were simulataneously Knighted at Buckingham Palace.
A couple of “Sirs” or a couple of “Curs?.
Perhaps I should now let some lying dogs sleep?
In the 12 years that had elapsed about another 800 lives had been taken in the “Northern Ireland Troubles” bringing the total number since 1969 to just over 3,000.
Twelve years earleir the BIG LIE was that the IRA had killed 2,000 Protestants and the implication was that no Catholics had been killed and the IRA were the only killers.
So Jenkins gave the lie a new twist, telling the White House people that the IRA had killed “3,000 Britons.” And a few years later, writing in THE TIMES, he boasted how he had told that whopper.
Some time after that Simon Jenkins and Harold Evans were simultaneously Knighted at Buckingham Palace.
A couple of “Sirs” or a couple of “Curs?.
Perhaps I should now let some lying dogs sleep?
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