On the other hand:
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| Britain | ||
| British diplomat arrested over 'anti-Semitic' rant | ||
| 2009-02-09 | ||
| A senior Foreign Office diplomat has been arrested for inciting racial hatred after an angry tirade at his gym. News reports today said that Rowan Laxton, 47, allegedly shouted "f***ing Israelis, f***ing Jews while watching television reports of the Israeli attack on Gaza last month. He is also alleged to have said that Israeli soldiers should be "wiped off the face of the Earth" during the rant at the London Business School gym near Regents Park. The Daily Mail said that the tirade continued even after other gym users asked him to stop.
A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said: "A 47-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an incident that took place on the 27th January following a complaint received by police from a member of the public. He was bailed pending further inquiries and is due to return at the end of March to a Central London police station." The maximum penalty for inciting religious hatred is a seven-year prison term or a fine or both. Mr Laxton, an Oxford graduate, joined the diplomatic service in 1993 and rose quickly through the ranks. He has served in Pakistan and Afghanistan. As head of his section, he in charge of UK diplomatic policy in South Asia, directly briefing David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, who is Jewish.
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| Posted by:tipper |
| #15 He does look like a bit of a chutney ferret. |
| Posted by: Jolurong Peacock7596 2009-02-09 19:48 |
| #14 FWIW, from Australian blogger John Ray, economist and former member of the British Conservative Party. There has long been a lot of antisemitism in Britain's Foreign Office. It may not be the case in this instance but in general, it is said to be a homosexual thing. Arabs understand concealed homosexuality and concealed homosexuality is said to be common in the FO. FO people mostly come from "Public" (fee-paying) school backgrounds, where homosexuality was traditionally tolerated |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2009-02-09 16:04 |
| #13 Probably converted to Islam, with all the 'enthuisiasm' of the converted. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2009-02-09 15:31 |
| #12 From the Daily Mail: It looks like he's gone native, probably turned muslim. He is responsible for all the UK's diplomacy in that area and for briefing Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who is Jewish. Mr Laxton has worked extensively in the Middle East - he married a Muslim woman in 2000 - and has been deputy ambassador to Afghanistan. The case could not have come at a worse time for the Foreign Office. Next week, Britain is hosting an international summit on combating anti-Semitism, with politicians from 35 countries. He ran the British High Commission in Pakistan for three years before moving to Afghanistan in 2001. He stayed in Kabul for two years, then returned to London. He was appointed head of his section last year. Mr Laxton is believed to be separated from his wife, a banker who is working in the United Arab Emirates. The Israel page of the Foreign Office website says: 'The Government has a shared responsibility to tackle anti-Semitism and all other forms of racism and prejudice'. |
| Posted by: tipper 2009-02-09 13:36 |
| #11 He doesn't look like the marrying type... |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles the flatulent 2009-02-09 13:25 |
| #10 There's a crazy person who lives up Old Forge Road holler somewheres, whose mad full-chested shouts can be heard echoing in the hills and canyon south of my home town. He doesn't hurt anybody, just sounds alarming if you happen to be out and about when he's on a tirade. That crazy man doesn't need to be arrested. But I don't want him employed by the State Department, either. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2009-02-09 13:14 |
| #9 Just guessing here, but I would say that he is not a frequent visitor to the gym. Actually, I would say that he is. He's a remarkably trim-looking 47. But weights are probably not his thing. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2009-02-09 13:13 |
| #8 The Official Secrets Act and all that are fine - in fact I continue to think it's appalling beyond words that the NYT and others (incl. their sources) haven't been punished severely for their outrageous acts WRT secret operations in war-time. But arresting someone for "incitement"? I wish the guy ill in all parts of his life, but arresting people for talking is insane, and creepy coming from the one place in Europe least creepy in this regard. Hell, it's like a whole part of the "free world" is almost as unfree as, say, a major US college campus .... |
| Posted by: Verlaine 2009-02-09 11:51 |
| #7 I agree with Atomic Conspiracy on the free speech issue. On the other hand: |
| Posted by: Mike 2009-02-09 11:32 |
| #6 Remaninds me of a story of a Nazi who lost a cushy job escorting Jews to Aushwitz and was transfered to the Estern Front for "alarming his charges". |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2009-02-09 11:28 |
| #5 This is not likely to incite anything but contempt for the diplomatic service. Should he be fired? Yes. Pointed out and laughed at? Yes. Have his finances investigated? Yes, by all means. Should he be jailed? No, at least not on this charge. Remember, this cuts both ways. "f***ing dhimmis, f***ing muzzies!" |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2009-02-09 11:24 |
#4  The un-diplomatic Mr. Rowan. Just guessing here, but I would say that he is not a frequent visitor to the gym. |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2009-02-09 11:22 |
| #3 This sort of attitude is sadly typical of the over-educated morons we have running the country. One of the reasons smaller government is better government are people like "rowan". |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles the flatulent 2009-02-09 11:13 |
| #2 And this is the sort of person who our Chattering Classes think has a more valid opinion than I do. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2009-02-09 10:17 |
| #1 Now when are they going to arrest those Muzzies that shout the same things at protests and put it on signs and preach it in mosques? No, I won't be holding my breath. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2009-02-09 10:16 |