Telegraph hates everything I stand for, says Galloway

The Daily Telegraph ^ | 17 November, 2004 | Caroline Davies

[tjwmason]

Telegraph hates everything I stand for, says Galloway

By Caroline Davies
(Filed: 17/11/2004)

The Telegraph's handling of documents purporting to show that the Iraqi regime had funded George Galloway's political campaigning was influenced by the newspaper's hatred of him, the MP said yesterday.

On the second day of his libel action, the 50-year-old member for Glasgow Kelvin claimed that the Telegraph "hated" him because "I stand for everything they don't".

In a furious outburst Mr Galloway accused James Price, QC, counsel for the Telegraph of calling him anti-Semitic when it was put to him that "responsible journalists" could take the view he was a "well-known apologist for Saddam Hussein".

Mr Galloway replied: "I fully concede that throughout the period of its ownership by Conrad Black and Barbara Amiel (Lord Black's wife), The Telegraph hated everything I believed in about the Middle East".

Did he think, asked Mr Price, that was because Barbara Amiel was Jewish?

Shouting from the witness box, Mr Galloway raged: "If you can libel someone in a court room, that is a very serious libel. That is a clear accusation of anti-Semitisim against me, and I demand you withdraw it. I have never made an anti-Semitic remark in my entire life".

Mr Price said that Mr Galloway, in a letter raising funds for his action, had referred to Lord and Lady Black as "two of Sharon Israel's most vociferous supporters".

But Mr Galloway shouted over him, saying: "This is an outrage. This letter does not mention the word Jewish. I demand you withdraw the allegation of anti-Semitism."

Mr Price replied: "I have not accused you of anti-Semitism."

But Mr Galloway stormed: "You said that in this letter, I referred to Lady Black as Jewish. It's a lie, a lie, a lie."

"All right, I withdraw," said Mr Price, before asking why the MP referred to the couple as being among Israel's most vociferous supporters.

Mr Galloway replied it was for "the very simple fact that they are and they themselves would boast to that effect".

The outburst took place as Mr Galloway completed his cross-examination in the case, held before Mr Justice Eady sitting without a jury.

Mr Galloway claims that the Telegraph libelled him by publishing documents that the newspaper said were found in the burnt out foreign ministry in Baghdad.

He claims that the newspaper had made "outrageous and incredibly damaging" allegations that he took money from Saddam under the commercial cover of the Oil For Food programme.

The newspaper denies libel and is claiming qualified privilege in that publication of the documents was of overwhelming public interest.

Later, in re-examination, his counsel, Richard Rampton, QC referred to the anti-Semitic row as being "regrettable".

"But it will be reported," said Mr Galloway. "It's the kind of mud they like to throw."

No proprietorial couple could be more hands-on than Lord and Lady Black, he added. "It is one of the reasons The Telegraph hates me so much. Because I stand for everything they did not, justice for Palestine, the need to avoid war.

"If people had listened to people like me and not people like Barbara Amiel and Lord Black, we would not be in the mess we are today."

Earlier, Mr Price suggested that people were entitled to view Mr Galloway as an "apologist", even though the MP said he regarded Saddam as a "bestial dictator".

He pointed to a newspaper article written by Mr Galloway about meeting Saddam, in which he referred to the ex-Iraqi leader's "Zen-like calm," and the fact he offered him Quality Street and told him anecdotes about Churchill.

Mr Galloway said he had presented what he found.

"You can go on throwing the epithet apologist at me, and I will go on denying it," he replied.

The hearing continues.

[tjwmason]

George Galloway is a seriously ghastly man, now the evidence appears to suggest that he is also a traitor, which is actually unsurprising.

[huac]

How does one suscribe to this superior daily?

[TheBigB]

This guy sounds seriously unhinged.

[Brilliant]

Since when is it defamatory to be accused of anti-Semitism in Europe?

[aliquis]

Any self-respecting human being hates Galloway and everything he stands for.

[camle]

wah! wah! wah!

methinks the gentleman doth protest too loudly.

[sam_paine]

Quality Street has been a popular British candy since 1936, and has 14 premium twist-wrapped chocolates in assorted flavors.

Flavors include Chocolate Toffee Deluxe, Chocolate Orange Crème, Chocolate Nut Toffee Cream, Hazelnut Éclair, Chocolate Toffee Finger, Toffee Pat, Hazelnut Crunch, Chocolate Noisette Pate, Chocolate Toffee Cup, Chocolate Fudge, Malt Toffee, Milk Chocolate Hazelnut, Chocolate Coconut Éclair, and Chocolate Strawberry Cream.

The name Quality Street was inspired by a delightful play by J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan. The Major and Miss figures appearing on every Quality Street package were also inspired by the principal characters in the play.

[backhoe]

-MP George Galloway- voice cries "peace," hand in Saddam's till...--

[Zionist Conspirator]

One can't help but wonder if money from Arab regimes is also going to people like Buchanan, Sobran, Reese, etc., as well as to the "usual suspects" (Ramsey Clark, Louis Farrakhan, ANSWER, etc.).

[FreedomCalls]

The Weekly Edition is the one you want if you really want to subscribe to a printed copy. The Daily Edition is too expensive. You can subscribe to the Weekly Edition here. They have a 20% off special right now.

You can of course read it online here.

[tjwmason]

How does one suscribe to this superior daily?

It's one of the British national daily newspapers, so it's available all over the place here, not sure about American distribution. Registration for the web-site is free, and so you can read it on-line easily.

[KwasiOwusu]

"This guy sounds seriously unhinged"

Yep.
I know George Galloway. He makes Micheal Moore look like Mother Theresa.

George Galloway is the biggest friend Saddam and all terrorists have in Britain.
His love of all things evil is only equaled by his rabid hatred of America.
This guy is a certifiably insane.

[Billthedrill]

The Telegraph couldn't pay for a better testimonial.