Red-faced Ken retracts support for terrorist underground worker

[Cort Haus]

http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowStory.asp?story=SQ3130618L&news_headline=red_kens_u-turn_over_hamzas_son

Red Ken's U-Turn Over Hamza's Son
Tuesday, 31st October 2006, 17:18
Category: Crime and Punishment

London Mayor "Red" Ken Livingstone was left red-faced today after making an embarrassing U-turn over the terrorist son of jailed preacher of hate Abu Hamza.

Speaking at his weekly press conference at City Hall this morning Livingstone said he would be "happy" to have Mohammed Kamel Mostafa working on the underground.

Mostafa was reportedly given a security pass to work for contractors on the tube network before bosses learned of his background.

When it was pointed out to Mr Livingstone during his press conference that 25-year-old Mostafa, the eldest son of jailed hook-handed cleric Hamza, had a terrorist conviction overseas he launched into a tirade and said: "We are happy to have him work here for us."

However, within hours of the press conference the Mayor's office issued a press release in which Mr Livingstone stated it had been "correct to dismiss him."

Mostafa has a conviction in Yemen for plotting to blow up British and US targets, and has recorded rap songs glorifying holy war and suicide attacks like those in London last July.

The Mayor - dubbed Red Ken for his support of leftist causes - said during the press conference there was no reason Mostafa should not be allowed to work on the underground system.

Challenged on the security breach, Mr Livingstone said: "No-one should be blamed for what their parents do.

"You wouldn't say to someone 'you can't work on the tube because your mum is the editor of The Sun.'"

When it was pointed out that Mostafa was a convicted terrorist, the Mayor replied: "I wouldn't be at all surprised if MI6 was working with him to try to overthrow the regime in Yemen.

"Has he been convicted of any offence in Britain? The answer is no. We are happy to have him work here for us."

However, in a statement issued six hours later by the Mayor's press office Mr Livingstone said: "In this country a person cannot be sacked for what their parents do. It is the actions of Mohammed Kamel Mostafa himself which are relevant.

"However, Mr Mostafa has convictions in Yemen. These must be taken into account. They should have been brought to light by those doing the security checks, the failure to do so must be investigated. As he failed to declare these to the subcontractor they are correct to dismiss him."

[chequita guevara]

Oops.

[Cort Haus]

Another reason not to vote for Livingstone. His first thoughts are that as long as a terrorist who supported the 7/7 attacks hasn't been convicted of a crime in Britain, it's fine for them to work on the Underground.

I wonder who persuaded him to make the retraction?

[Winston]

I don't think even Lenin ever quite envisioned this level of useful idiocy.

[Spiffor]

I doubt it is any useful.

[TheStinger]

He is actually quite a good mayor when he doesn't start going on about stuff which has nothing to do with his job

[Cort Haus]

Really? This is the guy that thinks that suicide bombers are OK if they only kill Jews.

This is the guy that made his name campaigning for gay & women's rights and now embraces fanatics that would see gays shot and women imprisoned in the home.

[Winston]

Originally posted by Spiffor
I doubt it is any useful.

That's probably because you don't fully understand what useful idiocy in this context is about. Which comes as no big surprise.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Winston
That's probably because you don't fully understand what useful idiocy in this context is about. Which comes as no big surprise.

I remember that you hate being treated like an idiot. I don't think I've ever dne it to you. So I'd ask you not to do as well, it's basic decency.

[Winston]

So why did you say you doubted that his idiocy was useful? That's a clear sign that you took the phrase literally, not as a continuation of its original, historical context.

Livingstone's is exactly the kind of behaviour that fits under the label of a useful idiot. Mistaken priorities and loyalties that serve to advance the cause of people who seek to take you and your way of living down.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Winston
So why did you say you doubted that his idiocy was useful?

Because I don't think Livingstone manages to advance any Ismalist cause. If anything, I think he is better at rallying the opposition.

[Winston]

Well I think this incident is just a symptom of how his mind works, and how he chooses to govern. "We are happy to have him work here for us", after being alerted to the fact that the guy was a convicted terrorist. Oh, he's being useful alright.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Winston
Well I think this incident is just a symptom of how his mind works, and how he chooses to govern. "We are happy to have him work here for us", after being alerted to the fact that the guy was a convicted terrorist. Oh, he's being useful alright.

Well, it didn't work. And if Scotland Yard wasn't monitoring who gets to work in the London subway (and letting London's authorities deal with it), now they do.

[Cort Haus]

Much as I dislike Livingstone, for his misguided views, I respect him as an able and manipulative politician.

Does Livingstone advance the Islamist cause? He certainly must give encouragement to them, because they work by seeking concessions, which he seems quick to offer them. In this clear case he used his authority to say it's ok for a known terrorist to work on the Underground, before presumably getting pressure from somewhere to retract.

So yes, I'd say that he does advance Islamism by showing the kind of dhimmitude that they're looking for. As he is Mayor of London, this worries me, and it'll be up to opposition parties to remind voters of his record, when the time comes.

[Winston]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Well, it didn't work. And if Scotland Yard wasn't monitoring who gets to work in the London subway (and letting London's authorities deal with it), now they do.

Whether it "works" in isolated cases such as this one is hardly the point. With this guy at the wheel, and his twisted mindset setting the course, the wrong people have reason to cheer in their hearts.