Month: May 2018

The UN Security Council has proposed a travel ban and a global freeze of the assets belonging to six Libyans accused of people smuggling.  However, this has been thwarted by the Russian delegation, who have asked to see the intelligence on these human traffickers.  This stand-off will damage the recent progress made in reducing the war economy’s dependence on criminal activity.   Another senseless division between Russia and the West.

https://www.waterstones.com/book/belfast-to-benghazi/rupert-wieloch/9781861515667

 

On Wednesday, I will be speaking about the origins of the current tension between Russia and the West at Hart’s Book Shop in Saffron Walden. The talk will trace the changes in UK policy since President Putin came to power and explain why Russia mistrusts the other permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Tickets are available at:

http://www.hartsbooks.co.uk/events/author-talk-rupert-wieloch-belfast-to-benghazi/

 

It is quite right that Fatima Boudchar and Abdul Hakim Belhaj have been offered a sincere apology by the Government and reparation for the torture they suffered at the hands of the Gadhafi regime.

It was a severe hindrance in Tripoli when London informed me that I could no longer meet with Bel Haj due to the rendition claim.  As I have written on page 263 of Belfast to Benghazi, it was a bad judgement call because he was a rising star in Tripoli and had proven to be a highly capable leader heading the Tripoli Brigade.  As an moderate, who advocated disarmament and education for the young revolutionaries, he was someone the British Government should have brought to the negotiating table.  What chance now that he is Libya’s future leader?

The other question that has to be asked is what will be done about the other rendition cases that the UK facilitated following 9/11? See page 168 of Belfast to Benghazi.

 

 

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On Friday 4th May, I will be returning to the Imperial War Museum to chat about the changing face of British military operations and the current challenges facing the Armed Forces.  Find me in the book shop by the main entrance.

IWM is close to Waterloo Station – the nearest tube is Lambeth North.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/meet-the-author-rupert-wieloch