Sir John spent his career in MI6 before leaving in 2001 to head the Government's Joint Intelligence Committee Photo: REUTERSFrom The New York Times:
LONDON — The head of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service has joined other senior British government officials in the defense of Britain’s counterterrorism policies, rejecting accusations that his agency has colluded in the torture of terrorist suspects being interrogated abroad.
In the interview, broadcast by the BBC on Monday, the official, Sir John Scarlett, said his officers were “as committed to the values and the human rights values of liberal democracy as anybody else.” He said there had been “no torture, and no complicity in torture” by Britain’s intelligence agencies, as several former detainees at the United States camp in Guantánamo Bay have alleged.
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More News On MI-6 Torture Allegations
UK chief says spies not complicit in torture -- AP
Britain's Intelligence Chief Denies Use of Torture of Terror Suspects -- Voice of America
Torture claims: no British Government inquiry -- The Telegraph
MI6 not complicit in torture, says chief -- AFP
Can we trust Sir John Scarlett on torture? -- The Telegraph
My Comment: This story reminds me of a story that I read about former U.S. President Johnson. He had a habit of accusing his political opponents of having sex with animals. When his allies and advisers told him that this was impossible, he always smiled and said that he (of course) knew that it was impossible, but he loved hearing his opponents deny it.
MI-6 can deny the torture allegations all that they want .... the accusations have done their damage already.