Ladies and Gentlemen, a couple of points:
Before we all go WHOOPPEE! re the sacking of Mr Morgan, let us consider why he stuck out for so long saying the pics were genuine...
1. That abuse of prisoners is happening appears (sadly) no longer to be a matter of contention. This is absolutely not intended to be a slur on QLR or any other British unit, but, given that courts martial/civil prosecutions/whatever are pending against several individuals in the US it is implied - at the very least - that there is a case to answer for the Coalition as a whole. We are only part of it because you-know-who chose for us to be. In for a penny, in for a dollar, as they say.
2. Research - and more importantly, experience - has shown that almost anyone can (and will, 'willingly' or otherwise) commit human rights abuses if the conditions are right (cf. Srebenice).
3. The fact that these particular photographs have turned out to be fakes proves nothing but that the individuals who staged them are (a) sick and (b) unfit to wear HM Betty's uniform. Under no circumstances does it prove (particularly to the sceptical audiences of such comms channels as al-Jazeera) that abuse of prisoners by Coalition (possibly including Brits) is altogether a myth.
4. If you've had you're head beaten in and/or your teeth knocked out by an 'infidel' you don't much care whether he's British, American or whatever . We're all tarred with the same brush, Tony. Thanks (not).
5. There will be more Lee Clegg-style show trials.
Where will it end? A man that I have never had a great deal of regard for has gone out on a limb and lost (I never bought his paper anyway). Nonetheless, from where I'm standing it doesn't seem to be a victory at all - if he was wrong, he was always wrong, and if he wasn't, in a year or two he may very well be vindicated. No fun there then.
How would I/you feel if he were to get elected as the MP for East Neasden in the 2005 General Election on the White Suit ticket?
Don't crow from the rooftops just yet, please.
Gadget 