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Now let's put the guilty men on trial Comment - Daily Mail, February 15, 2007 What a chilling insight the ordeal of Colonel Jorge Mendonca gives us into this Government's disgraceful betrayal of our armed forces. There wasn't a hint of a case against this highly decorated British officer, cleared by a court martial yesterday on the orders of the presiding judge before the defence had even uttered a word. Yes an Iraqi civilian died in degrading circumstances and if any British soldier is to blame, he must be held to account. But there was never a suggestion that Col Mendonca was even present when the prisoner was allegedly beaten to death by members of his regiment in 2003. As soon as he heard the shocking allegations, he ordered an exhaustive investigation. In spite of his patent innocence, his career was threatened and his family left deeply upset over trumped-up charges of failing to prevent the Iraqi's death. Meanwhile taxpayers stumped up a staggering £20million for an investigation and trial, enough to provide body armour for all out troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The question is: WHY? While the court martial of two remaining soldiers continues, we cannot be told Mr Justice McKinnon's full reasons for finding Col. Mendonca and four of his fellow accused had no case to answer. Still the revolting stench of a politically-motivated show trial hangs in the air. The authorities were apparently prepared to sacrifice an innocent soldier to make a spurious, politically-correct point about their readiness to prosecute senior officers. Very well, then. If the Government wishes to prove it's no protector of rank, then why not hold the truly guilty men to account? Why aren't Tony Blair and intelligence chief John Scarlett in the dock for leading Britain to war on the strength of a dossier of lies? What about former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, who sent men to die without the proper equipment? Or Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, who adjusted his advice on the war's legality for political ends and halted a Serious Fraud Office investigation into an arms deal on the say-so of the Saudis, but lifted not a finger to protect Colonel Mendonca? But no. The sickening irony is that these men sit safely behind their desks, ever ready to besmirch the names of men who put their very lives on the line for them. Yesterday Col Mendonca left the court martial without a stain on his character. If only the same could be said for his politically motivated persecutors.
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