Blair's Farewell Shot At Muslims & Russia's Putin

Extracted from the BBC, 16.06.07

On Saturday, Britain announced the knighthood for the author the of "The Satanic Verses" in an honors list timed for the official celebration of the queen's 81st birthday.

Salman Rushdie, who went into hiding under threat of death after an Iranian fatwa, has been knighted by the Queen. His book The Satanic Verses offended Muslims worldwide and a bounty was placed on his head in 1989.



But since the Indian-born author returned to public life in 1999, he has not shied away from controversy. A devout secularist, he backed Commons Leader Jack Straw over comments on Muslim women and veils and has warned against Islamic "totalitarianism" after the publications of the Danish cartoons, which satirised the Prophet Muhammad. The son of a successful businessman, Salman was born into a Muslim family in Mumbai in 1947. It was immediately condemned by the Islamic world because of its blasphemous depiction of the prophet Muhammad. It was banned in many countries with large Muslim communities and in 1989, Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran's spiritual leader, issued a fatwa, ordering Salman's execution. In 1998, the Iranian government said it would no longer support the fatwa, but some groups have said it is irrevocable.

Former KGB colonel Oleg Gordievsky, who became the highest-ranking Soviet spy to defect to the west, has also been honoured by the Queen. He has been appointed a Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George.



The recognition in the Birthday Honours Diplomatic List means he now holds the same title as book spook James Bond. And like 007, Mr Gordievsky operated in the murky world of secret assignments, assassinations and allegations.

Disillusioned with the political situation in his homeland, he operated as a double agent during the Cold War. He passed on an unprecedented amount of information to British security while serving as KGB bureau chief in London. His help led to the expulsion of 25 Soviet agents working undercover in the UK. At the time, his defection was hailed by then British Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe as "a very substantial coup for our security forces".

Mr Gordievsky was MI5's greatest asset between 1982 and 1985, when his cover was blown and he was ordered back to Moscow. He was eventually smuggled back to the West and has since written a number of books about the operations of the KGB. Fictional superspy James Bond was made a CMG in Ian Fleming's novel From Russia With Love. Mr Gordievsky's honour is for services to the security of the UK.

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Well, what can i say? A kick in the teeth for Muslims around the world and for Putin. How could an author become a knight? what has he done to deserve such an accolade? Yes, he has written a few books but has severed relationships between the UK and many Muslim countries. He is no role model nor has he bought any success to the UK. This knighthood was a delibrate ploy against the Muslims and in particulr Iran for thier condemnation for the recent captur of UK sailors. I wonder if Tony Blair will still have his hero status in Albania and Seria Leon? I wonder if he will be able to live a normal life in the UK. He is most likey to emigrate to the US where he is still popular. As for the knighthood for the former KGB spy - well it had to happen didn't it? after the death of former Russian agent Andrei Lugovoi in the UK this seems to be the ideal way for Blair to upset his friend Putin. The UK is very dependant on foreign Gas supplies, I wonder if the UK will be receiving any Gas supplies from Russia? The only good news for the people of Britain is that Blair is leaving office very soon.