Guantanamo Conscience Money - Start Of Torture Cover-Up?

The BBC report on the settlement agreed between the government and 16 men who allege that the British state was complicit in them being tortured takes an interesting line on the government’s motives.

The settlement has implications for the promised inquiry into torture and rendition, which will include allegations – partially confirmed but ignored by the Chilcot Inquiry – that British forces in Iraq rendered detainees to the US, knowing that they would be tortured. The main BBC report says:

“The police are still investigating allegations made by some of the detainees – but Mr Clarke said that once those inquiries were complete, a judge-led inquiry could begin.”

In a side panel, Dominic Casciani BBC News home affairs correspondent, says:

Settling the case therefore achieves the government’s greater aim.

It paves the way for a judge-led inquiry into complicity and rendition. That inquiry will soon go about its business but the main accusers won’t be appearing in public demanding the exposure of a secret paper trail from Afghanistan to government offices in London.

Paying out millions looks bad, but ministers know that exposing state secrets is worse still.  From Chris Ames