| Why Does This Remind Me? Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 2:30 am beachy For some reason, when I read the news coming from the Portuguese and British press saying that Alipio Ribeiro's statement was part of some larger plan to prepare the Portuguese people for the possibility that the case may be shelved, I keep remembering something that happened at a small church I attended long ago. Said church had never had a full-time secretary - not enough members to justify it, nor to pay one - but a young girl arrived in the community to live with an aunt as the result of some family tragedy. The aunt was not very well off financially herself and was a faithful church member, so to help the girl out in her time of need, the board of trustees voted to offer her a temporary position as church secretary. This was before the days of word processors, and as her typing was marginal at best, things suffered. The weekly order of service that she typed up was a particular disaster. But she was what my American-slang-speaking children would refer to as "smokin' hot," so she was quite popular with the all-male, middle-aged board of trustees. One morning the young lady had to leave the office unexpectedly for some reason. Being aware of her absence, the pastor pricked up his ears when he heard the sound of the door to her office opening. Fearing a theft, for it contained a rather expensive copy machine and other equipment, he went to check. When he put his hand upon the door, a voice from within said, "Come right in, Sweetie, I've a nice surprise for you." Upon opening the door, what to his wondering eyes did appear but the chairman of the board of trustees, mother-naked except for his shoes and socks. The trustee, however, did not flinch. Drawing himself up with all the dignity he could muster, he said to the minister, "Sheila has reported to the board that the temperature in this office fluctuates uncomfortably. I thought I had better come in as lightly dressed as possible in order to check it out." Why can I not stop thinking that Alipio Ribeiro has been caught with his pants down (figuratively, NOT literally), and is doing his best to pretend that it was somehow all part of the plan?  No matter what else the papers have said, they reported two extremely important things earlier in the week: PJ inspectors involved with the case were reported to be enraged at Ribeiro's statement. And the association representing the public prosecutors was extremely unhappy as well. THOSE are the people who are responsible for gathering and evaluating the evidence in this case. I had my doubts at first and attributed much of the stumbling about by Gordon Brown's government to mere inexperience and an unwillingness to admit a major error in judgment so soon after ascending to the PM's office. I now believe that, for whatever reason, the British government HAS attempted to interfere with this case on behalf of the McCanns; it was the letter leaked through the British embassy in Belgium that decided that for me, because the government never denied it. They will have to answer for it to the British people, just as the government of Portugal will have to answer to the Portuguese people for whatever happens next. And in the end, those responsible for investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann will have to answer to their own consciences, and ultimately to God. Those of you who have PMed me lately will understand why I say that. I firmly believe it, and that is why I believe the PJ and the public prosecutor, no matter what the papers or Clarence Mitchell or Alberto Costa or Alipio Ribeiro's spokesperson may care to say, will do everything in their power to find out what happened to Madeleine. I said it earlier this week: This is the hour to be brave.
LA Lady Hi Beachy As you know parts of these United States get extremely hot in the summer and in some States the humidity gets so high that your clothes stick to your body. The explanation given by the trustee would have been more believable if he had been wearing flip flops Thanks again for giving us the pep talk at the times when we seem to be flagging. You are truly a beacon. LA
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George Orwell - a visionary who got his date wrong
kezwalk Gordon Brown's government to mere inexperience and an unwillingness to admit a major error in judgment so soon after ascending to the PM's office. I now believe that, for whatever reason, the British government HAS attempted to interfere with this case on behalf of the McCanns; it was the letter leaked through the British embassy in Belgium that decided that for me, because the government never denied it. [quote]
At the LSE meeting CM et al were critical of forums creating conspiracy theories about the government's involvement. I am glad Beachy that you have argued that the British government HAS attempted to interfer with the case on behalf of the McCanns. Another contributer, Trinket, posed some very important questions:
"How/why can the UK Government put obstacles in the way of a police department trying to solve the disappearance of a helpless child?
How/why can the UK Government put this bubble around the McCanns, as if they were royalty or diplomats of some kind?
What has the UK Government to gain or lose in this? What is their final aim?
Why did they deliberately chose a media-spin manipulator to do the job?"
As you are one of the most respected contributors to the forum what do you believe are the answers to Trinket's very important questions? I believe that to understand the answers to these questions is to unlock the MM case.
You know, kez, I once posted on the MF that I believed the current situation was due a combination of factors, none of them reflecting well on the government, but all fairly innocent: inexperience, a desire to "get out ahead of" a big story, the fact that the McCanns had some rather tenuous but real connections to powerful people (Kate's friend Jill Renwick lives on the street with Gordon Brown's brother, for example), and the fact that class distinctions in the UK are truly not as irrelevant as we would like them to be and perhaps pretend they are.
Especially disturbing to me, however, as I said in the OP, was that letter leaked to a respected newspaper in Belgium, apparently from a disgruntled member of the foreign service, and probably "laundered" through the embassy in Brussels to conceal its true author. It had the ring of truth about it, and even more unsettling, in my opinion, was the fact that so far as I know, no one in the government ever disputed its authenticity. As a matter of fact, I don't think even Clarence Mitchell said it was a fake. If that letter was real, and I believe it was, there is a huge problem of government interference here.
As to why, I must admit that I am clueless. It makes no logical sense to me that Gordon Brown would risk so much merely to do a favour for a fairly young and unimportant doctor who has some relation to what is, in the final analysis, not a particularly important government commission (COMARE). I believe, and I have posted on here before, that Brown probably was glad enough to hand Clarence Mitchell off to the McCanns in order to bring in his own man; after all, Clarrie was brought into government by Tony Blair. Other than that, I cannot even speculate.
LA Lady Kez and Beachy,
I agree with your comments. I remember very well the thread on the MF regarding the letter sent through Belgium and the comments regarding the same. Yes, there was apparently no seen denial of this. Also it was strange that both the Ambassador to PT and the Consul were removed, the former by 'retirement'.
I think that many posters here wonder 'why'? It is disconcerting, in my opinion, and has given birth to all sorts of conspiracy theories in a quest to understand something that we don't seem able to.
You are right, I believe, that the answer to the question why might be the key. I too am of the opinion that a group of doctors are in and of themselves of no great importance.
Something seems so unsettling about all of this and I wish I knew the answer.
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George Orwell - a visionary who got his date wrong
PassingThru In other words: a government cover up 
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But there ARE questions that have NOT been answered. Because no-one has dared to ask.
Madeleine who?
vancouver1 Kez, Beachy and LA Lady
I could speculate as to why it is so important for the UK government to protect the McCanns.
Usually this kind of thing happens because if someone "talks", or if an investigation is allowed to run its full course, what will be revealed will be damaging to the country's security, damaging to the country's reputation, or damaging in some way to members of the country's governing power.
My suspicions all along have been that this is tied up with Operation Ore, and the wide sweep of people caught up in it. (Operation Ore is the huge internet operation to track down people involved in the buying, selling and creation of kiddie porn worldwide). A huge number of people in the UK were swept up in this, and their cases are still going to trial.
If there are members of the UK government who have been caught up in this sweep, I suspect the government will do its best to prevent the facts coming to light. If the members of the UK government are up high enough, the cover up will be all the more profound.
Is it possible that the McCanns have some kind of connection to Operation Ore? Is it possible Madeleine had some kind of connection to Operation Ore? How would we know, for instance, if her image had been used in trafficking of kiddie porn? The people involved in the creation, uploading and downloading of such images are not likely to come forward and admit to it willingly. The people who might have downloaded her image onto their computers are hardly likely to admit to it willingly.
It might explain her chameleon-like ability to change appearance. It might explain the mass confusion the McCanns have created by making it difficult to tell how old she is at any given time, what she looks like, and more importantly, why there are no verifiable images of her in PDL. What if all of the photos taken of her in PDL were for one purpose only? And what if they were deleted very quickly, and very quietly, and the photo card destroyed?
This is all just speculation. I am asking the question - I am not stating anything as fact. I'm just postulating a possible explanation... and why there may be such a need to ensure that this never goes to trial.
somthinfishie
roisin beachy wrote:
*snipped*
As to why, I must admit that I am clueless. It makes no logical sense to me that Gordon Brown would risk so much merely to do a favour for a fairly young and unimportant doctor who has some relation to what is, in the final analysis, not a particularly important government commission (COMARE). I believe, and I have posted on here before, that Brown probably was glad enough to hand Clarence Mitchell off to the McCanns in order to bring in his own man; after all, Clarrie was brought into government by Tony Blair. Other than that, I cannot even speculate.
********** Beachy, I have the greatest respect for you, based on what you have posted here (and on the MF). You are wise, articulate and you have a perspective on this investigation based on having been in charge of similar cases. I always listen to you and you often either calm me down or make me begin to think about things in a new way. The memo leaked to Derniere Heure is IMO hugely important. The fact that Ambassador John Buck was replaced in september (after only 3 years in Portugal) led me to believe that he was possibly the diplomat voicing concerns. If, indeed, this is the case, what could the McCanns "have" on the government that would make them act in such an outrageously heavy handed manner??? I need to have ANYTHING else make sense to me, otherwise, my BET is on the COMARE connection and the current push for nuclear power. The ONLY thing that I can figure out would be something along the lines of Gerry knowing that the research into childhood cancers was not solid and if so, he could destroy the political campaign to allow nuclear. I cannot help thinking it is very strange that COMARE's conclusion was the polar opposite to the conclusion of the German study. Germany found a direct link between proximity to nuclear power stations and an increase in cases of leukemia. COMARE claims there is no evidence of that link. To get the British public to support nuclear power, the public must believe nuclear power is safe. This is the only thing I can think of that would be *big* enough (in terms of how many people will benefit financially when the plants are subbed out to the private sector). It is the only thing I can think of that would be scandalous enough (that the government would willingly use dodgy research as a foundation for its claim that nuclear power is safe.) I honestly can't find a single other reason the McCanns would be treated this way. The most significant thing I found in the leaked memo was that the McCanns were not allowed to speak to the Portuguese police alone. Did you, in your career in law enforcement, ever encounter anything like that? I think it sounds like they were ensuring that Gerry McCann couldn't disclose anything that he might have on the British government. *** http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:Lo36mYuzfcUJ:www.express.co.uk/posts/view/27118/Madeleine-British-diplomat-in-Portugal-had-doubts-about-McCanns+Ambassador+John+Buck+retirement&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us(Note that the above link is Google's cache of the article. The page is no longer available directly on the Daily Express site- which leads me to believe that CM has been doing his censorship rounds again...) Anyway, here is the text of that article: "A BRITISH diplomat warned the Foreign Office of concerns regarding Madeleine McCann’s parents, it emerged last night. Doubts about Kate and Gerry McCann were raised almost immediately by an official sent to Praia da Luz due to what he considered to be “inconsistencies�?in the couple’s testimonies about the night the four-year-old vanished. The warning was contained in a classified document sent from the Algarve to the Foreign Office days after Madeleine’s disappearance. Details of the letter have been leaked through the British diplomatic mission in Brussels to the respected Belgian newspaper Derniere Heure. The unnamed diplomat voices his concern about the “confused declarations�?as to the whereabouts of Kate and Gerry McCann and their friends in the final hours before Madeleine’s disappearance. He also mentions the couple’s “lack of co-operation�?with the Portuguese police in the light of instructions from London suggesting consular staff “overstretch their authority and put pressure on the Portuguese authorities�? The document also asks for confirmation of orders sent by the Foreign Office in London the day before, commanding embassy staff to give “all possible assistance to the McCann couple�? Diplomats on the Algarve were told the McCanns had to be “accompanied at all times during any contact with the Portuguese police�?by a member of consular staff or by British police officers sent out from the UK."
LA Lady Vancouver1 Hello.
I must admit that I can't help my mind going in the direction of Operation Ore too especially with the D Notice attached. If that were in fact to be the key, then it might begat what does GM know? I don't have a clue there. The only knowledge I have about pedos is that those who are predatory strike fast and that the body is often, although not always, found fairly quickly. That is what happened to my friend whose son was abducted and found brutalized and murdered within a short time period of him going missing. However, that was before the days of the internet but nevertheless she was informed that this was typical. I know that this sounds incredible but a friend of a friend (who I do not know) had her young daughter abducted etc. and was found within a few days in a shallow grave in Griffith Park, LA under similar circumstances. I know that if there is an abduction of a child then pedos figure in (after discounting family etc.) and Team Mc have been very vocal there. Let's face it, GM does seem very savvy. I also am under the impression that if a person fears for their life then the best defence is to get as much publicity as possible as a safeguard. Like you, I can only speculate because I do not have the answers to this puzzle.
I have to admit, this is where Beachy brings her usual common sense and I, for one, always appreciate what she brings to the forum through her experience.
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George Orwell - a visionary who got his date wrong
roisin I can see how any kind of connection to Operation Ore and the *shadowy* factors of that Operation could finally be as likely a theory as the nuclear one. Hell...maybe GM has them by both bollocks instead of only one or the other.
The main thing is that something apparently matters more than seeing Justice done on behalf Madeline McCann.
LA Lady Hi Roisin, I have to admit that the Nuclear connection is not without its merits too. I have to admit....nothing's easy is it
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George Orwell - a visionary who got his date wrong
roisin
| LA Lady
Hi Roisin - or as I like to call you 'you little imp'. Yes, the story of our lives, West Coasters last men (or women) standing. Although to be honest it certainly has its merits here as opposed to the MF considering that this time of night we usually got hit over the head by a certain Chicago crowd Will take a look at the link and thanks very much. Warmest, LA
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George Orwell - a visionary who got his date wrong
bonnybraes1 Morning, roisin and LALady. Some of us Brits work on  Sundays..Anyway, go digging into the Dunblane massacre, the Cullen report, and Lord George Robertson of Nato, formerly George Robertson, Labour MP and his association with the the Dunblane killer. Scaey stuff!
vancouver1 Operation Ore was what Chris Langham was arrested under. His lawyer is the same lawyer the McCanns have retained (Angus McBride).
LA Lady Hi Bonniebraes, how are ya? Sorry you have to work today. If it were up to me I'd give you the week off with pay Do you know, I have looked at all those and have one word......shocking. I personally edge towards this Op Ore stuff, but wish I didn't, if you know what I mean. Poor, poor kids and their families - it makes me want to cry and I don't cry easily. How the world has changed since I was a kid. It's times like that this that I wish we could have more Saturday night entertainment but where's M'lud to start the ball rolling
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George Orwell - a visionary who got his date wrong
JillyComeLately .
With respect beachy, right now I can't agree that Ribeiro was caught with his trousers down. I believe it was a deliberate and calculated political move, right down to the timing.
I await to see what happens on Wednesday.
karmaera I'm swayed by the fact that the deputy minister of the PJ is on record as saying Ribeiro's comments were misunderstood and it was meant in the context of 'timing'.
JillyComeLately . I hope you and beachy are both right and I will have to apologise. I don't trust NuLabour, so many things seem to be going on here in the UK, cover-ups of all kinds, it's enough to make anyone paranoid 
karmaera I know, Jilly. Coming from the long perspective of Canada, the only thing that's making me wonky is the temperature (-43 C) right now. I'm huddling next to the computer for warmth. 
vancouver1 Are you on the prairies Karmaera? You should move to Vancouver 
LA Lady Oh, Karmaera, ouch! I really do sympathize with you. We think anything a few degrees below freezing is bad here (except I really don't mind too much, personally) that I can't imagine what you are going through. I wish I could blow some of our warmer air up to you. I hope you are able to find more warmth than your computer screen 
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George Orwell - a visionary who got his date wrong
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