After 9 years in the job, Piers has been sacked from his job at the Mirror.

Good thing or bad thing ?

How long till he's on 'Have I got News for You ?' ??? :P

About F'ing time too.

Good Riddance!

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.


Susie, who helped fake them

Next weeks "Private Eye" should be a good read then. Also, nexts week's "Have I got News For You". Ian Hislop will be in his element.

The damage is done now and this guy should be hauled up for treason. These piccys have put our troops at risk and he should live the rest of his life in shame.

Originally posted by mikey
The damage is done now and this guy should be hauled up for treason. These piccys have put our troops at risk and he should live the rest of his life in shame.

Agreed.

He should never work in the newspaper business again, not even local papers, stupid little ****...

Apologies to the mods for the use of naughty words.

He acted in good faith though, mikey. Does that change anything for you?


Susie, who'd love to see the bugger thrown in the sea ;)

Oh, did he? I really don't care a squirrel's nut about resignations, actually.

Resignations are 'designed' and exist to mutually satisfy both parties: they do this to move well-to-do people around the country's economic merry-go-round.

It's just a diplomatic term for being moved to another corporate venture.

Now call me old-fashioned, but when someone genuinely feels that they need to leave a place of employment through their own principles, they simply 'pack their job in', they don't resign.

Resign to me always stinks of pay-offs.

Mark my words.

Originally posted by SusieP
He acted in good faith though, mikey. Does that change anything for you?


No not really, not sure he did anyway. He is or was responsible and accountable for the content, if there was any doubt he should have not printed them.

PS Sam
he has been sacked, he didnt resign himself.

Originally posted by rtapper
After 9 years in the job, Piers has resigned from his job at the Mirror.

Err... he was sacked - quite an important difference!

You might wish to edit your post as it doesn't match the thread title?!

Well, that serves me right for trying to interpret things without delving deeperer (that is not a mis-print.. . I have added that word to the English langauge).

Anyway: I proudly stick by my original Statement and indeed expand.

'Sack'! My eye!

The 'sack' is when you've been taken through the disciplinary procedure at work and eventually been given your P45. You have to stand in a dole queue, be humiliated... need I go on.

And your name is blacklisted. You can't get a reference and have to lie on application forms.

Can you imagine him tossing and turning and losing sleep over such matters?

I doubt it very much.

And the original post does say that he resigned.

Piers Moron of the Mirror is no more.

Only Yelland and Wade to go.

Originally posted by mikey
The damage is done now and this guy should be hauled up for treason. These piccys have put our troops at risk and he should live the rest of his life in shame.

Couldn't agree more.

I can remember when this bloke used to do all the gossip column pages and he was all like "I was speaking to my good friend Keanu the other day or me and Arnie were having a drink in Cannes on his boat overlooking the harbour" I'd love to see him phone them up and tell them he didn't have a job anymore and ask to borrow a tenner, then lets see how good a mates he is with them. That'll learn him!

I think he should have gone ages ago. And I for one do not particularly believe he was acting in good faith.... considering all he has said about the photos being authentic, I think he ought to explain how he "knew" they were authentic

I don`t think he should have gone.

Why do you all believe the army, what about the other soldiers that spoke out ?.

Erm... because they were 'PROVEN' to be fake pictures:roll:
The truck in Question has been in the UK throughout the entire Gulf War.
AFAIK the people who took the pictures have admitted they're fakes.

Should the list go on?

Originally posted by mikey
The damage is done now and this guy should be hauled up for treason. These piccys have put our troops at risk and he should live the rest of his life in shame.

Word.

He should definatly be facing some criminal chargers.

Seems to me that in the begining of the "war on terror" At least he portrayed Britains negative thoughts about it unlike the Sun who were all for "go on lads ! lets slaughter em" type thing.

But alas , he went a bit too far and needed to resign after portraying britains in this light. If it had been true, well done but it wasn't.

Is he resposible for opening up this can of worms though?

Those photos turned out to be fake, but that's not really the issue here.

The issue is that people in Iraq were abused by British soldiers. There is other evidence, aside from the Mirror photographs, that the abuse really happened. By printing those photos, even though they've turned out to be fakes, the Mirror told the world what was happening.

Piers Morgan should have learnt a lesson from the Andrew Gilligan saga, and made sure his story was water-tight before running it. He didn't, and he's paid for that mistake with his job, just like Gilligan. He should have known that this would happen, after the Hutton Whitewash.

He was wrong not to make sure the photographs used were genuine, but he wasn't wrong to run the story.

I think he desirved to be sacked. The Mirror's anti war attitude has been over the top from the start. From what I have seen of their coverage they have given George Bush a much worse press than Saddam Hussain.

I also have doubts about whether Peirs Morgan really believed those pictures in the first place. It is hard to believe that an experienced newspaper editor would believe, and continue to believe, they were genuine when every other newspaper in the land saw through them very quickly. I suspect he published them because they suited his anti-war stance and to hell with journalistic ethics.

His actions may contributre to future deaths of UK soldiers in Iraq as he has stirred up unnecessary ill feeling against our forces. He should be totally ashamed of himself.

Originally posted by Geoff
Err... he was sacked - quite an important difference!

You might wish to edit your post as it doesn't match the thread title?!


Sorry - when it came on telly there was debate over whether was sacked or resigned. Think thread title says he was sacked but first words on initial post dont match this as the forums dont change the two things at same time and doesnt let me change the thread title. Good job I got it right first time before I tried to alter it I guess :P

To clarify - the guy was sacked :thumbsup:

Geoff - can u fix the forums so that we can alter thread title when we try to do it ?

Originally posted by rosie
I don`t think he should have gone.

Why do you all believe the army, what about the other soldiers that spoke out ?.

Piers Morgan is a lying traitor and should be handed over, with the rest of the filth involved, to The Queen's Lancashire Regiment for summary justice.

With this one act of pathetic stupidity he has undermined the work being done by the rest of the lads out there.

And who are these OTHER soldiers who spoke out? What are their names? Are they the same plonkers who took the fake photos?

Maybe they're an example of the pathetic saddos who would join the army but end up feeling a bit 'miffed' when they're told they've got to earn their money by fighting for once. I should think there are several of these specimens in the forces now. Probably the same pr@ts who complain of bullying the minute some NCO gets tough with them.

If I ever see any concrete evidence of mistreatment of 'innocent' Iraqis, I'll be the first to express my disgust. Until then, I don't believe a word of it. As has been stated often on this forum, 'you can't believe the papers'. Or does this only apply to our sports/music heroes and the minorities??:loopy: :loopy:

Btreaking news : 4 soldiers have been arrested during hoax photo investigation. Hopefully they can now get to the bottom of all of this :thumbsup:

===========

Four arrested over hoax photos

Four soldiers have been arrested and questioned over the Daily Mirror Iraq abuse picture scandal, the Ministry of Defence said.
The men were arrested, quizzed and released without charge before Friday's sacking of Mirror editor Piers Morgan.

An MoD spokesman said the paper had been helping them with their investigation into the source of the fake pictures of Iraqis being abused.

The MoD have not released any details of the identities of the four soldiers.

Originally posted by slimsid2000
I think he desirved to be sacked. The Mirror's anti war attitude has been over the top from the start. From what I have seen of their coverage they have given George Bush a much worse press than Saddam Hussain.

I also have doubts about whether Peirs Morgan really believed those pictures in the first place. It is hard to believe that an experienced newspaper editor would believe, and continue to believe, they were genuine when every other newspaper in the land saw through them very quickly. I suspect he published them because they suited his anti-war stance and to hell with journalistic ethics.

His actions may contributre to future deaths of UK soldiers in Iraq as he has stirred up unnecessary ill feeling against our forces. He should be totally ashamed of himself.

Journalistic ethics? Is there such a thing?

Even if though they were fake, does anyone think that this never happens???? Of course it does and has.

Originally posted by rtapper
To clarify - the guy was sacked :thumbsup:

Geoff - can u fix the forums so that we can alter thread title when we try to do it ?
The title is correct and doesn't need editing. However, the contents of your first post (which you can easily edit yourself) still says 'resigned'?!

Originally posted by Geoff
The title is correct and doesn't need editing. However, the contents of your first post (which you can easily edit yourself) still says 'resigned'?!

Fairy snuff. Post fixed but forums need fixing too for the future is possible please :P

Originally posted by bonny
Even if though they were fake, does anyone think that this never happens???? Of course it does and has.

But not in this case.

There's a kid down our road who damages cars, but I don't intend to FAKE photos of the rest of his family doing it just cos HE is doing wrong. :loopy:

Markham

You have been or are in the army or else why would you know so much or should I say think you know so much and have so many C..P comments.

Are you so stupid to think in this world something like that does NOT happen, grow up and open your eyes, you see it everywhere that certain people think they have more power than anyone else and they use it, look at what happened in Sheffield last night.

As for insulting Bullied people do you know what it is like to be bullied or have you bullied in the past, don`t insult what you don`t understand.

Originally posted by markham
But not in this case.

There's a kid down our road who damages cars, but I don't intend to FAKE photos of the rest of his family doing it just cos HE is doing wrong. :loopy:

It has yet to be proved either way whether our soldiers were involved in the atrocities of torturing the Iraqi prisoners.

Rosie,

Who the bloody hell do you think you are, telling someone you don't know to grow up just because you don't agree with that persons views?

You seem to have a personal campaign going on here.

Fact, I haven't said 'it doesn't happen'.

Fact, Our soldiers being wrongly accused of mistreating prisoners by a jumped-up, overpaid ponce of a newspaper editor is what this thread is about.

Fact, These accusations are fabricated.

Fact, A soldier being shouted at and name-called by an NCO isn't bullying, its called character building, and it's necessary.

Fact, YOU need a personality transplant.

.....and what the hell has something happening in Sheffield last night got to do with all this?

Originally posted by Rich
It has yet to be proved either way whether our soldiers were involved in the atrocities of torturing the Iraqi prisoners.

But THESE photos were false. It seems that the latest craze is to dump on our lads and lasses over there as a way of showing disgust at the war.

Originally posted by markham
But THESE photos were false.

But, without the photos, would the public have found out about the Amnisty and Red Cross reports?

Would the public have found out about other claims of abuse, or would they have been conviniently swept under the carpet?

Piers Morgan, as I said earlier, should have checked and double checked, and then checked again before printing the photographs. He made a mistake, and he paid for it with his job.

However, as a consiquence of those pictures being printed, there will be proper investigations into alegations of abuse, and criminal charges can be brought against anyone who abused prisoners.

The real issue here is not the photographs, but whether abuse actually happened. People are getting side-tracked into talking about those photos (which is exactly what Number 10's Spin Machine wants to happen) and not discussing the real issue. It happened before with the Hutton enquiry and it's happening again now.

I've already stated that I will be disgusted with any soldiers who are proved to have committed atrocities. They will deserve punishment in the hardest sense. As yet though there is no hard evidence, but the old 'innocent until proven guilty' seems to have gone out the window here don't you think.

As I said before, you can't go around fabricating evidence just because you SUSPECT someone.

If a soldier IS found guilty, let him/her rot in hell, I agree.

In the same vain, if someone fabricates evidence, THEY should rot in hell too.

Originally posted by markham
I've already stated that I will be disgusted with any soldiers who are proved to have committed atrocities.

When did you become aware that there was the posibility of abuse? For the majority of people, it was when the Mirror printed that picture. Printing that picture has put pressure on the Army and the government to investigate properly, and make the results of the investigation public.

You may not be aware that similar alegations were made a few months ago, but with no evidence, they were not widely reported, and therefore it would have been easy for the government to sweep the results of their investigations under the carpet. Now, that will not be possible.

I have never doubted that there could be incidences of abuse. I've never said it can't be true. This thread is (or at least it was) about a piece of filth fabricating THOSE photos, and that is what I am giving my opinions on.

Did anyone hear an interview on Radio 4 last week with someone high up in the British army??

His name and position have slipped my memory.

He basically said that the soldiers in iraq are highly trained fighters who are trained to kill. he then went on to explain the recent behaviour.

He reasoned that trained killers were suddenly taken off their duties and put into a peace keeping role and for a minority of soldiers it could have proven difficult to make the transition. Resulting in recent events.

We all know now that the pictures were fake of our soldiers but doesn't this interview make you think that it does happen. If not why was this person not just saying the claims were ridiculous??

I only know one person who is in the army. So I am not an expert. He however is quite high up and his attitude to certain issues is quite frightening, such as race, homosexuality etc. So it would not shock me at all if pictures were found that were proved real as I already think it is happening.

Isn't "paddy bashing" a common interest for boys in the army????? I rest my case!

Markham
the piece of filth you refer to is running true to his own standards,he is demanding £1 million pay off from the mirror.....good to see how ashamed he is of his lying, let's get him charged with treason and wipe the smile of the smug pillocks face.

Now that this scumbag has been sacked. The next issue should be his arrest and trial for the treasonous acts he committed by deliberately publishing FAKE evidence that has put our soldiers lives at risk! Such scum, as Murdock has no place amongst decent individuals in society! He placed a higher value on increasing his rags circulation than the lives of our military!

Originally posted by bonny

He reasoned that trained killers were suddenly taken off their duties and put into a peace keeping role and for a minority of soldiers it could have proven difficult to make the transition. Resulting in recent events.


I'll agree that there are certain soldiers who are not mentally equipped for peacekeeping roles. While they make first class soldiers on the battlefield in times of war they are not able to deal with this aspect of a situation like Iraq.

Off topic slightly but what annoys me is that there has been calls for Tony Blair to distance himself from George W Bush over the issue of Iraq, and he's told them to get lost!

This proves does it not, that Mr Blair is so far up the US Admininstration's arse he now can't see the wood for the trees?! Apologies for the crudeness but I do feel that Blair should go, over this and various other issues in which he has categorically LIED through his teeth about to the British public, such as student top up fees for one.

I have, and always have had, the feeling that Blair had a huge influence over Bush.

Isn't Bush the "Idiot" and Blair the 'Cunning'?

At last, the voice of reason from Lickszz and Owdlad.

At least we are now back on the subject.

Morgan should not only charged with treason, he should also be charged with libel/slander and sued for every penny he (and the Daily Mirror) possess. This money should then be given to the Orphans/Widows fund of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment.

If the photos were taken and posed for by serving soldiers (and I use that term loosely) these individuals should be handed over to their fellow soldiers for 'interrogation practice'.

Just to clarify my response to rosie.........

Having spent a total of 11 years in the army during the late 60's to the late 70's I am fully aware of the existence of 'psychos' who join up for the money, uniform, travel and regular meals, and the power. These are usually the ones who are the first to run and hide when someone reminds them that their reason for being there is to risk their lives and 'rough it' a bit. These are usually the ones who turn out to be the true bullies who eventually get their just deserts when the decent lads decide they've had enough.

An NCO shouting and name calling some 'mummy's boy' who won't get stuck in or is constantly wingeing about how horrible life is isn't 'bullying' him, he's training him for the unpleasentness he may face in the future. If a lad can't take being shouted at or name called should have joined the Salvation Army, not the British Army.

Finally, in the armed forces some people DO have more power than others. It's called the chain of command. Anyone can hold this power if they are good enough soldiers. It's called promotion.
Without this the army wouldn't work. We may be a democracy, but a democratic army wouldn't work. You do as you are told, without question, and only ask 'Why?' afterwards.

I hope I have explained myself properly

Originally posted by markham

Finally, in the armed forces some people DO have more power than others. It's called the chain of command. Anyone can hold this power if they are good enough soldiers. It's called promotion.
Without this the army wouldn't work. We may be a democracy, but a democratic army wouldn't work. You do as you are told, without question, and only ask 'Why?' afterwards.


Too right.

You follow orders to the letter. There are some who happen to think that if your on a battlefield and receive an order, you can all go into a huddle and chew it over. Those people need to grow up.

Spot on Lickszz.:thumbsup:

A true scenario from Belfast circa 1972.

Houses in the Ardoyne area were raided one morning at about 2am in the search for suspected IRA weapons.

All occupants were told to get up and go down stairs.

A baby was fast asleep in a cot, and a VERY old lady was asleep in a back bedroom. She was clearly bedridden and feeble.

When the irate mother was told that she'd have to take the baby out of it's cot and that the old lady would also have to get out of bed she called the soldiers (I was one of them) cruel, thoughtless scum who should rot in hell. She was crying 'uncontrolably' and several of us were not sure that we had the powers, or the right to be doing this.

However, we obeyed the orders without question, but unhappily, and hoisted the old lady and baby out of the room.

Most of the lads were grumbling and calling the section commander all sorts of names under our breaths.

Guess what. Under the old lady's mattress was a 9mm pistol, and under the baby's cot matress was a box of detonators.

What a good job we didn't hold a ballot to see whether we should do it or not.

Originally posted by markham
What a good job we didn't hold a ballot to see whether we should do it or not.

Is there a point where you'd draw the line, or would you always obay an order?

This is a genuine question and I'd be interested in your reply. Please don't mistake it for me 'having a go' at you or the army.

Good point Andy.

A soldier isn't a robot. He hasn't had his morals hammered out of him.

This is the dilemma facing every soldier.

My only reservations would be towards the 'intentional' harming of 'known' innocents.

With regards the scenario I showed above, if the NCO had told us to drag the baby or old lady out of bed and give them a kicking we would have KNOWN this was a totally unnecessary order and would have refused on the grounds of certain conventions safe in the knowledge that there were enough witnesses there to lodge a complaint against the NCO should he charge us with insubordination.

According to the Guardian Morgan is now seeking £1 million in compensation for the abrupt termination of his contract.

After refusing to apologise and been frog marched out of the Mirror offices he now thinks that he is entitled to some sort of pay off.

Does Anybody think he will get it?

the damage is done now,i believe no amount of apologies will right this,does he not know,what families of army lads go through,when their at war?,let him go to iraq and say sorry personally.

He was guilty of sloppy journalism ands o deserves little sympathy.
However it was members of the armed forces who faked the pictures: he was merely guilty of being taken in.
Shouldn't people who fake intelligence dossiers also be sacked/resign and the newspaper and TV editors who published this rubbish join them? The Sun, Mail and all the other papers published Colin Powell's faked pictures of mobile rocket launchers, biological weapons factories etc etc without question.
The Sun reported that British Army bases in Cyprus were vulnerable to long range missiles, containing chemical warheads neither of which existed..another piece of sloppy if not dishonest journalism but no sacking there
It seems that for some people only real photos of our lads abusing civilians will prove that it's happening.
A recent post mortem of an Iraqi killed in custody revealed broken ribs, broken jaw and cause of death: strangulation. Unfortunately the perpetrators weren't stupid enough to film this event and pass it on to the press. Conclusion: it never happened?
Morgan was sloppy but he's very unfortunate to be the only newspaper man to be sacked for peddling a lie over the past 18 months.

Perhaps he can now make a living out of the stock market. He always enjoyed the odd share tip. If he does how long will it be before he is charged with insider trading? The man is bent as hell. I suspect he wasn't taken in at all; he knew all along those pictures were fake.

I say let him go to Iraq and risk his life the way our troops have done. Perhaps then he won't be so quick to put the boot into them.

I wonder if his replacment as editor will be the formor Iraqi Informaton Minister; or will the Mirror now stop being apologists for Saddam and his former henchmen.

Originally posted by slimsid2000

I wonder if his replacment as editor will be the formor Iraqi Informaton Minister; or will the Mirror now stop being apologists for Saddam and his former henchmen.
The Mirror has never supported the invasion of Kuwait, gassing of Kurds, torture and murder of political prisoners as you well know.
It had every right to object to an illegal war and occupation of Iraq. Are the 20000 dead Iraqi civilians all Saddams henchmen? Presumably the Iraqi boy raped by the Americans was one of Saddams henchmen too and thus deserved his fate which shouldn't be reported either?