The Twilight of the British Empire Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Two-Part Tribute Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- List of Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Fighting the ‘Communist Menace’ Overseas
- 2 Security Training and Liaison in Anti-Communist Measures
- 3 The Defence of the Realm in the Middle East
- 4 Prerequisites of Intelligence Cooperation
- 5 Conflicting Interests in Anti-Communist Measures
- 6 The Use and Abuse of State Power and the Limits of British Influence
- Conclusion: The Twilight of the British Empire in the Middle East
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Appendix: Security Intelligence Middle East Charter
- Index
6 - The Use and Abuse of State Power and the Limits of British Influence
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Two-Part Tribute Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- List of Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 Fighting the ‘Communist Menace’ Overseas
- 2 Security Training and Liaison in Anti-Communist Measures
- 3 The Defence of the Realm in the Middle East
- 4 Prerequisites of Intelligence Cooperation
- 5 Conflicting Interests in Anti-Communist Measures
- 6 The Use and Abuse of State Power and the Limits of British Influence
- Conclusion: The Twilight of the British Empire in the Middle East
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Appendix: Security Intelligence Middle East Charter
- Index
Summary
I tried to give them a rough idea of what the Security Service was like and what it should do. I began by telling them that it should be wholly non-political and merely concerned with the security of the State, regardless of the Government in power; otherwise it could have no stability and no continuity. This did not, of course, mean that it was not entitled to investigate the activities of political parties which advocated the overthrow of the State by unconstitutional means. I realised from the expressions on their faces how unpractical they felt my suggestion was!
Captain Guy Liddell[S]cientific interrogation in the world's intelligence and security organizations has a limit, and wherever, because of a sensitive political situation, this method becomes somewhat ineffective, torture is resorted to in order to get speedy results or to create terror and fear. In normal circumstances, the aim of the interrogation is to extract information and so naturally the more scientific and thorough the methods the better! But in sensitive political situations where security is seen to be threatened, the interrogators’ aim is not only at getting information, they also aim at breaking the suspect and creating panic in society.
General Hussein FardustIntroduction
Britain was heavily involved in Middle Eastern anti-Communist measures in various ways. It shared intelligence on Communist and Soviet subversive activities; provided training in preventive security, counter-intelligence and propaganda; and, through liaison officers, exercised influence over the local legislative and administrative measures. As noted in the previous chapters, however, the measures conducted by Middle Eastern governments differed from what the British had desired. This raises significant questions about British complicity in undemocratic and repressive activity including human rights abuses.
This chapter explores how far Britain was involved in anti-Communist measures conducted by Middle Eastern governments. It discusses the different approaches towards the training of colonial and Middle Eastern security services. It then examines the usefulness and limitations of intelligence liaison between British intelligence and its Middle Eastern counterparts in influencing regional policy. Finally, it examines Britain's attitudes towards the security measures conducted by Middle Eastern governments, often in violation of human rights.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Twilight of the British EmpireBritish Intelligence and Counter-Subversion in the Middle East, 1948–63, pp. 146 - 169Publisher: Edinburgh University PressPrint publication year: 2017