Duncan of Benghazi
Daniel Korski 10:56am
Junior ministers rarely get to influence high-level policy or be seen publicly to have
done so. So Development Minister Alan Duncan must feel particularly pleased that his brainchild, the so-called "Libya oil cell", was set up to block fuel supplies to Tripoli; and that its
work – as well as the Tory MP’s role – has now become public. On the day that David Cameron jets off to the Paris
Conference no less.
The BBC reports that a six person team was set, taking in people from the Cabinet Office and the MoD, but working out of the Foreign Office. The team focused on depriving Gaddafi’s regime of oil by cutting off smuggling routes and operations in order to cripple the Libyan military machine and create popular pressure on the government. Until then, there had been credible reports of smuggling over land from Algeria into Libya – something Coffee House raised in early summer. The second objective of the unit was apparently to keep Bengazi supplied with fuel even when it looked as if they would not have the means to immediately pay.
Known to have been more cautious about the “Arab Spring” than many of his ministerial colleagues and with long-standing relationships in several conservative Gulf states, Duncan was always going to be an unlikely revolutionary. But no more, it seems. Who knows, maybe a Duncan Street in Tobruk will be inaugurated once the new Libyan government is in place.
More seriously, Duncan’s skills, network and knowledge benefited the government – in exactly the kind of way that people who have had a non-political career before they entered the House of Commons can. It makes a good case for John Major’s proposal some time ago to bring more experts into ministerial positions.
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Dennis Churchill
September 1st, 2011 11:25am Report this commentOf course Alan Duncan had a successful career in the oil industry before entering politics.
What a pity more of our political class don’t have such experience rather than PPE Oxbridge, PR/Media/Law, Researcher and on to MP and Minister---if not Prime Minister.
asker
September 1st, 2011 11:28am Report this commentOn the other hand... Seem a curious story to emerge now. One wonders whether someone got wind of Vitol's involvement and someone decided to brief the story to The Times as a way of getting it out as innocuously as possible.
Duncan's past as an oil trader is not uncontroversial - especially his relationship with Marc Rich. Neither is Vitol as pure as the driven snow. Eg - the million bucks it bunged war criminal Arkan. Also seems odd to mention that Vitol funded Duncan's private office when he was in opposition. I'm sure The Times simply din't have the space to mention all this....
strapworld
September 1st, 2011 11:29am Report this commentIdeal man for Huhne's job!
Derek Pasquill
September 1st, 2011 11:30am Report this commentNot so hot on the Palestine issue was he?
Will the Quartet relabel the MEPP as the Alan Duncan Peacing Up a Wall Initiative?
Purpleline
September 1st, 2011 11:48am Report this commentAbsolutely well done to Alan Duncan this is a clear example of what was lacking in the Labour government. Clever astute thinking and use of basic knowledge of how states work.
The fact MI6 were heavily involved proves my point to a Guardian hack and government advisor on Twitter yesterday, that this Arab uprising has the feel of a secret agreement between the West & AQ to eliminate all existing dictators in the ME, in return for AQ & Taliban abandoning Jihad.
This Libyan conflict has been a very smart war, intelligence led & inspired, low damage,low death & casualties rates and the realisation that you need to put back quickly the pieces. The US made big mistakes in Iraq and it looks like Britain did learn the lessons.
The big test will be Saudi Arabia, I give the Saudi's a 7 months to change or we will see another leg of the uprising next April as the Arabs get a new spring in their step.
Cameron should go for an election immediately to save our country and promote Alan Duncan.
michael
September 1st, 2011 12:04pm Report this commentI reckon he will feel that this success is not adequately remunerated by his MP's meagre income.... he'll put in for a rise.
wrinkled weasel
September 1st, 2011 12:29pm Report this commentIt's good to see British brain-power at work. In WW2 it was just about all we had and like WW2, (just an observation) this initiative was masterminded by an openly libertarian maverick.
TrevorsDen
September 1st, 2011 1:11pm Report this comment'a secret agreement between the West & AQ to eliminate all existing dictators in the ME, in return for AQ & Taliban abandoning Jihad.' --- bonkers comment of the week?
weasel - if you are referring to ULTRA then you are right.
disenfranchised
September 1st, 2011 1:14pm Report this comment"bring more experts into ministerial positions" begs the question: have there hitherto actually been any? doesn't look much like it to me.
the case for less career politicians, i feel.
infact i'd go so far as to say that this dirth of experts explains many of the total and utter cockups we've seen from government over the last couple of decades.
chaps used to know what they were doing in government, did chaps.
oh for a return of those days. today's boys almost make thatcher and scargill look appealing.....
ButcombeMan
September 1st, 2011 1:20pm Report this commentNice piece of pro Duncan spin.
The idea is much more likely to have come out of the SIS than to have been Duncan's brainchild.
Remember Duncan on MPs expenses? Clearly not.
Purpleline
September 1st, 2011 1:53pm Report this commentTrevorsDen you are obviously brain of Britain that does not understand Geo-politics. We are worthy to be published on same comments as you. Masturbator
Frank P
September 1st, 2011 2:10pm Report this commentIt ain't over 'til the fat lady sings. At the moment she is still missing let alone not singing. And if anybody thinks that there will ultimately a better situation for the West arising from this hypocritical adventure - dream on; the acres of sand populated by hordes of heads to the east - arses to the West, as Ramadan ended yesterday, should be an indication that we are not making friends, but rather facilitating enemies. Fucking idiot politicians!
Frank P
September 1st, 2011 2:18pm Report this commentMoreover - can somebody supply a source for this 'report' other than Lansdale, his bent buddy Duncan himself and Krapski, all of whom are rated 'D minus' in my source evaluation table.
Frank P
September 1st, 2011 2:22pm Report this commentAnd another thing - I see a subtle picture switch at the head of the post. Any comparison between L of A and Dinky Duncan would probably have to be confined to the care and protection of pretty Arab boys.
ButcombeMan
September 1st, 2011 2:47pm Report this commentFrank P.
Just spin, organised so that Duncan can take Huhne's job come the Custody Sergeant reading the inevitable (one hopes) words. Rehabilitation of an offender in Duncan's case.
Frank P
September 1st, 2011 5:23pm Report this commentLet's hope Dinky Duncan has arranged some heavy duty security for his oil wells, lest all this talk from Mad Mo about Libya in flames means he intends to use them as fuel for the conflagration. Remember Saddam?
FvH
September 2nd, 2011 10:34am Report this commentDinky seems to have gone from Hero to Zero in the space of 24 hours!!
Oil, Lies and Corruption!!
Still business kick backs are surely what the Libyan nonsense was all about ? - if not then why bother??
Jabba the Cat
September 2nd, 2011 11:07am Report this commentDuncan is the Tory equivalent of oily Keith Vaz...
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