http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/pr-firm-with-peter-mandelson-link-hired-to-whitewash-libyan-regime/story-e6frg6so-1226016730944
PR firm with Peter Mandelson link hired to whitewash Libyan regime Jon Ungoed-Thomas and Richard Kerbaj From: The Australian March 07, 2011 12:00AM A PUBLIC relations firm set up by a close friend of former British business secretary Peter Mandelson was hired by Muammar Gaddafi to whitewash his tyrannical regime and win acceptance for Libya in the West. Brown Lloyd James promoted the dictator as a "fascinating contemporary world figure" and his son Saif as a human rights champion. Lord Mandelson, who also knows Saif, has stayed at the Caribbean holiday home of Peter Brown, one of the company's founding partners. Work carried out by the PR firm, which has offices in London, New York and Tripoli, included: Reputational management for Saif, highlighting his role in freeing Western hostages and alleviating poverty in Africa; Promoting a live video address by Colonel Gaddafi to the London School of Economics last December in which he hailed former British prime minister Tony Blair as a friend; Advising the Libyan ruler before his inaugural address to the UN, 40 years after he came to power. The activities of BLJ were part of a global drive to gain the former pariah state legitimacy and influence. At least two other US consultancy firms, the Washington-based Livingston Group and Monitor, based in Massachusetts, were paid at least $US5.5 million between them by the regime. Monitor drew up a strategy to "enhance the profile of Libya and Muammar Qadhafi (sic)" with plans to target key opinion-formers, including television presenter David Frost, billionaire financier George Soros, and Anthony Giddens, Mr Blair's political guru and a former head of the London School of Economics. BLJ began working for Libya after it renounced weapons of mass destruction in 2003. Mr Brown is a US socialite with homes in New York and on St Barts, the Caribbean island, who helped to manage The Beatles. Among his friends is Lord Mandelson, who has been an advocate of closer ties with Libya. Lord Mandelson argued for a trade deal with Tripoli while he was European trade commissioner and signed a deal as business secretary for British universities to be twinned with their Libyan counterparts. BLJ has promoted the activities of Colonel Gaddafi and Saif in London and the US. A spokesman said the firm "gave some PR advice and partly handled" the dictator's visit to the UN in September 2009. The following April, it offered a "unique opportunity" to hear Colonel Gaddafi's views via a video link-up. It promoted a similar event -- attended by Lord Giddens -- at the LSE last year and has also placed opinion pieces by Colonel Gaddafi in newspapers. Mike Holtzman, a partner at BLJ in New York, confirmed it had worked for the Gaddafi regime, but cited client confidentiality for not giving out more information. The Sunday Times Related Coverage a.. Gaddafi's thesis proves money talks The Australian, 2 hours ago b.. Gaddafi son had us all fooled: Islamic group The Australian, 2 hours ago c.. London uni chief quits over Libya links The Australian, 2 days ago d.. Defectors lead way against dictator The Australian, 3 days ago e.. Libya rebels stand up to Gaddafi bombs The Australian, 3 days ago [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Post message: [email protected] Subscribe : [email protected] Unsubscribe : [email protected] List owner : [email protected] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
