FAO Liam Fox: Really? Really?
It’s reassuring that defence secretary Liam Fox isn’t very busy. In spite of an ongoing war, massive budget cuts, and the threat of resurgent violent republican groups in Northern Ireland, Fox obviously has plenty of time on his hands to talk about computer games.
What’s less reassuring is that when Fox does talk about computer games, he comes up with an opinion as silly and nonsensical as calling for a game to be banned.
Fox thinks war game Medal Of Honour should not be stocked in shops, cos you can play as the Taliban as well as playing as Nato forces.
“It’s shocking that someone would think it acceptable to recreate the acts of the Taliban. At the hands of the Taliban, children have lost fathers and wives have lost husbands. I am disgusted and angry. It’s hard to believe any citizen of our country would wish to buy such a thoroughly un-British game. I would urge retailers to show their support for our armed forces and ban this tasteless product.”
Does Fox really think that soldiers in Afghanistan are weeping themselves to sleep at night due of the thought that someone might be playing the baddies in a computer game? Does he think that Medal Of Honour might encourage young people to join the Taliban? Did Fox only ever play Escape From Colditz as the British? Was Buckaroo banned from his house because it endorsed animal cruelty? And how pathetic is this attempt to curry favour with the military shortly before he starts sacking people?
We need answers!
Index on Censorship celebrates the launch of its new magazine on music and free expression with performances by the Iranian singer Mahsa Vahdat and oud player Khyam Allam at the Free Word Centre.