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May 16, 2023 - 5:10pm
China’s ascendancy in the last half-century, as well as its alleged cover-up of the origins of Covid-19, has been aided by “useful idiots” in Britain and Western Europe, former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove claimed today. Speaking at the National Conservatism conference in central London, Dearlove said that “eminent members of our own elite are doing the work of our enemies for them,” and gave as examples “advocating for Huawei” and “refusing to publish serious scientific study that questions the Chinese narrative on the origins of SARS-CoV-2”.
Dearlove has previously spoken out about the possibility of the Covid-19 pandemic having a man-made cause, arguing as early as June 2020 that the coronavirus began life “as an accident” in a Chinese lab. A year later, he stated that CCP officials would have destroyed any evidence of a leak, making the theory more difficult to prove.
During his speech in Westminster this afternoon, Dearlove argued that the UK Government has “allowed its guard to drop in the expectation that […] China could, and would, change [their foreign policy]”. The former spy chief, who headed the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) at the time of the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and was accused of providing then-prime minister Tony Blair with unconfirmed information about weapons of mass destruction, dedicated much of his speech to the threat posed to the West by both China and Russia. The retired intelligence officer referred to the countries as “two autocratic polities still focused on the eventual destruction of our value system”.
The ex-MI6 boss, who in May 2021 told LBC that it was “far more likely” that the Covid-19 virus escaped from a lab, rather than being started by an animal in a wet market, was at first widely criticised for his claims. In the last two years, however, a number of institutions have rowed back on their prior position and given credence to the lab leak theory, such as the US energy department and liberal media outlets like the New York Times.
Talking about the country’s influence on British policy and public life, Dearlove highlighted “the penetration of our universities and our scientific establishment by China has been especially worrying”, a process enabled by “useful idiots who have fuelled active measures for our adversaries”.
Drawing on his experience in the SIS, which he joined in 1966, Dearlove said that “it never occurred to me that I was not on the side of the angels”, and that “we did not entertain any doubt about being on the right side of the Cold War.” Then, there was, he claimed, “a fundamental moral difference between the values we espoused and the totalitarian nature of Soviet Russia and Maoist China.”
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SubscribeAll of this chump change compared to net zero. The west is literally abandoning energy independence and capitulating to China, which controls 80% of the market for rare earth minerals. Not only will we destroy our industrial base, but we will go begging to China to
supply us with inputs for what little energy infrastructure we have left. This could get real ugly folks.
All of this chump change compared to net zero. The west is literally abandoning energy independence and capitulating to China, which controls 80% of the market for rare earth minerals. Not only will we destroy our industrial base, but we will go begging to China to
supply us with inputs for what little energy infrastructure we have left. This could get real ugly folks.
Is there anyone on unherd who didn’t realise that this insanity has been in place for years ?
Of course being ‘in-the-know’ is the easy bit. An easy task for any sleuthing keyboard warrior. Taking action against all those things you claim to deplore – well, that’s a whole other game.
I know and as a private individual long retired I feel helpless to have any impact. I’m glad that Dearlove is calling it out.
I know and as a private individual long retired I feel helpless to have any impact. I’m glad that Dearlove is calling it out.
I prefer to think of it as left brain dominance (McGilchrist). That and arrogance (“The end of history” springs to mind).
Of course being ‘in-the-know’ is the easy bit. An easy task for any sleuthing keyboard warrior. Taking action against all those things you claim to deplore – well, that’s a whole other game.
I prefer to think of it as left brain dominance (McGilchrist). That and arrogance (“The end of history” springs to mind).
Is there anyone on unherd who didn’t realise that this insanity has been in place for years ?
Of course he’s right, even if his reputation greatly weakened by Iraq.
We are waking up to this threat, albeit it’s been v slow. Let us hope it’s not too late someone famous once said.
We are 7mths away from crucial elections in Taiwan. The outcome could result in Xi moving on his re-absorption promises. If it happens how the West responds will affect us all whether short or medium term. Would have been good to hear bit more from Dearlove on this.
He’s not in the Churchill category of course, but these warnings always remind me of WSCs Fulton speech in early 46. At the time many thought he was war-mongering and dismissed him. He proved prescient for the 2nd major time a couple years later when Czech democracy overturned and Berlin blockade commenced. The airlift and NATO formulation followed. History repeating itself or needing to repeat itself? Let’s hope not.
Of course he’s right, even if his reputation greatly weakened by Iraq.
We are waking up to this threat, albeit it’s been v slow. Let us hope it’s not too late someone famous once said.
We are 7mths away from crucial elections in Taiwan. The outcome could result in Xi moving on his re-absorption promises. If it happens how the West responds will affect us all whether short or medium term. Would have been good to hear bit more from Dearlove on this.
He’s not in the Churchill category of course, but these warnings always remind me of WSCs Fulton speech in early 46. At the time many thought he was war-mongering and dismissed him. He proved prescient for the 2nd major time a couple years later when Czech democracy overturned and Berlin blockade commenced. The airlift and NATO formulation followed. History repeating itself or needing to repeat itself? Let’s hope not.
I seem to remember that late (not so great) Prime Minister Ted Heath having enthusiastic relations with China – even in the Mao years. Didn’t he speak up in defence of the post-Mao government after the Tianmen square massacre? Must have been very useful but was he an idiot?
No, he was a Traitor.
No, he was a Traitor.
I seem to remember that late (not so great) Prime Minister Ted Heath having enthusiastic relations with China – even in the Mao years. Didn’t he speak up in defence of the post-Mao government after the Tianmen square massacre? Must have been very useful but was he an idiot?
Richard Dearlove is undoubtedly correct, but unfortunately thanks to his highly contentious part in the atrocity that was the Iraq War, he is forever damned.
What a pity we cannot consult the late David John Moore Cornwell* for his opinion of Dearlove.
(*aka:John le Carré. 1931-2020.)
Richard Dearlove is undoubtedly correct, but unfortunately thanks to his highly contentious part in the atrocity that was the Iraq War, he is forever damned.
What a pity we cannot consult the late David John Moore Cornwell* for his opinion of Dearlove.
(*aka:John le Carré. 1931-2020.)
https://unherd.com/2021/12/does-the-ccp-control-extinction-rebellion/
https://unherd.com/2021/12/does-the-ccp-control-extinction-rebellion/
Hahahaa, what a Cressida…(both in Cockney and in Classics)
” Speaking at the National Conservatism conference”
or ‘The Controlled Opposition Lizards’ as they should be called, being as far from Conservatism as Mao was…..
Anyway, MI6? sort of like CIA? I recall you two in 1953 cooping Mosaddegh, just as you all did for JFK, Nixon, Thatcher, Trump – making the Parliament and House of Representatives, and Lords and Senate a Uniparty totally owned – as your ilk are, by the Globalists Elites.
All you three letter organizations are pure evil – WHO, WEF, BIS, IMF, CIA, FBI, DHS, NSA, DOD, MI5, Mi6, FED, BoE, and on and on all totally Captured..;…
”Dearlove said that “it never occurred to me that I was not on the side of the angels”, ‘‘
Hahaaahaaaa, sure….I think we know who’s side you are on –
(WMDs anyone?, colour revolution anyone?….)
Hahahaa, what a Cressida…(both in Cockney and in Classics)
” Speaking at the National Conservatism conference”
or ‘The Controlled Opposition Lizards’ as they should be called, being as far from Conservatism as Mao was…..
Anyway, MI6? sort of like CIA? I recall you two in 1953 cooping Mosaddegh, just as you all did for JFK, Nixon, Thatcher, Trump – making the Parliament and House of Representatives, and Lords and Senate a Uniparty totally owned – as your ilk are, by the Globalists Elites.
All you three letter organizations are pure evil – WHO, WEF, BIS, IMF, CIA, FBI, DHS, NSA, DOD, MI5, Mi6, FED, BoE, and on and on all totally Captured..;…
”Dearlove said that “it never occurred to me that I was not on the side of the angels”, ‘‘
Hahaaahaaaa, sure….I think we know who’s side you are on –
(WMDs anyone?, colour revolution anyone?….)
Hmmm. Richard Dearlove. Has he stopped providing twisted intelligence and gone over to neutrality and honesty? Or is it just that he is now doing propaganda for his own preconceived ideas, instead of doing it for other people?
Hmmm. Richard Dearlove. Has he stopped providing twisted intelligence and gone over to neutrality and honesty? Or is it just that he is now doing propaganda for his own preconceived ideas, instead of doing it for other people?