Spies in their eyes
The problem is that even the 460 deputies, who heard the minister's report on improper lobbying practices during the first-ever closed session of Parliament on Tuesday night, cannot agree about what was actually said.
"Enough of SLD's lies," shouted Jan Rokita, Civic Platform (PO) Deputy and the star of the Parliamentary commission of investigation, to the face of Ryszard Kalisz, a former member of the commission from the Left Democratic Alliance (SLD). In reply, Kalisz shouted, "Enough Platform lies!" The two gentlemen were discussing Barcikowski's report on a live public TV news show. According to Rokita, the minister accused the country's largest daily newspaper, Gazeta Wyborcza, and specifically one of its journalists of criticizing gas delivery contracts on orders from the KGB. Kalisz, on the other hand, claimed "not to have heard those names and titles" in the minister's speech.
It may not be clear exactly what Barcikowski said, but few people seem to have any doubts that the secret services are back to the role that they mastered in the decades up to 1989, namely that of a political tool. The opposition claims that the minister was trying to divert attention from corrupt officials by blaming the media for being manipulated by foreign secret services.
Journalists, Andrzej Barcikowski appears to have told the parliament, are responsible for corruption in this country. Investigative stories on improprieties in public procurement consist, in fact, of nothing more than passing on to the public the content generated by foreign secret services. Illegal lobbying and bribery determine which drugs are allowed to go on sale. And the Internal Security Agency has not made any arrests or launched any investigations. One deputy described Barcikowski's speech as "a lot of gossip about newspapers that allegedly try to hurt the government."
An investigation into corruption in drug registration has, however, been launched by the secret service. Only not the one you'd think. The CIA, not the ABW, has requested information from U.S. pharmaceutical companies in connection with allegations that they have given bribes to Polish officials to get their drugs registered. There are no indications that the local services have addressed the issue.
Instead, the counter intelligence chief has singled out individuals as working to harm the country on behalf of foreign secret services in front of the whole Parliament. The media, who work for these spies, may not have been there. Minister Barcikowski must hope that the evil services' long hands do not reach all the way to the 460 deputies.
"Enough of SLD's lies," shouted Jan Rokita, Civic Platform (PO) Deputy and the star of the Parliamentary commission of investigation, to the face of Ryszard Kalisz, a former member of the commission from the Left Democratic Alliance (SLD). In reply, Kalisz shouted, "Enough Platform lies!" The two gentlemen were discussing Barcikowski's report on a live public TV news show. According to Rokita, the minister accused the country's largest daily newspaper, Gazeta Wyborcza, and specifically one of its journalists of criticizing gas delivery contracts on orders from the KGB. Kalisz, on the other hand, claimed "not to have heard those names and titles" in the minister's speech.
It may not be clear exactly what Barcikowski said, but few people seem to have any doubts that the secret services are back to the role that they mastered in the decades up to 1989, namely that of a political tool. The opposition claims that the minister was trying to divert attention from corrupt officials by blaming the media for being manipulated by foreign secret services.
Journalists, Andrzej Barcikowski appears to have told the parliament, are responsible for corruption in this country. Investigative stories on improprieties in public procurement consist, in fact, of nothing more than passing on to the public the content generated by foreign secret services. Illegal lobbying and bribery determine which drugs are allowed to go on sale. And the Internal Security Agency has not made any arrests or launched any investigations. One deputy described Barcikowski's speech as "a lot of gossip about newspapers that allegedly try to hurt the government."
An investigation into corruption in drug registration has, however, been launched by the secret service. Only not the one you'd think. The CIA, not the ABW, has requested information from U.S. pharmaceutical companies in connection with allegations that they have given bribes to Polish officials to get their drugs registered. There are no indications that the local services have addressed the issue.
Instead, the counter intelligence chief has singled out individuals as working to harm the country on behalf of foreign secret services in front of the whole Parliament. The media, who work for these spies, may not have been there. Minister Barcikowski must hope that the evil services' long hands do not reach all the way to the 460 deputies.
