British Press Officer, Forced to Lie about Iraq War, Files Disability Claim

Friday, August 07, 2009
John Salisbury-Baker (pjoto: North News & Pictures Ltd)

A different kind of work-related stress claim has been filed in the United Kingdom, where a government press secretary says his medical problem stems from having to lie about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. John Salisbury-Baker, a press officer in the Ministry of Defense, claims his job required him to tell the families and media that British soldiers who died in the wars were properly equipped, when in fact they were not, he says. Calling his work “morally indefensible,” Salisbury-Baker said he had to defend such equipment as Snatch Land Rovers and body armor which failed to adequately protect troops, causing him to develop post-traumatic stress disorder and be unable to work. He is now suing the Ministry of Defense.

-Noel Brinkerhoff
 

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