Lying about George Galloway

Looks like they're lying about controversial British MP George Galloway again. In the past, he has successfully brought suit over this sort of thing. This time, though, he may have missed a good chance.

From the New Scotsman:

George Galloway has accused a US Senate committee of making allegations based solely on lies and demanded that it clear his name.

The Respect MP was accused of pocketing money from Saddam Hussein's oil-for-food programme in two separate reports this week, both citing former Iraqi deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz as a source.

Republican Senator Norm Coleman used interviews with Aziz as evidence that Saddam's regime granted 23 million barrels of oil to Mr Galloway and his Mariam Appeal fund.

But the French lawyers representing Aziz told Mr Galloway in Paris that Aziz had never made a single statement incriminating him.

Ron McKay, spokesman for the Bethnal Green and Bow MP, said: "Aziz is denying he made any statement incriminating George to Senator Coleman or anybody else.

"Mr Galloway is accusing Senator Coleman of putting together lying testimony and has demanded that his name be cleared."

Time for another suit? Not so fast.

If memory serves, Senators cannot be sued for libel for anything said on the senate floor. That little-known legal loophole may apply as well to Coleman's committee.

The trick is to cajole 'em into saying something actionable when they're away from the Senate. Then you can sue their pants off. Not that I want to see a pants-free Norm Coleman.

So why do they keep targeting Galloway with these smears? The Republicans only make him look good, in the end.