Scottish Quote of the Day: George Galloway

Dundee-born former Labour MP George Galloway has never shied away from a confrontation. The politician, author and broadcaster has courted controversy due to his vehement opposition of the War in Iraq, his staunch support of Palestine in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and is well-known for impersonating a cat on the reality television show Big Brother (when still a member of parliament).

In 2005, he was called to appear before a United States Senate Committee over allegations that he had received the right to buy oil under the United Nation’s oil-for-food scheme, allegations he strongly denied. After listening to 90 minutes of allegations against him, Mr Galloway went on the attack, and gave the Senators both barrels as promised.

The following extract appeared towards the end of Mr Galloway’s opening statement, during which he attacked the US-led invasion of Iraq, and refuted the allegations against him. It’s a typically grandiose, cutting delivery from Mr Galloway, but like him or loathe him, you can’t help but respect him for this heartfelt criticism of the American War on Iraq.

“Now, Senator, I gave my heart and soul to oppose the policy that you promoted. I gave my political life’s blood to try to stop the mass killing of Iraqis by the sanctions on Iraq which killed one million Iraqis, most of them children, most of them died before they even knew that they were Iraqis, but they died for no other reason other than that they were Iraqis with the misfortune to be born at that time. I gave my heart and soul to stop you committing the disaster that you did commit in invading Iraq. And I told the world that your case for the war was a pack of lies.”

• Watch George Galloway’s opening statement here 0.15 - 1.09