Margaret Thatcher 'gave her approval' to her son Mark's failed coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea

[Judi Lynn]

Margaret Thatcher 'gave her approval' to her son Mark's failed coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea

Unpublished version of memoir by former SAS officer Simon Mann records Baroness Thatcher's endorsement of plan to depose oil-rich country's president

Daniel Boffey
The Observer, Saturday 13 April 2013

Margaret Thatcher approved of a failed attempt to use an army of mercenaries to overthrow the president of Equatorial Guinea, according to the unpublished memoirs of the chief protagonist of the bid, former SAS officer Simon Mann.

The former prime minister, whose son, Sir Mark, was convicted in a South African court of involvement in the attempted 2004 coup, allegedly told Mann at a meeting at her Belgravia home: "I'm sure it's going to work".

It is claimed that Thatcher likened the need for radical change in the oil-rich Equatorial Guinea to the way London's Docklands had been redeveloped during the 1980s.

She is also alleged to have encouraged Mann to talk to a group seeking to overthrow the then president of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, with the words: "We must always look after our friends, Simon … as I'm sure you know."

More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/apr/14/thatcher-knew-of-equatorial-giunea-coup-attempt

[polly7]

1. She was a bloodthirsty, scheming warmonger far beyond what I'd ever thought. nt.

[treestar]

2. If she'd been an American, she would have been Reagan's top assistant

Or maybe she'd have replaced him.

Sir Mark, eh?

[LeftishBrit]

4. She was already Ronnie's top assistant without needing to be American

Or maybe he was hers; it was never very clear.

And her insane pampering of her revolting son was unbelievable. The sun really did shine out of his bottom as far as she was concerned. I hate everything Thatcher stood for, but when the little darling wasn't involved, she was at least sincere (in the wrong beliefs and causes) and in touch with reality. But where he was concerned, all sanity and all principles were left behind.

[Ash_F]

3. Why would they do that?

Oh wait, oil.