Ex-UN chief weapons inspector quits top post citing malicious campaign

[emad]

Queen's man quits Tasmania blaming malicious campaign
By Kathy Marks in Sydney
10 August 2004

Snip from Independent

Richard Butler, the former chief UN weapons inspector, resigned as governor of Tasmania last night after 10 tumultuous months in the job, triggering yet another constitutional crisis for Australia.

Mr Butler, who has rarely been out of the public eye since taking office last October, announced after a crisis meeting with the state premier, Paul Lennon, that he was stepping down as the Queen's representative in the "Apple Isle".

The former diplomat blamed a "malicious campaign" against him for his decision, which he said he had taken "with great sadness" in order to protect the island's good name.

But few were surprised to see Mr Butler's Tasmanian adventure end in tears. An outspoken republican with no links with the island state, he was a curious choice for the vice-regal job. Branded a hypocrite for accepting the £150,000-a-year post, he proceeded to alienate virtually every section of staid Tasmanian society. Mr Butler, 61, was lambasted for his arrogance, apparent reluctance to carry out his official duties and protocol-breaching interventions into political debate. Within a few days of taking office, he was allegedly demanding upgrades on flights "because I am governor of Tasmania" and making a scene when he was turned down.

More:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/australasia/story.jsp?story=549826

[rooboy]

1. In a nutshell, he behaved like a complete asshole. n/t

[emad]

2. Did those personal qualities get him the UN inspection job in the

first place? Has he maybe a bank account at Riggs? And will the next posting be protocol adviser to Equitorial Guinea's President Obiang???

[rooboy]

7. Ironically, he was actually once held in extremely high regard...

by people in the international and diplomatic communities. I guess it just goes to show that you can become a victim of believing your own press.

[nonbelief]

3. Top Post?

He was the governor of Tasmania, for Christ's sake...

Tasmania has a population of under 200 thousand people.
The position of Governor is purely ceremonial. He was the British queen's representative to the state of Tasmania

Richard Butler was, until appointed governor, an avowed Australian Republican. But it's amazing how a cushy job suddenly turns some republicans into royalists.

I haven't trusted Butler since he dismissed as fantasy the fact that the CIA had infiltrated the UN weapons inspection team in pre-war Iraq.

[emad]

4. In Tasmania, it's the top post, £150,000 per annum no questions

asked...

[nonbelief]

5. In Tasmania, it's not the top post....

The top post in Tasmania is chairman of Guns Timber, which oversees the destruction of old growth forest for woodchipping.

All politicians in Tasmania kneel before the mighty chainsaw.

[emad]

6. Holy Anthrax! No wonder the Butler got the chop.....

wonder what the Timber guy earns, or is he paid in chips?