BLACK REDUX

THIS IS HUMILATING –Barbara Amiel, Maclean’s Aug. 4/08

I see Maclean's has given Barbara Amiel a five-page spread to expound and expand on her and her husbands “innocence”. However, her apologetic sounds a bit hollow and contrived, especially when referring to “Conrad fighting with one hand behind his back” . Having million-dollar lawyers from two countries does no constituted a major disadvantage –one arm or the other, and calling the U.S. Appeals Court a “Kangaroo court” is not only less than genuine –it is an absurd slight on the whole American judicial system.
Whether Lord Black was uxorious, just plain greedy, or both, Barbra with her Sybaritic tastes and voluptuous life style (by her own admission, her needs " know no bounds") did not do much to harness his insatiable need for power and attention –their regal photo on the lawn of their Florida mansion or the ridiculous picture showing their attendance of his initiation to the House of Lords, in period costumes, comes readily to mind. Her protestations of innocence sound a bit flat, especially considering his treatment of employees (and shareholders) of Argus Corp, Dominion Stores and Massey Ferguson. Mr. Black, by his own admission, admires Napoleon, and probably envisioned himself as an unbridled, Napoleonic capitalist. In a way, he shares Napoleons fate, but Conrad’s place of abode is less Elba and more like St Helena. It would be easier to feel pithy for him had he be more merciful in his own animadversions.
Where Barbara really shows her colour is in referring to her “defenders, like the brilliant Mark Steyn .” Give me a break!
Ultimately, she herself says it best: “No matter how many disclaimers I make, when you have to defend yourself or your husband, it can only leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.” Right on, Barb.
I can appreciate Maclean’s wish to be fair and open-minded about this matter – after all they have published some of my own less than politically correct missives in their Mailbag Column –but I detect more than a soupcon of bias here. If they owe the Blacks anything, I think the debt is now repaid, and they can go on to cover more edifying subjects.