All right, Mr. Mandela , I'm ready for my close-up."

The Tanned one AKA Peter Hain says he is "angry" that his website has been targeted by computer hacking network Anonymous.


The group has aclaimed d it is attacking government websites in retaliation for the UK's handling of the case of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.



The Tanned One is probably justified in this because he has actually supported Mr Assange, who has been granted asylum by Ecuador in a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden, where faces questioning over allegations of sexual assault - which he denies. He said

"If the reason [for the attack] is revenge for Assange's treatment, it's weird to attack me," 
"They have not done their research because I have supported Assange and opposed his extradition."

So even if you support Anonymous on this action ( and I don')t it seems they have got the wrong target..


But the Tanned One  may have lost some sympathy  when he said

He said: "It reminds me of attacks I received in the anti-apartheid and anti-fascist struggles."


To refer to his past in such away is order to increase sympathy is wrong  . He is very much an establishment figure now and rather like a former Matinee Idol who keeps referring to their Old films when critics savage their latest one keeps referring back to their former glories . He can't defend his current position as a supporter of Tony Blair and his illegal wars by referring us back to a time when we respected him.

Peter Hain the Norma Desmond of Radical Poltics.