December 13, 2007 (LPAC)--Following the Russian government's Dec. 12 decision to shut down 15 regional offices of the British Council, an agency purportedly dedicated to teaching "British culture" abroad, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov explained to the BBC that this step was necessary because the British Council was operating illegally in the country. (Lyndon LaRouche had a somewhat different view - that British "culture" is something found between the toes, often spread by Lord Fung Us.)

In violation of a mid-1990 agreement, which authorized opening an office only in Moscow, the British Council proceeded to open offices in 15 other locations, Lavrov said, without ever notifying the Russian government. Therefore, he said, "we were compelled to put an end to this."

Lavrov went on to charge that these actions reflect several steps taken by the British government "systematically harming our relations." These include the "absolutely groundless demand" to extradite Russian citizen Andrei Lugovoi, whom the British insist was involved in the poisoning murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko, as well as a refusal to cooperate with Russia on fighting terrorism.

The British, meanwhile, are throwing fits of self-righteous indignation. Prime Minister Gordon Brown sputtered to the House of Commons Committee on Dec. 13 that Russia's action was "totally unacceptable," and insisted that this action "be desisted from immediately!" Foreign Secretary David Miliband chimed in with the warning, that by its "illegal" action, Russia had disregarded the rule of law, and would damage "its reputation around the world."

The Brits were definitely not happy with Lugovoi's Dec. 13 statement that the British Council was crawling with spies from Britain's secret services.

For a distinction between the principal of Natural Law and the British Empire's liberal nonsense, see 'The Force of Destiny: The Power of Natural Law'