Remember those British Daily Mirror photographs? The ones that showed British soldiers abusing Iraqis in all sorts of dastardly ways? The ones the Daily Mirror absolutely, unequivocally insisted were genuine, with such sincerity you had to give them some credence? Well, guess what?

The editor of the Daily Mirror has been sacked after admitting its alleged Iraqi abuse pictures had been "a hoax".

Of course, the newspaper itself is now the "subject of a calculated and malicious hoax." Oh no sir, we're not at fault, not us! Was someone else! That's it! That's the ticket! Why would anyone believe retired army officers? Why would the government ever tell the truth?

Good to know there's weasels enough on both sides of the pond. Now if we could just yank a knot in Al-Jazeera's tail.