London - An interview by Bernie Ecclestone in The Times
newspaper, where the Formula One supremo praised Adolf Hitler for his
ability to get things done', has led to a furore among Jewish
groups.
Ecclestone, 78, made the comments in an extensive interview with
the British newspaper Friday where he praised the virtues of strong
leadership and condemned contemporary politicians for their weakness.
In a lot of ways, terrible to say this I suppose, but apart from
the fact that Hitler got taken away and persuaded to do things that I
have no idea whether he wanted to do or not, he was in the way that
he could command a lot of people, able to get things done,'
Ecclestone said.
Ecclestone went on to support the concept of a government based on
tyranny. Politicians are too worried about elections,' he told the
paper.
We did a terrible thing when we supported the idea of getting rid
of Saddam Hussein. He was the only one who could control that
country.
'It was the same (with the Taliban). We move into countries and we
have no idea of the culture. The Americans probably thought Bosnia
was a town in Miami. There are people starving in Africa and we sit
back and do nothing but we get involved in things we should leave
alone.'
Ecclestone's comments unleashed bemusement and criticism from
Jewish groups with a spokesman for the Board of Deputies of British
Jews calling them 'quite bizarre.'
Meanwhile, Stephen Pollard, Editor of the Jewish Chronicle, said
Ecclestone was either 'an idiot or morally repulsive'.
'Either he has no idea how stupid and offensive his views are or
he does and deserves to be held in contempt by all decent people,' he
said.
Ecclestone's remarks are certain to revive memories of the
controversy around reports of a bizarre sex scene involving FIA
president Max Mosley.
The head of motorsport's ruling body FIA and son of the British
fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley last year sued the News of the World
for breach of privacy after the newspaper alleged he had taken part
in a concentration camp-themed scene involving six prostitutes.
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