> "It was purely a symbolic act," Johnson said. "We knew that. GCHQ knew that. And the government knew that," He added: "It was the most surreal event I have witnessed in British journalism."
According to Google, the only instance of "'Was it a PR move?' to which he responded. 'No. I wouldn't say that.'" on the entire internet is in your comment. Where did that quote come from?
Here is the classic problem with trial by Google - we cannot verify exactly what you have typed into Google but let us take you at face value and say you cannot find a match.
It is reasonable to assume I have a credible source - after all I have mentioned it alongside a reference several times. You surface skimmed the referenced article and cherry picked the data that you needed without observing the fact the article is based upon a video of the hearing involving the Guardian. They are literally writing up the events of the video which is embedded in the article itself.
Whereby the comment, which you claim exists nowhere on the "entire internet" is contained. It is spoken directly to the Chair of the Hearing in response to the question "Was it a PR move?".
Funny the Guardian failed to write up that little exchange...
"Trial by Google"? What the hell are you talking about? I merely asked where the quote came from, and observed that I first made an attempt to locate it on my own.
Well no, those are clearly the words of somebody who thinks to himself, "shit, did I just say that? Better deny it."
Let's be honest for a second: are you actually trying to discredit the NSA and GCHQ? Because behaving like a complete ass while defending them is a great way to do that.
I adore the common double standard, wherein making a statement like "I accept your concession" when both parties know that wasn't the intent is considered OK, but calling out that behavior is not.
> "It was purely a symbolic act," Johnson said. "We knew that. GCHQ knew that. And the government knew that," He added: "It was the most surreal event I have witnessed in British journalism."
"Symbolic act" means "PR move".