Saturday, March 22, 2003
InstaPundit writes:
UPDATE: A reader emails:
Speaking of BBC lip-curling: I've just seen one reporter on BBC News 24 question an Iraqi at an anti-war protest. The reporter obviously didn't do any kind of pre-rehearsal, because things did not go As Planned.
The young lady turns out to be absolutely pro-war, despite having family members in Bagdad, and was about 2000% more eloquent than some of the more telegenic air-heads that the BBC seems to have this curious talent for singling out, and then airing footage of over and over again.
Finally the reporter asks "Why are you at an anti-war rally if you agree with the war?" in a rather peeved tone of voice. The gist of her answer is that most of the protesters don't have the faintest idea of what it's like to live under a regime such as Saddam's, which is right of course.
Then the reporter turns to the camera and says "Well, there you go, one Iraqi who approves of the war" as if this was some mind-boggling occurance, and as if their own footage didn't show Iraqis dancing in the streets when the US Army showed up, and as if there was not one single Iraqi, anywhere else on the entire planet, who might have a itsy-bitsy-teensy-weeny little bit of an issue over how Saddam has been running their country.
And Andrew Sullivan has this email:
I just finished watching the first news brief/update by Gen Franks. During the question period, a BBC World reporter stood and made some statements that were truly shocking. I'm going by memory, but the salient points were:
You (Franks) are trying to get us to report that many Iraqi troops are surrendering
If we do, this would provide you much valuable propaganda wouldn't it? It just might accelerate further surrenders.
You are going to have to provide me with much better proof if you expect me to report that there are "tens of thousands" of troops surrendering.
Franks replied with a "Whoa! No one here mentioned anything about 'tens of thousands' surrendering" and then proceed to calmly re-state the information he had previously.
What kind of mind inhabits the BBC? God forbid that they report something that might hasten and end to war - and save lives on all fronts.
Sullivan rightly asks: "What inhabits the minds of the lefties who work for the BBC is a visceral hatred of American power, even to the extent of spinning for a genocidal monster."
And an email on NPR from another Andrew Sullivan reader:
I'm a lifelong NY Times reader and NPR listener. But no more. Raines has successfully driven me to subscribe to the Post. And this morning I started searching the radio dial for AM news to wake up to. The final nail in the NPR coffin occurred last night (3/21), when they reported on the Palestinian "Peace Protests." No mention of them chanting for "Our beloved Saddam, hit Tel Aviv." Instead, it was about them protesting American aggression. What really got me apoplectic was when they referred to the sympathetic relationship between Hamas and Hussein. As NPR described it, Hussein has helped give aid to Palestinian families who have lost loved ones in the struggle with Israel. This is how they refer to Hussein paying the families of homicide bombers. I'm through with NPR.
Click the links, there's more.
Update: Apparently, internet polls are important indicators of public opinion. At least, that's the implication of Criticism Over War Swells in Cyberspace By Kim Deok-hyun - Korea Times. I think Mr. Kim (or is it Miss?) may need a history lesson, however: "In 1991, Bush’s father launched a military action to finish off the Iraqi president, only to fail."
Heavy losses at the BBC
Another bad day for the BBC with heavy losses reported in Saudi
Arabia, we now go over live to our special reporter Ir-la, Ir-la, Is
this another bad day for the BBC?
Yes Hue, the BBC looks increasingly beleaguered and isolated as its
policy in Arabia comes under scrutiny once again. The UN would not
allow their staff to go escorted into these areas. Back to Hue.
Thank you Ir-la. We now go over live to our special correspondent
outside the BBC Centre in Wood Lane, Matt, would you say that the BBC
is worried by the heavy losses in Arabia?
Undoubtedly Hue, you only have to ask yourself what is the BBC doing
in Arabia? Arabians resent the presence of foreign infidels and the
BBC is especially hated for its aggressive tactics unlike ITN in the
south who are on friendly terms with the locals.
Thank you Matt, back home questions are increasingly being asked
about the direction in which BBC News is taking the
BBC, should they continue to risk the lives of reporters without a UN
mandate to operate in Arabia?
We now go over live to our special correspondent in Wood Lane who
asks this question of passers by.
"I fink Gordon Ramsey ought to go over their and throw a few f's
into them"
"Yes Thank you and you madam what do you think about the BBC in
Arabia?"
"Ain't as good as coronation street is it?"
"Yes but do you think the BBC should be out there in the first
place, after all, reporters do have wives and children back at
home".
"Exactly and its disgusting that the BBC sends them OVER THERE
in the first place, I went on the anti- BBC march and I certainly
won't be paying my BBC licence this year"
"Thank you very much madam, now back to Hue in the studio".
More discontent with the BBC administration is clearly evident from
those views expressed, it looks like another bad day for the BBC
coming as it does after the sacking of the DAG, the Hutton report and
the sad loss of A Mulligan.
We move on now to lighter news that 700,000 have died while
relocating in Sudan.
Tomorrows weather now and over to our weather person, what sort of
day have we got in store for us tomorrow?
Well Hue as its the summer we can expect some rain.
Thanks.