On the one year anniversary of the Iraq war, we are reliably informed by the BBC that
“many Arab newspapers are deeply unhappy over the continued presence of foreign military forces.”
This is not surprising given the sense of shame many Arabs feel over the downfall of the once proud and powerful regime led by Saddam Hussein. He seemed to be the only Arab leader willing to stand up to George W Bush. But why select only those Arab newspapers with the greatest angst? There are hundreds of newspapers in Iraq which were not allowed to exist or publish under Saddam. Could the BBC not find one of them to quote?
Kerry, I believe one of the links you posted is no longer operational.
BaghdadBulletin.com (15/10/2003)
Printing of Baghdad Bulletin was indefinitely halted on 15th September due to fiduciary concerns. Regrettably these are unlikely to be resolved in the near future.
I still agree with your point though. There are many other Iraqi media outlets. cheers.
The morning show on the Beeb chose the Al Quds Al Arabi editor to comment on the unnatural passing of hamas leader.
He was great, giving us all the usual reasons to hate Israel, and blame it when the next wave of terrorism will hit europe.He also associated this assasination with Mr. Bush, In short, all the regular propaganda. His claims were sustained by the lovely (really!) presenter who promised to push further his claim when the Israeli representative will be interviewed next.
What and who is (in their own words) ‘Al quds al arabi’ here:
http://www.memri.org/bin/search/search.cgi?nocpp=1&p%3Ats_udav=0&sort-method=1&Match=1&Terms=al+quds+al+arabi+london+&Realm=All
Here is the BBC portrayal of one of their favorites CHIEFS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1695470.stm
“Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the founder and spiritual leader of Hamas, was a frail man who could barely see. His voice was thin and quavering.”
Read the rest, I assure you, you will feel more intimate with him afterwas.
I liked the closing paragraph:
“And, in September 2003, the Israeli army attempted to kill Sheikh Yassin, while he was at the house of a Hamas colleague in Gaza.” just a usaul buisness meeting.
continued:
Now, this latest one is much better:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3556099.stm
theme 1: Wheelchair.
“Reports from the scene said Sheikh Yassin was being pushed in his wheelchair when he was directly hit by a missile.”
“The remains of the 67-year-old cleric’s blood-soaked wheelchair could be seen outside the mosque.”
“”I looked to see where Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was,” he said. “He was lying on the ground and his wheelchair was destroyed.”
That’s a lot of wheelchairs in one article. I feel sorry for the man who, while on his wheelchair, was heading one of the bloodiest terror organization in the region.
But that’s not all.
continued:
At least the Israeli Government can’t be accused of discriminating against disabled terrorists.
Theme 2: Armagedon.
“The Hamas leadership said Ariel Sharon had “opened the gates of hell”.”
“”The battle is open and war between us and them is open. They are the killers of prophets and today they killed an Islamic symbol” said senior Hamas political leader Abdul Aziz al Rantissi.”
“”We will send death to every house, every city, every street in Israel,” shouted Hamas militants through loudspeakers.”
“Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told the BBC: “This will add fuel to the fire, and the cycle of violence and counter-violence(Translation:terrorism).”
Sorry for the bold mess above, the
Theme 3: ‘marked for death’
“Israeli Deputy Defence Minister Zeev Boim said Yassin had been behind a terror network in Gaza and was what he called “marked for death”.”
The Israeli term is ‘ben mavet’ which translates as ‘mortal’ which means ‘Doesn’t have immunity from death’.
“Military sources told the BBC the attack on Yassin was personally organised and directed by Mr Sharon.” that’s more ‘marked for death’ for you.
concluded..
Theme 4: just the usual misleading and bias
“A few months ago, they narrowly missed him after firing on a house where he had been having lunch with fellow Hamas members a short while earlier.
“Shortly after the killing of Sheikh Yassin, a Palestinian injured three Israelis in a knife attack near Tel Aviv.” He actually is an Israeli arab, which for the bbc is the same thing, look in the last paragraph:
“Israel sealed off the West Bank and Gaza Strip after the killing, barring Palestinians from entering the Jewish state.” now to me it looks that the jews are discrimanating again.
and all of this just in one article. Impressive i would say.
BBC ought to tell us how many of those newspapers are state-controlled or otherwise owned, cajoled, or frightened by regimes or terrorists groups. When was the last time that anyone, even the BBC, praised the freedom of the Arab press?
Contrast the pity and emphasis on disability regarding wheel-chair bound Yassin, and the callous way that the BBC dismissed the murder of wheel-chair bound Leon Klinghoffer in their coverage of the Abbas death.
A very good point Susan. How could i miss it?
I’m sure you were just too wrapped up in your “anti-BBC” “bloodlust” to think of it Dan.:)