Today’s anniversary of the 7/7 bombings poses the BBC an interesting challenge – to provide wall-to-wall coverage without mentioning the “I-word” or the “M-word”.
No one wants to hold an entire community responsible for the sins of an extreme minority. The reponsibility for 7/7 lies with the evil-doers who planned and executed it. But given that the bombings were explicitly carried out in the name of Islam, not to mention the fact seems perverse.
The Today programme devoted most of the half-hour between 7 and 7.30 to the anniversary. As Sarah Montague so perceptively pointed out, today is the day when “four British men blew themselves up” (an Englishman, a Scotsman, an Irishman and a Welshman ?), but it was 7.23 before the M- or I-words were mentioned – when Church of England Bishop Tony Robinson told us that the bombers ‘weren’t Muslims at all’ !
It remains to be seen how the rest of the day’s coverage will pan out – but the Today programme does like to think that it sets the agenda.
One thing to point on the BBC website is this:
Were bombers linked to al-Qaeda? (On BBC News)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5156592.stm
and this…
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/3970901.stm
An old page promoting “The Power of Nightmares”. The second page goes on to say “the nightmare vision of a uniquely powerful hidden organisation waiting to strike our societies is an illusion.
Wherever one looks for this al-Qaeda organisation, from the mountains of Afghanistan to the “sleeper cells” in America, the British and Americans are chasing a phantom enemy.”
Try telling that to the 52 families today, BBC…
great piece on house of dumb.
http://tottenhamlad.blogspot.com/2006/07/germaine-lindsay-racist-mass-murderer.html
Al Beeb reports on the indifference of its masters;
Nation commemorates 7/7 bombings
Ken Livingstone and Tessa Jowell laid flowers at King’s Cross station at 0850 BST
The UK is commemorating the first anniversary of the London bombings that claimed 52 lives and injured hundreds.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5153678.stm
and how on that report they get a commuter to air her views;
‘Commuters have seen a high-visibility police presence throughout London’s transport network on Friday.
Hardeep Rai, 25, from Hertfordshire, who took the Tube to Edgware Road on Friday morning, said she had not been apprehensive about making her journey.
¿Obviously it’s noticeable there are a number of police about but it was an occurrence of one day,” she told the BBC News website.’
It was an occurrence of one day?How callous Al Beeb could you not have got one of your masters to air a more vitriolic statement. I mean you already mentioned the increased police presence, I mean how about a rash of reports of how a certain bunch of people may feel stigmatised by that police presence.
Al Beeb dancing to the tune of its masters again.
P.S
Any chance you could run a program where you get a dark skinned fellow to sport a beard and a large rucksack and then travel on the tube in which to gauge the British commuter response in an attempt to call us all racists.
Silly me, Al Beeb you’ve already done it.
I don’t notice the BBC pursuing this story about paedophile plumbers, presumably they don’t want to spoil the celebrations of the Islam Expo in London. Strange how Straw denies any knowledge about this(sorry “scale of this”)- wasn’t this the same story that C4 prevented a party political broadcast on at the time of the elections?
“Blackburn MP Jack Straw today expressed his deep concern and said he would be raising the matter immediately with the Home Office.
He said: “I was frankly unaware of the scale of this problem until the Lancashire Evening Telegraph highlighted it but it is one that we all must now address including the Asian community.”
http://www.lancashireeveningtelegraph.co.uk/news/newsheadlines/display.var.819890.0.girls_groomed_for_sex.php
There is one report I’ve found where the BBC use the “T” word. It’s from early this morning and must have escaped the censors.
But you will not believe what’s in the rest of the report. Sample:
“It is not international terrorism that is changing our behaviour, it is globalisation.”
Words fail me. But I did my best.
http://ussneverdock.blogspot.com/2006/07/uk-bbc-finds-t-word.html
i just caught “today” around 10 to 9, and they did indeed have a Muslim dissident on , explain “haram” and “halal” and other stuff. She castigated the likes of the MCB and other people who say 7/7 had nothing to do with Islam – in fact , she said, by saying that mantra, it sows the seeds of confusion in young Muslim men, and it is that confusion that makes them prime targets for Jihadist conversion.
which was fair point i thought.
And how can that C Of E Bishop mentioned in this blogpost say that it had nothing to do with Islam – i take it he’s studied it in Arabic so?
Or is he merely mouthing off more “religion of peace” nonsense?
“wasn’t this the same story that C4 prevented a party political broadcast on at the time of the elections? ”
indeed it was.
And that certain politcal party ended up in court making claims about it in front of BBC hidden cameras.
So, rather than warning people about it because of political correctness, we end up a mother in Blackburn being quoted as saying:
“This problem is massive in the Blackburn area and the parent of every teenage girl must be told what is going on.”
God help them up there.
Yes, Archduke. I wonder I wonder if Jack told Condi about this when she visited his constituency? At the FO he liked to repeat the story of how when he overnighted in his constituency he was ‘pleasantly’ woken up by the Muslim call to prayer, and that sort of thing. One gets the feeling that the floodgates are about to be broken open everywhere, especially an inquiry into 7/7. The “scale of this” too and wishful thinking that it was “home-grown terrorism” etc., is an utter scandal! The BBC won’t run with this as the entire left-liberal media right now, it seems to me, has already anticipated a massive benign ideological exposure of peaceful Islam, and will refuse to change gear. I heard the Met chief Sir Ian Blair on the Today programme this morning saying:
“I think Tarique Ramadan got it just right in the Guardian yesterday” yuk! Talk about voicing street cred on Today! Can’t find this piece after searching? Any links?
i find the “Home grown” thing ridiculous as well. have any of leftie media twats any concept of what the “ummah” is?
please correct me if i am wrong, but were there any 1 year anniversary ceremonies for the Guildford pub bombings? Or the Birmingham bombings?
Does anyone else think that this wall-to-wall 7/7 coverage is a bit a mawkish , and makes us come across as weak and childish (to the Jihadists).
Might this actually encourage the Jihadists to have another go? (“well, if they feel that bad about 60 dead, what about doing this….”)
What i am trying to say is – have the Brits lost that “just get on with it” spirit, that defeated the Nazis in WW2.
Isn’t it becoming a little thematic like a Gay & Lesbian Day ? I mean terrorists exploded human bombs and killed 52 and injured hundreds some severely. Compensation is still not paid.
Why make all this mawkish hype out of it ?
It is after all this same British Govt which tried to brush Enniskillen under the carpet.
The source of Britain’s problems was the creation by the British of Pakistan in 1947 – it has a huge frustrated population and no stability – it has backwashed into Britain all its fanatical problems.
These human bombs would probably have been normal if they had never had any contact with Pakistan
Hey archduke – without reading your piece I find I agreed in my own comments…….
you had 30 years of war in Northern Ireland , with bombs going off in England as well, without resorting to this mawkish behaviour.
methinks the British elite were made of sterner stuff back then.
Frank Gardner appeared this morning on Radio 5. What he said… well actually he said a couple of things like there are too many Jihadis to keep track of so the police have to focus just on those who present a seemingly clear and present danger… of and a bit of his ussual stuff.
I found this interesting coming from him of all people.
A month back he was on radio 5 to publisise his book and was asked by Simon Mayo if he had ever considered becoming a muslim. His answer was that yes he has because “they have rules for absolutely everything” and that he feels drawn to these strictures. He couldnt become a muslim though because he is “too much of a hedonist”.
No mention of theology or truth.
It also made me wonder what other “theologies” (political or otherwise) he has felt drawn to due to their rigidity.
All quotations are paraphrased.
Forgive me if I’ve got this wrong, but haven’t the BBC, Channel Four, the Guardian and the Independent been telling us for the past year that the bombings in London last year were caused by terrorists acting against the perceived pernicious foreign policy of the British Government?
If that is true, I fail to understand why last night’s 10 o’clock News lead with the story of the latest al-Qaeda propaganda video coming out of Pakistan featuring that mass murderer from Yorkshire berating the British people for voting for Blair, yet they chose to follow that story with some bullshit about the Deputy Prime Minister meeting a Texan millionaire rather than the third story, the naming of the latest British soldier to die in Afghanistan fighting against the Taliban and their jihadist allies from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
In fact, the relational behind the running-order was perfectly simple. The parents of the unfortunate young paratrooper had expressed disquiet about their son being placed in harm’s way by Blair’s foreign policy.
So the narrative runs as follows… Jihadi terrorist criticises the British government… political journalist from the Westminster village criticises the British government… Understandably distraught parents criticise the British government…
Job done.
Al Beeb and its continued brain washing of the unwashed about how great it is to be a Muslim.
One Muslim’s reflections on 7/7
Jamil Ahmed says some good came out of the tragedy of 7/7
The London bombings proved to be a watershed in the life of Jamil Ahmed, a 35-year-old Muslim from Leeds.
The father-of-five from Harehills said the shock of 7/7 and the bombers’ links to his home city forced him to reassess the whole direction of his life.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/5153614.stm
Hang on.
Here is a bloody story about how somebody found religion after people killed others in the name of his religion.
Err Al Beeb how about running a story on the female Vicar who left the faith after she found she was unable to forgive the ‘Terrorists’ who murdered her daughter.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/03/07/nichol07.xml
The geezer in the story had nothing to do with the bombings, she on the other hand still feels the pain from that day
Al Beeb defending its masters yet again.
pounce -> one year on, and i’m still waiting for the BBC to show us a “i used to be muslim, but turned atheist after 7/7” story.
wouldnt *that* be a far better story to run? wouldnt *that* break down barriers, prejudice a fraction?
but all i see is islam-islam-islam , and i am none the wiser.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5153678.stm
“UK falls silent”
Well, just been out to grab a sandwich, and i didnt see any silence – life continued on as per normal. ( i’m in the south of england)
Glad to see that the average Joe Soap still has the British stiff upper lip, and wont be cowered by Islamic terrorists.
pounce,
Thanks for illustrating yet another excellent example of the pro-Muslim propaganda by inclusion, omission and distortion of facts pushed by the BBC.
I had a look at the video of the husband of a 7/7 victim who went to confront the father of her killer:
http://www.haloscan.com/comments/patrickcrozier/115221137020595120/#292715
(Biodegradable’s link)
Having watched it once, I blinked and had another look:
*The husband’s name is Ali, and although his religion is unmentionable, it’s likely that he is a Muslim.
BBC subtext: Even (or perhaps especially) innocent Muslims were victims of 7/7.
*Ali almost feels sorry for Hussain, the father of the suicide killer.
BBC subtext: We are all victims here, even (or perhaps especially) the kin of the bombers.
*Ali goes to see Hussain. The BBC doesn’t query why this wasn’t the other way around.
BBC subtext: Hussain is in need of understanding and forgiveness from the husband of the woman his son bombed. His needs are as important, perhaps more important, than Ali’s needs to make sense of the bombing.
The BBC is pushing hard to blunt the sharp edges of 7/7 and paint everyone, perhaps especially the perpetrators, as victims of the ‘tragedy’ – which any sane person sees as an atrocity.
Its doing its level best to lull us to sleep so that it can more successfully push its evil agenda.
However, unfortunately for the BBC, the blogosphere is wide awake.
Archduke: Anyone who renounced Islam would certainly not wish to be interviewed on Tv, methinks.
I’m just surprised the BBC didn’t include pictures of the bombers in the ‘Victims of 7 july’ tribute.
Moriarty,
I’m just surprised the BBC didn’t include pictures of the bombers in the ‘Victims of 7 july’ tribute.
That would have been just a touch too obvious. The BBC prefers subtle when in full propaganda mode.
But I’m sure you knew that.
The organisation that needs to be privatised took great relish in assuring us that the 7/7 terrorists were “home grown” otherwise “good” outraged muslims who were appalled at the UKs involvement in Iraq. They majored on the “fact” they were unrelated to Al Qaeda. In fact the bombers “proved” their case that this was what would happen if Iraq was invaded.
Of course that is showing to be wrong now, they were Al Qaeda linked. Still there is no sign of the retractions of those articles, surprise, surprise!
One wonders how they will cover themselves if the “missing” Iraqi WMD turns up in Syria – expect amnesia, lots of amnesia…
Bryan / Moriarty
Radio 4 this morning, 8:10 slot opened with a quick recap of 7/7 with the line (from memory) “…52 fatalities, plus the four bombers themselves…” so make of that what you will.
Well, I can only think that it’s a good thing that they are separating the terrorists from their victims.
The BBC is confused on this issue, especially when it comes to reporting the death toll caused by suicide bombers in Israel.
That was me.
I’m just surprised the BBC didn’t include pictures of the bombers in the ‘Victims of 7 july’ tribute. & TheCuckoo’s comment.
Last year the BBC regularly reported 56 deaths – not distinguishing the murdered from the murderers.
e.g.
Mr Blair denies his policies provoked the 7 July bombs, which killed 56.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4745639.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/assignment.shtml
On July 7th 2005, four suicide bombers attacked London’s transport system, detonating bombs on three underground trains and a bus.
The attacks killed 52 people and injured hundreds.
One of the bombers was Mohammed Sidique Khan, a university-educated teaching assistant who’d grown up in England with more white friends than Asians.
What turned him into a suicide bomber?
Nasreen Suleaman investigates
Amazing puff-piece/obituary of one of the terrorists. White school friends talk adoringly about “Sid” as one of the lads.
What turned him into a suicide bomber?
Its the religion stupid!
Apart from a few moments of Irshad Manji of Canada just before 9am this morning on the Today prog, all we have had most of the day is –
Denial -it was mostly our fault…..Denial – it has nothing to do with Islam and jihad……Denial – there are no bad things being preached…..Denial – the poor families can’t believe their kin did these dreadful deeds…….Denial……Denial…..Denial……
Concerning the 2 minute silence: of course the 52 victims of 7/7 should be remembered but this particular way of remembering them and the atrocity in which they were murdered is inappropriate. This method was chosen because our masters believe that history started in 1997. Anything pre-1997 is part of the “conservative” world excoriated by the Prime Minister. http://www.australianpolitics.com/news/2003/09/03-09-30a.shtml
Consequently, today’s gesture devalues the real 2 minute silence on Remembrance Day. It is further devalued when the Mayor of LondON appears at (and coughs up £200,000 of Londoners’ money to support) a festival devoted to exalting the same religion in which name the 7/7 atrocities were perpetrated.
It’s 7/7, and what is the BBC’s Editor of World Service News and Current Affairs concerned about? The victims of the terrorist bombing perhaps? Nope. How to avoid offending muslims:
“But the idea I liked best came from the the World Today. They chose to speak to a Muslim rapper MC Riz, a young rapper whose latest hip hop track “post 9/11 Blues” is making waves. MC Riz has an interesting turn of phrase; he says beards have taken on a different meaning, and that Muslims have been pushed to the middle of the room. That sentence stayed with me. With Friday upon us, I need to make sure that we’re not pushing anyone to the middle of the room.”
So, that’s the most important issue today, 7/7? No mention of the innocent victims? Sheesh.
Liliane Landor is editor of World Service news and current affairs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/
Ann Coulter said something very poignant to Alan Colmes last night when discussing the missile threat from North Korea. I don’t have the quote but it goes like that: “Liberals (US-Speak for Lefties) cuddle up to dictators. We’re nice to you so please be would you be nice to us too.”
The same attitude is being used towards radical muslims hence the “middle of the room” statement.
good god , Ritter, what swamp did you manage to drag that idiot out of?
“So what are we actually saying when we describe them as Muslims?”
Errr. because they keep on banging on and on and on about how different they are to the rest of us , and how “oppressed” they are? And their downright refusal to integrate with the rest of us?
that is why we call them “Muslims”.
“Why don’t we describe Christians or Jews in the same way?”
because both of those communities have INTEGRATED you idiot.
And i see no Jewish or Christian suicide bommbers wanting to blow me and my family up, do i?
god – i really do wonder about the mental state of some people at the BBC. i really do.
Hello guys,
Thinking of you all today. Haven’t had the heart to look at the Beeb’s “coverage” of 7/7 — just the recaps here are pissing me off enough.
God, I hate the Beeb.
Unashamed dhimmitude – Islam is here to stay and its too late now!
Reporters’ log: 7 July remembered
DOMINIC CASCIANI: ISLAMEXPO, ALEXANDRA PALACE: 1203
The organisers say it’s pure coincidence that the largest exhibition on Islam Britain has ever seen was organised for the anniversary of the bombings. But they’ve used the £1.8m event to send a strong signal to both their own communities and wider British society that Islam is part of Britian.
To underline that, when the two minutes’ silence began, scores of people from all walks of life and all religious backgrounds gathered to silently remember the victims of the bombings.
Among them was former Iraqi hostage Norman Kember, who said afterwards: “I wanted to come here to say thanks to Muslims for all they did in trying to help release me, but also to help our society cement these relationships.
“Our relationships with Islam need to be more public – we have to move from fear of the unknown to respect of other peoples.”
His message of conciliation chimes with visitors – among the thousands attending are a healthy proportion of white, non-Muslim schoolchildren.
“a healthy proportion of white, non-Muslim schoolchildren.”
there’s that race thing again.
oh dear, they really dont get it do they?
“we have to move from fear of the unknown to respect of other peoples.”
Beslan, 9/11 , Madrid, 7/7, thousands of Iraqi dead (from suicide bombs), Qassam rockets , suicide bombs in Israel, Turkey, Thailand, Indonesia, the Taliban, Sharia Law in Somalia, chop chop square in Riyadh, arranged marriages, wife beating, stoning to death of women in Iran, hanging gays in Iran….
oh yeah, Mr Kember – thats some “unknown” isnt it?
Well, it is to you, cos you are a blinkered blithering idiot with your head firmly stuck up your nether regions.
Moderate meaning
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/
Liliane Landor 7 Jul 06, 10:40 AM
In the run-up to the first anniversary of 7/7 I’ve been a bit troubled.
It all started on Tuesday when I came across the phrase “moderate” Muslims in one of our stories . Why the need to qualify, I found myself thinking? … Why don’t we describe Christians or Jews in the same way?
Very funny, although I’m sure she didn’t mean to be, why don’t they ever refer to Christians as moderates? The only Christians I ever here them talk about are radicals trying to outlaw abortion or take over the US government. I’m sure most Christians are pretty moderate but you wouldn’t know that from the BBC.
was this al-beeb at its most agenda distorting nauseating since the death of Diana ?
“His message of conciliation chimes with visitors – among the thousands attending are a healthy proportion of white, non-Muslim schoolchildren.”
More dhimmification i see .Would the muslim community be happy to see a healthy proportion of muslim children being made to visit “ChristianExpo” or “IsraelExpo” i think not .
Multiculturism a one way street.
Disgusting.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5155442.stm
i liked the bit about handing over the airwaves to four muslim’s for an
edgy chat so ive suggested for next week she should do the same for the bnp.
somehow i cant see it thou.still it gave me a giggle sending it to her.
shttp://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2006/07/moderate_meaning.html
sorry wrong link.
The new flag of Islamic Britain can be found here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5158470.stm
Nice to see that our new islamic flag still prominently displays the red cross of the Knights Templar.
and archduke, thanks for this
“a healthy proportion of white, non-Muslim schoolchildren.”
What on Gods Earth does that mean?
I think that the stanglehold of the Left on our culture is in its endgame. The language has become hysterical, desprate and a triumph of hope over experience.
http://washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20060706-085930-1585r.htm
“The new flag of Islamic Britain can be found here”
that just looks to me as if the flag has been torn to shreds.
The whole ‘Asian grooming’ issue was on Manchester evening news about 3 years ago. A Labour MP or Councillor (female) had publicised the issue and was shouted down as ‘racist’.
I was staying with my friend for a few days and remember the outline of the story.
How has it taken this long to come to national attention?
How tactful of Ken Bruce to slot in a Cat Stevens/Yousouff Islam (sp?) number just before the 10 o’clock news this morning.
All this mawkish OTT coverage/two mins silence and so on is the direct result of 24-hour news channels. They are desperate, starving animals, crying out for any scrap of news to feed their hunger for material. If it’s a light plane bringing back an injured footballer, or some Dianaesque half-an-eye-on-the-camera mourning, it matters not.
My thoughts are with the victims’ relatives, who, I suggest, might want the pain to pass. Will this stuff help?
derkaderkastan:
“Look at these pictures. Here is one of the Union Jack in the style of Islamic calligraphy. I don’t think the flag is the trade mark of the British National Party anymore, is it?
No Mr Hibatullah, it never was, it is the symbol of the UNITED KINGDOM, ie: the unity of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Who gave you the right to Islamize it?
“We are trying to give people a sense off Islamic history, of identity but, crucially, we are trying to provide means through which British Muslims can show how they have contributed to our society.”
How exactly have British Muslims contributed to British society? I really don’t think we need a “Union Jack in the style of Islamic calligraphy”.
from the wash post link above:
“easy enough to pay since Mrs. Choudary, the Online Sun reports, receives more than twice that per month in government handouts.”
Why?
Can anyone in government give me a proper explanation as to why Mr Choudary is receiving government handouts?
charlie -> spot on. my thoughts entirely.