Open thread – for comments of general Biased BBC interest:


Please use this thread for off-topic, but preferably BBC related, comments. Please keep comments on other threads to the topic at hand. N.B. this is not an invitation for general off-topic comments – our aim is to maintain order and clarity on the topic-specific threads. This post will remain at or near the top of the blog. Please scroll down to find new topic-specific posts.

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935 Responses to Open thread – for comments of general Biased BBC interest:

  1. Anonymous says:

    “As I was watching “The Lives of Others,” Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s masterful Oscar-winning film, I couldn’t help thinking how many Cubans, North Koreans, Iranians or Zimbabweans must have been performing little bits of moral heroism in the face of oppression at that very moment. Even their fellow countrymen will never know how many acts of defiance are being perpetrated today by ordinary people against totalitarian regimes — ensuring that the human spirit continues to exist when everything seems bent on crushing it.

    The lesson of our time, a decade and a half after the fall of communism in Europe, is that the slow, almost geological, accumulation of little bits of heroism throughout society can bring down a totalitarian giant over time. These acts of heroism, both inside and outside the structure of power, constitute the best hope for countries in which governments continue to enslave millions of people today.

    But even if these acts of silent heroism are not enough to cause all despots to come tumbling down, they are at least enough to keep the human spirit alive. That is a comforting thought.
    http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=032307D

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  2. archduke says:

    i heard this exchange on american talk radio last night

    “so why did they capture british troops rather than americans?”

    “we shoot back.”

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  3. GCooper says:

    What’s so sickening is the predictability of all this.

    As I commented here two days ago, the BBC’s pusillanimity was guaranteed and as the Corporation has a vastly over-inflated presence in the UK, that is taken as ‘the official British position’ – particularly in countries whose estimate of what role a state-owned broadcaster plays is askew – if not, actually, entirely wide of the mark.

    Judging (correctly) that the country is led by incompetents and moral cowards, islamic terrorists like those running Iran will judge they can get away with outrages like this, playing to an ever-receptive Middle Eastern gallery.

    As ever, if you reward poor behaviour, you get more of it.

    With its constant moral relativism and junior common room pacifism, the BBC actually encourages this sort of outrage.

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  4. Oscar says:

    More on AJs kidnap with some good comments:

    http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=484572007

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  5. Oscar says:

    ‘Hizbollah instructors tie Iran into deaths of a dozen British soldiers’

    http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1292852.0.0.php

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  6. archduke says:

    interesting story here , from the 7th of March, that has been overlooked

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/07/wiran07.xml
    “Missing Iranian spy chief defected to the West”

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  7. eamonof says:

    As an actual Irishman, who lives in Ireland, but does some consultancy work in the UK, may I point out some facts to Archduke and Ingsoc Is Doublethink.

    Irish politicians may be or may have been influenced by Catholic bishops. This is because the electorate paid attention to the moral guidance of bishops. I think most people here might agree that the UK would be better off today if their politicians had had the same constraints. Remember when you criticise COE bishops that they are appointed by the Prime Minister!
    I don’t think anyone in Ireland cares much about the UK one way or another, except for the impact that their mismanagement of Northern Ireland has caused us.
    Any argument about which path to follow in Irish politics is between Boston and Berlin. Overall Boston wins. Irish people are more instinctively pro US than the UK is.
    On taxation, the Irish government’s share of GDP is far lower than Gordon Brown’s. Personal tax is higher, but salaries are also higher than in the UK
    There is an election due in Ireland, and I can guarantee that no party will talk about how we need to emulate UK education, Health, Immigration, Multi-Culturalism etc. We have a mixed model far closer to Boston than to London and no one is even considering moving to the London model.
    As for being slaves to the EU, we will be having a referendum on any constitution and I wouldn’t place any bets on it being passed.
    As for joining the “Anglo Sphere”. That consists of the US, with whom we are joined at the hip. Since the Royal Navy isn’t even able to defend itself, I don’t see much benefit in joining a military alliance with the UK.
    As for joining the Commonwealth, would Zimbabwe and Malaysia be more senior than us? What could we learn from them?
    Finally, I doubt that the BBC will pay any attention to the Irish election. There are certain real political arguments which it doesn’t want you to hear!

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  8. archduke says:

    i can vouch for what eamon has said, having spent a few years in ireland recently. definitely more an air of America than Europe. and they do look on the multi-cultural experiment in england in horror. it really is more of a melting pot approach.

    politically, stuff like having say an Irish version of the NHS is just not on the cards – they have more of an American insurance model. i also found it to be far less insular than Britain – far more outward looking. a reflection perhaps of the large number of multinational corporates located there and the history of irish immigration/emigration.

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  9. GCooper says:

    What did I just write?

    If the disgustingly pro-Iranian opinions being spouted by the representative of the BBC’s Persian service on the lunchtime R4 news is representative of our efforts in that area, then the sooner it is closed down the better.

    Not that the spokesman from Chatham House was much of an improvement.

    Trust the BBC to find willing supporters for its policy of craven appeasement (and please don’t pop in with a “they also had John Maples”, Reith. He’s no better.)

    A little less orchestrated teeth chattering and a little more sabre rattling might have avoided this incident ever having happened.

    As that nice Mr bin Laden reminded us: The islamic world does not admire weakness. That is a conceit reserved for Western liberals.

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  10. GCooper says:

    eamonof writes:

    “I don’t think anyone in Ireland cares much about the UK one way or another…”

    Might it then be time to stop complaining when that lack of interest is reciprocated?

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  11. Oscar says:

    Anonanon writes:
    ‘More bad news: BBC set to win FOI battle over Israel report’

    Infuriating. Didn’t realise they’ve blocked over 400 applications for FOI – so much for transparency and accountability to licence fee payers.

    I also think al beeb is positioning itself to pour scorn and probably bury the government’s latest attempts to crackdown on anti-semitism. As a little taster their headline on WATO explained that mostly the problem was about criticising Israel – and the Jewish community is “divided” as to how much “criticism of Israel amounts to anti-semitism”. And then (with suitably sneering tone) but the government thinks it does. What’s the subtext here – that it’s alright to beat up Jews in Manchester because of “critcism of Israel”?Actually the report emphasises the role of Islamic extremism in stoking up anti semitism, particularly at universities, but of course al beeb didn’t like to mention that.

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  12. eamonof says:

    GCooper writes:
    “Might it then be time to stop complaining when that lack of interest is reciprocated?”

    I am certainly not complaining about lack of interest. I do however complain about ignorance.

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  13. eamonof says:

    I think that the attitude of GCooper perfectly encapsulates the BBC attitude. Ignorance of the outside world used to justify ones own world view.

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  14. cassander says:

    Pounce, 28.03.07 – 7:05 pm

    “Can you tell me how many airliners Sweden has put into the air”

    Your general point is taken, but the answer to your question is about 500 I think. (SAAB is a Swedish company – best known for military aircraft, but has also built airliners – the SAAB 340 and SAAB 2000 in the 1980’s and 90’s, but others before then.) Sorry to be a besserwisser.

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  15. archduke says:

    David Miliband spouts drivel and doesnt make any friends

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml;jsessionid=F2WLMNKZRDE5JQFIQMFCFFWAVCBQYIV0?xml=/opinion/2007/03/29/do2904.xml

    from the comments:
    “after reading this sanctimonious self-praising crap, all I can say is thank god I jumped ship and moved to Ireland. I trust Bertie Ahern more than I trust NuLab. Though it fills me with enormous sadness to see what has been done to my country by this utter shower.”

    and theres loads more like that.
    sorry nothing to do with Al Beeb..

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  16. Biodegradable says:

    Good day all!

    Surprisingly, or not, the BBC hasn’t covered this story:

    Arab lesbians hold rare public meeting in Israel
    Women quietly gather in Haifa; homosexuality strictly forbidden in Islam

    Meanwhile the (D)HYS messages to Alan Johnston thread arrives at the inevitable conclusion that it was the Joos wot done it:
    Added: Wednesday, 28 March, 2007, 17:09 GMT 18:09 UK
    Whether it’s Israeli troops have you or Palestinian groups – we’re all hoping you are OK and well.
    We all heart of horrific goings-on by both sides. Let’s hope for peace and see all life respected once and for all.

    Michael Tailor, Sussex

    Recommended by 0 people

    And another English sounding name from ‘Guilford’ (sic) posts in a distinctly non-English style, perhaps he just went to a bad school:
    Added: Wednesday, 28 March, 2007, 14:33 GMT 15:33 UK
    Alan, you will be fine. If it is true, and you have been abducted by Palestinian people or ‘some-group unknown’ then you need not worry as the Palestinian are extremely kind and wonderful people. No doubt you shall be looked after as best can. Though, the inflicted poverty there may make your short stay a little awkward.

    Let’s hope you are actually with true Palestinian people and not some ‘provocative pseudo-gang’.

    God bless!

    Nick James, Guilford, United Kingdom

    More good links to info on the Gaza sewage ‘problem’ that the BBC won’t bother telling you about:
    http://drybonesblog.blogspot.com/2007/03/drowning-in-their-own-sewage.html

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  17. Biodegradable says:

    One for pounce?

    it looks like the BBC is preparing to make a programme about converts to and from Islam:
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6496059.stm

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  18. UK Daily Pundit says:

    BBC Correspondent Hails Iranian President

    http://the-daily-pundit.blogspot.com/2007/03/bbc-correspondent-hails-iranian.html

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  19. GCooper says:

    eamonof writes:

    “I think that the attitude of GCooper perfectly encapsulates the BBC attitude. Ignorance of the outside world used to justify ones own world view.”

    I’m sorry you are unable to see the logical inconsistency in your position.

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  20. Biodegradable says:

    Today’s pro-“Palestinian” propaganda from Al-Beeb:

    Palestinians cling to ‘right of return’

    My grandparents fled the persecution of Jews in Riga, Latvia, in the early 1900s. More than 30 of his brothers, sisters,in-laws, cousins, nephews and nieces perished in the Holocaust. Do I now have ‘right of return’ to Riga and do I want it?

    No to both those questions. I have my right of return to the land of Israel, the Jewish homeland, from where my grandfathers’ forebears came generations ago.

    “Palestinans” should have the right to ‘return’ to a “Palestinian” state if and when one is founded.

    Here is an article explaining how UN Resolution 194 does not grant refugees explicit right to come back.

    None of the above, of course, is mentioned in the BBC’s piece.

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  21. BaggieJonathan says:

    Quite frankly this IBC so called programme about converts from and to islam makes me mad.

    We all know whats coming.

    Lets get this straight converts from islam are viewed by muslims as apostates, the worst of the worst.
    In many islamic countries it is quite legitimate to kill anyone thought to be an apostate.

    Iran is one of the worst for this, I know personally 4 people that have converted from islam who are Iranian. They all fled from Iran because their lives were under genuine danger (in fact the stories would make your hair stand on end).
    They are still being persecuted here, in fact one has been physically attacked three times in Birmingham by ‘muslims’ that found out he was an apostate.
    Our government refuses to give these people assylum though they give it to the people who attack them.

    This programme will be an abject farce.
    Any apostate to islam on the programme had better keep an armed guard at all times with them in future.
    Not just that we know they are bound to be portrayed in a terrible light and the ones that persecute them will be seen as righteous men outraged by the offence to their culture.

    But we all know it is really just another chance for the IBC to propagandize and evangelize for for its chosen crescent moon and star religion.

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  22. eamonof says:

    GCooper writes
    “I’m sorry you are unable to see the logical inconsistency in your position.”

    Please explain it to me. Some facts rather than Ad Hominem would be useful.

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  23. Biodegradable says:

    Olmert ally gets lenient sentence

    Why isn’t ‘lenient’ in scare quotes?

    Haim Ramon, a close ally of the prime minister, was given 120 hours of community service and fined 15,000 NIS (£1,800) for kissing a female soldier.

    The court declined to qualify his crime as one of “moral depravity” which would bar him from parliament or cabinet.

    The conviction could have carried a sentence of three years. Legal expert Moshe Negbi told Israel Radio that the initial conviction, followed by a light sentence, sent mixed messages in a country where women’s rights groups have long complained of a macho culture among powerful men.

    I don’t recall the BBC ever describing as ‘lenient’ the community service sentences given to, for example, Boy George for possesion of hard drugs (and lying about it), or Naomi Campbell for striking her maid with a mobile phone in the US, or the short sentences handed down to murderers, child rapists and thugs in the UK.

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  24. GCooper says:

    eamonof writes:


    Please explain it to me. Some facts rather than Ad Hominem would be useful.”

    I think you will find that it was your comment “I think that the attitude of GCooper perfectly encapsulates the BBC attitude. Ignorance of the outside world used to justify ones own world view.” that constituted an ad hominem rather than my pointing out a falure of logic in your argument.

    As to that, you write:

    “Finally, I doubt that the BBC will pay any attention to the Irish election. ”

    Having, earlier in the same post written: “I don’t think anyone in Ireland cares much about the UK one way or another…”

    Why do you believe, as you seem to, that this lack of interest should not be reciprocated?

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  25. rightofcentre says:

    I must have a short memory, because just for a change, I thought I`d watch BBC news24, see if they had anything different to say on the current hostage crisis in Iran.
    I am absolutely appalled.
    Never have I seen on British television such a collection of apologist, hand wringing, warped….and I could go on.
    I had to turn it off, else something would have gone through the screen.
    I`m ashamed that the rest of the World may think that the BBC is in any way representative of the average Brits` thoughts and opinion.
    What`s more annoying, is that I actually have to pay to be insulted in this way.
    Shame on the BBC.

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  26. archduke says:

    “BaggieJonathan | 29.03.07 – 2:48 pm”

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostates_from_Islam

    “Today apostasy is punishable by death in the countries of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Yemen, Iran, Sudan, Afghanistan and Mauritania. In Pakistan blasphemy is also punishable by death.”

    one wonders just how many people are put to death each year in those countries because of apostasy. not a peep about this from the UN or the BBC. funny that.

    Sayyid Abul A’la Maududi:
    “There is no compulsion in religion (la ikraha fi’d din: Qur’an 2:256) means that we do not compel anyone to come into our religion.[2] And this is truly our practice. But we initially warn whoever would come and go back that this door is not open to come and go. Therefore anyone who comes should decide before coming that there is no going back.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayyid_Abul_Ala_Maududi

    That guy influenced Sayyid Qutb of the Muslim Brotherhood.

    I wonder if any of this will be covered by that BBC programme. I’m not holding my breath.

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  27. archduke says:

    “GCooper | 29.03.07 – 3:06 pm”

    but the BBC is pretty good at ignoring pretty much anything happening in other countries that doesnt involve Muslims/Pallywood/Israel/Gitmo/”insert beeboid agenda” here.

    Utrecht riots?
    Or remember the coverage of the recents riots in Gard Du Nord station in Paris?

    but i think what eamon was saying was that because Ireland looks more to America & Europe nowadays, and less on England, then obviously , interest in stuff going on in England is becoming less relevant to them.

    That is not to say that the BBC shouldnt report on the south of Ireland -it most certainly should. Trouble is , that would show up the Chancellor for what the economic dunderhead of an idiot that he really is.

    And just because say, for example, the Chinese aren’t too bothered about England, doesnt mean that the BBC shouldnt report on China.

    I personally would rather more real NEWS than endless government spin passed off as “news” allied to the usual Gitmo/Pallywood/bleeding heart rubbish that passes for “news”.

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  28. eamonof says:

    It isn’t surprising that the BBC is biased, every human organisation is, and I am sorry to say that it is not surprising that it’s bias is in one direction.
    The UK has had decades of left wing social engineering, and now lives with the consequences.
    People like GCooper may find this disturbing, but the BBC is really only a reflection of reality, as are Channel 4 and Sky. If you speak to younger British people, you will see that they have been utterly corrupted by the educational system. David Cameron either knows this, or is corrupted himself, hence he panders.
    Now young people grow up, but they don’t neccessarily get sense, so there is a worry for the future.
    With regard to coverage of Ireland. Ireland is the only country the UK shares a land border with, and it’s the only English speaking country in the EU. I think that Ireland only needs to learn what not to do from the UK, but the UK could learn a few things from Ireland. This is why the BBC won’t cover the Irish election campaign. GCooper might find this view upsetting, but he should be more upset be more upset by current UK realities.

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  29. Oscar says:

    More from Alan Johnston (D)HYS tributes:
    Added: Wednesday, 28 March, 2007, 22:11 GMT 23:11 UK
    “You have always been a tireless advocate of the Palestinian cause.”
    HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE UNBIASED!!!!!!
    Anon

    Added: Wednesday, 28 March, 2007, 22:09 GMT 23:09 UK
    “As an American Jew with great sympathy for the plight of the Palestinian people,”
    They have received BILLIONS in aid, they should not be in any plight. But, they choose to spend it on weapons instead of infrastructure. No more money should go to them.
    the truth

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  30. Robbiekeane says:

    “Do I now have ‘right of return’ to Riga”

    Well yeah, it being in the EU and that.

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  31. archduke says:

    ” eamonof | 29.03.07 – 3:26 pm”

    George Osborne (Tory shadow chancellor) broke the insular mould recently, when he visited the Irish finance minister in Dublin.think it was last year or thereabouts , to learn from the Celtic Tiger. so, its a start in the right direction.

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  32. Oscar says:

    Bio

    That piece on ‘the Right of Return’ is a true stomach turner. (and contradicted by growing evidence that the new generation want to forget all about ‘right of return’ and be allowed to get on with their lives.) There were quite a few reports like that the day after the Gaza pull-out – dripping with false sentiment about happy Gazans being able to go sea bathing etc. And then look what happened. Now they wish that the IDF was around to impose law and order. The BBC selectively ignores the millions of other displaced people who can’t return. But somehow the idea of a 2,500 year Jewish history in Morocco or Iraq or Yemen or Egypt that’s been destroyed never bothers al beeb. And do you ever hear about all the Hindus and Sikhs forced out of Pakistan with partition and growing Islamization?

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  33. GCooper says:

    eamonof writes:

    “People like GCooper may find this disturbing, but the BBC is really only a reflection of reality, as are Channel 4 and Sky…”

    I must say, i think it’s pretty rich to breeze in here, say almost exactly what I have said a hundred times, and then suggest I might ‘find it disturbing’.

    As for the rest:

    “Ireland is the only country the UK shares a land border with, and it’s the only English speaking country in the EU. I think that Ireland only needs to learn what not to do from the UK, but the UK could learn a few things from Ireland. This is why the BBC won’t cover the Irish election campaign.”

    I think you will find the reason the BBC will pay scant attention to your election is the same reason it pays scant attention (as archduke frequently reminds us) to all Irish affairs. It assumes most people aren’t very interested.

    My point, which you seem unwilling to address, is that you seem rather proud of Irish indifference to the UK and yet expect us to behave differently.

    Why?

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  34. archduke says:

    bbc (and the un) rewriting history

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6506101.stm
    “According to the United Nations, 750,000 Palestinians fled from or were forced to leave homes and land that is now located inside Israel in 1948 when the Jewish state was established.”

    errr. wrong. Arab leaders told them to get out of the way of invading Arab armies so that their troops would be certain that any civillians they encountered would be Jewish. Makes the job of genocide a lot easier if your side gets out of the way.

    They were also promised Jewish land in return when the extermination was finished with.

    Let’s hear it from the horses mouth shall we:

    Arab League Secretary, General Azzam Pasha :”This will be a war of extermination and a momentous massacre which will be spoken of like the Mongolian massacres and the Crusades”.

    The Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin Al Husseini :

    “I declare a holy war, my Moslem brothers! Murder the Jews! Murder them all!”

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  35. archduke says:

    ” Oscar | 29.03.07 – 4:01 pm ”

    and theres also the completely forgotten 1970s genocide of between 2 and 3 million Hindus in Bangladesh by Pakistani and Muslim forces…

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  36. IngSoc is Doublethink says:

    Eamonof:

    Some very interesting comments from a very good perspective, but I would like to challenge some assertions in your argument.Perhaps my own family history indicates that beyond politics and religion, our histories are so intertwined that it is in the very fabric of our lives, as is the case of millions of people outside “Ireland”. I don’t wish to dwell on old “arguments” ,my point is on a purely practical bases.

    You pointed out very with no ironic hint of irony that our “defence” policy consists of:
    “That consists of the US, with whom we are joined at the hip. Since the Royal Navy isn’t even able to defend itself, I don’t see much benefit in joining a military alliance with the UK”.

    Oh how of the more “green” of you must laugh and bray away with your hearts content at the misfortune of poor old Tommy. I’m sure in many peoples eyes well deserved considering the goings on in the “Tan” War and events there after. However I worry though when my own Government starts there defence review with this statement:

    “In this Strategy Statement we commit ourselves to achieving the following mission:

    “To meet the needs of Government and the public by providing value for money defence and civil defence services and by coordinating and overseeing the emergency planning process”

    http://www.defence.ie/website.nsf/document+id/C3700595684613A1802570C80055B722

    I assume you understand this is the same “value for money” as spin here so similar to Nu Lab, from a tradition stemming back to this piece of “founding father” legislation. I’m sure you’ve learnt this of by heart Eamon:

    “Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924, which assigns to it “the administration and business of the raising, training, organisation, maintenance, equipment, management, discipline, regulation and control according to law of the military defence forces”

    Functions of the Defence Forces include:
    •Preparation for the defence of the state against armed attack.
    •Assisting the Garda Síochána (police force), including the protection of the internal security of the state.
    •Peace-keeping, crisis management and humanitarian relief operations in support of the United Nations.
    •Policing the fisheries, in accordance with the state’s obligations under European Union agreements.
    •Miscellaneous civil contingency duties requested by the Government such as search and rescue, air ambulance provision, providing secure air transport for ministers, assistance in the event of natural and other disasters, ensuring the maintenance of essential services, and assisting in dealing with oil pollution at sea.”

    Seeing no matter how “green” the Irish Republic, they never got round to “reforming” the “self defence” forces and getting a proper navy and airforce.Seems you left that in the hands of the British (and now heaven forbid the EU?).Now seeing as the 10,500 “strong’ Irish Army is more use to guarding Securicor Vans than fighting, and other how do you think you can cope with a “translational threat” like a similar bomb attack conducted like Madrid in the Temple Bar?

    Collins “originals” in G-2 certainly like to keep tight with SIS and MI5, prahapes it might be to do with our “special relationships”, because with buddies like these, then big boy’s politics is much easier:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UKUSA_Community

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G2_(Republic_of_Ireland)

    And my don’t these look tasty targets with all those “English” and “American’s” “tracing there roots” as well as a bastion of Christianity for example:

    http://www.ireland.ie/Result/Events.aspx?rbSelect=type&SearchString=&CategoryID=992&CountyID=969&LocationID=1004&LocationName=Dublin+City&thisPage=1&PageSize=10&Radius=0&SearchByDate=1&FromDate=1%2F3%2F2007&ToDate=30%2F9%2F2007&SortBy=1&ProductID=&ThemeID=

    Of course “immigration” and “asylum seekers” are never the issues in Ireland:

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3595547.stm

    http://www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie/pub05/fears.html

    http://www.indymedia.ie/article/78921

    http://irish.typepad.com/irisheyes/2004/02/racism_in_irela.html

    http://irish.typepad.com/irisheyes/20
    04/02/racism_in_irela.html

    Suddenly “neutrality” becomes are rather silly idea don’t you think? And seeing that that all parties of the talks are “god fearing Christians” prahaps threats from elsewhere may have focused the minds of Adam’s and Reverend…..Odd don’t you think? As for being “ín with the Americans”….your not even sitting at the table.

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  37. archduke says:

    “as archduke frequently reminds us”

    my point was more limited to saint patricks day being mentioned on the BBC tv news i.e. it wasnt AT ALL – contrasted to wall to wall Hajj (favoured BBC “victim” group).

    it was more of a Rorsharch test to see just how agenda driven BBC news output had become. A similar thing happened with the Utrecht riots.

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  38. GCooper says:

    archduke writes:

    “That is not to say that the BBC shouldnt report on the south of Ireland -it most certainly should. Trouble is , that would show up the Chancellor for what the economic dunderhead of an idiot that he really is.”

    A couple of weeks ago you were bitterly complaining that the BBC had made little or no mention of St Patrick’s Day.

    Leaving aside the question of whether you were right or wrong, can I presume we would agree that the lack of attention in that case was due to a general indifference to Irish affairs, rather than because of some dastardly political plot?

    Because, if that is the case, I think we can also safely assume the same about any want of coverage of Irish political and economic matters generally. It’s because (again, rightly or wrongly) the British media assume most people here don’t much care.

    My quibble with eamonof is that he seems to be applying a dual standard. Suggesting that the Irish are indifferent to the UK, yet appearing to suggest we should concern ourselves about events there.

    In passing, I’d be the last to praise the dour, collectivist idiot currently occupying No. 11, but I’m not sure the success of the Irish economy is quite as easily replicated as has been suggested – not without a similar injection of EU largesse which I, and I suspect many here, would abhor.

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  39. archduke says:

    a bit more analysis and news on the eastern european economic boom wouldnt go amiss either. flat tax anyone?

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  40. pounce says:

    Cassandra wrote;
    “Your general point is taken, but the answer to your question is about 500 I think. (SAAB is a Swedish company – best known for military aircraft, but has also built airliners – the SAAB 340 and SAAB 2000 in the 1980’s and 90’s, but others before then.) Sorry to be a besserwisser.”

    Not at all. But the point I was trying to make. (and not very good at that) was the technological advances made by Sweden on building Airliners.
    America has pumped a lot of time and effort into making air travel cheaper and safer for the rest of the world. ( Jumbo jet, Dreamliner, 707 Tri-star etc..)

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  41. GCcooper says:

    archduke writes:

    “a bit more analysis and news on the eastern european economic boom wouldnt go amiss either. flat tax anyone?”

    Now there I think there genuinely is an instance of a blind eye being turned by the collectivist/Leftist media. What is happening in some former Communist countries must taste very bitter indeed to those weaned on Keynes!

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  42. Anonymous says:

    Blairs Britain.

    A country emasculated by the BBC…so much so that Iran is now picking on them, becuase they know how weak and feeble Britin is….or they think it is…thanks to Al Beeb…..

    Still, not too many days now until the US Cruise missiles go in, and Al Beeb can bitch about the devastation that Iran suffers……at the hands of the powerful USA……again, the real Boss of the world……

    No one will listen to the bleatings of limp wristed Beeboids…Iran is going to get smacked down….lol.

    Go cry Beeboids…….once again, the world does not go your way….lol.

    Shame you chose to back Islam against the West……..your’e going down with them I’m affraid…already hated in your own country…….and seen as little more than a mouthpiece for Al-Kiddie……

    What a shame the USA is so powerful..and the BBC is a small PBS broadcaster in a fading powerless little country, that no one listens too anymore, hell…even the Mussies are picking on Arse Kisser Britin and the BBC now….so much for kissing their arse Beeb….lol……….

    Bye Bye Empire……lol.

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  43. pounce says:

    Biodegradable wrote:
    One for pounce?

    Are you telling me the BBC wouldn’t pass on the info on all apostates to their Islamic masters.

    I wouldn’t give the BBC the steam off my shit never mind my name,e-mail addy or telephone number.

    Or just for the info.
    How Muslims treat Apostates.
    I’ve been told to change my name.
    (But the idiots who demanded me to do so, kind of lost interest when I told them to make me.)
    I’ve been asked not to make any contact with my real sister from her husband’s side of the family. (Not one of the faithful you see)
    I had some Muslim idiot pull a cross off my neck (never met the guy in my life) However he kind of apologised as I retrieved the cross from his hand as he suddenly found himself on the floor in the middle of the road of a Yorkshire town. (I was in the squadron boxing team at the time)

    Yup the BBC won’t publish anything like that. All they are concerned about is making out Muslims can only be victims. (Even if that kidnapped BBC reporter loses his head the BBC will still find an excuse to blame everybody bar the Religion of peace)

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  44. IngSoc is doublethink says:

    If I was a betting man I bet there will be another “broadcast” from our Iranian friend’s just in time for the Six o clock news:

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6506361.stm

    Obviously we all have an “incorrect attitude” so keep up the good work!;)

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  45. Scruffy the Janitor says:

    We need a new thread.

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  46. Alan says:

    Nick Cohen has an interesting article on Julian Baggini’s book about English people. Baggini learnt about the English: “by living among people he wouldn’t normally notice, in an attempt to understand the core beliefs of the England which doesn’t listen to the ‘TODAY’ programme.”(Cohen.) Baggini was based in Rotherham. It sounds a bit Orwell-ish.
    http://www.newstatesman.com/200704020036

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  47. archduke says:

    interesting scan of the NY Times, 1948

    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e1/NYTimes_1948_Jews_in_Arab.jpg

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  48. Biodegradable says:

    “Do I now have ‘right of return’ to Riga”

    Well yeah, it being in the EU and that.
    Robbiekeane | 29.03.07 – 3:35 pm

    From what I hear about British lager louts celebrating stag nights in Riga I don’t think I’d want to.

    Both my parents, then me, were born in England. Although I’ve spent more than half of my life as an ex-pat I consider myself to be British, not Latvian. If I were to return to anywhere it would be the UK or Israel.

    My point is that the great majority of “Palestinian” refugees now were either born somewhere other than “Palestine” and/or their ancestors were not born in “Palestine” either.

    I would like to know how many of the approximately 700,000 allegedly forced out in 1948 were really “Palestinian” or whether they had immigrated from Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria or other Arab states.

    Over the years I’ve met several “Palestinians”, however when I ask where they were born all have said they had never actually set foot in the “Palestinian” territories, being born in one or other of the countries I mention above.

    Here’s what Oscar meant about many “Palestinians” not even wanting to ‘go back’.

    For Many Palestinians, ‘Return’ Is Not a Goal

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