. I was intrigued by this BBC report which is entitled “ETA “Political Leader” arrested.” This is a very odd heading because the guy arrested in a joint Spanish-French operation Javier Lopez Pena is not in any way “a political leader” but rather a cold-blooded terrorist killer. Spanish police said Lopez Pena was one of the major movers behind the abandonment of Eta’s ceasefire last year. He is accused of being involved in the December 2006 car bombing at Madrid’s airport that killed two people, an attack that signalled the ending of the ceasefire. Eta is blamed for the deaths of more than 820 people in its 40-year campaign for an independent Basque nation. So, Lopez Pena is a TERRORIST, and there is not need to put any quotation marks around that. I wish the BBC did not have this constant problem in understanding the nature of a terrorist.
“POLITICAL LEADERS” AND TERRORISM
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Perhaps this site could include as a column an ‘Index Verborum Prohibitorum’ listing the words now proscribed by the BBC Masters of Newspeak. Current and likely future candidates include:
Terrorism / Terrorist
Asylum
Jihad
Islamofascism
Unborn Child
Off message,sorry,but the Daily Mail is reporting that the Home Office is to fund a tv series on Sky to the tune of £400,000.Can you guess the subject?
David, in my estimation it is not that BBC have a problem understanding the definition of terrorist – it is that they think we might. They are aware that we might attach to the word something that they do not – a moral value judgement.
In the eyes of the BBC, moral value judgements are only to be attached to causes, not to actions. Any action that furthers an approved cause is acceptable, and language has to be adjusted accordingly.
If the beeb decide you are a terrorist then you are…this man is obviously not…how could he be? a socialist fighting against an ellected govt…it’s impossible surely? As for murders..just a footnote in a political career soon swept under the carpet…why even that nice man mr Adams is a politician.
The ETA story was broken by Thomson Financial News in Madrid and quickly disseminated by AFP.
Both used the description: political leader – attributing that description to a Spanish security source. The BBC put it in quotes – presumably because it is an unverified claim made by an anonymous source.
So where’s the bias?
Running a google search on the word “terrorist” as related to the BBC website shows just 2 mentions.
By far the biggest news website in the world, a world that has seen terrorism in every corner of the globe – and the BBC chooses to decide that there are no terrorists in the world.
The BBC has lost its moral compass.
The BBC have difficulty using the word “terrorist” simply because they sympathise with many of them.
JohnA | 21.05.08 – 11:52 am
Running a google search on the word “terrorist” as related to the BBC website shows just 2 mentions.
Then you need to learn how to Google.
Here’s the results page I got for the same search: page one says 1-10 of about 700,000 from news.bbc.co.uk for “terrorist”
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&as_q=&as_epq=terrorist&as_oq=&as_eq=&num=10&lr=&as_filetype=&ft=i&as_sitesearch=news.bbc.co.uk&as_qdr=all&as_rights=&as_occt=any&cr=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&safe=images
Silly exaggerations devalue this blog.
The Spanish media unanimously say the arrests are of leading figures in the military wing.
Please don’t copy the BBC’s erroneous “Eta”. It’s ETA, “Euskadi Ta Askatasuna”, Basque for “Basque Homeland and Freedom”.
You wouldn’t use “Ira” to talk about the Irish Republican Army, it’s IRA.
By the way, when the Spanish media report on ETA they invariably use the set phrase, “the armed terrorist group ETA”. Spanish media never use “separatists”, “militants” or other such vaguenesses.
This is a perfect example of why I hate and detest what the BBC has become and demonstrates very clearly in my view the uncontrolled bias and hatred of everything Western by the jokers who work at the BBC.
While the Lebanese government is ‘Western backed’ suggetsing active support e.g. the supply of arms and ammunition the oppositon, including the murderous Hezbollah, is simply ‘pro-Syrian’ and not ‘Syrian backed.’ Why?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7411835.stm
the murderous Hezbollah, is simply ‘pro-Syrian’ and not ‘Syrian backed.’ Why?
Because they’re Iranian-backed?
Now stealth edited:
‘Highest Eta commander’ arrested
The most senior commander of the Basque separatist movement, Eta, has been arrested in a joint Spanish-French operation, Spanish authorities say.
“Anonymous: The ETA story was broken by Thomson Financial News in Madrid and quickly disseminated by AFP.
Both used the description: political leader”
Actually, the AFP doesn’t, as far as I can see: “ETA leader detained in French-Spanish anti-terror raid: French and Spanish police seized the suspected leader of Basque rebels ETA in a joint raid on an apartment in the French city of Bordeaux which the two countries hailed as a major blow against terrorism.”
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hYZ6voQktsrTz8Dwy7GkKqewDIRw
Nor do…
Channel 4: “…highest-ranking members of the armed Basque group ETA”
Reuters: “The leader of Basque separatist group ETA has been arrested in what Spanish officials described on Wednesday as a heavy blow to the guerrilla group and its bombing campaign in Spain.”
Associated Press: “Spanish and French authorities arrested one of the highest-ranking members of the armed Basque group ETA”
France 24: “French and Spanish police seized the suspected leader of Basque rebels ETA in a joint raid on an apartment in the French city of Bordeaux which the two countries hailed as a major blow against terrorism.”
Most readers will know what Eta is and what it does, those who don’t will by the end of the article. “Eta terrorist arrested” would be hugely uninformative as there are plenty of terrorists in their ranks. Most readers would be more interested to know that it wasn’t just some bog-standard loonie but “the person who carried the most weight within Eta – politically and militarily“.
So “Political leader” is exactly right and terrorist would make a poor and confusing headline.
Hugh | 21.05.08 – 12:55 pm
Top ETA political leader arrested in French raid: Spain
From AFX International Focus – 21/05/2008
MADRID (Thomson Financial) – The suspected leader of the Basque separatist group ETA was arrested Tuesday in southwestern France in a joint operation by French and Spanish police, Spanish
anti-terrorism sources said.
Javier Lopez Pena, 49, alias ‘Thierry’, who is considered by Spanish authorities be the top political leader of ETA, was arrested along with three other members of the group in a raid on an apartment in the centre of the southwestern French city of Bordeaux around 11:30 pm, they said.
Even the BBC has now changed Eta ‘political leader’ arrested to ‘Highest Eta commander’ arrested
http://www.newssniffer.co.uk/articles/124763/diff/4/5
Anonymous, are you telling me the BBC extort £3.2bn from us in order to reproduce word for word the reports of other news agencies?
Can I have my money back please?
I wonder if someone hijacked a plane and crashed it into Broadcasting House, the BBC would describe that as a terrorist act committed by terrorists.
“I wonder if someone hijacked a plane and crashed it into Broadcasting House, the BBC would describe that as a terrorist act committed by terrorists.”
I know how I’d describe it. Karma.
Alex: “Most readers would be more interested to know that it wasn’t just some bog-standard loonie but “the person who carried the most weight within Eta…”
You’re right, and I guess that’s why he was called “one of the highest-ranking members of the armed Basque group ETA” by Channel 4; “The leader of Basque separatist group ETA… the guerilla group” by Reuters; and “the suspected leader of Basque rebels ETA” by the Associated Press.
But they all also managed (and thought it necessary) to include in the opening paragraph mention of the fact that he leads a group which kills people.
Interestingly, I also notice that the BBC account opts for “Spanish authorities say” rather than Thomson’s version “Spanish anti-terrorism sources said”.
I like to soak Marigold glove in hot boiling water, put them on and touch myself.
Squelch, squelch!
I’d describe it as a terrorist act committed by terrorists.
I don’t believe in Karma.
Not since I had to give up watching My Name is Earl.
Because the BBC wanted me to pay them for the pleasure.
Nick – “hot boiling water”? Most of us prefer cool boiling water. I guess that makes you a pervert…
In any case, the BBC has now rewritten this, so someone there obviously thought it wasn’t that great.
I think what we should be seeing from the BBC is a more impartial examination of the costs of implementation against the potential costs of self induced climate change, examination of alternative strategies and energy sources, looking specifically at whether China and India should have more onerous obligations etc etc.
Also, I have my finger up my anus right now.
I like to swirl it around a lot when I’m writing my articles for the BBC.
Most of us do here you know.
Smell my finger?
nick…as a beeboid I would have thought your finger would have been placed up somebody elses orifice..I live and learn.Mind you your tongue being firmly placed against the terrorists and fanatics of this world would be more like it.
I don’t know what you are inferring from that last comment thud, but you know nothing about my secret life of cottaging in and around the public toilets of Hampstead Heath with some of my Oxberry BBC chums, and by making suggestions of such immoral acts you are opening yourself to libel.
Jelly Tot anyone?
I suppose the Scottish Nationalists and Plaid Cymru should be called ‘separatist political organisations’ too?
And Alex – I bet half the British population has no idea what ‘Eta’ (or even ETA) is. I doubt you know that the majority of supporters of ETA have never committed violent criminal acts against civilians (& ditto for supporters of Sinn Fein). The man was not sought for his perfectly legal political views (Basque independence) but his criminal – nay, TERRORIST – acts.
The mendacity of the BBC knows no limit. Ditto the foolishness of its shills.
I can beat all the above:
Radio 2 midday news referred to Brian Keenan as a ‘veteran IRA commander’ – no doubt on his way to meet ‘long-serving euthanasia activist’ Harold Shipman
to al beeb a terrorist or terrorism is applicable to environmental matters only
HIllhunt, you’re forgetting to add the (BBC) after Nick Reynold’s name. If you’re going to terrorize us with your sock puppet skills, at least do it properly.
As we’re back on the ‘t’ word – I am curious – did anyone see Peter Taylor’s programmes recently?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/age_of_terror/default.stm
They used it rather a lot. As does the site about the programmes. But I guess it is historical, people have been convicted.
(Some of them may still be available on iPlayer, the embedded videos are just excerpts, but there are links to realplayer videos on th page I linked to)
“I guess” above is an idiom, there is no guess about it.
Sarah Jane (20% BBC) | 21.05.08 – 3:44 pm
Yes, they were good programmes. Someone praised them on this site at the time by the way. We can, you know.
Two points:
Jonathan Dimbleby used terrorist when talking about the Belsan massacre by Islamic killers on his ‘Russia’ programme (jolly good by the way) on Monday? night.
Still waiting for the BBC to announce that the French Court of Appeal has ruled that when one chap said that some of the French media (France 2 and AFP?) had faked the Al Dura killing he was right! Thus if we see anything about the Al Dura Palywood production on the BBC it has been ruled to be fake. Or will be the BBC claim it is ‘fake but accurate’…..
dave t – thanks for heads up – excellent news on the Al Durah blood libel:
http://www.theaugeanstables.com/2008/05/21/karsenty-wins-court-decision/
Silence of course from the Beeb …
Wonder when we’ll hear anything about the Lebanese ambulances fraud of 2006 …
/crickets
Nick Reynolds,
Your comments here are pathetic. If you have nothing of value to say, best remain mute. If I see any further such comments, you’ll be gone. Got it?
A good informative piece about the Al Dura case and the consequences of today’s judgment here:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1211288137213&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
It would make great material for a “Panorama” but expect silence from Le BBC.
BBC Radio 5 has just told me that Lenin was a Great Russian leader!
This was on the football commentary from Moscow!
Sarah Jane (20% BBC), to you it’s the ‘t’ word: to most people it’s ‘terrorist’ and we know exactly what it means and why.
David,
I think a poster is pretending to be Nick Reynolds.
Please check his/her IP address and ban him/her straight away.
He/she is trying to discredit this blog by posting pervy garbage in the comments.
The real Nick Reynolds used to come on this site a lot, then there was a gap, then he came on a few times recently.
He was always polite – even though he did usually brush away any criticism in the aloof manner perfected by “feedback” and other similar “right to reply” programmes.
Terrorism is a tactic,it can be used by political or criminal groups,even individuals with no political act to grind.
It is the use of extreme violence,against,usually,civilian targets to accrue advantage to the perpetrator/s unattainable from a more powerful opposition by other means.
Terrorism is used by both left and right to destabilise governments by making them appear powerless.It is used to promote a disproportional response to alienate populations.Criminals use it in extortion rackets.
Terrorism is not a creed it is simply a tactic.Why will the BBC not use the word correctly?
http://ws.collactive.com/points/point?id=VqhrFoCqu351
The truth is finally out. French court Rules Al Dura footage is hoax
Now, will the BBC owns up?
Jack,
I will do as you say and hope the real Nick Reynolds will return.
Alex: So “Political leader” is exactly right and terrorist would make a poor and confusing headline.
Me: How about “terrorist leader”?
Terrorists are not politicians. They are sub-human savages.
BBC still not responding to the Karsenty libel case, although they covered this story back in November:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7092262.stm
A very poor response by the BBC.
Glauca | 21.05.08 – 10:44 pm
French court Rules Al Dura footage is hoax…
Not so, it seems. The Jerusalem Post article Biodegradable links says this:
A statement forwarded to the Post from Enderlin said “the appeals court ruled that Karsenty’s words were, in fact, libelous, and that Karsenty failed to prove that the news was staged and/or false.”
The statement added that the case was nevertheless overturned because “the court believed Karsenty had the right to stridently criticize the [France 2] report, since it dealt with an emotional topic, and that Karsenty’s investigation into the matter convinced the court he was being sincere.”
A source close to Enderlin’s side of the case explained that “you can get out of a libel suit either by proving you’re right, or by showing you were sincere and had some research. The court found the latter to be the case.”
Anonymous 9:28 – you are quoting a statement from Enderlin, not the court. The Court did NOT rule that Karsenty’s words were libelous.
Go back and read it carefully.