General BBC-related comment thread

! Please use this thread for comments about the BBC’s current programming and activities. This post will remain at or near the top of the blog – scroll down for new topic-specific posts. N.B. This is not an invitation for general off-topic comments, rants or chit-chat. Thoughtful comments are encouraged. Comments may also be moderated. Any suggestions for stories that you might like covered would be appreciated! It’s your space, use it wisely.

Bookmark the permalink.

178 Responses to General BBC-related comment thread

  1. pounce says:

    The BBC defining the Noun ‘Terrorist’ and half the story.
    Hamas suspends talks over Shalit
    Hamas says it has suspended indirect talks over a proposed prisoner exchange deal due to involve the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The militant group said Israel was not respecting a truce agreement, in particular by closing its border crossings with the Gaza Strip… Reports from Palestinian human rights groups say that Israeli forces have broken the ceasefire by shooting at farmers near the border and at fishermen.
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7489656.stm
    The BBC reports that Palestinian human rights groups say that Israeli forces have broken the ceasefire. Palestinian human rights groups ?
    Here is the same story as reported to the Chinese people by the Chinese government;
    ” The armed wing of the Islamic Jihad movement said that most of the breaches occurred on the border areas of the Gaza Strip when Israeli soldiers fired at farmers who approached their lands near the security fence that separates between Gaza and Israel.”
    http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/03/content_8484253.htm

    It seems the BBC is unable to discern the different between terrorist and human rights group. I wonder why?
    The BBC defining the Noun ‘Terrorist’ and half the story.

       0 likes

  2. Martin says:

    BREAKING NEWS.

    Ray Lewis has resigned. Looks like the BBC and red Ken got their scalp.

    I just wonder if the BBC will be as sympathetic in the headlines as they were with Peter Hain and Wendy Alexander? I suspect not.

       0 likes

  3. Steve Edwards says:

    Much as I enjoy David Mitchell’s work, what on EARTH is he doing on Question Time?

       0 likes

  4. George R says:

    The BBC panders to UK Muslim propaganda. Whenever ‘representatives of the Muslim community’ wish, they will get enormous, uncritical coverage by the BBC. In contrast, it is inconceivable that the BBC would present endless criticisms of UK Muslim behaviour and attitudes, as perceived by non-Muslim majority of British people. So we get this sort of thing from the BBC:

    “Muslims ‘under siege like Jews'”
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/7489392.stm

    But the BBC does not, of course, provide counter-viewpoints, like this:

    “Muslim MP says Britain is ‘targeting’ Muslims the way you-know-who targeted you-know-who” (by Lawrence Auster)

    http://amnation.com/vfr/#010938

       0 likes

  5. Martin says:

    I see Newsnight is doing a big piece on Wheeler who died today. Why does the media do that? Do they really think we care about some journalist that kicks the bucket? They don’t do that for our dead soldiers (unless they are female)

    I notice that the US media did the same thing when that bloke who did Meet the Press popped his cloggs a while back.

    Don’t bore us with this shite media types. We don’t care.

       0 likes

  6. NotaSheep says:

    Stephen Nolan has Antony Jay on his show at the moment and Stephen Nolan seems incredulous that anyone could think the BBC might be biased or bloated.

       0 likes

  7. Tim says:

    The BBC just cannot bring itself to say that the whole Betancourt hostage release was a CIA run operation.

    The DAS (Columbian Special Forces) are also trained British trained, so blackslaps all round, not that the Beeb would want to give any kudos to the people they hate the most.

       0 likes

  8. David Preiser (USA) says:

    Just caught the infamous Orla Guerin’s report from Zimbabwe about how white farmers are once again being targeted by Comrade Bob.

    Very nearly all of the report was about how white farmers are being harassed and forced out by Mugabe. We get footage of white people putting all their belongings out in the yard, having to move, etc., supported by a vox pops from one male white farmer saying, “I’m African, I was born here, I pay my taxes here.” The segment was set up as a report on how once again Mugabe is forcing more white farmers off their land and all that. She even added the descriptive line that the scene “resembled a car jumble sale”. That’s imagery (literally and figuratively) which is supposed to drive home a point.

    However, Ms. Guerin decided that the subject of her assignment was not as important as the real issue which tugged at her heart strings. The very last sentence of her report was that “black citizens suffer most” under Mugabe’s regime.

    If that’s the real issue, BBC, why bother doing the segment in the first place? Is it just to make a point about how worthless white people are in Africa? This is a very, very poor editorial decision, and doesn’t happen in a vacuum, or by accident, or slip under the radar. Nor is this a last-second product of some very, very young person being paid very, very low wages (the Helen Boaden defense). This is a normal report done by one of the BBC’s most prominent foreign correspondents.

    Completely stupid, but, sadly, it’s what we’ve come to expect.

       0 likes

  9. George R says:

    The BBC keeps up its pro-Muslim propaganda re: its special pleading report “Muslims’under siege like Jews'”, which is still displayed, BUT omits prominence to this report of English schoolboys punished for refusing to kneel and pray to Allah:

    “Schoolboys punished with detention for refusing to kneel in class and pray to Allah”

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1031784/Schoolboys-punished-detention-refusing-kneel-pray-Allah.html

    And:

    http://www.newenglishreview.org/blog_direct_link.cfm/blog_id/15722

       0 likes

  10. Jack Bauer says:

    John Reith spins in his grave:
    Has anybody linked to Jay’s piece in the Mail today?

    I used to work for Tony Jay. He was a scholar and a gentleman.

       0 likes

  11. Biodegradable says:

    The BBC reports that Palestinian human rights groups say that Israeli forces have broken the ceasefire. Palestinian human rights groups ?

    pounce | 04.07.08 – 6:12 pm

    Yes, these “Palestinian human rights groups”:
    http://drybonesblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/palestinian-terrorists-1993.html

       0 likes

  12. Biodegradable says:

    The BBC just cannot bring itself to say that the whole Betancourt hostage release was a CIA run operation.

    The DAS (Columbian Special Forces) are also trained British trained, so blackslaps all round, not that the Beeb would want to give any kudos to the people they hate the most.
    Tim | 04.07.08 – 11:49 pm

    No mention of the Israeli involvement either:

    Colombia hostage rescue: the Israeli angle

    Former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who was released after six years in captivity on Wednesday, compared her “impeccable” rescue operation to Israeli commando operations.

    Perhaps she did not know it, but Israel indeed contributed to the elaborately-planned, daring rescue mission.

    Betancourt, who was kidnapped in 2002 by Marxist rebels in Colombia (FARC), was rescued without a shot being fired. Colombian military agents, who had penetrated FARC’s leadership, instructed her guards to transfer her to another rebel group.

    Her captors put her on a helicopter that arrived as scheduled, little knowing that their comrades-in-arms were undercover Colombian soldiers. Betancourt and 14 other hostages who had been held in the jungle, including three Americans, were freed.

    Since word of the dramatic rescue spread, speculation in the world media has attributed the success to people trained by Israeli intelligence. But an Israeli figure familiar with the military aid to Colombia said there was “no need to exaggerate” Israel’s involvement in the operation.

    The Israelis involved in the operation feel it is important to accord the credit to Colombia. The Israeli activity, involving dozens of Israeli security experts, was coordinated by Global CST, owned by former General Staff operations chief, Brigadier General (res.) Israel Ziv, and Brigadier (res.) Yossi Kuperwasser.

    “It’s a Colombian Entebbe operation,” Ziv said Thursday when he returned from Bogota. “Both regarding its national and international importance. Betancourt has become a symbol of the struggle against international terror. This is an amazing operation that wouldn’t shame any army or special forces anywhere in the world.”

    Asked about the Israeli involvement in it Ziv said there is “no need to exaggerate.”

    “We don’t want to take credit for something we didn’t do,” a company source said. “We helped them prepare themselves to fight terror. We helped them to plan operations and strategies and develop intelligence sources. That’s quite a bit, but shouldn’t be taken too far.”

    Israelis may not have taken part in the rescue, but they advised and guided, sold equipment and intelligence technology.

    The Israeli involvement began a year and a half ago, when Colombia asked Israel for help in its struggle against FARC, which had become a militia specializing in kidnapping civilians and military figures for ransom and drug trading.

    Israel has over the years sold Colombia planes, drones, weapons and intelligence systems. At the Defense Ministry’s suggestion, Global CST won the $10 million contract to work with Colombia.

    Ziv and Kuperwasser did not take part in the fighting, at the Defense Ministry’s instructions. They hired experts who had worked for the Mossad, Shin Bet security service and IDF in various capacities.

    “Well I have to say that this operation was exclusively carried out by the Colombian Army,” Colombian ambassador to Israel Juan Hurtado Cano said in an interview with Infolive TV, Jerusalem.

       0 likes

  13. Tim says:

    Fair One Biodegradable!

    I’m sure that if the same plane spotters that report on “so called” redition flights (that actually move the world’s worst terrorists to where they need to be) put together some recent flight movements in and out of Columbia, they would indeed see an Isreali, CIA, British, French (joint Columbian) operation.

    But they don’t seem to want to put their effort into that?

       0 likes

  14. Biodegradable says:

    Tim,

    The article says that Betancourt ‘compared her “impeccable” rescue operation to Israeli commando operations’, but that’s something none of the media has bothered to quote her on either. Giving credit to the US or Israel for pulling off operations like this aren’t part of their agenda. Much rather report on Afghan civilians bombed by mistake at a wedding.

    By the way, are you that “Tim” who was in Baghdad?

       0 likes

  15. Jack Bauer says:

    Biodegradable: Tim,

    The article says that Betancourt ‘compared her “impeccable” rescue operation to Israeli commando operations’, but that’s something none of the media has bothered to quote her on either.

    The only quote I saw from a British source was on CEEFAX , where some BBCbot writes her saying that “she owed FRANCE, everything..”

    Huh? France. They wanted to follow Commie You Go Chavez’s suggestion and “negotiate” with his FARC terrorist buddies.

    An idea which the Columbian government responded to with the Spanish for “FU France.”

       0 likes

  16. Tim says:

    Bio,

    Yes, it was I that was blogging the truth for BBBC from Al Mansour (Red Zone) West Baghdad – Which varied wildly from the beebs agenda driven crap!

    Jack,

    That is part of my point. What France has said and what it’s done are 2 different things here.

    But we all agree this was not a solely Columbian task.

       0 likes

  17. Biodegradable says:

    Tim,

    Stay safe wherever you are now! :+:

       0 likes

  18. CapnX says:

    Well, I waited for it to happen first and now it has. The BBC stopped coverage of football and staked all their chips on covering F1 motor racing. The reason can be summed up in two words :Loius Hamilton.
    But alas and alack, said LH has not delivered. Motto Don’t put all your eggs in one basket at da BBC

       0 likes

  19. Tim says:

    Thanks Bio,

    Just back from working Peru (with friends of mine who personally trained the Columbian DAS!) and in the Southern French Alps now, where I reside.

    Off to Bogata and Cali, Columbia myself next month.

    All in a days work for a Security Advisor, (or murdering mercenary ex-serviceman, according to Beeb)

    Cheers Tim

       0 likes

  20. Martin says:

    Fact is the BBC could have got F1 for free. Bernie needs the airtime, especially as the Tobacco advertising has been lost.

    He’s always said F1 would be on free TV (it used to get carried on Eurosport)

    ITV have been a disaster with F1. BBC could have got it for nothing or peanuts.

       0 likes

  21. Biodegradable says:

    This seems to be the correct Betancourt quote:

    Betancourt rescue in Colombia: Israeli connection
    Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt mentions Israel in shower of praise following her rescue; most likely not by chance. Israeli advising team, headed by former Sayeret Matkal officer Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Israel Ziv, may have been involved in operation.

    VIDEO – “I am unaware of a precedent to such a perfect mission. Maybe only the Israelis…their wonderful commandos may be reminiscent of the mission that took place here.” This is how kidnapped Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt described the daring rescue operation that brought her back to her family.

    Betancourt’s reference to Israel’s military history is most likely not by chance. Last year, a group of Israeli military advisors, receiving approval from the Israeli Defense Ministry, resided in Colombia in order to assist the army there and especially the special units.

    The Israeli consultation was focused mainly on intelligence issues, special operations and integration and coordination between different security elements. This was in order to prepare them for a coordinated and productive campaign within a short period of time.

    The group was headed by Major-General (Res.) Israel Ziv, who served as the head of operations in the elite Sayeret Matkal unit up until four years ago.

    Ziv and at least some of his men have already returned but it is likely that the consultation he gave to the Colombian security forces assisted them in attaining the list of successes they have been enduring lately against the FARC rebel organization.

    It is estimated, that the Israeli advisors did not participate in the impressive mission. In discussions with those close to him, Ziv emphasized that while in Colombia, he punctiliously abstains from actually involving himself in Colombia’s military and security operations and is content with solely supplying them with advice.

    However, there is no doubt that the Israeli counseling, especially in the realm of intelligence and that connected with the use of covert operational tactics, greatly assisted the Colombian security forces in improving their capabilities.

    In the past year, the rebels suffered great blows including the killing of their organization’s second-in-command; an operation that led to a severe diplomatic crisis between Venezuela and Ecuador and the arrest of one of their leaders who turned herself in, to the army.

    Following her arrest, FARC senior official, Nelly Avila Moreno even said that her organization is “on the brink of collapse.” How much of the success can be attributed to the Israeli advisers? That will remain a mystery.

    Also:
    http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3564105,00.html
    A lawyer for Cesar, whose real name is Gerardo Aguilar, told The Associated Press that his client was completely hoodwinked by the operation.

    Rodolfo Rios said his client, who is now jailed in Bogota, “Only realized the deception when he was in the aircraft … He also told me he was hit and that, after they immobilized him, they applied various injections.” Paraded past reporters on Friday, Cesar wouldn’t say who had hit him. He had a black eye and bruises on his face.

    A beacon and microphones were aboard the Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter, allowing those overseeing the rescue to monitor its progress, a US official told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the subject’s sensitivity.

    Santos said a US surveillance plane was overhead monitoring the mission.

       0 likes

  22. Biodegradable says:

    Off to Bogata and Cali, Columbia myself next month.

    Take care Tim!

    Colombia foils bomb plot after rescue

       0 likes

  23. Tim says:

    Thanks again Bio,

    It is a sad fact of life, that I often have to earn my living where the blood in flowing in the streets.

    It does however give me a unique vanture point on many of the worlds unfolding affairs…

    Which I later see twisted beyond recogition on BBC news 24!

       0 likes

  24. Anon says:

    Usual bollocks the BBC • just a quick look at the headlines today:

    Bush heckled at 4 July event
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7491278.stm

    In pictures: Gay Pride march
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7491542.stm

    Tories in ‘disarray’ over Lewis
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7491167.stm

    Muslims ‘under siege like Jews’
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bradford/7489392.stm

    No need to add anything really. It sums the BBC up perfectly. SCRAP THE TELLY TAX.

       0 likes

  25. Robin says:

    Never miss the opportunity to mention man-generated global warming…a watchword of BBC reporters. This morning’s example on BBC News 24 was in a report about divers in the Red Sea ‘harassing’ a dugong by visiting it too much. According to our intrepid BBC correspondent the survival or otherwise of the mammal was a ‘key indicator’ of the progress or otherwise of global warming.

       0 likes

  26. George R says:

    I wonder whether the BBC’s multiculturalist remembrance of the Islamic Jihad bombings of London on July 7, 2005, will, three years on, concentrate, as does a piece from a Muslim in today’s multiculturalist ‘Observer’ (which I refuse to reproduce), on the the need for UK infidels victims of those murderous attacks, to show dhimmi-like understanding of Muslims at this time.

       0 likes

  27. Robin says:

    Always give those pleading for more aid for Africa an easy ride…another principle held dear by those nice people at the BBC. The latest fawn-fest featured Andrew ‘leftie’ Marr ‘interviewing’ the ultimate luvvie actor, Bill Nighy about his plea for the G8 to put Africa back to the top of the aid agenda because they were most vulnerable to global warming. The only role of Marr was to assist his ‘interviewee’ towards making more and more extreme claims about the wickedness of the West for the their meanness and disregard of the causes of global warming. Mr Nighy was further aided in making his case by specially-shot BBC footage showing how much benefit aid could give.

    Not a peep from Marr about those who believe aid intensifies, not helps, economic problems; no challenge of Mr Nighy’s crackpot global warming ideas; and nothing to suggest that his time would be better spent triggering the self-starting entrepreneurship that Africa so desperately needs.

       0 likes

  28. George R says:

    Has the BBC missed this?:

    It’s more creeping Sharia by Muslims, and more predictable dhimmitude in response by infidels:

    “Muslims in UK are demanding the absurd, dhimmitude 101 – Sniffer dogs to wear ‘Muslim’ bootees”

    http://shariahfinancewatch.wordpress.com/2008/07/06/the-hight-of-being-absurd-dhimmitude-101-sniffer-dogs-to-wear-%e2%80%98muslim%e2%80%99-bootees/

       0 likes