Wintonsweek BBC Clouds Facts In Iraq Reporting Muslim “Rage” Code For Support Of Despicable, Bloodthirsty Cowards Kid-Gloves Questioning Unacceptable – Imagine They’re Tories! The BBC is helping to perpetrate misinformation about the conflict in Iraq. With its reporting, the BBC constantly talks about the “insurgents”, as though they are some kind of peace and civilisation-loving band of brothers. On recent interviews on BBCTV’s NewsNight, the likes of Gavin Esler, Kirsty Walk and Martha Kearney allow aggressive Muslim fanatics to get away with claims that acts of homicide bombing are justified because of Muslims “rage” about Britain’s foreign policy in Iraq. Given that we are always being told what a peace-loving religion Islam is, can we assume they are incandescent about the cowardly and mad Muslim fanatic homicide bombers who relentlessly, day after day, kill innocent women and children, (who are also presumably 100% Muslim) and are for those unbelievably brave people trying to sign up for the police and army to restore the rule of law to the country, and the general population that voted under the threat of violence and want the freedom that we have in Britain, and a chance to work towards the kind of education and health standards Americans take for granted? Presumably they are not in a rage against the Iraqis who, backed by the U.S. and Britain have rid themselves of the bloodthirsty tyrant Saddam? Surely these people glory in the fact that the brutal Saddam regime is dead and gone? Supporting Homicide Bombers You might have guessed that I doubt any of this. It seems obvious that this Muslim rage is actually in support of the mad, bestial suicide/homicide bombers. This is an outrageous affront to the civilised world. Why won’t BBC presenters ask the question “exactly what is this rage about?” Why are they so afraid to run the risk of antagonising Muslim “leaders”. (I’d bet that any private poll of British Muslims would find that a huge majority hate being “represented” by the likes of Iqbal Sobranie of the Muslim Council of Great Britain, and share few, if any of the medieval Muslim ideas being expressed, supposedly on their behalf). Where’s Jeremy? And come to think of it, where is Jeremy Paxman? We could do with some straight-from-the-shoulder questions from him. Is he keeping off our screens, pleading some kind of diplomatic illness to avoid getting up the noses of the Muslim community, and the right-on bunch of lefties that he usually sucks up to? I have a suggestion though. If the likes of Esler, Wark and Kearney can’t bring themselves to ask tough questions of Muslim “leaders” why don’t they just imagine that they are Tory politicians? That would bring out some natural malice, and perhaps the odd question that got to the heart of the matter. You will have gathered that almost any manifestation of BBC news reporting offends my sense of journalistic professionalism. The fact that a big, state-controlled organisation like the BBC has such a huge reach and influence, coupled with the fact that it is politically biased to the left, and incapable of fulfilling its charter duty of balance, openness and fairness, is a constant source of irritation, not to say anger. But a recent 10 pm BBC TV News programme must have set a record for consecutive items which hit a raw nerve with me. The first story was about the starving in Niger. Ignoring the fact that now we are urged to pronounce this with some kind of French intonation – Knee Gere rather than Nigh Ja – these stories about the poor, suffering Africans always misses the point, as do the likes of Bob Geldof and Bonio in their relentless effort to sell more tickets and CDs on the backs of the dying and starving. Geldof’s career in music ended years ago, but he has found the key to ingratiating himself with the more successful pop-artists - charity concerts. No matter that raising money for Africa can be worse than useless, often doing real harm to indigent businesses. No matter that Live Aid made no difference, Live Eight 20-odd years later achieved the same result. Headlines for Geldof and Bono and the performers, who boosted their incomes from sales of more CDs. A feel-good factor for the millions who attended the concerts or watched on TV, and no difference for the starving and exploited in Africa. Charity will achieve nothing in Africa. People are starving because of pathetic, corrupt governance in Africa. This will never change until the West realises the awful mistake it made in running from its colonies before they were capable of governing themselves. That is why we see the pathetic images on TV of dying children. License African Governments Sure, we can’t go back to colonisation, but we must have some kind of U.N licensing system that stops corrupt governments, and allows interim western ones. The interim regimes would build back the infrastructures which existed in colonial times. It goes without saying that military action will be needed to topple these disgusting, useless, corrupt governments. Caring about Africa will take more than charity. It will cost more than forgoing a couple of pints of cheap lager. That would start the process of curing the awful conditions facing Africans. Then money sent to Africa would be used for the reason it was given, not for a new fleet of S class Mercedes limousines. The likes of Geldof and Bono are simply grandstanding in front of gullible audiences. Real courage would be advocacy of action that would end African poverty. But that would require recognition that most African states cannot govern themselves properly. If that fact is not faced, Geldof will be doing some variation on his theme 20 years from now. The BBC allows this misguided and pointless exercise to continue, without making sure that contrary views - African poverty is imply down to bad governance - are allowed expression. The BBC is as guilty as Geldof. Useless NHS This same news bulletin had two items on how useless our Stalinist National Health Service is. One item concerned the rationing of drugs that help fight dementia on the grounds of expense. This in a “service” which gives millions to those unable to have children to breed artificially, in a world where lack of population is hardly a problem worth solving. The second concerned outrageous treatment of old people in a Brighton hospital. News like this is commonplace on the BBC, but what is never heard is surely the most important question – “Isn’t the Health Service doomed to fail by its very nature? If it was such a great idea, wouldn’t other countries try to emulate it?” Of course, only the dimwit Canadians try and impose a nationalised health care system on its people. The BBC should be introducing some informed opinion that wants to start the debate which will lead one day to the end of the NHS in favour of a system that delivers. Neil Winton – August 8, 2005 Top