BBC broadcaster calls resistance in Iraq "heroism"

From MEMRI (scroll down)

June 2, 2004
TARIQ ALI, BRITISH AUTHOR AND EDITOR OF THE 'NEW LEFT REVIEW,' SAID DURING A SYMPOSIUM AT THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO THAT 'THE RESISTANCE [IN IRAQ] IS HEROISM, AND IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT CAN DEFEAT THE AMERICANS.' (AL-BAYAN, UAE, 6/2/04)

Big deal, another lefty British author attacking America. Except that Tariq Ali is not just another lefty British author. Mr. Ali happens to work for one of the most anti-American media outlets on the planet - The BBC. Surprised?

From The BBC themselves.

He is also a noted broadcaster, reassessing the developing world on Channel Four's Bandung File and collaborating on stage plays with Howard Brenton and on a film about the philosopher Wittgenstein with the late Derek Jarman.

More like propagandising than "reassessing" I'd say. Who does Mr Ali blame for today's world terrorism? You guessed it - America.

From Greenleft

Do you really think that Islamic fundamentalism is a threat created by US imperialism because it needed an enemy following the collapse of the Soviet Union?

In all the Muslim countries, with few exceptions, the growth of Islamic fundamentalism was aided by the US either directly or indirectly. In no way did Islamic fundamentalism become a big force without US support. In Egypt, [former President] Anwar Sadat used the Islamic fundamentalists to unleash a reign of terror against secular and radical forces. In Pakistan, General Zia did exactly the same.

No wonder the BBC employ him.