At least the BBC use the "t" and "m" words.
Still, there are some interesting under currents in Andy Tighe's article.
Take for example how he constantly refers to the key prosecution witness, Mohammed Babar's, American background. Starting with the headline which reads "The US 'supergrass' central to trial". Next we are told he is a "college drop-out from the US". Then we are told he "pleaded guilty to terrorist-related offences in New York. Follwed by his "clear American accent" and the fact that he moved to the US at the age of 2. All facts I'm sure but as I read the article I couldn't help get the impression that Tighe was trying to play up the American angle and ignore the fact that most of the Muslim terrorist are home grown.
And there is Tighe's portrayal of Barba that sounds almost as if Tighe has pity for him. First we are told Barba is a college dropout. Next we're told he's "a large man with broad sholders" who "spoke softly when questioned". Again we are told he is "A university drop-out" who was "radicalised as a Muslim activist while doing a number of unskilled jobs." Then we are told his "mother had survived the al-Qaeda suicide attacks on the World Trade Center". [This is interesting since the BBC claim in "The Power of Nightmares" that al-Qaeda doesn't exist] As for why Barba wanted to attack Britain we're told "it was his responsibility to fight for his "brother" Muslims".
Get the picture? Barba is an American college dropout who couldn't get a decent job in rich America, became radicalised while helping fellow Muslims being persecuted in the US and wanted to fight for his brother Muslims who were being persecuted by the great Satan in Afghanistan.
Add to the mix Tighe's description of the courtroom, the heavy police presence outside and this: "The heavy gates suddenly opened and with a squeal of sirens he was gone." Tighe frames the story in the sense of an entire police state apparatus against one man. And Tighe lets you know it's not over yet. "But tomorrow he would be back. And for many more days..."
By now one might almost feel sorry for Barba - thanks to the BBC.
That is until you read what their plans were.
Watch for this bit to be stealth edited. "so central to this English terrorist trial."
At least he used the "t" word.
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Friday, March 24, 2006
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