Wednesday, June 23, 2004

BBC off to a bad start with its' "core values" training

The BBC is putting out the word all over its' website that it is a changed animal. But as we all know a leopard never changes its' spots.

One thing that is missing from the BBC's "lessons learned" and "core values" is "thou shalt not omit". Case in point.

From The BBC

Israelis kill three Palestinians

The headline is bad enough. So much for impartiality. To be fair they were Palestinians but they were not "just" Palestinians and the difference is important, as you will see. And they weren't just Israelis, they were "Israeli troops". Something you don't find out until you read the first paragraph. These ommissions are important because the headline leaves the impression that the bad old Israelis are at it again, killing innocent Palestinians. The headline should read "Isralei troops kill three Palestinian terrorists". Or at least "suspected terrorists".

Israel radio said two Palestinians were shot dead in Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip, in an operation to stop rocket and mortar attacks.

I didn't hear the broadcast but I find it hard to believe that the Israelis simply referred to them simply as Palestinians. And here again the BBC omit some important information.

The Jerusalem Post reports:

Notice their headline; a lot more accurate.

IDF kills Islamic Jihad terrorist in Nablus

IDF troops entered Beit Hanoun as part of a continuing operation to thwart kassam-rocket fire into Israel. Beit Hanoun is located several kilometers west of Sderot. The town has suffered in past years from scores of kassam-rocket attacks, most of which resulted in damage to property with no human casualties.

Think scud here and the importance of Beit Hanoun becomes a lot clearer.

The BBC continue being economical with information.

In Nablus, in the West Bank, an armed Palestinian was shot dead as troops arrested a local militant leader.

That's it. Nothing more. Wonder who this local "militant leader" was?

IDF special forces in Nablus shot dead a Palestinian gunman in the city's Rafadiyeh neighborhood on Wednesday, during an operation to nab the head of the Islamic Jihad in the area, Muhanad Mahmoud Mohammed Abu Aisha. During the arrest operation one of his assistants, Shadi Haled Mahmoud Salim, 26 from Salfit, was shot and killed when he attempted to draw a pistol and fire at soldiers.

Abu Aisha, 24, was taken in for interrogation. Security officials said he was responsible for manufacturing explosive belts used by Islamic Jihad suicide bombers from Nablus and responsible for numerous shooting attacks in the Nablus area.


"Militant leader"? Why just today the BBC were touting a report on how much they use the terrorist word. Do a word search on this article and you won't find terrorist once. So far as the BBC is concerned someone making suicide belts is just a militant. Heck, maybe the belts are just the latest Palestinian fashion rage. I mean, what else would they be for? And if the head of the Islamic Jihad doesn't qualify as a terrorists, who does?

I'll say it again. The BBC's charter must not be renewed.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No comments:

 
Brain Bliss