This isn't about bravado or look how great I am. This is about a shamelessly corrupt organization trying to take the credit for a humanitarian effort it played little part in. In fact, if left alone, the UN's "efforts" would have killed thousands more.
The Diplomad is not amused.
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Thursday, January 27, 2005
BBC - Is Anyone in Control?
Is anyone in control at the BBC?
Last Saturday the BBC ran 3 stories with 3 different stands on the same subject.
Arabs indifferent to new Bush term
Arab press scorns Bush speech
World press electrified by Bush vision
Today I fisked their "the sky is falling" report on Iraq - Post Saddam.
Now the BBC has a story in the Business section saying the exact opposite!
But some progress has been made, largely thanks to the country's oil revenues which have exceeded $22bn since June 2003.
Iraq's infrastructure is on the mend, with notable improvements having been made in areas such as electricity supply, irrigation, telephone networks and the re-opening of hospitals.
Iraq's oil revenues, June 2003-January 2005: $22.89bn
90% of hospitals have been restored to pre-war level of operations
Almost 80,000 mega watt hours (MWH) of electricity is being generated daily - two thirds of the stated goal of 120,000 MWH
About 80% of its irrigation canals have been cleared
2.15 million telephone connections have been made and internet connections have risen tenfold to 110,000
Source: Iraq Index
See what you can do, Beeb, when the people get to keep the oil money?
Absolutely unbelievable!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last Saturday the BBC ran 3 stories with 3 different stands on the same subject.
Arabs indifferent to new Bush term
Arab press scorns Bush speech
World press electrified by Bush vision
Today I fisked their "the sky is falling" report on Iraq - Post Saddam.
Now the BBC has a story in the Business section saying the exact opposite!
But some progress has been made, largely thanks to the country's oil revenues which have exceeded $22bn since June 2003.
Iraq's infrastructure is on the mend, with notable improvements having been made in areas such as electricity supply, irrigation, telephone networks and the re-opening of hospitals.
Iraq's oil revenues, June 2003-January 2005: $22.89bn
90% of hospitals have been restored to pre-war level of operations
Almost 80,000 mega watt hours (MWH) of electricity is being generated daily - two thirds of the stated goal of 120,000 MWH
About 80% of its irrigation canals have been cleared
2.15 million telephone connections have been made and internet connections have risen tenfold to 110,000
Source: Iraq Index
See what you can do, Beeb, when the people get to keep the oil money?
Absolutely unbelievable!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iran's Killing Fields. Women sentenced to death by stoning are buried in the ground up to their necks. Iranian law regulates the size of the stones used by the executioner crowd; stones cannot be big enough to kill the sentenced woman too quickly, as the purpose of this barbaric ritual is to inflict as much pain as possible before death. On the other hand, stones cannot be too small, as each blow must be dramatically painful.
Tehran’s Killing Fields
From Front Page via a commenter.
Conservative estimates by Iranian opposition movements and various human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, put the number of women stoned to death in Iran since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in the neighborhood of fifty. One can only imagine the cases that have gone undetected -- as many Islamic "punishments" are carried out in small and remote villages.
Women sentenced to death by stoning are buried in the ground up to their necks. Iranian law regulates the size of the stones used by the executioner crowd; stones cannot be big enough to kill the sentenced woman too quickly, as the purpose of this barbaric ritual is to inflict as much pain as possible before death. On the other hand, stones cannot be too small, as each blow must be dramatically painful.
Read the rest.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conservative estimates by Iranian opposition movements and various human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, put the number of women stoned to death in Iran since the establishment of the Islamic Republic in the neighborhood of fifty. One can only imagine the cases that have gone undetected -- as many Islamic "punishments" are carried out in small and remote villages.
Women sentenced to death by stoning are buried in the ground up to their necks. Iranian law regulates the size of the stones used by the executioner crowd; stones cannot be big enough to kill the sentenced woman too quickly, as the purpose of this barbaric ritual is to inflict as much pain as possible before death. On the other hand, stones cannot be too small, as each blow must be dramatically painful.
Read the rest.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iraq - Post Saddam
The BBC takes a look at Iraq - Post Saddam. This should be good given the BBC's abysmal coverage and doom and gloom outlook on Iraq.
Reconstruction
Wars and years of sanctions have devastated the oil-rich country's infrastructure.
Yep, off to a good start blaming America.
As usual the BBC hopes you zip right by that and ignore the truth.
"Devastated by sanctions" was it Beeb? Saddam sure managed to build some elaborate palaces and buy gold plated guns and cars with all that "sanctioned" UN oil for food money.
Excuse me Auntie but aren't we forgetting something? You know like "decades of complete and utter neglect by the regime."
Then the Beeb tells us:
By September 2004 only $2.5bn had been released, largely because the security situation has not allowed rebuilding work to proceed.
Then what are all these people doing?
Reconstruction is picking up pace, according to Army Brig. Gen. Thomas Bostick, the commander of the Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division:
"1,550 construction projects are under way throughout the country -- compared to just 200 projects under way in June [2004]...
"These reconstruction projects include large, long-term capital projects that address water and sewage treatment facilities, power plants and the oil- distribution infrastructure. They also include smaller community projects that are more visible to the Iraqi people and have an immediate impact on their lives, he said. The focus of these projects is schools, clinics, hospitals, rail stations and police stations, many being rebuilt with funds from Commander's Emergency Response Program funds...
"He estimated that some 130,000 Iraqis are working on the wide range of projects under way throughout the country. The true number is actually larger, he said, when factoring in the behind-the-scenes workers who manufacture the products used on the construction sites."
Note the above is taken from Chrenkoff's Good News Iraq series - Part 19! Read the first 18 for more on all the construction work and other good news from Iraq.
Security
There are no official figures on Iraqi civilian deaths, but unofficial estimates range from at least 15,000 to almost 100,000 since the March 2003 invasion.
That's quite a range Auntie and who are these "unofficial" sources? Is this your idea of good journalistic practices?
This report just appeared on today's Middle East webpage and one would presume current information. Right?
Post-Saddam Iraq has also seen a number of violent Shia uprisings by fighters loyal to the cleric Moqtada al-Sadr who feel their grievances have not been met.
Well gee Auntie, don't leave us in suspense, what happened to these "loyal fighters" to Sadr after these "violent uprisings"?
Once again we turn to Chrenkoff for the answers.
"Just months ago, Fattahlah Ghazi al-Esmaili was penning articles in support of Iraq's Shi'ite uprising as editor for Ishriqat, a newspaper for rebel cleric Sheik Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi's Army militia.
"Now the 38-year-old has abandoned his Arab head scarf for a neat beige suit and is out pumping the flesh in his run for parliament at the head of a 180-candidate list representing the impoverished Shi'ites of Sadr City."
'Before, we were men of the Mahdi's Army. Now we are men of politics,' says the journalist, who goes by the pen name Fattah al-Sheikh. 'Yesterday, we were out on the streets. Today, we are here campaigning, and hopefully tomorrow, we'll be in the presidential palace'."It has been a stunning transformation: "Brig. Gen. Jeffery Hammond of the 1st Cavalry Division, says Sadr City is the safest place in or around Baghdad. About 18,000 people have reconstruction jobs, he says, earning about $6 a day. 'Sadr City is what the future of Iraq can look like,' he says. Those who were once taking up arms are now talking democracy. 'Before, the men were buying black cloth for their (martyrs') banners. Now for the election, we are buying white cloths' for posters, says candidate Fatah al-Sheikh."
Am I seeing a pattern here Auntie? Why don't you hire Chrekoff? He's doing a much better job than you. What's that Auntie? Oh, yeah, my bad, he writes the good news and you write the bad.
Oil
Watch what follows next. This is a trick Auntie is fond of - set the bar high and then set up the fall.
But its oil industry, according to a 2000 report, has serious technical and infrastructure problems. Under optimal conditions, it is estimated Iraq could produce up to 6m barrels a day - almost double its peak of 3.5m, reached in 1979 before the war with Iran.
Auntie, "infrastructure neglect" by Saddam would more accurate, don't you think?
Notice how high the bar is set at 6 million barrels a day; twice the amount Iraq ever achieved. So what is it now?
In 2004, production is reported to have averaged 1.9m barrels.
Quite a come down from 6 million heh? Except it was 2.5 million just before the war and therefore is not so far off pre invasion levels. Remember these are "averages".
But Auntie (raises hand), Auntie, [Oh, what now!], but now the Iraqis get to keep all the oil whereas before Saddam sold it to France, Russia and China and kept all the money for himself. He squandered all the money on luxuries while his people starved and died.
Health
Sanctions and budget cuts have been blamed for a huge rise in mortality rates.
Blamed by whom, Auntie? You? Now we know the truth; it wasn't the sanctions, it was the UN oil for food scandal. Saddam had billions from the illegal sales to France, Russia and China aided by the UN.
Medical charities say the health system is in a worse condition than before the invasion. According to Medact, 12% of hospitals were damaged during the fighting and the two main public health laboratories destroyed.
Hang on a minute, seems I've heard something like this before from the BBC.
Now I remember - MEDCAT! Auntie, you should be ashamed of yourself. Caught twice using anti-war activists to fabricate stories about Iraq and now caught twice using an anti-war group to fabricate more stories. Shame on you Auntie!
Medcat
Medact was formed by a merger of two older organisations in 1992. The first, the Medical Association for the Prevention of War, was founded by Sir Richard Doll, Horace Joules, Lionel Penrose and others in 1951 during the Korean War as a medical lobby for peace. The second, the Medical Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons, was founded in 1980 and was instrumental in undermining the idea that nuclear war was "survivable". Medact's work on war and weapons continues today, and is now complemented by action on the health impacts of poverty and environmental change.
Things that make you go, hmmmm. "Medact's work on war and weapons continues today". What does this statement mean? Well since Medcat is a merger of two well known former anti-war groups, the answer is anti-war work. But hey, it fits the BBC's anti-war and by extension, anti-American crusade.
Medcat has been exposed before.
Why Auntie, you evil, lying scumbag.
UPDATE:
Is anyone in control at the BBC? They have an article in the business section that says the exact opposite! I kid you not!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reconstruction
Wars and years of sanctions have devastated the oil-rich country's infrastructure.
Yep, off to a good start blaming America.
As usual the BBC hopes you zip right by that and ignore the truth.
"Devastated by sanctions" was it Beeb? Saddam sure managed to build some elaborate palaces and buy gold plated guns and cars with all that "sanctioned" UN oil for food money.
Excuse me Auntie but aren't we forgetting something? You know like "decades of complete and utter neglect by the regime."
Then the Beeb tells us:
By September 2004 only $2.5bn had been released, largely because the security situation has not allowed rebuilding work to proceed.
Then what are all these people doing?
Reconstruction is picking up pace, according to Army Brig. Gen. Thomas Bostick, the commander of the Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division:
"1,550 construction projects are under way throughout the country -- compared to just 200 projects under way in June [2004]...
"These reconstruction projects include large, long-term capital projects that address water and sewage treatment facilities, power plants and the oil- distribution infrastructure. They also include smaller community projects that are more visible to the Iraqi people and have an immediate impact on their lives, he said. The focus of these projects is schools, clinics, hospitals, rail stations and police stations, many being rebuilt with funds from Commander's Emergency Response Program funds...
"He estimated that some 130,000 Iraqis are working on the wide range of projects under way throughout the country. The true number is actually larger, he said, when factoring in the behind-the-scenes workers who manufacture the products used on the construction sites."
Note the above is taken from Chrenkoff's Good News Iraq series - Part 19! Read the first 18 for more on all the construction work and other good news from Iraq.
Security
There are no official figures on Iraqi civilian deaths, but unofficial estimates range from at least 15,000 to almost 100,000 since the March 2003 invasion.
That's quite a range Auntie and who are these "unofficial" sources? Is this your idea of good journalistic practices?
This report just appeared on today's Middle East webpage and one would presume current information. Right?
Post-Saddam Iraq has also seen a number of violent Shia uprisings by fighters loyal to the cleric Moqtada al-Sadr who feel their grievances have not been met.
Well gee Auntie, don't leave us in suspense, what happened to these "loyal fighters" to Sadr after these "violent uprisings"?
Once again we turn to Chrenkoff for the answers.
"Just months ago, Fattahlah Ghazi al-Esmaili was penning articles in support of Iraq's Shi'ite uprising as editor for Ishriqat, a newspaper for rebel cleric Sheik Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi's Army militia.
"Now the 38-year-old has abandoned his Arab head scarf for a neat beige suit and is out pumping the flesh in his run for parliament at the head of a 180-candidate list representing the impoverished Shi'ites of Sadr City."
'Before, we were men of the Mahdi's Army. Now we are men of politics,' says the journalist, who goes by the pen name Fattah al-Sheikh. 'Yesterday, we were out on the streets. Today, we are here campaigning, and hopefully tomorrow, we'll be in the presidential palace'."It has been a stunning transformation: "Brig. Gen. Jeffery Hammond of the 1st Cavalry Division, says Sadr City is the safest place in or around Baghdad. About 18,000 people have reconstruction jobs, he says, earning about $6 a day. 'Sadr City is what the future of Iraq can look like,' he says. Those who were once taking up arms are now talking democracy. 'Before, the men were buying black cloth for their (martyrs') banners. Now for the election, we are buying white cloths' for posters, says candidate Fatah al-Sheikh."
Am I seeing a pattern here Auntie? Why don't you hire Chrekoff? He's doing a much better job than you. What's that Auntie? Oh, yeah, my bad, he writes the good news and you write the bad.
Oil
Watch what follows next. This is a trick Auntie is fond of - set the bar high and then set up the fall.
But its oil industry, according to a 2000 report, has serious technical and infrastructure problems. Under optimal conditions, it is estimated Iraq could produce up to 6m barrels a day - almost double its peak of 3.5m, reached in 1979 before the war with Iran.
Auntie, "infrastructure neglect" by Saddam would more accurate, don't you think?
Notice how high the bar is set at 6 million barrels a day; twice the amount Iraq ever achieved. So what is it now?
In 2004, production is reported to have averaged 1.9m barrels.
Quite a come down from 6 million heh? Except it was 2.5 million just before the war and therefore is not so far off pre invasion levels. Remember these are "averages".
But Auntie (raises hand), Auntie, [Oh, what now!], but now the Iraqis get to keep all the oil whereas before Saddam sold it to France, Russia and China and kept all the money for himself. He squandered all the money on luxuries while his people starved and died.
Health
Sanctions and budget cuts have been blamed for a huge rise in mortality rates.
Blamed by whom, Auntie? You? Now we know the truth; it wasn't the sanctions, it was the UN oil for food scandal. Saddam had billions from the illegal sales to France, Russia and China aided by the UN.
Medical charities say the health system is in a worse condition than before the invasion. According to Medact, 12% of hospitals were damaged during the fighting and the two main public health laboratories destroyed.
Hang on a minute, seems I've heard something like this before from the BBC.
Now I remember - MEDCAT! Auntie, you should be ashamed of yourself. Caught twice using anti-war activists to fabricate stories about Iraq and now caught twice using an anti-war group to fabricate more stories. Shame on you Auntie!
Medcat
Medact was formed by a merger of two older organisations in 1992. The first, the Medical Association for the Prevention of War, was founded by Sir Richard Doll, Horace Joules, Lionel Penrose and others in 1951 during the Korean War as a medical lobby for peace. The second, the Medical Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons, was founded in 1980 and was instrumental in undermining the idea that nuclear war was "survivable". Medact's work on war and weapons continues today, and is now complemented by action on the health impacts of poverty and environmental change.
Things that make you go, hmmmm. "Medact's work on war and weapons continues today". What does this statement mean? Well since Medcat is a merger of two well known former anti-war groups, the answer is anti-war work. But hey, it fits the BBC's anti-war and by extension, anti-American crusade.
Medcat has been exposed before.
Why Auntie, you evil, lying scumbag.
UPDATE:
Is anyone in control at the BBC? They have an article in the business section that says the exact opposite! I kid you not!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBC - The invisible Americans
EU Referendum has the story.
We’ve heard of the ugly Americans. We’ve heard of the quiet Americans. Now, courtesy of the BBC, we have the invisible Americans.
The BBC are quick to point out America's mistakes or make them up if they can't find any. If America does good it didn't happen according to the BBC.
Check it out.
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We’ve heard of the ugly Americans. We’ve heard of the quiet Americans. Now, courtesy of the BBC, we have the invisible Americans.
The BBC are quick to point out America's mistakes or make them up if they can't find any. If America does good it didn't happen according to the BBC.
Check it out.
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Condi Rice - What the Democrats Fear
There has been a lot of speculation on why the Democrats gave Rice such a hard time. Especially since there was no way to block her nomination.
Some say it was a legitimate debate others say it was just political grandstanding. Either way the Democrats looked bad.
The attacks were led by veteran Democrat buffoon Ted Kennedy.
Kennedy keyed the Democratic attack in the Senate with charges that Rice, as Bush’s national security adviser, provided Congress with "false reasons" for going to war. Had she not, he said in a speech, "it might have changed the course of history."
I guess he means he prefers Saddam in power. Anyway this is the exact opposite of what he said before the war.
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002.
The BBC said the same thing until they realized Bush was going to use WMD's as one reason for toppling Saddam. They quickly reversed course.
So, why the all out assault on Condi? Why do the Democrats fear her so much?
Roger Simon has the answer.
The just resolved Condi nomination struggle of 2005 somehow reminded me of the great Giuseppe De Santis movie of 1949. Maybe there's something about the name Rice that makes people angry. But I have had another thought about why Condi became such a lightening rod. The Dems are afraid of her as a presidential candidate in '08 and wanted to take her down a peg as soon as possible. After all, according to Forbes anyway, she is the most powerful woman in the world -- and that was before she was Sec'y of State (No. 2 - Wu Yu of the Chinese Politburo; No. 5 - Hillary Rodham Clinton; No. 10 - Carlton Firoina of Hewlett-Packard).
Even if they don't fear her as a presidential candidate they fear her as a vice presidential candidate.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some say it was a legitimate debate others say it was just political grandstanding. Either way the Democrats looked bad.
The attacks were led by veteran Democrat buffoon Ted Kennedy.
Kennedy keyed the Democratic attack in the Senate with charges that Rice, as Bush’s national security adviser, provided Congress with "false reasons" for going to war. Had she not, he said in a speech, "it might have changed the course of history."
I guess he means he prefers Saddam in power. Anyway this is the exact opposite of what he said before the war.
"We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction." Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), Sept. 27, 2002.
The BBC said the same thing until they realized Bush was going to use WMD's as one reason for toppling Saddam. They quickly reversed course.
So, why the all out assault on Condi? Why do the Democrats fear her so much?
Roger Simon has the answer.
The just resolved Condi nomination struggle of 2005 somehow reminded me of the great Giuseppe De Santis movie of 1949. Maybe there's something about the name Rice that makes people angry. But I have had another thought about why Condi became such a lightening rod. The Dems are afraid of her as a presidential candidate in '08 and wanted to take her down a peg as soon as possible. After all, according to Forbes anyway, she is the most powerful woman in the world -- and that was before she was Sec'y of State (No. 2 - Wu Yu of the Chinese Politburo; No. 5 - Hillary Rodham Clinton; No. 10 - Carlton Firoina of Hewlett-Packard).
Even if they don't fear her as a presidential candidate they fear her as a vice presidential candidate.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBC Bias Caught on Air
This is absolutely priceless.
According to our dear B-BBC commenters, this morning Radio 5 Live did a 'text' poll asking for people's opinions on whether or not the UK should sign-up to the new EU constitution. The result of the poll was cheerily reported by the presenter as being 67% in favour of Britain signing up, with 33% against - which is, as anyone who reads the newspapers knows, almost the exact opposite of properly conducted polls.
Cheerily that is, until this bit:
And so far, the voting in our straw poll is as follows, 33% of you [intake of breath, long pause], uh, is this right? This is the wrong way, this is, er, opposite to what we were saying an hour ago, ah, I'm gonna just check those figures for you. Apparently, no, you don't want to join 67% of you, and yes, 33%. Which, I have to admit, is absolutely opposite to what I reported to you about twenty minutes ago to Eric Forth, so we'll clarify that for you, I do apologise, but a lot of people are saying that our unscientific vote isn't fair because it's skewed towards younger people who have mobile phones and are more likely to text us, so we'll find out about what proper scientific polls say about the subject a bit later in the programme, although I do think that is ageist because my mum's over fifty and she knows how to text.
Be sure and read Biased BBC's take on it.
Here is the audio clip http://upload4free.com/files/1810.mp3.
Priceless.
Be sure and read The Case Against the BBC
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to our dear B-BBC commenters, this morning Radio 5 Live did a 'text' poll asking for people's opinions on whether or not the UK should sign-up to the new EU constitution. The result of the poll was cheerily reported by the presenter as being 67% in favour of Britain signing up, with 33% against - which is, as anyone who reads the newspapers knows, almost the exact opposite of properly conducted polls.
Cheerily that is, until this bit:
And so far, the voting in our straw poll is as follows, 33% of you [intake of breath, long pause], uh, is this right? This is the wrong way, this is, er, opposite to what we were saying an hour ago, ah, I'm gonna just check those figures for you. Apparently, no, you don't want to join 67% of you, and yes, 33%. Which, I have to admit, is absolutely opposite to what I reported to you about twenty minutes ago to Eric Forth, so we'll clarify that for you, I do apologise, but a lot of people are saying that our unscientific vote isn't fair because it's skewed towards younger people who have mobile phones and are more likely to text us, so we'll find out about what proper scientific polls say about the subject a bit later in the programme, although I do think that is ageist because my mum's over fifty and she knows how to text.
Be sure and read Biased BBC's take on it.
Here is the audio clip http://upload4free.com/files/1810.mp3.
Priceless.
Be sure and read The Case Against the BBC
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Iran - Let the Revolution Begin II
Yesterday I posted about CBS News of all people reporting on the coming revolution in Iran.
The hardliners can always launch another temporary crackdown. But in the end, the 1970s Islamic revolution seems certain to be undone by its own children.
And I said this:
The torch of freedom is lit and burning in Afghanistan and in the Ukraine. The torch will be lit in Iraq this weekend and its glow will be seen across the border in Iran and Syria.
Seems I was right.
Reports from across Iran are stating about the massive welcoming of President George W. Bush's inaugural speech and his promise of helping to bring down the last outposts of tyranny.
Millions of Iranians have been reported as having stayed home, on Thursday night which is their usual Weekend and outgoing night, in order to see or hear the Presidential speech and the comments made by the Los Angeles based Iranian satellite TV and radio networks, such as, NITV or KRSI.
Many were seen showing the " V " sign or their raised fists. Talks were focused on steps that need to be taken in order to use the first time ever favorable International condition. [...]
Various reports from underground groups are stating that Iranians will be increasing the Civil Disobedience Movement by making more strikes and demos in the days ahead.
I reported earlier today Jordan is to introduce democratic reforms.
The world press in their anti-American zeal are trying to force the world to adopt a myopic view of the violence in Iraq. They sneer, there will be elections in Iraq but will the Iraqis vote, will the election be legitimate and will it end the bloodshed?
Turn the telescope around and you see the flame of democracy spreading like wildfire in the Middle East. The torch that George Bush lit cannot now be extinguished.
All the efforts of the communist led anti-war movement, aided and abetted by the liberal press, and people like the loathsome George Galloway, cannot extinguish the flame of democracy.
The American elections, like the Iraqi elections, are about something much bigger than the spread of democracy to the corners of the world. Just as the rise of the blockers is much bigger than just a fact check on legacy media.
There is something new in the world; a new revolution. That should give us pause, for it rarely happens.
The Belmount Club noticed it too.
Abramson shuddered and well she should. But at what? What was out there in the dark about which these conference participants are talking? It is a something that has already swallowed Brittanica. No one is quite sure what it is, but everyone should be quite certain that it will strike again.
I replied, "It" is the citizens taking back their freedom of thought; a new revolution.
And with that comes a new awakening; a realization that the left have been lying for years. America, under Bush's leadership, has thrown off the yolk of Vietnam imposed by the lying liberal press led by the likes of John Kerry. Billions have suffered around the world under tyranny's boot because of them. No more; there's a new revolution.
Sometimes in the grand scheme of things all the right pieces appear on the world stage at precisely the same time; as if the cosmos came into perfect alignment.
Just look at the last four years. Bush is elected, bin Laden's massive attack on American soil, Afghanistan is freed, the rise of the bloggers challenges MSM, Saddam is toppled, Arafat dies, Ukraine overturns stolen election, Palestinians hold elections, Iraqis hold elections, the tsunami disaster shows America's greatness - UN's weakness, UN oil for food scandal exposes corruption in UN, France, Russia and China, and on it goes.
No one man can take credit for all of this. But one man can take credit for having the vision, steadfastness and courage of his convictions to remain calm and keep his head "while all around him others were losing theirs" - George Bush.
Welcome to the new revolution.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The hardliners can always launch another temporary crackdown. But in the end, the 1970s Islamic revolution seems certain to be undone by its own children.
And I said this:
The torch of freedom is lit and burning in Afghanistan and in the Ukraine. The torch will be lit in Iraq this weekend and its glow will be seen across the border in Iran and Syria.
Seems I was right.
Reports from across Iran are stating about the massive welcoming of President George W. Bush's inaugural speech and his promise of helping to bring down the last outposts of tyranny.
Millions of Iranians have been reported as having stayed home, on Thursday night which is their usual Weekend and outgoing night, in order to see or hear the Presidential speech and the comments made by the Los Angeles based Iranian satellite TV and radio networks, such as, NITV or KRSI.
Many were seen showing the " V " sign or their raised fists. Talks were focused on steps that need to be taken in order to use the first time ever favorable International condition. [...]
Various reports from underground groups are stating that Iranians will be increasing the Civil Disobedience Movement by making more strikes and demos in the days ahead.
I reported earlier today Jordan is to introduce democratic reforms.
The world press in their anti-American zeal are trying to force the world to adopt a myopic view of the violence in Iraq. They sneer, there will be elections in Iraq but will the Iraqis vote, will the election be legitimate and will it end the bloodshed?
Turn the telescope around and you see the flame of democracy spreading like wildfire in the Middle East. The torch that George Bush lit cannot now be extinguished.
All the efforts of the communist led anti-war movement, aided and abetted by the liberal press, and people like the loathsome George Galloway, cannot extinguish the flame of democracy.
The American elections, like the Iraqi elections, are about something much bigger than the spread of democracy to the corners of the world. Just as the rise of the blockers is much bigger than just a fact check on legacy media.
There is something new in the world; a new revolution. That should give us pause, for it rarely happens.
The Belmount Club noticed it too.
Abramson shuddered and well she should. But at what? What was out there in the dark about which these conference participants are talking? It is a something that has already swallowed Brittanica. No one is quite sure what it is, but everyone should be quite certain that it will strike again.
I replied, "It" is the citizens taking back their freedom of thought; a new revolution.
And with that comes a new awakening; a realization that the left have been lying for years. America, under Bush's leadership, has thrown off the yolk of Vietnam imposed by the lying liberal press led by the likes of John Kerry. Billions have suffered around the world under tyranny's boot because of them. No more; there's a new revolution.
Sometimes in the grand scheme of things all the right pieces appear on the world stage at precisely the same time; as if the cosmos came into perfect alignment.
Just look at the last four years. Bush is elected, bin Laden's massive attack on American soil, Afghanistan is freed, the rise of the bloggers challenges MSM, Saddam is toppled, Arafat dies, Ukraine overturns stolen election, Palestinians hold elections, Iraqis hold elections, the tsunami disaster shows America's greatness - UN's weakness, UN oil for food scandal exposes corruption in UN, France, Russia and China, and on it goes.
No one man can take credit for all of this. But one man can take credit for having the vision, steadfastness and courage of his convictions to remain calm and keep his head "while all around him others were losing theirs" - George Bush.
Welcome to the new revolution.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iran Must Dismantle Nuke Program - EU
Yesterday I noted how Iran and the EU were deadlocked over this issue.
Now comes the foot stomping.
VIENNA (Reuters) - France, Britain and Germany have told Iran they will not settle for anything less than an end to sensitive nuclear processes key to the production of atomic bombs, according to a confidential EU document.
Since Britain's Jack Straw has already said "Britain would take no part in any military action against Iran" I suppose the next step will be to issue a statement condemning Iran's actions.
Put your foot down hard this time Jack and tell them you won't settle for anything less. That ought to do the trick. If that doesn't work issue another statement condemning, "in the strongest terms possible", Iran's actions.
And if that doesn't work you can always go to the UN, get 17 resolutions, wait ten years for nothing to happen and then - ? Too late then Jack.
The London Times thinks it's just a case of playing good cop versus bad cop. Guess who gets to be the bad cop?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now comes the foot stomping.
VIENNA (Reuters) - France, Britain and Germany have told Iran they will not settle for anything less than an end to sensitive nuclear processes key to the production of atomic bombs, according to a confidential EU document.
Since Britain's Jack Straw has already said "Britain would take no part in any military action against Iran" I suppose the next step will be to issue a statement condemning Iran's actions.
Put your foot down hard this time Jack and tell them you won't settle for anything less. That ought to do the trick. If that doesn't work issue another statement condemning, "in the strongest terms possible", Iran's actions.
And if that doesn't work you can always go to the UN, get 17 resolutions, wait ten years for nothing to happen and then - ? Too late then Jack.
The London Times thinks it's just a case of playing good cop versus bad cop. Guess who gets to be the bad cop?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jordan to introduce democratic reform
I wrote yesterday about the spread of democracy in the Middle East and said this:
The torch of freedom is lit and burning in Afghanistan and in the Ukraine. The torch will be lit in Iraq this weekend and its glow will be seen across the border in Iran and Syria. Freedom's light burns brighter, is seen from ever afar, and it beckons ever stronger. It has exposed the failure of radical Islam and lights the path to freedom for all its prisoners.
Seems some of that light is shinning on Jordan.
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — King Abdullah II, while urging citizens in neighboring Iraq to vote in this weekend's elections, said he would introduce some limited democratic reforms in his kingdom. In a televised speech, Abdullah said he wanted to "address all our brethren in Iraq, of all groups and spectrums, and call on them to take part in the elections to be held in a few days."
The king then unveiled plans to establish elected councils to oversee development in Jordan. He did not explain how the new councils would work with existing local authorities, half of whose members are appointed by the government.
"I assert here that political development should start at the grass roots, then move up to decision-making centers, and not vice versa," the king said.
Abdullah spoke only hours after President Bush urged him at a Washington press conference to "make sure that democracy continues to advance in Jordan."
Let the light shine on.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The torch of freedom is lit and burning in Afghanistan and in the Ukraine. The torch will be lit in Iraq this weekend and its glow will be seen across the border in Iran and Syria. Freedom's light burns brighter, is seen from ever afar, and it beckons ever stronger. It has exposed the failure of radical Islam and lights the path to freedom for all its prisoners.
Seems some of that light is shinning on Jordan.
AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — King Abdullah II, while urging citizens in neighboring Iraq to vote in this weekend's elections, said he would introduce some limited democratic reforms in his kingdom. In a televised speech, Abdullah said he wanted to "address all our brethren in Iraq, of all groups and spectrums, and call on them to take part in the elections to be held in a few days."
The king then unveiled plans to establish elected councils to oversee development in Jordan. He did not explain how the new councils would work with existing local authorities, half of whose members are appointed by the government.
"I assert here that political development should start at the grass roots, then move up to decision-making centers, and not vice versa," the king said.
Abdullah spoke only hours after President Bush urged him at a Washington press conference to "make sure that democracy continues to advance in Jordan."
Let the light shine on.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Iraq - Denying Them Freedom
Scott has some questions for The Independent's Mary Dejevsky.
The Independent's Mary Dejevsky makes it explicit (paid link) - she doesn't think that Saddam's overthrow was a good thing (emphasis added):
"My bet is that more Iraqis may defy the risks to vote than has been forecast. Such an outcome would be the first positive turn of events in Iraq since the disastrous US and British invasion of 2003."
But a successful election would be a good thing, right? Well, not entirely - other people might want to have democratic elections as well!
"The illusion would be propagated that, if Iraq in its present state can hold a plausible election, then pretty much every country can proceed on the high road to democracy too: they only have to accept how eminently superior democracy is to all other forms of government."
We sure wouldn't want that to happen!
As I asked in an earlier post, why do people deny the Iraqi people, and others, the freedom of democracy they enjoy?
And Mary, that's a suckers bet as over 80% of Iraqis have said they will vote.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Independent's Mary Dejevsky makes it explicit (paid link) - she doesn't think that Saddam's overthrow was a good thing (emphasis added):
"My bet is that more Iraqis may defy the risks to vote than has been forecast. Such an outcome would be the first positive turn of events in Iraq since the disastrous US and British invasion of 2003."
But a successful election would be a good thing, right? Well, not entirely - other people might want to have democratic elections as well!
"The illusion would be propagated that, if Iraq in its present state can hold a plausible election, then pretty much every country can proceed on the high road to democracy too: they only have to accept how eminently superior democracy is to all other forms of government."
We sure wouldn't want that to happen!
As I asked in an earlier post, why do people deny the Iraqi people, and others, the freedom of democracy they enjoy?
And Mary, that's a suckers bet as over 80% of Iraqis have said they will vote.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iran - Let the Revolution Begin
CBS News of all people is reporting on the coming revolution in Iran.
(CBS) The Iranian students storming the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 became icons of worldwide Islamic revolution.
Twenty-five years later, Iran's youth is rebelling again. But as CBS News Correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports, this time against the Islamic government itself.
Fully 60 percent of Iranians are under the age of 30, and they have had enough of strict Islamic rule. Everywhere there are signs that the religious authorities are losing control.
Yet there are signs the mad mullahs are not ready to give up.
Iran - Crackdown on Girls under 14
And
Iran - Torturing Bloggers
Surprisingly CBS seems very upbeat about their chances.
"Our young people are as well informed as young people in China or Britain or America. Anyone who tries to limit them is bound to fail," he says.
The hardliners can always launch another temporary crackdown. But in the end, the 1970s Islamic revolution seems certain to be undone by its own children.
The torch of freedom is lit and burning in Afghanistan and in the Ukraine. The torch will be lit in Iraq this weekend and its glow will be seen across the border in Iran and Syria. Freedom's light burns brighter, is seen from ever afar, and it beckons ever stronger. It has exposed the failure of radical Islam and lights the path to freedom for all its prisoners.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(CBS) The Iranian students storming the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979 became icons of worldwide Islamic revolution.
Twenty-five years later, Iran's youth is rebelling again. But as CBS News Correspondent Elizabeth Palmer reports, this time against the Islamic government itself.
Fully 60 percent of Iranians are under the age of 30, and they have had enough of strict Islamic rule. Everywhere there are signs that the religious authorities are losing control.
Yet there are signs the mad mullahs are not ready to give up.
Iran - Crackdown on Girls under 14
And
Iran - Torturing Bloggers
Surprisingly CBS seems very upbeat about their chances.
"Our young people are as well informed as young people in China or Britain or America. Anyone who tries to limit them is bound to fail," he says.
The hardliners can always launch another temporary crackdown. But in the end, the 1970s Islamic revolution seems certain to be undone by its own children.
The torch of freedom is lit and burning in Afghanistan and in the Ukraine. The torch will be lit in Iraq this weekend and its glow will be seen across the border in Iran and Syria. Freedom's light burns brighter, is seen from ever afar, and it beckons ever stronger. It has exposed the failure of radical Islam and lights the path to freedom for all its prisoners.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zimbabwe's Elections Descend Into Chaos
The London Times is reporting on voter intimidation in the run up to Zimbabwe's elections.
Contestants have deployed mobs of youths to attack each other, and in Harare riot police had to break up the clashes.
Didymus Mutasa, the Anti-Corruption Minister, led a three-day rampage against his challenger, leaving a trial of smashed limbs, burnt-out cars and ransacked homes.
To get their names on to the list, party heavyweights scattered money and food among Zanu (PF)’s poorgrass-roots supporters. Joseph Made, the Agriculture Minister, was reported to have ordered the distribution of maize seed and fertiliser from government stocks. Paul Mangwana, the Social Welfare Minister, reportedly set fire to ballot papers when he saw he was losing.
The selection process was preceded by a purge of senior party officials after Mr Mugabe discovered a plot to foil his plan to make Joyce Mujuru, the loyal head of the party women’s league, the party’s vice-president, thereby ensuring he can manipulate the transfer of power whenever he retires.
Go to the BBC's Africa webpage and you will not find a single article about violence in Zimbabwe's elections.
As of this writing there are 6 articles on the Iraqi elections on the BBC's Middle East webpage.
Oh, I get it! The US isn't involved so there is nothing to report.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contestants have deployed mobs of youths to attack each other, and in Harare riot police had to break up the clashes.
Didymus Mutasa, the Anti-Corruption Minister, led a three-day rampage against his challenger, leaving a trial of smashed limbs, burnt-out cars and ransacked homes.
To get their names on to the list, party heavyweights scattered money and food among Zanu (PF)’s poorgrass-roots supporters. Joseph Made, the Agriculture Minister, was reported to have ordered the distribution of maize seed and fertiliser from government stocks. Paul Mangwana, the Social Welfare Minister, reportedly set fire to ballot papers when he saw he was losing.
The selection process was preceded by a purge of senior party officials after Mr Mugabe discovered a plot to foil his plan to make Joyce Mujuru, the loyal head of the party women’s league, the party’s vice-president, thereby ensuring he can manipulate the transfer of power whenever he retires.
Go to the BBC's Africa webpage and you will not find a single article about violence in Zimbabwe's elections.
As of this writing there are 6 articles on the Iraqi elections on the BBC's Middle East webpage.
Oh, I get it! The US isn't involved so there is nothing to report.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Global Alliance for Vaccines - Upmanship
Check out this story from The London Times.
Chancellor trumps Gates pledge with £1bn for vaccines
GORDON BROWN will today pledge almost £1 billion to funding vaccines for children in the poorest countries.
The Chancellor’s extraordinary commitment is more than double the money donated to the same fund yesterday by Bill Gates, the world’s richest man.
A country giving double what one man gives; is this something to brag about? Even if he is the world's richest man he is still only one man.
Shouldn't the article be about how generous the rich can be; how generous a rich capitalist can be; how generous a rich capitalist American can be.
Naw, it wouldn't fit the agenda.
Still, I'm glad their getting the aid they need.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chancellor trumps Gates pledge with £1bn for vaccines
GORDON BROWN will today pledge almost £1 billion to funding vaccines for children in the poorest countries.
The Chancellor’s extraordinary commitment is more than double the money donated to the same fund yesterday by Bill Gates, the world’s richest man.
A country giving double what one man gives; is this something to brag about? Even if he is the world's richest man he is still only one man.
Shouldn't the article be about how generous the rich can be; how generous a rich capitalist can be; how generous a rich capitalist American can be.
Naw, it wouldn't fit the agenda.
Still, I'm glad their getting the aid they need.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iran - EU nuclear talks deadlocked
The Daily Times is reporting "Confidential talks between European powers and Iran are deadlocked on the key issue of uranium enrichment, with Iran refusing to consider scrapping such programmes, diplomats said on Tuesday."
Their views are reflected in a summary of the last meeting between representatives of France, Britain, Germany and Iran. The summary states that Iran intends to maintain its enrichment programme, whereas the European powers continue to insist on its “cessation” or “dismantlement”. Diplomats familiar with the talks said no progress is being made on the EU insistence that Iran’s temporary suspension of enrichment programs be turned into a commitment to permanently mothball all such activities.
Now over to Britain's Jack Straw.
Mr Straw has already said Britain would take no part in any military action against Iran. Britain, France and Germany are spearheading diplomatic efforts with Tehran.
Hey Jack! Want to play some poker?
UPDATE:
The London Times thinks it's just a case of playing good cop versus bad cop. Guess who gets to be the bad cop?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Their views are reflected in a summary of the last meeting between representatives of France, Britain, Germany and Iran. The summary states that Iran intends to maintain its enrichment programme, whereas the European powers continue to insist on its “cessation” or “dismantlement”. Diplomats familiar with the talks said no progress is being made on the EU insistence that Iran’s temporary suspension of enrichment programs be turned into a commitment to permanently mothball all such activities.
Now over to Britain's Jack Straw.
Mr Straw has already said Britain would take no part in any military action against Iran. Britain, France and Germany are spearheading diplomatic efforts with Tehran.
Hey Jack! Want to play some poker?
UPDATE:
The London Times thinks it's just a case of playing good cop versus bad cop. Guess who gets to be the bad cop?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
America - We're Sorry World
We're Sorry World.
"The United States is not the 'Superman' of the world."
OUR CANADIAN FRIEND CHRIS ALEMANY comments in a post below:
"Freedom is a Human Right"
That's exactly right... but no Human being should be subjected to all out war by foreign country in order to gain that right.
*Some* Americans need to learn that the United States is not and need not be the "Superman" of the world.
Chris has a point -- the United States needs to stop "playing Superman." Furthermore, we should apologize to each of those nations that we have “liberated” by force of arms.
To the good people of...
I won't spoil it; you have to read it for yourself.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The United States is not the 'Superman' of the world."
OUR CANADIAN FRIEND CHRIS ALEMANY comments in a post below:
"Freedom is a Human Right"
That's exactly right... but no Human being should be subjected to all out war by foreign country in order to gain that right.
*Some* Americans need to learn that the United States is not and need not be the "Superman" of the world.
Chris has a point -- the United States needs to stop "playing Superman." Furthermore, we should apologize to each of those nations that we have “liberated” by force of arms.
To the good people of...
I won't spoil it; you have to read it for yourself.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iraq Elections - Fierce Determination
A round up of feelings from the Middle East by the San Francisco Chronicle
Compare this to the doom and gloom brought to you by the BBC.
As Iraqis count down the days until next Sunday's U.S.-backed elections, a sense of fierce determination -- to carry out a historic, if very uncertain exercise in democracy -- is in the air.
A recent cartoon in the Iraqi newspaper Al-Mada, for example, showed a voter slipping his own sliced-off head, instead of a paper ballot, into the slot of a ballot box. Its somewhat obtuse meaning: despite threats by insurgents to kill anyone who takes part in the elections scheduled for next Sunday, determined citizens will go to the polls, whatever the real or imagined risks they may face. (Iraqi Press Monitor; click on link for Jan. 19)
As Middle East Online op-ed columnist Ben Tanosborn noted, "Whatever happens on [election day] in Iraq, the people there will have their say, will have their vote ... whether by turning in their ballots at the polling places, or by staying home." And although Iraq's American overseers intend for the forthcoming vote to be "a full-fledged national and provincial multiparty election," Tanosborn believes that its results "will boil down to a simple referendum" to decide whether Iraq "remains a geopolitical[ly] indivisible nation" or whether it will undergo a process of "Balkanization" leading to "its fragmentation and a possible civil war."
In Iraq, the newspaper Al-Bayan advised "[t]hose who are convinced ... the election is the only salvation from the political, economic and security chaos" that now prevail in the war-ravaged country to "make sure they are well prepared for the vote ...." It added, "Those ... who believe this process will come to nothing should make up their minds and offer an appropriate alternative" and reminded readers that "[a]ny team that can win a majority will succeed, and its rival should then succumb to the will of the majority." (Al-Bayan, quoted by BBC)
In the United Arab Emirates, the newspaper Al-Ittihad looked ahead encouragingly to election day by noting that, so far, "the terrorists have not succeeded in terrorizing the Iraqi people. In fact, they have strengthened their resolve to move forward with a national political program [that] will ensure that foreigners leave their country, and that a new era begins based on democracy." (Al-Ittihad, quoted by BBC)
Noting that, in fact, "[t]here are indeed two occupations in Iraq," that of the U.S.-led coalition forces and that of the terrorists who oppose them, Saudi Arabia's Arab News observed that, although the insurgents "say they reject the election because it is a tool of Washington, designed to prolong [its] occupation," the truth is "that if enough voters brave threats such as the terrorist graffiti reading 'Vote and Die,' and a representative government does emerge from Sunday's process, the men of violence will have received a worse defeat than any that Iraqi security forces and coalition troops could inflict upon them on the battlefield."
The Arab News, published in a country that isn't exactly well known for a very open, full democracy of its own, added, "That is why Sunday is so important, because it will be the first chance ... ordinary people will [have] to make their voice[s] heard among the gunfire and bomb blasts."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compare this to the doom and gloom brought to you by the BBC.
As Iraqis count down the days until next Sunday's U.S.-backed elections, a sense of fierce determination -- to carry out a historic, if very uncertain exercise in democracy -- is in the air.
A recent cartoon in the Iraqi newspaper Al-Mada, for example, showed a voter slipping his own sliced-off head, instead of a paper ballot, into the slot of a ballot box. Its somewhat obtuse meaning: despite threats by insurgents to kill anyone who takes part in the elections scheduled for next Sunday, determined citizens will go to the polls, whatever the real or imagined risks they may face. (Iraqi Press Monitor; click on link for Jan. 19)
As Middle East Online op-ed columnist Ben Tanosborn noted, "Whatever happens on [election day] in Iraq, the people there will have their say, will have their vote ... whether by turning in their ballots at the polling places, or by staying home." And although Iraq's American overseers intend for the forthcoming vote to be "a full-fledged national and provincial multiparty election," Tanosborn believes that its results "will boil down to a simple referendum" to decide whether Iraq "remains a geopolitical[ly] indivisible nation" or whether it will undergo a process of "Balkanization" leading to "its fragmentation and a possible civil war."
In Iraq, the newspaper Al-Bayan advised "[t]hose who are convinced ... the election is the only salvation from the political, economic and security chaos" that now prevail in the war-ravaged country to "make sure they are well prepared for the vote ...." It added, "Those ... who believe this process will come to nothing should make up their minds and offer an appropriate alternative" and reminded readers that "[a]ny team that can win a majority will succeed, and its rival should then succumb to the will of the majority." (Al-Bayan, quoted by BBC)
In the United Arab Emirates, the newspaper Al-Ittihad looked ahead encouragingly to election day by noting that, so far, "the terrorists have not succeeded in terrorizing the Iraqi people. In fact, they have strengthened their resolve to move forward with a national political program [that] will ensure that foreigners leave their country, and that a new era begins based on democracy." (Al-Ittihad, quoted by BBC)
Noting that, in fact, "[t]here are indeed two occupations in Iraq," that of the U.S.-led coalition forces and that of the terrorists who oppose them, Saudi Arabia's Arab News observed that, although the insurgents "say they reject the election because it is a tool of Washington, designed to prolong [its] occupation," the truth is "that if enough voters brave threats such as the terrorist graffiti reading 'Vote and Die,' and a representative government does emerge from Sunday's process, the men of violence will have received a worse defeat than any that Iraqi security forces and coalition troops could inflict upon them on the battlefield."
The Arab News, published in a country that isn't exactly well known for a very open, full democracy of its own, added, "That is why Sunday is so important, because it will be the first chance ... ordinary people will [have] to make their voice[s] heard among the gunfire and bomb blasts."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBC Chairman Attacks News Output
You can't get well if you don't admit you're sick; a position the BBC finds itself in.
Since the Hutton report people have come and gone but nothing has changed. The BBC's unabashed attacks on America and Israel continues unabated. Their cheerleading of the Palestinians while downplaying the Iraqi elections are evident daily.
BBC chairman, Michael Grade, just gave a speech to the London College of Communications, praising his organization. I'll get to my take in a minute.
First, here are some notes from The Telegraph.
Grade in attack on BBC news output
The BBC chairman, Michael Grade, vented his frustration with BBC1 news last night, effectively acknowledging that it had "dumbed down" in a misguided attempt to improve ratings.
Michael Grade said that journalists and editors were ‘confused’.
In his first major speech on the state of BBC news, Mr Grade said the corporation had "unwittingly contributed" to the decline in serious news values because of its preoccupation with audience accessibility.
"Vented his frustration", BBC1 News "dumbed down", "journalists and editors" confused and a "decline in serious news values".
Before you go thinking Grade has admitted his beloved propaganda machine is unwell you might want to read his speech.
This crisis originated in a failure in the BBC's journalism. In a way, it's a measure of the weight and significance attached to BBC journalism that a single mistake, in a single report, broadcast very early one morning, should be able to precipitate such a cataclysm.
Got that? Someone at the BBC was up early and made a single mistake that resulted in a journalist firing and the two top executives at the BBC leaving (fired). Can you say denial?
But as the the Hutton Report sets out and the BBC acknowledged at the time, there was a systematic failure not just a single failure. That same system is still in place today.
Editorial system at BBC was defective in allowing Mr Gilligan's report to go to air without editors seeing a script
BBC management failed to make an examination of Mr Gilligan's notes of the interview with Dr Kelly
There was a defect in the BBC's management system relating to the way complaints were investigated
BBC governors failed to investigate Mr Gilligan's actions properly
Grade's own back slapping continues with his praise for "The complaints handling system across the BBC has been changed to make it speedier, fairer and more accountable. "
Bullshit.
There's now also a valuable Notes and Corrections section of the NewsWatch website. So if the BBC gets things wrong, there's now a place where corrections can rapidly be posted.
Go there now and you will not find a single "correction". You will find, under "Notes", 5 articles defending the BBC's position.
Incredibly, Grade uses the blatant bias of one of the BBC's Middle East correspondents, as proof that the BBC is more accountable.
Three months ago, a BBC correspondent in the Middle East - a good correspondent with a strong record - made an inappropriately personal remark about the death of Yasser Arafat in an edition of From Our Own Correspondent. [Note the defense of the correspondent]
The BBC received many complaints [Over 500] . Its first response was the old one - a public statement that defended the output come what may. That was the wrong response - it reflected the instincts of the old culture.
When the new Director of News, Helen Boaden, heard the statement she was surprised. It did not reflect her expressed view about the piece or that of her senior team.
So she changed it - to make clear that aspects of the broadcast had been misjudged. And knowing that would raise eyebrows, she went on Radio 4's Feedback programme to explain herself. It was time, she said, for BBC News to have an adult relationship with its audience. That was in October.
You see? The correction wasn't made because of over 500 complaints from the public, it was made because it did not reflect Boaden's views. Riiiiight.
What was the "inappropriately personal remark" and who was the good BBC correspondent?
The Telegraph reports how the BBC was swamped with complaints about its' Middle East correspondent, Barbara Plett's on air admission that she cried when Arafat left for France.
"When the helicopter carrying the frail old man rose above his ruined compound, I started to cry . . . without warning," she said.
Plett still works for the BBC.
If anyone has any illusions that the BBC, under Grade, is going to morph into bastion of journalistic integrity, I've got some "genuine" Bush national guard memos I'll sell you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since the Hutton report people have come and gone but nothing has changed. The BBC's unabashed attacks on America and Israel continues unabated. Their cheerleading of the Palestinians while downplaying the Iraqi elections are evident daily.
BBC chairman, Michael Grade, just gave a speech to the London College of Communications, praising his organization. I'll get to my take in a minute.
First, here are some notes from The Telegraph.
Grade in attack on BBC news output
The BBC chairman, Michael Grade, vented his frustration with BBC1 news last night, effectively acknowledging that it had "dumbed down" in a misguided attempt to improve ratings.
Michael Grade said that journalists and editors were ‘confused’.
In his first major speech on the state of BBC news, Mr Grade said the corporation had "unwittingly contributed" to the decline in serious news values because of its preoccupation with audience accessibility.
"Vented his frustration", BBC1 News "dumbed down", "journalists and editors" confused and a "decline in serious news values".
Before you go thinking Grade has admitted his beloved propaganda machine is unwell you might want to read his speech.
This crisis originated in a failure in the BBC's journalism. In a way, it's a measure of the weight and significance attached to BBC journalism that a single mistake, in a single report, broadcast very early one morning, should be able to precipitate such a cataclysm.
Got that? Someone at the BBC was up early and made a single mistake that resulted in a journalist firing and the two top executives at the BBC leaving (fired). Can you say denial?
But as the the Hutton Report sets out and the BBC acknowledged at the time, there was a systematic failure not just a single failure. That same system is still in place today.
Editorial system at BBC was defective in allowing Mr Gilligan's report to go to air without editors seeing a script
BBC management failed to make an examination of Mr Gilligan's notes of the interview with Dr Kelly
There was a defect in the BBC's management system relating to the way complaints were investigated
BBC governors failed to investigate Mr Gilligan's actions properly
Grade's own back slapping continues with his praise for "The complaints handling system across the BBC has been changed to make it speedier, fairer and more accountable. "
Bullshit.
There's now also a valuable Notes and Corrections section of the NewsWatch website. So if the BBC gets things wrong, there's now a place where corrections can rapidly be posted.
Go there now and you will not find a single "correction". You will find, under "Notes", 5 articles defending the BBC's position.
Incredibly, Grade uses the blatant bias of one of the BBC's Middle East correspondents, as proof that the BBC is more accountable.
Three months ago, a BBC correspondent in the Middle East - a good correspondent with a strong record - made an inappropriately personal remark about the death of Yasser Arafat in an edition of From Our Own Correspondent. [Note the defense of the correspondent]
The BBC received many complaints [Over 500] . Its first response was the old one - a public statement that defended the output come what may. That was the wrong response - it reflected the instincts of the old culture.
When the new Director of News, Helen Boaden, heard the statement she was surprised. It did not reflect her expressed view about the piece or that of her senior team.
So she changed it - to make clear that aspects of the broadcast had been misjudged. And knowing that would raise eyebrows, she went on Radio 4's Feedback programme to explain herself. It was time, she said, for BBC News to have an adult relationship with its audience. That was in October.
You see? The correction wasn't made because of over 500 complaints from the public, it was made because it did not reflect Boaden's views. Riiiiight.
What was the "inappropriately personal remark" and who was the good BBC correspondent?
The Telegraph reports how the BBC was swamped with complaints about its' Middle East correspondent, Barbara Plett's on air admission that she cried when Arafat left for France.
"When the helicopter carrying the frail old man rose above his ruined compound, I started to cry . . . without warning," she said.
Plett still works for the BBC.
If anyone has any illusions that the BBC, under Grade, is going to morph into bastion of journalistic integrity, I've got some "genuine" Bush national guard memos I'll sell you.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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