Saddam not a dictator at BBC

Electronic Telegraph ^ | December 20, 2003 | London Spy

[aculeus]

Spy recently reported confusion at the BBC over what to call Harrods boss Mohamed (al) Fayed.

Now, I hear that descriptions of Saddam Hussein are the latest target of a corporation diktat.

"An e-mail has been circulated telling us not to refer to Saddam as a dictator," I'm told. "Instead, we are supposed to describe him as the former leader of Iraq.

"Apparently, because his presidency was endorsed in a referendum, he was technically elected. Hence the word dictator is banned. It's all rather ridiculous."

The Beeb insists that the e-mail merely restates existing guidelines. "We wanted to remind journalists whose work is seen and heard internationally of the need to use neutral language," says a spokesman.

[hellinahandcart]

"Apparently, because his presidency was endorsed in a referendum, he was technically elected. Hence the word dictator is banned.

I guess Hitler's a "former leader" now, too.

[BykrBayb]

Will make note of this in my New Speak to English Dictionary. The quarterly updates are getting bigger all the time.

[dighton]

Nice twist of the knife: corporation diktat.

[Ken522]

At this rate, Saddam will soon become "an agrarian reformer."

[Redcoat LI]

He did win the popular vote,so in the eyes of a leftist,he is the president.

[Argus]

SOP for the Baathist Broadcasting Corporation.

[MJY1288]

"Apparently, because his presidency was endorsed in a referendum, he was technically elected."

Kim Jong Ill held a similar election in North Korea, I guess he should be considered legitimately elected as well. The left is off the map

[caisson71]

Yes, the Leader of Iraq was elected by 100% of the vote - or else.

[Diogenesis]

Are the BBC militants and proterrorists still murdering witnesses, too?

[KellyAdmirer]

Instead of Dictator, they could use the term "Mass Murderer", too. That is true and eminently provable. But, of course, that wouldn't fit into the BBC agenda, so all the justifications of "neutrality" are pure poppycock.

One really has to wonder what these news organizations as presently constituted would have done during either of the world wars. I'm sure it wouldn't have been pretty.

[whereasandsoforth]

Real presidents aren't found hiding in spidey holes. Dictators are. Real leaders aren't hated and feared by the people they are leading. Dictators are.

[stands2reason]

ping

[mhking]

Complaints to BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/3281777.stm

[Libertarianize the GOP]

How many times have they refereed to Pinochet of Chile as a former dictator?

[Tempest]

Yes truly after all Saddam did get 100% of the vote of his people. . .

Idiots.

[Minutemen]

Thats right, he's not a dictator........anymore.

[river rat]

The boys in loose loafers at the BBC, have packed so much fudge - it's putting pressure on the brain...

They're nuts.

Semper Fi

[expatpat]

"We wanted to remind journalists.....of the need to use neutral language,"

Do they use neutral language re President Bush?

[SW6906]

There was a DemocRAT Congresscritter on Hannity & Colmes tonight who made a comment along the lines of "Saddam is not like Hitler and you can't compare the two". Let's see: one tortured and gassed jews, the other tortured and gassed Kurds and tortured and killed Shiites. The only difference I see is how many they tortured and killed, not that one did and the other didn't.

Amazed me to hear that coming from an elected official. They cut to a commercial, so Sean didn't get to come back to him on it.