Posted on 01/28/2004 8:31:20 AM PST by Pikamax
January 28, 2004 BBC Management "Almost in Meltdown" Lord Hutton's report into the death of Dr. David Kelly, released this afternoon, has almost completely vindicated Tony Blair and the government, at the same time severely criticising the BBC's reporting and governance.
This is a huge story. Most observers were expecting blame to be apportioned evenly, and the one-sided castigation of the Corporation has come as a big surprise.
The Guardian reports that:
"BBC chairman Gavyn Davies is said to be considering his position after Lord Hutton criticised the BBC in his long awaited report into the death of weapons expert David Kelly. The corporation has flatly denied rumours sweeping Westminster that he has resigned, but one senior insider said the mood at the BBC was 'very grim'." Expect resignations and rolling heads.
Here are some quotes, gathered this afternoon from the radio and the web. More to follow.
"In the end what it comes down to is a judgement by Lord Hutton - who he believes, whose motives he trusts most and in that, again and again, he comes down on the side of politicians and officials, who by and large he believes and whose story, whose narrative he accepts and he comes down against Andrew Gilligan, and journalism, I have to say generally, and against the BBC." BBC Political editor Andrew Marr
The BBC has been "drenched in disgrace and incompetence." Former Defence Minister Lord Gilbert - on The World at One, BBC Radio4
"A grim day for the BBC." BBC Radio 4 2pm News
"Completely unprecedented in the criticism of the BBC Governors' performance of their duty." BBC correspondent Richard Ayers - on BBC Five Live
"The [BBC] Management is almost in meltdown at the moment" Mark Mardell, BBC Chief Political Correspondent - on Radio 4
"Tony Blair couldn't have hoped for anything better." Mark Mardell
"There is no doubt the government has been cleared. Everyone from the prime minister down virtually is cleared of any misbehaviour." Correspondent Jane Peel
BBC Management is expected to reply soon. Stay tuned.
You needn't worry. Plenty of opinion molders are worried about Iraq whitewashes.
Do a Google search and you'll see that it's quite popular lately to place the word "whitewash" near the word "Iraq."
Sept 2003, Britain: Another whitewash over Iraq
July, 2003: Parliamentary whitewash of Blairs lies on Iraq falls flat
Aug, 2003 Journalists accuse US of "cynical whitewash" over report into Baghdad Hotel media killings
Aug, 2003 No whitewash on Whitehall
Dec, 2002 White House Whitewash
Dec, 2002, The Whitewash Commission
Jan, 2004Address coated with Teflon whitewash
Google says there are about 17900 results for "whitewash" and "iraq."
I know that it's likely that, in many of the google results, there is a more tenuous relationship between the terms "whitewash" and "Iraq."
It might have come from al-Dabbagh, though maybe he is lying about his having been the liar who spoke with the British.
Iraqi who gave MI6 45-minute claim says it was untrue,David Leigh and Richard Norton-Taylor, Tuesday January 27.
Okay, the BB is Baghdad Bob, so the C is that word you can't say.
This is exactly the core of the problem - those mandarins were absolutely untouchable by any criticism, and that's how once highly respected British Broadcasting Corporation was transformed into British Bullshit Centre.
Not only the beloved Chairman Gavyn "Mao" Davies should resign, but also the crowd of Lefty propagandists pretending to be stalwarts of independent journalism.
What a shilly-shally louse this guy is! The first reaction, when they don't like the result, is to sling dirt on the person in charge... They are real Leninists, aren't they?
The Japanese have recently discovered a storage of mustard gas munitions dated at the days of WWII. Mind you, it's the country which was for years under American occupation, which was thoroughly searched by the occupying power and by the Japanese themselves exactly for such things... and yet.
So WMD can be or can be not found. Or be found years later... This doesn't change the simple truth that Saddam Hussein should be gone. There was a UN resolution to this end, if you wish.
Yes, it IS a miracle, but don't celebrate yet: they apologise conditionally!!!
Thanks for the link. Above article says they are in denial over the Davies resignation, but the BBC DOES acknowledge it:BBC governors hold crisis talks
BBC governors are holding a crisis meeting on Thursday after Lord Hutton's damning verdict led the corporation's chairman to quit.
Davies questioned some of Hutton's findingsGavyn Davies resigned after the most serious claims in Andrew Gilligan's BBC's reports were branded "unfounded".
But he questioned some of the retired law lord's findings on the death of weapons expert Dr David Kelly.
Lord Hutton cleared the government of "sexing up" its Iraq weapons dossier with unreliable intelligence.
And he criticised "defective" BBC editorial controls over defence correspondent Andrew Gilligan's broadcasts on the Today programme.
Click here for entire article
haha !
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