BBC chief attacks U.S. war coverage

LONDON (Reuters) ^ | 4/25/03 | Merissa Marr

[David Hunter]

"If Iraq proved anything, it was that the BBC cannot afford to mix patriotism and journalism..."

Yes, and the BBC can't afford to mix journalism and the truth because that would damage their leftist, anti-western crusades.

"This is particularly so since September 11 when many U.S. networks wrapped themselves in the American flag and swapped impartiality for patriotism,"

I suppose Greg Dyke wouldn't want the Beeb to be thought of as pro-British even in the wake of a devastating terrorist attack against the UK. The fact that the BBC's coverage was disregarded by British Servicemen in the Gulf because it was so blatantly biased against them, might tell you something about how well the BBC serve the British people.

Dyke can get stuffed, the BBC's coverage was grotesquely anti-coalition and pro-Saddam. One could have been forgiven for thinking that the BBC anchormen were disappointed when the coalition finally took Baghdad without a wholesale slaughter. At least US news corporations have to take some account of their customers' interests. Thanks to the COMPULSORY LICENSE FEE the Bolshevik Broadcasting Corporation can do and say whatever fits their socialist agenda without fear of losing money. If they had to compete on a level playing field they wouldn't stand a chance.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Ted Turner had comments like the BBC also:

Turner Calls Rival Media Mogul Murdoch 'Warmonger'

[David Hunter]

Ping!

[lowbridge]

U.S. broadcasters' coverage of the Iraq war was so unquestioningly patriotic

Is he kidding?

[DBtoo]

My husband has been keeping the tv on FOX, and I must say it did get to me after a while.

Personally I like to watch the news without all the eye-rolling and insults and such. And I thought I'd scream if I had to hear "Saddam and his weapons of mass destruction", "liberation of the Iraqi people", and some of the other often repeated phrases and slogans over and over, thousands of more times. One night it got so bad I was thinking of ways to disable the tv without ruining it. Now that the war is over it's a LITTLE more tolerable. It almost caused me to have thoughts of divorce.

I prefer to see strait news and do the thinking for myself.

[Cincinatus]

I prefer to see strait news

Then watch ABC -- they continually try to put their viewers in a mental "strait"-jacket.

and do the thinking for myself.

By all means, watch another news channel. That's the beauty of what we have -- choice. For years, we didn't have any choice -- it was all left-wing, anti-American agitprop. If you feel more comfortable with that, go for it and God Bless you.

[Dane]

Sounds like Mr. Dyke and the BBC doesn't like the competition and is mad and envious of Fox's success.

During one week of the war Fox had something like 9 of the top 10 cable shows in viewership.

CBS's and ABC's viewership actually declined and NBC's was up a miniscule 3%.

[Mustang]

Tell your hubby he's a brave, brave man.

[angkor]

I recall at the beginning of the war, BBC ran as both its lead and concluding item the "sinister" story about the fence being cut at the Iraq/Kuwait border. It was strongly implied that Americans had done it (although no reason why).

Several days later the Kuwait army said they had done it to move some vehicles across the line.

Of course that was only the first of BBC's unending litany of "objective" anti-American reporting.

[sd-joe]

"the BBC cannot afford to mix patriotism and journalism.

Well they certainly did not, and it shows, the BBC had the most laughable, biased coverage of the war.

Since patriotism is simply "love of ones country", it really has nothing to do with true journalism. One can report the truth, the facts, both sides of the story, while still displaying love of one's country.

I think this anti-patriotism movement is just another one of the left's thrusts to tear down Western civilization.

[Movemout]

How do you know that your husband hasn't decided to retain a divorce lawyer, himself? I think FNC did a decent job of counter balancing the left leaning networks. Do you believe that Saddam had no WMD or intent to acquire them? Do you not believe that a liberation of a nation did not take place? Do you not believe that Saddam and Sons murdered their own citizens for their own personal reasons? What do you believe?

[Mr. Mojo]

"We are genuinely shocked when we discover that the largest radio group in the United States was using its airwaves to organise pro-war rallies. We are even more shocked to discover that the same group wants to become a big player in radio in the United Kingdom when it is deregulated later this year," Dyke said.

If only they were similarly shocked when all their firearms were outlawed.

[Mr. Mojo]

Boy is this Dyke dude going to be pissed when he turns on his car radio on his way to work some morning in the not-too-distant future and Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage are unmercifully blasting away at his leftist sensibilities. I'd pay to see the expression on his face.

[DBtoo]

I believe you are a fussy person with no sense of humor and you have tunnel-vision.

[Movemout]

I see. Without knowing anything about me you can determine that I am fussy, have tunnel vision, and have no sense of humor. I can assure that I have a great sense of humor. My fussiness and vision are always open to question. You did not bother to address any of the questions I posed but rather attacked my personality. This is a hallmark characteristic of a left leaning attitude. So, I ask you again, what are your opinions addressed by my questions?

[ChuckHam]

Which TV news network do you like to watch? Do you honestly think the broadcast networks are giving you straight news?

[ChuckHam]

I believe we've been hit by the stereotypical hit-and-run leftist.

[Movemout]

I am not sure. Her heart may be in the right place but she is simply in transformation from a soccer mom mentality to FReeperhood. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt for now.

[ChuckHam]

Good point. I should do the same. It's just that the DU/ZOT crowd has really gotten on my nerves and severely limited my tolerance to BS.

[johnandrhonda]

"the BBC cannot afford to mix patriotism and journalism."

It's GOOD vs. EVIL and these dickheads can't figure out if they can AFFORD pick sides.