Monday, September 11, 2006

The BBC used to be a fine news service. Look at it now. It is on the level of Fox News--"fair and balanced," I mean. Look at this Ian Pannel. He might as well be a press assistant for Tony Blair. Look at this passage: "Most of the demonstrators were probably pro-Hezbollah. The militant Islamic group called for its supporters to leave the bomb-damaged southern suburbs to join the protest. They have a habit of doing what they are asked, as do Hezbollah cabinet ministers, two of whom boycotted a meeting with Mr Blair." Oh, Mr. Detective reporter, Ian Pannel. How did you know that they were "probably pro-Hezbollah". Let us face it. You don't know Arabic. Because if you knew Arabic you would have seen the flags and banners of the Lebanese Communist Party, the Maradah party, the SSNP, Harakt Ash-Sha`b among others. It is amazing how this reporter was writing with the intention of softening the PR blow to the prime minister of not-great-at-all Britain. I want my readers in the Arab world to read this piece it will really help to disabuse them of any notions of Western media "professionalism" or "objectivity." (thanks David)