RealNewsUK.com
Max Wolfe Monday, 22 October 2001
Listening to the BBC Radio World at One news programme you could be forgiven for thinking you are tuned in to the
Al Jazeera of the UK.
It is common for the Beeb, in times of crisis, to get on it's high horse and invoke a curios attitude of superior morality.
It is obvious that it not only thinks of itself to be above the ordinary man in the street but also above the politicians who
govern and the graduate intellectuals who espouse on international issues.
Broadcasting the news has become too commonplace for this great institution, it now has to show the world that it has
"The Knowledge".
Unfortunately, it doesn't.
A brief look at the 24 hour televised news stations Sky & CNN will usually show you a consistently high standard of
balanced and well thought out information.
The BBC however has turned from The Establishment into the antithesis of news, an antagonistic critic.
Not only does the BBC provid a daily mouthpiece for the Taliban, it's stories and interviews appear to be a continuous
negative dissemination of any issue without an attempt to balance or justify it's position.
The BBC appears to be against the bombing and therefore anti-war.
It highlights civilian deaths repeatedly even though they are uncorroborated and criticises the west for the Afghani food
shortages.
No world issue is too large for the corporation to disseminate. It attacks government ministers on a daily basis, criticises
the use of land forces and the timing of operations. Even the overall strategic war plan is described as a muddle.
It is brazenly anti British and anti American.
But of course this doesn't matter to the Beeb as they have their own world ethos of what's right and what's wrong.
Sadly, the World at One seemed to think that the most compelling story of the day was in attacking the government whips for scolding errant MP's. How petty can you get. Of all the world issues that are currently craving attention "lefty peacenicks" is not one of them.
Or is this where the core of BBC's heart lies? Protecting "lefty peacenicks."
At no time has the BBC "interrogated" Mullah Omah or the philosophy of the terrorist groups Hammas, Islamic Jihad or
Al Quaeda. Does it criticise the religious clerics of Islam ? No.
These broadcasters are missing the point and loosing the balance.
Firstly, being against everything and for nothing is not news.
Secondly, going for easy homespun targets instead of tricky international issues is a copout.
Thirdly, being balanced means giving the opposition in this war a hard time and not just our Government.
Fourthly, If the BBC is as good as it thinks it is why can't it pro actively come up with all the solutions the politicians
are striving for.
Somebody at the BBC needs to get out of their office and visit Afghanistan.
In times of war we expect the BBC to be on our side, not doing a job for our enemies.