tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post9192204592623804761..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: The BBC Should Screen the Gaza AppealIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-67848604560912471802009-01-26T18:28:00.000+00:002009-01-26T18:28:00.000+00:00Hilarious. Mark Thompson subjected himself to a tw...Hilarious. Mark Thompson subjected himself to a two fingers up humiliation on BBC Breakfast this morning when the journalists showed him exactly what they thought by beaming the appeal up behind him whilst he was explaining exactly why the BBC would never show it. You can see it here:<A HREF="http://duckrabbit.info/blog" REL="nofollow"> www.duckrabbit.info/blog</A>Benjaminhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09832241507183518691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23342811240254724312009-01-25T23:40:00.000+00:002009-01-25T23:40:00.000+00:00I note that 6 out of 43 posts on this matter are f...I note that 6 out of 43 posts on this matter are from our beloved host.<BR/><BR/>Were any proof needed that Iain is sensitive on this matter, there it is. <BR/><BR/>His feelings will be well known to regular readers, which is why many of us feel that, whether from politeness or pragmatism, we would do better not to post on it.<BR/><BR/>Breaking my vow of purdah, I would observe that Mark Thompson only became DG because of the Greg Dyke fiasco.<BR/><BR/>Rather like Gordon Brown following Blair, he has shown that he has neither the personality nor the self-confidence nor the judgement needed to step into the lead role.Weygandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11359751090279735138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-17460983673108770042009-01-25T20:45:00.000+00:002009-01-25T20:45:00.000+00:00Oh dear!http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/p...Oh dear!<BR/><BR/>http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/pandora/bbc-chief-holds-peace-talks-in-jerusalem-with-ariel-sharon-517400.htmlBardirecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12167919762034389133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-67319660365541429232009-01-25T18:51:00.000+00:002009-01-25T18:51:00.000+00:00The probelm is that one of the major weapons of wa...The probelm is that one of the major weapons of war are pictures of suffering Palestinians.<BR/><BR/>Hamas calculate that such pictures help undermine support for Israel on their long march to its annihilation. ( And how right they are ).<BR/><BR/>They have provoke Israel beyond the point of endurance <I>to ensure it happens</I>. ( Does anyone else know of a nation which would put up with missiles being fired at its towns every day ? )<BR/><BR/>So the pictures that generate sympathy and cash for the charities also help achieve Hamas' war aims, and help to ensure that more missiles will be fired and more retaliation will ensue.<BR/><BR/>Of course the Hamas policy of using human shields and publishing the damage and suffering is very effective. But it only prospers because we let it.<BR/><BR/>This is by far a better case for governments to provide quiet and rapid aid, and to ensure that Hamas can claim no control over it or credit for it ( which is perverse given that they brought this suffering on their own people ). This is one of the few occasions when state action would be best. I believe the UK govt has already started sending aid, so it can be done.<BR/><BR/>Note that this ensure people get help (the same amount of help if government has the will) without feeding the cycle that brought the clash about in the first place.Man in a Shedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00990902055642035293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-35843066423658208292009-01-25T16:41:00.000+00:002009-01-25T16:41:00.000+00:00I agree with you on this I think that the BBC shou...I agree with you on this I think that the BBC should broadcast this appeal. It is an insult to the viewers' intelligence if they think they can't differentiate between an appeal for aid and any political stance.<BR/><BR/>I cannot believe that anyone can object to appeal for aid for the people of Gaza. Surely not even the Israeli Army can object to that, surely. If they do then it is very worrying.<BR/><BR/>Ironically with all this publicity the appeal may attract more people contributing than if the BBC did show it.<BR/><BR/>On a slightly different point I feel that the Gaza invasion was totally wrong and also counter productive to Israel. Even if you don't agree with that it is worthwhile reading an article by Sir Gerald Kaufman on this:<BR/><BR/>http://warincontext.org/2009/01/16/israels-leaders-are-not-simply-war-criminals-they-are-fools/Alan Hoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15042948578764016262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-810258375012640212009-01-25T15:05:00.000+00:002009-01-25T15:05:00.000+00:00During & leading up to the Kosovo war the BBC ...During & leading up to the Kosovo war the BBC regularly screened appeals to give money to those nice openly genocidal KLA monsters (& never, of course, to the Serb refugees from Kosovo, Krajina or Sarajevo). Lets not pretend that the BBC makes any attempt at impartiality or that their refusal to show this (though they had Tony Benn on to make an "unofficial" appeal) is anything other than cosmetic PR.neil craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09157898238945726349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-19850728595455367232009-01-25T12:50:00.000+00:002009-01-25T12:50:00.000+00:00No aid should be given to Gaza until Hamas are for...No aid should be given to Gaza until Hamas are forced to recognise Israel and make peace. Anything else is supporting and encouraging the killing of Israeli babies in the future.Jonathan explains it allhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03318916808517918855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-91746912157967078702009-01-25T12:37:00.000+00:002009-01-25T12:37:00.000+00:00I don't disagree with that, and although I am crit...I don't disagree with that, and although I am critical of the BBC I have never advocated its abolition.Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-73994132584194973992009-01-25T12:30:00.000+00:002009-01-25T12:30:00.000+00:00Well, I suppose we can psychologically adjust to t...Well, I suppose we can psychologically adjust to the Press TV thing and try to fit it into our picture of you Iain!<BR/><BR/>I just feel though that your efforts to start a TV channel may have something to do with your attitudes. I know many people regard the position of the Beeb as monopolostic and anti-competitive. To some extent, I agree, but I think TV channels need to be regulated as well and the BBC is a useful social invention. It's concept is good but the execution is I agree sometimes flawed.<BR/><BR/>Strange though how the Right go on so much about the pernicious BBC license fee monopoly but appear quite comfortable about the pernicious monopolies they created like the railway "operators" and the ghastly foreign-owned energy "utilities" - more like parasitic organisms sucking our blood now.DespairingLiberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903904463236135611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-78949836724219993732009-01-25T11:40:00.000+00:002009-01-25T11:40:00.000+00:00By the way, I appear on Press TV, owned by the Ira...By the way, I appear on Press TV, owned by the Iranian government, probably as often as I appear on Sky. I suppose I am also controlled by Ahmandinejad too under your perverted logic!<BR/><BR/>Perhaps I should only ever appear on the BBC and not get paid for my time. Probably safest in your weird world, eh?!Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-46168490172595426152009-01-25T11:35:00.000+00:002009-01-25T11:35:00.000+00:00Yes Iain, of course, you are always so rough and r...Yes Iain, of course, you are always so rough and ready and untutored in the current facts when you make your postings.<BR/><BR/>Take my assault as a compliment - I think you are good enough at this not to leave things out through ignorance!<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, if you really didn't bother to check what the other channels were saying on this before you dived in to chuck one at the BBC, then I think that says a lot anyway.<BR/><BR/>Penguin - also note that BBC News 24 just had as a key Breaking News feature the resignation of Iceland's commerce minister. Reported by Reuters - this was also repeated on CNN, but not on Sky. Sky have a long-running feud with Reuters (Fox criticised them as a left-toady, so Reuters journalists started not supplying content to Murdoch enterprises), but like other channels, do not keep a correspondent in Iceland. It has been pointed out elsewhere that the lack of international media in Iceland may have been a contributory factor in their banks getting away with murder.DespairingLiberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903904463236135611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-72685074420960251622009-01-25T11:27:00.000+00:002009-01-25T11:27:00.000+00:00Sigh. When I wrote the piece I was not aware. [ban...Sigh. When I wrote the piece I was not aware. <BR/><BR/>[bangs head on table]Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-28378269159456167212009-01-25T11:24:00.000+00:002009-01-25T11:24:00.000+00:00Iain, you MUST have been aware that Sky were not c...Iain, you MUST have been aware that Sky were not covering the DEC appeal because I commented on it yesterday here and you responded directly to my comment.Nich Starlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04237390959601973501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-8605220383506273292009-01-25T11:19:00.000+00:002009-01-25T11:19:00.000+00:00Iain, I live on the planet where almost every entr...Iain, I live on the planet where almost every entry you make in your blog seems to contain some criticism of the BBC. Yet on this important one, you didn't mention at all that Sky were also refusing to show it, as (initially) were all the other channels. And as a total co-incidence, you seem to make regular appearances on Sky, where you are greeted effusively by the totally unbiased presenters, whose pure hearts have never been touched for a moment by the thoughts so often promulgated by their proprieter, R Murdoch, that the BBC should have it's license fee removed. It is just because of you as a person, not your positions on your blog, that you all get on so famously!DespairingLiberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903904463236135611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-21943400505476402132009-01-25T11:13:00.000+00:002009-01-25T11:13:00.000+00:00There are two ways of reading this kerfuffle:1. Th...There are two ways of reading this kerfuffle:<BR/><BR/>1. The whole BBC has been consummate in assuring the appeal has maximum publicity, without "advertising" or apparently taking sides.<BR/><BR/>or<BR/><BR/>2. The peasants in the newsrooms of the Beeb took umbrage at a directive from the Seventh Floor (err ... my knowledge of BBC geography may be at fault) and engineered the result as in (1) above.<BR/><BR/>No other explanation covers the observable facts.<BR/><BR/>Either way, trebles all round.<BR/><BR/>I must admit, though, I am not entirely convinced by Cranmer's point @ 6.51. Why should a primary and unbiased news-source have a parallel existence, automatically parroting pleas from outside agencies, however worthy? Is that a blanket licence, or is a qualifying body-bag count involved?Malcolm Redfellowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11907427518823910875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-8482480216223898052009-01-25T10:43:00.000+00:002009-01-25T10:43:00.000+00:00Sorry Canvas, but how how can doing the wrong thin...Sorry Canvas, but how how can doing the wrong thing help anyone? Please explain.<BR/><BR/>I have never suggested doing nothing, and I note you can quote no Conservative politician who ever has.Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-48626301522509881842009-01-25T10:40:00.000+00:002009-01-25T10:40:00.000+00:00Despairing Liberal, you really are pathetic on thi...Despairing Liberal, you really are pathetic on this. So I can't win, can I? If I don't criticise the BBC for not screening then it is because I am in the pay of Israel. If I do, it's because I am in the pay of Sky. Desperate stuff.<BR/><BR/>I was unaware that Sky were't showing it either. I am happy to say I think they should? Satisfied? Jesus. What planet do you live on?Iain Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-54884348680598691042009-01-25T10:38:00.000+00:002009-01-25T10:38:00.000+00:00Penguin, I was hard pressed to find any mention of...Penguin, I was hard pressed to find any mention of the Iceland story in any media other than obscure ones on the internet. Perhaps Iceland is just considered too small to be all that newsworthy?<BR/><BR/>Anyway, the BBC did cover it, but not on the front page.DespairingLiberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903904463236135611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-34190043219106008752009-01-25T10:37:00.000+00:002009-01-25T10:37:00.000+00:00Anything for an anti-BBC pop eh Iain?Pure humbug o...Anything for an anti-BBC pop eh Iain?<BR/><BR/>Pure humbug on your part. The reason the BBC and other broadcasters have been so hesitant is fear that the Right, egged on by bloggers like yourself, have accused them of leaning too much to the Palestinians, after they committed the cardinal crime of reporting the Israeli's indiscriminate attacks on civilians amounting in many cases to war crimes.<BR/><BR/>I am waiting in vain to read your article criticizing Sky for it's initial refusal to allow the DEC appeal. Could this be in any way related to your frequent appearances on that channel?DespairingLiberalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903904463236135611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-39141711753223860492009-01-25T09:32:00.000+00:002009-01-25T09:32:00.000+00:00Iain, you and other CFI bods are apologist for Isr...Iain, you and other CFI bods are apologist for Israel because we never hear the criticism. A godo friend to Israel offers support but also criticism. What about the latest evidence of mass shootings by Israeli forces of unarmed civilians ? No report on this from Tories who support Israel even though it is all over the BBC website and others.<BR/><BR/>Sorry if I offended you Iain, but I think it is difficult to differentiate between Israeli apologists and those who support Israel openly but never off criticism of them.<BR/><BR/>Have a good weekend. ;-)Nich Starlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04237390959601973501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-78111082836603487132009-01-25T08:45:00.000+00:002009-01-25T08:45:00.000+00:00Some points:- saying something is "beyond politics...Some points:<BR/><BR/>- saying something is "beyond politics" is a classic lefty trick. Look how Jacqui Smith used it over Damian Green.<BR/><BR/>- all the other stations are commercial stations. Tune in to cable/satellite you will see numerous charity adverts. The BBC does not screen commercials. There are humanitarian disasters going on all the time, what is so special about this one?<BR/><BR/>- If the BBC had just gone ahead and screened it I probably would have missed it and I wouldn't know anything about it.Rich Teehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14037296506942507747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-39416391635675631012009-01-24T23:50:00.000+00:002009-01-24T23:50:00.000+00:00The BBC are simply sensitive to the charge that th...The BBC are simply sensitive to the charge that they are pro Palestinian.Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12161658443183028628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-38599491196121470852009-01-24T23:27:00.000+00:002009-01-24T23:27:00.000+00:00Thank you very much for the post Iain. People can ...Thank you very much for the post Iain. People can donate to the appeal at <A HREF="http://www.dec.org.uk/" REL="nofollow">dec.org.uk</A>Welsh Ramblingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17585109264200933570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-15282046176656893002009-01-24T23:05:00.000+00:002009-01-24T23:05:00.000+00:00Oh dear labour lords change law for cash<A HREF="http://dailyreferendum.blogspot.com/2009/01/oh-dear-labour-lords-change-laws-for.html" REL="nofollow">Oh dear labour lords change law for cash</A>Daily Referendumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00899003349232334603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-61562193861619558612009-01-24T22:09:00.000+00:002009-01-24T22:09:00.000+00:00Showing the appeal or not will not change the fund...Showing the appeal or not will not change the fundamental anti-Israeli stance of the BBC. I certainly won't be giving any money as it will undoubtedly help terrorists in the end.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10611938286584363712noreply@blogger.com