PaulNelson

X2004 - Abstract

2004-07-20T21:40:00.000+01:00

X2004 - AbstractExposure assessment Marks abstract

2003-12-06T11:49:00.000Z

Matthew Parris' latest ignorant outburst

The danger of Parris is that despite intense ignorance he is a brilliant writer. It is therefore difficult for editors to decern this ignorance or if they do it is difficult to resist output which is compelling if deeply flawed. For those of us who abhor the elaborate masking of falacy Parris makes very painful reading.

2003-09-13T07:15:00.000+01:00

Regarding the trade talks in Rio, BBC news reported 7am today (approx) "The poorer nations demanded the end to subsidies, they in turn would have access to international markets".

Irrespective of the issue, this phrasing is deceptive and perverts the use of the english language. "they in turn" is used not used to indicate a chronology of events but as an indication of a quid pro quo. We the public will assume the latter and not the former. If we don't listen very carefully we will assume that the poorer nations are offering a compromise.. that is not actually what they were offering. They are making a demand. Irrespective of the rights and wrongs of the issue. The BBC are taking a view, not explicitly but incidiously, they are not reporting news.

Just another twisting of the news, just another day for the bbc.

InstaPundit.Com

2003-09-11T11:56:00.000+01:00

Salam Pax interview on the BBC

2003-09-11T07:28:00.000+01:00

BBC Journalist Jim Nochty offers a sound bite that he suggests is the reason for terrorism in the Middle East to an apoligist for Palestinian terror on Radio 4's today programme 2 minutes ago "Just as many israelis expect Sharon to retaliate against the Palestinians so their is similar sympathy from Palestinians for Hamas". No Mr Nochty it is the moral equivolence of journalists like yourself and the EU which leads to the terrorism not the reasonable requirments of an a democratic, informed and moral population who have proved their desire for peace-with a demoralised, people tyranised by their "leaders"-for some steps to protect their safety.

Haaretz Article

2003-09-10T03:59:00.000+01:00

Yis-ga-dal v'yis-ka-dash sh'may ra-boHaaretz Article

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Russia softens Iraq troops line

2003-09-05T04:34:00.000+01:00

Found it"Russia softens Iraq troops line" well it is there but buried.

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | France and Germany reject US Iraq plans

2003-09-05T04:32:00.000+01:00

BBC Bias France and Germany reject US Iraq plans. What the don't mention is that Russia didn't! The title might have been, "Anti-war UNSC permanent members split over new US resolution" or even, yes let's be bold, let's dream a little, "Russia ponders support for US resolution"

Work : Essays : Politics and the English Language // George Orwell // www.k-1.com/Orwell

2003-09-05T04:00:00.000+01:00

Orwell on : Language:

Welcome to kol haneshama-A Letter from Sheri Mandel

2003-09-03T09:11:00.000+01:00

Powerful testimonial by an Israeli victim of "activism" (via lgf) Welcome to kol haneshama-A Letter from Sheri Mandel

Telegraph | Opinion | 'There are definitely no Martians here,' said Andrew Gilligan

2003-08-30T23:27:00.000+01:00

Mark Steyn-Hilarious!

A democratic process is not bestowed with a nod from the EU

2003-08-26T20:45:00.000+01:00

EU congratulates Rwandan president on election victory
This man got 90%+ of the vote, not much less than Saddam Hussein in his last election. Doesn't the EU like to back a winner.

2003-08-23T20:56:00.000+01:00

Hutton
Alistair Campbell briefing Tony Blair. Extraordinarily detailed...is the PM that busy that he delegates his thought processes?

2003-08-23T20:39:00.000+01:00

Hutton
Gilligan "one word-Campbell" quote

2003-08-23T20:38:00.000+01:00

Hutton
Gilligans 6.07am report"Government probably knew that the forty-five minutes figure was wrong"

2003-08-23T20:35:00.000+01:00

Hutton
screw tightening quote

2003-08-23T20:15:00.000+01:00

Hutton
Kevin Marsh points the finger at Gilligan.

2003-08-23T19:17:00.000+01:00

Hutton
more intrigue

2003-08-23T19:15:00.000+01:00

More Hutton
another goodie

2003-08-23T19:08:00.000+01:00

More HuttonWho has been hearing similar things?

2003-08-23T19:01:00.000+01:00

Hutton enquirythe email

Oliver Kamm

2003-08-21T18:30:00.000+01:00

Oliver Kamm comments on BBC and other obfuscation of the nature of suicide-terrorism he points out "Labour politician Conor Cruise O'Brien has long maintained, no political solution to terrorism is attainable, for there are no concessions that a democracy could make that even in principle would satisfy the demands of those ideologically opposed to liberal political rights and the rule of law.", which reminds me of a thought that has been lurking in the back of my mind. Where did this new breed of terrorism come from, where did it begin.. Clearly there is no one answer but. I recall John Major and then Tony Blair's policy towards irish terrorism and the cold shiver it gave me at the time. They broke the rules of the time, never to negotiate with terrorists, they permitted terrorism to deliver political goals. They set a precident and created the sea change that has perhaps led us some of the way towards the 21st century nihilistic politic that we confront.

Healthy Schisms

2003-08-10T15:40:00.000+01:00

The ordination of a gay priest in one US diocese has led to much dispute and soul searching in the worldwide Anglican Church. The big question is-Will the church split? The conflict boils down to the need to make a physical expression of a deeply held difference of interpretation of a creed by a section of a group that had previously defined itself by a shared worldview. That section wishes to take the group with them and others within the group are resisting. Whatever the outcome, the debate is a relatively healthy one and either we will end up with two new religious affiliations or we will have some sort of a resolution. Those who are not Anglicans can’t really comment on either point of view, since they subscribe to neither interpretation of the Anglican creed. What is less healthy is the silence of the Islamic world over the interpretation of Islam expressed most graphically by September 11 2001 and by many attacks since. There has been no schism. The Islamic institutions have not publicly rejecting these sacrilegious acts and their perpetrators. Nor has there been a mass exodus to a new group that describes itself as the pure Islam and which distances itself from this vision of Islam. Without such a evidence of disagreement within Islam, the best interpretation can be that Islam is a broad enough church to accept all visions of Islam including the one of nihilistic aggression towards western and Jewish targets. This is a strange situation for a religion reputed to have strict ethical rules and a horror or moral relativism.

2003-08-04T13:10:00.000+01:00

Time we stopped accepting reports on the Kelly Scandal from the BBC

Barbara Amiel spells out clearly the chronology of this saga. What is very clear, whatever your view, is that the BBC is an interested party. It must not be permitted to report on this story any more. Its bulletin time should be filled with reports bought in from other non-interested media networks. The current state of affairs with the BBC reporting and editorialising and breaking news on this subject is unacceptable.

2003-08-01T13:22:00.000+01:00

BBC's reputation-what reputation?
The Guardian reports that the BBC has now denied lobbying the CFASC not to publish the transcripts of Gilligan's testemony. "The MPs are angry at "disingenuous" behaviour by some at the BBC, which pressed the committee not to publish on the grounds that Mr Gilligan was under stress. The BBC subsequently denied this". It has been leaked anyway.

Shameless self-serving BBC hypocracy

2003-07-25T23:47:00.000+01:00

Shameless self-serving BBC hypocracy (correction hypocrisy-thanks Natalie Solent)

So this is the deal, Gavin Davis.(BBC big cheese) "intervenes on Gilligan health fears" to lobby Commons foreign affairs select committee not publish the transcripts of their session which led to the committee's serious doubts about Gilligan's reliability as a witness. These transcripts would establish the veracity of Gilligan's report which attributed Dr Kelly as accusing the government of knowingly lying to the public on a critical point which led the UK to war in Iraq.
So let's get this straight, Gilligan is big enough and tough enough to knowingly drag the media shy scientist, Dr Kelly, unwillingly into dishonour and death but not tough enough for us to know whether he did it honestly (if brutally) rather than dishonestly (and brutally). So that's a bit like disallowing evidence of criminality because the evidence might prove distressing to the alledged criminal. Well lets be glad that the judiciary isn't run like the BBC, we wouldn't bother with trials since perpetrators of crimes are really victims too, particulary if they have important friends who have vouched for them.

2003-07-25T10:46:00.000+01:00

Brutality is spreading

I can understand the reasoning for publishing the photos of Saddam's sons post-mortem. I was suprised however, by the enthusiasm with which the british press have published them at any opportunity. The reasoning behind the photos' release was so that those directly affected by these mens' brutality might be reassured that they were indeed gone for good. It was therefore appropriate that they be published for the consumption of Iraqi adults who chose to view them. It was a gratuitous act to publish them on the front page of the UK nationals and to have them on TV news broadcastes were small children can not help but see them. This is evidence of how the terrorists who perpetrated september 11th are brutalising our culture and our media are all to eager to help them. They have set the agenda and the british media are quick to take the opportunity to break yet another taboo for the sake of copy..copy..copy... bastards!

2003-07-16T21:43:00.000+01:00

Ugly (here)

2002-12-06T21:53:00.000Z

Who's prejudiced

Great article by Mark Steryn poses the question Isn't it more prejudiced not to expect , than to expect the same respect for opinion and human life from the non-western world as is expected in the west?

2002-12-06T21:13:00.000Z

Some evidence

This poll in the telegraph sheds some light on the views of British Muslims.. The highlights for LGFs are
* One in five British Muslims have no loyalty to Britain............so 4/5ths feel loyal
* Almost one in ten think that the 9/11 attacks and similar terrorist attacks were justified.......so 9/10 don't
* Almost half, even now, do not believe that the 9/11 attackers were Muslims..........quite ambigous since the might conclude that real muslims couldn't do such a thing
* Nearly two thirds are unwilling to admit that the terrorist attacks in Bali and Kenya were conducted by Muslims. same point as above
* Almost three fourths find statements by Osama bin Laden more believable than evidence from the British and American governments.,,,,,,,ok a tad worrying

2002-12-06T13:56:00.001Z
Moderate Islam

Lord Armed the British peer was interviewd by the BBC radio programme "TODAY", this morning about the feelings of British Muslims about Britain and it's current governement. He pointed out the sense of isolation that british muslims feel after September 11th and how the feel as though in the minds of ordinary people Islam is being falsly equated to the extremists. He did not however take the opportunity to expressly state his views on Middle east / Western relations nor on Israels right to exist. That is the anachronism in these days where nothing can be assumed and every opportunity must be taken to contradict false perceptions if they are indeed false. This was a live show and therefore immune to the accusation that everytime a moderate muslm does state their moderate view they are ignored by the media so why was this opportunity lost. I am desperate to buy into the idea that Ben Laden is a pariah among muslims, I am desperate to buy into the idea that there are muslims who believe in Israels right to exist and a two state solution and I do.. then I see things like this which suggest that the fringe loonacy is not so fringe at all. It is almost as if there is a confusion and the perception that " I sympathise with the ends and the means but wouldn't do it myself" just isn't moderate enough for me.

2002-12-06T13:56:00.000Z
Moderate Islam

Lord Armed the British peer was interviewd by the BBC radio programme "TODAY", this morning about the feelings of British Muslims about Britain and it's current governement. He pointed out the sense of isolation that british muslims feel after September 11th and how the feel as though in the minds of ordinary people Islam is being falsly equated to the extremists he did not however expressly state his views on Middle east / Western relations nor on Israels right to exist and that is the problem.. these days nothing can be assumed and every opportunity must be taken to contradict false perceptions fi they are indeed false. This was a live show and therefore immune to the accusation that everytime a moderate muslm does state their mderate view they are ignored by the media. I am desperate to buy into the idea that Ben Laden is a pariah among muslims, I am desperate to buy into the idea that there are muslims who believe in Israels right to exist and a two state solution and I do.. then I see things like this which suggest that the fringe loonacy is not so fringe at all.

2002-12-04T16:54:00.000Z
and again!!

another outrageously biased piece ....is it the same reporter.... who are they.....

2002-12-02T22:13:00.000Z
A pattern?

Outrageous article from BBC online news. I wonder if the author of this also wrote the previous piece

2002-11-29T18:04:00.000Z
Iran protesters denounce Israel
well there's news!!!

who writes this stuff , they certainly don't put their name to it, but it appears as a news item on the BBC internet news website about a march in Tehran. Apparently,
"Vast columns of people from all walks of life converged on Tehran university, the traditional location for Friday prayers, to protest against the Israeli occupation of Jerusalem. " Now Jerusalem isn't being occupied.... East Jerusalem is being occupied... the march is about liberating the whole of jerusalem, including west jerusalem (the capital city of Israel) a modern city built from scratch by Israel .and apparently " Many of those who took part said they were united in support of the Palestinians because of concern for Jerusalem - one of the holy places of Islam. " well it is also one of the most holy places in christianity, the bahi fath as well as the most holy city for jews... this does not mean that christians are marching for its liberation.
also The BBC correspondent in Tehran says many of the demonstrators seemed to feel genuine anger at the suffering of the Palestinians, well Israel's soverenty over Jerusalem has little to do with the plight of the palestinians which seems to be in the hands of their bloodthirsty hate intoxicated leaders and radicals.

2002-11-09T08:41:00.000Z
What will Iraqi's think of the other 99% vote in Gibraltar

2002-11-09T08:27:00.000Z
How on earth did they buy/coherse Syria's vote for the UN resolution against Iraq.

2002-11-07T21:21:00.000Z
What an odd coincidence that the UN security council delivers the US resolution the day after the midterm elections? what can be the explanation. I suppose the us president may have tabled it so that a negative influence on republican chances but then the timing would surely not have been so precise.

2002-10-30T10:43:00.000Z
Internet Polls

Ordinary polls are dangerous in inexperienced or partisan hands but Internet yes/no polls are worse as they are easily abused by those who set them and those who respond to them.. They are therefore no more than tools of propaganda. The latest CNN poll is a case in point.

Poll: Should international monitors be sent to Israel and the Palestinian territories?

Firstly in common with all types of yes/no poll the assumption is that this is a zero sum game (YES or NO no in between)... It isn't a zero sum game. Secondly people like to say yes so phrasing the question positively wins you 10% of the vote without any careful choice of question. Thirdly the questions posed are always vastly oversimplified and as in this case can lead the casual participant to the chosen conclusion... How could international monitors be a bad thing? they will be fair and balanced? Well for lots of reasons which would rather lead me away from the point I wish to make here.... Fourthly the question can be posed carefully to elicit a favoured answer and finally, and this is perhaps the most important point, internet yes/no polls are so easy to rig... I recieved an email warning me of the poll and telling me to participate so that my view would prevail. So if I got one so did everyone else... so the polls are all highjacked anyway.

Media outlets which use Internet polls display their ignorance of simple survey techniques that could be learned in a high school psychology class. They also betray their dangerous naivity of the power and mechanics of the the internet.

2002-10-30T00:25:00.000Z
Farce of horrors

Israeliguy reports

"After the suicide bombing in Ariel on Sunday both the Hamas and the Fatah claimed responsibility. Apparently it was a Hamas attack but the Fatah Tanzim, so eager to show off, claimed it was one of their men named Muhammad Shakir who blew himself up, it wasn’t. With the next suicide bomber’s name in their hands it was only a matter of time before the IDF would catch him. And so they did. "

It is a simple error.. they assummed it was their guy....after all they are just queuing up to blow.... perhaps the next one might feel a little insulted by the error and perhaps complain or may be go on strike until the operation gets its act together............what a good idea...maybe suicide bombers need unionising with terms and conditions....

2002-10-30T00:00:00.000Z
After an interlude it is time to get back to pure blogging