What would be a balanced view of the Iraq war?

[Teddy Bear]

Ever since Bush and Blair embarked on their mission to get rid of Saddam, the BBC has pursued an anti-war coverage, and maintained it to the present day. Much has been made of the 'illegal' war, and the UN, the French and Germans, ALL who voiced opposition to this war, were presented as the moral voice of reason and justice. Robin Cook, Claire Short, and Glenda Jackson have never had it so good. When Saddam's WMD's couldn't be located, this enforced the voices of all those that had declared the wrongness of removing Saddam. Most would carefully add that Saddam was an evil tyrant (except George Galloway who praised the man) and deserved to be removed, but that it was not up to a foreign international force to do it.

The only balance the BBC gave to counter this view was to present a few who maintained that the WMD's would be found, or had already been removed to another country like Iran or Syria. and it was right to remove Saddam. However they made sure that every time there were sufficient voices to drown out and sneer at this suggestion.

Missing from the equation was another view of events, that in light of certain facts should have been made apparent. Now I'm not a journalist, but most all of these facts are to be found on a BBC website, so it is not like they are unaware of them.

1. The French, Germans and Russians had huge financial contracts with Saddam, that any war was going to put an end to.

2. Many high-up officials in the UN and various governments, including Kofi Annan's own son, have been involved in the 'Oil for Food' scandal, where they received huge quantities of oil worth billions of dollars, in exchange for protection and services for Saddam to keep his regime going.

3. The same Hans Blix who announced in December 2002 that their was still a matter of 10.000 litres of chemi/bio nasties unnacounted for, but he didn't think Saddam presented much of an international threat, was the same Hans Blix who was once director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 1981 to 1997. He was in charge of overseeing inspections of the country's nuclear programme. During that time, the Iraqis managed to hide an advanced nuclear weapons development programme from the IAEA. It was only discovered after the Gulf War in 1991. Which was why the US and UK did not want Blix leading the UN inspection team this time around.

But the UN majority did - wonder why?

As I say, I'm not a journalist, but can one begin to see another version of events that is screaming to be presented, and isn't it the BBC's sworn duty to present it?

[stinkerr]

I believe that he was the same Hans Blix who gave North Korea a clean bill of health on their nuke program.

To respond to the subject line I'd suggest that the Beeb cover the recent press conference with President Talibani and President Bush. I doubt if you'll find the part where Talibani thanks the U.S. for freeing his country from Saddam Hussein.

"TALABANI: It is an honor to represent the world's youngest democracy.

In the name of the Iraqi people, I say to you, Mr. President, and to the glorious American people, thank you, thank you.

Thank you because you have liberated us from the worst kind of dictatorship. Our people suffered too much from this worst kind of dictatorship. The signal is mass graves with hundred thousand of Iraqi innocent children and women, young and old men. Thank you.

And thanks to the United States, there are now 50 million Muslims in Afghanistan andrated by your courageous leadership and decision to liberate us, Mr. President.

We agree with Mr. President Bush that democracy is the solution to the problems of the Middle East.

Mr. President, you are a visionary, great statesman. We salute you. We are grateful to you. We will never forget what you have done for our people."

Source transcript

I searched the Beeb website and can't find any mention of the Talibani/Bush press conference or even of Talibani.

edit to add:

I note that the Grauniad mentions the presser but no mention of Talibani's thanks.

[Teddy Bear]

Welcome Stin - Great Post.
I wonder what excuse the BBC would give for failing to report this item?

[stinkerr]

Thanks, TB. They're the Beeb, they don't need an excuse.

Like an aging athlete dining out on what he used to be, the Beeb is living off of their former reputation for impartiality despite not having it any more.

[Teddy Bear]

The efforts of the USA and UK in creating a democracy in Iraq has been a highly divisive issue. So when the President of Iraq visits the White house, and despite the terrorist attacks that are almost a daily occurence in Iraq, profusely and genuinely thanks Bush for his vision, it should make news because it should make us proud.

At the BBC, one can only find it by watching the video of the meeting, otherwise no mention in the related article.

The BBC instead choose this time to heap further nonsense about Bush concerning a disputed note for a toilet break.