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InjaYew · 02-07-2004, 05:16 PM

The Fascisti Run Amok don't they? [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Here's what Reuters had to say about it. This is just one of many stories over there.

Another BBC Head Rolls as Blair Savors Victory

Thu Jan 29,10:18 AM ET

By Katherine Baldwin

LONDON (Reuters) - The BBC's top executive quit Thursday after a British judge sternly rebuked its Iraq (news - web sites) reporting, but cries of "whitewash" rained down on Tony Blair's victory parade.

Wednesday, Judge Lord Hutton exonerated the prime minister of wrongdoing over the suicide of Iraq weapons expert David Kelly and ruled that the venerable broadcaster's claim that Blair had "sexed up" intelligence on Iraq was unfounded.

Blair has been the staunchest international backer of President Bush (news - web sites)'s push for war on Iraq.

BBC Director General Greg Dyke resigned after talks with the public broadcaster's board of governors over what is being called the gravest crisis in its 82-year history.

"I hope that a line can now be drawn under this whole episode," Dyke told reporters outside the BBC's head office.

Gavyn Davies, BBC chairman, quit Wednesday.

Blair's foes, many commentators and large parts of the public were staggered that Blair was exonerated while the BBC was censured.

In an NOP poll for London's Evening Standard newspaper, 56 percent said it was unfair the BBC had received most of the blame and 49 percent branded Hutton's report a whitewash.

"It is just flipping unbelievable," said opposition Conservative lawmaker and writer Boris Johnson.

"(Blair) is a mixture of Harry Houdini and a greased piglet. He is barely human in his elusiveness. Nailing Blair is like trying to pin jelly to a wall."

Blair sought to draw a line under the most perilous period of his six-year premiership with a speech on public services, promising no let-up to reforms many of his supporters oppose.

Kelly killed himself in July after being named as the source behind the BBC's claim that Blair had hyped the threat from Iraq. His death sparked a war between the government and the BBC and plunged Blair into the darkest days of his tenure.

Hutton's report had the potential to sink Blair had he been directly blamed for naming Kelly as the BBC's source. Instead, Hutton slammed the BBC's management procedures as "defective."

Blair's team repeated its demand for a full BBC apology.

'SAINT TONY?'

Davies, in his resignation letter, questioned Hutton's conclusions, while the nation's press had a field day.

One newspaper splashed a picture of a grinning Blair on its front page with a halo over him and the headline "Saint Tony." Another left its front page largely blank, save for the question "Whitewash?" in red letters.

Hutton's report came a day after Blair narrowly averted parliamentary defeat on an education bill, seeing him through a two-day period that had threatened his political future.

"There are lessons to be learned, bridges to be built but no wavering in our political purpose," Blair said Thursday.

Blair is not out of the woods yet on Iraq.

Hutton said the intelligence published on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction -- the primary reason Blair gave for war -- had been consistent with what was known at the time.

But Blair's critics were quick to return to the question of the whereabouts of those weapons, which have yet to be found.

In the Evening Standard poll, 70 percent called for a full independent inquiry into the reason Britain went to war.

Blair's opponents have fresh ammunition after David Kay, the chief U.S. weapons hunter in Iraq who quit last week, said on Wednesday the intelligence had been "wrong."

[ 02-07-2004, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: InjaYew ]

02-07-2004, 05:16 PM	#3
InjaYew Zhentarim Guard Join Date: December 31, 2003 Location: SE Tornado Belt Age: 64 Posts: 341	The Fascisti Run Amok don't they? [img]tongue.gif[/img] Here's what Reuters had to say about it. This is just one of many stories over there. Another BBC Head Rolls as Blair Savors Victory Thu Jan 29,10:18 AM ET By Katherine Baldwin LONDON (Reuters) - The BBC's top executive quit Thursday after a British judge sternly rebuked its Iraq (news - web sites) reporting, but cries of "whitewash" rained down on Tony Blair's victory parade. Wednesday, Judge Lord Hutton exonerated the prime minister of wrongdoing over the suicide of Iraq weapons expert David Kelly and ruled that the venerable broadcaster's claim that Blair had "sexed up" intelligence on Iraq was unfounded. Blair has been the staunchest international backer of President Bush (news - web sites)'s push for war on Iraq. BBC Director General Greg Dyke resigned after talks with the public broadcaster's board of governors over what is being called the gravest crisis in its 82-year history. "I hope that a line can now be drawn under this whole episode," Dyke told reporters outside the BBC's head office. Gavyn Davies, BBC chairman, quit Wednesday. Blair's foes, many commentators and large parts of the public were staggered that Blair was exonerated while the BBC was censured. In an NOP poll for London's Evening Standard newspaper, 56 percent said it was unfair the BBC had received most of the blame and 49 percent branded Hutton's report a whitewash. "It is just flipping unbelievable," said opposition Conservative lawmaker and writer Boris Johnson. "(Blair) is a mixture of Harry Houdini and a greased piglet. He is barely human in his elusiveness. Nailing Blair is like trying to pin jelly to a wall." Blair sought to draw a line under the most perilous period of his six-year premiership with a speech on public services, promising no let-up to reforms many of his supporters oppose. Kelly killed himself in July after being named as the source behind the BBC's claim that Blair had hyped the threat from Iraq. His death sparked a war between the government and the BBC and plunged Blair into the darkest days of his tenure. Hutton's report had the potential to sink Blair had he been directly blamed for naming Kelly as the BBC's source. Instead, Hutton slammed the BBC's management procedures as "defective." Blair's team repeated its demand for a full BBC apology. 'SAINT TONY?' Davies, in his resignation letter, questioned Hutton's conclusions, while the nation's press had a field day. One newspaper splashed a picture of a grinning Blair on its front page with a halo over him and the headline "Saint Tony." Another left its front page largely blank, save for the question "Whitewash?" in red letters. Hutton's report came a day after Blair narrowly averted parliamentary defeat on an education bill, seeing him through a two-day period that had threatened his political future. "There are lessons to be learned, bridges to be built but no wavering in our political purpose," Blair said Thursday. Blair is not out of the woods yet on Iraq. Hutton said the intelligence published on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction -- the primary reason Blair gave for war -- had been consistent with what was known at the time. But Blair's critics were quick to return to the question of the whereabouts of those weapons, which have yet to be found. In the Evening Standard poll, 70 percent called for a full independent inquiry into the reason Britain went to war. Blair's opponents have fresh ammunition after David Kay, the chief U.S. weapons hunter in Iraq who quit last week, said on Wednesday the intelligence had been "wrong." [ 02-07-2004, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: InjaYew ]