Blair 'attacked BBC over Katrina'

[__Kratos__]

Prime Minister Tony Blair believes BBC coverage of Hurricane Katrina is "full of hate" for America, media tycoon Rupert Murdoch has claimed in a speech.

Downing Street has not commented on the speech, made in New York on Saturday.

Mr Murdoch said Mr Blair told him in a private conversation BBC World Service coverage was "full of hate of America and gloating about our troubles".

The BBC said it was committed to full, accurate and impartial coverage and had not received a complaint from Mr Blair.

Mr Murdoch, who owns the Sun, the Times and News of the World newspapers and Sky Television, labelled the BBC a "government-owned thing".

'Straightforward reportage'

He said people around the world were jealous of the US, and anti-Americanism was common throughout Europe.

BBC battering over Bush

The News Corporation boss was speaking at a seminar hosted by former US President Bill Clinton, as part of his Clinton Global Initiative forum.

Mr Clinton said he had seen the report Mr Blair was referring to, and there was "nothing factually inaccurate" in it.

But he said it was designed "almost exclusively" to criticise the Bush administration's response to the crisis.

Earlier, the BBC's world editor Jonathan Baker defended its coverage to Newswatch after similar criticisms from some BBC News viewers and users.

He said most of its output had been "absolutely down-the-line straightforward reportage", but added the president had made himself the "figurehead" of the disaster response.

"If things are not going well, he is there to be criticised, and if they were going much better he would expect to take the credit," he said.

Source

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Clinton is a democrat... he would say that. Some how it doesn't surprise me they would go after Bush.

[Kryso]

Being British, I’m almost ashamed to say that Blair is Bushes hand puppet!

[thebarman]

I am ashamed, it's like he's afraid to show some balls and disagree once in a while.

[Celumnaz]

What is this? Murdoch vs. Soros or something? Of Course BBC isn't impartial, duh. Most News is nothing but a glorified editorial anymore.

[Richdog]

What is this?  Murdoch vs. Soros or something?  Of Course BBC isn't impartial, duh.  Most News is nothing but a glorified editorial anymore.

851097[/snapback]

You're thinking far more of USA news there than UK news. The UK has among the best if not the nest news reporting programs and journalists in the world and I watch them daily, they are hardly a glorified editorial. In fact I respected the BBC for being daring enough to point out Bush's failings, unlike American TV which just sort of skirted around that issue.

[Celumnaz]

There's no end of reports on Bush's failings here. And yes, I've read Many peices from BBC, seen Many reports from BBC that are editorials disguised as news.

Not all, all the time. They're no where near as bad as our NPR or PBS or something. I guess right in line with reuters or ap or cnn.

Ever look at sites like http://biased-bbc.blogspot.com/ ?

[Babs]

I have always said this, that England is jealous of the U.S.. ...and europe too; they want to be the next super dupper power. But I have to say, "Hey, someone's got a point."......the Katrina disaster brought more than one disaster with it, it put the Bush administration (and their response), center stage.

Edited September 20, 2005 by Babs

[wunarmdscissor]

yeah we're all jealous of the US.

we all would rather a powerful military over low child mortality rates

[wunarmdscissor]

am pure dead jealous eh america byraway

[Babs]

Hey, another hurricane is coming. We won't have to worry about terrorism, mother nature will do us in! Perfect timing for Al Queda to come to our borders, now ... Wow, we don't even have the borders secure.

England is jealous like Blair said. O'Reilly, on Fox news, over here, said the UK didn't send anything for Katrina victims. Is that true?

[Tommy]

on Fox news, over here, said the UK didn't send anything for Katrina victims. Is that true? 

Babs do YOU think it is true?

Hurricane Katrina - Britain sends assistance

Hurricane aid flights leaving UK

I’m not sure what ‘Fox news’ is trying to accomplish with its grossly inaccurate reporting, but I’m surprised you would even believe such an obvious lie.

[gollum]

A simple search would have found this British deliver 500,000 emergency ration packs to America

[gollum]

Looks like you didn't do enough research there Babs.......

"Look before you leap". Ha, Fox indead.

[british_patriot]

WTF how are we jelous of America, more American BS

[Fluffybunny]

Hey, another hurricane is coming. We won't have to worry about terrorism, mother nature will do us in! Perfect timing for Al Queda to come to our borders,  now ... Wow, we don't even have the borders secure.

England is jealous like Blair said. O'Reilly, on Fox news, over here, said the UK didn't send anything for Katrina victims. Is that true? 

851405[/snapback]

That will teach you to listen to oreilly, the guy is a blowhard that will do anything to fire people up for ratings regardless of the truth. There are news channels that are slanted left so far that they need a walker to get on the set, he is just the opposite. He blabs about truth and so on, but he has just as much of a melodramatic slant as any of the left leaning media company.

The UK was on the ball at the same time as Canada...early on, even before our own government was trying to figure out what to do, and busy refusing help from everyone in some of the most rediculous bluffery I have ever seen.

[british_patriot]

Yeah of course we will help the yanks but I will be surprised if we recieve any help if the same happened here

Edited September 19, 2005 by british_patriot

[Fluffybunny]

Yeah of course we will help the yanks but I will be surprised if we recieve any help if the same happened here

851585[/snapback]

I doubt you paid attention to our offers of help after the subway bombing. As the bombing was not like our natural disaster(hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars in damage;entire cities destroyed, hundreds of thousands displaced), our offers of help we along the lines of resources to assist in catching those gulty.

We have been more than friendly over the years.

[Richdog]

I have always said this, that the UK is jealous of the U.S..  ...and europe too; they want to be the next super dupper power. But I have to say, "Hey, someone's got a point."......the Katrina disaster brought more than one disaster with it, it put the Bush administration (and their response), center stage.

851378[/snapback]

Babs I mean this in the politest way possible... but you really do post some ill-informed rubbish sometimes. A tad bigoted even.

As for the stuff about the UK not sending aid to the USA... well that almost beggars belief...

Edited September 19, 2005 by Richdog

[Babs]

Sorry, everyone. Thank you.

I did a search for this topic and couldn't find anything right after the hurricane, and right after O'Reilly made this statement. I told my husband what he said (at the time), and my husband said that O'Reilly was trying to start trouble; "that he will say anything for his show". My husband got angry.

I have to admit when O'Reilly came off with this statement, it really bothered me. And I want to say, I didn't deep-down believe him, as I remember the outpouring on this forum. Even had this been true, I thought O'Reilly sounded so ungrateful for what help we did get.

Thanks for the links.

[stillcrazy]

We all know the British dislike and envy Americans. Has something to do with a tea party at the docks. (Please note the pure sarcasm of statement)

The U.K. and all of it's wonderful folks have supported the U.S. not only in this disaster, but others as well. The U.K. has taken a lot of flak over Iraq, and has stood her ground. Regardless of if you believe in the war or not, the U.K. has definitely been there for us in the past, and will continue to do so in the future.

The last point is simple. There are hundreds of newspapers here in the U.S. that were critical of Bush after Katrina hit. We are now better informed that the Gov. and mayor could have and should have done more for their people.

The only thing Bush in all reality could have done is demanded FEMA pre-position aid closer to the area affected, and pre-position troops in N.O. to protect the infrastructure of the oil industries and harbor. However, this would have put troops in the path a devastating storm. (It would also have led to major fighting over states rights vs Federal rights and responsibility.)

The only story out of the U.K. that I disagree with to date is the one about doctors killing patients. I cannot get a response back from them on the validity of the story.

[Babs]

Yeah of course we will help the yanks but I will be surprised if we recieve any help if the same happened here

We will always stand ready to help the British. That's where many of us came from.

[Mr Ed]

I have always said this, that England is jealous of the U.S.. ...and europe too; they want to be the next super dupper power.

What a load of crap.

That makes my 10 ten list for most stupid things I have ever heard on this site.

on Fox news, over here, said the UK didn't send anything for Katrina victims. Is that true?

No one from England should be giving aid to victims of Katrina.

The reason being?

The USA is not a third world country. It is the most wealthy country in the world with the worlds largest economy.

There is no way aid should be sent to American Katrina victims, the idea is ridiculous. The USA is immensely wealthy and can cope with aid.

Even if people feel that they should contribute to aid, then the only two useful things I can see them doing is taking people into their homes, and in some people's minds, praying.

(Edit- aid in the sense of money, clothes etc.)

Edited September 21, 2005 by Mr Ed

[thebarman]

No one from England should be giving aid to victims of Katrina.

That's piffle, it's our money we're free to do what we want with it. America is rich but it isn't going to pay outright for the victims of Katrina to get new homes and clothes and food.

The government will pay some money sure, and this will probably amount into billions of dollars but there will always be some things left unpaid for, and cash is hard to get out of governments, their like insurance companies. People who donate cash can do so instantly.

[I am me]

What is this? Murdoch vs. Soros or something? Of Course BBC isn't impartial, duh. Most News is nothing but a glorified editorial anymore.

Not just anymore...that's what it has always been.

[I am me]

on Fox news, over here, said the UK didn't send anything for Katrina victims. Is that true?

No one from England should be giving aid to victims of Katrina.

The reason being?

The USA is not a third world country. It is the most wealthy country in the world with the worlds largest economy.

There is no way aid should be sent to American Katrina victims, the idea is ridiculous. The USA is immensely wealthy and can cope with aid.

Even if people feel that they should contribute to aid, then the only two useful things I can see them doing is taking people into their homes, and in some people's minds, praying.

(Edit- aid in the sense of money, clothes etc.)

nobody should send any aid period. it is not required. it should be purely voluntary and anybody around the world should be allowed to help out. it does not matter how much money one nation or one group of people have. if you want to help, you should be able to, if you do not wish to, then that is just fine too.

Edited September 21, 2005 by I am me