The Guardian hit a new low in Amelia Hill’s report on Julian Assange’s appearance at the Oxford Union. Hill moved beyond propaganda to downright lies.
This is easy to show. Read through Hill’s “report”. Then zip to 20 minutes and 55 seconds of the recording of Assange speaking at the event Hill misreports, and simply listen to the applause from the Oxford Union after Assange stops speaking.
Just that hearty applause is sufficient to show that the entire thrust and argument of Amelia Hill’s article moves beyong distortion or misreprentation – in themselves dreadful sins in a journalist – and into the field of outright lies. Her entire piece is intended to give the impression that the event was a failure and the audience were hostile to Assange. That is completely untrue.
Much of what Hill wrote is not journalism at all. What does this actually mean?
“His critics were reasoned, those who queued for over an hour in the snow to hear him speak were thoughtful. It was Julian Assange – the man at the centre of controversy – who refused to be gracious.”
Hill manages to quote five full sentences of the organiser of the anti-Assange demonstration (which I counted at 37 people) while giving us not one single sentence of Assange’s twenty minute address. Nor a single sentence of Tom Fingar, the senior US security official who was receiving the Sam Adams award. Even more remarkably, all three students Hill could find to interview were hostile to Assange. In a hall of 450 students who applauded Assange enthusiastically and many of whom crowded round to shake my hand after the event, Hill was apparently unable to find a single person who did not share the Rusbridger line on Julian Assange.
Hill is not a journalist – she is a pathetic grovelling lickspittle who should be deeply, deeply ashamed.
Here is the answer to the question about cyber-terrorism of which Amelia Hill writes:
“A question about cyber-terrorism was greeted with verbose warmth”
As you can see, Assange’s answer is serious, detailed, thoughtful and not patronising to the student. Hill’s characterisation – again without giving a word of Assange’s actual answer – is not one that could genuinely be maintained. Can anybody – and I mean this as a real question – can anybody look at that answer and believe that “Verbose warmth” is a fair and reasonable way to communicate what had been said to an audience who had not seen it? Or is it just an appalling piece of hostile propaganda by Hill?
The night before Assange’s contribution at the union, John Bolton had been there as guest speaker. John Bolton is a war criminal whose actions deliberately and directly contributed to the launching of an illegal war which killed hundreds of thousands of people. Yet there had not been one single Oxford student picketing the hosting of John Bolton, and Amelia Hill did not turn up to vilify him. My main contribution to the Sam Adams event was to point to this as an example of the way people are manipulated by the mainstream media into adopting seriously warped moral values.
Amelia Hill is one of the warpers, the distorters of reality. The Guardian calls her a “Special Investigative Correspondent.” She is actually a degraded purveyor of lies on behalf of the establishment. Sickening.
Habbabkuk
How come your posts always have so many question marks and so few full stops?
Nobody else’s do.
Too few full stops, Fred? I hadn’t realised and apologise for any distress this may have caused you. I’m happy to see that this oversight on my part hasn’t moved you back into four letter word mode yet.
Have a nice day, Fred.
It’s Iran’s fault for the failure of negotiations
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/10640882
The United States is prepared to hold direct talks with Iran in the standoff over its nuclear ambitions, Vice President Joe Biden said Saturday — but he insisted that Tehran must show it is serious and Washington won’t engage in such talks “just for the exercise.”
“Last month Iran, in a defiant move ahead of a new round of talks expected soon with the six powers, announced plans to vastly increase its pace of uranium enrichment. That can be used to make both reactor fuel and the fissile core of warheads.”
“The U.S. has long made clear that it is prepared to meet directly with the Iranian leadership, he added — “that offer stands but it must be real and tangible and there has to be an agenda that they’re prepared to speak to.”
“Too few full stops, Fred? I hadn’t realised and apologise for any distress this may have caused you. I’m happy to see that this oversight on my part hasn’t moved you back into four letter word mode yet.
Have a nice day, Fred.”
You know I only go into four letter word mode in response to personal attacks, I perceive them as a form of bullying.
Not the only thing I perceive as a form of bullying.
“You know I only go into four letter words in response to personal attacks…”
To paraphrase a line from your post of 11h16 : “Nobody else does”.
George Galloway had the same celebrity agent as Alastair Campbell, the last I heard.
Wendy Bailey being her name.
@ re BBC website – so you’re happy now, Mary? Ready to take back your complaints as posted at 09h33 this morning
Have you nothing else better to do or say? I have just been for a lovely long walk in the sun with the dog. Recommend it. Nice clean air to breathe!
I thought it would be obvious that I added the post to correct what I had aaid. I still maintain. as I said, that the old site was simpler and therefore better.
You are going back 6 years there N_ when Galloway made that disastrous decision to go on Big Brother. Bailey lists the programme on her client list. http://www.wendybaileypr.com/clients/
A search for Galloway produced No Results.
http://www.wendybaileypr.com/?s=george+galloway
I have just seen Campbell in her ‘Talent’ list. Surely some mistake!
http://www.wendybaileypr.com/wendy-bailey-media-client-reprsentation-2012/
Habbakuk, the doubting Thomas, is a full blooded man, historically speaking. But its part of Jewish folklore, much of which has been taken over from ancient Egyptian text.
Something must have been lacking for these Black sea gypsies to find solace in ancient Egyptian rituals/signs to make it their own.
Mary, you’re right. I’ll go out for a walk as well (without a hound, unfortunately) later on, albeit at great personal risk because I’m bound to get caught in one of the showers which I just know are lurking out there…
Following on from my posts about the US DoJ’s ex parte submissions to suppress FOI requests regarding Wikileaks, and the links to Marcy Wheeler’s two posts on the matter:
http://www.emptywheel.net/2013/02/01/doj-we-cant-tell-which-secret-application-of-section-215-prevents-us-from-telling-you-how-youre-surveilled/ (about the use of the Patriot Act in the FBI surveillance of Wikileaks supporters)
http://www.emptywheel.net/2013/02/01/the-international-manhunt-for-wikileaks/ (self-explanatory – also mentions the FBI’s unannounced Wikileaks fishing trip to Iceland, for which they were kicked out of the country)
it seems our own government is making moves to severely curtail Freedom of Information legislation, on the basis of cost:
http://foia.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/the-foi-act-is-at-risk.html?spref=tw
The Campaign for Freedom of Information is holding a meeting to plan action against the government’s proposals on 18 February at the Human Rights Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA.
In other news there are new developments in the story, previously reported by Craig, of the CIA’s involvement in a Chilean drug-running racket used to fund the destabilisation of Correa’s government (ahead on 59% in the latest poll, with 15 days to go):
http://wlcentral.org/node/2811
I must say, Ecuador looks very pretty. (Never mind the cyclist and the political PR production values, just look at that backdrop! :)):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrsPeqaRN4I
No need to take a mac. All set fair if colder that is if you live in London and the South East area. Can’t see any mention of showers unless you live in Kent near Craig!
London & South East England
Days 1 to 5
Regional forecast
Cold but mostly dry and sunny.
Today:
A cold day but a dry and sunny one for most of the region. A few sleet showers may affect some eastern areas, mainly Kent, where it will also stay windy. Maximum Temperature 6 °C.
Tonight:
Any wintry showers in the east dying out during the evening and frost developing. Becoming cloudy overnight, with a little rain or sleet spreading in towards dawn. Becoming less cold. Minimum Temperature -3 °C.
Sunday:
A cloudier day with a few bright or perhaps sunny intervals developing after a little rain at times during the morning. Less cold but becoming rather windy. Maximum Temperature 9 °C.
Outlook for Monday to Wednesday:
Cold and very windy Monday and Tuesday. Some sunshine but also sleet or snow showers developing. Continuing very cold and windy Wednesday, with snow showers confined to eastern parts.
UK Outlook for Thursday 7 Feb 2013 to Saturday 16 Feb 2013:
Cold and bright on Thursday, wintry showers in the east, with frequent, heavy showers for North Sea coasts, and the risk of hail and snow. More persistent rain, sleet and snow spreading eastwards across the UK on Friday, with further wintry showers following. Into the start of next weekend, wintry showers become largely confined to eastern areas, but then turning more unsettled through the weekend and into the following week, with spells of rain and hill snow crossing the the UK from the west. Often windy, with gales at times in exposed western areas. Widespread overnight frosts at first, with some icy patches, and temperature widely below average, but then temperatures recovering a touch, to become close to or just a little below average towards the end of the period.
UK Outlook for Sunday 17 Feb 2013 to Sunday 3 Mar 2013:
There are large uncertainties at this forecast range. Conditions will most likely start with temperatures close to or a little below average, with fairly typical winter weather across much of the UK. There are signs that a slightly colder spell may then prevail throughout much of the rest of the period, with more widespread overnight frosts.
Yesterday there was a protest in Newnham about the council’s decision not to allow the Tabligh Jamaat to build a supermosque on land that they own in East Ham. Why is that relevant here? Because of the similar degree of disinformation about this group disseminated by the establishment’s shills as Craig is reporting about Assange. As in here :lapidomedia.com:
‘Tablighi Jamaat in Britain
Tablighi Jamaat, the world’s biggest Islamic revival movement, was founded in India in 1926 to purge the backslidden of British and Hindu influence.
Now it is here in force in the West, bent on building a supermosque in east London, and preparing the faithful for paradise. Their separatist ethos and other-worldly purpose divide scholars and puzzle journalists.’
I entered Islam in Birmingham’s Tablighi Jamaat’ Markaz/Regional Centre. I have my own gripes with the finer details of the group’s ideas. But the media have linked it to shoe-bombers, social exclusionism and spiritual fanaticism. For the information of anyone who has asked the question about this sort of propaganda please may I put it on the record that this group’s primarily role in this country is not to exclude its members from society but to give an overincluded Muslim population in UK culture a small breathing space of time spent in the mosque with an atmosphere based on Islamic teachings and culture.
It is totally anti-political totally anti-violence totally anti-separatism. A few years ago I was standing outside the Birmingham markaz having an argument with two policemen about9/11. They said that my belief that it was a false flag operation meant that I was in cloud-cuckoo-land and the elder of the mosque who came to join in the discussion agreed with the policemen.
It is true that the Tablighi Jamaat would prefer to win their permission to build a mosque through prayer and righteousness rather political campaigning, but this pureness of heart is then turned against them by the shills who accuse them of religious fanaticism. Sorry but I felt I had to sprinkle a few fo my pearls of wisdom amongst you addicted atheist swine.
Oh dear I forgot that most of you don’t do irony, which is why this blog is always fluffed up like a blackbird against the cold by people arguing about nothing and has become more and more tedious to wade through in search of valuable nuggets of information.
The Tabighi Jamaat has its own dubious agenda, like Assange. But it is still a whistleblower to all of those who have decided to reject religion, as Assange is a whistleblower to all who have decided to ignore politics. I may not agree entirely with either of them about many things but they both are drawing attention to things the establishment want us to be oblivious of, and we should support them for challenging the establishment and for the hostility they both receive from the establishment because of its being challenged.
Mary : to play on that old advert about I think it was Heinecken : I’m in parts which the weather forecasts you kindly supplied can’t reach! 🙂 But thanks!
Do tell where you are and I will get the forecast up for you.
http://local.msn.com/worldweather.aspx?q=tel aviv-yafo-isr&eid=32953
or maybe
http://local.msn.com/worldweather.aspx?q=brussels-bel&eid=5074
😉
Mary – naughty.
“No need to take a mac. All set fair if colder that is if you live in London and the South East area. Can’t see any mention of showers unless you live in Kent near Craig!”
That’s not the best of weather to have on Candlemass Day Mary.
Good enough weather for the son of a wandering magician.
Arbed @ 9:58
The internet has been both good and bad, in many ways It’s helped birds of a feather, who in past tense, had to meet personally, to garner their voices and create coalitions of similar mindset while separated geographically. Good folks have made connections but so have the nuttier brand.
Comments on blogs usually reflect the extremes, yet the one you cited seems to have a modicum of rationality. It is a hopeful sign.
Glad I’m not the only one eye-balling what seems a sea-change. It’s not quite a Quantum Leap; more of a hop-scotch, but I’ll take anything I can get.
Mary
In July 2010 got a ticket to an episode of BBC 4 Any Questions at the Wimbledon District Reform Synagogue. At the entrance the audience were handed a form to fill in if they wanted to put forward a question. On the form it was stated that you could ask more than one question if you wished.
To be accepted for consideration the question form asked for your name and the district you live in.I asked only one question. I can’t remember the exact wording I used but it went something like:
“According to the just published report from the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (which was commented on by the BBC recently) 72% of British Jews consider themselves to be Zionist; what chance is there of a fair two state solution to the Israel/Palestine issue?”
At the bottom of the form it asks something like; “Do you have a personal interest in the questions you have submitted?”
I wrote that I was Chair of the Merton Palestine Solidarity Campaign (which I was at the time).I then handed in my question.
A Radio 4 lady spoke to the audience while the questions were selected for the show, presumably by Dimbleby. There seemed to be a delay as the Radio 4 lady had finished her talk and wandered around looking at her watch.
Anyway the selected questions arrived and the Radio 4 lady called out the names of the questioners and invited them to sit on the front row. Surprisingly my name was called out and I joined the others at the front.
The show stated, the introductions made and the first questioner’s name was called. This was a lady at the far end of the row. Then the other questioners were called, not in any order like left to right but haphazardly, some to the left of me, some to the right. Then I was the only one left to ask a question and I was ready to speak but Dimbleby wittered on asking secondary questions of the panel.
You’ve probably guessed by now. Time ran out and the mics were turned off.
It is all carefully stage managed but this would not be apparent to the listeners.
I imagine that BBC Question Time is the same.
By the way the Institute for Jewish Policy Research survey makes interesting reading:
http://www.jpr.org.uk/downloads/JPR%20Israel%20survey%20report%2015.pdf
Thanks for that Doug, I have been on three live, well an hour before question time events on TV and the format is similar.
You get a form to fill in and in the room with a sandwich board, reminding you of the BBC’s current topical issues.
So you fill out your sheet, I cannot remember the question at that particular event in Norwich Magdalen Street, but it was my last one.
As I did not want to be cut short, all were already seated, I shot off for a last minute pee and on pasing a room with the door slightly ajar, saw hands riffling through the questions.
They are not chosen at random but by the panelist’s themselves, unless they are late, the whole Dimbleby and Dimbledor show is stage managed front to back.
Since I rarely watch this political cabaret show, the best of it is the audiences reactions and hunches,imho.
Question time, as our newspapers, either come clean, or be damned, the internet will not wait for these establishment stalwarts to finally arrive.
@ Mary at 15h17 : hahahaha, it took me a while to see what you were hinting at; I didn’t read the two links carefully enough at first and then the next post made me look again more carefully.
Neither nor! All I can tell you is that I didn’t get rained on.
Buona serata (for Karel’s benefit, should he be reading this, it’s Italian for ‘have a good evening)
Your anecdote does not surprise me in the least Doug Scorgie. I have heard similar before on the selection of questions on AQ and on QT. Medialens have documented many similar happenings over the years. The producers led you up the garden path. I always think that they are laughing in our faces when they pretend to be giving opportunity for freedom of speech. A sham.
I listened to the replay of AQ in which I heard Kenneth Clarke speak of his oppostion to the Iraq War and how he thought it was conducted to support the interests of the US and Israel. It was followed by Any Answers and that same quote came up today from a Dr Alex Scott Samuel from Liverpool As soon as the word ‘Israel’ was mentioned, Ms Anand was prepared to immediately jump in to prevent any more of the same. She even had the AQ transcript at the ready to quote back at him. The contributor is a medical practitioner and his words on war are very worthwhile.
17mins 20secs in
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01qcttv
Nevermind. Just saw yours which ‘chimed’ as the saying goes.
Any news on the CE of Norfolk CC, Murphy was it?
With reference to Doug Scorgie’s post at 15h27 :
It’s of course entirely possible that his interpretation of events – ie, that he was kept off air deliberately – is correct. But is it also not possible that time just ran out? After all, the length of time finally needed to deal with every question can only be estimated and not guaranteed in advance. Furthermore, would it not have been simpler for Dimbleby and company just not to have selected Doug’s question?
One further comment on the question itself : whether the question seeks to be vexatious or not, it it in any case nonsensical. Why? Because it consists of two completely different parts, the first part a statement about the percentage of Zionist British jews and the second asking whether a fair two state solution is possible. THe only way these two parts can be reconciled is if you believe that British jews will have a determining rôle to play or a determinig say in the outcome of the conflict. But that is obviously not the case.
(Had I been selecting the questions, this one wouldn’t have made it for the above reason)
@Mary – George Galloway did the cat thing with Rula Lenska, but I think it was after then that he was doing the Michael Moore thing and making money out of people watching him say things that were left-wing, in his macho way that went down well with some of the US market.
Forgive me, but I think he’s well dodgy. Got to ask who he was reporting to when he came back to Britain from ‘missions’ to Iraq. And if I were advising British security authorities on their ‘Prevent’ strategy (part of ‘Contest’, and which involves all sorts of supposedly left-wing, student, and Muslim fronts, in universities and elsewhere), I would be very supportive of what Galloway has being doing in Tower Hamlets, Bradford, and elsewhere. As for his political adviser Asad Rehman, who parachuted in to ‘advise’ the de Menezes family after Jean Charles de Menezes was murdered…Rehman had worked for years for the known MI6 front Amnesty International.
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck. Galloway completely fails the duck test.
Ecuador is one of the only countries in the world where almost everyone who holds a foreign passport is allowed to go and settle: the ‘universal citizenship’ policy. Hopefully they will at some point stop using the US dollar as the currency.