News of thw World - What are they up to?
Discussion
First of all they try to undermine England's chance in this year's World Cup. Now they are trying to undermine the Army in Iraq.
Is there some sort of underlying theme to their current "exposes".
I am not condoning the behaviour of these Army personnel - if what the News of the World say is true - but I am concerned about the paper's current sequence of articles which seem to be aimed at knocking British/English confidence.
Is there some sort of underlying theme to their current "exposes".
I am not condoning the behaviour of these Army personnel - if what the News of the World say is true - but I am concerned about the paper's current sequence of articles which seem to be aimed at knocking British/English confidence.
tallbloke said:
I don't read this rag. Care to tell us what they've said?
They've dredged up a video which alledgedly shows a bunch of squaddies beating seven shades out of some Iraqi youths, who had been involved in stone throwing. Obviously one doesn't condone that sort of behaviour, but I can't say that it comes as any surprise that it happens from time to time.
Einion Yrth said:
They've dredged up a video which alledgedly shows a bunch of squaddies beating seven shades out of some Iraqi youths, who had been involved in stone throwing. Obviously one doesn't condone that sort of behaviour, but I can't say that it comes as any surprise that it happens from time to time.
as if we'd do something like that
tallbloke said:
I was listening to a squaddie on the radio saying how it was all smiles and greetings in the street patrols. Then as soon a they were driving away, a fullisade of rocks from the same kids would be beating against the rear windows of the troop carrier...
ok...i'll give my perspective as someone who has been to Iraq and Afghanistan.
These sort of people claim to be 'honest' and say that their culture is built on integrity/trust etc. That is crap.
On my 'pre-going away' training I was told not to accept fags as they are often loaded with poison (as are bottles of water and sweets).....the quote above sums it up exactly....
they ALL smile to your face and would stab you in the back as you turn away.
It is a way of life for them that selling their granny down the river to better themselves is acceptable
tallbloke said:
I don't read this rag. Care to tell us what they've said?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4705482.stm
Wacky Racer said:
I don't read this rag. Care to tell us what they've said?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4705482.stm
Or even better, complete with the video footage:
www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/
>> Edited by GingerNinja on Sunday 12th February 10:27
now here we have an interesting parallel.
I doubt many people will be happy about the publication of this footage. Many people will be calling for it to
be censored and the paper will be criticized for printing it. And yet within the last two weeks those
cartoons were published by the european press (not the UK mind) with full backing from many Phers...knowing that trouble would
follow after the incidents in palestine. Both incidents are politically sensitive and both incidents will cause much ill
feeling.
My own feelings were that the cartoons shouldnt have been reprinted..not because I personally found them offensive, but I
understand why they are and how unnecessary it was to stoke up trouble.
With regards to this video...again..I do not think this should have been shown...because it is not going to help the troops
in Iraq, and makes a mockery of the "liberation and democracy" principles. (of course the video could have been given directly
to the army authorities for investigation)
Bottom line is that there are some people in the media who are so stupid an irresponsible that the printing of a sensational
story far outweighs any sense of moral responsibility, without any foresight to the possible consequences.
I doubt many people will be happy about the publication of this footage. Many people will be calling for it to
be censored and the paper will be criticized for printing it. And yet within the last two weeks those
cartoons were published by the european press (not the UK mind) with full backing from many Phers...knowing that trouble would
follow after the incidents in palestine. Both incidents are politically sensitive and both incidents will cause much ill
feeling.
My own feelings were that the cartoons shouldnt have been reprinted..not because I personally found them offensive, but I
understand why they are and how unnecessary it was to stoke up trouble.
With regards to this video...again..I do not think this should have been shown...because it is not going to help the troops
in Iraq, and makes a mockery of the "liberation and democracy" principles. (of course the video could have been given directly
to the army authorities for investigation)
Bottom line is that there are some people in the media who are so stupid an irresponsible that the printing of a sensational
story far outweighs any sense of moral responsibility, without any foresight to the possible consequences.
mrmaggit said:
Bottom line is that there are some people in the media who are so stupid an irresponsible that the printing of a sensational story far outweighs any sense of moral responsibility, without any foresight to the possible consequences.
Well said.
An interesting point, and being a former journalist it's hard for me to be devil's advocate.
Would the NotW have been displaying moral responsibility if it chosen not to make the video public? News is news. There is no such thing as an embargo and no room for political sentiment. Would you prefer to know that there are apparently British troops behaving in this manner, in the understanding that they are likely to be caught and punished, or would you rather the whole thing was swept under the carpet allowing you to look the other way?
If the acts depicted really took place, then they need to be tackled. The victims of their actions know that the incidents took place, and they won't be keeping the news to themselves. If positive action isn't seen to be done the next group of innocent British squaddies that appear in the same place are likely to suffer the consequences.
In my view it's better to have an open and honest society, with an unrestricted media, that allows us to be aware of what is taking place and to act accordingly.
Two reasons - First they can argue,and with plenty of justification, that it is their responsibility to report what the British Army is doing in Iraq. Second, they are in the business of selling papers, and people buy the paper, for what to most would appear, pointless expose stories. I guess if it happens to involve something that is close to the Nations interest, the more papers they'll sell.
What you want to ask is, what the hell serving soldier would film this and then let it leak out to the press.If I were serving out there, I don't think I'd want to inflame the Iraqi people any more by having this video go worldwide on the news.Of course, this depends if it is not another fake,like the Daily Mirrors infamous pictures.
What you want to ask is, what the hell serving soldier would film this and then let it leak out to the press.If I were serving out there, I don't think I'd want to inflame the Iraqi people any more by having this video go worldwide on the news.Of course, this depends if it is not another fake,like the Daily Mirrors infamous pictures.
Mon Ami Mate said:
Bottom line is that there are some people in the media who are so stupid an irresponsible that the printing of a sensational story far outweighs any sense of moral responsibility, without any foresight to the possible consequences.
Well said.
An interesting point, and being a former journalist it's hard for me to be devil's advocate.
Would the NotW have been displaying moral responsibility if it chosen not to make the video public? News is news. There is no such thing as an embargo and no room for political sentiment. Would you prefer to know that there are apparently British troops behaving in this manner, in the understanding that they are likely to be caught and punished, or would you rather the whole thing was swept under the carpet allowing you to look the other way?
If the acts depicted really took place, then they need to be tackled. The victims of their actions know that the incidents took place, and they won't be keeping the news to themselves. If positive action isn't seen to be done the next group of innocent British squaddies that appear in the same place are likely to suffer the consequences.
In my view it's better to have an open and honest society, with an unrestricted media, that allows us to be aware of what is taking place and to act accordingly.
My comment referred to the editted portion of peterpeters' post, which I stand by.
Einion Yrth said:
I don't read this rag. Care to tell us what they've said?
They've dredged up a video which alledgedly shows a bunch of squaddies beating seven shades out of some Iraqi youths, who had been involved in stone throwing. Obviously one doesn't condone that sort of behaviour, but I can't say that it comes as any surprise that it happens from time to time.
Exactly.
This sort of thing happens in every town in the UK, every weekend. Of course its going to happen in a war zone.
I'd wager that there's more hate in Iraq at the moment than the local town hall next to the village chippy.
Why the suprise?
Plotloss said:
Are we expected to liberate nations with bunches of flowers and chocolates?
The media have no business reporting war, its a dirty task that we pay professionals to do, questioning the way they do it seems a little off to me.
There are countless images of war that remind us of the ugliness of it all, hopefully to make us all think a bit harder before we make the same mistakes again.
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