On BBC Radio 4, foreign secretary Jack Straw was allowed to promote the
deception (and he surely knows the truth) unchallenged by interviewer John
Humphrys:
"The inspectors were able to get in and to do their work until the
international community's resolve, I'm afraid, fractured rather, and Saddam
Hussein was able to exploit that and expel the inspectors." (Jack Straw,
Today, BBC Radio 4, October 12, 2002)
When Humphrys was challenged by Media Lens reader Darren Smith, Humphrys
replied tersely:
"What you fail to appreciate is that Today interviewers don't have enough
time to challenge every assertion made in every interview." (Email to Darren
Smith, October 16, 2002)
In fact time pressures are such that the BBC, like the rest of the media, is
unable to challenge any assertions in any interviews where the 'ejection' of
arms inspectors is concerned. Time is always available for politicians to
endlessly repeat their deceptive claims, however.
deception (and he surely knows the truth) unchallenged by interviewer John
Humphrys:
"The inspectors were able to get in and to do their work until the
international community's resolve, I'm afraid, fractured rather, and Saddam
Hussein was able to exploit that and expel the inspectors." (Jack Straw,
Today, BBC Radio 4, October 12, 2002)
When Humphrys was challenged by Media Lens reader Darren Smith, Humphrys
replied tersely:
"What you fail to appreciate is that Today interviewers don't have enough
time to challenge every assertion made in every interview." (Email to Darren
Smith, October 16, 2002)
In fact time pressures are such that the BBC, like the rest of the media, is
unable to challenge any assertions in any interviews where the 'ejection' of
arms inspectors is concerned. Time is always available for politicians to
endlessly repeat their deceptive claims, however.