Duncan-Smith informs us that Iraq has ballistic missiles with the capacity to strike Europe, the UK included. This is part of what he describes as the "clear and growing danger" represented by Saddam Hussein.
A permanent feature of media reporting is that the words of Western leaders are reported at face value, while the hidden agendas behind the words of our 'enemies' are remorselessly sought out and exposed. On BBC's News At Ten O'Clock, John Simpson (of Kabul) described a visit to Johannesburg by Iraq's deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz. Simpson said:
"What they [the Iraqis] want to do is to give the impression that they are being reasonable and sensible... in order to show that they are innocent. Because they know that works, that really does schmooz people here. Tariq Aziz has been schmoozing people ever since he arrived, and doing it very satisfactorily from his point ofview." (Simpson, September 3, 2002)
This was delivered by the urbane Simpson in his usual self-assured, well-educated voice - we would not readily associate him or his words with burned and mutilated bodies. But consider this: would Simpson or any other BBC or ITN reporter +ever+ describe Colin Powell or Jack Straw, or Bush or Blair, as trying hard "to give the impression that they are being reasonable and sensible... Because they know that works, that really does schmooz people here"?
A permanent feature of media reporting is that the words of Western leaders are reported at face value, while the hidden agendas behind the words of our 'enemies' are remorselessly sought out and exposed. On BBC's News At Ten O'Clock, John Simpson (of Kabul) described a visit to Johannesburg by Iraq's deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz. Simpson said:
"What they [the Iraqis] want to do is to give the impression that they are being reasonable and sensible... in order to show that they are innocent. Because they know that works, that really does schmooz people here. Tariq Aziz has been schmoozing people ever since he arrived, and doing it very satisfactorily from his point ofview." (Simpson, September 3, 2002)
This was delivered by the urbane Simpson in his usual self-assured, well-educated voice - we would not readily associate him or his words with burned and mutilated bodies. But consider this: would Simpson or any other BBC or ITN reporter +ever+ describe Colin Powell or Jack Straw, or Bush or Blair, as trying hard "to give the impression that they are being reasonable and sensible... Because they know that works, that really does schmooz people here"?