VIDEO: Downing Street Minutes - BBC-TV NEWS COVERAGE (3 Clips)

[redacted]

You might have heard rebuttals that the Downing Street Minutes are nothing but Òold newsÓ written by a Ònot credible, junior-level staff member,Ó or even obviated by a 1998 Clinton-era law or policy. In other words, a nothing-burger.

However, that is NOT how the BBC--arguably one of the most professional news-gathering operations in the world--covered this story on television news broadcasts. From the moment the story broke, and almost 6 weeks before the Times of London published the minutes, BBC-TV treated this story seriously as the true smoking gun that it has turned out to be.

Here are 3 examples of their TV news coverage. All video clip URLÕs follow at the bottom of the page.

Clip #1
BBC Panorama: ÒIraq, Tony, and the TruthÓ
61 Minutes, Windows Media
First broadcast: March 20, 2005

Unavailable as a high-speed broadband video clip on the Internet until just a few days ago, American audiences can now watch this episode of a British equivalent of Ò60 MinutesÓ at nearly broadcast quality.

Although the footage doesnÕt display a copy of the actual Downing Street Minutes published several weeks later by the Times of London, it does contain what is apparently the first known reference to the now infamous Òintelligence fixed around the policyÓ quote.

For a transcript, timeline and more information about this program, see:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/4332485.stm

Clip #2:
BBC-TV Breakfast: Philippe Sands Interview
8 Minutes, RealPlayer Video
First broadcast: March 21, 2005

The morning after the Panorama report, Labour party members and the Foreign Affairs Committee howled in protest, criticizing the BBC for Òselective and unbalancedÓ reporting. This interview with Professor Philippe Sands of QueensÕ College, University of Cambridge, defends BBC News and attacks the Labour party arguments:

ÒIf it were Ôselective and unbalancedÕ then perhaps they would care to place information in the public domain that shows the other side. I havenÕt seen anything to date that seems to redress, by facts, the information contained in that program, and weÕve got to focus our attention on the actual facts.Ó

Clip #3:
Downing Street Memo Published
BBC News 24
6:20, RealPlayer Video
First broadcast: May 1, 2005

This clip was the lead story on BBC-TVÕs 11 PM News, as well as many other BBC News telecasts after 11 a.m. GMT on the morning that the Times of London published the Downing Street Minutes.

The excerpts featured in the electronic news graphics leave no doubt that BBC News editors believed that the Times had uncovered a smoking gun. Furthermore, their political editor Andrew Marr notes that ÒThere was an assumption that Britain was going to war alongside America, and thatÕs very plain from this.Ó

LINKS:

1. Iraq, Tony, and the Truth*

Download to disk from web page (76 MB):
http://www.overcast.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/warofterror/iraqtonytruth.htm

Open location in Windows Media Player:
http://www.overcast.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/warofterror/media/panorama_hi.wmv

Encoding: Windows Media 9 codec, 181 k/bps, stereo

2. BBC-TV Breakfast: Philippe Sands Interview

Open location in RealPlayer
rtsp://stream2.blinkx.com/BBCNews24/20050321/20050321_BBCNews24_News_1930.rm?start=312.170&end=788.170

Encoding: RealPlayer 9 codec, 30 fps, 350k/bps, 768x576 pixels


3. Downing Street Memo Published

Open location in RealPlayer
rtsp://stream2.blinkx.com/BBCNews24/20050501/20050501_BBCNews24_News_2300.rm?start=30.170&end=410.170

Encoding: RealPlayer 9 codec, 30 fps, 350k/bps, 768x576 pixels

*Alternate links for ÒIraq, Tony, and the TruthÓ follow:

http://www.thedossier.ukonline.co.uk/video_iraqwar.htm
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8579.htm
http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/03/1728438.php
http://www.willthomas.net/

(Thanks to bejammin075 of Democratic Underground for publicizing the high-speed version of Panorama, and to Stephen M. Birmingham for hosting it on his server in the U.K.)

[slor]

1. Thanks for posting! n/t

[sabra]

2. thanks!

[Cleita]

3. Kicked and nominated.

People, don't let this die!

[redacted]

4. Thank you Cleita!

[redacted]

5. Kick NT

[BigBearJohn]

6. HIGHLY Recommended (KICK)

[redacted]

8. Thanks BigBearJohn!

We are admirers of your posts.

[cthrumatrix]

7. big kick

[redacted]

9. Thanks Everyone Keep Kicking.

[Coexist]

10. here's a kick for ya'

nice compilation - maybe you should send it to USA Today?! Apparently, they have trouble finding stuff like this.

[redacted]

11. Exactly! News you'll NEVER find on "USA Yesterday."

and thanks for the KICK.

[DrDebug]

12. Awesome. Recommended!

[Amonester]

13. In the name of my decorated father and

his courageous pals who didn't have the same chance to come back home because they never gave up hope.


Recommanded.

[redacted]

16. Thanks so very much for your post and recommendation.

[Amonester]

17. If I could recommend it again, I sure would. (Kick)

:kick:

[Nothing Without Hope]

14. Some SCREEN SHOTS from this important broadcast, courtesy of dzika:

Doesn't Bolton look like a monster? As though he's spewed so much mad viciousness over his unspeakable career of destruction that it has bleached the hair around his mouth?

And Bush and his poodle - don't they look like they're having a great, giggling good time? How can ANYONE have any stomach for Blair, when it's likely he knows what he's doing. So sickening, watching him simpering and kissing up to an insane criminal like this.

Condi and Cheney always look the same - they're the grownups who know they are doing evil and don't give a damn. They just keep pushing the whole country, the world, everything and everyone who lives, ever closer to destruction for their own worthless reasons.

MONSTERS. THEY ARE ALL MONSTERS.

(I've routed the image files through a public cache, so they may take a few moments to load. Thank you for these screenshots, dzika!)

http://www.edwardsdavid.com.nyud.net:8090/media/bbc/images/bbc_dsm_iraq_blar_truth_panorama_hi_050320-01.jpg http://www.edwardsdavid.com.nyud.net:8090/media/bbc/images/bbc_dsm_iraq_blar_truth_panorama_hi_050320-02.jpg http://www.edwardsdavid.com.nyud.net:8090/media/bbc/images/bbc_dsm_iraq_blar_truth_panorama_hi_050320-03.jpg http://www.edwardsdavid.com.nyud.net:8090/media/bbc/images/bbc_dsm_iraq_blar_truth_panorama_hi_050320-04.jpg http://www.edwardsdavid.com.nyud.net:8090/media/bbc/images/bbc_dsm_iraq_blar_truth_panorama_hi_050320-05.jpg http://www.edwardsdavid.com.nyud.net:8090/media/bbc/images/bbc_dsm_iraq_blar_truth_panorama_hi_050320-06.jpg

[Nothing Without Hope]

15. ANOTHER BBC BROADCAST WE REALLY NEED TO GET - the one on CIA's

routine - and utterly illegal and morally repugnant practice of EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION. This report was broadcast on February 8 on BBC's File on Four Program. This is the common CIA practice of kidnapping people and then flying them on secret "ghost planes" to countries where pesky human rights agencies won't know about the torture and disappearances. All very, very illegal and totally against Geneva Conventions, of course. And ROUTINE. And suppressed in the US Media.

We really need to get access to the video of this BBC broadcast on extraordinary rendition, aired Feb 8, 2005. I have not been able to find a video copy. Do any of the people reading this have a link to one?

Here are the BBC program notes:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/file_on_4/4246089.stm

CIA prisoners 'tortured' in Arab jails

By Stephen Grey
BBC Radio 4's File on 4 - Feb 8, 2005

A former CIA official has confirmed suspicions that dozens of terror suspects have been flown to jails in Middle Eastern countries where torture is routinely practised, and without reference to courts of law.

Michael Scheuer, who once headed the hunt for Osama Bin Laden and left the CIA last November after a 22-year career, said the practice, known as "extraordinary rendition", was seen by the US as a key tactic in its war on terror.

"The bottom line is getting anyone off the streets who is involved in acts of terrorism is a worthwhile activity," he told the BBC's File On 4 programme.

Mr Scheuer said the operation was authorised at the highest levels of the CIA and the White House and was approved by their lawyers.

(snip)

Here is a sample quote:

"Human rights is a very flexible concept... It depends how hypocritical you want to be on a particular day."
Mike Scheuer, former CIA agent

Here is the transcript:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/15_02_05_renditions.pdf

Here is a more recent article by the primary reporter on this, Stephen Grey, who is a respected UK investigative journalist:
http://mondediplo.com/2005/04/04usatorture

Here is a DU thread on this article with some additional links:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1740193

And HERE is a DU thread on the unspeakable article in the NY Times a week ago GLAMORIZING this unspeakable practice as patriotic, daring, mysterious - but no hint of its being illegal and utterly morally wrong:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1821261#

(I will start another thread on this later tonight, but if anyone watching this DSM video can come up with a way to ALSO get this one on CIA extraordinary rendition, that would be a very good thing.)

[Nothing Without Hope]

18. This is a BBC RADIO broadcast, and I have sent an email to the BBC

to see if they will consider making a sound file available. The transcript is helpful, but listening has much more impact. If you want to send an email to them about this too, here's the email address for the File On Four series:
[e-mail]

Or use the form here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/file_on_4/3695924.stm#email

Include the broadcast date (Feb 8, 2005) and the title:

CIA prisoners 'tortured' in Arab jails
By Stephen Grey
BBC Radio 4's File on 4

[redacted]

21. Searching now; found several BBC Radio 4 promo spots

so far for that episode of File on Four. Interesting. Thanks for your posts!

[redacted]

22. Found the broadcast

PM me and we'll take it from there.

[Nothing Without Hope]

23. I've PMed you. In the meantime, here's another article on CIA RENDITION

that was published by the Independent (UK) and also appeared Truthout and at CommonDreams back in February. It is coauthored by Stephen Grey and came out 2 days after the radio broadcast. Here it is at Common Dreams (which has a link to the original article):

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0210-11.htm
Published on Thursday, February 10, 2005 by the lndependent/UK

Britain Accused Over CIA's Secret Torture Flights

UK airports are believed to be operational bases for two executive jets used by the CIA to carry out 'renditions' of terror suspects
by Stephen Grey and Andrew Buncombe

Britain's intelligence agencies have been accused of helping America in a secret operation that is sending terror suspects to Middle Eastern countries where prisoners are routinely tortured and abused.

Since 11 September 2001, the CIA has been systematically seizing suspects and sending them, without legal process, not only to Guantanamo Bay but to authorities in countries such as Egypt, Jordan and Syria. Human rights campaigners say the system, officially known as "extraordinary rendition" is a system of torture by proxy.

Britain maintains the main reason it will not deport prisoners being held without charge at Belmarsh prison is the fear they will be tortured or otherwise abused by their home country. But a series of cases has emerged which, critics say, exposes the Government's dishonesty by suggesting information provided by Britain about its citizens and residents has led to the capture and eventual torture of Islamic terrorist suspects.

Britain is also an operational base for two executive jets regularly used by the CIA to carry out so-called "renditions". One Gulfstream jet - used for taking prisoners to Egypt and Jordan from countries including Sweden and Indonesia - has called regularly at Luton, Glasgow, Prestwick and Northolt airports.

(snip)

Here is another way Blair's government has been playing illegal footsie with the Bush criminals.

[Nothing Without Hope]

24. I'll postpone starting another thread on extraordinary rendition until

I hear about the availability of an audio file. We have the transcript, program notes and articles, but being able to LISTEN would be very powerful.

I'll also link to an article on how there's a bill to INCREASE THE CIA'S POWER internationally. Connect the dots, guys. This MUST be exposed. I've posted several times on this already, but there hasn't been nearly as much response as there should be. It's pretty much off the radar, apparently. And of course the US Poodle Press has suppressed it.

[JanMichael]

19. I'm glad to see them calling the DSM "Minutes" and not "Memo"!

There is a significant, yes I am serious, difference.

[bejammin075]

20. Thanks redacted, for increasing

the visibility of the BBC video. It's a really good documentary that I hope everybody gets a chance to watch.

[redacted]

27. And thank you bejammin075 for getting the ball rolling!

I wouldn't have known about those video links without your important work. Thank you for finding and passing them along.

[Nothing Without Hope]

25. kick - this is very important n/t

[Karenina]

28. OK!

:kick:

[Nothing Without Hope]

26. kick - more people need to see this n/t

[redacted]

29. Agreed - and thanks!

[Nothing Without Hope]

30. kick - wish there were a way to have this stay up for people to see n/t

[magellan]

31. Kick for the (very) early morning crew

Thanks to all who are bringing these important video and audio clips to public notice. The BBC puts US corporate news to shame...again.