Article

2005-01-29 Iraq-Jordan

BBC Apologises for Misinterpreting Iraqi Death Stats

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Posted by legolas 2005-01-29 18:19|| || Front Page|| [11135 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Nice Catch, Legolas!

Updates with BBC apology, shortens)
LONDON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The BBC apologised on Saturday for erroneously reporting that U.S.-led and Iraqi forces may be responsible for the deaths of 60 percent of Iraqi civilians killed in conflict over the last six months.

The British broadcaster said on Friday in broadcasts and a news statement that its Panorama investigative show would air a report on Sunday citing "confidential" records from Iraq's health ministry to support the contention.

Iraq's health minister said the BBC misinterpreted the statistics it had received and had ignored statements from the ministry clarifying the figures.

"Today, the Iraqi Ministry of Health has issued a statement clarifying matters that were the subject of several conversations with the BBC before the report was published, and denying that this conclusion can be drawn from the figures relating to 'military operations'," the BBC said in a news statement on Saturday.

"The BBC regrets mistakes in its published and broadcast reports yesterday."

A BBC spokesman said the statistics would not feature in the Panorama show on Sunday.

Posted by Frank G 2005-01-29 6:48:49 PM|| 2005-01-29 6:48:49 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 The BBC accomplished what it wanted. Now the 60% figure will be quoted ad infinitum, especially in muslim countries. It's the same as that bogus 100,000 Iraqi dead figure published in the Lancet. The Soviets and Germans understood the value outrageous propaganda. It seems our friends in the BBC have been attentive students.

Posted by ed 2005-01-29 7:20:39 PM|| 2005-01-29 7:20:39 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 Iraq's health minister said the BBC misinterpreted the statistics it had received and had ignored statements from the ministry clarifying the figures.
Looks as though Mary Mapes has already found new employment.

Posted by GK 2005-01-29 7:37:08 PM|| 2005-01-29 7:37:08 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 How many heads need to roll at the BBC before they learn their f***ing lesson? I'm guessing John Simpson himself was responsible for this particular balls-up.

Posted by Bulldog 2005-01-29 7:57:47 PM|| 2005-01-29 7:57:47 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 No problem. The statistics as I interpret them show that only 12 people listen to the BBC anyway

Posted by Matt 2005-01-29 7:59:07 PM|| 2005-01-29 7:59:07 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 The memory hole is alive and well.

Posted by john 2005-01-29 8:22:18 PM|| 2005-01-29 8:22:18 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 In the BBC "have your say" the question is:
Will the Iraqi poll be a success?

I sent:

Who cares, the main stream media will declare the election a failure any way.

Will it be posted? I wonder...

Posted by SwissTex 2005-01-29 9:10:22 PM|| 2005-01-29 9:10:22 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 All reference to this show has disappeared from the BBC website. It was most prominent this AM. I couldn't even find the correction.

Posted by SPOD 2005-01-29 9:26:50 PM|| [http://www.slhess.com] 2005-01-29 9:26:50 PM|| Front Page Top

#9 SPDO
That's right, I saw it this morning too

Posted by SwissTex 2005-01-29 9:34:30 PM|| 2005-01-29 9:34:30 PM|| Front Page Top

#10 That 60% figure was quoted by Air America about 15 minutes ago. The lefties are beside themselves, seems they say the U.S. doesn't have a democracy and neither should Iraq.

Posted by Cyber Sarge 2005-01-29 10:38:46 PM|| 2005-01-29 10:38:46 PM|| Front Page Top

#11 They are still staying with the totally discredited 100,000 death figure too. I have had several of the numbskulls refuse to budge off that figure even after being shown it's wrong.

Posted by SPOD 2005-01-29 10:41:46 PM|| [http://www.slhess.com] 2005-01-29 10:41:46 PM|| Front Page Top

#12 They know EXACTLY what they're doing. They, (bbc and the msm as a whole), vomit these lies that they know damn good and well are lies. Then, they retract it, saying; "Oops, we're terrible sorry." They know there are no penalties that go along with their deliberately LYING to the people. They know the information is a lie when they publish it....and they do it anyway. BECAUSE THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT!

When does "freedom of the press" become sedition?

Posted by Tom Dooley 2005-01-29 11:20:42 PM|| 2005-01-29 11:20:42 PM|| Front Page Top

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