by New Worlds
Part 2 - BBC's big smear campaign
The BBC initially tried to smear the different whistleblowers, accusing Peter Hitchins, a 40-year veteran of covering Syria, of being aligned with Russia and Syria. BBC then insinuated that an informant known as Alex, who claimed the 2018 chemical weapons attack on Douma was staged, may have been motivated by a financial reward of $100,000, provided by Wikileaks at that...this has been denied by Wikileaks and there is no basis other than the accusation.
Journalists also found several of the supposed "victims, children," who are in good health and testify they did not know why they were dragged into the videos and hosed with water.
Journalists also found several of the supposed "victims, children," who are in good health and testify they did not know why they were dragged into the videos and hosed with water.
Then came a leaked email - the authenticity of which has been verified by the OPCW - which protested that the scientist's original findings had been changed. Fernando Arias, director-general of the OPCW, has denied this. But a newspaper has obtained the research team's original interim report, which differs substantially from the end report, and OPCW refused to comment.
An OPCW whistleblower also revealed that the tiny quantities of chlorine detected were in forms possible to find in any household. The victims shown in videos of the attack were foaming at the mouth, expected of victims of sarin but not of victims of chlorine. But no traces of sarin were found at Douma.
An OPCW whistleblower also revealed that the tiny quantities of chlorine detected were in forms possible to find in any household. The victims shown in videos of the attack were foaming at the mouth, expected of victims of sarin but not of victims of chlorine. But no traces of sarin were found at Douma.
These discrepancies, facts were not picked up by the British, the US or Philippine mainstream media, but the allegations and even already debunked videos alleging Syrian government's use of chemical warfare were spread all over the world, long after many of the facts already came out.
However, in fairness, a ray of light and truth still shines, however late and however much damage has been done to nations and millions of people.
The BBC lately has admitted that its reporter Chloe Hadjimatheou spread fake news about the use of poison gas in Douma in its "documentary" of 2018 and had admitted that BBC Radio 4 episodes contained "serious inaccuracies."
However, in fairness, a ray of light and truth still shines, however late and however much damage has been done to nations and millions of people.
The BBC lately has admitted that its reporter Chloe Hadjimatheou spread fake news about the use of poison gas in Douma in its "documentary" of 2018 and had admitted that BBC Radio 4 episodes contained "serious inaccuracies."
The ECU - Executive Complaint Unit of the BBC, which investigates the standards applied by the organization, stated in a turnaround, "These points represented a failure to meet the standard of accuracy appropriate to the program of this kind...." (Although very recently, just on Dec. 1 2020, a BBC spokesman said, "This series is the result of photojournalism and meets the BBC's editorial standards...we stand by the investigation.")
Hitchens, the journalist who complained, welcomed the verdict, and "admits it's a big step that the ECU of the BBC ruled against itself."
Hitchens, the journalist who complained, welcomed the verdict, and "admits it's a big step that the ECU of the BBC ruled against itself."
Lies, inaccuracies, distractions and provocations continue to abound all around us; some are distracting, others are truly destructive. As the stakes grow higher with a superpower rivalry in our neighborhood, and given the propensity to fight wars through proxy, we should all be more discerning and careful in what we believe and how we judge, which we should do with pragmatism and for the long term good of our country.
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