BBC puts lives of UK troops at greater risk

The BBC Panorama programme On Whose Orders? handed a massive progaganda victory to Britain's enemies, gave encouragement to terrorists and put the lives of British soldiers at risk.

The programme purported to give an unbiased account of the events following the "Battle of Danny Boy" in May 2004 in which soldiers of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment were ambushed by Iraqi terrorists of the Mahdi Army. After the battle it is alleged by the Iraqis (who incidentally are seeking financial compensation for the Britsh taxpayer) that up to 20 civilians were tortured and executed by British troops.
The BBC gave extensive coverage to the unsubstantiated allegations from claim-seeking Iraqis and virtually no coverage to the Ministry of Defence's rebuttal of the allegations. The MoD has said: "Allegations of mistreatment, unlawful killing and mutilation by British troops following an incident at Vehicle Checkpoint Danny Boy were thoroughly investigated by the RMP. Their investigation lasted 10 months, involved the interviewing of over 150 British personnel and 50 Iraqi nationals, and found no evidence to support these allegations"
You could almost hear John Sweeney, the BBC reporter, salivating as he gave the terrorist version of events. The many sensationalist and dramatic "reconstructions" of alleged mistreatment by British troops of the terrorists made his report reminiscent of tabloid journalism of the most lurid kind.

So what damage has John Sweeney and the BBC done by giving airtime to these unsubstantiated claims made by people years after the event who are in it solely in the hope of receiving a cash handout?

• The propaganda value that the Panorama programme has given to forces hostile to Britain is incalculable.
• The docu-drama will inspire more fanatics to plant bombs on London buses.
• Despite there being no substantial evidence, the accusations have been made and Britain's reputation around the world will have been tarnished.
• British troops will be more vulnerable to threats and abuse both abroad and, regrettably, at home.
• The report will compound the racial hatred already becoming prevalent in the UK.
• The hearts and minds campaign currently being untertaken by UK forces in Iraq and Afghanistan will be severely undermined.
• British Forces fighting on the frontline will be further demoralised by this unfounded stab in the back.

Link> Panorama: On Whose Orders?

Link> The Sun: Beeb ‘slurs’ on Iraq heroes