Saturday 31 October 2015

"Home to Britain"



On a similar theme, last night's Newsnight added to the growing "ticket tape parade return" for Shaker Aamer. 

Here's how Emily Maitlis first introduced the subject:
He spent a third of his life in a cell in Guantanamo Bay, now Shaker Aamer is released home to Britain without charge. What purpose has Guantanamo served and what do its practices say about our governments?
The main focus on Newsnight's coverage was a discussion between Moazzam Begg (inevitably)in the studio and former US government advisor David Rivkin on a video link - i.e. a verbal brawl between an Islamist and a strong supporter of Guantanamo Bay. 

Fair enough, you might say, but Emily didn't go on to pursue both guests fairly. She mounted her high horse instead and charged after Mr Rivkin, asking him question after question after question, and repeatedly interrupting him and contradicting him. 

That might also have been fair enough if she'd have pursued Moazzam Begg too. She did no such thing though. He was asked a mere two questions and not challenged once. And his questions weren't even tough ones (unlike those put to David Rivkin):
Moazzam Begg, you've been in touch with Shaker Aamer's family today. What kind of response have they had?
I want to ask Moazzam Begg, when you got home and now looking at Shaker's position within society, do you feel like an innocent man or do you...you've heard this opinion (with a wave of her arm towards Mr Rivkin) from an advocate of Guantanamo Bay, do you feel that you are vindicated? 
(Incidentally, what's going on with Emily Maitlis calling Shaker Aamer "Shaker" here?)
Emily seemed to be letting her anger at Mr Rivkin's attacks on Shaker Aamer and his strong defence of Guantanamo get the better of her. After Mr Rivkin butted in to give himself the last word, her displeasure was something to behold - as the following screenshots (second by second) might suggest:



5 comments:

  1. Emily Maitlis offends against Sharia on numerous counts. One can only imagine what Sharia supporters like Begg and co. would do under Sharia law. Why do women in the media never challenge Sharia supporters on their beliefs?

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  2. Miss Maitlis doesn't do herself any favours; her countenance puts on public view her inner hatred. I don't suppose anyone bothered to ask why this man is allowed to come and live in our country. After all he's a Saudi national and, as I understand it, travelled to Afghanistan on a forged Belgian passport. I just don't understand why he's here, why his family is here, why they are referred to as British and why he can expect an enormous payout from us the English taxpayer. But I don't suppose any of that was discussed.

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  3. Can someone point me to some stats on the number of POWs who were charged with a crime during the war? During any war?

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  4. She for me embodies the term 'harpie' perfectly. Be interesting when she ends up turning to the Daily Mail for coverage about the BBC's odd support for backendofbusism

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  5. Hey BBC, ask Afghanistan resident Shaker Aamer what, according to his Guanatanmo file, he was doing in 1998 in a Dublin house with terrorist Zubair Al Haili.

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