[Media-watch] Angus Roxburgh

[Mark and Andrea Priestley]

My reply to 
letter sent today - at least the man replies promptly...
<FONT 
face="Times New Roman"> 
Dear Mark 

I'm afraid I did not receive your message the first time. You 
and your colleague, Darren Smith, seem to be rather 
obsessed with what seems to me to be a trivial 
point. 
As it happens I totally agree with your comments about American 
policy, and as I pointed out to Darren Smith, an earlier 
Online piece by me was criticised (in, surprise 
surprise, the Sunday Telegraph) for describing US <FONT 
size=2>"bullying" tactics. 
The phrase "dirty work" is a perfectly common turn of phrase 
used to describe getting someone else to do something 
that you want done but would prefer not to do yourself. 
That is what France appeared to be doing by making it so 
clear that it would use its veto -  making the smaller <FONT 
size=2>countries feel voting for the resolution would be pointless, and 
thereby lessening the chances it would need to use its 
veto. 
You can argue about the phrase if you wish, but it in no way is 
intended as a wholesale attack on France. You are taking 
the phrase too literally - it's just an expression! Have 
a look at my earlier piece about US bullying - perhaps 
that will address your concerns about my lack of balance! 
Yours 
Angus Roxburgh 

-----Original Message----- From: Mark 
Priestley To: Angus Roxburgh <FONT 
size=2>Sent: 13/03/03 14:57 Subject: BBC report on 
France 
Second attempt to send this <FONT 
size=2>  Dear Angus I note 
that your report on France and Russia states, 'put crudely, <FONT 
size=2>France is trying to get the smaller countries to do its dirty work 
for it' (<A 
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2841757.stm" 
target=_blank>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2841757.stm 
<<A 
href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2841757.stm" 
target=_blank>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2841757.stm> ). 
This is crude journalism that is not worthy of the BBC, 
and more at home in the Sun. 
*       What evidence to you have 
for stating that French diplommacy is 'dirty work'? 

*       Why is French diplomacy 
'dirty work', when British diplomacy is reported 
differently, and when US 'dirty work' (e.g. the UN spying <FONT 
size=2>scandal unearthed by the Observer last week and bribery and 
intimidation of small countries) is not even reported? 

*       Why does the BBC report 
French 'dirty work' and not US 'dirty work'? 
I would welcome your comments. 
  -------- 
Mark Priestley 
--------------