Bosses at right-wing radio station LBC may well be regretting their decision to misrepresent a comment by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on the death of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Here’s the headline – and the relevant part of the interview:
Jeremy Corbyn told LBC that the "right thing to do" would have been to arrest IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi after he was killed in a US operation. pic.twitter.com/mohDt3IIbC
— LBC (@LBC) November 13, 2019
It is clear that Mr Corbyn did not say arresting al-Baghdadi was “the right thing to do” – he said he did not know the circumstances of what happened.
Speaking in terms of international law, he said if it were possible to arrest such people, then that would be the right thing – but that is not the same as what LBC suggested.
And the public were on the case.
Jerry Tresman pointed out: “He didn’t say that at all. Shows how the lazy are influenced by one-line false headlines, when the video of what is actually said is in front of them. He said “if possible they should be arrested” and was referring mainly to previous situations where they were executed.”
Here‘s Andy Mills: “Play it back then change your disingenuous headline….it may not appeal to some of your sheeple but at least you could call it journalism!”
Paul Cracknell: “‘If it would have been possible to arrest him, I don’t know the details of the circumstances at the time.’ Those were his words. You make it sound like he’s saying he should have been arrested after he was killed. Muppets.”
‘GenuinelyInterested’: “LBC are being a little bit economical with the truth. What Corbyn actually said was (and I paraphrase), if (double underlined) it were possible to arrest Baghdadi, then we should have done so, so that he could stand trial in the Hague just like Milosevic. What’s wrong about that?”
Even Matthew Collins: “I’m no Corbyn fan but he actually said (twice) ‘if it were possible to arrest him that would have been preferable’. He did not say ‘he shouldn’t have been killed’ or ‘he should have been arrested’.”
At the time of writing, LBC doesn’t appear to have changed its line. Instead, it appears to have doubled-down on it:
Speaking to LBC, Jeremy Corbyn addressed the death of ISIS leader Abu al Baghdadi, stating that, if possible, arresting him 'would have been the right thing to do'. @darrenadam asks: Should terrorist leaders be executed by troops or put on trial by civilians? pic.twitter.com/Dv4Rg6B0sE
— LBC (@LBC) November 14, 2019
Perhaps there should be stronger regulation of the press, along the lines proposed by the Leveson Inquiry.
But will you vote Labour into office, to enact it?
Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.
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