BBC bans reference to Saddam as 'dictator'

In the wake of Saddam Hussein's capture from his Tikrit hole, the BBC has reportedly dug its heels in deeper on its anti-war stance.

Saddam Hussein in U.S. custody

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The Sun reports news executives at the British Broadcasting Company have banned the reference to Hussein as "former dictator." In an e-mail sent to reporters, the news honchos ordered the words "deposed former president" be used instead.

British government officials jumped on the edict yesterday, according to the London tabloid, as more proof of a left-wing bias within BBC ranks.

"It amply demonstrates elements of the BBC have got a clearly anti-war and anti-government agenda," said Kevan Jones of the Commons Defense Select Committee, according to The Sun.

"It's frankly ridiculous," chimed in fellow Labor Party MP Ann Clwyd. "Saddam Hussein is a despot, a murderer and a torturer. He will have to answer charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide."

The outrage wasn't limited to one side of the political fence.

"To afford this level of politeness to a tyrant, torturer and murderer is deeply offensive to the Iraqi people," the paper quotes Tory Party chairman Liam Fox as saying. "It is also an insult to the coalition forces who have sacrificed so much to liberate Iraq from the evil of Saddam."

A BBC spokeswoman dismissed the clamor and said the e-mail was merely a reminder to journalists "of the need to use neutral language."

Others at the major media outlet blasted the decision, according to The Sun.

"This is our daftest order ever," the paper quotes a BBC insider as saying.

The British broadcaster was heavily criticized for its coverage – widely perceived as anti-war and anti-American – of the major combat in Iraq and the subsequent controversy surrounding the intelligence underlying the U.S.- and Britain-led pre-emptive strike.

WorldNetDaily reported coalition forces complained the BBC was skewing the truth of the situation by painting a picture that the U.S. was losing the war.

"Don't believe all the b------- in the press. We are kicking a-- at every corner and everything will turn out OK," wrote 1st Lt. Jon Wicklund, the headquarters company commander of the 1st Marine Regiment, in an e-mail from the frontlines home to his wife. "The only news we get is from the BBC – the british broadcasting corporation. Those brits are a snobby negative bunch allright. Don't know what the news agencies are saying back home about the war. Don't really care too much at all anyway but I just want you to know the truth. We are fighting a bunch of militia – guys who are loyal to saddam and wear civilian clothes and all. A bad bunch of a-------. They execute civilians and all and they are not holding us back. ..."

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