Illegal Hunting of Ginger Quarry
There can be no doubt that editors at the News of the World knew exactly what they were doing when they illegally acquired and published a young army officer’s private and fairly mundane video record of his day-to-day experiences in the forces.
In it Prince Harry (who made the video) described one of his platoon, a friend and colleague, as “our little paki friend, Ahmed”, and the paper leapt at the chance to pile in and give him an almighty kicking – yet again.
Have a look at it on the Screws “family” website, if you can be bothered, and you’ll see it’s absolutely clear from the way the term is delivered that there is no malice, no implied racism, nothing to which the Pakistani soldier himself could or wanted to raise any objection.
The paper’s ‘Royal’ editor, the oleaginous Robert ‘Bob-a’ Jobson also raises his voice in horror that Harry jokingly told another colleague that he “looked like a rag-head”, which is normal, indiscriminate army slang for any military opponent wearing a keffiyeh – a traditional Arab headscarf (as worn for the illegal entrapment of celebrities by Mazher Mahmood, the paper’s own discredited ‘investigations editor’.)
With its customary disregard for accuracy or truth, the paper goes completely overboard in describing the few minutes on tape as a “video nasty” and absurdly claims that Harry has “poured shame on the Royal family” with his “shocking racist slurs”.
The only shocking thing about this front page is the breathtaking, utterly bogus self-righteousness of the Screws reporters. The paper and its outspokenly anti-monarchist proprietor for years have seen the slightly naive Prince Harry as a soft target and one of the easiest from which to generate front page splashes.
But the grimmest irony is that a number of organisations who would normally be at odds with the Screws’ stance on most things, find themselves having to react with the same, completely disproportionate shock and horror. The Royal family are obliged to apologise; the army issues a statement that ‘Neither the Army or the armed forces tolerate inappropriate behaviour in any shape or form’; and the Equality & Human Rights Commission feel they must demand a formal enquiry: ‘These appear to be disturbing allegations and we will be asking the MoD to see the evidence, share their investigation with us and their plans for dealing with it.’
It is almost beyond belief that so many presumably not brain-dead people should be forced into this position by a morally bankrupt organisation like the News of the World, simply because this worthless publication still sells in large numbers and generally gets away with saying whatever it likes about anybody. Naturally, it’s out of the question for Prince Harry to sue the paper for the invasion of his privacy, which would be the right of any private individual. Since the PCC is so incapable, or reluctant, or both, of restraining the excesses of papers like the Screws, it’s up to the British public to put a stop to this continuing nonsense by refusing to buy the paper.
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Fascinating read. The links between the Metropolitian Police, The News of the World and the PCC appear strong as ever. ...
Enrique Iglesias is just like his father. They all make good music.';~ 
Yes,that makes sense. The main point is, though, she voted something other than Tory. 
I have a feeling Samantha Cameron voted green in 1992. She was certainly a member of either Greenpeace or Friends ...
quite agree. decided not to watch for much the same reason. you can't argue with a closed mind.
Comment by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd. on 11 January 2009:
Too right, Peter. Those pillocks are in the barrel on their usual fish shoot. Nothing new, of course; the Screws has always claimed public interest for its dismal naughty-vicar tales. What is pitiful about this one is the way the rest of their commercial rivals fall into line behind them – as far as the BBC R4 morning news was concerned, it trumped the Israeli genocide in Gaza, chrissakes. In my new Wales, hypocrisy of this kind will be punishable by rectal mining.
Comment by robert jobson on 7 February 2009:
Dear Peter,
You appear – perhaps through ignorance – to be condoning racism.
Why don’t you go up to the first British Asian you meet in the street and use the word used by Prince Harry and see what response you get.
It was a hate word used by the National Front in the 70s – something my British Asian friends and their families have not forgotten.
With respect, you appear, sadly, to be out of touch.
With Kind regards,
Rob Jobson
Comment by Peter on 18 February 2009:
Essentially, racism is about attitude. I make the point that there was nothing offensive in Harry’s demeanour as he used a mock insult – in the way people can with their friends, to confirm their friendship. It bore no comparison whatever to the way NF yobbos yelled their prejudices in the 1970s.
However, in view of the paper that you work for, I’d lke to draw your attention to another private conversation that was recorded but never disclosed in your paper.
It took place over the phone between your esteemed Investigations Editor, Mazher Mahmood, and a staff photographer, who had recorded the conversation, as many News of the World hacks do (to protect themselves from the diabolical machinations of Stuart Kuttner). A transcript was made of the conversation and used in two court cases. In it Mahmood (perhaps one of your British Asian friends?) is heard among many other obscenites, to describe another man several times as a ‘nigger’. And it’s clear that he didn’t mean it in a friendly way. If you want to take the initative and expose it in the rag you work for, I can let you have a copy of the recording.
Comment by Peter on 18 February 2009:
I should have made it clear that the response above was addressed to Mr Robert Jobson, ‘Royal Editor’ at the News of the World.
Comment by robert jobson on 5 March 2009:
Dear Peter,
FYI I have a number of Asian friends.
They include the excellent former Observer, Standard and Express reporter Shekhar Bhatia.
He has been a friend for more than 15 years.
I do not count Mr Mahmood as a “friend”, although I know him by reputation. In fact we have not worked together since I started my contract wityh the NOTW after leaving the London Evening Standard after 7 years.
Making assumptions, I am sure you agree as a respected writer, can sometimes be dangerous.
I am very happy to meet you in person and discuss anything about my professional career if yoku wish to publish anything about me on this site.
Feel free to ring me whenever you want.
If you prefer to meet please let me know when you are free.
In my career in journalism, more than 20 years on what used to be Fleet Street I have always found face to face meetings more fruitful.
I would prefer to do this than have internet exchanges with you, making often incorrect assumptions about my professionalism.
With warmest wishes,
Rob