Bob McCarty Writes

The BBC’s World Have Your Say will, according to this update, air 45 minutes of a Taliban spokesperson (a.k.a., “terrorist spin doctor”) answering questions from listeners to the radio program and others who posted questions in the comments section of the program’s blog.  This news comes 13 days after I published news about the internationally-broadcast program’s plan to offer listeners a chance to ‘Talk to the Taliban’.

As of yesterday, 107 comments — most of which featured questions for the radical Islamic extremists to answer — had appeared on the blog.  Below is the text of one of two comments I submitted Oct. 31 at 4:52 p.m:

So much for open dialogue. My comment / question was removed, apparently because it was politically incorrect. Fortunately, I saved a screenshot of it as it was awaiting “comment moderation.” You can view it at the following address: http://bobmccarty.com/2008/10/31/bbc-radio-offers-chance-to-talk-to-the-taliban/

The screenshot of the initial comment/question — referenced in the above comment — appears below:

Click image to see where it would have fit into the comment stream.

It will be interesting to listen to World Have Your Say program and find out which way the show’s staff leans when it comes to dealing with the Taliban spokesperson.  I suspect, however, they will dodge any questions — including mine that didn’t survive their politically-correct “moderation” process — that hold potential to paint President-elect Barack Obama in a negative light.

World Have Your Say airs live at 11 a.m. CDT.

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UPDATE 11/14/08:  Taliban ‘Spins’ Facts During 45-Minute Interview (Podcast Here)