The American Thinker has caught the BBC in the act of trying to cover up an instance of their bias, which we reported earlier today in an article entitled BBC Linguistic Double Standards. Shortly after we publicized this case of BBC anti—Israel bias, they broke the link we provided, and re—wrote and renumbered the offensive article. This is a new, sanitized version. The specific language we cited has been removed completely.

Of course, the $5bn tax—funded BBC overlooked the possibility of saving the story on our $20 hard—drive. We can still bring you the proof of the editorial dirty tricks the BBC employ on a daily basis. Here is the original BBC story:

Hamas chief attacks 'enemy Bush'

The new leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza has denounced President George Bush as an "enemy of Muslims". Abdel Aziz al—Rantissi was speaking to some 5,000 supporters in Gaza City.

He said Mr Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had "declared war against Allah" but "Allah declares war against America, Bush and Sharon".

Mr Rantissi was named leader in Gaza after Israel assassinated Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin last Monday.

Speaking at the Islamic University in Gaza on Sunday, Mr Rantissi said he was not surprised that the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution condemning the missile strike which killed Sheikh Yassin.

"(Sheikh Yassin) said the war of God continues against them and I can see the victory coming up from the land of Palestine by the hand of Hamas", he said.

Israeli government spokesman Avi Pazner has described Mr Rantissi as "one of the most extreme members of Hamas".

Questioned over the killing of Sheikh Yassin last week, President Bush said that Israel had a "right to defend itself from terror" — but should also bear in mind the consequences.

Israel blames Hamas  for the killing of hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombings.  [emphasis added]

President Bush reiterated his support for a two—state solution to the Israeli—Palestinian dispute and for a concerted fight against terror.

Mr Rantissi, a 56—year—old doctor, has been imprisoned in the past by both Israel and by Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority.

In 2003, he survived an Israeli assassination

Note the sentence:'Israel blames Hamas for the killing of hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombings.' The clear meaning  is that according to the BBC we don't know for sure that Hamas do commit suicide bombings — even though Hamas admit it themselves. Only a few lines further down, the BBC goes on to say,

"In 2003, he (Rantissi) survived an Israeli assassination attempt similar to that which killed Sheikh Yassin.'

Note that in the case of the Israelis and their assassinations, there is no such hedging language, such as 'blame' or 'allegedly'. Total bias: caught red—handed.

Furthermore, in the new draft they once again — they just can't help themselves — try to semantically taint the true nature of the monster Yassin with,

'Israel accused Sheikh Yassin of ordering Hamas suicide bombings which killed hundreds of Israelis'.

Note to Beeb: not even Hamas denies that Yassin was the motivator for countless suicide bombers. The only people in denial are the BBC.

We suppose that it is good to correct biased language, when pointed out by critics. But shouldn't the editors fess up to their errors, in that case? It looks like removing the evidence in a cover—up, if you don't acknowledge the error.

Having received extensive international coverage of and comment on our article about the BBC's embarrassment over one of its own telephone polls, which came to the wrong conclusion (from their viewpoint), and continuing since then to cover the Beeb's biases, we believe it is reasonable to think that some of the thousands of hits per month which we get from the UK may be BBC folk checking out the, err, opposition.

We are glad to contribute to the reform of the BBC, of course. For a spare million or two, we could provide considerably more assistance. Out of five billion dollars a year, it would hardly be missed.