Simpson's nauseating report

BCS

Surely the barbarism of Mugabe's regime and the estimable nature of the MDC by comparison are recognised by every decent person, including, doubtless, John Simpson. As such, how would further reiteration of how ghastly Mugabe is, which would take up valuable airtime, benefit Simpson's viewers/listeners? Surely what would be useful would be an objective analysis of the prospects of success and failure for the regime and its opponents, rather than an assessment of their (quite manifest) virtues and vices? If we accept this, Simpson is absolutely right to say that Mugabe has won a remarkable victory (however disgracefully), in that his position, improbably, is far stronger than it was when he was on the point of resignation. Equally, is it not objectively true that Tsvangirai has been weakened, in that, far from being on the cusp of winning the Presidency, as he was before, he has now been forced to withdraw from the campaign and cede the election to Mugabe?

The Doctor

I thought that the food shortage was due to land seizures in Zimbabwe but since Fidler-Simpson is currently in Harare there could be an alternative explanation...

Augustus

Stephen, as one commenter said, people like Simpson, especially Simpson, feel they are larger than the story on which they are reporting. In this instance he probably also thought he wouldn't get out alive if he even hinted at the truth, so he just thought up something to appease his jolly hosts. A diplomatic editor he may be, but a principled one? No sir.

Water

"It has been done with great brutality, but Robert Mugabe has achieved an extraordinary turnaround here" That has me lost for words.

michael

John Simpson's reportage is intelligent and shrewd. It is nuanced and thoughtful, and does not recognise the extremes of good/bad, pretty/ugly - the black and white simplicities that pertain on this blog and often on Finkstein's.

I'd rather have some thought provoking journalism from the BBC than a series of rants, condemnations and intolerance from you.

David

michael - what exactly is a "nuanced and thoughtful" view on the systemic raping and murdering of opponents families.

I am sorry I am so gauche as to consider that "bad/ugly". What shades of grey would you like to highlight - do they draw a line at pregnant women and infants (apparently not as it happens).

I don't generally have a problem with Simpson, but frankly he needs to issue a sincere personal apology to the families of some dead and wounded people I will stop feeling revolted by him.

Tiberius

Do you know that the BBC doesn't even report Test cricket on its main news bulletins any more?

The organization is a blight on integrity, whether it's Simpson in Harare or Orla Guerin in Jenin.

It's hard to believe, when one thinks of Grange Hill and Eastenders, that in the late 1970s, the BBC was criticized for persistently showing white middle-class programmes on Sunday evenings such as All Creatures Great and Small.