BBC's al-Zarqawi show

Dear Steve Herrmann, Editor, News Online

I hope all is well at the BBC.

I would like to ask for your opinion about this BBC NEWS website’s article.

'Zarqawi' shows face in new video (BBC NEWS website, Tuesday, 25 April 2006) reads:

“A website has posted a video message which shows unmasked a man who appears to be the Iraqi insurgency's most wanted leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. In the tape, the man says holy warriors are fighting on despite a three-year "crusade". US experts told the BBC they believed the recording was genuine.”

Just a few days ago, The Washington Post wrote:

“The U.S. military is conducting a propaganda campaign to magnify the role of the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, according to internal military documents and officers familiar with the program. The effort has raised his profile in a way that some military intelligence officials believe may have overstated his importance and helped the Bush administration tie the war to the organization responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.” (Military Plays Up Role of Zarqawi. Jordanian Painted As Foreign Threat To Iraq's Stability, By Thomas E. Ricks, Washington Post, April 10, 2006)

A few weeks ago, interviewed by ABC – Australia, Robert Fisk said:

“Well, I don't know if al-Zarqawi is alive. You know, al-Zarqawi did exist before the American Anglo-American invasion. He was up in the Kurdish area, which was not actually properly controlled by Saddam. But after that he seems to have disappeared. We know there's an identity card that pops up. We know the Americans say we think we've recognised him on a videotape. Who recognises him on a videotape? How many Americans have ever met al-Zarqawi? Al-Zarqawi's mother died more than 12 months ago and he didn't even send commiserations or say "I'm sorry to hear that". His wife of whom he was very possessive is so poor she has to go out and work in the family town of Zarqa. Hence the name Zarqawi. I don't know if al-Zarqawi is alive or exists at the moment. I don't know if he isn't a sort of creature invented in order to fill in the narrative gaps, so to speak.” (Roberst Fisk shares his Middle East knowledge, Broadcast: 03/02/2006 ABC - Australia - Lateline)

I have just three simple questions and I would be really grateful if you could give me just three short but honest answers.

QUESTION 1

You write: “a man who appears to be the Iraqi insurgency's most wanted leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.” Who says that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is “Iraqi insurgency's most wanted leader”? A better phrasing could have been: “a man whom The US government claims to be the Iraqi insurgency's most wanted leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.”

QUESTION 2

You write: “US experts told the BBC they believed the recording was genuine.” Who are these “US experts [who] told the BBC they believed the recording was genuine”? I think this is a very important information for the BBC to give to its readers so that everyone can make up her/his own mind.

QUESTION 3

Considering what I have reported above from the Washington Post and Robert Fisk, why doesn’t the BBC NEWS’ article even mention any skeptical point of view?

Thank you for your time and I look forward to reading your comments.

Best regards,
Gabriele Zamparini

******************
UPDATE
******************

Zarqawi tape authentic, says Fisk
Lateline- ABC - Australia - 04/26/06