The latest offence is by reporter Stephen Farrell in an article entitled "On patrol with the US Army in Baghdad's deadly alleys."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-749761,00.html

Farrell quotes US Staff Sergeant Michael McGuinn as saying:

"This is Kid Alley. They come up asking you for things, bugging the hell out of you... The kids like us, but the older ones have a peculiar look in their eyes. I wouldn't trust any of them... The children are everywhere around here. I don't know how many women I've seen in labour. These people shit out kids like turds."

Astoundingly, Farrell says McGuinn "is not rude or hostile, just tired and cynical"!

Farrell quotes another American soldier as saying:

"I think the Iraqis aren't the brightest.  Their work ethic is for shit... and their moral values... man."

Farrell claims that "there is no hatred or anger for Iraqis, just wariness and some disdain."

This comes less than two weeks after Times columnist Tim Hames claimed that the BBC "seems so remorsely anti-Israeli" that it might as well allow its reporters to "appear speaking Arabic, riding a camel, stopping occasionally to suck from a long pipe in a crowded souk."  You can read his commentary at:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,482-737333,00.html

Write to letters@thetimes.co.uk

You can also write to:

stephen.farrell@thetimes.co.uk

Diplomatic editor: richard.beeston@thetimes.co.uk

Chief editor: robert.thomson@thetimes.co.uk

Please remain polite.