British Civil War 2003!
10 Downing Street Spinmeister Invades Channel Four, Fires Verbal Salvo at the Venerable BBC
by Nicola Mitchell

July 5, 2002 -- NEW YORK (apj.us) -- While we're hearing the Bush administration harp on about the successful conclusion of the war in Iraq -- and also finding great pleasure watching Bush squirm at the latest Supreme Court ruling with regards to sodomy in Texas -- there has been the slow rumblings of another war in the making, but this one looks set to be even more bloody and dangerous than anyone could imagine.

Yes, Downing Street is at war with the BBC – again.

But this time it's serious. Very serious.

The battle lines for combat have been drawn for some time, but full scale fighting finally broke out last week as the BBC took aim at its primary target – Alastair Campbell, Blair's communications director -- for whom it has been gunning for some time.

The first shots were fired after a furious Downing Street demanded an apology after it reported that Alisatair Campbell may have 'sexed up' an intelligence document regarding Saddam Hussein's alleged WMD capabilities. Not to be outdone, the BBC the issued a retaliatory strike after it claimed that Campbell was waging a personal vendetta against its defence correspondent.

The battle has now escalated into all-out fighting after a furious Campbell stormed the UK's Channel Four news studio live on air to launch a vicious attack on the BBC and its coverage of Downing Street and Iraq.

In doing so, the Master of Spin has broken his cardinal rule: never become the story.

And with neither party showing signs of backing down, this latest battle on behalf of the Blair government could be a long, drawn-out process.

There is however one ray of hope on the horizon: another story which could come and take the edge off of the Campbell v. BBC fight. Unfortunately for the government, it is also not the kind of thing they are going to want to see splashed across the front pages.

You see, according to the latest reports, many of us Brits now consider the prime minister to be untrustworthy -- with almost half of us thinking he should quit!

Maybe the Campbell-BBC story isn't looking so bad after all.

But the new media war hasn't completely taken up the headlines, and in between the sparring there has been the odd story about the latest round of Supreme Court decisions that have been taken stateside.

The general consensus is that the decision regarding affirmative action is an historic ruling which will shape the debate on social and race issues not just in America, but worldwide. However, on a more political note, the decision in Texas to overturn sodomy laws between two men is seen as having political repercussions for Bush, as it will prove difficult for him to lend his support to such a move during an election season when many of those who bank role his campaign will be appalled by such an action.

So with the battle lines drawn, Blair's popularity on the slide, and Bush on the run, one can only wait and see what delights the world of politics will have in store for us over the next coming weeks

...and with the Campbell-BBC row threatening to turn even uglier, you can bet if nothing else it will be highly entertaining!