Hood v ‘Iggins.
Some would call it a point of view; others would call it spin; many would call bollocks on both versions, the majority would simply be mildly amused. ‘Iggins went fishing and got a bite. Both sides each as bad – or as good as the other in casting a line. The question, to me at least, is this the behaviour we should expect from the head of a national safety agency.
‘Iggins earns his living writing stories that sell newspapers. Take any story in the media you like, but with a grain of salt, and you will find ‘journalistic licence’ (for wont of better) hard at work. Hells bells, if folk believed every word in any given story; or, even if ‘just the facts’ were reported – flat – then either the media; or the government, would be out of business.
Hood has lost round 1, by simply responding and is getting a hiding in round 2. There is world wide scepticism, suspicion and disbelief in the ‘official’ version of the 370 story. ‘Facts’ not withstanding, it has been poorly managed. Any self respecting ‘conspiracy’ buff would have a field day. The lunatic fringe aside, sensible folk reading the ‘Hood Sook’ response would finish with a ‘pot-kettle-black’ reaction to the missive. The official spin every bit as good as the unofficial tale. The difference is ‘Iggins has to earn a living from it; Hood does not. The fact that the ATSB head even bothered to respond feeds the flames, plays into ‘Iggins hands, the now public combat attracting more attention than the core story. No matter, but the Hood spin is worth a quick look at; lets see…
Hood – “in particular I am concerned at the negative impact this inaccurate reporting is having on the knowledge of the search by the families of those on board the aircraft.”
Can Hood prove ‘inaccurate’ reporting? Does he go on to do so? A resounding NO. He does run the inaccurate reporting accusation into ‘concern’ for the families in the opening stanza. This is a low blow which leads us directly to the Malaysians, Annexe 13 and the ‘accurate’ escape line:-
Hood – “The role of the ATSB, at the request of the government of Malaysia, is to coordinate the conduct of the underwater search.”
That one statement is all that needs to be said, it is Malaysia's indaba. But no: Hood then has to guild the Lilly and takes us directly back to a very ugly time. The blather reminds serious students of the 370 event to the ‘slippery’ change over between Annexe 12 and the dumping of expert ocean search to Annexe 13 the fumbling, discredited Dolan and the ATSB assuming control. In one fell swoop, any suspicion of a ‘criminal act’ is removed. ATSB cannot continue investigation (by law) if a criminal act is suspected. No matter how you dress it up, someone committed a serious offence; whether it was the flight crew or outside agencies is academic. In trying to deflect attention away from ATSB, Hood has pointed the light into the darkest corner of this mystery. Good thing that light is non too bright; he must now hope his Nemesis ‘Iggins does not spot the dirt piled up in that dim corner.
Hood – “Many of Mr Higgins’ recent articles have been centred on the ATSB’s decision not to provide him with a series of emails between members of the group of experts advising the ATSB on the search strategy in 2016”. Etc.
It is the ‘etc.’ which is interesting. Clumsy deflection: everyone knows what the information requested ‘is’ and who ‘dunnit’; what is not explained is why this data cannot be provided. This only feeds suspicion: why is everyone so sensitive about releasing ‘the facts’ and the data. Straight back to the Annexe 12 – 13 change over question.
The rest of the Hood Sook is similar drivel; innuendo, aspersions, veiled threat and misdirection finishing up with a subjective opinion of ‘harassment’, a CASA stock standard, not even original. Bollocks Hoody, man up and for pities sake shut up; you are becoming an embarrassment. It’s a rough, tough, hurly-burly world we live in; not a perfumed garden for sensitive little flowers.
Toot – no further comment – toot.
Some would call it a point of view; others would call it spin; many would call bollocks on both versions, the majority would simply be mildly amused. ‘Iggins went fishing and got a bite. Both sides each as bad – or as good as the other in casting a line. The question, to me at least, is this the behaviour we should expect from the head of a national safety agency.
‘Iggins earns his living writing stories that sell newspapers. Take any story in the media you like, but with a grain of salt, and you will find ‘journalistic licence’ (for wont of better) hard at work. Hells bells, if folk believed every word in any given story; or, even if ‘just the facts’ were reported – flat – then either the media; or the government, would be out of business.
Hood has lost round 1, by simply responding and is getting a hiding in round 2. There is world wide scepticism, suspicion and disbelief in the ‘official’ version of the 370 story. ‘Facts’ not withstanding, it has been poorly managed. Any self respecting ‘conspiracy’ buff would have a field day. The lunatic fringe aside, sensible folk reading the ‘Hood Sook’ response would finish with a ‘pot-kettle-black’ reaction to the missive. The official spin every bit as good as the unofficial tale. The difference is ‘Iggins has to earn a living from it; Hood does not. The fact that the ATSB head even bothered to respond feeds the flames, plays into ‘Iggins hands, the now public combat attracting more attention than the core story. No matter, but the Hood spin is worth a quick look at; lets see…
Hood – “in particular I am concerned at the negative impact this inaccurate reporting is having on the knowledge of the search by the families of those on board the aircraft.”
Can Hood prove ‘inaccurate’ reporting? Does he go on to do so? A resounding NO. He does run the inaccurate reporting accusation into ‘concern’ for the families in the opening stanza. This is a low blow which leads us directly to the Malaysians, Annexe 13 and the ‘accurate’ escape line:-
Hood – “The role of the ATSB, at the request of the government of Malaysia, is to coordinate the conduct of the underwater search.”
That one statement is all that needs to be said, it is Malaysia's indaba. But no: Hood then has to guild the Lilly and takes us directly back to a very ugly time. The blather reminds serious students of the 370 event to the ‘slippery’ change over between Annexe 12 and the dumping of expert ocean search to Annexe 13 the fumbling, discredited Dolan and the ATSB assuming control. In one fell swoop, any suspicion of a ‘criminal act’ is removed. ATSB cannot continue investigation (by law) if a criminal act is suspected. No matter how you dress it up, someone committed a serious offence; whether it was the flight crew or outside agencies is academic. In trying to deflect attention away from ATSB, Hood has pointed the light into the darkest corner of this mystery. Good thing that light is non too bright; he must now hope his Nemesis ‘Iggins does not spot the dirt piled up in that dim corner.
Hood – “Many of Mr Higgins’ recent articles have been centred on the ATSB’s decision not to provide him with a series of emails between members of the group of experts advising the ATSB on the search strategy in 2016”. Etc.
It is the ‘etc.’ which is interesting. Clumsy deflection: everyone knows what the information requested ‘is’ and who ‘dunnit’; what is not explained is why this data cannot be provided. This only feeds suspicion: why is everyone so sensitive about releasing ‘the facts’ and the data. Straight back to the Annexe 12 – 13 change over question.
The rest of the Hood Sook is similar drivel; innuendo, aspersions, veiled threat and misdirection finishing up with a subjective opinion of ‘harassment’, a CASA stock standard, not even original. Bollocks Hoody, man up and for pities sake shut up; you are becoming an embarrassment. It’s a rough, tough, hurly-burly world we live in; not a perfumed garden for sensitive little flowers.
Toot – no further comment – toot.