Iraqis Raid Offices of Television Network

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=4&u=/ap/20031124/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_media

<snip>
The government accused Al-Arabiya of "inciting murder" for broadcasting an audio tape a week ago of a voice it said belonged to Saddam Hussein (news - web sites).

"We have issued a warning to Al-Arabiya and we will sue," said Jalal Talabani, the current president of the Iraqi Governing Council. "Al-Arabiya incites murder because it's calling for killings through the voice of Saddam Hussein. ... Inciting murder or violence is illegal under the laws of the entire world."

He said Al-Arabiya would be banned from working in Iraq for "a certain time," which he didn't specify.

Outside the station, Al-Arabiya's chief Baghdad editor, Wahhad Yacoub, said it would cease broadcasting reports from Iraq until the matter could be resolved, although he said the station would continue to report on Iraq from its headquarters in the city of Dubai, in the United Arab Emirites.

Earlier Monday, about 20 Iraqi police officers raided Al-Arabiya's offices in Baghdad's Mansour neighborhood, making lists of equipment to be seized if it did not comply with the order, said station correspondent Ali al-Khatib, reporting live from the Iraqi capital.

The officers also raided the Middle East Broadcasting Center, a mostly entertainment network that shares offices with Al-Arabiya and is owned by the same Saudi company.

[bvar22]

1. I really wish that the media would use the prefix

bush* appointed Iraqi government, or the Republican Appointed Iraqi Governing Council.


The way this council of quislings and corporate insiders is represented in the media gives them the illusion of legitimacy.

[leftchick]

3. this part makes it clear who gave the orders....and Why!

<Since Washington declared major combat in Iraq over on May 1, 185 soldiers have died in action. In an attempt to offset doubts over its handling of the worsening insurgency, U.S. authorities have launched a media blitz to try to convince the public and a skeptical press that it is making progress in Iraq.>

[David__77]

4. "US/UK-appointed" would be proper.

The Anglo-American governments are at issue here, not merely Bush. The US is responsible as a country.

[54anickel]

2. Better hurry up with that US propaganda channel!