CBS delayed report on Iraqi prison abuse after military chief's plea

[No2W2004]

Another example of the "liberal elite" media hard at work:

The news network which broke the story of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers delayed its report for two weeks, in response to a personal request by the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

General Richard Myers called Dan Rather, the CBS anchor, eight days before the report was due to go on air, asking for time because it would inflame the situation in Falluja and could jeopardise hostages, Jeff Fager, executive producer of the US network's 60 Minutes II show told the Associated Press news agency. Last night the general confirmed that he had called.

Seven more soldiers were disciplined yesterday as the scandal at Abu Ghraib jail near Baghdad spread, triggering an inquiry into military intelligence. Six officers and sergeants were given formal reprimands, possibly ending their careers, for failing to stop the abuse of inmates. The seventh was given a lesser rebuke. Six military policemen already face criminal charges for assaulting and sexually humiliating prisoners.

Mr Fager agreed to hold off the CBS report, but broadcast it last Wednesday, as the New Yorker magazine was preparing to run a detailed report.

The broadcast showed images taken last year, allegedly of Iraqis being stripped naked, hooded and tormented at Abu Ghraib. Mr Fager said he had felt "terrible" at being asked to hold back."It's hard to just make those kinds of decisions. It's not natural for us; the natural thing is to put it on the air. But the circumstances were quite unusual."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1209025,00.html

[Eric J in MN]

1. The media keeps usng the word "allegedly" with regard to the

The media keeps usng the word "allegedly" with regard to the mistreatment of Iraqui prisoners.

How much more proof do they need?

[shraby]

3. They have to use alleged

until the trials are done with. It's to avoid convicting in the press before proven in the courts.

[Zinfandel]

12. Then why does Bush call every prisoner incarcated...

a terrorist, before they even had a trial? Some have been incarcerated for more than two years...will they ever even have a trial?

Due process?

9-11 gives them a right to ignore ones civil rights? We know who the eighteen were (fifteen Saudi's) yet alls fair for their justifications, the Bush's 9-11 ignorant complicity is there for all to see, if one simply wants to seek out the truth, instead of waiting for the corporate television media to inform them of the administrations lies and rhetoric, makes it easy for the uninformed to label us "America bashers".

Yes people American corporations do awful, immoral things for profit and power...this isn't America bashing, it's fact...but like all republicans do, blame it on someone else, point the finger at people who expose them as un-American and keep the profits rolling in undisturbed for more expansion and exploitation.

Where's my little American flag lapel pin...that'll show you I'm patriotic.

[NNN0LHI]

13. Ever hear the words allege and bin Laden used in the same sentence? n/t

[Lavalamp]

11. Simple

"Hello this is anchor Blah with CNN. This just came in! Eric J is a serial killer. Yes, it is said he is. Here is ALL the evidence that proves this!"

Now, do you REALLY want the media to convict you before you have a trial? Seriously people, this is the shit we attack the fascists for.

I don't care how much evidence you have. This isn't Nazi Germany and you are NOT guilty until proven so in a court of law - not FAUX, CNN, or MSNBC.

[whistle]

2. The news media have to stop being whores to the establishment..

...and return to their primary purpose which is to provide Americans with timely, unadulterated truth!

[bobthedrummer]

4. The Iraqi people were already aware of this, it had a unifying effect

and goes a long way in explaining the hatred displayed in the killing and mutilation of the Blackwater mercenaries that resulted in the USMC being used to take reprisals for POS mercenaries employed by the administration of George W. Bush aka The War President.

As the sole surviving son of a member of the 604th Platoon USMC that fought against militarism and fascism in WWII and as an American citizen I'd say that the time has come to prosecute those that have disgraced and abused all of US and have only put our troops even more at risk.

NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.

[countmyvote4real]

5. Myers allegedly claimed this past Sunday that he

had not yet read the official army review of the case. What's up with that? It sounds like pure Bushwack denials and lies to me.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. I hate to say it

HE KNEW... where have I seen this before? Oh yes, Nuremberg...

Damn A-HOLE

[Unknown Known]

9. Myers is a lying SOB

When Hersch heard him claim this on Sun., he could hardly contain himself. Bremer knew all about it, too.

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Former Iraqi human rights minister Abdel Basset Turki said US overseer Paul Bremer knew in November that Iraqi prisoners were being abused in US detention centres.

"In November I talked to Mr Bremer about human rights violations in general and in jails in particular. He listened but there was no answer. At the first meeting, I asked to be allowed to visit the security prisoners, but I failed," Turki told AFP on Monday.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040503/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_us_politics_resignation_040503163135

[TacticalPeek]

10. Myers may well be toast.

"Please, please don't destroy me."

[Warpy]

6. I've already heard moderates

...complain bitterly about how the "media" broke this thing, as though it could have been swept under the rug and dealt with quietly.

I let them know it wouldn't have broken at all, that Bremer had known since November and done nothing, had trophy photos not been taken and sold to porno sites on the web.

The two weeks CBS sat on it were inadequate to give even Rove time to think of a way to put positive spin on this stuff. CBS aired the story as soon as they found out another news network was planning to break it.

This is the end, folks. No way will any Iraqi ever believe the US about anything. We used their most notorious prison to mistreat their citizens, most of which had been captured off the streets in random sweeps and let go after even torture failed to reveal the location of anybody who ever even thought about cooking up a batch of homemade mustard gas. It's only a matter of time before this thing spins completely out of control. There is no way to reverse it now.

(edited for typos)

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. We are pulling out sooner than expected

and we may see a draft sooner than Bush expected... the question:

Executive order or Congressional Bill