NYT/AP: Iraq TV's 'Cops' Breaks New Ground

[DeepModem Mom]

Iraq TV's 'Cops' Breaks New Ground
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 21, 2005


KIRKUK, Iraq (AP) -- Shattered glass, body parts, a blood-splattered blue sedan: the grainy video pans over the scene as Iraqi officers comb the site of a drive-by assassination.

It's ''Cops'' Iraqi-style, minus the ''Bad Boys'' soundtrack but otherwise roughly modeled after the American TV show.

Created to make government more transparent, ''The Cops Show'' featuring Kirkuk officers in action is the first of its kind in the country and is breaking new ground in Iraqi television. A live call-in portion gives the public the chance to praise the security forces or gripe about them.

Screened weekly on Kirkuk Television, which broadcasts in this northern city of nearly 1 million people, ''The Cops Show'' has opened the floodgates in a community long suppressed....

***

The call-in portion, initially a novelty, has become a staple of the show, and panelists field up to 30 calls per segment, (station manager Nasser Hassan) Mohammed said. And because Kirkuk is ethnically mixed, the show switches among the languages spoken by Kurds, Arabs, Turkomen or Assyrians....


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-Iraq-Cops-Show.html

[kilo]

1. Can we watch?

I would love to be able to watch that. I'm not really a fan of this countrys "COPS" TV show, but that seems like a great way to see Iraq up close without actually being there.

[DeepModem Mom]

2. And wonder what would happen if the U.S. could call in to "Cops"? nt

[kilo]

4. Would you hear more "string him up" or "let him go"?

Outer Limits TV show once had an episode where the victims family got to hunt down the killer who wore an electronic bracelet. I want to say at one point they had a "Should she let him go or send him to hell?" and the audience watching the TV show got to vote.

I imagine we can't be to far away from that now. They have trials that are public and the entire United States is the jury. Call 800-burn-him to vote for the prosecution, 800-save-him to vote for the defense.

And remember, Freedom Wireless users can text their vote to burn or save. Normal text messaging rates apply.

[Joanne98]

3. What you going to do when they come for you.Bad Muslims.Bad Muslims

I predicted this. Maybe now the ME can understand what the Hell is the matter with our country......What's next Jerry Springer? Don't forget to arrest the Iraqi's with the wife-beater shirts on.
GRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!