Rumsfeld to address reporters' safety in Iraq

[UpInArms]

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-09-29T194013Z_01_BAU970787_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-REPORTERS.xml

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senior Republican lawmaker won a commitment on Thursday from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to address concerns about the increased detentions and accidental shootings by U.S. forces of reporters trying to cover the Iraq conflict.

Virginia Republican Sen. John Warner, chairman of the Senate armed services committee, raised the issue at a hearing with Rumsfeld and top U.S. generals after receiving letters from Reuters and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and a telephone call from Paul Steiger, CPJ chairman and managing editor of The Wall Street Journal.

"I raised the question of the safety of the press in Iraq and their ability to carry out the very important function of reporting to the American people," Warner told reporters after the hearing.

"I've discussed it with the secretary. He's going to take it under immediate consideration," he said.

In a letter to Warner earlier this week, Reuters Global Managing Editor David Schlesinger referred to "a long parade of disturbing incidents whereby professional journalists have been killed, wrongfully detained, and/or illegally abused by U.S. forces in Iraq."

<snip>

At least 66 journalists and media workers, most of them Iraqis, have been killed covering Iraq since March 2003.

...more...

[gratuitous]

1. Rumsfeld will take this under "immediate consideration"?

Well hallelujah, problem solved! Dang that was easy. What's next?

[NewInNewJ.]

3. Wish they would send Coutler, Hannity and Limbaugh over.

[delete_bush]

4. If you can get them over there,

I'll foot the bill for their diapers.

[Seansky]

2. I wonder how he will admit "IRAQ is very dangerous"

[goodhue]

5. immediate consideration

thank heavens

[verdalaven]

6. sorta like he took sending armored humvees

to Iraq in order to protect our soldiers under consideration?

[shadowknows69]

7. Sit down and shut up Remfield

and save your breath. The dead aren't buying it. Sleep well.

[fooj]

9. Couldn't have said it better myself.

Peace.

[louis-t]

8. Yes, by all means, get them out

so's Rummy can continue his ethnic cleansing campaign. Can't have any witnesses, y'know.

[Roland99]

10. "STFU and leave us to our war. That is all."

[joanski0]

11. This is what I heard Warner say when I

watched the hearings on C-Span 3.

At today's hearing, Senator Warner did not
tell the Committee what the letter was about. When they reconvened the hearing at 12:15, General Casey said that this is an issue we take very seriously. When I get back to Baghdad, I will get several of the journalists together and talk about this.

Senator Warner then said that General Casey should communicate with the two principals who sent the letter. (Warner did not give their names). Warner then said the General should gather the facts and address this matter. END OF DISCUSSION

Good grief!!!!

I did not hear Rummy say ONE word to Senator Warner.

[IndyJones]

12. Immediate consideration = circular file

[cliss]

13. Don RumsFailed is a ghoul.

Every day that he gets up and goes to work is a success for him. He should have been thrown out long ago, and he knows it.

He realizes this is a big country. Big government, big deals going on all the time. He's the go-between, in this Business of War.

He's enriched a lot of people, including himself. The old boy is now worth over $130 million. He may not have enough time to spend it, though.

I think he wanted to leave a long time ago. He said recently, "I've offered my resignation twice, but they won't accept it".

Too Bad, Rummy. Looks like you're stuck with your little project.