Arab Journalists Walk Out of Powell News Conference to Protest Deaths

[hang a left]

http://sandiego.cox.net/cci/portal/_pagr/127/_pa.127/669?view=article&id=D81DE2S80

of Journalists

03-19-2004 07:02 AM
By BASSEM MROUE, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Arab journalists on Friday walked out of a news conference held by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to protest the shooting deaths of two Iraqi reporters, allegedly by U.S. troops.

One Arab journalist stood up as soon as Powell walked into the room at the Baghdad convention center and read a statement saying that after one year of "U.S. occupation," Americans cannot provide security in Iraq.

"We demand an open investigation in front of the mass media," the Arab journalist said. "We also demand that security be guaranteed to journalists" working in Iraq, he said.

Seconds later, more than 20 journalists walked out of the room.

[DeaconBlues]

1. If only our own journalists back home had such balls

we wouldn't be in mess were in.

[DeepModem Mom]

2. You're right -- If only our press would tell the truth and do its job,

which is essential to our system....

[hang a left]

3. It is reporter season......I guess.

[MaineDem]

4. I came in on the end of the press conference

I did hear Peter Jennings ask a tough questions, not get an answer, and press Powell on it. It was about the French Foreign Minister saying that terrorism in Iraq only happened because we are there occupying the country. Powell gave a wishy-washy answer.

[LizW]

5. I think it's getting pretty clear

that this is true. I saw a woman interviewed yesterday on CNN (sorry, I can't recall her name) who is working with various groups in Iraq. She was talking about how Iraqis feel about the Americans being there. She said that they would like the Americans to leave because they are making the country a target, attracting terrorists. She said people are afraid to send their children to school, etc., because they are afraid of bombings.

[matcom]

6. I SAW IT!!

and then Powell went on a nifty little tirade about how a year ago, the journalist wouldn't have been allowed to express his opinions.

didn't answer the charge however :eyes:

[Merlin]

8. A perfect metaphor.

In the eyes of the neocon fascists, and their whores like Colon Powell, freedom consists of having the right to ask questions. It's not the right to get answers. It's not the right to be free from intimidation. It's not the right to know the truth. It's simply the right to ask questions. Damn, aren't they generous to give us such freedom.

[qanda]

11. *Great* point!

eom

[efhmc]

14. WOW! Now that is a great answer.

Rate this story, please. Maybe others will see this and get that point.

[hang a left]

9. So now they just get shot and killed.

Now that is progress! Democracy is at hand.

[leesa]

15. A year ago "free-speaking" journalists, even from the US, were being

killed left and right by US forces. Who does he think he's kidding? Free speech by journalists WILL NOT be tolerated by the Bush Regime.

[Rex]

20. They're still not allowed

I'll take some of whatever Powell's been smokin!!!

[Merlin]

7. Shame on our "journalists" for not following their lead.

The media intimidation by the Bush war machine is visible for all to see. It's been going on for a year now. Remember the US tank that fired a blast at the journalists' Al Rasheed hotel in Baghdad because they were filming a demonstration. The US then claimed the tank commander "thought" it was a rifle aimed at them. Bullshit. I've worked tanks in combat. You don't mistake a camera for a rifle--especially when it's in an international journalists' hotel in a room right above the sign with the name of the hotel in english. It's time to say these are not just coincidence. They are targeted assassinations of Arab journalists, trying to teach them the same lessons the cowed American journalistic community has already "learned."

[markus]

10. Remember, we're "dealing" with terrorists

I have to keep reminding people that the Bush' idea of brining terrorists and other to justice includes a bullet to the back of the head.

If they perceive a non-U.S. citizen as being an ally of the terrorists in some fashion (such as reporting unsympathetic news in the Arab world), then why do we think our government would *not* be assasinating journalists the same way we are assasinating suspected terrorists?

And when is someone goes to ask the smirking chimp or some of his minions, next time they do the cowboy smirk thing about "dealing" with terrorists, exactly how many people have been assasinated? What are the rules of engagement for such assasinations?

[PaDUer]

21. Two of our local newsmen are in Iraq....

* Times-Tribune reporter Chris Kelly and photographer Michael Mullen are in Iraq for a month with National Guard troops from the Scranton-based 2nd Battalion, 103rd Armor Regiment. You can E-mail them at [e-mail] or [e-mail]

The reporters send daily reports along with pix as you can see from this url--
http://www.scrantontimes.com/site/news.asp?brd=2185

It might be worthwhile to email these reporters and let them know we're aware of what's going on however, we have to read the truth from media out of the US, and that we're tired of being manipulated and lied to,etc. Check out the above url and read what they've been writing.

[xchrom]

12. i agree with others here

american journalists should be as tough on this admin for it's treatment of journalists -- these are not the only reporters the american military has killed during this occupation.

[lumpy]

13. Never forget

"You're either with us or against us."

[Imagine If]

17. Yup.

[DeepModem Mom]

16. kick

[DustMolecule]

18. Kick

:kick:

[struggle4progress]

19. kick

:kick: