Iraqi Reporters Rebuff Powell, Leave News Conference

[radwriter0555]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi journalists walked out of a Baghdad news conference given by Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) on Friday in protest at lack of security and the killing of two Iraqi journalists by U.S. troops.


Reuters Photo



"We declare our boycott of the conference because of the martyrs," Najim al-Rubaie of Iraq (news - web sites)'s Distor newspaper said in a statement read at the start of the news conference as Powell and Iraq's U.S. governor Paul Bremer looked on.

"We declare our condemnation of the incident which led to the killing of the two journalists...who were killed at the hands of the American forces."

More than 30 Iraqi journalists then stood up and walked out.

Employees of Dubai-based satellite television channel Al Arabiya say U.S. soldiers opened fire on a car carrying an Arabiya crew on Thursday evening after another car ran through a checkpoint. Cameraman Ali Abdelaziz was killed and correspondent Ali al-Khatib died in hospital on Friday morning.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&e=3&u=/nm/20040319/ts_nm/iraq_powell_walkout_dc

[Barrett808]

1. If only our press had the stones to do this n/t

[dennis4868]

5. our reporters....

are so stuck up in Powell's ass they dont even know what happned!

[ncrainbowgrrl]

2. I suddenly have the urge to stand up and cheer.

This is amazing. Hint-hint to the American press!

[PsychoDad]

3. Well... I guess

This busts the "Iraq is better now" line.

[treepig]

4. oh my

it appears the terrorists have won

d'oh!

[THUNDER HANDS]

6. it was very cool, I saw it live on MSNBC

Powell had this stunned look on his face while it was happening, it was priceless!

[tlcandie]

7. First off Powell isn't on the same page as the military now .. he's

lagging behind...Pulled from the article

<snip>
"But let's be clear who is responsible for this," he said. "Those individuals left over from the old regime do not want to see the Iraqi people live in peace. They do not want to see democracy take root."
<snip>

An article was posted yesterday that they are now saying that it isn't the OLD REGIME or remnants and/or leftovers.

Secondly...he disputed it was done on purposed; however, this one journalist begs to differ...

<snip>
"We walked out because we need them to ensure that we are safe under the occupation and yet they have done nothing," Ahmed al-Samraee, an Iraqi producer with the Qatar-based Al Jazeera satellite channel, said after the walkout.

"I saw these people killed. They were shot dead on purpose," he said.
<snip>

Of course, many will say, "Ahhh it's Al Jazeera it's not true and/or what does it matter."

IMO respect ALL journalists n/m who they cover or don't that way ALL journalists are guaranteed safety no matter your opinion.

[Cooley Hurd]

8. Powell can clear a room faster than...

...a screening of "Gigli!":D

[leftchick]

9. LOL alg!

that is one priceless pic! :)

[xray s]

10. Plumbing the mind of Karl Rove....

...damn Iraqis...f*cked up a perfectly good photo op...what a week...first Cheney gives a speech about our glorius victory and f*ckin' Fox split screens to the hotel bombing....then that turd on the Daily Show last night rips us a big new one...why did they have to get that Iraqi woman on tape right when the bomb went off?...Stern and Imus are on our ass...an now this thing with Powell...sh*t!!!

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. Karl Rove looks like that nazi in Raiders of the Lost Arc.

But his mouth belongs to Silence of the Lambs. It's thin and supple and looks like it easily sucks down human liver with a glass of chianti and fava beans.

[Warren Stuart]

12. I missed it, what happened with the Iraqi woman?

When the bomb went off?

Nice analysis BTW!

[Moderator]

13. Please discuss here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x432103