US occupation forces attack Iraqi journalists

[Aidoneus]

US occupation forces attack Iraqi journalists
By Jeremy Johnson
8 August 2003

US occupation authorities shut down an Iraqi newspaper last month and have stepped up the detention of journalists for reporting on the ongoing resistance. These actions, along with many other repressive measures, indicate the true character of the “democracy” and “freedom” the American occupiers are bringing to the Iraqi people.

On July 21, Iraqi police accompanied by US troops broke down the front door to the Baghdad premises of Al-Mustaqila (theIndependent) newspaper, ransacked its offices, confiscated equipment, and arrested the editor Abdul Sattar Shalan, whose whereabouts have not been reported since. The newspaper’s offense was the publication of an article carrying the headline “Death to All Spies and Those Who Cooperate with the US.”

The article appeared on July 13, the same day as the convening of the Iraqi Governing Council, whose members are Iraqi collaborators handpicked by the US.

According to a press release put out by the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), as the occupation forces headed by Paul Bremer are known, the newspaper violated the CPA’s Order Number 14 on Prohibited Media Activity by inciting violence. Ironically, the home page of the CPA’s web site prominently features a photo of Saddam Hussein and the $25 million reward offered for information leading to his capture or death, alongside photos of his two dead sons with Xs drawn across their heads.

Western media reports give no indication of having seen or verified the original Al-Mustaqila article, only repeating the CPA’s version of its headline. However, a journalist at the newspaper said the offending article was a news story on anti-US demonstrations in Fallujah, and the headline quoted a Muslim cleric involved in the organization of the protest.

--snip--

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/aug2003/jour-a08.shtml

the opening example is interesting, and it just goes downhill from there.. including another set of "foot, meet mouth" remarks by Wolfie.

[this_side_up]

1. Yep. he

and the rest go hand-in-hand.

I'm getting a bit freaky here, wondering how all this
is going to end.

If there is a God, then S/He would hopefully deal with
everyone of these assholes involved in this mess in
any way, shape or form.

[bemildred]

2. Very funny.

The US occupation continues its unintentional
parody of Saddam Hussein's government policies.