A free press in Iraq?

[Theophylact]

Not if we can help it.

The Iraqi Governing Council ordered the Arab language television network al Arabiya to shut down its operation in Baghdad on Monday, sending the Iraq Interior Ministry to the network's headquarters to "seize their uplink and transmission equipment until further notice."

"This is in response to their broadcasting the full Saddam Hussein audiotape" released November 16, according to a spokesman for Jalal Talabani, the council's president.

--snip--

Qubad Talabani, the council president's son and spokesman, told CNN that the council does not consider al Arabiya's reporting "an element of the free press," but rather a "tool" for inciting violence and acts of terrorism.

Al Arabiya aired the tape, in which a voice purported to be Saddam Hussein's called on Iraqis to resist coalition forces and said Iraqis "should elect their leaders from those who had served them for several years, even if they did some mistakes."

Al Arabiya reported that Iraqi police had entered their offices unannounced and ordered it to shut down or face fines and jail time.

Qubad Talabani told CNN that the council decided on the action Sunday.

Al Arabiya reported that it was told to sign a statement pledging not to promote violence and then the council would reconsider the ban.

Aktham Suleiman, the Arab language network al Jazeera's correspondent in Baghdad, said "the issue is of no direct concern" to them. He said al Jazeera does not "feel it is related to us" in any way.

Al Jazeera has also come under much criticism from the Governing Council and the coalition for their perceived "anti-coalition" coverage.

Shortly before the police came to al Arabiya's offices, Jalal Talabani cautioned journalists not to engage in "incitement," saying the Governing Council would go after any media outlet -- "even the BBC, if they encourage incitement." Qubad Talabani added CNN to the non-exempt list.

"We are serious in our struggle against terrorism," the council president said. "The G.C. [Governing Council] will be even more serious about that in the future. You should realize your responsibilities as free journalists, free reporters."

"We believe in free, wide democracy, but I'd like you to differentiate between democracy, liberation and incitement," he said. "We don't want anybody to exploit you in the name of liberty. You will be in a corner that will be exploited by the terrorists."

Wow, it looks like the Iraqi press media isn't much different from ours. "Show all the bad stuff and get the people worked up because it's good for ratings!"

Or hey, maybe they just agree with Saddam for some reason.

[wallie_x]

Qubad Talabani, the council president's son and spokesman, told CNN that the council does not consider al Arabiya's reporting "an element of the free press," but rather a "tool" for inciting violence and acts of terrorism.

This is after showing one of the new tapes of Sodom urging more violence against US soldiers.

Are you saying we should let them incite more violence against US soldiers Theo?

Just for the sake of a 'Free Press" in a war zone?

Why do you leave your position so ambiguous on the matter; a free press is worth more than the lives of US soldiers?
Is that what you're inferring? If not, then why did you post this?

[Mike]

wallie: Please do me a favor. Re-read your post, and then you'll find the answer for the question, "Then why did you post this?"

He knows that people like you, are so willing to get worked up over it.

[Target]

He knows that people like you, are so willing to get worked up over it.

I see Theo's posts as a means of provoking thought/discussion, pointing out duality/irony and hypocrisy, and questioning those things that often go unchallenged, etc.

If it were really simply to get people worked up, I think it would be more individually directed.

[wallie_x]

You miss my point.
I was just showing that at times you cannot have it both ways. Ideals are not absolutes; and ‘freedom of press’ has its limits, especially in a time of war.
And inferring from the ambiguity of this post, its point is useless because it reeks of a double standard.
That was my point.

I don't know, I think he does what he does rather well.

And you are not wrong about freedom of press and limits. Sometimes knowing everything is bad.

[Theophylact]

My post reads "A free press in Iraq? Not if we can help it". So I don't need to say what I think about the news item; I've already said it. Anybody is free to draw his own conclusions; that's why I posted the story, not just a juicy line or two.

My post wasn't directed at anybody, so I don't feel I need to respond to personally-directed attacks.

[blubomber]

I think that shutting down that TV station was the right thing to do. The US Constitution does not apply in IRAQ and i am not sure if a temporary constitution for IRAQ has been drawn up yet. It is still a military controlled area, controlled by the US. And if we have to shut down a TV station to protect our solders, who should not have been sent there in the first place, then so be it.

But, thats just me.

[Target]

Wallie I don't think I missed your point at all, but I do believe you missed Theo's, and incorrectly read waaaay too much into it.... specifically the point of there being a double standard.

I believe all he was pointing out was that you can't go around telling the world you are going to liberate a country, setup a democracy with a free-press, and then turn around and censure one of the news organizations reporting there.

In a way, you are both making the same case and I don't know if you even realize it. You stated that "at times you cannot have it both ways", which is essentially what Theo is pointing out.... You can't call it a "free press" if in fact you are going to censure or prohibit news coverage.

At no point did either he or I intimate that we wanted, or should allow, anyone to incite further attacks against American/Allied troops and civilians. Nor did either of us state that in this case a free press was worth more than the lives of US Soldiers.

He was simply calling out (nothing more and nothing less) that you can't state Iraq has a free press if some organizations are censured or barred from reporting there.