Iraq to bar press from blast scenes

Source: AFP

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraq's interior ministry has decided to bar news photographers and cameramen from the scenes of bomb attacks, operations director Brigadier General Abdel Karim Khalaf said Sunday.

His announcement was the latest in a series of attempts to curtail press coverage of the ongoing conflict, which has already attracted criticism from international human rights bodies.

"There are many reasons for this prohibition," he told AFP.

"We do not want evidence to be disturbed before the arrival of detectives, the ministry must respect human rights and does not want to expose victims and does not want to give terrorists information that they achieved their goals," Khalaf said.

"This decision does not imply a curtailment of press freedom, it is a measure followed all over the world," he added.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070513/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestmedia_070513091347

most likely

then you create a different truth. One of the hallmarks of the current administration's path to success.

One of the ongoing problems with the Iraq War, in the minds of the current administration, is the press coverage of the IW. So it seems they have now found a way to curtail that. Their own press coverage (the propoganda videos they are going to be doing themselves...the administration) coupled with the lack of competing coverage should serve very nicely to paint a false picture of Iraq.

"We don't want you to know how many American soliders are dying because of republicon WMD lies either, otherwiswe we might see a dip in republicon crony WAR PROFITS."

- Corrput chickenhawk republicon Crony Propagandists

Is that what the regime thinks?

If the bu$h regime is really promoting democracy in Iraq, they would denounce this action, I suspect they are the cause of this action.

the iraqi people will make sure of that...

the locals will supply the press with the truth.

Let's see. If we keep the bad news out of the press, it ceases to be bad news?

Like Iraq's prime minister is running anything but his mouth.



Cher

Oh well then, it's ok. As long as you say it doesn't do that....

It doesn't "imply" a curtailment of press freedom; it flat out announces it!

....""We do not want evidence to be disturbed before the arrival of detectives".....

Stringers will be under more personal risk and media pressure to get money shots imo.

Rumsfeld blamed the cameras

just saying...

US forces are the only thing protecting them from their own people !

They want to keep collecting the big paychecks as long as possible !

I was going to say "unbelievable" but that word is useless in the surreal BushWorld we live in.

grr

As soon as we finish covering up the bodies, everything will be all right. :sarcasm:

And if you believe in fairies, clap your hands.

Meanwhile back in America, the hottest issues are whether Paris Hilton will have to go to jail and who will replace Rosie on The View.

We have destroyed an entire country and its society and now we don't want to be reminded of the evil we have done.

and lovely to know that we probably asked them to do it.

:puke: :mad: :eyes: :(

We don't allow the media to run around crime scenes in our countries, so why should we have a problem with the same practices in Iraq? I'm sure we'd all get rather upset if after terror attacks in our countries news teams were rummaging around filming bits of people.

Even though the UN reported that Iraq is withholding casualty figures, we're still getting high body counts.

"We don't want evidence observed before the arrival of the coverup squad."

as I was getting very tired of seeing 24/7 news coverage of all the destruction and carnage coming across the boob tube. Hell seeing all those flag draped coffins 24/7 was bad enough....

:sarcasm:

... to find out their country is going to hell. :eyes:

Is this the "democracy" we're supposed to be setting up over there?

This move serves only one purpose: to keep the stark images of our fuck up off US television. If the MSM had any pride, soul, or self respect they be irate about government imposed censorship, and focus that anger at the White House for pushing the idea.

Then they will want the MSM cameras all over the site.


BTW, I posted this link in GD last night..seeing as how they are now barring MSM from the sites where we are bombing and murdering people, internet sites like this video blog from Iraq will only get more and more important to have.
I can see it know...next we'll hear stories of the US confiscating/outlawing camcorders from Iraqi civilians.


Is it any wonder why chimpass's administration hate the Internets so much??


http://aliveinbaghdad.org/2007/05/07/mortars-rockets-in-iraq/


http://aliveinbaghdad.org/category/video/

Anyone found dancing at a bombing scene should be shot on sight.

to bother their beautiful minds trying to keep track of a running idea of HOW MANY IRAQIIS HAD BEEN SLAUGHTERED. Hey, why bother? Don't hassle them.

No, no interest in knowing how many of their countrymen had been flung into the void by _Bush's invaders. What responsible country really gives a damn?

So, if it's o.k. with everyone, they'll just whistle, and look the other way while _Bush steals them blind, kills everyone who looks crosswise at anyone who's feeling cranky, and everything will be jest fine.

This is only an embellishment on that plan: don't do anything which might bring any reproach on the war for quick profit at the tragic expense of nearly the entire Iraqi population.

Source: ABC.Net (Australia)

Iraq's interior ministry has decided to bar news photographers and camera operators from the scenes of bomb attacks, operations director Brigadier General Abdel Karim Khalaf said on Sunday (local time).

His announcement was the latest in a series of attempts to curtail press coverage of the ongoing conflict, which has already attracted criticism from international human rights bodies.

"There are many reasons for this prohibition," he said.

"We do not want evidence to be disturbed before the arrival of detectives, the ministry must respect human rights and does not want to expose victims and does not want to give terrorists information that they achieved their goals.



Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1921675.htm

---

Oh, so now we sweep it under the rug! Censorship! Another reason IMHO we should get the hell out.

..and camera operators?

Source: The Guardian

Journalists removed from Iraq bomb site

Ian Black, Middle East editor
Wednesday May 16, 2007
The Guardian

Iraqi police removed photographers from the site of bomb blasts that
killed at least seven people in central Baghdad yesterday in the first
use of a controversial new policy restricting media access.

Police in Tayaran Square fired shots into the air to force a group of
Iraqi journalists to leave the grimly familiar scene.

The incident followed Sunday's announcement by the interior ministry
that the government was banning cameras, ostensibly to avoid
disturbing evidence, to protect the privacy and human rights of the
wounded and to stop insurgents keeping track of their kill rate.

Brigadier General Abdel-Karim Khalaf insisted that the new regulation
was not aimed at curtailing press freedoms and that other countries
around the world operated similar restrictions. But Reporters Without
Borders, the media watchdog, warned of a total news blackout.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2080401,00.html