Interesting coverage of the War

by allahu akhbar Sun Mar 23, 2003 18:05

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi television showed film on Sunday of at least four bodies, said to be U.S. soldiers, and five prisoners who said they were American.
Two of the prisoners, including a woman, appeared to be wounded. One was lying on the floor on a rug.

They were the first U.S. prisoners known to have been taken by Iraq. The prisoners were questioned on air and gave their names, military identification numbers and home towns.

The bodies and prisoners were shown on Iraqi television, relayed by Al-Jazeera, which said the dead and wounded came from a battle near the southern Iraqi city of Nassiriya, where U.S. Marines are fighting for control.

The first prisoner shown gave his name as Miller and said he was from Kansas.

Asked why he had come to Iraq he replied: "Because I was told to come here. I was just under orders. I was told to shoot -- only if I'm shot at. I don't want to kill anybody."

Earlier, Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan said that enemy soldiers captured at the southern town of Souq al-Shuyukh near Nassiriya would soon be shown on state television.

General Richard Myers, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told ABC television some Americans -- fewer than 10 -- were missing in southern Iraq.

Souq al-Shuyukh is southeast of the southern Iraqi city of Nassiriya, where U.S. Marines have reported resistance on their northward sweep from Kuwait.

by another media watcher Sun Mar 23, 2003 18:11

For anyone with broadband access Reuters Feedrom has a pretty awesome clip of the Spanish demo at

http://reuters.feedroom.com/start.jsp?&rf=bm&mp=WMP&wmp=1&rm=1&fr=032103_045242_533ff4xf40e8e0493x1711&rdm=1386202

by Jim Costello Sun Mar 23, 2003 18:38

Rumsfeld is saying that the treatment of the captured American soldiers violates the Geneva convention. Guantanamo?

by rogue state Sun Mar 23, 2003 19:17

Well you know Jim, poor ole Rummy-Dummy's words might carry a little more weight in the world at large if the good old USA didn't shit contemptuously on every single piece of international law when it suits its own interests ...

It may go down with the home audience he is playing to but I'm afraid he'll have to do better than that elsewhere .....

Poor old Uncle Sam has finally let its mask slip and Rummy's little crocodile tears routine isn't going to fool anyone with an ounce of grey matter in their skull ....

As you said yourself: Guantanamo

by lord haw haw Sun Mar 23, 2003 19:56

(Just so that we have some balance in the reporting and are not dependent on the likes of CNN and - god help us all - RTE .....)

DOHA, March 23 (IslamOnlione.net & News Agencies) – Appearing on Al-Jazeera satellite TV channel, an Iraqi commander near the southern city of Basra said Sunday, March 23, that his division, which Washington earlier claimed had surrendered, would continue to resist U.S. and British forces.

"I am with my men in Basra, we continue to defend the people and riches of the town," Colonel Khaled al-Hashemi, commander of the 51st Mechanized Division, Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted the satellite television channel Al-Jazeera as saying.

"We have made sacrifices within the division to defend our sacred places and our honor," he said without giving any other details.

The Pentagon claimed Friday, March 21, his division had surrendered to coalition forces, the first division-sized unit to do so since the start of a U.S.-led ground offensive. Baghdad immediately denied the claim.

Hashemi accused Washington of lying, saying it was part of the psychological warfare being put out by enemy forces.

No Chemical Weapons Yet: Myers

Meanwhile, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard Myers said Sunday that his forces have not found banned chemical, biological or nuclear weapons so far during their incursion into Iraq.

"To my knowledge, we have not," Myers told ABC television.

by rogue state Sun Mar 23, 2003 20:15

Also don't forget that the American media has done exactly the same with Iraqi POWs in the present campaign.

"However, Fox News filled the airwaves on Saturday showing Iraqi POWs, up close and looking humiliated. Military handlers guided the camera crew through the groups of POWs.

Geneva Convention article 13 forbids the displaying of POWs for the purposes of "public curiosity," exactly what Fox News did on Saturday. One wonders whether their will be equal prosecution of this violation for both sides."

http://www.antiwar.com/comment/pows.html

But I forgot, the US is not bound by the Geneva Convention ..... or indeed by any body of international law ...... only the other suckers are supposed to play by the rule book ...

by Killian Forde Sun Mar 23, 2003 21:29

The S. Tribune this morning has some good articles and editorial against the war. however muc of the text of the front page and inside in neutered due to the ridiclous headline which screams "BASRA FALLS TO ALLIES"

This headline is jingoism, and also incorrect, at best and ruins the otherwise excellent coverage in the paper.

I am off now to the newsagents to see if i can bum a topped copy of the Sindo from them. I suppose the BOC, Harris and Fannings are wrting their usual shite today.

On a another note I think the rte news coverge has been the most balanced to date, but who authorised this Irish army officer (in full uniform) is wrong as it reinformces the view that we are part of this bogus coalition.

Notice that BBC coverage is getting slightly more critical, although those embedded journalists are anything but objective even after this short period of time.

And still awaiting for the pictures of the 'liberators' been welcomed by Iraqis!!!

by the observer Sun Mar 23, 2003 21:53

"... although those embedded journalists are anything but objective even after this short period of time ...."

It may be so ... but the non-embedded journalists seem to have a tough time staying out of the friendly fire .......

by hunter Sun Mar 23, 2003 22:41

the military guy is useless - if you look at him, answering every question, he appears to be reading from a script. which leads me to believe that all his questions are scripted too - by whom?

but to be fair to him, today he did commend the Iraqi troops on their bravery in face of the onslaught. i could just imagine the cringes in the editorial room.

and word of helpful advice, the moustache has got to go

by father murphy Mon Mar 24, 2003 00:04 boolavogue

We defended Umm Qasr with heavy fighting
And at Basra's gates we stalled the foe
Twas at Nasiriyah the Iraqi soldiers
Showed the Yankee buckeens how men could fight
Look out for hirelings King George of Texas
Search every kingdom where dwells a slave
For the Republican Guard of Saddam Hussein
Will sweep o'er your crusaders like a mighty wave.

by father murphy Mon Mar 24, 2003 00:10 boulavogue

The ould rhyme is a bit screwed up ... but it's late and I'm tired .... goodnight to ye all ....