US army blocks media coverage

national | miscellaneous | news report

Wednesday April 16, 2003 10:03

by James McKenna

jimmymac61 at hotmail dot com

Reporters ordered away from protest

In Mosul they shoot a dozen people dead and wound sixty more ,incuding an 11 year old girl, in an incident icredibly similar to Bloody Sunday. In Baghdad they move reporters away from anti-US demonstrations. Where are the welcoming crowds, where is the democracy, where are the weapons of mass destruction (and don't say Syria)?

US forces yesterday tried to stop the media from covering a third day of anti-American protests by Iraqis outside the Palestine Hotel which now houses a US operations base. This is the same hotel where the US murdered two Reuters people a few days ago and from where the pictures revealing the fake nature of the "jubilant scenes" in Fardus Square were taken.

Visibly angered US military officials sought to distance the media from the protest outside the Palestine Hotel, moving reporters and cameras about 30 metres from the barbed-wired entrance .

"We want you to pull back to the back of the hotel because they (the Iraqis) are only performing because the media are here," said a marines colonel who would not give his first name or title.

The crowd later moved to the nearby square where a statue of Saddam was toppled last Wednesday, signaling the end of the regime. The Iraqis chanted: "No, no, USA."

http://www.antiwar.com/orig/baghdad.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,937669,00.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,937639,00.html

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Comments (9 of 9)

Astonishing

by Jim

Wed Apr 16, 2003 10:30

It is astonishing to me that the killing of 12 civilians in a stone throwing demonstration when troops opened fire gains nary a mention, even in the Guardian. When it is mentioned on the TV or radio, it is in the context of the difficulty it presents for the US in building up trust with the civilian population. No mention of the difficulty it presents for those twelve civilians now dead.

We must conclude that the small matter of human life is insignificant compared to the grave concern of liberation.

RTE

by kokomero

Wed Apr 16, 2003 11:25

RTE to give them credit were among the first to report this incident yesterday on their webpage, although they played it down on the news.

I bet the US/K occupation forces have sequestered the bodies so no autopsy will show they're full of American ammunition not Kalashnikov rounds!

The cover-up and news management was evident yesterday as they first talked about firing over the heads of the crowd suggesting they had hit anybody. This later changed on Sky etc. to them saying that they returned fire into the crowd as there were gunmen in the crowd. Where are the American casualties if this were the case?

It sounds like the Americans have learned their crowd management "skills" from the Israelis, who learned it from the South Africans and then refined it, it must be said, who respond by shooting to kill kids throwing stones.

Of course they should have been shot!

by Zero tolerance

Wed Apr 16, 2003 11:54

Sure, it all starts off by throwing stones, but it's only the beginning, if they get away with it now they might some day start smashing windows, stealing cars, damaging property and undermining the ruling class. They must be dealt with. they can't be allowed to get away with putting dents in those expensive Army helmets.

Wed Apr 16, 2003 11:59

Was Mentioned In the Guardian

by Elizabeth

Wed Apr 16, 2003 12:01

The shooting of 12 protesters in Mosul is on the front page of the Guardian (London edition). Maybe it happened too early to make it into the Irish edition

Breaking fences is violence. Killing civilians is not. War is peace

by Terry

Wed Apr 16, 2003 12:02

So we can conclude from the last few months from our 'free' press that:

1) Breaking fences at Shannon is violence
2) Breaking a fence at the Old Head of Kinsale golf-course leads to 5 months suspended
sentence for the person who didn't actually do it.
3) Shooting dead 12 civilians in Iraqi is a small mistake in the pursuit of democracy.
Nothing to worry about
4) Spreading radioactive DU throughout Iraqi that will kill and disfigured people for who
knows how long, hardly deserves any mention.

And by the way 'War really is Peace'

Slaughter continues in Mosul

Wed Apr 16, 2003 13:39

US Marines again today directed heavy fire from their positions on the roof of the Governmors building in Mosul at a crowd and even a bus.

So far six people including 12 and 14 year old boys have been confirmed dead but a number of bodies cannot be recovered because of the danger of further US firing.

Yesterdays slaughter count when US Marines fired on a similar crowd is now 15. It will probably rise more as there are no drugs or proper facilities to treat the seriously wounded.

They may not be winning hearts and minds but they sure are winning lungs and brains(blown all over the place).

THEY ARE KILLING JOURNALISTS

by ipsiphi iosaf

Wed Apr 16, 2003 14:05

barcelona.

there is no water.
we did mention Water.
there are the police again.
we did mention the regime change.
there is division amongst the Iraqi people at their assembly.
We did mention division amongst the Iraqi people.
There are soldiers at the Oil wells.
We did mention the Oil wells.
There is fear in Syria.
We did mention Syria.
There is no water at the rivers of Babylon
there are no books in the Library.
I did invoke in December some might remember the Sufi poet of Bagdad known as "anra" the illuminated.
I'll fish out the link.

this war was written down before it began.

Que se Vayan Todos!

Are the US Marines obstructing press coverage in Iraq?

by Kevin_scott

Wed Apr 16, 2003 14:28

Perhaps we should ask Jean-Paul Mari, a journalist for Le Nouvel Observateur working out of the Palestine Hotel in Iraq. US Marines in full body armour entered Mari’s room and at gunpoint ordered him for 10 minutes to lie on the floor. Shingo Kinawa, reporting for the Kyodo news service (Japan) room was also searched.

Marine public affairs spokesman Corporal John Hoellwarth stated that the searches were the result of military intelligence reports and the marines were always ready to protect journalists, Iraqi civilians and marines on the hotel grounds.

Journalists claim that the troops are blocking press efforts to cover anti-American protests in Iraq.

http://truthout.org/docs_03/041703D.shtml

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US army blocks media coverage

Comments (9 of 9)