Getting your Iraq news Fox-style
Iraqi Gov't Warns Media About Coverage
[This probably means that everyone should follow the example of Sky News in the UK and Ireland, which takes its lead from the US military and refers to all Iraqi fighters in Fallujah as "the enemy". I've contacted Sky and asked when they became part of the US armed forces. I don't expect a reply.]
"Baghdad, Iraq (AP) - The Iraqi government warned news organizations Thursday to distinguish between insurgents and ordinary civilians in coverage of the fighting in Fallujah and to promote the leadership's position or face unspecified action.
"The warning came in a statement sent to news organizations by Iraq's Media High Commission [??] which cited the 60-day state of emergency declared Sunday on the eve of the offensive in Fallujah.
"'You must be precise and objective in handling news and information', the statement said.
"It stressed the necessity of differentiating between 'innocent citizens of Fallujah who are not targeted by the military operations and between the terrorist groups who infiltrated the city and took its people hostage under the pretext of resistance and jihad'.
"It also told news organizations to tell their correspondents 'to be credible and precise' and not to 'add patriotic descriptions to groups of killers and criminals'.
"Finally, the commission told news organizations to provide space to explain 'the government position, expressing the ambition of most of the Iraqi people' and underscore that 'these military operations did not come about until all peaceful means were attempted' to avoid violence.
"It said that failure to follow the instructions will require authorities to 'take all necessary measures to safeguard the supreme interest of the homeland'. The statement did not provide further details."
Source: The Guardian
[This probably means that everyone should follow the example of Sky News in the UK and Ireland, which takes its lead from the US military and refers to all Iraqi fighters in Fallujah as "the enemy". I've contacted Sky and asked when they became part of the US armed forces. I don't expect a reply.]
"Baghdad, Iraq (AP) - The Iraqi government warned news organizations Thursday to distinguish between insurgents and ordinary civilians in coverage of the fighting in Fallujah and to promote the leadership's position or face unspecified action.
"The warning came in a statement sent to news organizations by Iraq's Media High Commission [??] which cited the 60-day state of emergency declared Sunday on the eve of the offensive in Fallujah.
"'You must be precise and objective in handling news and information', the statement said.
"It stressed the necessity of differentiating between 'innocent citizens of Fallujah who are not targeted by the military operations and between the terrorist groups who infiltrated the city and took its people hostage under the pretext of resistance and jihad'.
"It also told news organizations to tell their correspondents 'to be credible and precise' and not to 'add patriotic descriptions to groups of killers and criminals'.
"Finally, the commission told news organizations to provide space to explain 'the government position, expressing the ambition of most of the Iraqi people' and underscore that 'these military operations did not come about until all peaceful means were attempted' to avoid violence.
"It said that failure to follow the instructions will require authorities to 'take all necessary measures to safeguard the supreme interest of the homeland'. The statement did not provide further details."
Source: The Guardian
Nora posted item above at 12:02 PM | Permalink
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