CNN insists its reporters were targeted by Saddam's intelligence

Agence France-Presse (AFP) ^ | 4-11-03

[Oldeconomybuyer]

WASHINGTON, April 11 (AFP) - Iraqi intelligence agents planned an attack on CNN television journalists working in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq in March, after Iraq's information minister warned the network against sending reporters to the region, a top CNN executive said Friday.

The executive, Eason Jordan, said the plot was uncovered by Kurdish police, who arrested two men who identified themselves as Iraqi intelligence agents.

CNN has obtained and broadcast videotaped confessions in which the men said their superiors in Baghdad asked them to blow up a hotel in Erbil, Iraq, where CNN staff were staying.

The agents planned to attacks journalists with explosives, but they were arrested before they could carry out the plan, according to Jordan.

In their confessions, the men said they had been told that US Central Intelligence Agency operatives and Israeli agents were working out of the hotel, using CNN as a cover.

Jordan said he met last December with Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf to ask permission for the network to send journalists into areas of northern Iraq.

"He bristled, and he said, 'Mr. Jordan, if you send a CNN team there, the severest possible consequences will come to them,'" Jordan said.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

What did CNN know, and when did they know it?

[Hodar]

If you are looking for intelligence, CNN is definitely the wrong target.

[gov_bean_ counter]

No matter how CNN tries to frame this, it is clear they have been compromised from the beginning of Gulf War I.

[IncPen]

Funny that Eason's confession of complicity with the Hussein regime is spun into 'they almost got us!"

Friggin' scumbag network

[Dog Gone]

The French Press Agency is taking a little bit of Jordan's piece in the NY Times, and using it to paint CNN as a victim.

How very French of them.

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[medscribe]

CNN = Collaborators' Nonnews Network.


If CNN had been around during the Holocaust, no doubt they would have NOT reported anything for fear of Hitler revoking their Berlin office space. May this piece of anti-American filth be taken off the air permanently. What a disgrace!!

[VA_Gentleman]

CNN = Communist News Network

[Conservababe]

About twelve years ago, according to Jordon.

[CheneyChick]

Interesting timing. Is CNN trying to do damage control and win some sympathy after the news they (CNN) kept to themselves?

[conservativecorner]

They were targeted all right...with chocolates and roses.

[lsee]

Well, how interesting that they'd believe THIS plot to target journalists in hotels, but be so certain the AMERICAN tank was responsible for killing those journlists in another hotel...with about the same amount of proof.

[Freedom2specul8]

I thought you guys might want to be pinged over here..and if you have a ping list..you might want to use it.

[Howlin]

This is the REAL STORY:

The News We (CNN) Kept To Ourselves

[Howlin]

This is ruining my day!

[Colofornian]

Funny that Eason's confession of complicity with the Hussein regime is spun into, "He almost got us!"

I agree this is complicity. Silence is the price of establishing a media beachhead in Satan's hometown (the Garden).

I just read Eason Jordan's account in the New York Times (just go to www.WorldNetDaily for link). Jordan highlights examples of electric torture of CNN employees; torture & disappearances of other international press service employees; tip-offs about forthcoming murders as told him by Uday Hussein; a foreign ministry officer speaking of a colleague whose brother was executed & then had to write a letter of congratulation re: that execution to Saddam; etc.

Will CNN & the New York Times now put these stories in neon lights so that the anti-war protesters can become a bit enlightened?

By the way, the "beachhead-and-keep-our-mouths shut" approach by CNN & other international press services is really no difference than the argument used by Ned Graham (Billy Graham's son) of East Gates Intl & several of the mission groups based out of Chicago. Graham has been allowed to go & preach at government-run churches...and he tells others how great the Chinese government is for allowing religious freedom. East Gates & several mission groups think Westerners should keep quiet about the persecution of Christians in communist China, elsewise doors will shut & persecution will increase.

The questions raised by others of these strategies is simply: "At what point will the persecution become so bad that you'll draw a line in the sand & shine a light on that dark corner?" "At what point is 'enough is enough'?" "If a human butcher is torturing his dinner for the night, is it really a valid argument to say, 'Well, at least we kept him from having dessert by not telling folks what he had for dinner'?"

I don't know about y'all, but I'm a bit weary of this "we don't want to rile these maniacs" any more than we have to...I'm a bit preturbed hearing about the need not to alienate our potential door-openers in the international world. Truth always suffers under such duct-taped mouths. Jesus said, "What you hear in secret, shout from the rooftops!"

We must warn persecutors and mediaheads who protect them that there is a final judgment to consider. All we've done & failed to do will be brought to the light of day & the light of our Creator. We are all accountable.

[Freedom2specul8]

Definitely..

[Freedom2specul8]

Wait..Noose Tightens On IRAQ-Sept. 11 Connection

[bmwcyle]

I listen to Rush read this. I had just got done telling someone on the phone, "Why didn't they leave and report the truth"? Then Rush said it. I just common sense that liberals were never born with.

[Lucas1]

It sounds to me like CNN reporters DESERVE whatever they get/got.