Al Jazeera says U.S. "threatening" media in Iraq

Reuters ^ | 4/13/04

[kattracks]

DUBAI, April 13 (Reuters) - Arabic-language satellite TV channel Al Jazeera on Tuesday accused U.S.-led coalition officials in Iraq of threatening the media over their coverage of U.S. troops battling Iraqi rebels.

U.S. Army chief spokesman, Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt, on Monday called Qatar-based Al Jazeera, Dubai-based Al Arabiya and other Arab media outlets the "anti-coalition media" and advised viewers to "change the channel".

"Al Jazeera rejects these accusations and considers them a threat to the right of the media to cover the reality in Iraq amid a difficult and complex situation on the ground," Al Jazeera said in a statement faxed to Reuters.

"This is unjustified pressure on the media," it added.

U.S. Marines, responding to the murder and mutilation of four American private security guards ambushed in Falluja on March 31, attacked rebels in the town last week.

As fighting has intensified, U.S. authorities have stepped up a separate battle for public opinion, tightly controlling the flow of information to journalists whose ability to move freely in Iraq has been limited by increasing danger.

Doctors in Falluja say over 600 people have died in the fighting. The U.S. military says they are mainly rebels but Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya, with teams inside the town, say a large number of women and children are among the dead.

Reuters footage taken from Falluja to Baghdad showed dead children, old men and women lying wounded in overflowing makeshift clinics.

[cripplecreek]

When they are emmbedded with terrorists they should feel threatened.

[Badeye]

If true, its about time.

[sarasota]

They are the official mouthpiece for Global Terrorists. I think their facility should have a Big Accident.

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

They should! It is long overdue.

[Allegra]

Arabic-language satellite TV channel Al Jazeera on Tuesday accused U.S.-led coalition officials in Iraq of threatening the media over their coverage of U.S. troops battling Iraqi rebels.

Oh, yeah, riiiight.

I wish they would threaten them, though. And make good on it.

[DoctorMichael]

Bttt

[armymarinemom]

They shouldn't recieve any threats. There are times when a warning shot isn't needed for the enemy.

[Ben Chad]

My exact words!

[The Sons of Liberty]

My question is - why ia al jeezera still on the air? A 500 pounder from a passing BUF (B-52) should take care of that.

[Defiant]

We didn't allow Nazi propagandists to get access to the battlefield, and we shouldn't allow Arab fascists access to the battlefield, either.

[ThermoNuclearWarrior]

We should have already gotten these terrorist propaganda spewing bastards out of Iraq.

[Poodlebrain]

Reporters from "our" side take risks when they go to the front. Why shouldn't reporters for "their" side be subject to the same risks? If al Jazeera feels we are unjustly restricting their ability to report events, then let them seek accomodations from the other side.

[GulliverSwift]

That's what we should do instead of bombing their headquarters. Just make sure that they have no access whatsover to the battlefield. Put tracking devices on all their vehicles and then block them from taking their cameras anywhere. Then, at the same time, increase the amount of footage released by our military media offices which will force the Arab fascists to run the video for lack of any other.

They need to infiltrate these filthy channels as well. I'm sure they're crawling with al Qaeda friends and members.

[Publius6961]

Only media which are Muslim Mass Murdering stealth combatants and terrorist support groups, like AFP, Al Jazzera and Al Arabiya.
So, yeah, I suppose that should give them hissy fits.

Moron sandmaggots.

[Publius6961]

Add the Red Crescent, aka sandmaggot weapon and ammunition supply delivery company...

[1Old Pro]

I'm sure our CIA is "embedded" within Al Jeezera, ssshhhhh. Memos like this just give them cover.

[VxH]

>>Al Jazeera says U.S. "threatening" media in Iraq

So? It makes sense to target the propaganda apparatus of one's enemy during wartime.

Can you imagine a Nazi film crew being allowed to have access to our troops in Normandy?

Al Jizeera is an enemy asset. Enemy assets get targeted for destruction. Simple.

[Libertina]

Ths is the good news, right?

[anonymous_user]

I'm surprised they haven't been "censored" already. Wouldn't want to enrage the Arab street though. /sarcasm