Posted on 05/14/2004 6:16:50 PM PDT by JusticeTalion
Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan has been sacked after the newspaper conceded photos of British soldiers abusing an Iraqi were fake. In a statement the Mirror said it had fallen victim to a "calculated and malicious hoax" and that it would be "inappropriate" for Morgan to continue.
The Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR) said the Mirror had endangered British troops by running the pictures.
Roger Goodman, of the QLR, said the regiment now felt "vindicated".
Mr Goodman added: "It is just a great pity it has taken so long... and that so much damage has been done in the meantime."
At a news conference in Preston on Friday afternoon, the regiment demonstrated to reporters aspects of uniform and equipment which it said proved the photographs were fake.
The regiment's Brigadier Geoff Sheldon said the vehicle featured in the photographs had been located in a Territorial Army base in Lancashire and had never been in Iraq.
He said the QLR's reputation had been damaged by the Mirror and asked the newspaper to apologise because the evidence they were staged was "overwhelming".
The Conservatives said they hoped lessons had been learned from the row.
Deputy leader and foreign affairs spokesman, Michael Ancram, said: ''Looking at the facts objectively, this is the right thing for Piers Morgan to have done.
"The photos that were published in the Daily Mirror have done great damage to the reputation of our troops, who are serving under some of the most difficult conditions in Iraq.''
'Recruiting poster for al-Qaeda'
The photos published in the Mirror on 1 May appeared to show British troops torturing an Iraqi detainee.
In one picture a soldier is seen urinating on a hooded man while in another the hooded man is being hit with a rifle in the groin.
Colonel Black, a former regiment commander of the QLR, said the pictures put lives in danger and acted as a "recruiting poster" for al-Qaeda.
However one of the Mirror's informants - Soldier C - said there had been abuse in Iraq.
The Territorial Army solider has been questioned by Royal Military Police after talking about his claims to the Daily Mirror.
On ITV's Tonight With Trevor McDonald he said: "It did go on, it wasn't all the army, it wasn't systematic but it did happen."
Downing Street refused to comment on the issue, saying it was a matter for the Mirror board.
The BBC's Nicholas Witchell said it appeared Piers Morgan remained unrepentant right to the end
"According to one report Mr Morgan refused the demand to apologise, was sacked and immediately escorted from the building," he said.
Morgan will be replaced on a temporary basis by his deputy, Des Kelly.
The newspaper released a statement saying: "The Daily Mirror published in good faith photographs which it absolutely believed were genuine images of British soldiers abusing an Iraqi prisoner.
"However there is now sufficient evidence to suggest that these pictures are fakes and that the Daily Mirror has been the subject of a calculated and malicious hoax.
"The Daily Mirror therefore apologises unreservedly for publishing the pictures and deeply regrets the reputational damage done to the QLR and the Army in Iraq.
"The paper will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation.
"The board of Trinity Mirror has decided that it would be inappropriate for Piers Morgan to continue in his role as editor of the Daily Mirror and he will therefore be stepping down with immediate effect."
The Sun newspaper had offered a £50,000 reward for "information about the fake Mirror photos" but withdrew the offer following the sacking of Morgan.
Unfortunately the damage is already done. The muslims will continue to believe any hoax that makes them appear to be victims. After all, islam itself is a hoax.
Let me guess how this will play out in the US media....Karl Rove and Friends paid Daily Mirror operatives to submit the pictures, knowing that they'd eventually be debunked but in the process embarrassing the paper and getting editors sacked.
In other words, Bush's fault.
Bush.
And Zionists.
Can't forget the Zionists.
If it is good enough for the Daily Mirror editor, it is good enough for Boston Globe editor.
Bush knew!, Bush Knew!
"The BBC's Nicholas Witchell said it appeared Piers Morgan remained unrepentant right to the end."
"According to one report Mr Morgan refused the demand to apologise, was sacked and immediately escorted from the building," he said."
Anyone else see a conflict of facts here? Morgan did the right thing by refusing to apologize and thus getting fired? I have to give the British press a thumbs up for holding this guy accountable, but they could use a competent editor.
As to the big story behind this story; if the pictures were fakes, who took them and what was their motive?
Sacked! Some justice after all!
The Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR) said the Mirror had endangered British troops by running the pictures.
If only someone in authority could put a message like that on the plate of the liberal American maindream media!
Piers Morgan is a pompous prick. It's just unfortunate that so many British soldiers in Bazra and Najaf (sp?) had to have their lives further endangered, for him to get his comeuppance.
Why didn't the same thing happen to the editor of the Boston Globe?
Don't know the motive but Soldier C seems to have to questions to answer to.
"However one of the Mirror's informants - Soldier C - said there had been abuse in Iraq.
The Territorial Army solider has been questioned by Royal Military Police after talking about his claims to the Daily Mirror.
On ITV's Tonight With Trevor McDonald he said: "It did go on, it wasn't all the army, it wasn't systematic but it did happen.""
"The Sun newspaper had offered a £50,000 reward for "information about the fake Mirror photos" but withdrew the offer following the sacking of Morgan."
They shouldn't have withdrawn the reward! We still need to get the idiots who fabricated and passed on the photographs to Morgan. Morgan's paper paid money to two individuals for the story and images. These idiots need to be named and shamed!
Victory in the War on Error...
MIRROR BOSS QUITS POST(Admits photos are fake - "victim of a calculated malicious hoax")
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=513332§ion=news
Soldier arrested over Mirror hoax photos
Tue 18 May, 2004 21:27
LONDON (Reuters) - At least one soldier has been arrested over fake pictures showing alleged mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners by British troops, the defence ministry says.
The photos were published in the Daily Mirror just days after similar ones were published in the United States showing U.S. soldiers abusing prisoners, shocking the world and causing widespread anger in the Arab world.
A spokeswoman would give no further details about the arrest by the ministry's Special Investigation Branch (SIB).
"The SIB, as part of the ongoing investigation, arrested somebody to be questioned under caution," she said. "At least one person has been arrested. It is a soldier."
Four other British soldiers have been arrested and released without charge by military police probing some of the alleged cases of abuse by British troops.
The Mirror, which sacked its flamboyant editor Piers Morgan on Friday, issued a front page apology for the photos.
The paper was a harsh critic of Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision to go to war. Blair's personal ratings have sunk since the U.S-led invasion 15 months ago.
How long before the Boston Globe starts heads a-rollin' in their editorial staff for the same offense. Hmmmmm............(note the fact that I'm holding my breath....)
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