Posted on 12/02/2006 11:02:52 AM PST by faq
Iraq's interior ministry has formed a press monitoring unit in response to what it described as "fabricated and false news" that misrepresents the country's security situation.
Singling out the Associated Press for criticism, spokesman Brigadier General Abdul-Karim Khalaf said yesterday that dedicated unit would monitor news coverage and even initiate legal action if journalists do not correct stories it believes to be incorrect.
"Fabricated and false news hurts and gives the Iraqis a wrong picture that the security situation is very bad, when the facts are totally different," he said.
He added that the media should consult the ministry's large public relations department staff for "real, true news".
Brig Gen Khalaf referred to an AP story last week describing an attack on a mosque in north-west Baghdad in which six Sunni Muslims were burnt to death.
He said the ministry said it had no records of a Captain Jamil Hussein who had been quoted in the story, and that someone dressed in the ministry's uniform may have given a false name to the reporter in exchange for money.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
We apparently can learn one thing or two from the Iraqis when it comes to handling the Enemedia. Good move by Iraq.
probably not a bad idea, provided that the sure-to-come cries of "censorship" are countered properly by defining this false reporting as libel and/or slander and/or subversion of the constitutional government of Iraq.
The DUmass Media will have to defend the careers of Axis Sally and Lord Haw Haw (both of whom were convicted of treason in WWII) if they want to make the case that the media has a "protected" right to cheer for the enemy in a time of war and not be taken down as enemy combatants.
It is clear that sides have been chosen and it is NOT with the US or Iraqi government. It is WITH the terrorists (so the propaganda media can proclaim "failure" in Iraq).
Hey, Marty! Lookee here!
well, they also sided with kerry in 71-73 when he was doing the same sort of thing, sponsered by Fulbright, McGovern, etc etc etc
The AP? Why stop there? Why start there?
Excellent news. I hope the government sets up consequences for violations of reporting false or distorted news up and to including the death penalty.
This is exactly the public rebuke of AP that was warranted for their willful collaboration with the enemy on many occasions. It would have been better if accompanied by a statement from the White House Press Secretary, but the action by the government of Iraq is good enough.
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