Controlling what we hear from Iraq

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

Although the series of articles is titled "Iraq Diaries," this is not a blog or "diary." It is a series of articles written by freelance journalist. It contains new reports on several news items occuring in the last 24 hours.

Dahr Jamail is a freelance journalist and political activist from Anchorage, Alaska. He has come to Iraq to bear witness and write about how the US occupation is affecting the people of Iraq, since the media in the US has in large part, he believes, failed to do so.


Page last updated: 3 January 2004, 13:12

<snip>

Like other repressive dictatorships and regimes, the US military has now followed suit in Iraq by attempting to select what its personnel should and should not read.

It is happening at home in the US as well. For example, the only news I see about Iraq on major American news outlets yesterday is about the one US soldier killed when his helicopter was downed. Iraqis who observed the chopper being hit by a rocket reported watching it being broken in two pieces and falling to the ground in flames. Thus, the other soldier, while reported as being injured, more than likely must have been very seriously injured. Again, no specific reporting on that either.

However, this could have something to do with the fact that a Reuters news team filming at the scene was fired upon by the Americans, then detained by military personnel near the crash site.

A military spokesperson stated that the military believed the Reuters team were resistance fighters posing as media. The US military today reported that the Reuters news team was firing machine guns and RPG at US military at the site.

There was no news about another US soldier who died yesterday by being shot by a weapon that discharged while being cleaned. Nor was there news about another US soldier who died when a truck he was riding in with a large convoy flipped, killing him and injuring several others. The toll of the occupation on US military personnel in Iraq mounts daily, just as it does on the Iraqi people.

<snip>

More: http://electroniciraq.net/news/1305.shtml

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. It was reported on MSNBC

that the attack after the crash was a "new method" for the insurgents. They gave the distinct message that insurgents had now confiscated Press vests and were posing as such in order to get close to the troops and ambush them. This is the first time I've seen that it was actually a Reuters crew.

Wish the press would get their act together and tell the gov't. thanks, but we'll tell the real story as that what should be told.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

2. There were a few reports yesterday on the Reuturs crew...

Including one from Reuturs.

As far as I can tell, the camera crew is still being held.

[Mokito]

15. Editing film takes time.

nt

[Just Me]

18. Still no reports on the camera crew,...

I would appreciate seeing more on what is really happening.

[pinto]

3. Apparently, everyone has become a "suspect".....

and American troops sound a lot more than on edge from the little we hear.

From the article:

We asked if the family had requested that the Americans come remove the unexploded ordnance.

Mr. Shakr, with a very troubled look, said,

"We asked them the first time and they said 'OK, we'll come take care of it.' But they never came. We asked them the second time and they told us they would not remove them until we gave them a resistance fighter. They told us, 'If you won't give us a resistance fighter, we are not coming to remove the bombs.'"

for those old enough, it sounds eerily familiar

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. While still unaware of the complete voracity of the author, I'm

inclined to believe him after living through the Nixon era.

This is one of the more disturbing reports I have read.

[Neutrino]

5. Bush is killing ants with a hammer--

everybody is an enemy. He is getting way paranoid. God help us.

[pinto]

12. same here, I like Riverbend's a lot, too.

http://www.riverbendblog.com

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

13. I loved the paragraph that began....

"Kids in Iraq also believe in Santa Claus, but people here call him 'Baba Noel' which means, "Father Noel". I asked the children what he looked like and they generally agreed that he was fat, cheerful, decked in red and had white hair. (Their impertinent 11-year-old explains that he's fat because of the dates, cheerful because of the alcohol and wears red because he's a communist!)"

Great site.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

16. No kidding. I have been saying that for months now...all this

reportage sounds exactly like the news coming out of Saigon in 62-64 or so.
Just replace insurgents with VC and see if that don't make your old shrapnel wounds tingle.

[Just Me]

6. Alternative sources are relevant,...

,...particularly considering the level of control and/or manipulation of popular media sources these days. I am glad you have clarified this site as an "independent journalist" posting on the ground news.

[pinto]

7. kick, we humans are wired for multiple source input, no?

otherwise we'd be....well, you know, the Prez.

[AtTheEndOfTheDay]

10. 50%

anyway

[Neutrino]

8. just got zapped with a little "NT System" fake virus--pop-up :)

a little of the old Bush Mind Control. whoooooo.

[Neutrino]

9. Guess I'd better "watch what I say"---

wonder what our Founding Fathers would say.

[chasqui]

11. FAUX claimed that fighters were dressed as reporters

I was on the treadmill last night, working out, watching effing Faux News channel. There was a little blurb on the bottom marquee that said 'Insurgents attacked dressed as reporters.' Or something to that effect.
One more for the sheeple, planting memes that will justify the killing of reporters in the eye of the public.

[tlcandie]

14. BP thanks for posting from his diaries....

I've printed several before, but got slammed for it! I think that these type of accounts should be taken seriously because we know that we are NOT receiving the truth here in the US...how much more so in Iraq?

The way this guy writes, he seems to genuinely try to tell the whole picture very vividly and as accurately as possible from those he sees and talks with.

Objective? Well, it depends on where you live I suppose.... :shrug:

I believe the Iraqi people have the right to view what is happening to them and their country through their lens. This Alaskan journalist is doing his darned level best to bring that to light and let us know there is more than meets the eye going on in Iraq. He states repeatedly that the 'MAIN' news is not speaking the truth in daily accountings.

I would like to see these blogs be put into print for ALL to read and mull over~

[jmcgowanjm]

17. Just don't use lasguns against shields-Dune

Anyone remember the last time we got an overhead
of Baghdad to the horizon?

The only place lit up on a regular basis is
in the Green Zone. Great for targeting-
just shoot toward the lights.

Anecdotal evidence of huge firefights in the desert,
no reports in media,

Huge explosions in Baghdad, no reports in
Iraq media.

We've lost a division so far in Iraq. What's the magic total.

Tell the young-want the draft, vote for Bush

http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2003/12/15/iraq/photoessay588666.shtml

Go to pic <4> and explain the dates-yellow only in Summer