Protests as U.S. closes Iraqi paper

[keopeli]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/03/28/iraq.main/index.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Several thousand Iraqis protested the closure of a newspaper Sunday, chanting anti-U.S. slogans and burning American flags outside the newspaper's office in Baghdad.

The U.S.-led civil administration in Iraq closed the Baghdad newspaper Al Hawsa for 60 days, accusing its publishers of inciting violence against coalition troops.

The paper is published by followers of prominent Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

"If the Coalition forces are going to keep on presenting us with such messages... they can just dream about any sort of end to terrorism," a statement from the newspaper said. "And they can also dream that we will stay quiet and step down from what we believe."

--

They sealed the paper's headquarters, and anyone found going in or contributing for the next 60 days can be fined $1000 (US) and face a year in jail. (I don't understand why the fine would be in US funds.)

[Earth_First]

1. The smell of fascism disgusts me

...liberate this!

[mbperrin]

2. At last! Real *Bush style

democracy!

And they said it couldn't be done!

[acmavm]

3. Well, I suppose we can expect a few more bodies this week.

"If the Coalition forces are going to keep on presenting us with such messages... they can just dream about any sort of end to terrorism," a statement from the newspaper said. "And they can also dream that we will stay quiet and step down from what we believe."

Nice going Paul. These people have a civilization that is thousands of years older than ours. They've been through it all. Do you think that you can stop them? Or your Fearless (right) Leader, the War President? Well, you'd better think again because I don't believe that they are going to sit still while you enforce a very peculiar form of 'democracy' on them which includes looting their oil and shutting down their newspapers and throwing anyone that you think might have bad intentions in the clink.

Just when you think that they couldn't do anything dumber, they do. I don't understand where it can be forbidden for a citizen of a foreign government to stand up for their own independence and be punished for anti-American behavior. WE DO NOT OWN IRAQ, NO MATTER WHAT bush* & company THINK.

[pinkpops]

4. The press is free

but some presses are more free than others.

[bluestateguy]

5. Maybe a precedent will be set

Can a President Kerry do this to the Washington Times?

[Jim Warren]

6. "I don't understand why the fine would be in US funds."

It's a move to shore-up the dollar. Don't want anybody getting any pesky ideas of "petroeuros".

[keopeli]

7. I agree about the emphasis on the US$. But, why aren't the fines in Iraqi

Dinars? Didn't we print up a whole bunch of new ones? Aren't these sanctions against Iraqis? Would Iraqis be more likely to have Dinars or Dollars? Would the Iraqi government accept Dollars as well as Dinars? It's all so wierd. Part of the pseudo world of a Holy American Empire that Bush* dreams about.

[Earth_First]

8. Just to play devil's advocate...

how come you placed a (US) after the $1000 in your transcription of the article, when the original article states no mention of the fines being in USD. I'm just curious if perhaps you can link me to a source that mentions the fines are in USD$

[Moderator]

9. locking

dupe - go here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x449639