Breaking CNN: Al Jazeera "Blackballed" 1:10 PM CST

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

How blatant will they get?

(No link yet)
Aus. Report
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/24/1064083008553.html

Iraq's Governing Council today banned the Arab satellite television stations Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya from covering official activities here for two weeks, a statement said.

It said the ban was a warning to the stations and other broadcasters for inciting anti-United States violence.

"Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya will temporarily be excluded from any coverage of Governing Council activities or official press conferences, and correspondents of the two channels will not be allowed to enter ministries or government offices for two weeks," the statement said.
<snip>

Radio Free Europe Link:

http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2003/09/23092003152804.asp

[meegbear]

1. could you be a little more vague?

What does that mean?

[thebigidea]

3. it means Imperial Viceroy Bremer had them 86ed, shitcanned, etc.

declared a corrupting influence on freedom loving Iraqi citizens...

apparently uhm, its INCITING opposition to the always dapper, ever debonair Bremer.

[Sequoia]

13. Hi Bigidea

Is that photo from a Bohemian Grove party? Sure looks like it.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. Here's a UPI story on it with Link.

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030923-111537-1915r

BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- The Iraqi Governing Council announced Tuesday it would suspend two prominent Arabic-language satellite news stations for what it said was supporting recent attacks on council members and U.S. occupation forces.

The decision to temporarily suspend al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya came after a week of criticism by Iraqi supporters of the U.S.-appointed council who said the channels incited both anti-occupation violence and ethnic and sectarian tensions.

It is unclear how long the suspensions will last, or even if the council has the authority to bar news organizations from Iraq without permission from the Coalition Provisional Authority. As Iraq has yet to ratify a new constitution, it stands to reason the council would need permission from the CPA to bar any organization from operating in the country. The CPA did not respond to inquires about the announcement, which was made by a spokesman for Ahmed Chalabi, who heads the Iraqi National Congress and currently serves as the council's president.

Al-Jazeera and al-Arabia correspondents in Baghdad refused to comment on the situation other than to say they did not know "exactly what being suspended meant."

"They have not told us anything officially," an al-Jazeera spokesman in Qatar told United Press International.

<snip>

[thebigidea]

2. well, at least they aren't getting hit with missiles like in Afghanistan

or are they?

[Cappurr]

5. I think they blackballed the other Arab station too

Al Arabia I think it is called.

This, of course, will further endear Americans to our Arab friends.

[otohara]

6. This Was on BBC News

lastnight- not only Al Jazeera - but another Arab station is being considered to be blacked out in Iraq by US for playing tapes of terrorists.

Will we soon target all those newspapers that have sprouted since Saddam is gone.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

8. I heard that several of the new Iraqi papers have been quashed

already. Sad times for free speech and open forums.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

7. ABC Link:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s952260.htm

Al-Jazeera, Al-Arabiya banned for inciting anti-US violence
Iraq's US-installed Governing Council has banned the Arab satellite TV stations Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya from covering official activities for two weeks, a statement said.

It said the action was taken as a "warning" to the stations and other broadcasters for allegedly inciting anti-US violence.
<snip>
Very short piece.

[Wednesdays]

9. Bringing democracy to Iraq...

one bayonet at a time.

[dave29]

10. Does this mean we can blackball Fox??

Please?

[lightbulb]

20. Great idea!

Faux News has arguably incited more violence than any Arab station with its shameless spew of propaganda and warmongering.

[DeathvadeR]

29. NO SHIT N/T

[Flubadubya]

11. Scratch "Freedom of the Press" from the roster...

of Iraq's new "liberation and fledgling democracy". Piss ants!

[PsychoDad]

12. After breaking the Clark Story...

About our list of 7 countries we planned to invade. I'll be supprised they aren't banned here.

[Zhade]

19. Woah, I missed that one, can you link me?

NT!

[tabasco]

14. Neocons "spreading democracy"

As efficacious as Typhoid Mary distributing cough drops.

[DuctapeFatwa]

15. The regime has already bombed Al Jazeera twice, murdered one

cameraman and ordered their thugs in Spain to seize a leading reporter.

Al Jazeera has deliberately defied regime orders to cease reporting the killing of civilians by the Crusaders, as well as statements made by individuals outside the US that contradict regime decrees.

[psychopomp]

16. I support free speach

and al-Jazeera...BUT, I had to wonder at the wisdom of making their station a reliable vein for OBL broadcasts. Do I need to explain myself or do you (all readers) understand why I think that may not be the right thing to do at this point?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

17. IMHO, if there is to be a free press, there should be room for dissenting

opinions. Even if opinions are contradictory to Bushco's desires. If we are truly bringing peace and prosperity to the Iraqis, I am sure the truth will win out.

[DuctapeFatwa]

18. Agent bin Laden's tapes are as much news as Bremen's decrees

There is no reason that Al Jazeera or any other news organization should suppress any material put out by the PNAC regime.

[KharmaTrain]

24. Kill The Messenger

Bremmer and the BushCo. cabal are pissed that the Arab satellite networks have been booming in Iraq since the fall of Saddam. Dishes, just like in Afghanistan, popped up within moments of the regime's fall and millions are watching those networks...not the ones the U.S. has set up.

The Rove way is to create "consensus" through media manipulation and somehow these monkeys thought the Iraqis would be glad to watch anything that shows up on their TV screens (provided they had electricity). These morons have yet to grasp that you have to have a credible, informative and entertaining product to get an audience and those Arab networks...Al Jezerah, Al Aribiya, Abu Dubi TV and several others command a cult-like following in that region. Looks like Faux News ain't going over in the Baghdad ADI.

These yahoos don't realize that the more they supress a message, the more people will find ways to get it. With their credibility already non-existant, messing around with the media outlets that could be useful in creating a communications bridge with the masses in that country is being burned. Just plain stupid! Why doesn't Bremmer just put an ad on his station for more Jihadists...cause this is what he just helped his "competition" do. Again!

[maggrwaggr]

33. how is that any different from Faux letting Hannity rant, or Scarface on

MSNBC?

Actually those assholes ranting their hatred is way way LESS newsworthy than a tape by OBL.

Jesus, I can't even believe you said that ...

Democracy in Iraq? HA

[Zhade]

21. Breaking Al Jazeera: CNN "Blackballed"

Wouldn't that be a nice headline to see?

[xxqqqzme]

22. good thing that Saddam is no

longer in power. Suppression of dissenting views was the norm. Glad 2 C the US is bringing freedom 2 Iraq.

Why do I always C Chalabi's name attached 2 these 'council' decisions and everything else released 2 the press? Trying 2 cram him down the Iraqi's throats. This misadministration began & continues w/ one game plan - their way or the highway.

[Ashcroft Kutcher]

23. So basically

some sketchy ass shit is going to go down in the next 2 weeks and we would rather have media outlets we can control/punish cover it.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

25. But you can bet your sweet ass that when something does go down

and Al Jazeera is the only one with footage, we will see the editied version of Al Jazeera.

[teryang]

26. "Inciting anti-US violence?"

No specifics were given except to say that there was too much coverage of anti-US attacks and that a forum was provided to "Saddam backers."

So they are being censored. I didn't read any evidence of inciting violence. Evidently, reporting news now equates to inciting violence if the content is not approved by the colonial administration.

I haven't seen any coverage of anti US attacks on our own media nor any statements from Saddam backers. I guess our news is censored as well.

[DeathvadeR]

27. Sure Sounds like freedom to me...............

Also a prime time to plant some goodies in the sand.

Fuqing disqusts me to say im an American.

[DeathvadeR]

28. US-Backed Council Bars Arab Media

BAGHDAD -- Freedom of speech campaigners have condemned US-appointed authorities in Iraq for banning television stations Aljazeera and al- Arabiya.

Iraq's Governing Council said on Tuesday the stations were prohibited from covering official activities in Iraq for two weeks.

It said the action was taken as a warning to broadcasters who incite anti-US violence

<http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0923-10.htm>

[MariMayans]

30. what's next?

Are they going to ban satellite dishes and force the people to watch a local government sponsered station spewing propaganda?

[kayell]

31. They are working very hard to ensure

that Iraqis enjoy the same wonderful access to a free press that we do here in the US.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

32. I guess since Dubya decided to grace Faux Neus, they must

feel that it was a good example for all news agencies to suck up. They're probably hammering out a contract with Rupert to be the new Iraqi State TV.

[okieinpain]

34. are these people that stupid. they are trying to convince the iraqi's that

they are in charge but they do (or should I say the U.S.)something like this. banning al-jaz will do nothing but prove that the amerikkka is running the show. expect more assination attempts on the council. dumb ass bastards, I thought the adults where in charge.

[Jack Rabbit]

35. "Training" for democracy

That was the Frat Boy's curious term before the General Assembly today.

I guess if there only in training they don't need a real free press.