I've been watching for someone to post this, but I haven't seen it today. If it has already been covered, please accept my apologies.
Coalition shuts down Iraqi newspaper
Supporters of extremist Shiite cleric Moqtadr Sadr burn a U.S. flag in a Baghdad protest against the closing of Sadr's newspaper. The United States says "false articles" could endanger coalition troops.
from Knight-Ridder Newspapers
BAGHDAD - The U.S.-led occupation authority dispatched soldiers to shut down the newspaper of an extremist Shiite cleric Sunday, charging that the paper repeatedly published misinformation designed to incite violence against U.S. troops.
Hmmm... repeatedly published misinformation designed to incite violence, eh? I guess we'll be going after Murdoch next. Oh wait... those lies were disseminated by our government in order to incite violence against Iraq.
Now I see the difference.
Sadr is a very influential cleric, and I can see how his words could endanger coalition troops. But then, that isn't the point, is it? I can also see how shutting down his paper inspires his followers even more. Gee, they even burned an American flag. So, we're building schools there, we're training the workforce
and we allow them to burn flags?
That's it... I'm going.
Elsadr (spokesman for US-led coalition) gave newspaper officials a letter from U.S. Ambassador L. Paul Bremer that said the paper published misinformation, including articles blaming terrorist attacks on coalition forces.
"These false articles not only mislead readers but constitute a real threat of violence against coalition forces and Iraqi citizens who cooperate with the coalition in the reconstruction of Iraq," the letter said.
Sheik Mahmood al Sawdani, a Sadr spokesman, denied that the newspaper had incited violence and said it was shut down because it "rejects the occupation."
"This is a contradiction to the new constitution," said Juma Khanjar, 44, a taxi driver who came for the protest. "The Americans said there is freedom of the press. Where is the freedom of the press?"
Ah... democracy.
We'll give you your cookie as soon as you stop screaming, and if you don't stop screaming, we'll put a bullet in your fucking head. Get it? It's called nation-building, and if you don't like it, you can get back in your spider hole. Besides, you don't really have freedom of the press until July 1, so nyah nyah nyah...
On Feb. 26, an article claimed that a suicide bombing that targeted a Shiite town south of Baghdad, killing 53, was a rocket "fired by an (American) Apache helicopter and not a car bomb," Elsadr said.
Another article was headlined "Bremer follows the steps of Saddam" and criticized coalition work in Iraq.
Elsadr acknowledged that such a shutdown would not happen in the United States, but added: "Iraq is not America. Iraq is going through a very sensitive time right now, and while there is freedom of the press, that freedom must be used responsibly."
My head hurts.