Iraqi press freedom advocates are loudly protesting today after the news that the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission has ordered police to close 44 media outlets nationwide.
Iraqi officials shrugged off the news, saying it was an “organizational” matter and accusing the groups of not being formally licensed. The NGO workers say that it is rather an attempt by the Maliki regime to shutter critics of his continued rule.
So far the groups haven’t actually been shut down, but press freedom groups say that the order, as well as the implication that more closures could be ordered as well at any time, would have a chilling effect on domestic media in the nation.
Iraq’s government has been claiming broad authority for censorship virtually since its installation by US occupation forces, and with Maliki becoming a more and more polarizing figure, he is likely to see unfriendly press coverage as a challenge which, like so many other challenges to his rule, is to be met with force.
Finally this trillion $ US war for freedom, peace and humanity and against dictatorship in Iraq shows its results !
And after Libya, they also in Syria want to replace liberal leaders in the middle east by Islamic extremists. I guess the US defense industry wants a united Arab extremist world in order to get a real good long lasting war. Those max. "5months bombardments" was only business for DYNAMID NOBEL and other bomb/missile manufacturers and only a few thousands of ground vehicles in Iraq – but they also want crashed fighter jets planes and ships. For this reason Saudi Arabia buys much military stuff now.
As addition to my former posting: I case you believe the US mainstream propaganda to be opposed to islamist extremist check this:
Ex-CIA officer: Braindead West wants Jihadists to rule Libya:
French defense expert:
At 3:50: USA they "have a secret agreement with the Jihadists: YOU GET THE SHARIA AND WE GET THE OIL"
globalresearch.ca reporter from Libya:
13:20 NTC people: it was the USA who brought in Al Qaida. Libyans do not want the islamists, but the US wants them and is controlling them.
SYRIA: Saudi admitting "Revolution" heavily armed from the Start ! ( BBC, April 2012 )
That the media has to be "formally licensed" by the government speaks volumes. I wonder if that was in the Constitution that the US wrote in English and then had translated to Arabic so the Iraqis could approve it? Or, most certainly the US proconsul obviously just forgot to put in strong protections of freedom and democracy like freedom of the press.
But, no big surprise. This is pretty much the state of democracy in the American empire. Maybe even a step above the American client states in central and south America where inconvenient journalists just end up dead at the hands of a death squad. Oh, wait, I'm sorry, Iraq has one of the highest rates of journalist deaths in the world. A CNN article listed the top three deadliest places for journalists in the 00-09 decade as 1) Iraq, 2) Phillipines, and 3) Colombia. All are within the American sphere of influence.
I guess this is what "democracy" in the Middle East looks like. 4500 dead, 20-30,000 wounded and a trillion dollars. Thank you George Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld.
Here's that democracy you wanted Mr Bush.
“Iraq Orders Mass Closure of Media Outlets”
Here the mainstream media is owned by the rich who are in control, so there is no need to close it. Therefore the net result is the same.
We’re lucky we have the alternate media.