Iraqi authorities order closure of 44 news organisations

[alp227]

Source: AP

An Iraqi press freedom group has condemned authorities for ordering the closure of 44 news organisations, including a US-funded radio station.

No media outlet is reported to have been forced to close so far but critics say the Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, is sending a warning to the media.

The dispute calls into question the future of Iraq's fledgling democracy, nine years after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and six months after the last of the US troops who overthrew him withdrew.

Ziyad al-Aajely, the head of the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory, called the move to shut down media offices "a setback to the freedom of journalism in Iraq."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/24/iraq-closure-news-organisations

[tabatha]

1. Going the way of Iran. Well done Bush.

[thelordofhell]

2. Iraq has got to learn the proper way to do this

Have the outlets bought up by rich elites and make them irrelevant.

[sabrina 1]

3. Where's Rumsfeld when you need him?

Democracy is messy

I wonder what the total cost of 'bringing Democracy' to Iraq will be, in lives and money, by the time it's all over?

They are worse off now regarding freedom than they were before we brought them 'democracy'. Women especially have lost so much due to our bringing them democracy.

[AdHocSolver]

4. We should first bring democracy to the U.S. before trying to export it. nt

[Red Crow]

6. The total cost....................

cannot be calculated when you factor in the loss of innocent human life.The unbelievable human suffering it has caused both to Americans and Iraqis.Shame! Shame!

[iandhr]

5. So glad we brought them democracy.

[may3rd]

7. That didn't take long for Maliki to put on the iron gloves after we decalred victory and beat feet

outta there;

Iraqi PM ‘cracks down’ on media



...Iraqi regulatory body has ordered the closure of 44 media outlets in the country including the BBC and Voice of America...
....
Other organizations targeted for shutdown include privately-owned local TV channels Sharqiya and Baghdadia, as well as U.S.-financed Radio Sawa



http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/iraqi-pm-cracks-down-on-media.aspx?pageID=238&nID=23992&NewsCatID=352