France and Iraq: what's the deal?

[Frostbite]

We get TV5 over here in Quebec, and all they keep showing is families in Baghdad and the procedures they take to protect themselves about the "random, unprecise" US bombings. French reporters are actually inside Baghdad, on the street and inside people's homes. I don't suppose american or british reporters are allowed to make it this far, so I guess France truly is somewhat diplomatically "against" the US and Britain in this war.

[Drooper]

Originally posted by Frostbite
We get TV5 over here in Quebec, and all they keep showing is families in Baghdad and the procedures they take to protect themselves about the "random, unprecise" US bombings. French reporters are actually inside Baghdad, on the street and inside people's homes. I don't suppose american or british reporters are allowed to make it this far, so I guess France truly is somewhat diplomatically "against" the US and Britain in this war.

au contraire. There is ample reporting coming from reporters in Baghdad. The BBC has Rageh Omaar, Sky has David Chater.

They seem to be doing a good balanced job, given the constraints under which they are operating.

[Martin]

I don't know about American reporters, but British ones are certainly on the streets of Baghdad.

[no one in particular]

I do not know if he is still there of not, but Nate Thayer (http://www.icij.org/about/thayerbio.html) has been reporting for Slate (http://slate.msn.com/) magazine from Baghdad for a week now. He keeps telling Iraqis that he is from Germany! He has also done four excellent and very personal reports (http://slate.msn.com/id/2080432/entry/2080434/) so far, but he could already be gone.

Here, check out my copy/paste ability:


Every day since Mary and I arrived by road from Jordan, we have been threatened with expulsion. This morning, once again, we were ordered out.

"You have two choices—you can be a human shield or you can leave the country," said my government minder. He offered this without his usual smarmy smile.

"But what about my visa?" I asked.

"Your visa is now to heaven," he said, forcing a laugh.

[Frostbite]

Oh ok, my mistake.