Baghdad: journalists no longer monitored

[Thumbo]

Just reported on BBC world service: the Iraqi minders who have been accompanying journalists in Baghdad all failed to turn up for work this morning.

[MRC_Hans]

That could be good news or bad news......:eek:

Hans

[Thumbo]

Good, I think. The Baghdad BBC guy said (from my unreliable memory) he thought they'd probably seen the way the things were going and decided to save their own skins.

When the low level officials start running it bodes well for the end of the war being close.

In a curious contrast, the Baghdad based journalist said he could talk freely, but a subsequent report from one of the embedded journalists had a disclaimer that what he could say was restricted :)

[MRC_Hans]

Hopefully, you are right. That was my first thought too. But it could also mean that they were being taken out of the way because somebody was planning something nasty. Would be a giveaway, though.

Hans

[Thumbo]

Uck. I hadn't thought of that.

Edited to add:

After thought, no I don't think that could be the case, for two reasons. First, the Iraq regime clearly doesn't care about wasting life, so wouldn't worry about killing a load of their own minders for the sake of maintaining security. Second, the regime wouldn't hit the western journalists (except perhaps in desparation), as they need them to get their point of view out.

[MRC_Hans]

Your logic is sound, for sure. But we are dealing with mad dogs here .......

Well, time will surely show. Obviously, the regime must be on its last legs.

Hans

[richardm]

From what I've just seen on the news, the denizens of Iraq appear to have decided that the game is up. Hopefully the minders are off looting in the Shia district with the rest of them.

Jubilation and looting in Iraq (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2930913.stm)

[asi_gonia]

They probably didn't show up because they knew that the Palestine Hotel, where most foreign journalists was about to be bombed

http://argument.independent.co.uk/commentators/story.jsp?story=395412

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=focusIraqNews&storyID=2531462&fromEmail=true

From what was reported here last night, a couple of American journalists staying at the same hotel were warned early morning to get out of the Palestine Hotel.

And one last thing, Go to www.antiwar.com and look at the picture of the limbness child.........thank you George W and the rest of the neo-Cons for showing us the way to democracy. Thanking the American public for allowing this hick to govern.

It's great to live in a "comfort zone" uh ??

[richardm]

The Palestine Hotel hasn't been bombed though, has it? One shell from one tank - and that was yesterday.

And while I can see that you're enjoying showing us pictures of maimed children, I'd like to draw your attention to current events, which have Iraqi citizens out on the streets having a marvellous time.

While it's hard on the journalists who were injured or killed in the hotel, and it's hard on the civilians who have been and will no doubt continue to be injured or killed, there is a bigger picture which I suggest you try to see.

[LTC8K6]

http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,932479,00.html

Well, if you insert yourself in the middle of a full out battle, why should anyone have much sympathy if you get injured? Isn't that the risk you volunteered to take?

It's fine if thats what you wish to do to get your shots and increase your ratings and such, that's what reporters do, but I find it hard to dredge up sympathy for them.

I am amazed that more of them weren't killed in all of the firefights in Iraq.