August 15, 2004

Iraqi government evicts reporters from Najaf as fighting resumes

Iraqi police ordered all journalists to leave the holy city of Najaf on Sunday, just as a new U.S. offensive against militants hiding out in a revered shrine there began.
[...]
Though the order did not spell out a punishment for those who did not comply, the police who delivered it said any reporters remaining would be arrested, according to journalists at the hotel. The police said any cameras and cellular phones they saw would be confiscated. In response to the threat, many journalists left the city.
[Most wise!--Jen]

The order would mean that the only news coverage of the ongoing violence in Najaf, one of the most revered cities to Shiite Muslims, would be provided by reporters embedded with the U.S. military.

The order also said that all cars coming into the city would be searched and all protesters must leave the city.

Earlier Sunday, police had advised reporters to leave Najaf, saying there was rumor of a potential car bombing targeting journalists. When most reporters stayed, the police returned with the order to leave.

Now maybe our guys will get somewhere!
If the pro-Sadr Leftist journos have to leave and there won't be cameras for the "protesters" to play to, the Marines ought to be able to wrap this insurgency up pretty quickly.
This Iraqi provisional government is pretty sharp and being Arab Muslims themselves, they know only too well that working the media is as much a tactical weapon in this war as bullets and bombs, so they've wisely chosen to disarm that weapon.
Iraq may indeed be on the road to secular democracy and when the smoke clears, they can let the 4th Estate (and the 5th column!) have all the freedom they want!