Al-Jazeera bars all reports from Baghdad

[Skunk]

I don't see Al-Jazeera bringing them food or water...putting their power back on...helping them amid conflict with the republican guard to restore dignity to their lives.

True - but as the Red Cross witnesses confirmed, it was the US/UK bombing that cut of the powers supplies - and thus the water.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ir.../warnews26.jsp

Likewise, the very efficient oil for food program supplied the city will all the food it needed and Iraq even released additional rations to its citizens in order for them to create their own stockpile during the build-up to the war.
And it is the war and fighting which is preventing further food from getting to the populace.

That the allies are making amends is admirable, but should be placed in context, as indeed should their delivery of Red Crescent aid and food aid bequeathed by Kuwait - but not paid for by the US/UK.

[ 04-05-2003, 11:23 AM: Message edited by: Skunk ]

[Malthaussen]

In response to what Ronn_Bman said above, I'll offer this response: I agree wholeheartedly that showing explicit footage of accident victims, homicide victims, and other random violence/fatal misfortune is sensationalism in very bad taste indeed. I do not, however, wholeheartedly agree with the comparison to images of the "price of war." War, you see, is an act of choice, undertaken by a nation's government and implemented by a nation's people -- possibly you or me. Some understanding that it is not a sporting event and has real, painful consequences might, ideally, cause enough disgust with the action that it would be generate enough protest to make undertaking it a politically risky business. This is, of course, pie-in-the-sky idealism, but you can hardly blame the newsies for trying -- if, indeed, that is what motivates them.

Regrettably, much of what I have seen and heard throughout several televised wars dating back to Vietnam suggests that American viewers in particular, and particularly in the recent wars where our casualties have been negligable (except to the families and loved ones of the casualties)see the television wars as the best thing since Duke Nukem -- all the better, perhaps, because of the explicit blood and gore. After all, both WWI and WWII generated some horrible images that have been forever preserved in photographs -- yet war remains man's favorite pasttime, edging out football by a fairish bit.

-- Mal

[ 04-05-2003, 05:09 PM: Message edited by: Malthaussen ]

Originally posted by Skunk: Quote: I don't see Al-Jazeera bringing them food or water...putting their power back on...helping them amid conflict with the republican guard to restore dignity to their lives.

True - but as the Red Cross witnesses confirmed, it was the US/UK bombing that cut of the powers supplies - and thus the water.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ir.../warnews26.jsp

Likewise, the very efficient oil for food program supplied the city will all the food it needed and Iraq even released additional rations to its citizens in order for them to create their own stockpile during the build-up to the war.
And it is the war and fighting which is preventing further food from getting to the populace.

That the allies are making amends is admirable, but should be placed in context, as indeed should their delivery of Red Crescent aid and food aid bequeathed by Kuwait - but not paid for by the US/UK.[/QUOTE]I'm sorry but that article does not claim to have witnesses to the destruction of the power in Basra and even states

There has been recrimination over who was responsible for the damage, after Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, denied that American and British bombing had been aimed at the water supply. He claimed the damage could have been an act of Iraqi sabotage.

Either way, the damage is being repaired, (with the help of British forces I might add who have gained control of the food for oil warehouses), the people are getting food and water (with thanks to Kuwait [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] and the coalition ), and life is going to be better for these people without the republican guard legally terrorizing them for the rest of their lives.

Did you notice that the article ended with a description of one of the pictures aired over Al-Jazeera? Even they called it "harrowing"