Enemies with guns and enemies with cameras

Roger L. Simon blasts the attempt by the AP "Director of Media Relations" to justify their publicity activity for terrorists in Iraq. AP has essentially admitted that they were tipped off that something was going to happen in the shooting I mentioned a few days ago, but they felt no regret in acting as a tool of terror because the 'insurgents want their stories told as much as other people'.

What Stokes sees to be saying in his gnomic fashion is that because the "Insurgents" seek to have their stories told, the Associated Press is obligated to do so. It sounds as if the "Insurgents" were calling a press conference to express their campaign positions. But they weren't. What they were doing was brutally murdering innocent people in the street and they wanted the press there to record the event. The Associated Press, like good poodles of fascism, came along for that most necessary of tasks for terrorists in assymetrical war--publicity.

Stokes has the temerity to describe this as the "Insurgents" being "willing to let Iraqi photographers take their pictures." But we all know this is shameful lie because the AP itself has acknowledged the "Insurgents" called the AP photographer to invite him to a "demonstration." Of course these photographers "do not have to" swear allegiance to the "Insurgents" (Stokes' words here. He should do a better job.) He also assures us they are not "embedded" with the fascists. I agree with Hindrocket on that one. In the Post-Rather world, I reserve judgment. It is now incumbent on the media to prove their honesty. We can no longer take them at their word--and all we have now is the "word" of a "director of media relations." (How insulting, when you think about it? Where are the editors in charge of Iraq?)

Unless and until, the AP makes a full disclosure of their methods in this case, including the identities of their photographers, I will continue to regard their behavior as, in Orwell's words, "objectively pro-fascist."

Leni Riefenstahl was roundly (and rightly) condemned for glorifying the Third Reich. Her work sent their carefully crafted message all over the world. How is what this news service is doing any different?

Powerline and Belmont Club have more on this story.

Posted by Bruce Gottfred at December 25, 2004 09:58 PM | TrackBack