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Matt Cardy / Getty Images, file
BBC journalist Huw Edwards faces the camera as soldiers march past prior to a memorial service at Basra International Airport on April 30, 2009.
BAGHDAD - An Iraqi regulatory body has ordered the closure of 44 media outlets in the country including the BBC and Voice of America in a dispute over broadcast licenses, sources with knowledge of the order said on Sunday. However, no action was immediately taken.
Other organizations targeted for shutdown include privately-owned local TV channels Sharqiya and Baghdadia as well as U.S.-financed Radio Sawa.
A senior source at the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), the body responsible for the order, said the move had nothing to do with the way the outlets had reported on sectarian conflict in the country, as some reports have suggested.
US forces formally ended their nine-year war in Iraq with a low-key flag ceremony in Baghdad on Thursday. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
"The CMC sent such a letter warning them that they're going to shut down their services because they didn't pay (their license fees)," a senior source at the CMC told Reuters.
At least 70 killed during religious festival as bombers target Iraq pilgrims, cops
The regulator had passed its order to the Baghdad operations command, the source added, referring to the local law enforcement forces who would carry out the closures.
"This is totally wrong and unwise as it comes at a time when the country is plunged into political uncertainty," Ziyad al-Aajely, head of the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory, said.
Saddam's Iraq is gone, but in its place is a state with close ties to one of America's biggest and most unpredictable enemies: Iran. NBC's Richard Engel has been covering the war from the start, and went back for this historic week to take a closer look at the Iran connection.
"What we are confident of is that the decision was not political, but its negative implications will definitely have political implications on the government and harm the reputation of Iraq as a free country," he added.
'Guiding and financing terrorist attacks': Interpol issues alert for Iraq's vice president
In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, he called the move "a government message to the media outlets that if you are not with us, then you are against us."
'Technicalities'
The BBC said it was negotiating the renewal of its license with the Iraqi authorities.
"The delay is due to technicalities," it said in a statement. "The BBC's journalists in Baghdad are not currently experiencing any issues reporting from the country, and it is important that the BBC and other international news organizations are able to operate freely and bring independent and impartial news to audiences in Iraq and the wider region."
Saddam regime's fugitive 'king of clubs' appears in new video?
Some of the outlets on the list no longer operate bureaux in Iraq.
However, Radio Sawa, the U.S.-funded station operated by Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., told The Associated Press that it does have a license despite being on the shutdown list.
US Embassy in Iraq facing cuts amid ongoing violence
"We were surprised to see our radio station on the list because we think that we work in accordance with all Iraqi laws," Sawa deputy director Salah Nasrawi said according to the AP. He added that "bureaucracy and the delays in the government offices might be behind this."
When the U.S. military withdraws from Iraq, thousands of Americans will remain. The United States' largest embassy is in Baghdad and there are two huge consulates in the region too. Ambassador Jim Jeffrey compared the size of the U.S. Embassy and diplomatic efforts to when he was in Saigon in 1973. Ted Koppel reports.
Iraq's main political factions have been locked in a crisis since December, with opponents of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki accusing the Shiite leader of trying to consolidate power at their expense.
Maliki is trying to fend off attempts by Sunni, Kurd and some Shiite rivals to organize a vote of no-confidence against him.
Reuters and msnbc.com staff contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
Slowly the Iraqi "government" will take more and more control over what is broadcast and what is allowed untill it returns to the same dictatorship it was before. In 5-10 years it will again be another middle east "state" that stands againt the western world with everything they say and do.
Having someone else do your thinking for you is addictive. Submitting to Religion is addictive.
What I always find funny is the educated Arabs that emigrate to the West. I say we send all Arabs back to their "democratic countries" and let them rebuild in the way that they like...a Western Democratic way. It is your country, go home and fix it.
BUT...maybe it is the will of Allah that your people remain ignorant, poor and under a dictatorship. Maybe you should worship a tree or something else. It doesn't seem to me that Allah cares about the Middle East.
The Bush/Cheney NeoCon Crusade into the ME has proved to be the most costly FIASCO in History. And little Shrub told us History will be the Judge of his Presidency. FAILURE
Although he and the Dick got HUGE $$$$ for BIG OIL
and if the Republicans are not BANISHED in November, the wheels of the Country will seize up and rust from the inaction of childish Politicians that have been playing their little games with the directive from their Leadership to make Obama a one term President.
@about that -- the democrats have shown to be no better than republicans in the middle east. Obama could have pulled us out a long time ago and a lot more quickly, but we STILL spend shocking amounts of money in that barren desert and its medieval (or mid-evil) people. You should point your finger at ALL politicians, maybe with the exception of libertarians.
In view of this action can ANYONE tell me what in hell we sacrificed thousands of our men and women fighting a war in Iraq for? Anyone with 1/2 a brain knew this was what was going to happen and told the BushyDickAdmin. Everyone of our military KIA and WIA in Iraq paid the price for nothing, what a freaking waste.
You can not "export" democracy when you don't have it yourself, You can't export freedom if you don't have it yourself. You sure as hell can not export democracy to a culture that has never known anything remotely like self government in the entire human history. Those congenital idiots in the BushyDick that started this fiasco in Iraq are no better than those sitting in the dock at Nuremberg from 1945 to 1947.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him understand.
Sounds to me that they are learning how to use Democracy very well. How Republican of them. The Bush Administration set the financing up to run for years and is non-stoppable. We can't do a thing to stop this flow of cash. How Republican of us. This annual drain on our Economy set up by the Bush Administration will go on for years. Bush and Cheney are still lining thier pockets from this.
6dogs
You need to get some facts, George Soros the head of meveon.org, media matters and other left wing organization purchase more than 60 millions dollars in stock from Halliburton, this company is still on business with this administration.
Democrats are so smart that continue helping the Arab Spring funnelling millions of tax-dollars to terrorist organization like Islamic Brotherhood, this is stupid.. We must understand for Muslims Government and Religion are bonded, and because for them we are the infidels, we are the enemy, the "good " Muslim is the one that is less religious and more secular and the only way to defend ours elf is pushing for more secularism. However Obama and his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are giving more power to religious groups, Egypt will soon turn their back and join Iran in their Religious Crusade against the West , Lybia and Syria will do the same.
Was there ever any doubt?
This is what happens when the USA continually fights wars but doesn't know how to win them anymore. You DON'T win wars by nation-buiilding and talking, yoiu win them by totally annihilating everyone that opposes you, military and civilian alike, occupying the real estate until most protagonists of the war are dead or dying, and THEN leaving. Our stupidity, the timidity of the American people, and the resolve of our enemies will continue to erode our influence in the world until we get our collective heads out of our butts and realize their are more important things than civil unions or green cars. I bet the Iraqis didn't shut down Al Jazeera.
All these soldiers killed, and for what? Nothing. George Gush and Cheney should be hanged for this
I agree with you but one thing has not been said, within 5 years or less iran will control iraq when we are totally out of their. If egypt goes the way I believe it will, it along with syria, iraq, lebanon and the gaza strip will all be under control of iran and the sheet heads which will be as adolf had wanted during the second world war. Then the west will have a major problem unless we develop a source to run our cars/homes/factories.
...and our brave soldiers died for what Mr Obama? Like it or not you are wasting their lives given your decisions...
America went into Iraq and cleaned out a horrible, oppressive government and the peoples found the leadership guilty of heinous crimes. America gave the people a voice. Obama decides to walk away and the thugs are climbing back in power. So the policy is let the Syria's happen. Look the other way...kinda like Obama is looking the other way on the unemployed in the US.
I think you all have missed the point. The mission of creating democracy was successful. They are following the democratic model to the t, you want to do business here, you pay or face the consequences. I guess the next thing we will be hearing is how the evil corporations moved away and took all the jobs with them.
About that
I guess you are democrat.
Remember both parties approved both wars. I was in college when the First Gulf war occurred. We all knew it was about oil and not about human rights. But both parties approved both wars because both parties knew how much oil is worth to the United States. We defended Saudi Arabia and Kwait (Both treat women like second class citizens) against Iraqi (who treated women far better, though Saddam and his sons were sadistic) Our Side should have been NO SIDE.
Remember Both Parties Approved Both Wars. To blame everything on both Bushes is totally wrong. The Democrats deserve half of the Blame.
Not bothering to read the article is a demonstration of pure stupidity. If people really had bothered to read the thing instead of merely the headline then most of the anti government, anti politician, anti religion stupidity may have been avoided. I say 'may' because some people don't have a life.
Control of the press is the first step of every dictator.
Respondents on NewsVine are talking about this in American terms. What is really happening is that Sittie-controlled Iraq is moving ever closer to Shiite Iran. Stopping sources of information that might undermine this is a central theme of the Maliki "administration." There is virtually zero chance that Kurds, Suniis, and secular Iraqis will be able to form a coalition that can stop this process. The Shiites have the military and the militias and the opposition has zilch, thanks to American military support for the Shiites. The Bush administration gave most of Iraq and its oil to Iran in the long run and nothing is going to change that.
Paul, Paul , Paul
You must be an OWS protester, it is true that money and power go together, just looking Obama and his fund raising pals from, Hollywood, Wall Street, big Pharma and Green Energy moguls, but in the middle East , election is influenced by religion. Bush initiate the Democracy in Irak but it turn into a religious war betwen Shiites and Sunnis, in Iran they have Democracy with an Elected leader , but is the Ayatolha who rule the country, in Egypt the Islamic Brotherhood won the election, their Constitution are also an extend of the Koran. This is why we never will be welcome in the majority Middle East Countries, we are the infidels, the siners, the ones that poison their culture with western values. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, equality, woman rights, hiuman rights.
Get Real...
Bush and Cheney started these wars, not Obama.
Obama 2012
Taking charge of the propaganda machine. And who might profit by those potential ratings.
"In view of this action can ANYONE tell me what in hell we sacrificed thousands of our men and women fighting a war in Iraq for?"
WMD?
Did anyone see the footage from when the U.S. troops were in a convoy to the airstrip to leave Iraq? There certainly was no ticker tape parade. The Iraqis just stared at our troops with hatred in their eyes. They will never support us or any other western culture.
If Cuba had oil, Castro would have been dead 20 years ago.
you cant change a culture that does not want to be changed. you cannont force democracy onto others unless they stand up and fight for it themselves. these facts have been proven again and again through out history. we need to just stay out of these countries let them take care of their selves. when a country is a threat to ours thru terrorism then simply dont let people of those countries into the US period. lets face it profiling does work and its cheaper then a war.
Arieus... your point is totally lost and a typical rationalization of his lack of policy.
Obama inherited it and his looking the other way is wasting the position he inherited (whether you agree or not with how it was handed to him) - he had every opportunity to enable a strong democracy and he has failed.
The larger point is he has lost ground and continues to do so around the world. The Russians continue to thumb their noses at a free world in Iran and now Syria. China manipulates us at will on the world market. Latin America sends us their best and brightest...illegally.
Who cares? We wasted lives, tremendous treasure, and any remnant of goodwill with that smoke and mirrors fraudulent war that just distracted attention away from the task of getting Bin Laden. We left them with essentially a "whipped cream on a turd" situation. But it is time to let them sort it out.
All I want to know is who is paying for it?
it was the republicans who lied about w.m.d's, or did you forget that so soon?
If you do not pay your FCC license fee in the good ole' USA you get shut down also.
"The delay is due to technicalities," it said in a statement. "The BBC's journalists in Baghdad are not currently experiencing any issues reporting from the country, and it is important that the BBC and other international news organizations are able to operate freely and bring independent and impartial news to audiences in Iraq and the wider region."
That seems to be the rule for everyone but Israel where they do not allow journalists access and have shot several with their Snipers. What is Israel trying to hide or suppress? When it comes to Israel it is always do as I say, not as I do. Probably why everyone hates us in the USA now because we support Israel blindly.
News restrictions are generally indicative of larger constraints coming.
READ the FRICKIN article.
News restrictions in Iraq are generally indicative of larger paychecks coming for those who license radio stations.
Thanks Five Deferment Dick, for bringing democracy to Iraq! Good to know 4000+ Americans and 100K+ Iraqis did not die in vain.
Better thank Big Ears too. He could have issued one of those "executive" orders and got every last American out of there three years ago.
I personally would like to congradulate the Cheneys on the marriage of their daughter to her long-tiime galpal. I am sure they can twist this to make the Tea Party proud.
Tony, you must have forgotten that before leaving office, George Bush signed a withdrawal agreement with Iraq that said we would be out of that god-forsaken hole based on a specific timeline and Obama inherited that agreement.
That would be his role as Commander In Chief.
Bush's revenge and Cheney's wallet. A very sad state, indeed, that we will pay for, for decades.
For democrats Bush is still in the White House, and this incoming November election is Bush vs Obama , Democrats live in denial.
President Bush must still be in the White House. There hasn't been any other president there for three and a half years now!
No President should sign a pull-out agreement that binds the next President - which is exactly what George Bush did when he signed the withdrawal agreement with Iraq.
oskar you're an i****t.
Somewhat of a double-edged sword. On one hand, if they don't want biased media (like we have in this country) that's one thing. I could agree with them on that, but, if they are doing it to only have news to one side, controlled by and for the government, ouch!
The majority of the people living there don't know any other form of government than what they've seen for decades. The country may end up with a worse dictator or form of government than they had before. People tend to be creatures of habit. They don't know a democracy and I bet if a poll was taken, 90% of them would be against it!
Shut down the voice of America ???? well maybe ( NO WE SHOULD) shut down the flow of money that the U>S> has sent to Iraq and is sending to Iraq if the want to fight over fees, we spent billions and this is how we are treated, shut em down, cut them off just like a rich uncle would.
American people can be so stupid. Anybody with 1/2 a brain knows it was all about the oil and controll.
Is Iraq now being destroyed by a simple shake-down scheme? How much does a license cost, anyway? Would 43 separate news entities not pay a reasonable licensing fee? (Note at least one says it HAS paid it.) On the other hand, would a cohesive government allow some middling bureaucrat seeking his payoff to bring them to this very ugly appearance? News note to those responsible:it is too late to put the genie of free information flow back in the bottle. All that is left for government to do is not be seen trying to suppress it.
Perhaps investigative reporting could have answered such questions, instead of speculative rumors based on limited information?
The Genie of free imformation has been bought off by Lobbyist a long time ago.Sorry I can't vote you on that one.
They have a chance for a true democratic society, but they have to strive for it. A slave is someone who waits for someone else to free him.
This is a true statement and one that the Iraqi people should take heed to........their country is now theirs for the making thanks to the US Military machine. But now, no other government, army or intervention will make it more theirs than their own hard work. If they want the insurrgents out, then run them out. They must take ownership and responsibility for the freedom they were given, thanks to our Warfighters....HOOAH
Procrustes-2100316
Kinda like the libs waiting for someone else to work for the money to pay for their support?
@Tony in Wyo,
According to Moody's (definitely not a lib source), people in Wyoming receive about $1.48 in federal money for every dollar they contribute in taxes. As a liberal, I am sick and tired of supporting whiney deadbeat states like Wyoming that suck at the taxpayer teat. If we could get Texas, Arizona, Wyoming, and Alaska to leave the union then the budget would be automatically balanced. Texas, Arizona and Alaska puit Wyoming to shame as ststes "waiting for someone else to work for the money to pay for their support." Those three states all receive more than $2 for every $1 they contribute in federal taxes. This is true to a lesser degree of virtually all "red" states. I supposed they chose "red" as their color because they love communism.
False, Chris. Totally false, when taken PER CAPITA. Read this, by Ezra Klein of the Washington Post.
Hardly a right wing conservative.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/06/research_desk_responds_do_cons.html
NOW will you stop telling that tired lie?
@ chris..... Why dont you actually learn the facts!!! instead of being a left wing talking point that is wrong. Texas pays MORE then they get back from the federal government. quit spreading lies and maybe someone might take you erious at some point
Nice try Prag, but your link determines Red and Blue States by who they voted for Pres., not by who traditionally controls the State legislature and Governor ,,,,apples and oranges again for the neo-cons..........so sad.
Time to pull all Embassy Personal and Private Contractors and Money out of here , if the Seven Sisters Oil Companies want to stay then let them spend their Money and Blood !!! They will drop into civil war !!! And It is coming and all we are doing is stretching it out !!! If they become a threat the Persian Gulf is close enought for drones !!!
If you let Oil companies go in with their army, the war would have been over YEARS ago. They have no problem hiring mercs that would blow away ANYONE that stands in the way of "freedom".
If the US were to shut down 90% of the media in this country, there would be a lot less neurotics in America.
Fincher, that's called censorship, and as much as I would like to see the Fox Propanganda Network, and all other Murdock entities, gone forever, we just don't do that here, much. Go read the First Amendment to the Constitution 'til your lips get tired.
If I was running it, I'd have Fox Noise shut down for reasons other than censorship, and have someone else take over Murdoch's empire.
Everyone acts as if what Murdoch did was a huge surprise. Much like the lack of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, what he did was never any secret. In fact he was very vocal about wanting to take over the media landscape in the US and push the Reagan agenda.
So he did what he said. Oh my! I'm so shocked.
And of course we all know NBC never censored or edited anything for any reason, right?
Pot, kettle, black!
Libs!!
Libs just ccan't stand anyone disagreeing with them, after all they are always right.
A continuing demonstration of the truth to both the old adage "you can't fix stupid" and the corollary I just coined "you can't fix venality". The more American lives and money we pound down this rat hole, the more truth to this is demonstrated by both sides.
How to start a dictatorship:
Step 1: Control all the media
Step 2: Control all the 'free thinking' radicals (artists, musicians, teachers, etc.)
Step 3: Start changing the Constitution
No surprises here.
dman1115,
Are you talking about Iraq or about the US Congress ?
;)
READ the article. You obviously have not.
Finger,
I READ IT GENIUS........LEARN PROPER ETIQUETTE!
As you obviously have not............... The ;) symbol is a clue Sherlock. Snark, Sarcasm,Facetious, Mean Humor directed at both parties in Congress.
Dumb comment again and the same one you make rather often assuming that people don't read the article.
Jacka$$
No surprises here.
Makes me happy that I fought for "Iraqi Freedom."
You actually have to pull your head out of the dark place and do some reading.
Finger,
Excuse Me Your Keyboard Appears To Be Stuck On Stupid!
Save Yourself Quick...........Throw it in toilet and flush before its to late.
Sarge,
RE:"Makes me happy that I fought for "Iraqi Freedom."
I understand your regret. It is a shame that all of our soldiers sacrifice appears to have been for nothing.
I just want to say Thank You for all your hard work. Being a soldier has to be one of the most thankless jobs ever.
You didn't fight for the Iraqy Freedome sorry!
What? Fouad slow down, repeat slowly. What-is-it-you-are-trying-to-say?
Censorship...
It's what liberals want here in the States...
So what's the big deal...
"Where the Spirit of The Lord is, there is Liberty." 2 Corinthians 3:17 Where HE isn't welcomed, Liberty, in it's Truest sense, doesn't exist.
The World is on the verge of a depression (if we aren't all already there) and I don't think WWIII is very far off. The Middle East is just getting cranked up and I don't think anyone in our government knows whom are allies are, that is if we have any left!
The Muslim Brotherhood winning in Egypt is a clear sign of trouble ahead.
al-Maliki, another one of 'Bushes best". $10Mil US was pumped onto a bankrupt country to throw the first 'democratic' election to ensure the 'right man' won. Turns out the corrupt Florida vote was just a practice run.
hahahahahahahaha............
Another war, with another winner. this time Shia Iran. Oh we did win...if you're an American contracting company. Is there any doubt why Bush stays away from a mic? This was a blatant rouse to get even more money to certain construction corporations. And now the American government couldn't care less. Obama too!
But we empowered our perceived enemy Iran in the process. This is the number one reason why our officials should be tried in a court of law. How utterly irresponsible. Time to open talks with Iran and business too. This has to be the dumbest thing we did since Reagan was elected and blindly opened up globalization and investment banking to the four winds. Stupid stupid Americans..ignorant...and hardly want to learn the realities from the past 30 years, let alone a p!!ss poor policy since WW II.
What are you talking about we spend more than 10 million everyday in Iraq. Al-Maliki, Ali Baba, or Jubi-Con doesn't make any difference the place is doomed. Those Muslims still don't know who Allah is, so they'll just keep killing each other until they figure it out.
Maybe Haliburton will start a network there.
Winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.
And after all these years over there the truth comes out. We might have removed one tyrant, but another will pop up soon. In the old days, if you attacked and took over a country, it belonged to you, but today, we do what people ask and then after thousands die, we walk away, and we lost billions of our own money, and many soldiers and gained nothing, thats sad, and the country will be in chaos a week after we leave, as it has been for year after year before we got there.
I think it's all part of a long term plan that has been in the making for decades. Cause unrest and de-stabilize the Middle East. Civil wars within these countries can be better than an all-out attack, or so they thought. Once again, things not quite going as planned...haha! It's getting to where you can't keep up with whom is running what, not even with a scorecard! Then, end up with the World in a depression financially and you have a situation of "may God help us all". This is all one giant mess. "Order out of chaos", the demented thinking of those whom run World!
barney-312547
Actually for centuries.
Daniel 2: 44
I just dont see any real value in us airing things anymore. Hell look at the garbage we use to sell out wares here. White House has been very sucessful in removing networks with opposing views to theirs or atleast muffling reporting from there. Fox being about the only exception to this and I think only because of their huge following. We do not have any real journalists anymore. Everything is done in a manner to package it up to sell products. Look at the ladies on fox during the day. 8 hours of leg and cleavage shots for the most part.
PACK'M UP & MOVE'M OUT [from tv show Rawhide]
They evidently do not want anyone there - then let them go it alone.
Did not say bring them home, just move them to the other side of the borders and seal them in.
[note may have to include neighboring *stans also]
And if the get out of align, SPAM 'M
Literally !
Hormel could use some extra profits like haliburton got.
Think about the damage from a 1 pound can from 35,000 feet.
Nearly forgot, if the can does not bonk 'm on the head and take them out,
the rotting meat will since they will not touch pig.