ACCOUNTABILITY TIME

Tim Karr of Free Press calls on all of us to support an effort to prosecute propaganda crimes. “We’ve lined up some allies in Congress to push for White House prosecution on propaganda crimes. We need to get the word out on this initiative:”
Prosecute White House Propaganda Crimes
http://mediacitizen.blogspot.com/2005/10/prosecute-white-house-propaganda.html

JOURNALIST KILLING JUSTIFIED

“Yup, we did it, and we were right to do so,” says the U.S. military:

BAGHDAD — A military investigation of the shooting death of a Knight Ridder Iraqi correspondent has confirmed that he was killed by an American soldier and left dead in his car.

The 3rd Infantry Division’s report concluded that the June 24 shooting of Yasser Salihee was justified because the soldiers thought that Salihee could have been a suicide bomber or attempting to run them over
as he approached an intersection.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/12794521.htm

REPORTERS BEHIND BARS

From Al Arabiya in Dubai comes this statement:

Al Arabiya New Channel views with mounting concern the continued captivity of its Baghdad reporter Majed Hamid by the U.S. forces in Iraq. Majed, who was arrested more than 3 weeks ago, is the youngest Iraqi TV journalist in U.S. custody in his country.

Al Arabiya is also distressed by the fact that the U.S. military authority in Iraq is placing itself in direct conflict with international laws and regulations pertaining to the detaining of journalists for prolonged periods without being officially charged, and denying them legal counsel. Against the clearly expressed wishes and demands of various internationally renowned media freedom groups, such as IFJ, CPJ and Reporters Without borders, Majed Hameed has been unable so far to meet with family members, colleagues or representatives of officially recognized media groups in Iraq.

Records show that the U.S. military authorities in Iraq have over the past few years detained several journalists for periods approaching months only to release them without charge.

SAVE MIDDLE EAST INTERNATIONAL

A friend at the BBC informs us:

One of the best fortnightly magazines about the Middle East, London-based Middle East International (MEI), is set to go down the pan, because of financial problems. This morning, 4 October, I got a letter from editor Steve Sherman (I’ve been a contributor to MEI since the early 90s). Sherman wrote:

“Due to a rapid deterioration in our fortunes of late, we are faced with imminent closure. As things now stand, we will produce just two more issues.

“We have simply run out of money. Subscriber numbers are dwindling and we are left with no money to “invest in marketing to try and boost circulation.”

“In my view, MEI is the best source of Middle East analysis published in the UK. Launched in 1971, its regular contributors include journos who string or work for many UK and US quality broadsheets, The Economist, the BBC, etc. as well as Mid East heavies like Patrick Seale, George Joffe etc.

“It will be a great pity if this mag closes. I think a short report on your website might spark interest from would-be supporters, donors etc. You can reach Steve Sherman directly on + 44 207 832 1330 or via CAABU -– Council for Advancement of Arab-British Understanding -– + 44 207 832 1310.”

WIRING THE GULF COAST

AP reports:

Hours after Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast and knocked out telecommunications across much of the region, Mac Dearman visited shelters in northern Louisiana to connect telephones.

Dearman doesn’t work for a phone company.

He owns a local wireless Internet service provider, and the gear he set up doesn’t need a traditional phone network. It carries calls — as well e-mail and other data — over the Internet.

“In the first 24 hours after we plugged the phones in, there were 11 family members reunited,'’ he said. “We got a hug every time we went into a shelter to make sure things are up and running all right.'’

Just as Katrina proved the vulnerability of traditional telephone and cellular networks, it also showed how Internet-based technologies could be used to speedily re-establish links with the outside world.

Dearman was not alone. Teams from large companies, private groups and the military converged on the Gulf Coast in ad hoc fashion to set up wireless networks, all the while battling bureaucracies that didn’t seem to understand the agility and flexibility of the technologies being marshaled.