Distorting Mirror
Best of the Web Today - May 4, 2004
By JAMES TARANTO
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"Controversy is growing over the authenticity of photographs that allegedly show British troops mistreating an Iraqi prisoner," CNN reports.<font size=3> "Some British military officials have cast doubt on the pictures--first published in the Daily Mirror newspaper--saying the clothing and equipment pictured is not currently troop issue."
The Daily Mirror is a left-wing tabloid that has previously printed ludicrous "exposés" of the U.S. detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, including one in March that quoted an erstwhile inmate's claim that, in the Mirror's words, "prostitutes were taken into the camp to degrade Muslim inmates."
The Sun, a right-wing tabloid, "ran a story on Monday quoting military experts saying the photographs were 'staged' fakes," CNN notes. The Guardian, a left-wing broadsheet, also identifies problems with five Mirror photos. The Mirror stands by its story, describing the criticism as "the whispering campaign and dodgy briefings." (By contrast, no one has challenged the veracity of photos showing American soldiers allegedly abusing Iraqi prisoners.)
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The free press is one of democracy's glories, and even in
wartime it's necessary to hold government accountable. But
if the Mirror does turn out to have fabricated the photos,
it will be the clearest evidence yet that some in the
press are abusing their power and consciously contributing
to enemy propaganda during wartime.
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Luke Baker, Money Grubber?
A Reuters dispatch by Luke Baker reports on the escape of Thomas Hamill, a Halliburton employee who'd been kidnapped by terrorists in Iraq:
Hamill, a dairy farmer who came to Iraq to make money and pay off debts at home, was kidnapped on April 9 after his convoy came under attack west of Baghdad.
So, he "came to Iraq to make money"? Why not just say he came to Iraq to work? Is Luke Baker of Reuters working free in Iraq? |
