The Common Ills: We know where the protests are, where are the reporters?

Friday, November 08, 2013

We know where the protests are, where are the reporters?

That's the sit-in in Falluja today. Iraqi Spring MC posted the photo.

Where's the media?

I don't mean the Iraqi media, they're targeted enough and, even so, they will still manage over the next 48 hours to report on the protests.

I mean the western media.

The AFPs, for example, and the others who went goo-goo-gaa-gaa over Nouri's visit. But though they're in Iraq, they don't cover the protests -- they don't cover the ongoing protests.

Ongoing?

Since December 21st. It's almost eleven months straight of protests.

You'd think the western press would have something to show for it. Unless you're the Guardian, you really have nothing to show for it.

B-b-but I mentioned "ongoing protests" in a single sentence of a 750 sentence article!

Oh, what a proud moment that must have been for you. Next up, no doubt, you'll also learn how to wipe yourself while using the toilet.

The immaturity of the western press is matched by their whorish nature.

You're so very pleased to talk about Sunnis attacking or Sunnis in al Qaeda in Mesopotamia. But you're not all concerned with the Sunnis who protest.

Gee, maybe you need to take a look at your responsibility for the violence in Iraq.

You have an aggrieved population protesting -- for 11 months -- and you're not covering the protests and you're not interviewing the protesters.

The protests have been peaceful on the protesters' side (Nouri's forces have attacked the protesters, not the other way around).

But you want see the streets of Iraq bleed? You keep rendering invisible the people trying to be heard through peaceful means.

It's so easy to criticize from the safety of the US!

Setting aside the fact you're being paid to do a job, there's also two words for you: Feature article.

If you're too scared or intimidated to go to the protests themselves, you can still interview the protesters after the protests. An hour after, the next day, what have you.

Stop pretending you have an excuse for not covering the protests.

There are no excuses for it. They've been going on for almost eleven months. Maybe before they hit the one-year mark, you might want to try reporting on them.

Protests also took place today in Baquba, in Tikrit, in Rawa, in Baiji, in Samarra, and in Jalawla.

National Iraqi News Agency reports two Baghdad bombings claimed 3 lives and left seven people injured, a Karmah sticky bombing claimed the life of 1 Sahwa and left another person injured, an Alaaskari armed attack left 1 police officer dead and another injured, and early this morning an armed attack in Baquba left 1 person dead and a police member injured. World Bulletin reports a Baghdad bombing has left 19 Iraqi soldiers dead and twenty-three injured.

In a text and video report, RT notes, "With over 7,000 civilian casualties so far, 2013 has already become the deadliest year in Iraq since 2008. In its new project, a timeline of the violence, RT brings the sad record into the spotlight." Through yesterday, Iraq Body Count notes 165 violent deaths so far this month. Their count for the year so far is 7,500. Still on violence, World Bulletin notes, "The leader of Al-Qaeda Ayman Zawahiri has announced that the rebel group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) will be dissolved, leaving only the Nusra Front to carry out its operations."

The following community sites -- plus Jody Watley, Antiwar.com, Tavis Smiley, Pacifica Evening News, Adam Kokesh and Ms. magazine's blog -- updated last night and this morning: