I know they are private interests (ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and so on) but I keep seeing Iraqi hostages on television and on their websites. As of this hour, the front page of CNN.com has a picture of a number of Iraqi prisoners being forced to lie on the ground with their hands tied behind their back. The US was outraged when we saw just a few US prisoners on television.
So what is the issue? A few I can think of.
1. American news media are private interests that can show what they want? (Weak argument. In that event, we can pass laws against it)
2. They are not regularly clothed military members and thus not covered by Geneva protocols. (I have no idea if this is true or not as per the Geneva conventions or whether
American media outlets have only shown "irregulars")
3. There is no war. There is no Iraqi military. All activities in Iraq are now criminal actions and thus not covered (this doesn't explain earlier showings of Iraqi prisoners by news outlets)
What else?
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