Media Snubbed by IECI

I was wondering why there are not more pictures on TV this morning showing the reported crowds outside the polling places in Iraq. Almost all you see is occasional footage of some VIP or unidentified person folding the giant ballot in half so that it will fit in the big plastic Rubbermaid “ballot box.”

I though about the situation a little bit and here is what I have decided.

The main reason for the limited coverage is that most of the reporters and news crews are too chicken shit scared to stand around outside the polling places because of the obvious threat of attack. They are content to sit in the Baghdad Hilton and report second hand news from their “trusted sources.”

With rare exception, this is the way that the news talking heads have reported most of the news to date anyway. You know the script…a) wait for a nearby bombing…b) dash out from your hotel room with a microphone and camera…c) deliver a hand wringing commentary with the rising plume of smoke in the background over your left or right shoulder...d) you get extra credit if there is a school or mosque in the footage. Oh the humanity!!

I am SO tired of those type reports!

The guys over at The Friends of Democracy give us all some additional insight. It seems that the Independent Election Comission of Iraq changed the rules at the last minute regarding the credentials required of reporters to gain access INSIDE the polling places.

“The IECI in Al Samawa reaffirmed its interdiction to allow newsmen to enter voting centers except by a special permit form the IECI in Baghdad. The IECI had asked newsmen last week to present special documents with photos and introduction letters from their organism."

"However it changed its decision one day before elections and admitted only those who had permits from Baghdad. The IECI in Al Samawa has had problems in its work because of non cooperation by the media institutions.”

Hummmhh…NON COOPERATION BY THE MEDIA INSTITUTIONS?

Well, I wonder what that means?

Could it be that the Iraqis are on to the tactics of the leftist American and World media?

Could it be that the Iraqis are tired of the endless negative reporting about the conditions in Iraq in general and the situation surrounding the elections?

Could it be that the Iraqis do not want the media filming detailed video of voters that could be used tomorrow or next week by Al Qaeda to target people that voted?

You're damn right that it COULD BE….

Good job IECI...and...

Good luck Iraq!!


Update: January 30, 2005 at 7:00 am

After further thought, there is one more "Could it be that"...

Could it be that the IECI saw the way our domestic media handled their so-called "exit polling" here in the US last November?

Is there any wonder that they wouldn't want all but a select few reporters to stay miles away from their first democratic voting process to be held in the last 50 years?

Two hours until the polls close...Good Luck Iraq