Tragic Comedy of Iraqi Shoes: Update on Muntazar al-Zaidi

These may be the most horribly comic sentences I have read in 2008. From The Times of London yesterday:

All those in the Arab world who hailed al-Zaidi's actions should ask themselves what would happen in their own countries if a local journalist tried to hurl insults at President Mubarak of Egypt or President Assad of Syria....Iraq is far from perfect, but at least its people have learnt to enjoy freedom of expression.

Muntazar al-Zaidi enjoyed his freedom of expression by taking a beating from Iraqi security men. He may have broken ribs, a broken arm, and/or a broken hand. He has appeared in court to plead guilty to "aggression against a president". According to a spokesman for the Iraqi Judicial Council, he could be sentenced to up to 15 years in jail.

This, however, can be celebrated as an American- and British-bequeathed freedom to Iraq. After all, as Christopher Howse of The Daily Telegraph assures, "Though I do not envy [al-Zaidi] his time in an Iraqi jail, at least he has not been despatched as he would have been under Saddam."

Thank goodness for Patrick Cockburn of The Independent, who is almost the only American or British journalist I read this morning to set out the full story. The Times does have a follow-up story on its "freedom of expression", although somewhat bizarrely its reporter assures that al-Zaidi was "carried away by prime ministerial guards [with] no sign of excessive violence". (The Guardian has an opinion piece by Samir Ramadani praising al-Zaidi but otherwise ignores the story today.)

In the US, The New York Times has a lengthy article, but it plays down the possible jail time --- no more than seven years and as little as 12 months --- and the possibility of al-Zaidi's injuries. And in The Washington Post?

Nothing. Not a word.

Update: Pakistan and Al Qa'eda --- How Not to Cover the News

Only a couple of hours ago I blogged on the UN report warning of the extended reach of the Pakistani group Lashkar-e-Taiba and wrote, "The misleading read of this report would be that LeT is now a branch of Al Qaeda."

Step up, Daily Telegraph, which begins its story:

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the [United States] joint chiefs of staff, said members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and other Pakistan groups were able to operate at a much higher level.

Did Trees Have to Die for This Story?: Fat Oprah

First task for the Obama Administration: Bring Back Skinny Oprah....

Full credit for this exclusive to The Daily Telegraph ("Oprah Winfrey admits her weight has shot up to 200 pounds") and The Times of London ("Yo-yo Oprah Winfrey weighs in at hefty 14 stone")

Obama and the Media

Just back from a lively panel, held at the US Embassy in Dublin, on the media's relationship with and coverage of Barack Obama during the campaign. Other panellists were Mark Little and Ryan Tubridy of RTE, Conor O'Clery of The Irish Times, and Mary Jordan of The Washington Post.

Unfortunately, Embassy restrictions prevented recording of the panel, as it was fascinating to hear some of the best journalists in the US and Europe talk about the phenomenon of Obama. I think it's fair to say that the campaign had left all of them with high hopes, which made it all the more difficult for me to strike the discordant note of caution over what the new Administration might and might not do.

Torture: When TV and Politics Walk Hand-in-Hand

Jane Mayer, who quite clearly is an interfering liberal, has written several articles and a book on the Bush Administration's "coercive interrogation" programmes. Now she's had the gall to take on "24", the television series that put torture in our living rooms:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTzVNtfknPQ&feature=related[/youtube]

Fortunately for all of us good Americans, Jack Bauer is on hand to slap her down:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRVnRNngelU[/youtube]