No, we're wondering whatever happened to a working press? A functioning one?
One that didn't necessarily have scoops but did at least report news.
More and more, we're starting to wonder if the Tehran crisis (the 444 day seizure of the US Embassy in Tehran -- dubbed "American held hostage Day XX" by Ted Koppel) happened today, would they even note it?
Yes, there's the 2009 gala which finally emerged in the news last week. As the unemployment rate surged to 10.2% in October 2009, the Obamas celebrated with a lavish Halloween party with Johnny Depp greeting guests while wearing his Mad Hatter costume. As the right-wing Big Journalism notes, only after the news pops up in Jodi Kantor's The Obamas does the corporate media report on a White House gala that they should have reported on three years ago.
But we're thinking of an incident from last month and one from last week.
See, the party? Unseemly. But no one was physically harmed or in fear.
December 28th, the Associated Press 'reported' that 2 American contractors were released by the Iraqi government. 'Reported'? The two contractors were released December 28th, after being held for 18 days. The AP never reported on the two until the 28th. Neither did any other US outlet. And AP only reported it, only reported it, because US House Rep. Peter King had issued a press release on the matter:
Washington, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Peter T. King, Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, welcomed news that his work has helped secure the release of three security contractors, including two U.S. citizens, who had been detained in Iraq since December 9.
The three men, Army veteran Alex Antiohos of Long Island, New York, National Guardsman Jonas March of Savannah, Georgia, and Kevin Fisher of Fiji, all contractors for a security firm, were detained by Iraqi Army forces in Mahmudiyah, part of the infamous "Triangle of Death," and held until early today without being charged with any crime.
Immediately after learning of the men's detention from Antiohos' wife Melissa last week, King pressed the State Department for help in securing their release. Last Wednesday, King wrote a letter to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, urging that the men be released. King's staff followed up by personally pressing Iraqi officials at the Iraqi Embassy in Washington for the release of the men.
King said: "I am pleased that these three men have been released after having been detained for no reason. With the unfortunate and clearly deteriorating security situation in Iraq and with al-Qaeda in Iraq still very active, these men were in increasing danger with each passing day.
"I appreciate the efforts of officials at the Department of State and U.S. Embassy Baghdad, as well as individuals at DoD and the White House who worked to secure the men's release. Representative Jack Kingston (R-GA) and Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA), who represent Jonas March, were also very engaged and deserve great credit for this good news."
Antiohos, March, and Fisher were reportedly detained while escorting a logistical convoy simply because the Iraqi Ministry of Defense officials did not like the "mission request authorization" paperwork that had been issued by the Iraqi Ministry of Interior. The men were never charged with any crime.
The three men, Army veteran Alex Antiohos of Long Island, New York, National Guardsman Jonas March of Savannah, Georgia, and Kevin Fisher of Fiji, all contractors for a security firm, were detained by Iraqi Army forces in Mahmudiyah, part of the infamous "Triangle of Death," and held until early today without being charged with any crime.
Immediately after learning of the men's detention from Antiohos' wife Melissa last week, King pressed the State Department for help in securing their release. Last Wednesday, King wrote a letter to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, urging that the men be released. King's staff followed up by personally pressing Iraqi officials at the Iraqi Embassy in Washington for the release of the men.
King said: "I am pleased that these three men have been released after having been detained for no reason. With the unfortunate and clearly deteriorating security situation in Iraq and with al-Qaeda in Iraq still very active, these men were in increasing danger with each passing day.
"I appreciate the efforts of officials at the Department of State and U.S. Embassy Baghdad, as well as individuals at DoD and the White House who worked to secure the men's release. Representative Jack Kingston (R-GA) and Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA), who represent Jonas March, were also very engaged and deserve great credit for this good news."
Antiohos, March, and Fisher were reportedly detained while escorting a logistical convoy simply because the Iraqi Ministry of Defense officials did not like the "mission request authorization" paperwork that had been issued by the Iraqi Ministry of Interior. The men were never charged with any crime.
That was news. It might have been embarrassing for the Obama administration, but it was news. Time and again, the common theme in what the press refuses to report is that it might embarrass Baby Barack.
Last Friday, came news that 4 Americans were arrested in Baghdad -- two men, two women -- carrying firearms, with silencers. It didn't make the State Department press briefing on Friday -- as a topic introduced by spokesperson Victoria Nuland or by the reporters present -- and it didn't make the US news outlets. (As C.I. noted Saturday, the unofficial official word in the Iraqi media is that the 4 have been released.)
You can dismiss the party and many well. It's only evidence of greed, after all -- a sin, not a crime. But Americans taken into custody in Iraq? That's news. That's real news. And it shouldn't require a member of the Congress issuing a news release for the US press to feel they can finally mention it.