MEDIA REACTION WAR WITH IRAQ; HARARE

UNCLAS HARARE 000609 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/PDPA FOR DALTON, MITCHELL AND SIMS IRAQ PD FOR SMITH, PINESS AND ROOKARD NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER LONDON FOR GURNEY PARIS FOR NEARY NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: IZ PREL KPAO KMDR ZI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION WAR WITH IRAQ; HARARE ¶1. Under headline "Bush, Blair are villains" the government-controlled daily Chronicle" called for broadcast of "more gory pictures of mutilated British and American soldiers on our television screens," in its March 25 editorial. Excerpts: ¶2. ". . .We wish to see more gory pictures of mutilated British and American soldiers on our television screens. This will serve as a lesson to those who believe that they can control the world and bully everybody. It is disappointing that the world has stood by and let George Bush and his partner in crime, Tony Blair, kill innocent civilians under the guise of promoting democracy. . . We will not support the bullying of smaller nations by those who believe that they can police the world. . . We are relieved that there are reports that the U.S.-led forces face fiercer-than-expected resistance, quashing hopes of a swift victory. . . We urge the immediate resignation of Tony Blair and George bush for crimes of war and crimes against humanity." ¶3. Comment: This editorial, truly sick even by the Chronicle's notoriously low standards, contrast harshly to the Zimbabwean information minister's locally ballyhooed March 24 complaint that western media coverage of Iraq abuses ethical and audience standards by showing violent images. SULLIVAN