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