FOX 17 gets wrapped up in Saddam’s Undies

Analysis:

This is another example of television news as a conduit for official voices. Several claims are presented here that are not questioned by the reporter. Two different voices are presented speaking about the Iraqi insurgency, stating as fact claims that are debatable. President Bush states that the insurgents are inspired by ideology or religion, saying, “murderers are inspired by an ideology that is…barbaric and backwards.” This is followed by the head of the Arab-American Institute stating that the insurgents are Sunni Muslims affiliated with Saddam Hussein. Neither of these two depictions of the Iraqi insurgency is either confirmed or challenged by the reporter.

The other voice heard in the story is a Bush administration spokesman. In this quote the spokesman says that the US has investigated and prosecuted those responsible for the prison abuse scandal in Iraq. Aside from the fact that this is only tangentially related to the story of the Saddam pictures, it is a statement which could easily be challenged by a reporter but is not. According to reports by Seymour Hersh, the military did not do anything about the torture of detainees until the torture issue became public, and even then, no officers at the upper end of the command structure were prosecuted.

The reporter does not question the government’s statement that the pictures of Saddam “possibly violate the Geneva Convention.” When Saddam was captured over a year ago, the government released pictures of him being examined by doctors. The government also released photos of Iraqi prisoners of war in 2003. These actions could also be considered violations of international law and yet the reporter does not question this apparent double standard.

Story:

Newsreader – Tonight the Pentagon is condemning the publication of some shocking new photos. First released in Britain, they also showed up in this morning’s New York Post. The most graphic image shows Saddam Hussein wearing nothing but his underwear. FOX 17’s Grant Rampy has the latest on the photo controversy.

Reporter – Saddam Hussein in his underwear on the front page of a British tabloid. Inside the paper he is seen washing out his laundry by hand. Many Iraqis are offended.

Iraqi – What we saw on TV is not right. Saddam Hussein is an Iraqi and we are a civilized country.

Reporter – Others say the pictures may be humiliating but their former dictator deserves this and more. As the White House makes it’s displeasure clear, the president expressing confidence that the images won’t spark a new wave of violence, a matter that’s up for debate.

Bush – I don’t think a, uh, a photo inspires murderers. I think they are inspired by an ideology that is so barbaric and backwards that it’s hard for many in the Western World to comprehend how they think.

Jean Abi Nader (Arab-American Institute) – Remember, the insurgency is primarily fueled by Sunni Muslims who were affiliated with Saddam Hussein, so this is just going to add more fuel to the fire.

Reporter – the Pentagon meanwhile is hunting for the leaker. Officials say the pictures were taken in clear violation of DoD directives and possibly Geneva Convention guidelines. They’re also expressing disappointment that some one responsible for the security, welfare, and detention of Saddam would provide these photos for public release. The administration points out the military personal who took the Abu Ghraib photos are being dealt with.

Trent Duffy (Press Secretary)- People are going to jail, people are serving time because of those abuses, and likewise there will be a thorough investigation into this instance and similar accountability measures will be taken.

Reporter – the editors of the British tabloid The Sun say they paid their source around $900 beyond that they’re keeping quiet. The shots may end up costing them though; Saddam’s lawyer says he plans to sue. At the Pentagon, Grant Rampy FOX News at ten.

Newsreader – In the Arab world, some see this as another insult to Muslims. The photos are believed to have been recorded by a security camera or shot by a prison guard early last year.

Total time: 2 minutes, 8 seconds