Question About The Bagdad Cameras

[John Corn]

Perhaps I have missed the explanation when it was presented, if so, would a more informed person fill me in....

By whose indulgence are those cameras being left on for all of us to watch the bombing of the city? Numerous times I've heard Pentagon spokespeople explaining how helpful CNN was during the Gulf War in confirming that specific targets were hit in Bagdad. The same thing must be taking place now and I wonder why the Iraqis would tolerate this. Is there some benefit to Saddam to have them on? What is the deal here?

[RandyAB]

From what I understand, a lot of news agencies are using the same cameras. So it is sort of a joint effort. That is why you see a lot of the same pictures on each news channel.

Now it looks like though CNN, Fox and other stations are also sharing coverage with reporters from other countries.

[Mike123abc]

It would suggest to me that Saddam has been killed or disabled in some way. The last couple of days has looked like the Iraq army is just standing still, there does not seem to be any real fighting going on. Just the slow steady advancement of coalition forces. Maybe there is no one around now to order the foreign cameras to be turned off. Or maybe Iraq came to the conclusion that having the cameras turned off last time did not help and if they can show callous destruction by the US, the pressure would build to end the war without removing Saddam.

I have to admit that this has turned into a completely different war than I had expected.

[firephoto]

I think some of the cameras are Saudi TV.
CNN was kicked out of Baghdad and they are waiting for the first chance to get out. 2 reporters, camera person, and the producer are still there now, but not allowed on the air.
I saw one of the cameras get rocked pretty good once, and another was being controlled by someone. I heard one of the British reporters make a comment about the satellite dishes being on top of on of the buildings that had been hit. I may have misheard this.

[firephoto]

Abu Dhabi tv
Aljazzeera TV
GlobeCast World TV
is what the feeds say sometimes.

[raj2001]

I also heard before the war started (a rumor possibly) that Saddam had told journalists to leave Iraq, but to leave their satellite equipment behind.

[jrjcd]

my favorite scene so far is this morning with that british journalist with CNN and the dozen or so iraqi soilders looling on the hill over his right shoulder...hilarious

[firephoto]

I was watching that too. I was thinking a sniper might get their attention. Only today can you watch the enemies activities on CNN live. :)

[Bill R]

I do find it strange that the Iraqi government lets ANY news outlet (even "friendly" countries) show the live bombing.

Here is an article from USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2003-03-19-iraq-reporters_x.htm) that has some information about the Baghdad coverage.

Of all the news outlets I think CNN is doing the best job (and I have watched them all). Does CBS ever let Dan Rather sleep? It seems that whenever I turn on CBS he is on.

[John Corn]

I had been watching CNN, now I'm watching MSNBC. Both are doing a great job.

[ERSanders]

See: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/news/0322story1_news.shtml

A story about the cameras and the company that makes them.