ABC needs to get Real!

This is a repost from "Media Research Center:.

ABC Frets Over Saddam Trial Procedures,
He Lacks "Legal Counsel"

Saddam Hussein the victim of lack of legal counsel. ABC led Sunday's World News Tonight with a look, one year after the capture of Saddam Hussein, at delays in his trial. Reporter Jim Sciutto highlighted how "critics point to several failures, that Saddam has not yet been allowed to meet with a lawyer, that the trial will permit testimony obtained under torture" and that evidence has not been "properly preserved or recorded." Sciutto stressed how "both the United Nations and Human Rights Watch have expressed doubts the trial will meet international standards." Sciutto concluded by returning to Hussein's plight without a lawyer: "Iraqi officials now say the trial will begin, at the very earliest, after the scheduled January elections, as Saddam waits in his cell, without charge or legal counsel."

Anchor Terry Moran led his December 12 newscast, as corrected against the closed-captioning by the MRC's Jessica Anderson:
"The thirst for justice in Iraq is not easy to quench. Tomorrow marks one year since U.S. forces captured Saddam Hussein hiding in a hole. But today his trial for genocide and war crimes has not yet begun and the violent insurgency he still inspires rages on. Since Saddam was captured, the rate of U.S. casualties has actually increased -- 827 U.S. troops have been killed in the past year, including two this weekend. ABC's Jim Sciutto reports for us tonight on the problems in the case of Iraq versus Saddam Hussein."

Sciutto began: "One year after his capture, Saddam Hussein's trial for war crimes, considered the most important since Nuremburg, has yet to hear a single world of testimony. American lawyers who are training the Iraqi judges say they need time."
Professor Michael Scharf, Case Western Reserve law school: "They haven't been just sitting on their hands. They've been out getting evidence. They've been making sure that the judges are trained."
Sciutto, over video of dead bodies: "They are building a case for genocide and mass murder, including the gassing of 5,000 Kurds in 1988. But critics point to several failures, [on screen over video of Hussein at his court appearance earlier this year: "Saddam Yet to Meet with Lawyer"] that Saddam has not yet been allowed to meet with a lawyer, that the trial will permit testimony obtained under torture, and that much of the evidence from mass grave sites was not properly preserved or recorded. Both the United Nations and Human Rights Watch have expressed doubts the trial will meet international standards."
Richard Dicker, Human Rights Watch: "It needs to be done in a way that is consistent with basic standards of fairness, regardless of how ugly and horrific the crimes of which he is accused may be."
Sciutto, in London: "The Iraqi judges taking part in the tribunal were taken here to London for training. Their trip included a stop at London's Old Bailey, its criminal court, to observe trials in action. A British judge who worked with them found serious shortcomings in their ability to prosecute Saddam."
Judge Geoffrey Robertson: "They've had no kind of experience in dealing with the issues that arise in international law crimes, like genocide and mass murder."
Sciutto concluded: "Iraqi officials now say the trial will begin, at the very earliest, after the scheduled January elections, as Saddam waits in his cell, without charge or legal counsel."

But still a lot better of than a lot of Iraqis under his rule.

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kingbee

Join Date 04/2004

+42

i musta misread your previous denunciations of slanted or biased reporting. i thought you were advocating unbiased journalism. unless youve posted this media research center critique of an abc broadcast segment as one more instance of issue spinning--more to the point, not very skillful issue spinning--i couldnt have been more incorrect. youre actually in favor of advocacy journalism as long as it supports your view of the world.

i saw that particular segment. i remember it pretty clearly cuz only about 31 hours have passed since it aired on the west coast. simply remove all of the rmc editorializing, insinuations and sniping and you have the original text transcript.

i honestly didnt go away with the impression abc was fretting about anything. nor did rmc apparently because theres nothing in that article to back up their bullshit title. the people who were expressing concerns about technicalities dont work for abc. even they werent properly fretting but merely pointing out aspects of hussein's legal status that seem to conflict with the principles and philosophy the administration claims to be teaching the iraqis.

perhaps im missing something though. after all, when you simply copy a slanted article from another source, and add your own title, there's a chance you'll unslant (not likely) or overslant (likely) the piece. if you wouldnt mind, perhaps you can indicate which parts of the actual abc transcript--NOT the rmc comments or introduction--demonstrat either the anchorman or reporter 'fretting'. then perhaps you can take it a step further and use the transcript to indicate what exactly isnt 'real' .

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drmiler, if there ever was any wonder as to why the poet advocated killing all the lawyers first, your post puts the head scratching to rest.

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kingbee

Join Date 04/2004

+42

killing all the lawyers

no sense permitting due process to neutralize the heady adrenaline rush of righteous rabble-rousing huh?

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