Hardly A Surprise; But How Much Was He Paying CNN?

[Dakota435]

http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/1552.htm

See link for pic of document.

Saddam Regime Provided Funding To Al-Jazeera TV

A recently surfaced letter dated September 24, 2002 refers to a decision by the Iraqi Council of Ministers under Saddam authorizing the Ministry of Culture and Information to make a monthly payment of €50,000 to Al-Jazeera TV.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

Hardly A Surprise; But How Much Was He Paying CNN?


heh heh that's pretty funny. But I do seem to remember a news blurb before the invasion that CNN was actually paying him for access. Not sure which is worse, really.

[JJC]

I heard rumors that CNN complied with Saddam all the time on what to report and what not, and because of ratings CNN was happy to play the game.

[Dakota435]

I heard rumors that CNN complied with Saddam all the time on what to report and what not, and because of ratings CNN was happy to play the game.

Not rumors; their news chief said so about a year after the invasion. Eason Jordan IIRC. They did it, they corrupted themselves, to avoid being booted out.

[HR24]

Check out Live From Baghdad with Michael Keaton. It is based on a book of the same title by former CNN producer Robert Weiner (sp?). Excellent movie and excellent book detailing the CNN bureau in Iraq during the first Gulf War.

[jasonblaster]

Not rumors; their news chief said so about a year after the invasion. Eason Jordan IIRC. They did it, they corrupted themselves, to avoid being booted out.

Yes Correct, Eason Jordan. They helped make saddam look OK so they could stay in country. Pretty sad, and also why I never tune to either of the CNN channels, or their website.