Mirror Apologizes

[J'Pol]

The Daily Mirror has sacked it's editor, Piers Morgan who insisted that the pictures it published of ill-treatment of prisoners in Iraq, by British Troops were genuine.

The Mirror has now accepted that the pictures were faked and has apologized unreservedly to the British Army. Morgan was escorted from the Mirrors building, he is currently making no comment.

Unfortunately the damage is probably already done.

[Biggles]

I have slightly mixed views on this.

Piers Morgan is a fairly ghastly individual (a pre-requisite for a tabloid editor I suspect) and his departing is a source of joy.

The issue of the pictures is somewhat moot. The actual events appeared to have been taken form the IRC and Amnesty reports. That someone tried to make money by providing pictures similar to the US ones is rather sad and depressing. However, with a number of soldiers being investigated and at least two Iraqi detainees deemed to have been murdered in British custody I think it is wholly appropriate that the British Government has declined to comment on the matter further.

There is such a mess in Iraq at the moment that there is every danger real pictures could come to light cutting short and turning on its head any form of triumphalism. Dignified silence accompanied by serious investigation into the allegations is the only recourse available under current circumstances.

Still, :) Whoo hoo!

[3RA1N1AC]

maybe he shoulda just put the pics on page 3. tits and bondage!

edit.: nevermind, i see they've already mixed tits and prisoner-of-war abuse on the same page. the cover.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/newspapers/30_april_2004/img/3.jpg

[ilw]

good riddance to bad rubbish imo, but its still depressing that the general story was true

[lynx]

What seems to me to be ridiculous is that these pictures (and the related stories) are supposedly putting coalition troops in danger.

Although these particular photos now appear to be faked, the background information it undoubtedly true, and has been in the public domain (via ICRC and AI) for quite some time. To suggest that the revelation of this information in western news media has triggered reprisals by Iraqi's who have no access to such media is ridiculous.

The publication of faked pictures has been unfortunate, but I do not believe significant. On the other hand, the dismissal of Piers Morgan as editor could have very significant influence on the propoganda effect on significant numbers of the UK population in the run-up the UK local and EU elections.

If these pictures were faked, who faked them? Perhaps a question about who served to gain most from the removal of Piers Morgan would not be out of order.

[Neil__]

I just hope this saves British lives in Iraq

The fecker deservers to burn.

Lying Bastard.

Just hope National Enquierer has a vacancy?

Neil

[Neil__]

Mr Blaire gets what Mr Bush want's

And in the wake.

Do you think he'll get the center seat on "Have I got news for you."

Hislop and Merton will take him too bits.


Neil.

[Biggles]

Lynx

I have to say that crossed my mind too.

Piers Morgan has been something of a thorn in the side of the Government for some time. I can imagine that in the run up to elections and the Euro referendum, they will be looking for a more sympathetic voice supporting them. It will be interesting to see the editorial stance taken from now on.

It is noteworthy that whoever made these photgraphs had access to military equipment.