Iraq(2007) – Iraq(2003) = Immense Sadness
John Simpson, BBC World Affairs Editor, writes how things have changed over the past four years of American invasion of Iraq.
After Baghdad fell, I would satellite reports back to London about attacks in which one or two people were killed. It was big news in those days. Last Thursday, a bomb exploded near the end of the street in central Baghdad where the BBC has its office. Eight people were killed and 25 injured, and we had rather good pictures of it.
But I did not ring London to offer a report about it. To get on the news, or the front page of the newspapers nowadays, a lot of people have to die. I would say the current figure is 60 or 70; and it certainly wouldn’t be the lead.
This is not because editors do not care; it is because it happens so often it scarcely seems like news.
Sad but true.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Now the Iraqi ‘government’ has hanged Taha Yassin Ramadan. What sort of people are they? I am getting fed up of all islami mumlikats–whether military rule, democracy or monarchy. In Egypt a teenager is jailed for blogging, in Pakistan the Supreme Court judge has been humiliated and every day we see a new story…yeh ho kya raha hai Mohib bhai?
Adnan bhai,
I am seriously waiting for Imam Mehndi to come in my lifetime!!! I have lost all hopes because of these so called islami mumlikats.
@ Adnan bhai
There are no ‘islami’ mumlikats and most of them are ruled by tin-pot dictators who use and abuse religion as and when it suits them. Also, these countries face problems like any other country does. Look at Nepal and Sri Lanka. What about most of Africa?
But yes, bad news is bad news and it is in abundance these days.
@ Sharique
The current situation is kind of similar to the one prevailing in the beginning of 20th century. Also, I don’t see Imam Mehdi fitting in the contemporary world as it is.