UNSEEN GAZA

A report in The Independent  argues that There have been two versions of the assault on Gaza played out over the past three weeks. One is the moderated account aired in the West; the other is the unexpurgated account of civilian deaths filmed in vivid close-up inside Gaza.

The Channel 4 documentary Unseen Gaza explored the the war on Gaza from  the media perspective as foreign news organisations were refused access into the Gaza Strip. John Snow offers an insight into the frustation expressed by UK journalists as the IDF created a closed military zone along the borders of Israel and moved reporters on to a specially designated hill overlooking the territory, but away from the fighting.

An article on which I read on Media Channel indicates that the ban on journalists is a form of censorship and questions the motives behind the Israeli decision.  The ban did not however did not  apply to journalists already living and working in Gaza although it seems that they were targeted during the conflict.

What gives Israel the right to ban foreign media? Surely that only happens in countries such as Zimbawe and China whose leaders run oppressive regimes and inflict fear or terror on its citizens without intereference from the outside world.

The Human Cost of the Coalition Forces in Iraq

I was shocked to read the high figures relating to the deaths of US soldiers inj Iraq and checked the British Army statistics to see how they compare-:

As at 22 September 2007, a total of 170 British Armed Forces personnel or MOD civilians have died serving in Iraq since the start of the campaign in March 2003.

Of these, 133 are classed as Killed in Action or Died of Wounds (109 are classed as Killed in Action and 24 are classed as Died of Wounds sustained from Action).

37 are known to have died either as a result of illness, non-combat injuries or accidents, or have not yet officially been assigned a cause of death pending the outcome of an investigation

For the period from 1 January 2006 to 31 August 2007:

Centrally available records show that:

• 278 UK military and civilian personnel were admitted to UK Field Hospitals and categorised as Wounded in Action, including as a result of hostile action.
  
• 1,908 UK military and civilian personnel were admitted to UK Field Hospitals for Disease or Non Battle Injuries.
  
• 34 UK personnel were categorised as Very Seriously Injured from all causes excluding disease.
  
• 59 UK military and civilian personnel were categorised as Seriously Injured from all causes excluding disease.
  
• 1,155 UK military and civilian personnel were aeromedically evacuated from Iraq on medical grounds, whatever the reason.

Source -MOD

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/OperationsFactsheets/OperationsInIraqBritishCasualties.htm

Fortunately the figures are nowhere near as high as the US army fatalities but every life lost is tragic waste. As no end appears to be in sight it is a sad fact that these statistics will increase.