I’m curious what type of information the common Iraqi is getting. Is it all Uday Hussein’s Iraqi print? Do they have access to Al-Jarzeera on television? Do they have any type of access to any of the western media at all?
I’m wondering if the common Iraqi knows the Coalition ground forces are driving like mad towards Baghdad to finish this thing? I read another post where someone stated that for the most part, Iraqi people are worried that the US isn’t serious in regards to taking out Saddam’s regime so therefore they’re taking this “Shock and Awe” attack for granted.
If they knew we were coming en force on the ground to root out their dictator, do you think it would make a big difference?
For what it’s worth, I would assume they have only one TV channel that is the property of the government and is mainly used for propaganda.
I also heared that there are american planes flying over Iraq and transmiting news. But I would assume the american news wouldn’t be worth a lot more than the Iraqi one.
That’s what I think about TV; I would assume they also have radio and newspapers, and they must also be highly regulated by the state.
interesting question, I wonder if there is anyone who is actually from Iraq on these boards
Many Iraqis have family overseas, AFAIK they can still make telephone contact with Baghdad, that’s one way they get information. I think they may have access to some radio too, I don’t know if any overseas stations manage to transmit there, but maybe some longwave stuff, or closer to the borders, etc.
I heard a news story last night about a C-130 transport plane transmitting high in the air giving the Iraqi’s citizens and military instructions, information, etc.
They’re also dropping ‘wind-up’ radio’s preset to the frequency they’re broadcasting on. After an hour or so when the battery dies. Simply wind it up again.
When asked the same question in the OP, a reporter on the ground in Iraq stated unequivocally that lots of Iraqis have radio, and they have access to outside news sources like the BBC and the Voice of America.
I was really surprised, because like the OP I thought that they may not be getting any news from an independent source, but this reporter acted like everyone in Baghdad had his own radio.
To concur with TaxGuy, the BBC’s correspondent Ragee Omar in Baghdad today delivered a report with scenes of everyday life on the streets of Baghdad, during which he commented that all residents of Baghdad knew that the coalition forces were less than 100 miles away.