Iraq's War on Unwarranted Criticism

"In a difficult security situation, we need to fight the terrorists by all means, and one of the main means is the media. We need them all to co-operate, even the private sector. It's for national security," said Ibrahim Janabi, a former Iraqi intelligence officer who Prime Minister Iyad Allawi just appointed as the head of the new Higher Media Commission. The Commission, which will be housed in the old Information Ministry building, will "impose restrictions on print and broadcast media." Janabi said the restrictions would include "unwarranted criticism of the prime minister."