Oh, one last thing on this

Democracy is really taking hold in Iraq.

Iraq's media regulator warned news organizations Thursday to stick to the government line on the U.S.-led offensive in Fallouja or face legal action.

Invoking a 60-day state of emergency declared by Iraq's interim government ahead of the assault that began Monday, Iraq's Media High Commission said media should distinguish between insurgents and ordinary residents of the Sunni Muslim city.

Although the commission was supposed to be independent of the government, encourage independent investments in media outlets, and prevent government interference in the news, its statement was on the letterhead of the Iraqi prime minister's office.

It said news organizations should "guide correspondents in Fallouja … not to promote unrealistic positions or project nationalist tags on terrorist gangs of criminals and killers."

It also asked media to "set aside space in your news coverage to make the position of the Iraqi government, which expresses the aspirations of most Iraqis, clear."

"We hope you comply … otherwise we regret we will be forced to take all the legal measures to guarantee higher national interests," the statement said. It did not elaborate.

We'll know that real democracy has been achieved when such warnings are no longer necessary and the news media can be trusted to trumpet the official line of their own accord.

Thanks to American Leftist for the link.