Two CBS Journalists Missing In Basra

BAGHDAD — Two CBS News journalists were missing in the predominantly Shiite southern city of Basra, the network said Monday.

CBS said all efforts were under way to find the journalists, who were not identified by the network. It requested "that others do not speculate on the identities of those involved" until more information was available.

Iraqi police said the journalists were taken away Sunday after masked gunmen entered the Sultan Palace Hotel in central Basra. The police spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media.

"CBS News has been in touch with the families and asks that their privacy be respected," the network added in a brief statement from CBS Corp. headquarters in New York.

Basra, Iraq's second-largest city, has seen fierce fighting between rival Shiite militias as part of a power struggle in the oil-rich south.

The British military turned over responsibility for the province to Iraqis in December, but maintains forces near Basra, about 340 miles southeast of Baghdad.

In New York, the Committee to Protect Journalists said it was "deeply concerned for the safety of our colleagues, and hope they are located swiftly and able to resume their important work covering this critical story."

CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said: "Iraq is the most dangerous country in the world for journalists and the deadliest conflict for the press in recent history. Journalists face incalculable risks in ord er to bring us the news about what is happening on the ground there."

Comments

[Ginzaman]

What's one of the best books about foreign correspondents ever written? "Bad News: The Decline of Reporting, The Business of News, and the Danger to Us All", By Tom Fenton.

From pg. 189: "an average American TV correspondent is worth at least $4 million to the kidnappers who capture westerners and hold them for ransom or sell them to the highest bidders."

[OlongapoEd]

Oh well, since they are members of the America-hating liberal media, all right-thinking men know that they are no loss.

[SubparDude]

:
The cash deals we have made to pacify Shia and Sunni will not last...

Come home. After you find our journalists!
:

[ladygreenslippers]

Maybe now the news that the children of Americans are dying there everyday overseas will make it on the front page.

We try to keep them in our thoughts, but it's so depressing - bring our troops home.

[clumberfeet]

More proof the surge is working.

Reports of violence in Basra are way down.

[hopeless277]

Very good! The Republican line: We have received no reports of increased violence or kidnapping in Basra. I wonder if they're at Gitmo?

[clumberfeet]

No one will ever know.

[mommadona]

Well, here we go again......

They invented chess

We play checkers.

[jubo]

Chess and Backgammon.

We also have Poker. And that other game with 100 cards. Not War, Prempty War or something like that. Emptive...