Really Disgusting Editing at LA Times

The LA Times sunk to new lows Sunday, editing key context out of an Associated Press story about the Red Cross' recent comments on Iraq. Their cuts could lead many readers to think the Red Cross was critical primarily of US actions at the mosque in Falluja, when, in fact, its context was much broader. Here is the LA Times news item in full, with the deleted AP content appearing in boldface:

GENEVA — The International Committee of the Red Cross is "deeply concerned" about the killing of noncombatants in Iraq, operations director Pierre Kraehenbuehl said in a statement released late Friday. He stressed that international law prohibits killing anyone who is not actively taking part in fighting.

"As hostilities continue in Fallouja and elsewhere, every day seems to bring news of yet another act of utter contempt for the most basic tenet of humanity: the obligation to protect human life and dignity," Kraehenbuehl said. "We are deeply concerned by the devastating impact that the fighting in Iraq is having on the people of that country."

The world was shocked this week by the killing of Margaret Hassan, CARE International's head of Iraq operations and the fatal shooting of a wounded and apparently unarmed man in a Fallujah mosque by a U.S. Marine, Kraehenbuehl said.

"No one should use torture or any form of inhuman, humiliating or degrading treatment, he said. He also said that all parties must provide adequate medical care for the wounded — regardless of the side they fight on — and that hostage-taking was forbidden in all circumstances. "If these rules or any other applicable rules of international humanitarian law are violated, the persons responsible must be held accountable for their actions," Kraehenbuehl said.

As you may remember, in an earlier post I noted that the LA Times' article on Hassan's killing called her murderers merely "captors," "abductors" and "kidnappers," never ruthless, heartless terrorists. Now they edit out even a reference to this reprehensible deed! Shame on the LA Times, for its lack of integrity, and for continuing to think that we readers are too dumb to call them on their shameful behavior.