Michael Todd, the UK man captured by the US Army and held for three weeks while searching for his missing daughter had a 'run in' recently with the Corporate Media in Turkey. What happened demands a closer look as it vividly and painfully confirms some frightening truths which extend al the way to the coveted oil field of North Iraq.

This was to have been my third interview with Michael but he is not too well at the moment and has given me permission to replicate what he told me at the end of our last interview.

Before entering Iraq on June 13th 2003, he spent 3 months in Turkey, waiting for permission to cross the border from the Turkish Government. The corporate media were very interested in his story - 'english guy goes to war zone to search for his missing child'. The story made national TV several times and was featured in many newspapers. It was a very emotional story and the corporate media lapped it up - they loved it.

On returning to the UK he assumed that the same Turkish media would be interested in learning what had happened to him. NOT SO. He contacted them, telling them how he was held for three weeks under 24 hour armed guard by the US Military and was stunned by the replies. 'Heartless stooges' was a phrase that sprung into my mind!

One journalist, who works for the largest TV commercial station in Turkey (owned by someone likened to Rupert Murdoch) wrote Michael an email which said:

WE DON'T RELATE TO THIS STORY. I ADVISE YOU NOT TO ACT AS POLITICS THERE, YOU ARE ONLY AN ENGLISH MAN SEARCHING HIS DAUGHTER. DO NOT FORGET'.

Michael replied as follows:

'Hi xxxx,

Thanks for the mail. Please, as a friend, could you kindly explain what you mean? If I have done something wrong, or am saying the wrong things by telling the truth, then please advise me. Is it that you cannot believe the story? Come on, please, I feel very upset by your comments.

In friendship, for my daughter.

Michael'.

Un-surprisingly, there has been no reply despite reminders having been sent.

It seems that the truth is something the corporate media don't want to hear, eppecially if it upsets those who pay the wages. The decision of the Turkish cabinet to send troops to Iraq is no surprise as the huge media empire who the above journalist works for will gain much financially if and when the Turkish Army enters Iraq. The decision to send troops to Iraq has nothing to do with politics, it has to do with coprporate influence and power. Remember all the oil in North Iraq folks? Who indeed controls the Turkish Cabinet? Who do these politicians serve - the Turkish people or the Turkish business empires and the Americans, perhaps using the Turks as proxy oil grabbers.

Michael is considering complaining to the owner of the TV channel in question but feels it will be a waste of his time. Clearly, with his daughter still missing in Iraq, he has better things to think about.

I advise him to get used to this media reaction more often, especially as he prepares to visit Washington DC to lobby the Whitehouse. Associated Press - what will your excuse be for not covering this story? Just as you failed to tell the world that Michael had been captured with the Turkish Special Forces on the 4th July. Wake up to the truth good people of the press, it don't get no better than this! Expect an avalanche of public opinion against the deployment of troops in in Iraq by the Turkish Government. Expect many, many street protests and look to indymedia for the truth!

It should be interesting!