I don't approve of censoring stories either, and I don't think AP is losing sleep over anything an Iraqi minister is saying. I don't know what the current laws are in Iraq pertaining to locally-produced Iraqi news sources. I do know that before 2003 printing the wrong story over there meant instant imprisonment or death.

If the goal is to provide the public with accurate information, is censoring the truth any worse than making up facts? Particularly when the latter is deliberately intended to inflame violence?

If, during race riots in America, I had published in my American newspaper a front page story falsely stating that a group of whites had raped and killed a black girl, causing further violence, I could end up in court over that, and I would hope so, too.

Is that censorship?