This Is Sick: Passing for News

[SpidermanTuba]

Isn't everything on TV staged? Did people actually believe that live TV is ad-lib?
:wank:

The familiar "everyone does it" response.

If your satisfied with having a President who is about is genuine as the next "American Idol" - then so be it.

 

[dilloduck]

Update today on this post, more links:

The MSM certainly has nothing to brag about when it somes to staging events for public consumption but that's still no excuse for the adminstration to put on such a pitiful display in order to get a message out. It APPEARED phony which was enough for many to discredit who ever their "target de jour" was. Republicans simply cannot do PR or street fight and need to learn how to do both.

 

[Annie]

Photos at site:

http://sirhumphreys.blogspot.com/2005/10/ap-and-reuters-photographer-bilal.html

AP and Reuters photographer Bilal Hussein colludes with insurgents
This is both disgusting and absurd. I was flicking through a Yahoo Photos thread called "US Military" when I came across six photos of the same small group of 'insurgents' posing for the photographer. The photos originate from both Reuters and Associated Press and are dated October 3rd, 2005. Reuters attributes the photos to 'Stringer', while AP attributes them to 'Bilal Hussein'.

Note the distinctive yellow piping is common to all photos, though I'm unsure if the same alley is featured in all six.

(1) Source (Reuters). "Excuse me Mr Insurgent - could you please move forward slightly so that you're better framed by the light?"

(2) Source (Reuters). The man (or boy?) at back-right is clearly unconcerned about incoming fire. I initially thought he was in photo 1, but that guy seems to have black trackpants with a white stripe rather than baggy brown pants.

(3) Source (Associated Press). This photo appears to have a running car in the background (note the brake light) - and is that guy out back using a cellphone? From the looks of his shirt he was either holding the AK in photo 1 or at the back of photo 2. The photographer has used a different lens here to make it look like he took the photo from across the street - note the slightly bent yellow pipe 2nd from left is also in photo 2. But from photo 1 we can clearly see the other side of the (empty) street is a wall.

(4) Source (Associated Press). This is the only photo which has both "insurgents" successfully posing in a Hollywood-type fashion. Of course they're probably aiming at the same wall visible in photo 1.

(5) Source (Associated Press). This may be a different alley - the doorway visible at left in photo 1 is absent here and the ground seems to have more debris. Note the different light angle.

(6) [New Addition] Source (Canadian Press/AP). Clearly the same guy from photo 1. Is he wearing homeboy pants? This photo has been carefully cropped to frame Mr Homeboy Pants and Mr Insurgent #5 in the context of an abandoned street, presumedly to create the impression they have the area under control.

What can we take from this? That Reuters and the Associated Press happily purchase photos from photographers who actively collude with the "insurgents". And that Reuters hides the identity of the photographer it uses.

Your media at work. Trust the Reuters and AP photos you see republished in the NZ Herald? Trust the footage filmed by Reuters and AP video-cameramen for CNN and other news services?

But wait, there's more

It's 2004 and the United States is attacking Fallujah. The Associated Press files a popular article titled "AP Photographer Tells of Flight From Besieged City of Fallujah" starring the very same stringer - Bilal Hussein.
Bilal Hussein joking around with his family in Baghdad

Here's what Hussein said about the US attack on Fallujah:

By Tuesday afternoon, as U.S. forces and Iraqi rebels engaged in fierce clashes in the heart of his neighborhood, Hussein snapped.

"U.S. soldiers began to open fire on the houses, so I decided that it was very dangerous to stay in my house," he said.

"I decided to swim … but I changed my mind after seeing U.S. helicopters firing on and killing people who tried to cross the river." He watched horrified as a family of five was shot dead as they tried to cross. Then, he "helped bury a man by the river bank, with my own hands."

"I kept walking along the river for two hours and I could still see some U.S. snipers ready to shoot anyone who might swim. I quit the idea of crossing the river and walked for about five hours through orchards."

Get the picture? If you don't, then why not browse through Hussein's other photos presently on Yahoo Photos. They all feature something positive for the 'insurgency' and negative for the Iraqi Government and US troops.

More! More! More!

Here's a montage of Bilal Hussein's more obvious propaganda-type photos, collected using Google Images. I avoided the gruesome photos, of which there are many.

Click to enlarge


The inevitable update

The BBC hops on the bandwagon: the very same "insurgents" and yellow piping feature prominently in a BBC video clip claiming the 'rebels' control several western Iraqi towns.
Posted by AL | 10/05/2005 0400 PM

http://theanchoressonline.com/2005/10/14/when-is-a-quick-rehearsal-a-staging/
Links

October 14, 2005
When is a quick rehearsal a STAGING?
Filed under: The Fourth Estate

When I read this story, the first thing I thought about was that reporter who “staged” a question to Donald Rumsfelt by feeding it to a soldier.

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to this seaon’s Turkeygate. When Bush visited the troops in Iraq, the press spent two weeks carrying on because Bush posed for a snapshot with the troops by holding up a plastic turkey table ornament!

A pal of mine - a moderate Democrat - who has worked with media for decades says that the Clintons did the same sort of setting up and advance work, (because it is sensible) They just didn’t get “caught” at it. I wonder why. He suggests that the WH badly needs Karen Hughes to get back there. I agree.

I wonder - is it possible that with the Plamegate story possibly taking a left turn, and with voting on the Iraq constitution the truly important but way undercovered story of the day…perhaps the press simply wants something it can use all weekend to bash Bush and keep those other disagreeable stories from scrutiny?

Because this is pretty damned silly.

“I’m going to ask somebody to grab those two water bottles against the wall and move them out of the camera shot for me,” Barber said.

A brief rehearsal ensued.

“OK, so let’s just walk through this,” Barber said. “Captain Kennedy, you answer the first question and you hand the mike to whom?”

“Captain Smith,” Kennedy said.

“Captain. Smith? You take the mike and you hand it to whom?” she asked.

“Captain Kennedy,” the soldier replied.

And so it went.

“If the question comes up about partnering _ how often do we train with the Iraqi military _ who does he go to?” Barber asked.

“That’s going to go to Captain Pratt,” one of the soldiers said.

“And then if we’re going to talk a little bit about the folks in Tikrit _ the hometown _ and how they’re handling the political process, who are we going to give that to?” she asked.

That’s a STAGING? That sounds like going over the logistics of interviewing and passing a mic to people who are not used to doing it - which is what normal, ordinary people do when they are in a new or unusual situation.

But I see the press - neither normal nor ordinary people - really has their dresses up over their heads about it. Oh, the humanity!

Speaking of STAGED…

Michelle Malkin is first out the gate and all over the story

Ankel Biting Pundits are amused and dismayed

Wide Awake Cafe says, Staged? I’ll tell you from staged!

Dr. Sanity looks at the relentless negative onslaught from the press and wonders, as I do, how the president manages to function when every move or thought is so reflexively and hatefully pounded upon.

Gateway Pundit is saying Bring the troops back…and ask them some more questions!

Hyscience notes that the press story framings fall in line with the Democrat talking points.

Tim Graham cites a study which shows that (surprise!) press coverage of the military, and Iraq, even the constitutional stories is overwhelmingly negative. At all times, folks. Graham points out that even Juan Williams praised this study

Michael Fumento makes the case for the media perhaps vetting itself

Attention President Bush…PLEASE bring home Karen Hughes!

 

[nosarcasm]

time to post your own oppinion instead of the opinion of apologist that
with relativism and comparisons try to tell me what I saw was
just business as usual.

You are starting to piss me off.

 

[nosarcasm]

PRESIDENT BUSH DELIVERS REMARKS VIA TELECONFERENCE TO U.S. TROOPS IN IRAQ

BUSH: Captain Kennedy?

KENNEDY: Yes, Mr. President.

BUSH: Well, it's good to see you. Thanks.

Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to allow me to visit with you a little bit.

I've got some questions for you here in a minute, but I do want to share some thoughts with you.

First, I want to thank the members of the 42nd Infantry Division and Task Force Liberty for serving our country with such distinction and honor.

I want you to know that the mission you are on is vital to achieving peace and to protecting America. One of my most solemn duties, a duty that you have joined me on, is to protect the American people. And we're facing an enemy that is ruthless and cold-blooded, an enemy that actually has a philosophy.

And the philosophy is so opposite of ours. It is the exact opposite of what America stands for. We stand for religious freedom and freedom to speak and womens' rights and capacity for people to realize their dreams.

BUSH: They stand for a vision that doesn't believe in freedom; that if you don't agree with their narrow point of view that you're subject to reprisal.

And so I want to thank you for being a part of this global war.

And Iraq is a part of the war because the enemy understands that a free Iraq will be a blow to their vision and their strategy of spreading dominance throughout the broader Middle East.

And so I want to thank you. When you e-mail your families, you tell them how proud the commander in chief is of their patience and their support as well.

One of the tactics of the enemy is to shake our will. Part of their strategy is to use the killing of innocent people to get the American government to pull you out of there before the mission is complete.

BUSH: I'm going to assure you of this: that so long as I'm the president, we're never going to back down, we're never going to give in, we'll never accept anything less than total victory.

It's important for you to know that. It's important for the enemy to know that as well.

We got a strategy and it's a clear strategy. On the one hand, we will hunt down these killers and terrorists and bring them to justice and train the Iraqi forces to join us in that effort.

The second part of the strategy is a political strategy, based upon the knowledge that you defeat a backward, dark philosophy with one that's hopeful.

BUSH: And that hopeful philosophy is one based upon universal freedom.

I'm very impressed that the Iraqi government has continued to work to have a constitution that attracts Sunnis and Shias and Kurds. They've worked hard to get a constitution, and now the people of Iraq are going to get to vote once again: on a constitution, in this case.

And I want to thank you for providing the security necessary for people to exercise their free will. You're part of a historic mission that is laying the foundation for peace.

I am convinced that, when we look back at this time in history, those who follow us -- whether it be in the armed services or in the political process -- will say, "Thank goodness the United States of America didn't lose our nerve or will," that we've put in motion something that can't be stopped, and that is the march of freedom.

So I want to thank you for giving me a chance to visit with you. You've just got to know the American people are proud of you.

BUSH: You've got tremendous support here at home. And there's nobody more proud of you than I am.

Now, let me ask you some questions, Captain, if you don't mind. One of the questions I have is about the pre-election operations -- about what you've been doing and what's your strategy and how do you think it's going to make sure that people have a chance to vote.

By the way, you're in Tikrit, as I understand it, as well. It's, kind of, an interesting place to be. It's Saddam's old stomping grounds.

KENNEDY: Good morning, Mr. President, from Tikrit. I'm Captain Brent Kennedy.

To my right is Sergeant Major Akeel from the 5th Iraqi Army Division.

We're working together here with the Iraqis in Task Force Liberty for the upcoming referendum and we're surging an operation called Operation Saratoga that includes the securing of over 1,250 polling sites. We're working right alongside with the Iraqis as they lead the way in securing these sites.

BUSH: That's good.

So the vote's in less than 48 hours -- or about 48 hours, I guess. So are you confident? I mean, how do you feel like the operations are going?

KENNEDY: Mr. President, I'm going to field that question to Captain Smith.

BUSH: I didn't want to throw you a hardball there, Captain.

SMITH: Good morning, Mr. President.

I'm Captain Dave Smith from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I'm representing the 3rd Brigade Combat Team headquartered in Baquba.

BUSH: Right.

SMITH; I work directly with the Iraqi army. I am responsible for coordinating all of their security responses in our area of operations.

Sir, our Iraqi partners have been conducting battalion- and brigade-sized operations since April.
SMITH: They have been planning and coordinating with other Iraqi security forces, such as the Iraqi police and local government agencies, preparing for this referendum.

Sir, we, as coalition forces, we have taken a supporting role only as they prepare to execute this referendum.
BUSH: And how are they doing? I mean, give us an assessment. One of the things, Captain, that people in America want to know is, one, do the Iraqis want to fight? And are they capable of fighting? And maybe somebody can give us an appraisal.

KENNEDY: Mr. President, I'm going to field that question to Captain Pratt.

PRATT: Good morning, Mr. President. My name is Captain Steven Pratt from Pocatello, Idaho, serving with the 116th Brigade Combat Team as the Iraqi army coordinator.

The Iraqi army and police services, along with coalition support, have conducted many and multiple exercises and rehearsals. Recently, we've conducted a command post exercise in which we brought together these Iraqi security forces with emergency service units and the joint coordination center, in which we all sat around a terrain model and discussed what each one would do at their specific location and what they would do at the referendum.

It was impressive to me to see the cooperation and the communication that took place among the Iraqi forces. Along with the coalition backing them, we'll have a very successful and effective referendum vote.

BUSH: Captain, thank you very much.

Let me ask you something. As you move around, I presume you have a chance to interface with the civilians there in that part of the world.

BUSH: You know, a lot of Americans are wondering whether or not people appreciate your presence or whether or not the people are anxious to be part of the democratic process.

Can you give us a sense for the reception of the people there in Tikrit toward coalition forces as well as the Iraqi units that they encounter?

KENNEDY: Mr. President, I'm going to field this question to Captain Williams.

WILLIAMS: Mr. President, I'm Captain David Williams. I'm from Los Angeles, California. I'm currently with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, attached to the military and transition team.

Sir, in north-central Iraq, voter registration is up 17 percent. That's 400,000 new voters in north-central Iraq, and 100,000 new voters in the Salah al Din province. nice stats
Sir, I was with my Iraqi counterpart in the city of Tikrit last week, and he was going around talking to the locals.
WILLIAMS: And from what he told me that the locals told him, the Iraqi people are ready and eager to vote in this referendum.

BUSH: That's good. That's a pretty interesting concept for the people of Tikrit when you really think about the fact that Saddam Hussein's hometown -- they didn't get to vote too often when he was the leader there.

Let me ask you about the progress. Most of you have been there for nearly a year, as I understand it. And is it possible to give us a sense, a, kind of, calibration of what life was like when you first got there and what it's like today?

KENNEDY: Mr. President, Master Sergeant Lombardo will answer this question.

LOMBARDO: Good morning, Mr. President. I'm Master Sergeant Corine Lombardo with the Headquarters 42nd Infantry Division and Task Force Liberty from Scotia, New York.

First, I'd like to say that this is a pleasure to speak with you again. We had the honor of your visit in New York City on November 11th in 2001, when you recognized our rainbow soldiers... BUSH: Yes.

LOMBARDO: ... on their recovery and rescue efforts at ground zero.

BUSH: Were you there?

LOMBARDO: We began our fight against terrorism in the wake of 9/11 and we're proud to continue it here in north-central Iraq.

BUSH: Let me ask you something: Were you there when I came to New York?

LOMBARDO: Yes, I was, Mr. President.

BUSH: I thought you looked familiar.

(LAUGHTER)

LOMBARDO: Well, thank you.

BUSH: I probably look familiar to you, too.

(LAUGHTER)

LOMBARDO: Yes, you do, Mr. President.

I can tell you, over the past 10 months, we've seen a tremendous increase in the capabilities and the confidences of our Iraqi security force partners. LOMBARDO: We've been working side by side, training and equipping 18 Iraqi army battalions. Since we began our partnership, they have improved greatly. And they continue to develop and grow into sustainable forces.
Over the next month, we anticipate seeing at least one-third of those Iraqi forces conducting independent operations.

BUSH: Yes, that's important.

And the American people have got to know it. And I appreciate you bringing that up, Sergeant Major, about what the progress is like.

In other words, we've got a measurement system.

LOMBARDO: Together with our coalition forces, we've captured over 50 terrorists as well as detained thousands of others that have ties to the insurgency. And I believe it is these accomplishments and the numerous accomplishments from our task force that will provide a safe and secure environment for the referendum vote.

BUSH: Well, I appreciate that.

There's no question that we need to stay on the offense. And we need to stay on the offense with well-trained Iraqi forces, side by side the finest military ever to exist, and that's the United States military.

LOMBARDO: It is, Mr. President. Thank you.

BUSH: Yes, Sergeant Akeel, thank for joining us. I appreciate your service. You got something to say, Akeel?

AKEEL: Good morning, Mr. President, thank you for everything. Thank you very much for everything.
BUSH: You're welcome.

AKEEL: I like you.

(LAUGHTER)

BUSH: Well, I appreciate that.

MURPHY: Good morning, Mr. President.

BUSH: Go ahead.

MURPHY: I'm First Lieutenant Gregg Murphy from the 278th Regimental Combat Team from the volunteer state of Tennessee.

I want to tell you, sir, that we appreciate you coming with us today for this interview and hearing us express our confidence in the Iraqi security forces' role in the upcoming referendum.
Sir, we're prepared to do whatever it takes to make this thing a success. But the important thing here is that the Iraqi army and the Iraqi security forces: They're ready and they're committed.

MURPHY: They're going to make this thing happen.

Back in January when we were preparing for that election, we had to lead the way. We set up the coordination. We made the plan.

We're really happy to see during the preparation for this one, sir, they're doing everything. They're making the plans. They're calling each other. They've got it laid out.

So on Saturday, sir, we're going to be beside them, we're going to be there to support them through anything, but we can't wait to share in their success with them on Sunday.

Sir, from all of us here at Task Force Liberty here in Tikrit, we want to express our gratitude to you for spending a little time with us this morning. And thank you, sir, for hearing our assessment of the current situation here in Tikrit, Iraq.
BUSH: Well, Lieutenant, thanks. It's been my honor.

And, you know, I wish I could be there to see you face to face to thank you personally. Probably a little early for me to go to Tikrit, but one of these days perhaps the situation will be such that I'll be able to get back to Iraq to not only thank our troops, but to thank those brave Iraqis who are standing strong in the face of these foreign fighters and radicals that are trying to stop the march of freedom.

BUSH: Again, I want to thank you all for being so courageous, for stepping up when the United States of America needed you.

I repeat what I said earlier: Please give your loved ones my deepest respect.

And you got to know, the American people are standing strong with you. We're proud of you.

May God bless you all in your work. And when you get back to the States, if I'm hanging around, come by and say "hello."

Thank you all.

END

orange party line and blatant ass kissing.

 

[nosarcasm]

The problem was, before the event was broadcast live on cable TV, the satellite picture from Iraq was being beamed back to television newsrooms here in the U.S. It showed a full-blown rehearsal of the president's questions, in advance, along with the soldiers' answers and coaching from the administration.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/10/14/BL2005101401016.html

One commander tells Fox it was scripted and rehearsed -- the troops were told what to say to the president and how to say it. And that, says another senior officer today, is outrageous.

On comes Carl Cameron: "First, the White House and the Pentagon claimed it was not rehearsed. But for 45 minutes before the event, the hand-picked soldiers practiced their answers with the Pentagon official from D.C. who, in her own words, drilled them on the president's likely questions and their, quote, scripted responses.

 

[Annie]

The problem was, before the event was broadcast live on cable TV, the satellite picture from Iraq was being beamed back to television newsrooms here in the U.S. It showed a full-blown rehearsal of the president's questions, in advance, along with the soldiers' answers and coaching from the administration.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/10/14/BL2005101401016.html

One commander tells Fox it was scripted and rehearsed -- the troops were told what to say to the president and how to say it. And that, says another senior officer today, is outrageous.

On comes Carl Cameron: "First, the White House and the Pentagon claimed it was not rehearsed. But for 45 minutes before the event, the hand-picked soldiers practiced their answers with the Pentagon official from D.C. who, in her own words, drilled them on the president's likely questions and their, quote, scripted responses.

Again, a problem, why?

 

[nosarcasm]

propaganda against the public interest.

 

[Annie]

propaganda against the public interest.

Not necessarily.

 

[nosarcasm]

you should become a lawyer.

While the government to a degree has to be an optimistic cheerleader
it is disingenious to stage and event and present it as the "troops"
opinion while you sell the administration line.

Speak for yourself. Its like the congressman that speak for America
Its a fun game replacing the public demands or America
demands with I demand in your brain. It is frankly hilarious. (ok I can
easily entertain myself it seems)

My belief is the only way to control the excesses of government
is to hold em to some standards. If you let them bend the truth to
whatever they like and accept spin from either side then why even
talk about it if reality and fiction dont make a difference.

I hope the constitution election will go well, and from what I read my gutfeeling tells me the majority of the Iraquis get sick of the chaos in their
country.

For now I demand the heads of the usual scapegoat burned alive
infront of congress.

Questions ?