The story yesterday from the BBC that reported on a “massacre” of Iraqi civilians in Ishaqi last March – a story that was covered extensively by the AP and the Middle Eastern media at the time – should be an object lesson for the press on what happens when they are used as a propaganda tool of the insurgents. Instead, we should brace ourselves for an avalanche of these recycled stories of “atrocities,” many of which were either embellished or created by the insurgents themselves.
Ishaqi appears to be such a case. The original reports were bloodcurdling. Up to 11 civilians were shot, execution style, by crazed US soldiers, as they landed on the roof of a house (apparently rappelling down from a helicopter), entered the premises, slaughtered the inhabitants including an infant and a 75 year old (or 90 year old depending on which story you’re reading) granny. After sating their bloodlust, the Americans then blew up the house and went back to barracks, probably to plan for the next day’s civilian slaughter and play with their PS2’s.
Except, it didn’t quite happen that way:
The U.S. military maintains there were four dead in the incident, including a guerrilla, two women and a child, and said they died after troops were fired upon from the house as they arrived to arrest an al Qaeda suspect.[snip]
U.S. officials described a nighttime raid aimed at finding a specific guerrilla, who then fled the building but was later caught. Another guerrilla who fired from the building was killed in the raid, they said.
“When the assault force arrived, they took fire,” said one official. The U.S. troops then pulled back and called in air support from an AC-130 gunship, and U.S. forces then fired on the house, the official said.
Why the discrepancy? Because the Iraqi police didn’t show up until the next day (nor for that matter, did the AP photographer who captured the scene at the morgue in nearby Tikrit where the bodies were brought. Here’s a still from that AP footage:
And the AP report at the time said nothing about gunshot wounds to the civilians (no link):
Associated Press photographs showed the bodies of two men, five children and four other covered figures at the hospital accompanied by grieving relatives. The victims were covered in dust and bits of rubble.
One would think if there were gunshot wounds to the head, the AP reporter would not have hesitated to mention that damning fact.
So we are left with two versions of the story wildly at odds with each other. A couple of the major differences include the number of civilians killed and the kind of wounds suffered. Both the US military and the AP say that the civilians died when the house collapsed after the troops came under fire and called for air support. And I hardly think that our men would have called in an AC-130 gunship for assistance if the only fire coming from the house was from one person. While the civilians killed were innocent, it is pretty clear that the house was being used to shield at least two and probably more insurgents.
Where did the other 7 civilians come from? And what about those gunshot wounds? The military says they weren’t there in the immediate aftermath of the action but Iraqi police, who showed up in the morning, found 11 bullet riddled bodies.
Someone would have had to place those additional bodies in or near the rubble where the Iraq police could find them. Given the evidence and the circumstances, the entire episode smacks of an al Qaeda disinformation campaign that the BBC fell for whole hog.
And this is only the beginning. Biased BBC reports this morning:
About a quarter of the newsworthy events that took place in this troubled world on Friday night/ Saturday morning concerned crimes and alleged crimes by US soldiers in Iraq, according to Ceefax.
For those unfamiliar with Ceefax, the BBC’s teletext system displays about twenty-five pages of news stories each day, starting with the news summary on page 101.Pages 125 has four sub pages on the alleged massacre at Ishaqi. When you get to the fourth page, if you are still awake, you discover the source of this video – a “hardline Sunni group.” These four pages make no reference to the news on page 107 that says US troops have been cleared of the same massacre. After suffering that annoying news on page 107, the ideal BBC reader can at least cheer himself up on page 108. It bears “new allegations” from a US deserter. Another massacre? No, someone in the army told him that in the event that he killed anyone he ought to put an assault rifle next to their body to cover it up. Page 117 tells us that one of the Abu Ghraib accused is not going to jail but will have to do hard labour at an army camp instead.
Expect their American cousins to follow up with recycled atrocity stories of their own as the media scrambles to fill their pages with Iraq massacre news between now and the time that the Haditha report is released (aside from printing the usual leaks and speculation). And then, there’s just the ordinary bias and usual exaggeration we get everyday from the media, highlighted here by Mudville Gazette:
You’ve likely seen it before, perhaps heard other references to this unprovoked attack business. But regardless of what happened, unless there was no bomb, unless Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas wasn’t really killed, unless Lance Cpl. James Crossan wasn’t really wounded, there was a provocation that the Marines responded too. To the best of my knowledge, no one disputes the IED attack that started this incident, and no one disputes that civilians were killed. It seems indisputable that the attack was indeed provoked – a point that’s actually a substantial factor in answering other questions regarding the ensuing events.But quite clearly, according to this headline, the investigators say unprovoked.
As Greyhawk points out, the body of the article makes no mention of an “unprovoked” attack but rather quotes an “unjustified” attack which is what actually is being investigated.
There are literally dozens of stories out there waiting to be told, many of them outright fabrications by al Qaeda in Iraq or the insurgents. Would it be too much to ask that our press try their best not to recycle old stories that have either been disproved or for which there is precious little proof save the statements of “civilians” who may very well be spreading disinformation?
Given the mood they’re in, I doubt our media will look very carefully at these old stories. And the hell of it is, they appear to be more willing to accept the statements at face value of people who are either deliberately or unwittingly assisting the enemy while ferociously questioning anything their own country’s military says.
UPDATE
I agree with Michelle Malkin. Recycling old news stories and presenting them as something new is one thing. But this is a deliberate, calculated smear:
Look very carefully at the photo featured in the UK Times’s report from June 1, 2006 titled “Massacre Marines blinded by hate:” (big hat tip – Joe G.)
If you are left with the impression that the dead bodies on the ground were massacred by our Marines, that is exactly what the Times intends. Note the caption: “Victims in al-Haditha. The US is carrying out two inquiries (AP).”
Now, look at this photo closely:
It is clearly the same location. The same set of dead bodies. The second is a wider shot with three additional bodies in the foreground.
But guess what? The photo, according to this Newsweek caption of the scene, is not of the Nov. 19 incident in Haditha involving our Marines, as the UK Times would have you believe.
Read the caption:
“Insurgents in Haditha executed 19 Shiite fishermen and National Guardsmen in a sports stadium.”
Our Marines did not kill these people.
The terrorists did.
Unbelievable. Using a picture of civilians massacred by terrorists purporting to show the results of the Marine massacre at Haditha?
Michelle suggested we contact the BBC and protest. I say that this kind of thing demands stronger action. I suggest we send emails to Donald Rumsfeld at the Pentagon or Condi Rice at the State Department and have the government of the United States protest this outrage to the British government. The BBC is a state owned news organization and should be responsible to the British government for this kind of deliberate and base smear of the United States armed forces.
10:30 am
Rick: this is discouraging, but it can be countered. President Bush could give an address and suggest that the best thing we all can do is wait for the official report. He can suggest that innunendo and baseless charges hurt the war effort and the morale of our troops and our nation.
He can tactfully remind the American people of the media’s track record in covering events, the 10,000 dead and babies being raped during Katrina for example.
I think he could put the media on the defensive or at least force them to be more responsible. He could but he won’t. And that is something I don’t understand, can someone help me.
11:04 am
I could have sworn they used that same photo for Ishaqi and Haditha… maybe it’s me.
11:25 am
The useful idiots of our time, Rick, not unlike Walter Duranty. The difference being, of course, he was the exception to the rule when he was acting as Stalin’s chief Western propagandist.
Now, every so-called journalist with an axe to grind is deliberately undermining whatever it is the United States is trying to accomplish in Afghanistan, Iraq, etc. And we need look no further than the MSM’s coverage of the NATO bombing of Serbia in ‘99 for proof of political bias in their coverage of American military operations.
Although our “friends” on the left tacitly refuse to acknowledge any such slant, anyone who can’t see it doesn’t know their ass from a hole in the ground.
11:47 am
Not only are they using the same photo’s, they are using photo’s of people killed by the terrorist in an execution of enemies (friendly peace loving Iraqi’s) of the terrorists, and stating that the slaughter involved U.S. forces. In other words they use any photo they can beg, borrow or steal and glue it to the current story.
We can be sure that the news (sic) media and the democratic party will be 100% responsible for the next major attack on U.S. soil, as the canadians have figured out. They just found a group of home grown terrorists with enough explosives to destroy several large building and kill hundreds/thousands of people. These terrorist are acting out of loyalty to no one but are operating on hate alone. They, left wing democrats and media types have been and are supporting the terrorists organizatons for some unknown political reason. I suspect their hate has turned to insanity. The recent article by another insane Kennedy should prove to everyone that the left is now ready for the rubber room or the hotel of many bars.
I can’t hate people like this, but i really pity them and their families. They have let a small group of anti-americans (communist dominated left wing of the democratic party) drive them to the point of insanity that they would now destroy their own country and kill their own families to satisfy their wounded ego’s. Whats really ironic about the lefties is that they have to know that the crazed Islamist they are supporting hate them as bad or worse than they do the average american. No one likes or trust a traitor and the traitorous media types and left wingers will be first in line at the head chopping block.
12:10 pm
[...] Right Wing Nut House offers a similar look at the Ishaqi incident, of which the Marines were recently cleared of wrongdoing, something that this man is not happy about. [...]
1:07 pm
Murtha’s Campaign of Hatred By the Bear
Because of the irresponsible actions of Congressman John Murtha and the MSM, it is become almost impossible for these marines to get a fair trail or their day in court.
...
3:59 pm
The REAL Haditha
Since no one in the media will show what Haditha is really like, I will do my part to educate the public. . The article and photos demonstrate the tactics of the insurgents in Haditha and the civilian complicity with the attacks against our soldiers….
11:22 pm
a Haditha bounce for Bush?
Can it be that the American people are finally fed up with the MSM? That they finally have come to realize that despite what we hear from Lara Logan and David Gregory, that things are going quite well in Iraq? That they know that the only thing stan…
8:01 am
Catch-Up Time
I blame Al Gore and his going to the mattresses over the 2000 Presidential election for much of the partisan rancor in the nation today. I think his irresponsible behavior led relatively directly to the development of BDS.Here are two
5:06 pm
“And we need look no further than the MSM’s coverage of the NATO bombing of Serbia in ‘99 for proof of political bias in their coverage of American military operations.”
Mainly coveraged up because it was on Clinton/Clarke Watch.
Where was Murtha outrage when this happen….
‘Nato hits train, killing nine’
April 12, 1999
“...Civilian passengers on board a passenger train have been killed by Nato missile strikes, according to Serb officials…..
...Nato has confirmed attacking the bridge 250km (155 miles) south-east of Belgrade, but is still investigating the reports of civilian deaths.
Military authorities in Belgrade say the train was crossing a deep river gorge when Nato planes attacked a nearby road bridge, severing electricity cables and cutting power to the train.
The Serbian military says the train was trapped on the rail bridge and was then hit by a second bombing run.
Two carriages were reported to have burst into flames and another two coaches thrown from the track.
Nato said the railway bridge was a vital supply line for Serbian troops in Kosovo….”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/317485.stm
“NATO says bomb may have hit Serb civilians”
16 Killed
April 27, 1999
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/europe/9904/27/kosovo.03/index.html
BBC News
May 2, 1999
Bus bombed in Kosovo
The explosion blew half the bus off the bridge
At least 24 people have been killed in a Nato attack on a bridge in Kosovo just as it was being crossed by a civilian bus.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/333408.stm
More on Bus Bombing on Bridge.
“...A journalist for the French news agency, AFP, who visited the site, said 24 people appeared to have been killed.”
“The Nato statement said it targeted the Luzane bridge as a “key north-south supply route for Yugoslav military and special police”.
The statement says “unfortunately, after weapon release a bus crossed the bridge”.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/333571.stm
NATO bombing continues; U.S. blames bad maps for embassy strike
May 9, 1999
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/europe/9905/09/kosovo.02/
NATO says it hit wrong building.
Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, two killed and many wounded.
May 10, 1999
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/europe/9905/10/kosovo.01/index.html
NATO, Describing Village as Army Post, Admits Strike. 80 Civilians killed.
May 15, 1999
NATO Blames Serbs for placing Refugees in harms way.)
“NATO said Saturday that it had carried out an attack on a military command post in southern Kosovo and acknowledged that civilians were accidentally killed in the attack.
The Yugoslav Government says that more than 80 civilians were killed in the Thursday night raid…”
http://partners.nytimes.com/library/world/europe/051699kosovo-nato.html
7:58 am
[...] PUNDIT VINCE AUT MORIRE VODKAPUNDIT WALLO WORLD WIDE AWAKES WIZBANG WUZZADEM ZERO POINT BLOG MORE INVESTIGATION, BETTER REPORTING NEEDED ON HADITHA STORY SOMETHING MISSING THIS WAY COMES LOOSE LIPS SINKING AL QAEDA IN IRAQ? WORLD CUP PREVIEW: BLAME ITON RIO BOLTON APPLIES THE SCREWS TO THE UN SPINNING THEIR WAY TO DEFEAT IN NOVEMBER COUNTDOWN TO GERMANY: POLITICS AND SPORTS ZARQAWI DEAD: INSURGENCY LIVES UN TO UNITED STATES: CRACK DOWN ON DISSENT OR ELSE… BUSBY-BILBRAY A TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT ANN COULTER: CONSERVATIVE LOUT A WORD ABOUT COURAGE IT’S COMING…WATCH FOR IT TV NOTE: “SPACE RACE” ON NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL IRAQI GOVERNMENT FIDDLES WHILE THE COUNTRY BURNS A HEARTFELT AND SINCERE THANKS SECOND IN A SERIES OF SHAMELESS BLEGS FOR COLD, HARD CASH (BUMPED) GEORGE BUSH MADE ME HAVE SEX THE DIVERSITY OF THE GRAVE COUNTDOWN TO GERMANY: US MUST FINISH WHAT THEY START HADITHA AND THE PRESS: PLEASE RECYCLE - IT WILL HELP WITH THE (ANTI) WAR EFFORT! WHEN NEW NEWS IS OLD NEWS MAKE EVERY VOTE COUNT…OR NOT THE COUNCIL HAS SPOKEN WHAT THE LEFT REALLY WANTS FROM HADITHA “24″ (65) ABLE DANGER (10) Bird Flu (5) Blogging (86) Books (7) CARNIVAL OF THE CLUELESS (66) CHICAGO BEARS (9) CIA VS. THE WHITE HOUSE (24) Cindy Sheehan (12) Ethics (58) General (282) Government (42) History (56) IMMIGRATION REFORM (11) Iran (26) KATRINA (26) Katrina Timeline (4) Marvin Moonbat (14) Media (81) Middle East (24) Moonbats (47) NET NEUTRALITY (2) Open House (1) Politics (198) Science (15) Space (13) Supreme Court (19) UNITED NATIONS (1) War on Terror (114) WATCHER’S COUNCIL (46) WHITE SOX (1) Wide Awakes Radio (1) WORLD CUP (5) WORLD POLITICS (41) WORLD SERIES (14) Admin Login Register Valid XHTML XFN [...]