Posted on 10/07/2005 12:47:12 PM PDT by contemplator
Terror videos have become almost commonplace. But now, al-Qaida has taken it one step further: download-ready "news broadcasts" on the Internet. The "Voice of the Caliphate" will be airing once a week. Two programs have already been shown.
Terror on the TV. A "Voice of the Caliphate" masked newsreader, complete with weapon, koran and picture of Zarqawi. Not quite Dan Rather. "Good evening, and welcome to your program, 'The weekly news overview for the Muslim community.'" With this friendly greeting, the program begins. Their contrast to the image with which they're paired -- the anchor man is wearing a military uniform and a black mask and upon his table rests a Koran and a machine gun -- could hardly be more jarring. And indeed, this is no normal television show. It's al-Qaida TV -- the terror group's latest attempt to widen its group of sympathizers.
"Voice of the Caliphate" the propaganda-show is called and it's been available for a number of days as a downloadable file on a number of Islamist Web sites. Two productions have been made available, each in Arabic and each 15 minutes long. Their content? World news from the perspective of al-Qaida and co.
Events from Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan are reported upon, as is, with a heavy dose of schadenfreude, the destructive fall-out from Hurricane "Katrina" in the United States. According to the show, the hurricane was a "soldier of God" that found its way to New Orleans, "the city of homosexuals."
But this isn't just some amateur looking video. The producers of "Voice of the Caliphate" have gone to great lengths to make the show look professional and to project the image that they are informed. A station-logo, sub-titles, and flashing text all appear on screen, as does the box -- standardized by reputable news shows -- above the anchorman's shoulder displaying a picture to go with the news item being presented.
There are even "adverts." Between news stories, the anchor leaves the set and a short film is shown. One is a series of images, coupled with music, depicting a presumed al-Qaida-member in prison ("May God end his incarceration"). Another is a trailer for an upcoming film ("Total Jihad" by "Mouslim Mouwahad"). And then, there is a preview of the up-coming show: "An address on Muslim media, by the General Secretary of the 'Global Islamic Media Front'".
Al-Qaida Opens Up
The program's glitzy logo shows how professional al-Qaida media outlets have become. The Global Islamic Media Front (GMIF) is also the group behind the "Voice of the Caliphate." Presumably a loose network within al-Qaida made up of experienced al-Qaida fighters as well as less experienced converts, the GMIF focuses primarily on public relations. For years now, the GMIF has acted as a sort of filter for the Islamist Internet and regularly claims that only those terrorist messages -- claims of responsibility for terrorist attacks or group strategy papers for example -- which appear on a GMIF site are authentic. The material the site has published has so far tended to support this claim, making a connection to al-Qaida that much more likely.
Nevertheless it is unclear whether the two programs are produced with the knowledge of, let alone actually by, the al-Qaida leadership. It is possible the shows are simply made by sympathizers who want to help the terror network with getting its message across more effectively. Indeed, the terror network has opened up massively since the Afghanistan war in 2001 and has repeatedly asked supporters to take the initiative themselves, especially in propaganda. And the "Voice of the Caliphate" can be seen as the most recent step in a propaganda initiative, which began with several online magazines in 2003.
Interestingly, the founder of al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden, plays no known role in either of the two "news" shows thus far released. Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi, al-Qaida lieutenant in Iraq, on the other hand, is given a great deal of attention. Excerpts from two of his taped messages are reproduced for minutes at a time in the show. In one of them he announces the start of total war against the Shiites in Iraq. Bulletins of other terror organizations active in Iraq are also given a lot of space. Ansar al-Sunna makes an appearance for example, as does the Islamic Army, and the Army of the Mujahidin. The programs reflect the trend which has been apparent on Islamic Web sites for months: The Iraqi al-Qaida branch works together more closely with other organizations than was previously assumed.
In other news...The American Democratic Party has declared the AQ News Network its official News Network.
I dont understand why we don't ZOT any Al Quaida websites as soon as they appear?
I thought al Qaeda already had a nightly news show on CNN, CBS, NBC and ABC.
Actually, the correct translation of the show title is "60 Minutes"
No, just contributing editors.
AL-CNN....The Mis-Trusted name in news.........
The hit sitcom is "Everybody Loves Osama"
ROFL!
After all they're on the same side.
don't forget "Farce Factor"
The "Dirty Dining" segments from the Al Qaeda Department of Health are a real hoot. "Don't eat a Jihad Joe's. Our reporter found too much Ammonium Nitrate residue on the floors and a high explosive suicide vest was left in one of the booths."
and during the half time show of the goat-throwing contest you can bet their will be no "wardrobe malfunctions" (unless you count showing too much ankle.)
Am I the only guy who thinks that blowing this guy to the fifth ring of hell in the middle of his broadcast would send a nice fat message to Al Qaida?
"Good evening. I am Muhammad Al Akbar Al Yammal Al Goatbanger and tonight I bring you news of the vile dog Zionists and their filthy American Satan allies. Plus, coming up in sport, the Kirkuk Mudhens score an upset over the Basra Camel Spiders. Top story tonight, the jews.....hey, what's that whistling sound?"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Allahu Akbar you sheet-wrapping bastard.
"This morning on Martyrdom for Shut-ins we'll drag this paraplegic former goatball player up in an airplane, fill his pants with TATP and drop him onto a bunch of infidel zionists"
I like that idea! Lets make that their lead story every night.
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