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With All the Fauxtography, What To Believe?
Today Show/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 08/10/2006 6:03:14 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest

by Mark Finkelstein

August 10, 2006 - 08:52

That truth is the first casualty of war has been borne home by the proliferating scandal of photographs of the current Middle East crisis doctored so as to portray Israel in the worst possible light. At this point, can we look at any image from the area without a good dose of doubt?

Take this morning's report on the Today show. NBC's Richard Engel, in Tyre, Lebanon, reported that:

"The fighting has made humanitarian relief efforts almost impossible. Israel has cut roads and attacked vehicles, isolating Hezbollah and everyone else."

This was followed by a clip by an unidentified individual. Judging by his words and accent, he might have been a Red Cross official. He said:

"Lots of people have died because they just couldn't make it to a hospital in time. Ambulances clearly marked with the Red Cross were hit right in the middle of the roof of the car. The Red Cross stands for protection and neutrality. This should not have happened."

There appeared on screen the image of a Red Cross vehicle. And sure enough, smack in the middle of the Red Cross on the roof was a gaping hole. The clear implication was that this was the result of Israeli fire. But can we be blamed for wondering whether this was evidence of near-miraculous Israeli marksmanship . . . or clever staging by Hezbollah or its sympathizers?

As to the Red Cross's alleged 'neutrality', in fact the international Red Cross has a long history of a less-than-friendly attitude toward Israel, only recently admitting it to membership after a boycott that had lasted since Israel's founding.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: doctoredphotos; fauxlebanonnews; fauxtography; middleeastconflict; nbc; redcross; reuters; richardengel; todayshow
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Here's the photo displayed on the Today show. Can you look at this without wondering?


1 posted on 08/10/2006 6:03:15 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: Behind Liberal Lines; Miss Marple; an amused spectator; netmilsmom; Diogenesis; YaYa123; MEG33; ...

Today Show/NewsBusters ping.


2 posted on 08/10/2006 6:03:52 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Can you look at this without wondering?

Nope. Every word the MSM spews is suspect until corroborated by a more trustworthy source, as far as I'm concerned.

3 posted on 08/10/2006 6:05:35 AM PDT by Skooz (Chastity prays for me, piety sings...Modesty hides my thighs in her wings...)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Question for our military experts: if a shell of a size corresponding to the hole pictured in the photo had pierced the vehicle's roof, how likely is it that the remainder of the vehicle would have remained intact, as it apparently is?


4 posted on 08/10/2006 6:08:23 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

TIN ROOF:

R U S T E D ! ! !

HELLO ?


5 posted on 08/10/2006 6:08:28 AM PDT by FrPR
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

It looks like the opening where a flashing blue strobe light, spotlight or other emergency accessory would be mounted. The hole just looks too clean.


6 posted on 08/10/2006 6:10:41 AM PDT by Brad from Tennessee (Anything a politician gives you he has first stolen from you)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
No military expert here, but could the missle possibly have been fired from inside the vehicle?
7 posted on 08/10/2006 6:10:52 AM PDT by synbad600
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Can you look at this without wondering?

No need to wonder. I'm 99.9% sure Hezbollah was in the Red Cross Ambulance and offer my congratulations to the Israeli marksman who made such a perfect shot.

8 posted on 08/10/2006 6:11:05 AM PDT by demkicker
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

It looks like it was cut out with a torch, beaten with an axe and somebody jumped up and down on it.


9 posted on 08/10/2006 6:11:17 AM PDT by Bigh4u2 (Denial is the first requirement to be a liberal)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

You have GOT to be kidding. That is the worst, most blatant staging of a photo I've seen yet. A bomb a foot or more in diameter cuts through a vehicle but it doesn't absolutely destroy it? Staged!


10 posted on 08/10/2006 6:11:30 AM PDT by subterfuge (If Liberals hated terrorists like they hate Bush the war would be over by now)
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To: FrPR

Darn you!! Now that dumb song is going to be in my head all day.

I noticed the rust on that too. That damage has been there for a while. That hole sure is perfectly round and centered isn't it.


11 posted on 08/10/2006 6:11:32 AM PDT by CougarGA7 (There are no trophies for winning wars. Only consequences for losing them.)
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To: FrPR

I work metal in my spare time and I can tell you those rust spots occurred after the damage was done to that roof. Metal just doesn't rust that way under paint. If a bomb hit that roof it was at least six-eight months ago. It's another fake there is no way that much rust occurred in the middle of the desert that quickly I live in South Georgia and even with our humidity rust doesn't set up that fast. This is absolutely faked.


12 posted on 08/10/2006 6:12:24 AM PDT by Sentis
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

To me, that hole looks like it was burned in with a torch. Not punctured by a projectile.


13 posted on 08/10/2006 6:12:49 AM PDT by TruthBeforeAll (Christ gave and died. Mohammed took and killed.)
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To: synbad600
No military expert here, but could the missle possibly have been fired from inside the vehicle?

By George, I think you've got it!

14 posted on 08/10/2006 6:13:07 AM PDT by demkicker
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

That hole wasn't caused by munitions. Look how even it is, and the even ring of paintless metal around it, with symetrical cuts.

Another VERY BAD PHONY!


15 posted on 08/10/2006 6:13:38 AM PDT by Mr Rogers (I'm agnostic on evolution, but sit ups are from Hell!)
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To: CougarGA7

Also the holes caused by the bomb exploding are dented in the wrong way. If the bomb exploded inside the vehicle those holes around the large circular one would be dented out not dented in.


16 posted on 08/10/2006 6:14:00 AM PDT by Sentis
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I guess fools might think this hole in a Red Cross car means it was specifically targeted. Fools would never consider it accidental, or collateral, and for sure they would never think that Red Cross vehicle contained cowardly Hezbo creeps who commandeered it for their escape.


17 posted on 08/10/2006 6:14:49 AM PDT by YaYa123
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To: Brad from Tennessee

Yes, and notice how the hole appears right in the middle of the 'red cross' as though that were used as target acquisition. Any munition making that size of entry hole would have incinerated that ambulance. This would be laughable if the stakes weren't so high.

What I find so amazing, is that now Reuters and AP among others have egg on their face presenting obviously faked pics, and the Today show brings us this pic that has the earmarks of propaganda all over it. The hole is right in the middle of the Red Cross! They aren't even putting forth any effort!


18 posted on 08/10/2006 6:16:00 AM PDT by Space Wrangler
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To: Mr Rogers

I looked at the hole again. It has regular cuts along the edge of the hole. It is obvious that the hole was professionally cut at least on the bottom side and was probably used to mount a light or something. Someone ook that out and used an ax or iother implement on the upper side of the hole to make it a bit more ragged but that was probably done taking out the light.


19 posted on 08/10/2006 6:17:09 AM PDT by Sentis
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To: tet68

I wondered about your take on this photo?


20 posted on 08/10/2006 6:17:22 AM PDT by YaYa123
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I know we need to consider bandwidth issues here, but is it possible to upload a larger version? Maybe link to a photo-hosting site? A larger version would help debunk this photo.


21 posted on 08/10/2006 6:18:03 AM PDT by reegs
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To: synbad600
could the missle possibly have been fired from inside the vehicle?

Nailed it !!!

22 posted on 08/10/2006 6:18:17 AM PDT by Ouderkirk (Don't you think it's interesting how death and destruction seems to happen wherever Muslims gather?)
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To: FrPR

Your cigar will be sent directly to the Love Shack, where it will be waiting for you to pick it up.


23 posted on 08/10/2006 6:19:38 AM PDT by Sax (You Done Tore Out My Heart And Stomped That Sucker Flat)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Just curious, but if a missile had punched that hole on the way in, wouldn't it have crushed the top a little bit more than this just before it, oh, I don't know, exploded the vehicle into little pieces?


24 posted on 08/10/2006 6:19:39 AM PDT by Tanniker Smith (I didn't know she was a liberal when I married her.)
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To: Brad from Tennessee

Not only that, look at the ring of unpainted metal around the hole! That's where whatever was there was fastened to the roof before the vehicle was painted. I'll be it you could get a clear enough look at the perimeter you would see the holes where the object was fastened to the vehicle.


25 posted on 08/10/2006 6:20:25 AM PDT by jwparkerjr
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I thought they used the Red Crescent in the middle east - not the cross. Why do I keep seeing ambulances with crosses on them?


26 posted on 08/10/2006 6:21:58 AM PDT by alicewonders
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To: Sentis

Here's my professional opinion on this.

First, if this was caused by munitions it would have had to be a dud. There are zero signs of overpressure on that vehicle. That would be the only explanation for the direction of the denting.

Second, a munition large enough to make that hole would have completely destroyed that vehicle. There would be nothing left of it.

Finally, look at the hole compared to the surrounding damage. There are signs of fresh cutting around that hole. Not the rust free area on the lower right portion. Also there is no tearing of the metal for the most part. An impact would not make such a clean hole. There would be metal tearing.

This is a fraud all the way.


27 posted on 08/10/2006 6:22:03 AM PDT by CougarGA7 (There are no trophies for winning wars. Only consequences for losing them.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
I don't know if this is from the same vehicle, but SFGate.com is using this image:

Here's the text that accompanies the photo:

Medics, injured civilians under attack / Red Cross trucks in south Lebanon targeted by pilots
The roof of this ambulance was hit during an Israeli air strike, according to Lebanese Red Cross workers who shot the video from which this image was taken. Associated Press Photo

28 posted on 08/10/2006 6:22:37 AM PDT by reegs
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To: jwparkerjr

You can see th holes where it was fastened they are those regularly spaced rips along the edge. the metal has been fatigued thereand broken when the object that was bolted to the top was removed.


29 posted on 08/10/2006 6:22:43 AM PDT by Sentis
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

If some projectile that big hit an ambulance, we wouldn't be looking at a damaged roof. We would be looking at little pieces the size of your thumb.

Besides, unless things in Lebanon rust overnight, this damage happened a long time ago.


30 posted on 08/10/2006 6:22:56 AM PDT by gridlock (The 'Pubbies will pick up two (2) seats in the Senate and four (4) seats in the House in 2006)
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To: TruthBeforeAll

Yeh.

If the projectile were non-explosive, to make a hole that large, it would have crushed the roof, not made a near-perfect hole.

If the projectile were explosive (missile/rocket), it would have destroyed the vehicle [recall all the images of burning vehicles -- painted markings seldom survive].


31 posted on 08/10/2006 6:24:01 AM PDT by TomGuy
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To: CougarGA7

Not the rust free = Note the rust free


32 posted on 08/10/2006 6:24:33 AM PDT by CougarGA7 (There are no trophies for winning wars. Only consequences for losing them.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

This ambulance roof was covered by one of the blogs - might have even been LGF - last week. The rusted roof, rusted antennae was mentioned and it was suspected that this is a prop that gets dragged around by Hezzie propagandists. I'll try to find the link and will post it.


33 posted on 08/10/2006 6:26:52 AM PDT by Spiff ("They start yelling, 'Murderer!' 'Traitor!' They call me by name." - Gael Murphy, Code Pink leader)
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To: reegs

Its the same they are shooting from a different angle to hide the side of tyhe hole that wasn't distressed as much so it looks more real. Again metal that has been covered by paint does not rust that quickly also when even rusted metal is put under any sort of ripping or tearing the rust is ripped away in spots becuase the metal is not rust all the way through. If this was real and just occurred the metal even if rusted before it was painted would have bright spots where the munitions would have broken through the rust to the steal under it. This ambulanc has been beat up a long time. If we look back to the archive i bet we can find it has been trotted out before in other conflicts as a "See what the evil Isrealis have done".


34 posted on 08/10/2006 6:27:36 AM PDT by Sentis
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Here's the photo displayed on the Today show. Can you look at this without wondering?

EVERYTHING, the DBM/dems puts out has to be scutinized. They have brough this on themselves with too many lies and too much deception. NOTHING they report on should ever again be believed!!

35 posted on 08/10/2006 6:27:39 AM PDT by sirchtruth (No one has the RIGHT not to be offended...)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

I can't find the link now but this has already been busted as simply the removal of a ceiling vent. Note the nice darts cut along the 1 o'clock thru 7 o'clock positions. This is not missile damage but normal sheetmetal work. The chunk missing on the top left of the hole is probably from someone rippng the vent away.


36 posted on 08/10/2006 6:28:22 AM PDT by Paine in the Neck
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To: reegs
This is from the SFGate.com article:

As he closed the back hatch on his white Toyota van, Chaalan's world became one of heat, light and concussion wave. A guided missile struck the vehicle with the three civilians inside. Overhead, an Israeli Apache helicopter buzzed. It was the first attack by Israel on a Red Cross ambulance in the two-week conflict, wounding five volunteers and three patients, according to the Red Cross.

In previous conflicts in Gaza and the West Bank, Israel has struck ambulances when it believed the vehicles were being used to smuggle weapons and personnel to militants. In a statement Monday, an Israeli army spokesman said the ambulances in Qana were attacked "in an area known to be one of the main sources of the launching of hundreds of missiles," according to Cox News Service. The Red Cross has asked Israel for a more detailed explanation.

Emphasis mine. I find it hard to believe that much of anything would be left following a missile attach from an Apache helicopter. Any ordinance experts out there care to opine?

37 posted on 08/10/2006 6:28:24 AM PDT by reegs
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To: Sentis

Sorry about spelling errors I am typing fast and want to get this out while its fresh in my mind.


38 posted on 08/10/2006 6:29:42 AM PDT by Sentis
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
They were probably taking this lady to the hospital for a check up:


39 posted on 08/10/2006 6:31:00 AM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: reegs

Your right. There wouldn't be much left if it was a missile from an Apache. Additionally, the angle is all wrong for that unless the ambulance was rolled on it's side.


40 posted on 08/10/2006 6:31:09 AM PDT by CougarGA7 (There are no trophies for winning wars. Only consequences for losing them.)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

You can see unpainted mounting flanges around the right quadrant of the circle which indicates that this is an access hole in the sheet metal.

The Hezbos must be laughing their @sses off by now.


41 posted on 08/10/2006 6:31:27 AM PDT by randog (What the...?!)
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To: reegs
All of the holes are shaped that something outside went inside..... If, a bomb took out a building and some piece of debris smashed through the top, MAYBE this COULD happen.

This IS NOT the result of any known ordnance.

Semper Analysis

42 posted on 08/10/2006 6:32:18 AM PDT by Trident/Delta (Chaos, Panic and Disorder.....My work here is done!)
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To: synbad600
...could the missile possibly have been fired from inside the vehicle?

I suppose you could, but it would not make that hole and the the backblast would incinerate the inside of the vehicle.

43 posted on 08/10/2006 6:33:27 AM PDT by RebelBanker (If you can't do something smart, do something right.)
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INCOMING!

44 posted on 08/10/2006 6:34:02 AM PDT by evets (08-22-06)
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To: Trident/Delta

If it did happen it happened a long time ago from the look of the rust.


45 posted on 08/10/2006 6:34:11 AM PDT by Sentis
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Red Cross ambulances could be the means, a means, of re-supply of the Hezzies.. Oh! and U.N. vehicles..


46 posted on 08/10/2006 6:34:21 AM PDT by hosepipe (CAUTION: This propaganda is laced with hyperbole.)
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To: hosepipe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqGjz7iJTns

check out this video of red cross ambulances ferrying around terrorists in Gaza.


47 posted on 08/10/2006 6:37:02 AM PDT by Sentis
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To: randog
Here's a photo that shows a red vent mounted on the top of a RC ambulance in Lebanon

Look closely just in the extreme upper left of photo. Notice that the vent is right where the Red Cross on the roof is painted.

48 posted on 08/10/2006 6:37:25 AM PDT by Paine in the Neck
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To: governsleastgovernsbest; Timesink; martin_fierro; reformed_democrat; Loyalist; =Intervention=; ...
The Terrorist Media! alert.

"Lots of people have died because they just couldn't make it to a hospital in time. Ambulances clearly marked with the Red Cross were hit right in the middle of the roof of the car. The Red Cross stands for protection and neutrality. This should not have happened."

Aside from the fact that Islamofascist terrorists have a bad habit of using ambulances as taxi services and weapons lorries, where did you get this picture of a "holy" Red Cross ambulance? Is it a Sawzall hole, or is it photoshopped? ;-)

49 posted on 08/10/2006 6:37:55 AM PDT by an amused spectator (Bush Runner! The Donkey is after you! Bush Runner! When he catches you, you're through!)
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To: TruthBeforeAll
Not punctured by a projectile.

Missiles and bombs are not BIG bullets that leave clean "entry wounds" .... when they hit they usually go b-o-o-m and leave, if anything, a pretty obvious outward rush of energy and matter.

This photo has been making the i-net faux-tography rounds and is widely discussed for its multiple stagings and attributions.

50 posted on 08/10/2006 6:38:23 AM PDT by Optimist (I think I'm beginning to see a pattern here.)
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