Insurgent TV channel turns into Iraq's newest cult hit

http://www.guardian.co.uk/ ^ | Monday January 15, 2007 | Michael Howard

[DogByte6RER]

Insurgent TV channel turns into Iraq's newest cult hit

Michael Howard in Baghdad

Monday January 15, 2007

The Guardian

An American soldier slumps in the turret of his tank, felled by the infamous Baghdad sniper. A Humvee is vapourised by a roadside bomb. Rockets launch from a pick-up truck to shouts of "Allah u Akhbar [God is great]".

Back in the studio a TV anchorman, dressed in fatigues, urges viewers to rise up and fight the invaders. "We will not surrender. Either death or victory," he vows, while warning US forces and their "Iranian" friends in Iraq's government that they face a shameful defeat.

This is al-Zawraa TV, a 24-hour satellite station that lionises Iraq's insurgency to the drumbeat of Saddam-era martial music. It is a crude and dizzying mix of images and videos harvested from jihadi websites - and a cult hit. There are grainy loops of car bombs and mortar attacks interspersed with images of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib and bloodied children. "Mujahideen" are seen training. Clips of Michael Moore's film, Fahrenheit 9/11 are thrown in for good measure.

Its chief targets are the US-led forces and "collaborators". But it reserves some of its strongest venom for the Safawis, a derogatory term used by Sunni Arabs to describe Iraq's resurgent Shia political and religious establishment. The name harks back to the Persian Safavid empire which ran amok in Baghdad in the 16th century.

The radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi militia, thought to be behind many of today's anti-Sunni attacks, are excoriated as "murderous gangsters", while the Shia-led government is labelled as Iranian stooges. "We are not against the Shia, we are against the Safawis," the station proclaims.

[DogByte6RER]

"Clips of Michael Moore's film, Fahrenheit 9/11 are thrown in for good measure."

But of course they were!

This new Islamofascist propaganda TV station would save lots of money if they just broadcast "Fahrenheit 9-11" over and over again...

[DogByte6RER]

Michael Moore...useful idiot and unAmerican blowhard pig.

[ErnBatavia]

If we can't hone in on that broadcast signal and vaporize the facility, then we've got no business there.

[Spruce]

One case where I condone censorship. Hopefully in the convenient 2,000 pound JDAM variety.

[adorno]

Insurgent TV channel turns into Iraq's newest cult hit

Iraq Insurgency TV- probably a subsidiary of The Guardian

[edcoil]

"Insurgent TV channel turns into Iraq's newest cult hit"

Do we owe Iraq anything anymore?

[DogByte6RER]

I have no doubts that this is why The Guardian is writing about and promoting this propaganda TV station...

[SolidWood]

"turns into Iraq's newst cult hit"

Oh really? Yeah I'm sure the 80% Kurdish and Shia Iraqis are just loving this Sunni-Jihadist crap. I guess it's rather the Guardian who thinks this to be a cult hit... Despicable A**holes.

[SIDENET]

This is al-Zawraa TV, a 24-hour satellite station that lionises Iraq's insurgency to the drumbeat of Saddam-era martial music.

Al-Zawraa, here's a little picture for you.

Enjoy your music.

[SolidWood]

Are you really buying that Guardian leftist crap? Why should it be a "hit" in Iraq when 80 or more percent are described as enemies and traitors by this "channel"!? It's al-Qaeda and the Guardian who think this to be a "hit"... not Iraq.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Isn't the Guardian forbidden to run on FR?

It durned well should be. Talk about propaganda!

[KeyLargo]

This describes CNN doesn't it?

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

"Insurgent TV, turns into Iraq's newest CRATER" (A direct hit!)

[reagan_fanatic]

Clips of Michael Moore's film, Fahrenheit 9/11 are thrown in for good measure

Congratulations, Mr. Moore, for being a useful tool in the hands of America's mortal enemies - the same enemies who are even now putting bullets into the bodies of American soldiers and blowing them apart with roadside bombs.

You must be mighty proud of yourself.

[Stallone]

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

When our troops begin their Surge, they will have the restrictions of "Rules of Engagement" off their backs. I have a feeling that this 'Broadcaster' will disappear rather quickly.

[Stallone]

[wildcatf4f3]

how cute, the Democrats have their own channel now.

[SolidWood]

an American soldier slumps in the turret of his tank, felled by the infamous Baghdad sniper. A Humvee is vapourised by a roadside bomb.

You can taste the arrogant glee of the Guardian "reporter" typing these lines! No offense to those who post this on FR (in this case DogByte6RER), but why do we give the liberal liars a platform? We already know how they think...

[Stallone]

[wildcatf4f3]

why do we allow the left

[silverleaf]

Well we obviously need to start beaming "Desperate Housewives" and "American Idol" into Baghdad to pick up those prime time viewers. An underground but accessible porn channel would also divert some of those jihadis from fantasizing about virgins in heaven.

[Stallone]

"We will not surrender. Either death or victory," he vows...

I for one vote for their death.

Any else agree?

[Stallone]

AnyONE else agree?

[SolidWood]

I agree. :)

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

The Military Channel is running a report about Company "A" in Iraq.

They are dealing with Sunnis in the Al Anbar province. Our brave Marines all say that they "Circle Talk", which is a code word for lie, about everything.

They also say that if they are given access to the Internet, all they do is surf PORNO the entire time they are on.

So, this is the answer, start up a PORNO channel and place pro American pop-up ads on the screen, without any blocker programs available.....

[Thrownatbirth]

how cute, the Democrats have their own channel now.

Maybe Obermann can get better numbers narrating Coalition snuff videos.

[DogByte6RER]

There is no offense taken.

While I recognize that this Guardian article actually touts the Islamic propaganda TV station, I posted this FR thread because it needs to be exposed, crtiqued and challenged...

[mcshot]

You are so right, Ern!

[rbookward]

>>If we can't hone in on that broadcast signal and vaporize the facility, then we've got no business there. ...a 24-hour satellite station... I agree, but the other 250 broadcasters using the same satelite might get a little miffed. So be it.

[usurper]

If we can't hone in on that broadcast signal and vaporize the facility, then we've got no business there.

It was being broadcast out of Qatar and we were able to get them to shut it down. It has now moved to Egypt. We have asked them to shut it down but so far they have refused.

[The Great RJ]

Sounds just like CNN.

[ErnBatavia]

I agree, but the other 250 broadcasters using the same satelite might get a little miffed. So be it.

I suspected my proposed "fix" was too damn easy...thanks. Hey, maybe we can insert a little chip or widget on those satellites to solve such eventualities in the future?

[rbookward]

I was a little quick on the trigger too. (Or slow between the ears.)

Just find the site of the up-link and...

[ErnBatavia]

Just find the site of the up-link and...

[pointsal]

Anyone have the LAT/LONG of the broadcast signal????

[rbookward]

Now that's what I call the ultimate remote control!