Posted on 05/21/2004 7:34:24 AM PDT by kattracks
The U.S. backed Arab-language news network Al Hurra broadcast video on Wednesday depicting grisly acts of torture on Iraqi citizens ordered by Saddam Hussein. But so far at least, the shocking new video remains embargoed by U.S. media outlets.The Washington Post admitted on Friday that it was in possession of some of the gruesome torture images - but did not publish them in a report on the video buried on Page A21. Instead, Post editors decided to front-page stale images of U.S. abuse of suspected terrorists held at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison.
"The [Hussein torture] video reached news outlets," the paper explained, "as senior spokesmen for the Bush administration began to express frustration that the treatment of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. troops had overshadowed well-documented human rights horrors of the Hussein era."
In video yet to be broadcast by any U.S. outlet, Hussein torture victims are shown being flogged and having fingers chopped off. One detainee is filmed as he is thrown from a roof, another beheaded by a sword-weilding member of Saddam's elite Fedayeen unit.
According to the Post, video of the beheading shows a man placing the severed head on the victim's prone body. Another scene shows a man's tongue being cut out.
As NewsMax.com reported on Sunday, other gruesome images from the embargoed video include scenes of Kurdish detainees being castrated and babies being gassed to death.
During the beheading, the executioner reportedly sings "Happy Birthday, Saddam."
Al Hurra news director Mouafac Harb told the Post that he obtained the new torture video on Monday and deemed the images both authentic and newsworthy.
"I was approached with a tape, which I had not seen before," he explained. "I had not seen on the popular Arabic satellite channels any program like this."
Thanks. One of the cable news networks covered this (new hands, removal of "X" on forehead) last night. Brought tears to my eyes.
However I'll wager if they were about to have something chopped off, and Saddam offered them the option of wearing panties on their heads, well, you know.
All Torture! All the Time!
NEW YORK TIMES: C.I.A. USED 'PSYCH-OUTS' ON QAEDA BIGS
The Central Intelligence Agency has used coercive interrogation methods against a select group of high-level leaders and operatives of Al Qaeda that have produced growing concerns inside the agency about abuses, according to current and former counterterrorism officials.
Alleged coersion methods include threatening a detainee with a gun during questioning, use of reverse psychology and "truth or dare," taunting terror suspects with allegations of "chiiii-cken, bawk bawk b-kawk," and subjecting detainees to marathon audiotapes of Air America.
NEW ABUSE SHOCKER: MARINES USING HOT LEAD ON ALLEGED INSURGENTS
New US Iraq abuse allegation surfaced today, as the New York Times reported that the U.S. Marines tortured suspected Iraqi resistance forces with high-speed metal projectiles, resulting in nearly two dozen deaths.
According to Human Rights Watch, Marines in Fallujah were recently seen systematically perforating the flesh of Iraqi suspects with lead projectiles, "without a lawyer present, and before the were even arraigned."
"Lead is a known carcinogen, and this type of torture can be severely painful and inhumane," said Human Rights Watch spokesman Blake Schultz. "For Arab men, there is nothing more humiliating than exit wounds."
"If the reports are true, the U.S. is in clear violation of the Geneva conventions," said Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT). "I can't believe this happened without the knowledge and consent of the Administration."
KENNEDY: THRU BEER GOGGLES, 'SADDAM DOESN'T LOOK HALF BAD'
Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy today said that "Saddam's Torture Tavern has reopened under new U.S. management," and complained that "these new fuckers are watering down the drinks."
Kennedy added that "hey pal, you don't know me," as he slumped to the floor while reaching for his car keys.
BOSTON GLOBE CORRECTS ABUSE PIX STORY
The Boston Globe today issued a correction of a Abu Ghraib prison story it ran in Tuesday's edition, depicting what it said were photos of Iraqi detainees "being thrown from cliffs, put through washing machine wringers, dressed as women, sliced bread-style by clotheslines, pounded into the ground like nails by falling telephone poles, turned into human accordions, and smashed by falling objects including boulders, pianos and ocean liners." According to several websites, the images were actually animation cels from 1940s and '50s MGM and Warner Brothers cartoons.
The Globe said it was conducting an internal investigation of its recent award-winning 15 part abuse series, Naughty Wet Spankings of Shame, and was "actively reviewing" its policy of sourcing foreign affairs reports from Cambridge homeless shelters.
TORTURE GAL FINGERS HIGHER-UPS
Lyndee England, the U.S. soldier seen by millions leading Iraqi prisoners on leashes, implicated her American military superiors in the mistreatment of prisoners at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison.
"Sure, why not?" said England, when asked if she believed the orders may have come from the President.
England, who was playing Mortal Kombat II at a Fayetteville, North Carolina bowling alley lounge, also appealed to the American public for support and "a carton of Merit Menthol 100s."
EMBATTLED RUMSFELD REFUSES CHANCE TO APOLOGIZE
Even half a world away in Baghdad, embattled Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was unable to escape a mounting barrage of criticism for his handling of the Iraq torture crisis. Pressed by a pool of reporters for a response to demands for his resignation, Rumsfeld snapped angrily.
"Oh for goodness sake, do you mind? I'm making 'number two' here," said a visibly shaken Rumsfeld from a restroom stall at Baghram Air Force Base.
CRUMBLING BUSH FOCUS OF CONTROVERSY
(AP) Controversial US President George W. Bush remained the focus of increased rancor today as questions mounted about the clamorous uproar over the burgeoning abuse scandal whose growing momentum threatens to create another divisive wedge in an already angered electorate, which imperils his very administration as it teeters on the brink of disaster, and oh God oh God yes yes yes there it is right there baby uhhhhh AHH....AHH... JOURNALISM! JOURNALISM! JOURNALISM! uhhhh... mmm phhhhh
PRESS PLANS EXPANDED ABUSE COVERAGE
Heads of several major network and cable news operations announced expanded yearlong coverage of the Iraqi prison crisis today. "There is an insatiable, latent public demand out there for information about this scandal, and we intend to supply it," said CNN president Tom Johnson, announcing the premier of a color-coded buttocks on its news crawl to alert viewers to new scandal developments. Cable news rival MSNBC answered with 'Keith Olberman's Top 5 Abuses of the Day," and promised "20% increased screaming from Chris Matthews."
The major networks were quick to follow suit. ABC News said it would revamp the venerable 'Nightline' program as 'Abu Ghraib After Dark,' featuring a pajama-clad Ted Koppel. Starting May 20, CBS will premier 'CSI: Iraq', while NBC is posed to counter with "Marshall Law and Order: Special Victims Unit."
The NBC news division said it would also focus on hard news, sending the Today program on assignment to Iraq. According to an NBC press release, hosts Katie Couric and Matt Lauer will investigate torture stories "in an adorable camouflaged VW Beetle, which will be auctioned off on eBay for Breast Cancer Awareness."
In Entertainment News -- AMERICAN GETS BIG BREAK ON ARAB TV
I have a hunch that the Bush Adm. has something planned campaign wise. They always seem to and the F'n campaign always seems to backfire.
This Abu Ghraib thing can only have "positive" developments for the Dims for so long. At some point I believe that they are turning Americans off in spades as the American Public grows exceedingly weary of hearing this crap and how America is such a shiite hole implicitly, meaning them.
Besides, the media and the Kerry campaign are their own worst enemies.
"Fifth column lib/left/soc/com partisan press & fraudcast media" bump!
Not only this, but Rush is talking now with Mary Matalin about how the major media outlets are suppressing stories about Kerry, because he continues to say so many stupid things.
All I wanted for my birthday was a new bike - perhaps I've been setting my sights too low.
Actually, with 'pyschological momentum' being what it is, when GWB not that long ago was at 67% then 63% then 55% approval, and now at, what 45% approval...it may be too late. If they (The Rove/Card brain trust) were counting on June 30th to make everything all right, and get the Saddam trial underway, they are making a HUGE miscalculation. Plus, the Saddam trial should be moved here, under the Media's nose. We could do the move under the guise of protecting Saddam's security.
I no longer respect the mainstream media because of their clear bias. However, I take pride in saying Saddam acting inhumanely is not news, but U.S. soldiers acting poorly is. We live by a higher standard, and proudly so.
I'm beginning to suspect that some of the "weak horse" press have been sitting on a pile of prison photos' since the story first broke and are releasing them in dribs and drabs so they can keep the story on the front page for a longer time.
...what did they know and when did they know it?
8 Mass Graves of Iraq: Uncovering Atrocities ~ CPA
8 THE CRUELEST COVER-UP ~ Tales of Saddam's Brutality, condensed version. FR thread.
8 Tales of Saddam's Brutality ~ various mainstream press accounts, White House Iraq archive - available long ago.
8 Graphic proof from Saddam's Killing Fields ~ Photos ~ http://www.9neesan.com | the dead of Iraq
8 Iraqi Columnist: The Occupation of Iraq Means Liberty, Even if the Whole World Maintains Otherwise ~ Al-Sharq Al-Awsat
8 Baghdad, with Victims ~ To those with eyes to see, Saddam Hussein’s butchery was reason enough for war ~ 12/03/03
8 I Was Wrong! ~ Ken Joseph's important April, '03 essay. An Assyrian Christian and human shield learns of the Iraqi people's suffering.
8 TEXT FROM INTERCEPTED LETTER WRITTEN BY SUSPECTED TERRORIST LEADER ABU MUS’AB AL-ZARQAWI ~ CENTCOM | 2/19/04
8 Iraqi govt. papers: Saddam bribed Chirac ~ Washington Times - UPI | 1/28/04
8 Saddam Stole Billions From U.N. ~ ABC News | 5/20/03 | Brian Ross and Ronda Schwartz
8 The Real Scandal Of Iraqi Relief ~ NGOs in Iraq ~ New York Post | 5/11/03 | Jonathon Foreman
8 Saddam's Cash ~ the price Saddam paid to silence willing NGOs, press and pols ~ The Weekly Standard | 5/5/03 | Stephen F. Hayes
8 Press scandal: Kowtowing in Iraq ~ John Burns exposes the scandal that is the press in Iraq ~ New York Daily News | 9/17/03 | Zev Chafets
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We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!
There is a video out there of one of Saddam's soliders being pushed off a three story building as punishment. Where did that one go?
I have a feeling that this kind of thing will get a lot of exposure when Saddam gets tried. Any small random sample of his cruelty will be sure to provide "all the horrible that a normal person can stomach."
Misplaced pride, journalistically. The videos ARE newly discovered.
This is pure denial. The same kind of denial that prevented us from acknowledging the media's power to sway popular opinion...STILL...such as in 1996 when they put Clinton over and Dole under.
The only way the media communist editors can be outmaneuvered is by controlling events. They will try and spin any event, of course, but that is where real political smarts will have to be displayed by this administration to prevent it.
I.e., WHEN, not if, Al Quaeda does its next suicide bombing attack into the U.S., (and don't discount another set of plane-jackings...pretending to be US Marshalls)...the administration better be able to pin the blame on the liberals. And start naming the enemies within. Unfortunately, along with the RATs, they are prominent Administration appointees.....Norman Mineta, Tom Ridge, George Tenet...etc.
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