Posted on 05/17/2005 2:43:56 AM PDT by Wiz
The spokesman for the Russian forces in Chechnya, Maj. Gen. Ilya Shabalkin, has charged that Chechen militants based in Baku, Azerbaijan, are manufacturing videocassettes purportedly showing Russian troops torturing Chechen civilians.
Shabalkin specifically charged the Society of Prisoners of Filtration Camps of the Republic Ichkeria on May 10 of producing the videotapes.
Azerbaijan national security ministry official Arif Babayev has rejected Shabalkin's allegations as false. Meanwhile, prominent Azerbaijani human-rights activist Eldar Zeynalov said that while some Chechens might be in Baku to produce such video footage, the Chechen underground film producers would need access to a fully stocked film studio, which they do not currently have.
Zeynalov asserted that the video material was filmed by the Russian armed forces themselves for archival purposes while they torture prisoners.
(Excerpt) Read more at metimes.com ...
A few months before 9-11, a video footage by the title 'Unknown Russian Soldier' was making its rounds on the internet. It was one of the earliest taped Islamic beheadings, made by some Chechnya-based Muslim rebels.
One of the most psychologically disturbing, emotionally damaging, torture-strength videos ever(if you have it, make sure you delete it, holding the SHIFT key down.)
Probably the same whackos are making these videos too.
Maybe there is footage of them flushing a Koran down the toilet.
Chechen rebels use propaganda. For themselves they show thier ruthless in order to scare federal troops and boost thier own ruthlessnes.
For western liberals they make another films which show them as victimes.
ping
Did they use a GI Joe doll?
Agreed. And, having worked in Russian military archives I highly doubt they would be video-taping this alleged "torture" for archival purposes. Gee, I wonder which opis and fond they would file it under... The Xa... uh, Chechens are very good at propaganda and know how to stir the anti-Russian fires in the EU.
I did a search, but nothing came up.
However, Berg and three other civilians I know about from the news have been decapitated in Iraq (Confirmed). Pearl lost his head in Pakistan if I remember right. Point is: A lot of these decapitations are real, and their videos too. Not all are GI Joe dolls! Although some videos are bogus too. Thats why intel services spend time confirming the authenticity of these letters, videos or voice recordings.
All sides there conduct "Psyop" campaigns and target various audiences. It's become the norm for all to point the finger at each other, claim the other conducts "Psyop" (Both black and white). Reality is that outside of NATO the definition and ROE for the use of Psyop vary greatly and are generally much more liberal. The guidelines within NATO are fairly strict and all members must abide by them.
The joke in Chechnya is that BOTH sides play dirty. Both sides torture. Both sides conduct Psyop. Both accuse the other of atrocities. Both say they are victims. Even the West is targeted with IO campaigns from the Russians.
The Russian state has a strangle hold on the media in their own country and in Chechnya today. Little is said about it in Western MSM. When one remembers back to the first Chechen war you will find a plethora of information on torture practices and incidents where this occurred on both sides. Today with the information blockade, you just dont hear about it. Chechen web sites are quickly shut down. Foreign media is restricted from entry into Chechnya. Russian media is more regulated and controlled again. European and US concern is fairly low and the public interest there is, is overshadowed by Iraq and Afghanistan.
But expect more of the same. The Russians will say the Chechens use psyop, the Chechens will say the Russians use Psyop. The Russians will say the Chechens torture, the Chechens will say the Russians torture. The Chechens will say the Russians are liars, the Russians will say the Chechens are liars. In the meantime, both conduct psyop, and both condone practices for which we stick people in jail. However, in the end, the Chechens are still the ones we hope loose.
Red6
Best of luck to the Russians.
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