And the video
This is just retarded. If US soldiers had found Zarqawi alive, the very last thing they would have done is beat him to death.
There is "Does not stand up to scrutiny", "Does not pass the smell test" and then there is this. The only reason a newspaper would pring something this thin is because they want to damage the United States.
A newspaper does not have to print a story sourced this thin. It is not news, because it is not verified. If they choose to do so, they are doing so voluntarily because it serves their larger purpose. It is with stories like this that outfits like Newsday most clearly reveal their hate for the United States of America. Why anybody would subscribe to that rag is beyond my comprehension.
Well, I saw mommy kissin Santa Claus. Will Newsday publish that?
mark
Sounds like a phantom witness. AP routinely runs "stories" without any substantiation whatsover. How may of us could get away with producing unsubstantiated reports in our own work?
Is it true? Gee, that's too bad. My keyboard is getting all sticky from all of the tears.
It the seriousness of the charge.
The article said -- "U.S. troops arriving on the scene wrapped the man's head in an Arab robe and began beating him, said the local man, who refused to give his name or show his face to the camera. His account could not be independently verified."
I'm afraid that this kind of sentiment is not going to get very much sympathy, given the video on the Internet of Berg being beheaded by Zarqawi.
That sort of thing may not be the norm for how people should be handled -- but -- a lot of people in this country are simply going to "look the other way" when it comes to Zarqawi. You're not going to get too much of a "rise" out of that, one way or another.
AND, I think that most people can understand that this smacks more of "propaganda" than "truth" -- especially since he "refused to give his name or show his face to the camera." Sounds more like an "opportunist plant" more than anything else. It's the sort of thing that a "sympathizer" would say than someone relating the truth.
It's not going to get traction one way or the other.
Regards,
Star Traveler
To: editorials@newsday.com, letters@newsday.com, oped@newsday.com
Subject: Iraqi Claims U.S. GIs Beat Wounded Man
Where were your editor's minds, when they approved the following:
"... said the local man, who refused to give his name or show his face to the camera. His account could not be independently verified."
But that didn't stop Newsday from printing this libel. This is nothing but journalistic malpractice.
This guy Quinn is no journalist. He's a propagandist. He's also an ally of our enemies, just like Newsday.
P. Lionel Beckwith
Ellenton, FL
PS - No wonder Newsday has to lie about its circulation.
I only hope hat the "arab robe" they wrapped his head in had previously been soaked in pig fat.
"The witness, who lives near the house where al-Zarqawi spent his last days, said he saw the man lying on the ground near an irrigation canal."
The pictures I saw showed the house was more like an estate. I did not see any houses nearby. And, it was in the midst of an Date Tree Orchard. So, whoever was watching had to look around trees and over some great distance.
I wonder what else was LOST in Translation.
What took them so long?
After the photoshop question at the Snow presser, I expected torture to come up next. The left never fails me.
BAGHDAD, Iraq - An Iraqi man who was one of the first people on the scene of the U.S. airstrike targeting Abu Musab al-Zarqawi said he saw American troops beating a man who had a beard like the al-Qaida leader.
-An Iraqi man source... hmmm. A beard like Zarqawis... ok.
The witness, who lives near the house where al-Zarqawi spent his last days, said he saw the man lying on the ground near an irrigation canal. He was badly wounded but still alive, the man told Associated Press Television News.
-Television News?
We all know the AP and Al Reuters/Arabiya only talk to terrorists and wait a minute... I didn't see other houses anywhere near Z's place (unless he lived in the trees). So was his house destroyed? Move along... nothing to see here.
U.S. troops arriving on the scene wrapped the man's head in an Arab robe and began beating him, said the local man, who refused to give his name or show his face to the camera. His account could not be independently verified.
-Couldn't be verified, but good enough to print; Remember when news meant facts?
Wow it's a good thing this witness saw his beard before they covered it with an Arab robe (which we know is standard issue for US troops). Hmmm, no mention of the Iraqi troops getting there first... nevermind.
The U.S. military made no mention of any physical contact between U.S. troops and al-Zarqawi other than an attempt to provide him with medical attention.
-He also said this... further in your article.
"Well, what we had found, as with anything, first reports are not always fully accurate as we continue the debriefings. But we were not aware yesterday that, in fact, Zarqawi was alive when U.S. forces arrived on the site," Caldwell said.
"Well, what we had found, as with anything, first reports are not always fully accurate as we continue the debriefings. But we were not aware yesterday that, in fact, Zarqawi was alive when U.S. forces arrived on the site," Caldwell said.
His recounting of the aftermath of the airstrike could not be independently verified. The Iraqi government confirmed only that Iraqi forces were first on the scene, followed by the Americans.
- Ok, Iraqis at the scene first... again, in the article.
Zarqawi died shortly after the U.S. military obliterated his hideout northwest of Baghdad Wednesday with two 500-pound bombs. The bombs tore a huge crater in the date palm forest where the house was nestled outside the town of Baqouba.
-In the date palm forest where the house was nestled?
Iraqi police pulled him from the flattened home and placed him on a makeshift stretcher. U.S. troops arrived, saw that al-Zarqawi was conscious, and tried to provide medical treatment, the spokesman said.
- Hold on... The "witness" said he was lying on the ground near an irrigation canal; Didn't he also say the US troops got to him and wrapped the guy's head with a beard like Zarqawis with an Arab robe and beat him? Nothing to see here... proceed.
From a helicopter hovering above the site, a wide swath of destruction could be seen. There were no remaining walls in the house, The debris included a skimpy slip in a leopard skin pattern and other see-through pieces of women's clothing. In the crater itself were charred dresses, torn blankets, thin sponge mattresses and pillows.
Also scattered among the debris of concrete blocks was a pillow with a floral pattern, sandals and a bag. There was also a foam mattress, a cooler and part of a washing machine. Green pomegranates hung from a tree left standing nearby.
-Ummm... I saw a collapsed roof, but then again
An aide to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media, said he saw Caldwell's news briefing but could neither confirm nor deny that al-Zarqawi briefly survived the blast.
"Well, I think it's clear: The Americans said he was seriously wounded and he died," the aide said.
- Ok, the Caldwell's statements can't be verified either... so that makes him equal to your witness with no name and face. al-Maliki's aide could not confirm or deny.
Wait a minute... so this means the witness is more credible because we can't confirm the blast aftermath, the general or al-Maliki's aide (who they can't identify, but writes as his aide).
AP gets better every day... I want to grow up to be a propagandist... I mean journalist.
Why would anyone believe what some Al Quaeda slim has to say.
Has anyone seen a "code"? The act of giving CPR and treating a person suffering from a head wound looks pretty violent sometimes.
However, one "witness" who refuses to be identified and no other confirmation does not make a "news" story. Except at "News"Day.
If they beat him or put panties on his head they should be ashamed. Cutting his head off is what they should have done. Waiting for this article or video to appear so I can really cheer.
All this detail we get in cases like this. Virtually no detail when these jihadie loonies blow up innocent men, women and children. Where are the floral patterned pillows and other everyday items then? Hmmm?
AP Bastids.
And the video