Jihadis Playing Possum

Wall Street Journal Best of the Web ^ | 8/08/06 | JAMES TARANTO

[Hazcat]

Plainly this scene was staged for the benefit of the cameras, though it is important to note we know of no evidence that the photographer was complicit in the staging. It is, however, a clear example of how terrorist groups use journalists to spread their propaganda.

[Hazcat]

"Dead" body moves.

[Ueriah]

"I got better"

[Mike Darancette]

Can you imagine it is 1930's and the world press corps is slavishly following around after the Soviet Press Officer and producing glowing reports on the miracles that Uncle Joe Stalin and Communism has brought the Soviet Union?

Oh wait, that did happen. The Press is gullible and afraid to ask the tough questions that go against their worldview.

[lesser_satan]

LOL!!!

MORTICIAN: Bring out your dead!
Bring out your dead!
[clang] Bring out your dead!
[clang] Bring out your dead!
[clang] Bring out your dead!
[clang] Bring out your dead!
CUSTOMER: Here's one -- nine pence.
DEAD PERSON: I'm not dead!
MORTICIAN: What?
CUSTOMER: Nothing -- here's your nine pence.
DEAD PERSON: I'm not dead!
MORTICIAN: Here -- he says he's not dead!
CUSTOMER: Yes, he is.
DEAD PERSON: I'm not!
MORTICIAN: He isn't.
CUSTOMER: Well, he will be soon, he's very ill.
DEAD PERSON: I'm getting better!
CUSTOMER: No, you're not -- you'll be stone dead in a moment.
MORTICIAN: Oh, I can't take him like that -- it's against regulations.
DEAD PERSON: I don't want to go in the cart!
CUSTOMER: Oh, don't be such a baby.
MORTICIAN: I can't take him...
DEAD PERSON: I feel fine!
CUSTOMER: Oh, do us a favor...
MORTICIAN: I can't.
CUSTOMER: Well, can you hang around a couple of minutes? He won't be long.
MORTICIAN: Naaah, I got to go on to Robinson's -- they've lost nine today.
CUSTOMER: Well, when is your next round?
MORTICIAN: Thursday.
DEAD PERSON: I think I'll go for a walk.
CUSTOMER: You're not fooling anyone y'know. Look, isn't there something you can do?
DEAD PERSON: I feel happy... I feel happy.
[whop]
CUSTOMER: Ah, thanks very much.
MORTICIAN: Not at all. See you on Thursday.
CUSTOMER: Right.
[clop clop]
MORTICIAN: Who's that then?
CUSTOMER: I don't know.
MORTICIAN: Must be a king.
CUSTOMER: Why?
MORTICIAN: He hasn't got sh!t all over him.

[ml/nj]

the Times has not even covered the [Reuters Photo] scandal. At this writing, the only mention of it on the Times Web site is Reuters' own coverage of it.

I just looked myself to see if there was any coverage in the printed Times. There wasn't; which is one reason this former daily reader of 40+ years now only looks at the paper in instances such as this so that I have examples to throw in the face of people who insist that the Times deserves its place as the newspaper of record.

ML/NJ

[johnny7]

In 1939 they called them... canned-goods.

[eyespysomething]

OK, I'm going to ask, even if it makes me look dumb.

I looked and studied the pix at the link, but what am I looking for? How can they tell the body moved/is moving?

[Hazcat]

1st pix bodies lying there, 2nd pix one body sitting up.

[SlowBoat407]

I looked and studied the pix at the link, but what am I looking for? How can they tell the body moved/is moving?

It's sitting upright. I happen to think he's pinin' for the fjords.

[SlowBoat407]

I feel happy! I feel happy! I think I'll go for a walk!

[eyespysomething]

OK, but those pix at the link are all the same one, right? Is there one showing another picture from before the one at the link?

[Sax]

"Ok...well let me know if his condition changes." (hangs up)

"So...how is he?"

"He's dead."

-Top Secret (I almost forgot about this movie)

[SlowBoat407]

And by the way, I don't even want to guess what else he's doing under that blanket, if you take my meanin'

[Sax]

Also, for a bunch of very recently deceaseD who died by rather violent means, THERE IS NO BLOOD SOAKING THROUGH ON ANY OF THE SHEETS.

[Sax]

And why cover the faces - they don't anywhere else for these types of photos, and not a pair of sneakers on any of them? Is bare feet supposed to make 'em look deader?

[Gator101]

The sitting up guy is conclusive. But also...look at the sheets. These people were supposedly killed by bombs and collapsing buildings, and not one sheet has a blood stain soaked through. Also note the legs - not one is protruding at a funny angle to suggest severe trauma.

It certainly suggests that the sitting up guy wasn't added just to increase the count of truly dead bodies. I bet none of them have shuffled off the mortal coil.

[reagan_fanatic]

Thank God someone had the right idea of what to do with Helen Thomas...

[Sax]

[thoughtomator]

That's right, there's no evidence that the photographers were complicit.