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SHOULD THE U.S. SHOW THE PEARL MURDER VIDEO ON T.V.?
March 6, 2002

Posted on 03/06/2002 2:29:23 PM PST by Cinnamon Girl

SHOULD THE U.S. SHOW THE VIDEO TAPE, MADE BY THE TERRORISTS, OF DANIEL PEARL'S MURDER?

IF THE PEARL FAMILY GIVES PERMISSION? IF IT IS SHOWN ON LATE NIGHT TELEVISION?

Connie Chung described the tape as follows:

KARACHI, Pakistan (CNN) -- Slain American journalist Daniel Pearl discussed his Jewish heritage and made propaganda statements, under apparent duress, on a roughly produced videotape that also contained violent footage of his death.

CNN Correspondent Connie Chung viewed a copy of the videotape Tuesday. The tape included a direct threat to target other Americans if the demands of Pearl's kidnappers aren't met.

The original videotape was sent to Pakistani authorities last week, who turned it over to U.S. officials. The copy, which lasted three minutes and 15 seconds, was more than 30 seconds shorter than the original videotape, but sources authenticated it as consistent with the original.

The tape began with the Wall Street Journal reporter saying, "My name is Daniel Pearl. I'm a Jewish-American. My father is Jewish. My mother is Jewish. I am a Jew." Then, looking at the camera, he recounted numerous family visits to Israel and noted that a street in a town in Israel was named after his great-grandfather, who was one of the founders of the town.

Pearl's kidnappers had accused him of being an agent for the CIA and for the Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency. The Wall Street Journal and the U.S. government adamantly denied that he was a spy.

Following the discussion of Pearl's heritage, there was a clear edit in the tape. Pearl can be seen looking at the camera and struggling to make statements from memory.

"Not knowing anything about my situation, not being able to communicate with anybody, and only now do I think about some of the people in Guantanamo Bay. They must be in a similar situation, and I have come to realize that this is the sort of problem that Americans are going to have anywhere in the world now," he said.

Among the demands Pearl's kidnappers had made is that Pakistani nationals being held by the U.S. military at the Guantanamo Bay base in Cuba be released. The detainees are associated with the al Qaeda network and the deposed Taliban government of Afghanistan.

Pearl then looked off camera and makes this statement: "We can't be secure, we can't walk around free, as long as our government policies are continuing and we allow them to continue."

There is another clear edit in the tape, and Pearl then is shown saying, "We as Americans cannot continue to bear the consequences of our government's actions, such as the unconditional support of the state of Israel."

In the tape, Pearl does not appear to have been beaten. In some segments, his hair is mussed, while in others, it is slicked back.

The section of the videotape where Pearl is seen speaking lasts about 90 seconds. As he speaks, pictures of bodies and funerals and words, such as "Afghanistan," are superimposed on the screen.

According to Chung, that portion of the tape is then followed by a 50-second section containing graphic scenes of violence against Pearl.

"I will not describe [the violent scenes] out of respect to Daniel Pearl and his family," Chung said.

Other sources who have viewed the tape said the it shows Pearl being stabbed and decapitated, although it is unclear whether he was still alive at the time. His body has not been found.

After the violence sequence, a picture of Pearl appears on the tape with a title -- National Movement for the Restoration of Pakistan's Sovereignty -- superimposed on the screen. That group claimed responsibility for Pearl's kidnapping.

The group's demands then scroll from the bottom to the top of the screen, including demands that Pakistanis at Guantanamo be released, that the U.S. presence in Pakistan end and that F-16 fighters -- which Pakistan purchased from the United States but never received -- be delivered.

The tape ends with a threat that if these demands aren't met, what happened to Pearl could happen to other Americans in Pakistan.

1. PAKISTANI AUTHORITIES BELIEVE THE VIDEO TAPE WILL BE SOLD ON THE STREETS OF PAKISTAN (AND MAY ALREADY BE.)

2. OMAR SHEIKH'S LAWYERS ARE ALREADY CLAIMING THAT THE VIDEO IS A FAKE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?


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To: Cinnamon Girl
I know they won't show it but I am torn.

I don't have the stomach to view it and never could

But, I think showing it over and over on 24 hr news would rub salt in our wound and right now we need salt rubbed in our wound to keep us furious and focused.

And I think liberals need to see that the enemy isn't just a bunch of misunderstood fellas who would suddenly love us if we could just talk to them.

So, I am torn. I don't have the stomach to view what I also advocate shoving down America's throat, or at least liberals' throats.
81 posted on 03/07/2002 6:41:31 AM PST by GussiedUp
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To: narby
I agree. The arabs are like “stupid” nazis.

I pray that these swine find Mecca a nuclear waste pit next time they visit.

The Pearl execution should be shown... but it won't.

It'll take another 9/11 or maybe 2 to slap this republic out of its funk.

82 posted on 03/07/2002 6:52:08 AM PST by johnny7
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To: geege
No thanks....I'll stick to my Fox News and Golden Girls when I need a few laughs.....

I don't get it.

83 posted on 03/07/2002 8:17:47 AM PST by Cinnamon Girl
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To: Cinnamon Girl
Meaning I have no interest in watching it if they were to put it on TV....I'm sure there's people out there that would watch it.....
84 posted on 03/07/2002 8:27:56 AM PST by geege
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To: geege
I wouldn't watch it either, but do you think they should show it?
85 posted on 03/07/2002 8:36:12 AM PST by Cinnamon Girl
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To: Cinnamon Girl
Show it. Death, even violent death, is a part of life. Americans need to face the fact that we have enemies who are dedicated in their pursuit of our destruction. To downplay the violent and barbaric death of Mr. Pearl is to do him, his family, and the rest of America a disservice. Americans need to be shocked from their entertainment-induced coma and come to grips with reality. It's us or them.
86 posted on 03/07/2002 8:52:27 AM PST by semaj
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To: Cinnamon Girl
No of course not.......some feel that people need to see what we're up against and that it should be aired....how morbid and discusting.
87 posted on 03/07/2002 8:53:22 AM PST by geege
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To: Cinnamon Girl
Cinnamon Girl, that should read. . .
I think it should be made available for the public, but NOT aired privately PUBLICLY. . .

Sheesh! Sorry for the lack of clarity. . .

88 posted on 03/07/2002 9:29:59 AM PST by MeekOneGOP
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To: MeeknMing
You mean it should be on video or on a website somewhere, but not nationally broadcast, right?
89 posted on 03/07/2002 9:39:05 AM PST by Cinnamon Girl
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To: Cinnamon Girl
You mean it should be on video or on a website somewhere, but not nationally broadcast, right?

Exactly! Choice of viewing is the key, with parents choosing which of their kids might see it. Not for the very young, IMHO. . .

90 posted on 03/07/2002 12:11:46 PM PST by MeekOneGOP
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To: ALASKA
As unpleasant as it may be, it might be just what many Americans need to make them realize "what", not who we are dealing with.

Talked it over with my wife... She's not one to have an iron stomach, to deal with this sort of thing, but she and I are of the same mind, when it comes to this... It's not a question of whether or not it will enrage Americans- it will- but that Americans need to be enraged, need to see what kinds of animals these bastards are...

I said before, and I'll say it again- I don't want to watch this, but I will if it comes out, because it's my duty as an American, to know my enemy, and remember what the enemy is...

Best regards to you,

91 posted on 03/08/2002 10:37:14 PM PST by Capitalist Eric
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