PBS Just Quoted DEBKAfile as a 'Credible' Intelligence Source for Gulf War News

PBS/NPR ^ | January 22, 2003 | Various Liberal Radio Wackos Nina Totenberg etc.

[tallhappy]

Re 32.

I don't know why these hysterical people can't understand this.

Their emotionalism on it is like a liberal feeding frenzy.

[dirtboy]

They were airlift convoys!!! Duh! :-)

Nothing like heavily loaded cargo planes crossing a 22,000 foot mountain range. I think we should sponsor a FR Debka sound-alike creative writing contest. I think with the warped imaginations on this site, we can do a lot better job and deliver a much higher grade of manure than those guys...

[RoughDobermann]

Stop being hysterical. You're scaring the women-folk...

[dirtboy]

I don't know why these hysterical people can't understand this. Their emotionalism on it is like a liberal feeding frenzy.

Man, you can sure turn issues on their head. Pointing out the long history of factual errors and out-and-out lies from debka is "emotionalism" and is somehow "liberal." Care to engage in any more Orwellian destruction of the English langauge, or will your work so far suffice?

[Allan]

Bump

[dirtboy]

Stop being hysterical. You're scaring the women-folk...

I'm sorry, Debka just makes me so emotional ** SOB ** ... I need a hug...

[John H K]

Anyone endorsing DEBKA is less an indication of DEBKA's credibility than an indication that the endorser is either careless or an idiot...and I don't care who the endorser is....even people on FNC (which has it's own credibility/incompetence problems from time to time.) The thing about DEBKA is that they purport to have military/intel connections, but as I've noted it's clear they don't actually have a clue. Proof positive is this article: http://www.debka.com/article.php?aid=79 Again......ANYONE who claims that someone owning small-arms ammo and mortars and such that is Chinese-made is clear evidence that they're directly supported by the Chinese is a grade A, USDA-certified 100% IDIOT. I remember threads on FR when the ammo was found of the dozens and dozens of FReeper shooters who own lots Chinese ammo themselves making fun of the idea.

It's not a matter for debate or nuance; it's clear evidence that DEBKA is comprised of frauds and poseurs; it's not a simple mistake or slip-up, it's not understanding the things you're covering in a fundamental way.

By DEBKA's logic, the fact that the Beltway snipers used a US-made rifle is clear evidence that the sniper attacks were supported by the US government.

It's also precious seeing DEBKA claim that finding a dozen or so fighters who came from China in Afghanistan proves their claim about thousands of Chinese troops fighting alongside the Taliban....
Chinese ammunition is a commodity item; sold everywhere. You don't need direct aid from the PRC government to buy Chinese machinegun ammo, mortar shells, RPGs, etc.

[dirtboy]

I have several times run their articles by people w/some experience in intelligence and the region and they can usually point out where something is obvious (to them) disinfo. This is different from being inaccurate.

For cryin' out loud, we caught them lying about the weather in Afghanistan. That isn't inaccuracy, that's bullbiscuits.

[i_dont_chat]

Didn't I read recently that the Chinese were massing at the Mexican border of the U.S.?

These Chinese really get around!

[Quix]

You may have kept much better statistics than I have on DEBKA [none].

Perhaps it would be interesting to start keeping track. I do believe a few times that I know of, they've gotten things right and it wasn't the sort of DUH case you noted.

Somehow, there's something a bit odd about the wholesale response to DEBKA. I don't know what it is. But there's something curious there. Not a big priority to figure out. But a curiosity, to me.

Thanks for your kind response.

[Quix]

It's particularly amusing that someone dumb enough to believe that every earthquake is a sign of the apocalypse is criticizing others for being "unintellectual."

HMMMMM. Putting words in someone else's fingers, I see. And you call that intellectual?

NO where have I believed, said nor felt that every earthquake was a sign of the apocalypse. I don't think Snodgrass thinks so either.

You have a great BLACKWASHING BRUSH. You seem to keep it well exercised when inputs don't fit your biases or filters just right. Understandable. Very intellectual.

[dirtboy]

Perhaps it would be interesting to start keeping track.

Here's a starting point:

Lied about the weather in Afghanistan, and also claimed that TV feeds of good weather were from archives. Also in that story claimed that only troops in protective suits were being allowed in Tora Bora and journalists were excluded, even though Geraldo was reporting from the region at the time in regular clothing.

Claimed that there were 5-15,000 Chinese troops being moved into Afghanistan to support the Taliban, but the route Debka said the troops were taking was under Northern Alliance control at the time.

Ran a story a couple of days ago from a supposed Saddam bodyguard that got the name of Saddam's birthplace wrong and claimed there were sand dunes in a region where there are not any.

There were other whoppers that perhaps others can provide as well.

[Quix]

HEY GROUP--WE HAVE TO FILTER CNN.

WE HAVE TO FILTER NBC, ABC, MSNBC, EVEN FOX.

We even do well to filter WHEN what Bible verse is applicable to US in what context to what degree etc.

We each have to decide when the filtering job is too costly for the nuggets obtained.

I still think DEBKA and perhaps even Art Bell get blackwashed more than is warranted. But that's my bias.

It just seems to me that a LOT of people--even hereon--go ape when a lot of data doesn't fit their rather lofty and rigid criteria. I don't know why they are so much more comfortable with and in favor of TYPE II errors vs TYPE I errors but they clearly are.

[Smedley]

DEBKA? Huh? How long before Nina Totenberg and Bob Edwards break out the tea leaves & the Ouija board? Unlike DEBKA, Ouija Boards are sometimes correct.

[Quix]

BTW, since when did PBS have that high a credibility rating with us anyway?

[fourdeuce82d]

there's something a bit odd about the wholesale response to DEBKA

That depends- if DEBKA rarely made errors, and those errors were minor, a "wholesale response" against them might seem unwarranted- if, on the other hand, they purport to be insiders with legit info, and they make glaring, obvious gaffes again and again, there should be a wholesale response against them, don't you think?

[Wolverine]

Several years ago when I was stationed in Saudi Arabia there were more than 200,000 South Korean 'construction workers' whose overt mission was Korean construction projects being built all over The Kingdom.

I was told by more than one Korean supervisor that most of those workers were serving 'alternative service,' i.e. Credit for serving in the Korean Military.

Seems that The Kingdom agreed to this procedure, at the time, as protection in case the Iranians got out of hand.

At the same time, the Saudies 'employed' at least one brigade of Pakistani military to provide protection to the oil rich Eastern Province.

[weegee]

Art's problem is that he has his own take that some people are full of it (like the backwards "subconscious" messages that come out when people talk") but he does little to distance himself from them when he's on the air.

It's a forum (like others) where ideas are expressed and callers contribute. Some callers seek attention, others have real discoveries to report. What other people so with the information is another story (a Houstonian caller gave the detail that something appeared to be trailing the Hale Bopp comet, others later voiced that it could be a "UFO").

Art plays up some of the humor of the content (his listeners submit their own chupacabra pictures) but there is no deliniation where humor ends, sci-fi make believe ends, or real science begins. This reduces the credibility as a news source.

[dirtboy]

BTW, since when did PBS have that high a credibility rating with us anyway?

That's the point...

[OReilly]

BTW, since when did PBS have that high a credibility rating with us anyway?

Good point! I don't watch A, N, or C, Broadcasting company's news either. I do watch all the Cable News, and this is not the first time I have seen someone on cable news using DEBKA as a source. (either CNN or FOXNEWS I think). I want to say it was that CNN flaky and Spooky, segment reporter, who used an Ocean City, MD Porn CEO who had gotten Patriotic, and was using some of the XXX rated tactics to track AL-Qaeda sites and visitors.