Reality TV--Iraq Style

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Iraq's Most Wanted

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

By John Gibson



On Wednesday, The Los Angeles Times (search) carried an interesting story about Iraqi TV (search).

In Iraq, one of the most popular shows ? you might call it a reality show ? is a program that features people who are purported to be captured terrorists confessing their crimes ? and in some cases facing the families of their Iraqi victims, or in some cases those families taking kind of largely symbolic retribution, like hitting them on the head with a shoe.

The show is called "Terrorism in the Grip of Justice" and it began airing just before the election. The L.A. Times says it couldn't figure out if the people confessing are really terrorists. Evidently Iraqis think they are and the Iraqis are glued to the tube for this show.

Iraqis say the show demonstrates that the Iraqi government is functioning and fighting the terrorists. The insurgents don't like it at all. They have already kidnapped and killed one reporter from the network that airs the series. And they've put out their own tapes saying they'll kill anybody working for the TV station.

According to The L.A. Times, in one video a man identified as an insurgent says he was sent to Iraq by Syria ? that he conducted a school for beheadings, using sheep to practice on before his trainees grabbed Iraqi cops and cut their heads off. Another confesses to kidnapping and raping women as a form of intimidation. And one who claimed to be a cell leader of beheaders said he made as much as $30,000 a month to cut off peoples heads.

Iraqis are apparently flocking to their TV sets for this series. They get to see old ladies in black whacking terrorists in the face with a shoe. And they are promised that the terrorists will be dealt with harshly by the new government.

So what does this show say to Iraqis ? who, by the way, tend to watch the show because it's too dangerous to go out to public places like parks? It says you're winning ? the terrorists aren't.

Maybe Americans would like to see this program. After all, Americans might like to hear that same message too.

 

[djv]

I thought you were going to say watch the next car bomber in action.

 

[FUZZY NUTZ]

I thought you were going to say watch the next car bomber in action.

:jerkit:

 

[gardenweasel]

don`t get discouraged,dogs....good news from iraq is considered along the same lines as the ebola virus to some on this board.....

keep it coming....

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

No prob GW Things are changing drastically all over middle east.
I think time will prove while difficult to change mind set of middle east it is far easier than changing mind of liberal

more dillusion and corrections on the left---

Insensitive Remarks?

Thursday, March 03, 2005

By Brit Hume



Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Insensitive Remarks?

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith (search), wife of actor and musician Will Smith, has been named "Artist of the Year" by Harvard's Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations and she was honored at the foundation's 20th Annual Cultural Rhythms show over the weekend.

Speaking at the event, Pinkett Smith urged students to break barriers, and told of overcoming her own obstacles, saying, "Women, you can have it all ? a loving man, devoted husband, loving children, a fabulous career ... You can do whatever it is you want." But the school's Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender and Supporters Alliance insists those remarks were insensitive and made its members feel "uncomfortable." Specifically, the group says, the remarks were "heteronormative." It's now demanding an apology.

Ads Pulled

A cable system in Louisiana, Lifewise Cable Media (search), has agreed to pull ads by the liberal group Campaign for America's future that say Louisiana Republican Congressman Jim McCrery (search) "wants to privatize social security and cut our guaranteed benefits after taking campaign money from the very Wall Street firms that would profit from privatization." The ad calls that a "typical Washington snow job."

McCrery, however, says the ad is "patently false," insisting he, like President Bush, doesn't want to privatize Social Security, he wants to set up private investment accounts within the system. McCrery says he's "grateful" that Lifewise decided to pull the ads, saying, "It is gratifying when the truth prevails."

BBC Backing Away From Own Report

The BBC (search) has aired a report so one-sided that even the BBC itself is now issuing an apology. The BBC began a story on Friday's deadly suicide bombing outside a Tel Aviv nightclub with footage of the suicide bomber's family in mourning. The victims' families were never shown. The BBC received dozens of complaints, and now says, "it was inappropriate to begin the report with [that] footage ... It was also inappropriate to include this footage without coverage of the suffering of the victims' families. Using this picture sequence in this way was a mistake."

Not So Picture Perfect?

With Martha Stewart (search) set to be released from prison at the end of the week, Newsweek magazine has put her on its cover, saying, "She's thinner, wealthier and ready for prime time." The picture on the front shows Stewart smiling, and noticeably thinner. There's only one problem: It isn't real. Newsweek superimposed Stewart's head onto a model's body. In very small letters inside, the magazine calls its cover a "photo illustration." And editors insist they did nothing wrong

 

[djv]

Reality is over 1500 of our young dead. But they may be lucky per those who say. Reality is having to watch there loved ones now over 3000 without legs or arms or both.Try to go on living.
Some with just a arm or leg missing will find away. Many have no chance and our government will throw alittle money there way and then forget them. If you think not visit a vet hospital sometime and ask a Nam vet.

 

[dr. freeze]

Reality is over 1500 of our young dead. But they may be lucky per those who say. Reality is having to watch there loved ones now over 3000 without legs or arms or both.Try to go on living.
Some with just a arm or leg missing will find away. Many have no chance and our government will throw alittle money there way and then forget them. If you think not visit a vet hospital sometime and ask a Nam vet.

geez sad situation

one would think that instead of bitching about things like this all the time you would get a job and pay some taxes toward the cause

then with any additional money you make, there are plenty of good charities to whom you can donate and take care of these folks

you can either walk the walk or talk the talk

seems like you are the latter as the bitter old man syndrome has take over

 

[djv]

You should be close to a vet hospital. Talk about walking and talking. Someone who admits would not pick up a weapon to save his ass yet alone his countries. Go visit a vet hospital 2/3 times a month would do you some good in your training.