Forgive the change of subject title but I feel the original title no longer serves for this thread. OK here's my summary of the situation. The CNN images 'purporting' to show Palestinian children 'celebrating' the attack on NYC/DC were shown on Spanish tv on the day of the attack. Almost immediately there were reports (here in Spain) that the clips were not related to the NYC/DC attacks and were in fact filmed in 1991 and the 'celebrations' were in fact in response to the invasion of Kuwait. I did not send this to the list (nor totally believe it) as I feared it could be a hoax. Over the past week I have heard and read the same thing in different media (one of which claimed that Indymedia Israel had stated that the CNN clips were from 1991, another from Brazil saying the same) and felt that there was enough doubt about the veracity of the clips to question it here. Perhaps, in retrospect, it would have been better to say 'alleged' manipulation, rather just 'manipulation'. If the CNN clips were genuinely filmed after the NYC/DC attacks and in response to the news of the attacks (and the jury is still out on this) I am obviously prepared to accept this and happy to apologise to all concerned. However... Assuming for the moment that the clips were manipulated and 10 years old (as I and others claimed they were) is it not curious for my statement to get a response such as the following? >whatever CNN's motives, and we have no idea what they are, could it be just reporting the >facts, and those clips were factual, could be it. Those people WERE CELEBRATING that >thousands of Americans had just been blown to bits. (emphasis in original; Mike) MY WHOLE POINT WAS THAT WE JUST DO NOT KNOW THIS FOR SURE. The writer continues: >Also, even if the images are old, the Palestinians are no friend to this country or to >Americans. I would agree that 'the Palestinians are no friend to this country or to Americans', only if the writer was talking about particular Palestinians rather than all Palestinians all over the world. What concerns me more is the expression 'even if the images are old'. 'Even if'. Is she saying that it doesn't matter that ten year-old images are being manipulated in order to cause 'racial', religious and ethnic hatred? I imagine this is not what she means, but it sure sounds like it. As Mags said (17 Sep) >we need to be very careful about believing/ buying into / reacting to the aforementioned >images which depict celebrations in the street which were supposedly in response to the >tragedies of last Tuesday. ... by this I mean that such images can easily be planted to suit the >needs of the media in further fanning the flames. Who knows when those celebrations really >took place and in what honour. I certainly do not know for sure when that footage was filmed but I feel it's important to mention the fact that many sources claim that the images are from 1991. If so, and it's a big 'if', then this is manipulation and should be exposed as such. The possible consequences are too important to ignore. Television influences the views of citizens; citizens influence the views of elected representatives. Elected representatives influence votes in the government. The Government gives the CIA a free hand in contracting mercenaries, criminals and even assassinating foreign leaders. If the images were manipulated (even in part), then the above sequence of events is based on criminally irresponsible, and potentially catastrophic, reporting. If the images were in fact taken from the aftermath of Tuesday's attacks then I am happy to acknowledge the fact, and sorry (although not amazed) that humanity can stoop so low as to revel in the death of so many individuals and the destruction of so many families. Mike in Barcelona. NPIMH - Lagan Love / Nada Brahma by Sheila Chandra.
