PhotoDude.com

Tue. Feb 01, 2005

PhotoTerrorists Strike Again

It’s almost like a scene from the movie Wag The Dog that was left on the cutting room floor. Because it was too unbelievable, even in a comedy. But when it comes to absurdity, the movies have nothing on real life.

Iraqi militants claimed in a Web statement Tuesday to have taken an American soldier hostage and threatened to behead him in 72 hours unless the Americans release Iraqi prisoners.

The posting, on a Web site that frequently carried militants’ statements, included a photo of what appeared to be an American soldier in desert fatigues seated with his hands tied behind his back. A gun barrel was pointed at his head, and he is seated in front of a black banner emblazoned with the Islamic profession of faith, “There is no god but God and Muhammad is His prophet.”

A statement posted with the picture suggested the group was holding other soldiers.

“Our mujahadeen heroes of Iraq’s Jihadi Battalion were able to capture American military man John Adam after killing a number of his comrades and capturing the rest,” said the statement, signed by the “Mujahedeen Brigades.”

“God willing, we will behead him if our female and male prisoners are not released from U.S. prisons within the maximum period of 72 hours from the time this statement has been released,” the statement said.

AP: “Web Site Claims GI Captured in Iraq”

I saw the photo (cached: AP Photo) earlier today, and it did strike me as odd. However, it was a busy day, so I didn’t have time to give it any real consideration. I knew that Zarqawi and his thugs had long offered a bounty for any captured soldier, so it was tragically possible. But the face just did not look … right.

Others began to note irregularities in the uniform, and before you knew it, the truth came out. It wasn’t a photo of a US soldier, it was a photo of a doll of a US soldier (cached: AP Photo/Dragon Models USA, HO).

The “gun barrel … pointed at his head”? A plastic toy M16 that came with the doll. They even went to the trouble of crafting a tiny “black banner emblazoned with the Islamic profession of faith, ‘There is no god but God and Muhammad is His prophet’” to hang over his head. It really is just too much.

While others wonder about the gullibility of the media, I’ve got another question.

How desperate is it for the “Al Mujahedin Brigade” to have created and posted this on “an Islamist Web site.” And, in media terms, what exactly is “an Islamist Web site”? How does one gain credibility as “an Islamist Web site”? Did this really appear on one that has previously shown images of captives, or is this just some bogus new site that popped up, possibly after a beer-fueled late night prank session at a fraternity at MIT?

Either way, I am both amused and disturbed. My first reaction was that this is absolutely hilarious. Then it disturbed me that this world and I have reached the point where it emits faux victims, in a manner that very real and bloody ones have been shown before, and the punch line makes me laugh.

I guess that’s my problem. But nevermind the media outlets that sucked this one up without close examination, what does this say about “the insurgency”? That, after a less than stellar attempt to disrupt election day, they sat around with a camera and dolls to try and make up ground? Then bragged about capturing “American military man John Adam after killing a number of his comrades and capturing the rest.” Oh, my Goodness, that means … they have more of our dolls!

It’s so sadly pathetic you couldn’t script it and get away with it.

So maybe it’s not “the insurgency” at all. Which still wouldn’t speak well for them, as it means they’ve lost control of their own megaphone. What’s next, “Islamist web sites” showing a kidnapped Ken, with Barbie pleading for his life, or maybe one of the Cube people?

“Today an Islamist web site showed photos of what appear to be US soldiers surrendering to the insurgents.”?

When your violent movement becomes an elaborate Internet joke, or even just the butt of one, it could be a sign it’s time to retire from the field.