Hezbollah may be using Qana to Stage a Propaganda Campaign
Terry Trippany on Aug 01 2006 at 11:40 am | Filed under: Feature Article, Hezbollah, Israel, Media Watch
I have been reading reports all morning that Hezbollah may have taken advantage of the airstrike at Qana for use as a propaganda tool in an effort to win world condemnation of Israel.
I don’t doubt that the Qana airstrike happened and that innocent civilians were killed. But I also believe that presented an opportunity for Hezbollah to take advantage of the situation. Evidence that Hezbollah manipulated the photo essay of the event is quite believable as indicated below.
I refer you to two sources for an update on this. First stop by and read the Israeli Insider: Hezbollywood? Evidence mounts that Qana collapse and deaths were staged.
Second, stop by EU Referendum and see the manipulation of photo timelines and the staging of dead children to understand what Hezbollah is trying to pull off here. WARNING: These pictures are very graphic and are not appropriate for anyone but adults. Do not go to this site in the presence of children!
This is not the first time Hezbollah has been known to do this kind of reprehensible act as part of a propaganda campaign against Israel.
The sad note about the coverage of the event is how quickly the media glommed onto this story without an iota of skepticism. This is something that happens time and time again by the so called professionals in the main stream media (MSM).
It appears that once again the MSM and the American left are perhaps willing dupes in a campaign against Israel and the United States.
If you want to see how effectively propaganda is converted into world wide condemnation I refer you to the reaction section of this Wikipedia page on Qana. I have excerpted it at the bottom of this post. (UPDATE: Wikipedia moved original anchor on international condemnation; I have updated the links to reflect this fact.)
Update:
Thomas Lifson at the The American Thinker has a good article on this : The curious Qana body count
My take is that the terrorists know full and well that the path to victory is achieved by turning the hearts and minds of the world community against the United States and Israel. This is the only way to take the spotlight off their own actions. It is not a stretch to imagine that they would take advantage of the Qana airstrike as a means toward that end.
Others Bloggin on this Story:
- Outside the Beltway: Was Qana Staged?
Michelle Malkin : Questioning Qana
Reactions as Cited on Wikipedia
Unless otherwise stated, all quotes are from “International responses”, News Limited, July 30, 2006.
Israel
Israel - Israeli UN Ambassador Dan Gillerman said that it was a “horrible, tragic incident.” Gillerman said the dead were “victims of Hezbollah,” which he said was using civilian buildings as cover to launch rockets into Israel.[14]
Arab States
Egypt - President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak stated that “The Arab Republic of Egypt expresses its profound alarm and its condemnation of the irresponsible Israeli bombing of the Lebanese village of Qana, which resulted in innocent casualties, mostly women and children.”[15]
Jordan - Jordanian King Abdullah II condemned “the ugly crime perpetrated by Israeli forces in Qana that is a gross violation of all international statutes.”[16]
Kuwait - Jassem AlKharafi, the parliament speaker of Kuwait, condemned the attacks and quoted that “the Israel ’savage and barbaric’ aggression on Lebanon surpassed all moral and humanitarian limits and formed a disregard of international law and human rights and the world community” [17]. Kuwait Prime Minister Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah also condemned the attacks.[18]
Lebanon - The Lebanese government has asked Condoleeza Rice to cancel a visit to Lebanon insisting that they will only negotiate an immediate, unconditional cease-fire. Lebanese Defence Minister Elias Murr disputed allegations that Hezbollah was firing missiles from Qana and said “What do you expect Israel to say? Will it say that it killed 40 children and women?” [19]
Palestinian National Authority - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated that “what happened in Qana is an ugly massacre. It is a new Israeli crime that it be immediately stopped for the protection of civilian life.” [20]
Syria - Syrian U.N. Ambassador Bashar Jaafari stated that “These bombs … are American bombs. They call them laser-guided bombs but actually they are hatred-guided bombs, and unfortunately these bombs are made in the U.S.A..” [20] Syrian President Bashar al-Assad also said:”The massacre committed by Israel in Qana this morning shows the barbarity of this aggressive entity. It constitutes state terrorism committed in front of the eyes and ears of the world.”[21]
United Arab Emirates - called the event an “ugly massacre.” [22]
- Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s top Shiite cleric, stated, “Islamic nations will not forgive the entities that hinder a cease-fire.” He added, “It is not possible to stand helpless in front of this Israeli aggression on Lebanon. If an immediate cease-fire in this Israeli aggression is not imposed, dire consequences will befall the region.” [23]
Algeria - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement where it condemned “this criminal act that nothing could justify”, and asked for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire. [24]
Europe
France - French President Jacques Chirac said that “France condemns this unjustifiable action, which shows more than ever the need to move toward an immediate cease-fire.”
United Kingdom - British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett stated: “It’s absolutely dreadful, it’s quite appalling. We have repeatedly urged Israel to act proportionately.”
Turkey - Ankara stated: “We are filled with deep sadness because of the death of innocent people.” Foreign Ministry called Israel for an immediate cease-fire.
Germany- Foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated that “the highest priority must now be a cease-fire as quickly as possible,” and expressed “horror” of the deaths. [26]
Greece - Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos stated: “We are filled with repugnance and deep sadness. … Now the need for an immediate cease-fire is more pressing than ever.” [26]
Ireland - The Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern condemned the attack saying he was shocked and appalled at the heavy loss of life and that an immediate ceasefire is urgently needed. He called the attack “despicable”.[27] [28]
Italy - Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said: “I truly hope that a road to peace is found again.” [26]
Norway - The Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jonas Gahr Støre said “Norway condemns such actions against civilians and calls for an immediate ceasefire” and described the attack as “a clear-cut violation of international law”. [29]
Spain - The Spanish government’s expressed “profound consternation and condemns the Israeli bombardment.” [22]
Sweden - The Swedish Prime Minister, Göran Persson said he reacted with “dismay and wrath”. He commented that “even Israel must stand up for international rights, and use proportionate countermeasures in their situation.” [30]
Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI said that “In the name of God, I call on all those responsible for this spiral of violence so that weapons are immediately laid down on all sides.”[31]
Asia
Iran - The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that “The Qana bombing is the outcome of Rice’s trip to the region. Some American officials should be put on trial for the crimes in Lebanon.[15].”
Pakistan - Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said “the Pakistani government and people strongly condemn this sad incident, which is clearly unwarranted aggression, and calls for an immediate ceasefire.”
India - The country’s External Affairs Ministry issued the following statement: “India strongly condemns the continued irresponsible and indiscriminate bombing of Lebanon by the Israeli military, ignoring calls for restraint.” [32]
People’s Republic of China - Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said that the PRC “strongly condemns [the air strike],” adding that “the Lebanese-Israeli conflict has already created a serious humanitarian disaster in Lebanon” and that “China strongly calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in order to prevent the creation of an even greater disaster.” [33]
