Sad day indeed...

[Samuel Dravis]

He means help make it not be a dictatorship and let the population have basic human rights. But you knew that already.

[XERXES]

I'd like to see this thread locked. Why?

 

Think about it. (also in this thread I will be proving how stupid the news stations are as well).

 

Why do people make films? To hopefully get their ideas and feelings across to a wider audience.

 

Why was this particular film made? To shock America because these terrorists knew that once the media saw this film, the entire nation would see it within hours.

 

How did they know this? Because the media over-publicizes everything that is outrageous that they can get their hands on. They have been doing it for who knows how long. Also in the past year, the media has made giant huuuge nationwide reports on the smallest disasters in Iraq. That doesnt mean we should take it lightheartedly, but it is a step closer to my point.

 

So...what happened when this film was discovered? I get to watch 4 different people talk about how hideous this video is, and use every other similar word in the english disctionary for 30 minnutes each while refering to this video to prove that they have an extensive vocabulary. Heh, I watched one man use disgusting, appaling, hideous, horrendus and about 4 other words like that on one sentence. Was I appaled at it? Yes, but not at the video...but at the news shows for spending 5 freaking hours talking about this video.

 

So have these terrorists accomplished what they set out to do by making this video? Yes, all of America saw this video within a day.(cept me)

 

And who essentially was the catalyst in helping the terrorist accomplish this? The news companies of course. Which is why I think the government should have strict control over national news, so things dont get blown out of proportion. That wouldnt simply solve the problem but I think its a step in the right direction.

 

anyways, I hate the news. (oh yeah the two people argueing and insulting eachother on a personal level might be a good reason to lock it too)

[Jedi_Vogel]

Originally posted by XERXES

So have these terrorists accomplished what they set out to do by making this video? Yes, all of America saw this video within a day.(cept me)

 

And who essentially was the catalyst in helping the terrorist accomplish this? The news companies of course. Which is why I think the government should have strict control over national news, so things dont get blown out of proportion. That wouldnt simply solve the problem but I think its a step in the right direction.

 

anyways, I hate the news. (oh yeah the two people argueing and insulting eachother on a personal level might be a good reason to lock it too)

 

*sigh* manipulation of the media. As if things out there aren't bad enough already....people (not people here I hasten to add) then spend hours pouring over it and making their own conclusions, which, at the end of the day certainly won't help the situation out there. It's no good changing people's opinions in your own country if the situation over there doesn't change.

 

And this kinda video does make things worse by itself, without us helping it.

 

Not that I condone any of these people who use their religion as a tool of violence and terror. I personally do not know any Muslims, but I'm sure that if they followed their own teachings (which as far as I know, Muslims tend to) they would be a peaceful group of people. It's just those who take it to the extreme who cause the problems.

 

Power hungry media makes me just as sick as those causing the trouble in the first place.

 

Apologies in advance to anyone unfortunate enough to be trapped in the media.

[Kurgan]

Suffice to say, all "rules of war" and even the appearance of following the Geneva convention were thrown out the window the day after 9/11.

 

Targeting civilians? "Unlawful Combatants" (instead of Prisoners of War with actual human rights)? Showing prisoners on public tv? Using torture? All forbidden by the convention.

 

Right of conquest isn't recognized anymore, but if you're going to conquer a nation you have a responsibility to rebuild and give the people basic human rights. That's where I think we really fell down this time (Afgahnistan isn't looking too good either).

 

What the hell are we doing over there anyway? Protecting freedom? So far we've only encouraged radical leaders to kill more of our troops and blow up random civilians in the process. I bet the common Iraqi citizen thinks we're demons from hell, with all the trouble we've brought on their heads.

 

Parading Saddam around on TV like a trophy really hasn't done much good at all except raise our president's approval rating a few points.

 

I think we've really handled the "war on terror" and the war in Iraq quite poorly.

 

This is the way we prevent terrorist attacks? If anything this is just going to make the terrorists more determined to "get us" after all the crap we've tossed not just at them but at people who happened to be living in the same hemisphere as them. ; p

 

 

I hope Bush & co. have learned their lesson, I sincerely doubt their re-election chances after all this.

 

 

My thoughts and prayers are will all the innocent who have died in this long war...

[toms]

its all about the publicity these days... wars are won and lost with publicity, the internet and digital cameras... why do you think the US and UK put so much effort into embedding reporters and only allowing "good" images to come out of iraq.

 

The internet is a great tool for getting around the mass media conglomerates and their interests, but unfortunately it can be used by everyone for that purpose, not just the people who released pics like the flag draped coffins or that video of an apache helicopter casually picking off civilians.

 

No-one has come out of this very well, but then no-one said war was pleasant.

 

Scorching the middle east hardly seems a fair way to deal with the situation, after all it wasn't iraqi civilians who did this (although a lot of them do hate the US enough to support it), it wasn't iraqi soldiers (most of whom were defending their country and even then only because they had little choice), heck, as far as i can tell it probably wasn't even iraqis.

 

It is most likely to be some of the many external groups that has come into iraq since the US invaded and opened up a big power vacuum. I don't see why anyone from iraq should suffer because of what outsiders do.

 

If it makes anyone feel better, it has obviously backfired as it seems to have hardened american public opinion rather than make it waver, as it was obviously intended to do.

 

Note: At least one iraqi has been beaten to death in prison ( a worse way to go) and there are reports of an 8year old gerl being shot in cold blood by UK troops. It isn't good on either side.

[Alegis]

Xerxes has a very good point there bout the media...I hate it as well, murders went down last years but news reports up. turning on the news for ridiculous things like "house in japan collapsed. 3 people dead"->come on...as if thats really relevant..Its an accident

 

they succeeded in spreading their word, but i bet they know as well as me they cant stop the 'invasion' only makes it worse for both sides

[El Sitherino]

Well I've been watching the actual video of the beheading. If you look, you can see those guys don't have very Iraqi mannerisms, and the Leader (the guy talking) is wearing a gold ring, Forbidden by Islamic Law. Also they appear very well fed. I agree, it's sad but... I just doubt this was by Iraqi's or even arabs as the pronunciation is absolute crap.

 

clickage for some other peoples notices on the video flaws. this link shows other flaws in the video.

[Astrotoy7]

Im glad you posted this Sithy, not me. I was aware of it but I didnt want to be accused of being subversive or disrespectful towards the deceased, or americans at large. The gold ring bit is not a hard and fast rule. I definitely have one on, as do many ppl I know. Very strict muslims however would be more observant of this, but then again I have trouble imagining very strict muslims who would behave in such a manner. The people who performed this act, are murderers first, what *they* happen to use as justification is immaterial...

 

mtfbwya

[El Sitherino]

Originally posted by Astrotoy7

Im glad you posted this Sithy, not me. I was aware of it but I didnt want to be accused of being subversive or disrespectful towards the deceased, or americans at large. The gold ring bit is not a hard and fast rule. I definitely have one on, as do many ppl I know. Very strict muslims however would be more observant of this, but then again I have trouble imagining very strict muslims who would behave in such a manner. The people who performed this act, are murderers first, what *they* happen to use as justification is immaterial...

 

mtfbwya

True, but the people they are supposed to be playing are extremists, thus they follow all rules but the one in question. Murder. I suspect Nick Berg was killed earlier and the beheading was staged, you can tell it was spliced at parts in the video. I wish to give my respects to the family though, I even sent a letter, offering my consolement, so don't give me uncompassionate stuff anyone.

[topshot]

Originally posted by Samuel Dravis

He means help make it not be a dictatorship and let the population have basic human rights. But you knew that already.

 

That's exactly my point. Now if you all excuse me, I'll cease any of my further replies to this thread.

 

 

Thank you, Sam Dravis.

[Weapon X]

The only reason they wore ski masks is because they're ****ing pussies, sorry for the language but this guy wasn't a soldier and they MURDERED him for "revenge". I have buddies in Iraq and I hope they exact revenge for this guy and slaughter the entire Iraqi army soon. The Iraqi's don't even know what they're messing with. They will soon learn the hard way. This will not go unjustified.

 

GO UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES!!!!!!!!! KICK ASS AND COME HOME ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kale Jerre]

Originally posted by topshot

We tried to help them make their nation more free like ours and this is how they repay us?!? It's stupid!

 

The war had nothing to do with making their nation free like ours. A little research will turn up the real reasons.

 

Regardless, I'm saddened by this murder, just like I'm saddened by the Iraqi civilian 'war casualties'.

[Kale Jerre]

Originally posted by obi-wan13

Some of the American troops have tortured the POW's from Iraq, but have never beheaded one and video-taped it........that's sick and sadistic....

 

I would recommend a little more research into this topic. There are certainly sick and sadistic things being done by US troops in Iraq and it matters little that beheading isn't included when death is still the result and even the dignity of your corpse is violated.

[Sabretooth]

Iraq is turning into an hell-hole if it isn't already.

 

The Iraqis had to get revenge for prisoner abuse and thats the way they got it. The sorrys and apoligies mean little to a country that was humiliated so. US should grant them a good democracy and pull out. It wasn't their business to meddle into Iraq in the first place. They got rid of Saddam, good. But then, why are they still staying there?

 

My two cents.

[Astrotoy7]

Originally posted by Weapon X

....I have buddies in Iraq and I hope they exact revenge for this guy and slaughter the entire Iraqi army soon. The Iraqi's don't even know what they're messing with. They will soon learn the hard way. This will not go unjustified.

 

GO UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES!!!!!!!!! KICK ASS AND COME HOME ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

*sigh*

 

mtfbwya

[toms]

Originally posted by Weapon X

The only reason they wore ski masks is because they're ****ing pussies, sorry for the language but this guy wasn't a soldier and they MURDERED him for "revenge". I have buddies in Iraq and I hope they exact revenge for this guy and slaughter the entire Iraqi army soon. The Iraqi's don't even know what they're messing with. They will soon learn the hard way. This will not go unjustified.

 

GO UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES!!!!!!!!! KICK ASS AND COME HOME ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

ummm... this is the problem with getting emotional and not thinking rationally or knowing anything about what you are talking about before you jump in with both feet..... (is that you GW?) ...you end up making foolish comments that don't make sense.

 

If you hadn't noticed, the iraqi army is on OUR SIDE now (i feel i should insert the word dumbass here, maybe i watch too much south park ).

The US needs the iraqi army to be as operational as possible, as they are relying on being able to hand over as much of the policing as possible to them so that they can get the hell out of the mess they are in as soon as possible.

 

Also, GW has just changed the rules to ensure that geneva conventions apply to prisoners in iraq (which implies they didn't before, a message the guards obviously got) and ordered lots of the prisoners released as it turns out they DIDNT NEED TO BE THERE. sigh.

 

(of course, the us still continues to use torture in cuba...)

 

--------------

 

And who essentially was the catalyst in helping the terrorist accomplish this? The news companies of course. Which is why I think the government should have strict control over national news, so things dont get blown out of proportion. That wouldnt simply solve the problem but I think its a step in the right direction.

 

I agree that it is pubicity that makes terrorism effective (as a actual danger it is minimal), but it is politicians who are talking up terrorism and making it into a much bigger, scarier threat than it really is, not journalists.

 

I think a lot of (newscorp) news is rubbish, but government controlled press is the first (and biggest) step towards loss of democracy...

 

just look at russia, italy, nazi-germany, pre-war iraq, zimbabwe, any other country with a dictator, etc... the first thing they do is get hold of the press and make sure it only reports their side and doesn't say anything good about oposition politicians. Then they can "win" every election becuase they are basically the only candidate anyone has heard of....

 

The US has been trying to control the media with tricks such as embeded reporters (who are naturally biased towards the troops they are with) and so on, luckily the internet, digital cameras etc... allows us to sometime skip the "official" channels and find out exactly what is going on.

 

I still think it was disgraceful that during the iraq war THE ONLY COUNTRY without reporters in bagdad was the US... every other country had journalists risking their lives (at the hands of stupid US troops) to give impartial reports from the other side... the US media was all with the US army and getting all their news from them.

 

Maybe that is why the us army fired on the hotel with all the reporters in and killed several, because they were the only o****ry who didn't know they were there.... sigh.

[Kale Jerre]

Originally posted by Astrotoy7

*sigh*

 

Ditto.