Israel Defence Forces deploy 'selfie squad' to boost image

[Violet_Crumble]

Combat camera unit 'here to explain and to document for the entire world that we don't use force for bad'

Having suffered a PR battering from viral video clips showing its soldiers in an unflattering light, the Israel Defence Forces are firing back with a combat camera unit trained to show their version of the story.

The first round of graduates – all combat soldiers – have completed a seven-month training programme before joining frontline units. Private Ido H, one of the new "selfie squaddies", has trained for more than a year as a combat soldier and videographer. He can film, edit and broadcast from the battlefield.

"My main mission is to film. I think the job of anyone recording what happens is much more important than any fighter," he told the Guardian. "There are lots of cameras on the other side. They show us apparently acting in an unfair way to civilians, to our enemies. We are here to explain and to document for the entire world that we don't use force for bad."

In recent years, cameras wielded by human rights groups have focused unwelcome attention on the IDF. The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem has distributed cameras to Palestinians and collected hours of footage documenting life under occupation. Palestinians say cameras are sometimes the only effective weapon against an army equipped with tanks and fighter jets.

Last April, Lt Col Shalom Eisner was suspended after he was filmed striking a Danish protester in the face with his M16 rifle. Video showing Mustafa Tamimi apparently dying after being hit by a teargas canister during a West Bank demonstration in December 2011 has helped sustain pressure for an inquiry.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/27/israel-defence-forces-selfie-squad-combat-image

Now if they gave up on weapons and just all went round with cameras, the world would be a better place...

[Jefferson23]

1. Next up, the battle of the edited footage and its release...still, on some level..good. n/t

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

2. Propaganda has a new name and unit.

The Selfie Squaddies


The problem is that propaganda can't cut through the real selfies where IDF aholes have been photographed with detainees blindfolded and tied up, or the more general ones where they are caught on film shooting at unarmed Palestinians.


But go ahead and loose the dogs of propaganda.

[azurnoir]

3. oh boy edited battle film

just like the old WW2 news reels up next.......the why we fight series