Terrorism: First Al-Qaeda 'TV News' Via Web

[ECH1969]

The al-Qaeda movement has for the first time broadcast a television news bulletin, via the Internet. While the Islamist terror group has made ample use of the web for propaganda, this is the first time it has produced something that resembles a traditional television news bulletin - with some striking differences; the newsreader has his face covered and a Koran and rifle at his side. The presenter of the 16-minute "bulletin" entitled Sout al-Khalifa (the Voice of the Caliphate) announced that they would be broadcast weekly.

The first programme opened with the headlines: Gaza has been freed, a great victory; From Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi declares a war of revenge of the Sunnis; Hurricane Katrina, the start of a divine retribution. The announcement of the withdrawal of the "Zionist forces from the lands of Gaza", was accompanied by archive footage of Palestinians celebrating, some of it from Doha-based Arabic satellite network al-Jazeera.

The second item is on the communique by al-Qaeda in Iraq in which it claims responsibility for the attacks against Shiites in Baghdad as revenge for the killing of Sunnis in Tel Afar. The presenter reads an excerpt from the last speech by al-Zarqawi on the stand off at Tel Afar as one of the most recent photos of al-Zarqawi is shown on the screen.

The third news item on the Islamist television news bulletin regards the "Islamic Army in Iraq" (the terror group responsible for the death of Italian freelance journalist Enzo Baldoni) which claimed last week that it had launched chemical missiles against Baghdad. The news content of the al-Qaeda bulletin is even interrupted for an advertising break, which announces the imminent release via the internet of a film entitled Total Jihad. The bulletin concludes with news of Hurricane Katrina, defined as "divine punishment on America" which the presenter says has caused some 900 victims.

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.212028672&par=0

[Cocoa]

1. I have a slogan suggestion for them

"Fair and balanced."

[Kailassa]

2. The BIG question

we must never forget to ask, is: "Who benefits?"

This comes so conveniently after the anti-war rally.

Al-Zarqawi has a stunning way of coming back from the dead.

The program seems aimed at making Americans angry, and we all know the effect anger has on rational thinking.

This will improve *'s popularity, as he makes himself out to be the saviour from terrorism.

There is no way doing this would be above the ability of, or beneath the morals of Murdick Press.

[angryxyouth]

3. Zarqawi ?

I thought Zarqawi was dead and buried. I read that last week. Is everyone using his name as the boogie-man now? I know that I must sound like a freeper, believe me I'm not!!! I just regard news sources like Rawstory and DU as way superior to the MSM. Chinks in the credibility armor worries me.

[Nickster]

5. Zarqawi has been dead, alive, dead, disabled, captured, alive again

for a few years now. I think the first report of his death was back in 2003 before the war even started. He's been the boogie man for awhile now. I doubt he even exists actually.

[bemildred]

4. Zarqawi speaks for the Sunni now?

Why should I not think this is feeble propaganda?