Must See Iraqi TV
[Guest post by DRJ]
Is the Saddam Channel an Iraqi version of The History Channel or something more sinister?
“Turning on their TVs during the long holiday weekend, Iraqis were greeted by a familiar if unexpected face from their brutal past: Saddam Hussein.
The late Iraqi dictator is lauded on a mysterious satellite channel that began broadcasting on the Islamic calendar’s anniversary of his 2006 execution.”
The programming appears to be aimed at promoting nostalgia for Saddam while inflaming anti-Americanism and a Shiite-Sunni divide:
“It is mostly a montage of flattering, still images of Saddam — some of him dressed in military uniform, others in a suit, even one astride a white horse. One image shows his sons Odai and Qusai smiling with their father, and another their bodies after they and Saddam’s grandson, Mustafa, were killed in a July 2003 gunfight with U.S. troops.
One prominently displayed image is that of a man burning an American flag. Another shows graves covered with Iraqi flags.
All the pictures are set against audio recordings of Saddam making speeches and reciting poetry. Patriotic songs urge listeners to “liberate our country.” None of the pictures appear to be recent, and no announcers or commentators appear or speak.”
The Iraqi government believes Baathists are funding the Saddam Channel but the AP tracked down a Syrian named Mohammed Jarboua who claimed to be its chairman. Jarboua would only say the Saddam Channel was funded by “people who love us.”
— DRJ
An endless montage of saddam pictures and others with patriotic music and speeches by saddam – look out, the baathists have perfected the art of making bad youtube videos and putting them on tv!
chaos (7c068a) — 11/29/2009 @ 1:26 pmJeffy Immelt would probably love to help them take it to the next level I think. He’s sort of an old hat at this.
happyfeet (0003d3) — 11/29/2009 @ 1:38 pmWell … we did invade them to give them freedom of speech, among other things.
nk (df76d4) — 11/29/2009 @ 1:40 pmjeff immelt would probably pay THEM for the privilege of upgrading their propaganda arratus.
chaos (7c068a) — 11/29/2009 @ 1:45 pmI think it’s more how socialists the world over have an undying faith in propaganda. This is sorta kinda related I guess.
happyfeet (0003d3) — 11/29/2009 @ 1:45 pmapparatus* silly me.
chaos (7c068a) — 11/29/2009 @ 1:46 pmJust who has the most to gain from an Iraq in chaos?
AD - RtR/OS! (27348e) — 11/29/2009 @ 2:16 pmNobody behind curtain A, B or C speak Arabic!
Well … we did invade them to give them freedom of speech, among other things.
Reminds me of the scene in Python’s “Life of Brian,” where the secret protest group starts listing the many grievances against Rome.
“What have the Romans done for us?!!”
“Well…they did give us the aqueduct.”
“Ok, but what else have they done for us?”
“Uh…well, they have given us a form of free assembly…”
“OK, but what else have they done for us?”
Dmac (a964d5) — 11/29/2009 @ 2:25 pmMost important things in life have been addressed in a Monty Python skit … and a lot of unimportant things, too. I often wonder if it was the real inspiration for Seinfeld’s show about nothing.
DRJ (dee47d) — 11/29/2009 @ 2:28 pmCorrection: I don’t often wonder about it but I sometimes do.
DRJ (dee47d) — 11/29/2009 @ 2:30 pmWondering about a show about nothing???
AD - RtR/OS! (27348e) — 11/29/2009 @ 2:40 pmThere’s an intellectual nadir there that is difficult to explain.
Who stands to profit most from an increased divisiveness in Iraq now(both politically and financially)?
And who could it be in Europe who loves them, is financing this, and airing it?? Any suspects?
Dana (e9ba20) — 11/29/2009 @ 2:48 pmIf it has a Syrian connection, my money’d be on Iran. The irony of using their dead hated enemy to ferment civil unrest in their neighbor is too delicious.
Techie (482700) — 11/30/2009 @ 6:12 am