Guest post by DaveM
Addounia TV is a Syrian TV channel owned by Mohammed Hamsho, Maher Al Assad‘s brother-in-law, and its news specialises in highly polished, well produced and totally surreal reports. It makes the output of David Lynch, David Cronenberg and Terry Gilliam appear tame in comparison. Their crass propaganda has been featured here before.
However this time it’s as if the entire editorial staff have all dropped acid and have come up with one of the most bizarre reports I’ve ever seen.
According to Addounia, Al Jazeera has re-created Tripoli and a number of Syrian towns on some Qatari soundstage and is broadcasting scenes recorded in these studios as if those clips show real occurrences. And apparently Tripoli hasn’t fallen to rebels. Or something.
Obviously in totalitarian states Occam’s Razor doesn’t get a look in.
All I know is that my head hurts.
Addounia – Syria, 9th September 2011.
Newsreader: “In the neighbourhood of al-Amda in the Qatari capital Doha, TV channel Al Jazeera has completed setting up replicas (or scale models) of Syrian towns and town-squares exactly like those (replicas) which were erected of Green Square in Libya. And from which Libyans and the rest of the world were duped into thinking that the capital Tripoli had fallen.”
Voiceover: “[These are] cinematic replicas of Syrian cities and town squares, with the help of French and American film directors.
“Information confirmed by its sources that in the al-Amda district of the Qatari capital Doha, TV channel Al Jazeera has completed setting up the scale models of Syrian cities and town squares, exactly like those which were erected of Green Square in Libya. And by using (these models of Green Square) Libyans and the rest of the world were duped into thinking that the capital Tripoli had fallen.
“With these replicas Al Jazeera will continue the media fabrication operations and cinematic deception to depict large scale defections from within the ranks of the Syrian army, and to depict clashes between members of what they claim are dissenters and those of the regime.
“The information states that the preparations of these events have been completed and all that is left is to film the clips which will correspond with the weather situation in Syria. Then the Al Jazeera Exclusive logo will be placed (on these clips) as a type of journalistic scoop for this channel which they want to via these clips present them as if they have an international credibility.
“These films will be directed by directors from France, America and Israel. Not only that but according to the plan a number of so-called Syrians opposing (the regime) will turn up inside these studios as if they are gathering within Syria, in order to delude the public opinion that it has fallen to the demonstrators.
“Large replicas have been set up of Orontes Square in Hama, and of Clock Square in Homs, and districts of the town of Idlib, along with other regions of Syria.
“And this scheme will start operating from this coming Sunday to provide a pretext for America, Israel and NATO to direct a military strike against Syria in the future, with the pretext of an air embargo and to direct a preemptive strike under the slogan of protecting the civilians.
“This is TV channel Al Jazeera and this is it’s scheme, and we leave it up to you to judge.”
Seriously, what are they going to come up with next at the Addounia editorial meeting? This?
Meanwhile in the real world, the UN estimates 2,600 Syrians have been killed since the uprising began– with reports of 113 dying this week alone, with Russia and China resisting any increase in international pressure on the Assad regime, and with Hugo Chavez speaking out against sanctions. (Last month Chavez offered the same crackpot explanation for what happened in Green Square and suggested that the 1969 American moon landing may indeed have been faked.)
When this regime falls, which one day it will, Syrians will not forget China and Russia’s actions. In Homs on the 22 August people made their feelings towards the Russian and Chinese governments very clear indeed.
(Hat tip: Beirut Spring)
