The "Wounded Boy In Orange Seat" - Another Staged "White Helmets" Stunt
This pic is making the rounds in "western" media together with a tearful story from "activists" in a neighborhood in al-Qaeda occupied east-Aleppo.
A boy, seemingly wounded, sits quietly in a brand new, very well equipped ambulance. At a point he touches what looks like a wound on his left temple. He shows no reaction to that touch.
The two minute video (also here), from which the pic is taken, shows the boy being handed from the dark above to some person in a rescue jacket and carried into the ambulance. There he sits quietly, unattended, while several people take videos and pictures of him. One other kids, not obviously wounded, is then carried to the ambulance.
As the story is told:
Mahmoud Raslan, a photojournalist who captured the image, told the Associated Press that emergency workers and journalists tried to help the child, identified as 5-year-old Omran Daqneesh, along with his parents and his three siblings, who are 1, 6 and 11 years old."We were passing them from one balcony to the other," Raslan said, adding: "We sent the younger children immediately to the ambulance, but the 11-year-old girl waited for her mother to be rescued. Her ankle was pinned beneath the rubble."
An internet search for "Mahmoud Raslan", the claimed "photojournalist", finds no other pictures or videos attributed to that name.
There are about 15 men standing around the scene and doing nothing. (Next to a "just bombed" site in a warzone? No fear of a double-tap strike?) At least two more men, besides the videographer, are taking pictures or videos.
Another kid is carried into the ambulance. In the background there is someone with a white helmet wearing a shirt of the U.S./UK financed "White Helmets" propaganda group.
An animated wounded man is walked towards the ambulance.
Like the boy, the man seems to have a wound at the upper head. But like the boy he is not bleeding at all. There is some red colored substance on his face but no blood is flowing. That is astonishing. When I rode ambulances as a first-responder, people with head wounds always bled like stuck pigs (they often messed up the car which I then had to clean). As WebMD notes:
Minor cuts on the head often bleed heavily because the face and scalp have many blood vessels close to the surface of the skin. Although this amount of bleeding may be alarming, many times the injury is not severe ...
The amount of red colored substance on the boy and the man do not correspond to the amount one would expect from even a minor head wound. There are also no bandages applied or anything else that could have been used to stop an actual head wound from bleeding.
Compare the above to this recent picture from a boy in west-Aleppo. (No "western" media showed this boy and his suffering. He is not on "our side".) The boy suffered a head wound after an improvised missile from al-Qaeda and its associates hit his neighborhood. He is in care, the bleeding has been stopped. The amount of blood on his body and soaked into his cloth is a multiple of that seen in the above pictures. The blood is also mixed with the other dirt on his face, not painted over. This looks like those patients in my ambulance. This looks real.
All attributes of the "boy on orange seat" scene and of the video are the same that can be found in dozens of "White Helmets" videos. It is the same theme that occurs over and over again in our picture collection Dramatic Rescue! Man With Kid Runs Towards Camera!.
I am inclined to believe that the video above is just as staged as the other "White Helmets" videos and pictures. The look of the boy's wound is a bit more realistic than usual but the lack of bleeding, that no one attends to the boy, his non-reaction to touching the "wound" and the general setting of the video scene lets me believe that it is staged.
This new, widely distributed propaganda item comes again at a moment where al-Qaeda and its associates in Syria are in trouble. The Russian air force is hitting them in the rear area of their attack on west-Aleppo and it is hurting them badly. A "humanitarian ceasefire", which can then be used to reorganize and resupply, is urgently needed. The propaganda helps to increase the pressure for such a demand.
Some of its sponsors want the "White Helmets" nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The organization itself lobbies for it on its website. Has anyone else ever done such?
Have they no shame asking themselves for the prize? This right above another version of their main corporate brand attribute, a "Dramatic Rescue! Man With Kid Runs Towards Camera!" picture. Asking for a Nobel right above another staged scene?
But why not? Obama was nothing more than a marketed product when was handed the Peace Nobel. He then bombed people in seven Muslim dominated countries to dust. There is no good reason then to not give that prize to yet another propaganda tool which also wants more war.
Then again, I find a nomination for the Academy Awards, maybe in the category of "Best Marketed Fakes", more appropriate.
Posted by b on August 18, 2016 at 17:16 UTC | Permalink
next page »Fascinating. When I saw the original photo, the soot across the right eye looked like it had been painted on as the lines were just too straight.
It should be remembered that the "photojournalists" of the "rebellion" got their training and equipment from the CIA. I do think that instead of the a Noble Peace, they should get an Oscar for Best Fake Reporting.
Posted by: Michael | Aug 18 2016 17:35 utc | 2
But think of all the effort they put into these photos, b. The casting alone is impressive. Military-age men without (or with neatly trimmed) beards. Soros demanded they stop publishing any White Helmet photos with guys that have long, scraggly head-chopper beards, and suddenly you didn't see any. And I mean zero. That was around the time the U.S. told the FSA to trim their head-chopper beards because the long ones scared Americans. No TOW-2As unless they shaved. The MSM started publishing photos with groups of head-choppers - all either clean-shaven or with equally-neatly trimmed beards. It was just weird. I don't think al Nusra liked that too much, so it sort of disappeared. The White Helmets have dutifully kept publicly-released photos of themselves restricted to rescuers clean-shaven or with short-trimmed beards. It makes them look less head-chopper-ish and - I guess - Nobel Prize worthy.
As an aside, I love how the kid in the impossibly-clean orange/white 'ambulance' is sitting next to a well-labeled First Aid kit. Because you want to be sure your medical supplies are labeled in English - the national language of Syria. It's also important to have a First Aid kit in an ambulance because you never know when you'll have a medical emergency, and where would you get any medical supplies then?
Posted by: PavewayIV | Aug 18 2016 17:47 utc | 3
As a scenic in Hollywood I work on many productions after the chippers (carpenters) do their thing. I am usually on set when they do the shoot for minor touch ups so I see a lot of this type of thing for tv and movie productions, where it may be appropriate. This is a piss poor production job if I have ever seen one.
Here's a link to something mentioning "East Aleppo media activist" Raslan. http://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2016/6-august-east-aleppo-media-activist-mahmoud-raslan-in-ramouseh
Posted by: Hrothgar | Aug 18 2016 17:52 utc | 5
And how come Soros isn't funding any White Helmets in Yemen, that racist pig!
Posted by: PavewayIV | Aug 18 2016 18:00 utc | 6
This is a first aid kit from a less civilized country. You must admit, hard to tell what is it, except for the international symbols.
Too bad that "scraggly" rebel videos are too gruesome to show in Western media.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Aug 18 2016 18:01 utc | 7
The boy is also quite fat. He is evidently not suffering from the shortages East Aleppo is supposed to be suffering from.
Posted by: Laguerre | Aug 18 2016 18:06 utc | 8
Another pr stunt pulled by the usual suspects.. Funny how the msm always come out in force to tell us how we should all be crying to "rebel held" (aka Al-Qaeda bases) Aleppo but never say a word when their lovely rebels rain gas canisters filled with explosives on Western Aleppo.
This is a classic "babies in incubators" moment.
I don't think the Syrian government must stop the offensive.. Sri-Lanka did it very effectively untl total vistory. The rats in the Eastern part of Aleppo have been given many chance to lay down their weapons but they choose to fight for their caliphate.. Why should anyone care????
Posted by: Zico | Aug 18 2016 18:12 utc | 9
Crikey, mate! I have been out of range of WiFi for almost 2 weeks. When I left home on Aug05 all of the pro-Assad Syrian bullspit dorks were saying SAA/Hizzbolah/Kurds were kicking jihadi ass in Aleppo: 1070 was under control, Ramouse was under control, Hikmah School was OK, liveuamap showed the jihadis surrounded and no way out. I get back online yesterday expecting to see Aleppo thriving once more under the gentle, democratic protection of Assad and the SAA.
But look at the map now!! A flood of green w/ wee patches of red about to be swamped. WTF happened to Putin and his air strikes that was putting al-Q on the run? WTF happened to the valiant SAA? WTF happened?
Only goes to show: you cannot believe a word these Syrian bloggers/tweeters print on either side. The people who are predicting don’t know squat about what the situation will look like in 24 hours – probably don’t know squat about what it looks like in real time. They are as bad or worse than Higgins.
b, to his eternal credit, had the cojones to say on Aug07, essentially, “I fucked that prediction up.” Lesson learned: nobody can make a valid prediction based on bullspit. Don’t even try. Even if you’re right now and then, it’s just dumb luck. Put your chips on black and spin the wheel, you’re odds are better.
But speaking of bullspit predictions, here’s mine, based on politics not piss-poor or faked “battleground intel”: If the jihadis can hold out in Aleppo until Jan20|17, Clinton will rescue them. Putin will either tuck-tail or fight WWIII. His choice. By mid-2017 Assad will either be dead or in exile in some Shia country and Israel will occupy Golan.
[email protected] haw haw haw..thanks for the piss poor prediction. You're always good for a laugh, if a bit long winded.
Posted by: hejiminy cricket | Aug 18 2016 18:24 utc | 11
[email protected] - "...and Israel will occupy Golan." Whaaaat? That's just crazy talk. Could they even do such a thing? The U.N. would never allow it! And I'll bet Syria wouldn't be the least bit happy about that, either.
Posted by: PavewayIV | Aug 18 2016 18:30 utc | 12
thanks b for continuing to shine a light on this bullshite..
Posted by: james | Aug 18 2016 18:32 utc | 13
@3 Pavewayiv - As an aside, I love how the kid in the impossibly-clean orange/white 'ambulance' is sitting next to a well-labeled First Aid kit. Because you want to be sure your medical supplies are labeled in English - the national language of Syria. It's also important to have a First Aid kit in an ambulance because you never know when you'll have a medical emergency, and where would you get any medical supplies then?
'impossibly-clean' just sums this whole charade up - does this look like an ambulance that has seen daily bloody casualties - no, not in the slightest - and that's before you look at the 'detail'.
The only strategy the USISUKNATO, and the rest, now has is total BS news, because the Syrian/Russian/Iran/Iraq/Lebanon and 'maybe' Turkey are covering what is happening on the ground.
The bombing base in Iran is a good move - it is out of earshot from the immediate arena - and the US cannot predict the trajectories!
Regards Fred
Posted by: fredjc | Aug 18 2016 18:41 utc | 14
I have learned a simple rule: if it comes from a western connected organization, immediately doubt it. The odds are your doubt will be right 99% of the time.
Lying and deception are at the core of the west: it must win while everyone else must loose.
No more cease fires in Syria.
Posted by: AriusArmenian | Aug 18 2016 18:43 utc | 15
@denis 9. Very frightening prediction. Hillary Clinton is ready for a world/humanity ending nuclear war with Russia to protect Al Queda in Aleppo. So when the nukes fall on New York City, Chicago, London, Paris, Berlin, we can all say with a sigh of relief "at least all the children in Aleppo are safe tonight. Protected by the family friendly first woman president of the United States."
`
Posted by: Erelis | Aug 18 2016 18:50 utc | 16
Thanks b for shining the light on these despicable roaches.
Who provided the free ketch-up of a certain brand?
This prop will not fly in the Internet age. The "bloodied" kid sitting on the orange seat, with both hands poised on legs is unmoved; not a twitch and obviously not experiencing any pain or trauma whatsoever. Looks more like my kids rag-doll. Can we spell Staged?
Posted by: likklemore | Aug 18 2016 18:58 utc | 17
When Al Qaeda filmed themselves beheading a 12-year old boy they pretty much lost any chance at winning the PR war. But I'm glad you're revealing the U.S. (via White Helmet) lies.
Posted by: rcentros | Aug 18 2016 19:01 utc | 18
Obviously the little boy is not in pain. Every little child, in a stressful situation like this, away from the parents would start crying. And how do they explain, if a child has got head injuries that NOBODY is attending to the wound not to mention staying with a small child and comforting it???
They rather put him on the chair and make him look so mall and lonely and take photos. That is of course the natural thing to do when you have injured children rescued in a war zone. My argument being that it can not be that this boy has been injured and definitely this scene has been staged. Same as the scene with the little dead boy on the Turkish beach (the refugee welcome argument) if you remember.
I feel very sorry for this little boy though. His father is most probably al Qaeda and guilty of putting his son through this. These children go through stressful and terrible times, they are being abused for fake photo shoots and their parents that are not interested in using humanitarian corridors to get out of a war zone if only for the sake of their children. What kind of human beings are they?
Posted by: Demeter | Aug 18 2016 19:01 utc | 19
@15 Erelis - Very frightening indeed - more frightening is the range of candidates on offer - where is the candidate running under the 'sack all bankers' and 'stop all bankers wars' mandate?
Posted by: fredjc | Aug 18 2016 19:02 utc | 20
b, thanks as always for the exposure of those lies.
@all Remember this? BBC fake Syrian victims
Methinks the sponsors of that terror are really desperate for some safe corridor for their "ambulances" to get their "assets" (NATO/Israel/GCC military commanders) out of the siege.
Posted by: ProPeace | Aug 18 2016 19:11 utc | 21
Just went to look here http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/08/18/boy-ambulance-offers-glimpse-profound-horrors-syria to see if anyone caught onto the item's obvious propaganda and said as much in the comments--No, and since I'm now banned from there until 2153, I can't post the proper corrective and link to b's great article as I've done in the past. You'd think the use of English inside the ambulance would've caught someone's eye, or other clues as pointed out by b and PaveWayIV. The great irony is the website's trying to raise funds by emphasizing "lies of omission" for which it's quite guilty of itself, particularly when exiling truth tellers like myself and at least a dozen others over the last month. Anyway, thanks to b for again unmasking the garbage.
Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 18 2016 19:14 utc | 22
This is really revolting to see that child being (ab)used for NATO propaganda.
Don't those people ("White Helmet" et al scum) have any human conscious?
Or at least some instinct for self-preservation - are they that stupid to believe they won't be held accountable when the dust finally settles? What are they counting on?
Posted by: ProPeace | Aug 18 2016 19:16 utc | 23
From 0:53 to 0:56 the injured man is directed to the ambulance in English, "This way, this way, this way..."
Also of note is how localized the "rubble" they are handing people over is, a small patch of several meters squared. After that, the path to the ambulance, and the area around the ambulance, is completely clear. Those evil Syrians must have used a very smart barrel bomb this time to contain the damage to such a small localized area.
On a more serious note, as usual, there is nothing to identify this video as being filmed in Aleppo Syria, or even outdoors, and not in some movie studio in Qatar.
Posted by: name | Aug 18 2016 20:01 utc | 24
Watched the Vid. Watched the kid rub his head like he's tired - look at the 'blood' and try to wipe it off his hand. Words just flew out of my mouth.."ever seen a 5 year old see himself bleeding? They bawl and wail, and scream, and it's all you can do to convince them that they aren't going to die, while trying to calm them down, so they hold still, so you can stop the bleeding and pop a band-aid on the poor thing." Good spotting B.
Off topic, but per your "discussion" with Col. Lang, I went to one of Soros' Schools back in the early days - and the experience and my observations left me with very little doubt that it and he are a CIA op.
Posted by: skuppers | Aug 18 2016 20:02 utc | 25
Of course, the entire concept of the "White Hats" is ridiculous propaganda based on the unconscious identification of the viewer with old Hollywood Westerns where the "good guys" wear white hats.
In a real zero-sum conflict international proxy war, as Syria is, the idea that handsome able-bodied men would not be taking up arms for their side, but would specialize, not in Emergency Medicine per say, a recognized discipline, but merely in extracting bodies from rubble before cameras is risible.
It is lamentable that there were no White Hats around when the three buildings of the World trade Center were demolished after being hit by two planes. First responders were uniformly shocked that there was not a single whole body in the rubble to be extracted!
Posted by: name | Aug 18 2016 20:13 utc | 26
it's the John Bonet Ramsey of Unkie Shmuel's headchopper brigade! children as props & performers in adult fantasies, games and schemes. they need to throw in some wounded puppies & maternal-lactose deprived mewling kittens too. for the intended audience.
and i don't recall the NYT & co being at all concerned by incendiary devices in Fallujah et al. every word is a lie, a distortion, if only by omission.
Posted by: jason | Aug 18 2016 20:15 utc | 27
hejiminy cricket | Aug 18, 2016 2:24:47 PM | 10
“You're always good for a laugh, if a bit long winded.”
Ha! You should hear the long winded ones that come out the other end. Practice, practice, practice . . .
- - - -
PavewayIV | Aug 18, 2016 2:30:46 PM | 11
“That's just crazy talk. Could they even do such a thing? The U.N. would never allow it! And I'll bet Syria wouldn't be the least bit happy about that, either.”
My take is that you’re being facetious, which you do very well. When was the last time GoY (Govt. of Yisrael) cared about what the UN thought? Well . . . OK, when GoY pitches a bitch about Hamas, then they care.
- - - -
Erelis | Aug 18, 2016 2:50:37 PM | 15
That was perfectly said. I won’t follow-up because b (properly) likes to keep comments on US election politics separate.
- - - -
ProPeace | Aug 18, 2016 3:16:10 PM | 22
“This is really revolting to see that child being (ab)used for NATO propaganda.”
Speaking of exploiting kids for political purposes, you might agree with this piece on Dissident Voice about Khizr Khan exploiting the tragic death of his son:
This is the latest heart tugging news story, out of Aleppo?
The child was rescued from rubble. So it is claimed?
Except we aren't shown him being removed from the rubble?
Though, the person who took this footage claims he filmed him being removed from the rubble.
'I filmed the Syrian boy pulled from the rubble - his wasn't a rare case'
Can anyone point me towards the footage that shows the removal from rubble occurring?
Of any of the children that were positioned in the ambulance?
etc
http://pennyforyourthoughts2.blogspot.com.au/2016/08/little-boy-rescued-from-rubble.html
Posted by: brian | Aug 18 2016 20:17 utc | 29
August 5 - Save Our Children on Russian-Syrian Proposal to establish 'humanitarian corridors' out of Aleppo - the original page is scrubbed so here's a link to the cache - http://tinyurl.com/z9k67wf (NOTE: the cached link was way long so shortened it using tinyurl)
"If Russia is serious about averting a humanitarian disaster in Aleppo it should strongly support the UN's call for an immediate weekly 48-hour humanitarian pause to ensure safe, unimpeded and immediate humanitarian access – both for aid to get into Aleppo and for civilians to leave voluntarily."
August 18 - RT: Russia ready to support weekly 48-hour humanitarian ceasefires in Aleppo – Defense Ministry -
" The Russian Ministry of Defense has backed a proposal from the UN Syria envoy to organize 48-hour weekly ceasefires to supply humanitarian relief to Aleppo citizens. The first truce could be organized as early as next week."
"The proposal – which was originally voiced last week by the UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura, who called for 48-hour ceasefires instead of the three hours proposed by the Russian side – has been welcomed in Moscow."
Looks like the NGOs succeeded in getting their 48-hour ceasefires with a little nudging from the helmets...
Forgot to post link to RT's story - https://www.rt.com/news/356409-aleppo-humanitarian-truce-russia/
The mass media at least in the US is uncritically fully taking up the video and images. The clip looks to be very effective as it has been posted with little or no scrutiny on both liberal and neocon sites (have no TV so no idea how it is playing there). Yah, compelling images on the surface but when doing an analysis (which is not allowed), you do have to wonder why there is so much blood on the child's face but none on the his clothes from what I can tell. Why so many hurt children in pictures/videos do not cry. These are not complex, distorting semantic questions, but questions that come out of simple experiences, and which never get answered.
Posted by: Erelis | Aug 18 2016 20:39 utc | 33
Does anyone else find it strange that the kids don't look around at the ambulance? It's as though they've been in an ambulance before or they have been there for a while (which doesn't make sense if they've been rescued after an attack).
The little boy focuses on the camera. His lack of interest in the ambulance makes it seem as though he's in shock, but then he touches his hair and tries to wipe off the blood in a way that is very fidgety (he's bored?).
We only see the little girl in the ambulance briefly but it seems strange that she doesn't show interest in the big commotion at the entrance as another child is swiftly carried over. Wouldn't she be hoping that her parents/siblings may arrive? And would a young girl be wearing that dress in the evening? (I don't know the local customs.)
Others have pointed out the boys lack of a pain reaction and lack of distress but actually we see three different children (i>(I believe there are two different boys shown) that have just (supposedly) been through a frightening experience and (supposedly) injured and NONE OF THEM are crying or appear distressed.
And why are all these men huddled around the ambulance filming? Why aren't they helping to look for survivors?
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Aug 18 2016 21:39 utc | 34
Generally when the media goes into a hypocritical frenzy about Syria it means the jihadis are getting pumped !!!
There have been a fair few Hezbollah funerals in Lebanon over the past few weeks, which generally means something massive is happening, and results will show sooner or later.
Also in regards to white helmets, im not too sure if anyone has seen this video and if it has been posted before my apologies, but its very good at exposing them.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=s8_cPE30z-I
Enjoy
Posted by: Deebo | Aug 18 2016 21:39 utc | 35
b,
You can maybe add this to your famous 'last of' list for Syria, (though it may actually be true), but the rest of the article ticks all the hart string pulling techniques:
USA Toady via Antiwar.com: Last female OB-GYN in eastern Aleppo tells why she keeps working
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/08/17/last-female-ob-gyn-aleppo-syria/88888912/
...Dr. Farida is the only female OB-GYN left in rebel-held Aleppo. She has no intention of quitting. “I love my work, and I love my patients. And I love little babies.”
regs,
et Al
Posted by: et Al | Aug 18 2016 21:46 utc | 36
In the Guardian's story the photographer is named as Mustafa al-Sarout, who has provided more details to the reporter in Beirut (Karem Shaheen). He is apparently working for the Aleppo Media Centre.
The Guardian reported on 3 May that
Contractors hired by the Foreign Office but overseen by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) produce videos, photos, military reports, radio broadcasts, print products and social media posts branded with the logos of fighting groups, and effectively run a press office for opposition fighters.
It's likely that the Aleppo Media Centre is one of the products of these contractors.
Posted by: pmr9 | Aug 18 2016 21:47 utc | 37
You've gone a bit far there, MoA. White Helmets HAVE pulled out old victims in the past, but this one's almost certainly current. Here's an article by Eva Bartlett, who's regularly visiting Syria, explaining how the White Helmets are embedded in terrorist-held quarters of Aleppo. That's how they were first on the scene... https://www.sott.net/article/325238-Western-corporate-media-disappears-over-1-5-million-Syrians-and-4000-doctors
Posted by: Niall | Aug 18 2016 21:55 utc | 38
The ground around the Ambulance seems remarkably level and free of debris (one might even say 'clean').
Posted by: Jackrabbit | Aug 18 2016 22:02 utc | 39
Watched the video last night (PST) Three key websites below link to the "boy" in the video, forgotten to bookmark. If you have time and patience read, click on all the weblink below: Pay particular attention to 21st Century Wire's Vanessa Beeley, she had documented extensively on the White Helmets.
1 - SYRIA: CNN Normalizes Suicide Bombers and Embeds Reporters with ISIS and Al Qaeda. August 4, 2016 by Vanessa Beeley
2 - What It's Like Being A Journalist In One Of The World's Most Dangerous Countries. Refinery29 Kaelyn Forde, March 18, 2016, 5:00 pm
http://www.refinery29.com/2016/03/106214/cnn-clarissa-ward-aleppo-syria-undercover-death-road
3 - CNN #UndercoverInSyria: Clarissa Ward March 14th, 2016. 10:03 am ET
Posted by: Jack Smith | Aug 18 2016 22:04 utc | 40
Have any of these White Helmet victims ever been filmed arriving at and being treated in a hospital?
Posted by: Yonatan | Aug 18 2016 22:14 utc | 41
Gotta thank CD member Uncle Po for posting a link to this item there. Unfortunately, no excerpt was provided as a hook to get people to click on the link to read the truth of the matter--only one had so far.
Niall @37--
Eva Bartlett herself says the White Helmets are fakes and Propaganda System Tools, a judgment she made almost a year ago, https://ingaza.wordpress.com/2015/08/25/note-on-credibility-and-lack-of-impartiality-of-those-making-anti-syria-allegations/ So, I would say you need to retract your accusation of b since you're the one who's been duped.
Posted by: karlof1 | Aug 18 2016 22:15 utc | 42
White Helmets do their job. But the media has a lot of images too choose, including quite shaggy jihadists cheerfully beheading a juvenile victim with a kitchen knife. You have to save ammo, plus, a simple shot of mercy is soon boring. And victims in the 'regime Aleppo" have their images too. Do not tell me that the main reason to prefer White Helmets' images is that they are most cute of them all.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Aug 18 2016 22:31 utc | 43
Niall @18 The White Helmets were created by the British MI6/Military as a propaganda organisation. Some of them are terrorists. Here is a video of them mixing with the ISIS and FSA buddies. There are other videos of them celebrating ISIS victories and bragging about dumping the bodies of non-takfiris in the trash.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiwkhPlG5DU
Posted by: Yonatan | Aug 18 2016 22:41 utc | 44
I've always assumed that the White Helmets were jihadis who swapped their AK's for a plastic hat as and when required. There was a piece in the Guardian a few days ago from a guy in Aleppo who seemed to be a legit educated revolutionary of the type that were active at the start. Interestingly, he'd only arrived just before the SAA closed the Castello road and crucially didn't own a white hat.
As for the boy, I feel that it's a mistake to cry fake. Injuries like that and worse are constantly happening on both sides and as such the image is representative regardless of provenance. As such, the wiser course of action is to give it the benefit of the doubt. People will believe it's true regardless and it's best to keep one's powder dry than enrage them by stating otherwise.
Posted by: Mr Toad | Aug 18 2016 22:56 utc | 45
et Al @ 35:
I read that USA Today story on "Dr Farida" you linked to and after I read this:
"... Once a patient was hit in the neck by broken glass during an airstrike, she recalls. “So every woman who comes to the hospital knows there’s a danger to her life. So they just give birth and go home, as they know our hospital is always being targeted by the Assad regime.”..."
I couldn't read much further, I was starting to laugh too hard. The entire article is a terrible cut-n-paste mish-mash. So Dr Farida just pops the babies and sends the kiddies home with their mothers, with broken glass still sticking out of their necks or their legs still missing?
Posted by: Jen | Aug 18 2016 22:58 utc | 46
About the authenticity of the top photo, which was reproduced in The Guardian etc. Indeed, even after a small kitchen cut the blood gets splattered. If the head was bleeding, the shirt would be dirty. Additionally, the place where the victims are aided is always a mess, especially in a war zone, blood get splattered, packages of dressing material are hastily torn, there is a lot of dust from explosions (this is why their exposed skin is white, but the ambulance should be a bit dusty too, etc.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Aug 18 2016 23:01 utc | 47
The organization itself lobbies for it on its website. Has anyone else ever done such?
Probably Eli Wiesel.
Posted by: MRW | Aug 18 2016 23:12 utc | 48
So why RT is buying white helmet lies?
#Aleppo Boy: Ash-covered child brings home horror of Syrian war to the world (GRAPHIC VIDEO, PHOTOS)
https://www.rt.com/news/356370-aleppo-boy-syria-airstrike/
Posted by: Kalen | Aug 18 2016 23:34 utc | 49
This is VERY good reporting. Thank you SO much for helping us know how to fight against this horrific drive to war with Syria.
Posted by: American Antiwar Activist | Aug 18 2016 23:37 utc | 50
@48, good question. I put my oar in and left a link to here. "Under approval"
Posted by: ruralito | Aug 19 2016 0:06 utc | 51
My question. If this is in Syria why is the stuff in the ambulance written if freaking english
Posted by: Jennifer Franchina | Aug 19 2016 0:13 utc | 52
b, so was the thalassemia thing an MSM lie, or not? It seems against self-interest for Western elite media to claim so.
Posted by: Jonathan | Aug 19 2016 0:15 utc | 53
This kid (in the top photo), Aleppo boy -is, if I'm not mistaken, is the child of one of the Zinki child be headers (the short fat one)
Posted by: hejiminy cricket | Aug 19 2016 0:50 utc | 54
@hejiminy cricket
This twitter feed (https://twitter.com/LinaArabii) shows pictures of Mahmoud Rslan posing with people asserted to be the Zinki beheaders. Think the identification is correct?
You can see the same picture right there on Rslan's FB page.
Posted by: catb | Aug 19 2016 0:55 utc | 55
@53- whatever the case the photographer of Aleppo boy, Mahmoud Raslan, looks like an insane baby killer with a flair for makeup artistry.
Posted by: hejiminy cricket | Aug 19 2016 0:57 utc | 56
[email protected] I think the photo I linked to was taken just before/during the Aleppo boy photo shoot.
Posted by: hejiminy cricket | Aug 19 2016 0:59 utc | 57
Anything associated with the UK is presumed guilty until proven innocent. That country is even more diabolical than the USA.
Posted by: telescope | Aug 19 2016 1:00 utc | 58
via twitterer RedKahina https://twitter.com/walid970721 Note makeup artists simulating gruesome wounds.
Posted by: ruralito | Aug 19 2016 1:02 utc | 59
@ hejiminy cricket | Aug 18, 2016 8:50:08 PM | 53
Well knock me over, if genuine, the photo you linked to shows Mahmoud Raslan, the guy who apparently took the picture of the boy in the ambulance, snapping a selfie with the al-Zenki crew that beheaded the young kid a month or so ago, weeks after the event and therefore in full knowledge of what demonic monsters he was showing off with.
Just how stupid are the people running the West's propaganda effort, that is dickheadry of the highest order.
Posted by: Juan Moment | Aug 19 2016 1:05 utc | 60
Cloying Gravitas lead off with this picture on CBS Views tonight. Followed up by Lester the Jester on NBC. Oh, the inhumanity...
Meanwhile, the DWN is reporting that CIA supported ISIS mercenaries in Manbij are being given US military support in their withdrawal in order to regroup and fight elsewhere.
http://deutsche-wirtschafts-nachrichten.de/2016/08/18/us-militaers-geben-is-terroristen-bei-rueckzug-sicheres-geleit/
Apparently, Holly Loblolly and Richard "I can't tell the difference between ISIS and the SAA" did not think that this was important enough to report.
Posted by: tsuki | Aug 19 2016 1:16 utc | 61
@Juan Moment, @all
So do you think the ID is correct on those Zinki characters in the picture with Rslan? Then it's even more obvious that this guy is just full of crocodile tears.
Posted by: catb | Aug 19 2016 1:16 utc | 62
20
I'm struggling to understand the importance of this issue outside of a tiny group of rice-tent marketing writers and special effects artists. Fivr years ago, the world' s urban population exceeded the rural population. Within a decade and a half, urban populations will increase by 50%. Agriculture will become mechanized and corporatized, as we see now in Ukraine, yet global production will remain essentially flat. Urban populations waste 30% to 50% of their food, and use 250% to 400% more energy than their rural equivalent. Global fossil fuel production is essentially flat. 'Renewable' energy is, at least to date, net energy negative. The Carbon Caliphate will shut in coal and push nuclear, the most expensive non-renewable. Beyond Uber, Lyft, AirBnB and pole-dancing, all work opportunities are paracitizing existing models, the 'disruption' is net jobs negative as well. Negative energy, negative jobs, and vastly increased demand for both means this little kid in the orange chair is the poster child for all 3 billion urban children to come. Rather than mocking the picture as a stunt, we should be examining it, perfecting it, monetizing it, because our children's own future depends on how heart-breaking and alms-giving we can market their survival. And we have to accomplish this feat within the bowels of the lives-for-profit Corporate Gog-Magog.
So who would laugh and mock this tragic photo, except bloggers of the Chosen of Mil.Gov.Fed, those who laugh and mock atveverything, because they're the Blue Team, the Exceptionals? Is that what MoA has become, a Breitbart special op?
Posted by: TheRealDonald | Aug 19 2016 1:18 utc | 63
Learned a new word today: Takbeer, what jihadists mumble to themselves, solemnly, while wandering off to die. Creepy.
Posted by: ruralito | Aug 19 2016 1:26 utc | 64
It appears to have been taken down now, 'that page doesn't exist'.
Posted by: oblivious | Aug 19 2016 1:33 utc | 65
@ catb
Not that I am an expert in facial recognition but from what I can tell, yes, could very well be those bastards, or at least their near identical brothers.
What seems strange though is that the selfie was allegedly taken August 5, while according to SyrPer one of the head choppers in the picture was supposed to have been killed end of July, so who knows...
Posted by: Juan Moment | Aug 19 2016 2:03 utc | 66
Also, no lacerations on his arms or legs. Arms are pretty free of dirt. No swelling on his face. I believe it is stages as well.
Posted by: Karl spencer | Aug 19 2016 2:09 utc | 67
WHITE HELMETS EAT INCUBATOR BABIES FOR BREAKFAST
(This is worse than I thought!)
I have been looking at the live Twitter feed for #Aleppo for the latest news. Hard to see the news for the propaganda. There are several well-funded PR campaigns going on at the same time. These PR machines eat incubator babies for breakfast. If a hospital was not bombed, they have to invent one.
Last Saturday I noticed something out of place, photos of children allegedly killed by Russian bombs. The bodies however looked like they had been dumped at the site and been dead for two or three days. Looking at the videos of the alleged rescue showed that the usual suspects, the #WhiteHelmets were at the scene.
I wrote a short summary at our research wiki A Closer Look on Syria listing the primary sources. My friend Adam Larson wrote a blog post about the massacre, see Monitor on Massacre Marketing: Syria: Hayan Missile Massacre
I also wrote this short synopsis for Facebook:
Al-QAEDA MASSACRE SOLD AS WHITE HELMETS RESCUEThe Qraitem family was kidnapped by al-Nusra Front around July 29th. The three adult men were executed immediately. Four adult women and eight children were killed around August 10th, their bodies dumped somewhere to be eaten by dogs.
Two days later these same 12 bodies were reused by the #WhiteHelmets (SCD), al-Nusra's Nato-funded hoax and propaganda arm as props in their latest production of massacre porn. The rotten bodies are allegedly "found" on the roadside, near what may be a bomb crater. Nusra actors in white helmets and SCD uniform run frantically in front of the cameras, aimlessly carrying around a live and a dead baby.
The video material is used in the propaganda to #SaveAleppo for al-Qaeda. Allegedly these people were ruthlessly killed by a Russian bomb.
YES, one can say this was a massacre. We believe this was an extended family that was kidnapped and executed by al-Nusra, all in the name of #freedom and #democracy!
Posted by: Petri Krohn | Aug 19 2016 2:11 utc | 69
@Juan Moment
Looks like those two survived until at least August 8th: https://mobile.twitter.com/GissiSim/status/762656352116301824
Posted by: catb | Aug 19 2016 2:20 utc | 70
I find it just astonishing that in all the MSM comments nobody points out how ludicrous it is that a boy is just-rescued from rubble, carried into a waiting ambulance and then THE RESCUER JUST TURNS AROUND, PICKS UP HIS PHONE, AND THEN WALKS OUT THE AMBULANCE.
What The F**k?
The kid has just been pulled from rubble and handed over into the arms of that medic.
And......
Nobody checks that boy's wounds?
Nobody shines a light in his eyes?
Nobody takes his pulse or measures his blood pressure?
They just..... get up an leave him, so much so that the *only* people who are there with that boy are three - count 'em, three - photographers.
What The F**k?
This is so obviously staged.
Posted by: Yeah, Right | Aug 19 2016 3:31 utc | 71
Via jehttps://mobile.twitter.com/LinaArabii/status/766427955543367680/photo/1
Posted by: hejiminy cricket | Aug 19 2016 4:11 utc | 72
From 0:53 to 0:56 the injured man is directed to the ambulance in English, "This way, this way, this way..."
Am I the only one who hears this?
Posted by: name | Aug 19 2016 4:20 utc | 73
Russian idiot leadership says that ceasefires lead to resupplying of terrorist army, agree to another ceasefire... Western propaganda works against the morons, including Russian leadership.
Posted by: tom | Aug 19 2016 4:55 utc | 74
Yeah, Right @ 70
Good pick up, what you say didn't occur to me but then I have rarely observed paramedics treating injured people. Presumably other people have picked up other anomalies about the way the boy was treated but couldn't be arsed to mention them because there'd be so many that the entire discussion about the purpose of the video would be derailed.
Funny also how in the video a bed is placed in the vehicle after the child is put on the seat and a second child who looks uninjured is also placed inside.
The entire video could have been very heavily edited and spliced together from other videos.
Posted by: Jen | Aug 19 2016 5:05 utc | 75
The western propaganda doesn't work anymore. Too many lies, selective morality and biased coverage of events. They selling crap.
Posted by: notinterested | Aug 19 2016 5:19 utc | 76
Posted by: tom | Aug 19, 2016 12:55:54 AM | 73
The Russians would classify resupply ceasefires as "Giving Yankees enough rope to hang themselves." And they will. They can't help themselves.
Every day is Groundhog Day for F**k the Moral High Ground Yankees.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Aug 19 2016 5:23 utc | 77
Whatever the MSM reports you can be ire pretty much the opposite is true. That's why only 6% of the population believes them any more.
Posted by: Secret Agent | Aug 19 2016 5:26 utc | 78
US/UK is on shaky ground with this Dusty Boy video. The child is obviously in possession of his faculties, fully conscious and in no obvious physical distress. All he needs is his Mum and a wash. But in US/UK Enigma World, he's not gonna get what he needs until the Vampires get what they want.
The video would have no meaning whatsoever without the "explanatory" narrative. Every time I've seen it, the first thing it brings to mind is a doco on SBS Dateline from 10 years ago in which a bunch of 30-something "Holocaust Survivors" gather around a wartime snapshot of a group of smiling, uniformed, male and female German soldiers on leave to "reminisce" about the Eeevil things going on inside their heads - behind the smiles. Ironically, they carelessly "forgot" that none of them was born until 30 to 40 years after the image was snapped.
All this puerile pantomime tells me is that Putin is giving US/UK a humiliating lesson in "Suck On This!" warfare and they're drowning in their own tears.
Sour Grapes, anyone?
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Aug 19 2016 6:08 utc | 79
The article on WashPo also shows a photo of the boy after he had been treated at "Hospital M10".
It appears that they pulled that photo from this twitter feed:
https://twitter.com/rafsanchez/status/765985554026598400/photo/1
I suggest that everyone compare the photo with the one further down in that twitter feed: the one entitled "Saudi coalition kills 10 children in their classroom in Yemen air strike"
Two boys. Both with head wounds covered by bandages.
Compare the all but complete absence of blood on Omar Daqneesh (i.e. none seeping though his bandage, next-to-nothing on his face and shirt) with that of the unnamed Yemeni boy (i.e. blood-soaked bandage, blood-splattered face, blood-splattered shirt).
Yet it didn't occur to "Raf Sanchez, Middle East Correspondent, Telegraph, UK" to look at both of those photos and think "How odd! Why is there so little blood in Syrian kiddies but Yemeni kids seem to be full o' the stuff? Who knew?"
Fake.
Posted by: Yeah, Right | Aug 19 2016 6:10 utc | 80
Q&A: Syria's White HelmetsAl Jazeera: Is their motto to rescue anyone?
Le Mesurier: [maydayrescue (dot) org] Yes it is. Their motto is actually a verse from the Quran, which is "To save one life is to save all of humanity", and they've very much embraced that.
Over the last 3 years, there have been numerous examples of members responding to bombs [or going into areas] that contained soldiers from the Assad regime. They've dug out Iranian fighters that have been fighting on behalf of the regime and members of Hezbollah.
Their view is rather like a doctor and the Hippocratic Oath; their job is to save people's lives not to judge them.
White Helmets theme:
Stop the ‘barrel bombs’ in Syria | WaPo opinion by founder Raed al Saleh – March 27, 2015 |
Aleppo Media Center is part of the anti-Assad propaganda coalition.
The boys earlap and other features look quite similar to the child being carried on the white helmet poster. I know, it`s daring, but good actors are rare :-)
Posted by: silent | Aug 19 2016 6:48 utc | 82
The movie makers do love their references to the classics of the genre, in this case the boy and the filing cabinets:
Posted by: Cortes | Aug 19 2016 7:43 utc | 83
Petri [email protected] - Nice write-up, Petri. You linked to the Twitter account of Thiqa News so I scrolled through some of their recent Tweets. I found this gem among them: https://twitter.com/thiqanewsagency/status/762981947241013248 The translated caption is "Remnants of cluster bombs that fell in the city"
I will provide a round of drinks to the first thirsty MoA patron that can correctly identify the type of cluster bomb that uses these dangerous, deadly sub-munitions. And many thanks to Thiqa for warning the public to avoid these if any unfortunate Syrians encounter them. Mark the area and keep away - never try to move them! Call the White Helmets for help.
Posted by: PavewayIV | Aug 19 2016 8:18 utc | 84
The Guardian editorial on that boy in the ambulance https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/aug/18/the-guardian-view-on-syrian-civilian-casualties-omran-daqneesh-a-child-of-war attracted 75 comments [now closed] there were 31 comments removed by the moderator. What does that tell you?
Posted by: harrylaw | Aug 19 2016 8:32 utc | 85
It seems this article has not be mentioned here. The guy emphasis the importance of the propaganda videos
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/04/world/middleeast/isis-german-recruit-interview.html?_r=0
Posted by: Mina | Aug 19 2016 8:42 utc | 86
counterpunch.org inc. joins the United Anti-Assad Propaganda Front with a link to Democracy Now's Ten Times Worse Than Hell: A Syrian Doctor on the Humanitarian Catastrophe in Aleppo.
Posted by: jfl | Aug 19 2016 9:09 utc | 87
THREAT OF WAR Fears of all-out conflict in Ukraine as sabre-rattling Vladimir Putin places 40,000 troops and armoured vehicles along the border
The manoeuvres are part of what the Russian strongman sees as the fortification of a new front line with NATO.
But here's the sticky wicket with that psyop campaign: UKRAINE IS NOT A MEMBER OF NATO, and those $50B in IMF and World Bank in loans backstopped by US Congress ILLEGALLY AND UNCONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEEING PRIVATE BANK LOANS BY LOOTING THE US TREASURY IS TREASON.
And because these high crimes and misdemeanors mask the $35B in defaulting junk bonds the Israeli junta coup issued to lease up all the dactories and prime farmlands to PRIVATE CONSORTIUMS, you can jolly well bet The Exceptionals will go to all-out war like they did to cover theuir pre-9/11 hijinks with Dot.Con and $2.3 TRILLION missing at the Pentagon.
You may now return to your rude mockery of two Syrian refugee kids.
Posted by: TheRealDonald | Aug 19 2016 9:19 utc | 88
Someone above put it so well. So succinctly. Yes the noble Russians finally admitted that the infamous 'truce' was used by the Hegemonic proxies to rest, reinforce, re-arm, stock up with heavier weapons and better kits and attack. Of course, everyone but Russia saw that coming, but at least they see it now, right? So what do they do? Well, of course, they agree to more ceasefires.
So it's long past time for us to start asking, what is Russia's real game?
But yes, I know, you all would rather just sneer at the possibility that there might be hidden and even contradictory motives...no matter how weird Russia's behavior becomes.
Lavrov: "what's that, Hegemon? Oh you say you need some time to outfit your terrorist proxies with weapons that will destroy our tanks and bring down our helicopters and planes? You say you have ten thousand reinforcements waiting to get to the front? How much time do you need Sir? Try to move as fast as you can, since I have to sell this insanity via the media, but as long as we keep pretending to negotiate 'peace' you really should be able to have as much time as you need Sir."
Posted by: paul | Aug 19 2016 9:36 utc | 89
@85 pw
Obviously a US cluster bomb from your intro? I have no idea what kind.
Posted by: jfl | Aug 19 2016 9:38 utc | 90
well, the 'staged event' has proven to be a rip-roaring success, hasn't it? the always inherent preposterousness is proof of the spoof. these fuckers know their psychology and all about the genetics of stupidity.
...
hey, dig the congenial colour scheme, too. all those pastel oranges and their complimentary mauves.
Posted by: john | Aug 19 2016 11:19 utc | 92
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/08/18/short-list-thursday/88940936/
The uniformity of media choices between major outlets, NYT, USA Today etc. and "ideological consistency", is not pretty. And the title: "The video everyone should watch". But videos from "regime Aleppo" are not on that short list of one, nor head chopping videos and so on. As a result, media can show an interview with former high honcho in CIA recommending that we need to do something, namely increase arms to rebels and bomb a lot of targets in Syria, because, you know, the regime is evil and we need to do something, without being obvious to the public that the guy is insane.
Actually, all commented aspects of White Helmets graphic material are the media preferences, you know, it has to be cute and not to scary, and not too dirty etc. And Say's Law correctly states that the demand creates supply. If this is the only stuff USA Today, NYT, The Guardian, The Times etc. etc. accept, it will be produced. While the producers are basically cooperation of Al Qaeda and western intelligence agencies. So poor kid and the family just got homeless, got hurt (not too much), and is based, so EVERYBODY should watch.
And if jihadists just now gloriously managed to rampage over a huge apartment complex with thousands of units, who cares! Trust your information dietician, or your mind will bloat and constipate.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | Aug 19 2016 11:32 utc | 93
The roots of such manipulation of masses are in TAVISTOCK. Check it out.
Posted by: ProPeace | Aug 19 2016 12:21 utc | 94
OffGuardian has found the FB page of the "Aleppo Media Center". They are posting pro-al Nusra statuses
Posted by: prosceptic | Aug 19 2016 12:29 utc | 95
@TheRealDonald | Aug 18, 2016 9:18:28 PM | 63
Are you retarded?
Posted by: ProPeace | Aug 19 2016 12:32 utc | 96
I'm trying to figure out who they are targeting with this propaganda?
The war in Syria is an admitted war for Zionist security,driven by US and our pos allies.
Only Hell Bitch brainwashed would fall for this crap,as the American people want no part of anymore wars in the ME,and the fact that the Zionists shamelessly use the victims of their predatory nature as fodder exposes their complete hypocrisy,again of course.
I really don't think Americans care about these people,unfortunately,and the concern is faux.
Posted by: dahoit | Aug 19 2016 12:57 utc | 97
@Denis | Aug 18, 2016 4:16:05 PM | 28
I'm not surprised given his background
"Khan was actually an Army intelligence officer, fluent in Arabic, who worked with Iraqi civilians in a program called the United States-Iraq Sponsorship Program, which was actually an operation designed to recruit Iraqis to work as police and in other “capacities” for the Coalition Provisional Authority, the U.S. occupation government of Iraq.
Khan’s home base of Vilseck is a center for U.S. intelligence operations involving units of the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command. When Khan was killed, oversight of Iraq “transition” programs, such as the U.S.-Iraq Sponsorship Program, had just come under the control of General David Petraeus, the first commander of the Multi-National Security Transition Command – Iraq.
"
Posted by: ProPeace | Aug 19 2016 12:59 utc | 98
could this by any chance be the same kid http://www.moonofalabama.org/images5/whrk14.jpg
haircut is the same - approx same size/height/weight as well.
Posted by: YourMom | Aug 19 2016 13:00 utc | 99
dahoit | Aug 19, 2016 8:57:07 AM | 98
"security" ? You mean "domination".
"the American people want no part of anymore wars in the ME
Not true. Dozens of thousands love to participate in the wars for profit to be able to maintain their "American way of life". Like the guy on the photo below (Tyler Nathaniel Caldwell from Winter Springs, Florida) and his family:
Tooth for a Tooth: Russia Sends Frigate to Yemen to Punish Saudi Arabia
Those USians do not give a fuck about the suffering of the people far away. There is no doubt about that.
Posted by: ProPeace | Aug 19 2016 13:06 utc | 100
The comments to this entry are closed.
What a fucked up world.
Posted by: Mattose | Aug 18 2016 17:26 utc | 1