buzz twang

Cirque de Saddam

(Updated below)

Lisa: It’s a media circus.
Homer: Woohoo, the circus!
Lisa: A media circus.
Homer: Woohoo! I don’t know the difference!

The recent execution of Saddam Hussein, and the emergence of cell phone video documentation of that execution, is a great example of how the mediaspace is rapidly changing and evolving. A fact that alarms those who wish to control information, and excites those who wish to share it.

One of the great disconnects that occurs in societies that exhibit fascist tendencies is intentionally false and misleading news stories when evidence to the contrary is available. The accessibility of posting and viewing documentary video of events such as the Hussein execution via online outlets like You Tube, Rapidshare and Bit Torrent shines a light upon deceptive media practices, providing not only real evidence that contradicts misleading propaganda, but also solid proof of just how behind the times and complacent traditional media outlets have become and how willing they are to produce and report propaganda.

It’s become rather apparent: blindly accepting and regurgitating the information they are given by government approved sources simply will not suffice, as online video can contradict obvious propaganda from outlets such as World Net Daily, while simultaneously leaving traditional TV outlets impotent and struggling to decide what to do (show it or don’t show it?) whilst millions worldwide are already watching the video anyway.

Granted, World News Daily is hardly a reliable news outlet, but the fact remains that it is perceived as such by many people, especially Christian readers on the right. As credible as say, Fox News. It’s almost amusing to read the obviously incorrect article which states:

He was maneuvered onto the center of the platform.

The silence in the room was total. (emphasis added)

Suddenly there was the sound of a lever being pushed down hard. The trapdoor swung open. Saddam’s body plunged through.

The first video available, from a cell phone, directly contradicts this information. It is quite apparent that Hussein went to his death chattering non-stop. No less than half a dozen news outlets reported that Hussein’s last words translated were the Shahada, or the Muslim prayer of allegiance to Allah, interrupted by the pull of the lever, his last word was “Mohammad”.

Still, the level of outright deception practiced by WND in regard to the reality of Hussein’s execution is rather astonishing. And, the reason is pretty evident (beyond the obvious wish to not spread the fact that Hussein prayed as he was hung) – they obviously did not expect video to surface that would contradict their treatment of the event. Initial indications were that the Iraqi government had fully intended to completely control any and all images emanating from the Hussein execution. Comments from the official videographer confirm this. And, propaganda houses such as World Nut Daily were simply spreading the good news, as it were, apparently not expecting cell phone video to contradict the official story. But, the very existence of the cell phone video does raise some interesting questions.

As Michael Roston at TPM Cafe points out:

Clearly, the location of Saddam Hussein’s execution was one of the most secure settings for an execution ever constructed. So, why are we finding on the move about this planet a bunch of viral, unrestricted and uncensored videos of what is probably the most controversial execution ever carried out? [...] Here we are seeing 21st century psychological operations. It’s hard to know who is directing this Internet traffic, but it can be concluded there were elements within America’s government and/or military, working in concert with Iraq’s current scarecrow power-holders, who wanted as many people as possible in the world to see Saddam hang. And from that rope hanged not just that bearded old man, but whatever was left of our culture that hasn’t been degraded by the 7 years of ‘leadership” we’ve been dragging around with us.

My own view on this is a bit less conspiratorial and more pragmatic.

Consider that the Iraqi government videotaped the execution then proceeded to squirrel that footage away, likely never to see the light of day. Why do this only to have shoddy cell phone footage of the event come out? Any interest on this matter by the US would surely include a great deal of actual control of the image and sound. (As was done on Iraqi TV.) The cell phone video seems to be the antithesis of controlled. Perhaps this was the intent. A sort of ruse and misdirection. But, the lack of control of the cell phone footage and the apparent divisive atmosphere leads me to consider another possibility.

The very apparent severe division that the cell phone video footage documents between the Iraqi’s attending the execution is the cause of the video’s very existence. That is, that no one in charge wanted to be the one to tell an attendant guest using a cell phone to tape video “don’t do that.”

Occham’s razor would dictate that most likely no one simply thought to not allow cell phones at all and no one was willing to tell the cell phone videographer to stop, considering the incredible politically and culturally charged moment. Or maybe no one even noticed at all, considering the magnitude of the event. Where would your eyes be looking, at the guy next to you with the cell phone or at Hussein? The call for a probe into the matter sheds little light, except to acknowledge how the execution became a media circus.

In the final analysis, the entire video event has a very organic feel to it. It shows what it shows, and reality is difficult to spin if you are honest. Traditional propaganda outlets such as WND want to convert everything to their world view, damn the facts. People believe what they want to believe, and will justify and condone great leaps in humanity and morality to do so. To me, it makes no sense to allow any video at all to be released, since it makes the narrative more difficult to control. “Hussein died a coward.” is a hard point to push when you see the video, short of seeing him blubber like a baby, which isn’t the case. The existence of the video only complicates the propaganda field for all involved.

Alfred Hitchcock built his entire film career on scaring people with moments they do not actually see. But, in the end, even video proof can be refuted if that is your intent.

As Groucho Marx said: “Who are you going to believe? Me or your own lying eyes?”

Update: Josh Marshall goes good gumshoe investigating who the mystery cell phone videographer may have been… interesting stuff.