Sniffle XXIII
Not only do they get it over there, but they say something about it! And read blogs!
The Australian - Downer accuses media of Lebanon hoax
In particular, he singled out the London-based Reuters news agency over an incident in which a photographer deliberately manipulated a digital image so that the effects of an Israeli bombing raid over Beirut were exaggerated. …
But journalists’ reporting of the conflict also came under fire from the Foreign Minister.
He accused “some of the world’s most prestigious media outlets” of falling for a hoax in their reporting of an alleged aerial attack on a Lebanese Red Cross ambulance by Israel.
“After closer study of the images of the damage to the ambulance, it is beyond serious dispute that this episode has all the makings of a hoax,” Mr Downer said.
“Yet some of the world’s most prestigious media outlets, including some of those represented here today (Monday), ran that story as fact - unchallenged, unquestioned.”
The references are in relation to the website www.zombietime.com/fraud/ambulance/ that alleges ambulance drivers stage managed the attack.
So, here’s my theory. If Alexander Downer saw that Zombie post, he probably, given that he’s Australian, saw it on Tim Blair’s page. And if he saw it on Tim Blair’s page, maybe he saw my page, too! Hullo Mr Downer!
The Australian - Red Cross slams Downer hoax claim
THE International Committee of the Red Cross has rebuked Foreign Minister Alexander Downer for relying on an unverified internet blog to claim an Israeli missile strike on one of its ambulances in southern Lebanon was a hoax.
A spokeswoman for the ICRC in Geneva said yesterday there was no evidence to support Mr Downer’s assertion that the international media had been duped in reporting that Israel had deliberately targeted the ambulance.
I guess their internet’s out.
August 29th, 2006 at 3:22 pm
Who would have thought that an Israeli missile does the exact same kind of damage as a madman with an axe? Now we know why they call it the Tomahawk missile.
August 29th, 2006 at 4:40 pm
Indeed, I try never to miss the legendary ninme. I also mentioned my interest in blogs during the introduction to the recent Mark Steyn talk in Canberra.
wf, I hear from my good friends in the DoD that the Iowahawk Missle trials also look promising.
August 29th, 2006 at 4:54 pm
Aw, thanks Brett. I mean Mr Downer.
August 30th, 2006 at 12:12 am
Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were correct.
I’m expecting a personal letter from Mr D soon, telling me what the heck is happening about my passport application.
I know the Australian Passport Office is in a dither becasue there’s been a “ministerial inquiry” about it.
Sometimes writing letters to politicians works.
Of course the answer I get may not be the answer I want, and it may end up going to court, but at least I’ll have something in writing, rather than the usual run-around.
One of my slashdot contributions got used as a basis for a briefing to Collin Powell, way back when. Yes Virginia, Pollies do read this stuff. Or their staffers do, and bring it to their attention.
August 30th, 2006 at 4:17 am
It works like this: the Tomahawk makes these gashes in the roof. The Hellfire burns everything. The Harpoon…it is too gruesome to describe.
August 30th, 2006 at 9:35 am
Oh Zoe, I’m glad you dropped by. I had a moment of inspiration the other day: If you’re stuck in Thailand and find you can’t get out? Just tell the authorities you murdered JonBenet Ramsey! You get a first class flight out of there served with champagne and French delicacies!
I’d prefer if the politicians weren’t reading me, really. Or the journalists. When Wonkette is getting jobs editing Washington Bureaus for major newspapers and everyone else is getting books published, if I found out I did have the exposure but was still wallowing in penurious obscurity, I’d slit my proverbial wrists.
August 30th, 2006 at 2:33 pm
The Harpoon…it is too gruesome to describe. Tell me about it.