Iraqi Information Minister:WTF?

yes, I had a laugh at that myself this morning. Even as he's outside saying they aren't there, columns of smoke are rising in the background behind him.

but, on a more sinister level, I'm sure if he reported anything DIFFERENT, he'd be dead with a bullet to the back of the head.
Under those conditions, I'd be announcing that Glenda, the good witch of the south had arrived in her bubble to whisk all the iraqis away if they ordered me to.

There's plenty of sand around there for him to stick his head in...

It got me thinking though - how much does the Pentagon lie? This is definitely a psychological war, because who appears to be in control will determine whether many Iraqi soldiers fight or not. Obviously, it's in the Iraqi govt's interest to make their soldiers believe they're still firmly in control. But for the same reasoning, it's in our interest to have them believe we are in control. So would the Pentagon lie about how well the war is going, in order to gain that kind of advantage? Would that be ethical?

I find myself smiling wryly whenever he appears on TV, minutes after live feed of coalition forces roaming around presidential palaces, and announces proudly that they are in complete control and will shortly crush the invading infidels. I would love it if he was taken as a POW, live, at one of his press briefs.

I understand that they have a bit of a falling out with Al Jazeera, and that some of their reporters were asked to leave Baghdad.

I actually quite like the Iraqi Minister for (Dis)Information, seeing him on TV is rather fascinating!

He should be called the Misinformation minister.

I certainly could see the strategic advantage of either side bending or witholding the truth in wartime...so I'm sure both have to some degree.
there is a much greater need for the Iraqis to do so in this instance, however, as they need to convince a population that they don't want them to surrender.

um...duh! ALL information ministers are there to CONTROL the information, not to disseminate it indiscriminantly.

I'm sure there is a lot if disinformation put out by both sides.

But there are tanks rumbling in the background for god's sake. That's like saying it is a beautiful sunshiny day when standing in a huge sand-storm. This guy's statements go well beyond the calculated sewing of half-truth. It is now in the realm of "rediculously detatched from reality."

THIS, though. I mean, THIS is an SNL skit.

Information minister- standing in the middle of Main St. Bagdad:
Nope. No Americans in Bagdad.

Abrhams tanks- 6 of them roll by. American GIs pulling bunny ears over the IMs head, waving and showing signs reading "hi mon".

Sir, what about those Americans there?

WHAT Americans? I see no Americans. There are NO Americans in Bagdad. You are simply falling for the proaganda of the American Pig Dogs! Read my lips. No Americans in Bagdad!

I mean, were it not tragic, it would be high farce.

CNN's Walter Rodgers reported seeing mass desertions in the western suburbs of the city, with some Iraqi troops abandoning their tanks and armored vehicles in people's driveways.

"George? Did you buy another truck? Didn't I tell you I wanted a cute little sports car? And what's this button d.... booooooom

Damn. George? Our house appears to be gone..."

besides the smoke we've caused, Saddam ringed baghdad with tenches filled with oil which he lit on fire to deter laser guided missiles (good move, we use GPS guided missiles now), so seeing smoke in the background doesn't mean its from our bombing.

That said, didn't the information minister say four days we didn't control the airport? And were is this "unconventional attack"?

Not attacking is a pretty unconventional way to defeat an army in a non-seige environment...

[edit] see below...

Here we go, the BBC's got a full transcript:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mi...ast/2924129.stm

Highlight of the speech:

""They tried to bring a small number of tanks and personnel carriers in through al-Durah but they were surrounded and most of their infidels had their throats cut.

"We made them drink poison last night [Sunday] and Saddam Hussein's soldiers and his great forces gave the Americans a lesson which will not be forgotten by history. Truly."

I think he may have some kind of delusional problems

I was wondering where Kelly Hogan had gone.

Gotta love Baghdad Bob.

Thanks. I almost pee'd my pants when I saw that. Now I have to clean the coffee off of my keyboard.

Ditto.

I love him... He's the most creative information minister.

"It's all Hollywood, special effects and stunts"

i couldn;t believe his stupidity either.

by far the funniest thing i have heard him say is that "the US troops are at the gates of baghdad and they are committing suicide"

what a dumbass..

At some point I think you have to question whether or not your propaganda efforts are backfiring. Why bother saying this crap when people can look our their windows and see US Armor rolling down the street or turn on the radio and listen to independent media talking about members of the 3rd Infantry taking showers in Saddam's gold-fauceted bathroom?

Hell, if they had spent more time telling their troops how to fight and where to go instead of spinning yarns on TV about coalition forces "committing suicide" at the gates of the city, they might have actually accomplished something.

So far so good. Let's hope nothing worse happens so we can get the hell out of there.

i think the reason he is saying it is with the hopes that other of his soldiers in other parts of the country may be watching on tv and still be suckered into fighting more

I suppose that's the idea, but I'm just wondering whether or not there are Iraqi soldiers (or even civilians) anywhere that don't already have a pretty good idea of how badly they are losing this fight.

Jamaican-Americans, you mean.

Actually, the first time he said that he was right: journalists were brought to the airport and confirmed his words.

To be fair, both sides are lying: it's just that the Iraqis lies are more easily uncovered.

Hmmm. I don't remember those reports. I do remember journalists saying that they were supposed to be taken there, but that they never were.

they have been listening to it for 30 years from saddam. they are basically brainwashed. hopefully they can use their own minds now after all that

Iraqi officials then took the journalists on a round of the airport where there was no sign of any attack.
http://www.rediff.com/us/2003/apr/03iraq7.htm

Hours after Central Command first announced that lead elements of the U.S. force had reached the airport early Thursday, Iraqi officials escorted international media representatives to a quiet, largely deserted terminal, clearly still in Iraqi hands.
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/news/5556602.htm

So where are the Americans? I prowled the empty departure lounges, mooched through the abandoned customs department, chatted to the seven armed militia guards, met the airport director and stood beside the runways where two dust-covered Iraqi Airways passenger jets...
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisp...ection=dialogue

If they were 'fighting a war' they would have already surrendered - but it's an invasion of their country they are fighting against, so they'll keep resisting despite all odds.
It's the human nature.