Right Wing Uses Cropped Photo To Downplay Size Of Iraq Protest
Right Wing Uses Cropped Photo To Downplay Size Of Iraq Protest
After thousands of demonstrators gathered in Najaf, Iraq, yesterday to protest the U.S. occupation, the Bush administration was quick to downplay the size of the gathering. State Department official David Satterfield said, “I think the small size of those demonstrations is an indication of the limited appeal of Muqtada al-Sadr’s rhetoric at this moment.”
The right-wing has quickly echoed these talking points, circulating a U.S. Army aerial photo of the protest to support the military’s low-ball estimate that only 5,000-7,000 attended the rally. Gateway Pundit claims “proof” that “Al Sadr and the mainstream media missed the mark on this one” by claiming that the “aerial shot from Najaf, Iraq yesterday shows a protest of 5,000-7,000 Al-Sadr devotees.”
Instapundit links to Gateway Pundit and calls the protest “a weak turnout.” RedState uses the photo to claim the “outcome was underwhelming.” Weekly Standard downplays the turnout and says it is evidence that “the Coalition has regained the initiative.”
Here’s their photographic “proof“:
Conservatives are denying reality. Protesters were not restricted to the square seen in the military’s photo; in fact, they “choked the 7-kilometer road between Najaf and neighboring Kufa and clogged streets leading to Sadrein Square, the main rallying point.” A photo:
The low-ball estimates puts them in lonely company. The Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, AP, and Al Jazeera all note that “tens of thousands” attended the demonstration.
The right wing shouldn’t rely on a cropped photo to downplay a protest simply because they disagree with what the protesters were saying.
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Lies lies lies Yeah,
one more time…
April 10th, 2007 at 9:53 pmNo one likes Bush’s failed of Democracy offered by means of Shock and Awe.
April 10th, 2007 at 9:58 pmThe Ministry of Truth at work.
When are these assh*les going to realize this is the age of mass media? We can find out in a heartbeat if they’re lying. Which is always easy — because all they do is lie.
If the right started telling the truth, I would fall over dead.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:01 pmAnd these are only the Iraqis who are willing to stand gathered in a crowd. For every protestor standing out there, I’d bet there are several others who would like to have been but didn’t want to take the chance of standing next to a suicide bomber.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:02 pmThey never abandoned Rumsfeld’s “disinformation.”
April 10th, 2007 at 10:04 pmBull shit bush and crew don’t know how to tell the truth….SSDD as my buddy Lady Z alway’s say’s….Blessings
April 10th, 2007 at 10:05 pmDAMN!
…and Imus is the news?
April 10th, 2007 at 10:06 pmTruth has a liberal bias.
Spin on crowd size is all they have? Pathetic.
touting freedom of speech as sign of Progress? Pathetic.
Ignoring the fact these are the people we died to liberate, wasted our treasury on and they chant death to America? Priceless.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:07 pmIn the end, it doesn’t really matter whether protesters totaled 7,000 or 700,000.
Fact remains that Iraqis are defying the chaotic conditions their country is in now, to get out and demonstrate their repudiation of the continued American military presence in their country.
It is arrogant in the extreme to think that a “poor showing” of “5,000 - 7,000 Al-Sadr devotees” is somehow an endorsement, and a support of Pres Bush’s failed policies towards Iraq by Iraqis at large.
Arrogant or incapable of seeing beyond false dichotomies -something this administration is very fond of. As in: if Americans leave Iraq, terrorist will follow in tow.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:08 pmThe caption under the picture at http://www.mnf-iraq.com/ index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11314&Itemid=128
says the following, ” Residents of Baghdad gather as local religious leaders denounce terrorism and call for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. The event drew several thousands to a traffic circle in Downtown Baghdad Monday. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Craig Zentkovich”
So, is the photo of the demonstration at Najaf or another dmonstraqtion in Baghdad?
April 10th, 2007 at 10:09 pmHolocaust deniers have a better grip on reality than Republicans do these days. As a Jew, it hurts me to say this.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:12 pmSounds like the Bush Cultists are still using Karl Rove’s math.
Also, someone noted that the protest photo is most likely Fyrdos Square in Baghdad….Not Najaf. We remember Fyrdos Square, were the Iraqis’ gathered to see the US troops pull down the Saddam statue.
There’s a hell of a lot more Iraqis protesting the US than there were cheering the Saddam statue toppling.
-GSD
April 10th, 2007 at 10:13 pmBull shit bush and crew don’t know how to tell the truth….SSDD as my buddy Lady Z alway’s say’s….Blessings
Comment by Sharon
Amen, Great Lady, Amen.
Can you see us as political advisors, Sharon? Smacking the backs of heads, saying “Idiot, what are your thinking? Tell the truth!” Fun times…
April 10th, 2007 at 10:14 pm“The right wing shouldn’t rely on a cropped photo to downplay a protest simply because they disagree with what the protesters were saying.
Why not? The SFChron did during the protest prior the invasion.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:17 pmlisten to some of the audio… it was “whelming” Erick…
BTW: “It appears, as more information comes in, that there might have been a larger crowd in Najaf. We’re working to put it all together.” says Red State…
Heads up truth coming in!!! The first pic (above) is Baghdad. Those were the Sadr fans who couldn’t get rides to Najaf on a days notice and instead went to a traffic circle in Baghdad. Kind of begs the question: Why not put a pic of Najaf up on the OIF site in a story about the Najaf rally?
April 10th, 2007 at 10:18 pmAlso, I have to smile when I read the sneering comments about the “Al-Sadr devotees”. Coming from a Bush cultist, it’s very rich.
And they wrote that without a hint of irony.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:21 pmNice try with the photo editing, Bushco! Thank goodness for global communication via the internet! The GOP can’t get away with anything any more. Hoorah!
April 10th, 2007 at 10:21 pmThen again, conservatives deny reality every day of their lives or they wouldn’t be the narrow-minded, deluded bunch that they are.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:22 pmZeyad at Healing Iraq says the photo in the MNF story is of a smaller demonstration in Baghdad during the curfew, not in Najaf as the report and other bloggers implied.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:29 pmSomething’s fishy about that photo. Why? It’s old, why post a shot of Baghdad and claim it’s Najaf? Arrggh! Brainwashing anyone?
April 10th, 2007 at 10:29 pmThose aren’t protesters!! They are helping me look for WMD’s, while they pass out flowers and candy. Wow you libruls!
/sarcasm off
April 10th, 2007 at 10:30 pmAMAZING WHAT A LITTLE “CREATIVE CROPPING” CAN DO TO TRY AND PROVE the right’s MISTAKEN POINTS—KIND OF LIKE SAYING “NO EASTER THIS YEAR–WE FOUND THE BODY”—NICHT WAHR, TUSH-Bush-Land Uber Allies?????
April 10th, 2007 at 10:31 pmThese MASSIVE demonstrations…
…al Sadrs new directive…
…and chlorine bombs…
…can’t be good omens for…
…the “surge”…
April 10th, 2007 at 10:32 pmYou are pimping the size of Shia Rally in Iraq? My god you people hate Bush.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:46 pmThese neocons would make a propaganda officer of the old Soviet Union blush. Stop the lies.
April 10th, 2007 at 10:46 pmRedstate has issued a retraction on this story.
Sorry Glenn, but if the truth hurts, well, you can always imbibe in more fantasyland thinking.
That’s why we like being realists, not ideoligical, doey eyed idealists.
-GSD
April 10th, 2007 at 10:52 pmMy god you people hate Bush.
Comment by Glen
Yes Glen, we do.
TP, thanks for the halfway smart troll!
April 10th, 2007 at 10:55 pm#24 The question is…why don’t you sheep boy?
April 10th, 2007 at 11:07 pm#27 They are occasionally right about something. It is never intended.
April 10th, 2007 at 11:08 pmYes Glen, we do.
TP, thanks for the halfway smart troll!
Comment by Zooey #28
DITTO!
April 10th, 2007 at 11:10 pm#27 They are occasionally right about something. It is never intended.
Comment by JPark
The only person on earth I hate is Bush. Why do the trolls always seem surprised?
What’s the saying? There are none so blind as those who will not see.
April 10th, 2007 at 11:12 pmI think that’s it.
#31 They are surprised because they are high RWA. Pathetic followers.
April 10th, 2007 at 11:13 pmBack at ya Lady Z, can I bring one of those little paddles, lost the ball and stretch band but the paddle still work’s good for smachk’s up side dummies head’s..LOL..We could wake up a bunch…..Blessings
April 10th, 2007 at 11:14 pmTP had a thread up about Isreal slamming Pelosi’s visit to Syria. It went bye bye a while ago and hasn’t come back.
April 10th, 2007 at 11:14 pmThis is exactly how they treat protests in the U.S. as well. When the troops start lying their weapons down in Iraq and demanding to be sent home, what do you think those photos will show? One or two guys in the forefront and a blur behind them. It’s all subtrafuge, all the time. Meant to convince the majority that they are truly just a minority. And meant to convince those who aren’t committed to the truth yet that the majority is the “fringe.” Same thing happened during Vietnam, as the protests got larger and larger. They were always described as small, and comprised of hippies and other far-left fringe people. Until, of course, soldiers and elderly people started joining the marches and the protests.
Good catch on the photo-shop work. How do we get the MSM to pick up on this deception?
April 10th, 2007 at 11:19 pmDo you hear those wheezing sounds? They’re the dying gasps of both the republican party and its enablers. Goodbye, scumbags.
April 10th, 2007 at 11:21 pmTest
April 10th, 2007 at 11:22 pmTP had a thread up about Isreal slamming Pelosi’s visit to Syria. It went bye bye a while ago and hasn’t come back.
Comment by ForTruth
So they censor their own shit, as well as ours?
April 10th, 2007 at 11:22 pmrape public cans caught in another LIE… a lie to keep this illegal US led invasion going. Will the deceit ever stop?
April 10th, 2007 at 11:25 pmMy soon to be six Granddaughter chants “bad man, bad man, meanie, bad man,…” every time she sees W speak. She has a dear friend who will never see her Daddy again. It is seeming to look like the Republic party is looking at a bleak 50 years or so.
April 10th, 2007 at 11:29 pmMy god you people hate Bush.
Comment by Glen — April 10, 2007 @ 10:46 pm
The answer to that would be “yes.” With good reason. He and his administration are destroying this country in dozens and dozens of ways….name an issue. And they are endangering any chance of peace in the world. In the name of “peace and security,” they have brought death and destruction to the people of a country that never attacked us. They have sown seeds of hatred to such an extent that terrorist attacks have multipled SEVEN-FOLD since 2001. Our allies are few, and leaving us in droves. The people of the world fear Bush more than they do OBL. The middle-class in this country has been driven backwards, and there is the largest income gap since the 1920’s! Their policies have encouraged human rights violations in other countries, because WE no longer stand for human rights. Our policies have encouraged more aggression between nations, because “preventative” warfare is now the norm. Our policies have encouraged another arms race, because we are building a new generation of nuclear warheads, and make deals with other countries that encourage them to do the same..i.e. India. I could go on and on for pages, and list citations for evidence if I had the time, and if I thought it would do any good. You people have chosen loyalty and ignorance. I can only pray that you wake the hell up.
April 10th, 2007 at 11:48 pmYeah, what impeachcheneythenbush said.
:-)
April 10th, 2007 at 11:55 pmWalt - “chants “bad man, bad man, meanie, bad man,…†every time she sees W speak’? With your genius IQ genes, I’m shocked your soon to be 6 year old granddaughter has such a toddler vocabulary. Surely her parents and grandparents can do a better job in the brainwashing department…..
April 11th, 2007 at 12:29 am#43 Maybe you could give him some tips. I am sure your hilarious daughter could help out.
April 11th, 2007 at 12:32 amIf the Department of Defense is cooking the books, how many of the other books are the Bush administration cookink??????
April 11th, 2007 at 12:33 am#45 Their accountants are the only ones that aren’t hired for ideology over talent. They are good at cooking the books.
April 11th, 2007 at 12:37 amWalt - “chants “bad man, bad man, meanie, bad man,…†every time she sees W speak’? Comment by valiant venus — April 11, 2007 @ 12:29 am
Really? That sounds more like your chant every time Pelosi talks.
With your genius IQ genes, I’m shocked your soon to be 6 year old granddaughter has such a toddler vocabulary. Comment by valiant venus — April 11, 2007 @ 12:29 am
BAHAHA, funny how a dum bass like you tries to make *sarcasm*, only to create sardonic b*llsh*t.
Surely her parents and grandparents can do a better job in the brainwashing department….. Comment by valiant venus — April 11, 2007 @ 12:29 am
You mean like the job your parents did? St*pid brainwashed c*nt.
April 11th, 2007 at 12:40 amWith your genius IQ genes, I’m shocked your soon to be 6 year old granddaughter has such a toddler vocabulary. Surely her parents and grandparents can do a better job in the brainwashing department…..
Comment by valiant venus
You’re such an authority on young children, as we all know — especially in the brain washing department — as evidenced by your hilarious story about your alleged dead child, wherein you use your alleged live child to make a totally bitchin’ slam on Democrats.
Tell us another dead child story, Hagfish, pleeeease!?
April 11th, 2007 at 12:45 amThat photos shows something more important than the number of people. It shows them waving the Iraqi flag, not the Shia or Sunni flag, but the Iraqi flag, which means it was a protest inspired by nationalism, not just religious hatred. That is always a good sign.
April 11th, 2007 at 12:47 amWas that Nancy Pelosi in the headscarf close to the Iraqi flag?
April 11th, 2007 at 12:50 am#
Walt - “chants “bad man, bad man, meanie, bad man,…†every time she sees W speak’? With your genius IQ genes, I’m shocked your soon to be 6 year old granddaughter has such a toddler vocabulary. Surely her parents and grandparents can do a better job in the brainwashing department…..
Comment by valiant venus — April 11, 2007 @ 12:29 am
Actually Valiant, I had the much the same reaction the first time I saw Richard Nixon on the tv. I was five years old and he was the Vice President. I, however, ran into the kitchen to tell my mom there was some really scary man on the tv and thought I watching a scary show. Sometimes children see reality much more clearly than adults…doesn’t take “brainwashing.” And of course, we know how the whole Nixon thing turned out, don’t we. As I recall, one of the Articles of Impeachment they had prepared for him cited ‘abuse of power.’ Sound familiar? The first time I saw Bush, I recognized him for what he is. Walt’s granddaughter is correct…he IS a bad man…a very bad man. Worse.
April 11th, 2007 at 12:53 amHere’s another reason I hate Bush. He doesn’t have a single problem with his policies resulting in the death and maiming of our troops, or civilians in Iraq. Or undermining the systems in our country that protect children. But….an embryo! That’s another story for this fraud of a man.
From AmericaBlog: Bush will veto stem cell research bill — again
by Joe Sudbay (DC) · 4/10/2007 05:18:00 PM ET
Discuss this post here: Comments (82) · digg it · reddit · FARK · · Link
Because George Bush is building a record of destroying lives instead of saving them, he made it clear he’ll veto the stem cell bill that will pass the Senate this week. It’s already passed in the House. He really is a heartless bastard.
http://hosted.ap.org/ dynamic/ stories/ C/ CONGRESS_STEM_CELLS?SITE=1010WINS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
April 11th, 2007 at 1:05 amI might also mention that his daughter and widow are here in Saint Augustine as well. We stuck the two babes in the guest BR with the window.
April 11th, 2007 at 2:00 amHelyna’s parents do not have any concept of how to raise a child. Ask her GrandMother.
Being a Republican Cultist means lipstick on a pig is teh secksie.
April 11th, 2007 at 2:12 amHe really is a heartless bastard.
April 11th, 2007 at 2:22 amComment by impeachcheneythenbush
BBC:
“Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Shias have demonstrated in the holy city of Najaf, calling for US-led troops to leave Iraq.
The protest in Najaf, 160km (100 miles) south of Baghdad, broke up after about three hours.
The BBC’s Jim Muir in Baghdad says there were no reports of violence as protesters waved flags, sang and chanted slogans calling for an end to the occupation. ”
Who do you believe?
April 11th, 2007 at 2:43 amI’ll go with the BBC, thanks.
43. Do you condone the brainwashing that the children received at Jesus Camp? Have you seen this? Isn’t this idolatry in the worst order? How about kids praying for “righteous judges” of all things?! Shouldn’t they be praying for the health of their families, stuff like getting whatever they want for Christmas, you know innocent kid stuff? Are kids even supposed to know about this stuff about liberal activist judges hell-bent in destroying the country (rofl)?
“I want to see them radically laying down their lives for the gospel, as they are over in Pakistan and Israel and Palestine.”
You condemn rightfully Islamic radicalism and extremism, but should you ignore this very same message that is being fed to our kids?
April 11th, 2007 at 2:45 am43. Way to attack a 6-year old girl with your condescending remarks on her vocab (if you didn’t know, this is standard elementary school vocab, I hear it all the time TAing at one…)…if there’s one thing that this proves, it shows there is no limit on how low y’all on the right will go to attack someone who doesn’t agree with you…
April 11th, 2007 at 2:51 amYou condemn rightfully Islamic radicalism and extremism, but should you ignore this very same message that is being fed to our kids?
Comment by UCSBClassics53 — April 11, 2007 @ 2:45 am
And adults
April 11th, 2007 at 2:56 amScare the people — lie if you have to — we need to get out of IRAQ NOW!!!!!!!! Its going to kill us in ‘08 if this damn thing starts turning around. We must step up and do whatever it takes to win!
April 11th, 2007 at 3:19 am#60
You are delusional, just like your icon. Please seek professional help; your misplaced rage makes you a danger to those around you.
April 11th, 2007 at 3:40 amThat photos shows something more important than the number of people. It shows them waving the Iraqi flag, not the Shia or Sunni flag, but the Iraqi flag, which means it was a protest inspired by nationalism, not just religious hatred. That is always a good sign.
Comment by TomPaine —
Apparently you missed the burning of American flags. How is this a good sign? It was never about “religious hatred” unless you mean the hatred they are feeling towards supposed “Christian” American troops. You disrespect the name of a true American. Choose another moniker, for you are no TomPaine.
Not even close.
April 11th, 2007 at 3:45 amThe right wing doesn’t care much for reality. They care about power, using money and propaganda to achieve it. They re-craft reality so that it becomes evidence that appears to support their viewpoint. Fox is a master of that.
The techniques they use work with many people who don’t have enough time or interest to pay close attention to what their leaders are doing. As a result, professional manipulators like Bush, Cheney, Rove, and Fox News are able to get away with much of what they want.
Cropped photos are one of their many tools. They use re-framing techniques to convince people that their lies are plausible, only admitting what they absolutely have to. So while they acknowledge that a protest did take place, it had a “weak turnout” and the “outcome was underwhelming.”
April 11th, 2007 at 4:09 amAnyone who has been to protests here in the USA knows the term “tens of thousands” really means “over a hundred thousand!”
April 11th, 2007 at 6:34 amTher do the same thing to us. When that becomes impossible as it did in the global protest leading up to te criminal invasion of Iraq, they say thy don’t make thier decisions on the basis of what a vocal minority of people want . . .
April 11th, 2007 at 6:41 am[…] The right wing shouldn’t rely on a cropped photo to downplay a protest simply because they disagre…. […]
April 11th, 2007 at 6:58 amJesus Christ, any idiot can tell that there are more than 5,000 to 7,000 people in that square EVEN in the cropped picture. Even in their propaganda picture there are at least 15 to 20 thousand people. Anyone who buys there estimate obviously has no experience with crowd control and estimation.
There are at least an additional 5 to 10 thousand people in the second photograph.
Neo-cons simply don’t do reality. Counting and adding is really harrrrrd. It gives them a headache. It’s much easier to just sit back and wait for the White House to tell them what to believe.
April 11th, 2007 at 8:51 amWith your genius IQ genes, I’m shocked your soon to be 6 year old granddaughter has such a toddler vocabulary.
Vermin Venus (to Walt the Man)
So says the “lawyerette” who doesn’t know how to spell “breach,” “consensual,” and “foment,” among other common words.
April 11th, 2007 at 10:02 amin other news, the sky is green, bears poop in bidets, and no, that’s not pee running down your leg, it’s totally raining.
April 11th, 2007 at 10:06 am#24
You are pimping the size of Shia Rally in Iraq? My god you people hate Bush.
Glenn - it may be hard to fathom - but can you please separate your adoration of Bush from the FACT that this war has been carried out horribly from start to finish. Why does everything start and stop at Bush with you bro?
It is sad that your devotion to this guy blinds you from the facts.
BTW, how did your tax cut treat you this year?
April 11th, 2007 at 10:24 amVenus Venus
Another rat going DOWN with the deranged Captain eh?
Shove off.
April 11th, 2007 at 10:27 am70
Start to finish…oh wait. GW doesn’t want this climate (social + environmental even!) to change EVER.
What steps has he taken towards peace with anything? He’s not even at peace with himself, dry-drunkard, saber rattling, sonuva…
ARGH!
April 11th, 2007 at 10:28 amLouis Farrakhan must be counting for the left again.
April 11th, 2007 at 10:31 amEven more pathetic than the lie about how many people were there was their take on the whole thing. They are saying that the protest is proof that democracy is working and it is a good thing. I don’t think they are ever going to get out of that rabbit hole they fell down. Black is white, up is down….
April 11th, 2007 at 10:43 amGlad to see that all you liberals’ hatred for bush eclipses your love of liberty.
hypocrits.
April 11th, 2007 at 10:45 amyou people love to relive vietnam. guess what, this ain’t vietnam.
The outcome of this war will change the entire middle east one way or another once it’s over.
You are disingenuous and short sighted. you want the troops pulled but give no thought about the consequences for us and the iraqis. all of your opposition to the war is based on one thing only: destroying bush and his party.
that’s shameful. you should instead consider what’s best for our country and the world, maybe then your arguments would have some credibility.
April 11th, 2007 at 11:01 am“The Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, AP, and Al Jazeera all note that “tens of thousands†attended the demonstration.”
YOU must have been thrilllled with the turnout!!!!!
(Let’s recap - WaPo who plays fast and loose with the facts? NYT who has been making excuses for the enemy and has a visceral bias and hatred of GWB? The Wall Street Journal, who walks gingerly on both sides of the fence? Reuters, who wasn’t sure terrorists should be called….terrorists? And Al Jazeera??? Puhlease….))
April 11th, 2007 at 11:09 amThought experiment: if the iraqis’ freedom is not worth fighting for, then neither is the Afghanis’.
If you were consistent, you’d want the troops pulled from both places.
Again, your hypocrisy is revealed along with your true intentions.
April 11th, 2007 at 11:16 amwOW. Youshould go read how smarmy they are to “THINKPROGRESS READERS” pissy pissy pissy…
April 11th, 2007 at 11:19 amActually, this Post is dead wrong. That is a picture of Baghdad.
See Here: http://healingiraq.blogspot.com/ 2007_04_01_healingiraq_archive.html#5151648810288540592
And Here: http://hotair.com/ archives/ 2007/ 04/ 10/ does-this-photo-prove-sadrs-protest-in-najaf-was-poorly-attended/
April 11th, 2007 at 12:15 pm[…] Think Progress reports: Right Wing Uses Cropped Photo To Downplay Size Of Iraq Protest […]
April 11th, 2007 at 12:34 pmIt is really no wonder that Iraq’s in the tens of thousands are
April 11th, 2007 at 12:40 pmprotesting our presence in Iraq, labeling it an occupation. We’ve
acted as there were only one solution to the terrorism problem, war.
It has become increasingly clear, however, as we approach another year
of war and wasted lives, that our efforts have not eliminated
terrorists. Our military presence and lack of attention to helping
people out of poverty fuels the anti-American flames abroad and in
Iraq. If we were to address terrorism at its roots, poverty; it would
be possible to reduce the number of lives lost, save money, and live
up to the reputation of world leader.
I think Iraq is a diversionary blessing in disguise–better US troops in armed convey patrolling the streets of Bagdad than patrolling the streets of Los Angles and San Francisco.
April 11th, 2007 at 2:07 pm[…] this photo as proof that the demonstrations fell far short of their 3,000,000 person goal (via ThinkProgress>: To put this protest in perspective, however, let’s look at the same location four years […]
April 11th, 2007 at 4:04 pmOh man. At least we have the internet these days to share the truth, whereas before, there were tonnes of incidents that would have shocked the US citizens that went MIA because CNN wouldn’t broadcast it.
There was a massacre of anywhere between 3,000 to 5,000 civilians by paratroopers because they were protesting, in South Korea. This was 1980. CNN never told the story, because Ronald Reagan authorized the military strike against the rally, so that the pro-USA regime of South Korea (despite the fact that it was not democratic, but a military dictatorshop) would remain in power.
There was no internet back then. But there is now. Exchange of truth through these mediums is the ultimate of the true democracy, not the Bush-CNN-Rumsfeld idea of democracy.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:26 pmIsn’t it clear, yet, that if you support the Republican party you’re either evil or stupid?
April 11th, 2007 at 4:30 pmum………. OMG, this is good, good that Iraq wants us out, that they are able to join for one cause. AND NOW we have a reason to leave. There is so much I could say alot about this but, if there able to unite in this kind of numbers for one reason, then its good. There supposed to be a democracy, there practicing there right to protest. They want us out, SO lets leave? Maybe we should stop throwing sh*t at each other and listen to the Iraqi’s.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:37 pmI also noticed that there aren’t many women protesting, so for each of those men, there are most likely women and children at home that also feel as strongly.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:44 pmYOU IDIOTS. YOUR PHOTO OF THE LONG SHOT DOWN THE ROAD HAS BEEN PHOTOSHOPPED TO LENGHTEN THE CROWD. OUR FORENSIC DEPARTMENT CAUGHT IT EASILY.
April 11th, 2007 at 4:51 pmUm… if you’re going to post a claim that a photo is cropped, would it not make sense to post the original photo, and the cropped photo? Or could it be that there really isn’t a cropped photo — because based on this “information” here, I don’t see evidence of one.
April 11th, 2007 at 5:03 pmDefinitely not a cropped photo, but also definitely not a photo of Najaf. As someone said, its Firdos Square in Baghdad! They show the protest in a different city and claim that the protest in Najaf was as small as the one in Baghdad.
Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/ maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Firdos+Square,+Baghdad,+Iraq&layer=&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=33.314544,44.421748&spn=0.002224,0.005847&t=h&om=1
Now, Look at the photo being shown… Its the same place, you have the big palace, the triangle shaped building, the trees on the left… same place.
April 11th, 2007 at 5:33 pmIt is a picture of Baghdad because the media is to chicken to leave their hotel.
April 11th, 2007 at 5:51 pmOne pic says nothing about the other. You guys are idiots. Also DefendAmerica.mil puts it at about 15k protesters. You wouldnt know that because you are not interested in Defending America.
Umm… both photos are cropped…
April 11th, 2007 at 6:22 pmAll of the people in this post that have spoken out against Bush should get a clue and close your mouths, the word-vomit is making me sick. Bush started his career as president with 9/11. I would be doing the same thing that he is. Crimes against the US will not be tolerated. For those of you that speak against Bush, why dont you try supporting your country for a change, instead of blaming him. It is ignorant people like you that have helped turn this country into what it is today. I am proud when i say I am a born and raised US citizen. Why arent you? Get off of your high horses and support our country. Whether you like it or not George W. Bush is our president, try supporting him and our country.
April 11th, 2007 at 6:33 pmTo Pro-Bush,
April 11th, 2007 at 6:50 pmAre we to believe that you supported Clinton wholeheartedly when he was President?
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April 11th, 2007 at 7:01 pm#92, when did Iraq attack the United States? What crime did Iraq commit against the United States?
April 11th, 2007 at 7:35 pmIt is ignorant people like you that have helped turn this country into what it is today.
you know #92 speaks the truth, except that his words should be directed towards the 30% that support Bush and his policies no matter what. Hell, if Bush ordered a full-blown genocide of Iraqis, then he would be telling us to get off our high horses and support our country…
Our country, right or wrong, gets us into trouble in the first place…
April 11th, 2007 at 7:42 pmIt’s good that they can organize at least, regardless of the message. People coming together in numbers speaks louder than anything else.
I am not sure we could muster that many people in the US for many “important” issues.
April 11th, 2007 at 10:32 pm[…] Think Progress » Right Wing Uses Cropped Photo To Downplay Size Of Iraq Protest After thousands of demonstrators gathered in Najaf, Iraq, yesterday to protest the U.S. occupation, the Bush administration was quick to downplay the size of the gathering. State Department official David Satterfield said, “I think the small size of tho (tags: photography protest Iraq wingnuts Najaf stupidity) […]
April 12th, 2007 at 12:30 am[…] April 12th, 2007 · No Comments There were massive protests in Iraq this past weekend. The protesters are demanding that US troops leave their country. Domestic news outlets estimate that there were “thousands” or “tens of thousands” of protesters. The BBC says “hundreds of thousands.” This Modern World shows you the pictures. ThinkProgress has more. […]
April 12th, 2007 at 1:46 pm[…] using this photo as proof that the demonstrations fell far short of their 3,000,000 person goal (via ThinkProgress) as seen […]
April 12th, 2007 at 10:10 pm[…] This is funny. In an attempt to downplay anti-occupation protests throughout Iraq yesterday, conservative bloggers have been cherry-picking news about the protests to describe the turnout as “underwhelming†and “weak†while using this photo as proof that the demonstrations fell far short of their 3,000,000 person goal (via ThinkProgress): […]
April 13th, 2007 at 2:20 amI’m not an expert on any of this stuff, so i’m not pretending to be. so heres my questions, did the Iraqi people have the ability to protest in such large numbers under sadams regime? i mean, i know they are protesting against the US, but were there any large scale protests while Sadam was in power?
April 13th, 2007 at 11:16 amThis corrupt evil Bush administration is about to be exposed like never before,a nd they are not going to be able to lie their sorry ass-s out of this either.
April 13th, 2007 at 11:22 pmAin’t Karma grand???
aerial maps
Still, I believe some people (like me) think in different way regarding this topic
March 15th, 2008 at 2:47 am