Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

newthinking

(3,982 posts)
17. The Caesar Photo Fraud that Undermined Syrian Negotiations
Sun Jun 12, 2016, 10:21 PM
Jun 2016

At least keep some scepticism: There is a war narrative on. If you expect to get truth from the MSM you will be lost.


The Caesar Photo Fraud that Undermined Syrian Negotiations
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/03/04/the-caesar-photo-fraud-that-undermined-syrian-negotiations/

A 30 page investigative report on the “Caesar Torture Photos” has been released and is available online here. The following is a condensed version of the report. Readers who are especially interested are advised to get the full report which includes additional details, photographs, sources and recommendations.

Introduction

There is a pattern of sensational but untrue reports that lead to public acceptance of US and Western military intervention in countries around the world:

* In Gulf War 1, there were reports of Iraqi troops stealing incubators from Kuwait, leaving babies to die on the cold floor. Relying on the testimony of a Red Crescent doctor, Amnesty Interenational ‘verified’ the false claims.

* Ten years later, there were reports of yellow cake uranium going to Iraq for development of weapons of mass destruction.

* One decade later, there were reports of Libyan soldiers drugged on viagra and raping women as they advanced.

* In 2012, NBC broadcaster Richard Engel was supposedly kidnapped by pro-Assad Syrian militia but luckily freed by Syrian opposition fighters, the “Free Syrian Army”.

All these reports were later confirmed to be fabrications and lies. They all had the goal of manipulating public opinion and they all succeeded in one way or another. Despite the consequences, which were often disastrous, none of the perpetrators were punished or paid any price.

It has been famously said “Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.” This report is a critical review of the “Caesar Torture Photos” story. As will be shown, there is strong evidence the accusations are entirely or substantially false.

Overview of ‘Caesar Torture Photos’

On 20 January 2014, two days before negotiations about the Syrian conflict were scheduled to begin in Switzerland, a sensational report burst onto television and front pages around the world. The story was that a former Syrian army photographer had 55,000 photographs documenting the torture and killing of 11,000 detainees by the Syrian security establishment.



Anyone who hasn't watched the footage of Assad's barrel bombs targeting citizens.... Socal31 Jun 2016 #1
What a load of crap jamzrockz Jun 2016 #7
"Syrian Observatory for Human Rights" is a discredited propaganda organ newthinking Jun 2016 #14
Our Syria policy is still a mess: These are the dots the media refuses to connect -Salon newthinking Jun 2016 #18
K&R for people uppityperson Jun 2016 #2
I am confused 6chars Jun 2016 #3
It seems crazy because war "reporting" is a captured "Narrative" and it is likely untrue. newthinking Jun 2016 #15
Remember the good old days Blue_Tires Jun 2016 #4
I didn't go anywhere jamzrockz Jun 2016 #8
The same posters are here jumping in to agree with the narrative newthinking Jun 2016 #16
Assad is a monster. Odin2005 Jun 2016 #5
wish 'someone' would have taken out assad before he teamed up with putin, or even the year before. Sunlei Jun 2016 #6
Like it happened wit Gaddafi? jamzrockz Jun 2016 #9
Assad killed thousands of his own people in the years before putin joined him. Sunlei Jun 2016 #10
I am sure he killed them for no reason jamzrockz Jun 2016 #11
Caesar says he began smuggling out thumb drives of the pictures he took with a team of photographers Sunlei Jun 2016 #12
But why do it now? jamzrockz Jun 2016 #13
The Caesar Photo Fraud that Undermined Syrian Negotiations newthinking Jun 2016 #17
+1 (n/t) Nihil Jun 2016 #20
I hope peace and security is restored to Syria soon. David__77 Jun 2016 #19
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Syria bombards starving D...»Reply #17