Zarqawi Group Beheads American in Iraq -Web Site (Hoax)

[DoYouEverWonder]

Please screen capture and copy! Spread this one around.


This is the original story that went out on the wires this morning. However, a few hours later it has been revealed that this story is a hoax. The original story is being pulled and replaced with the new story. This report is an excellent example of how unsubstantiated evidence, can be reported and blended in with a lot of other unrelated information and further demonize our 'enemies'.

Here is the story on Reuters (while it's still there)


http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=Z5OOQYYG4ANQ4CRBAEOCFFA?type=topNews&storyID=5902304&pageNumber=1

August 7, 2004

DUBAI (Reuters) - A group linked to al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has beheaded an American hostage in Iraq, according to a video posted on a Web site on Saturday.

<snip>

The American gave his name and address before appealing to the United States to leave Iraq.

The name and address appeared to match a Benjamin Vanderford, who has a U.S. Web site and who resembles the man in the militant video. He is described on the Vanderford site as a 22-year-old independent candidate for district supervisor in San Francisco. He is also a musician and video-game programer.

<snip>

Unlike previous videos by Tawhid and Jihad Group, the footage did not show the group's flag, or masked militants. The American was wearing trousers and a T-shirt and not an orange jumpsuit as worn by previous hostages of Zarqawi's group.

But the statement, signed by the Tawhid and Jihad Group, bore the same logo that had appeared in previous statements including most recently Saturday's threat to kill Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.


EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT


EDIT: In order for the above link to work you have to remove the space between .jhtml and ;jessionid then it will work.

For some reason when I post the link on DU, a space is getting added that I can't get rid of.

[radwriter0555]

1. Here's the kid's blog too. He totally ROCKS!

http://p066.ezboard.com/fbenvanderfordfordistrict5frm2

I'm impressed.

[Junkdrawer]

2. Fixed link:

Link

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Oh, thank you

For some reason I'm having a problem posting the link properly.

[Junkdrawer]

4. I used this syntax:

{open square bracket}link:www.something.com|Text you want{close square bracket}

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Someone suggested a few days ago to email the story to yourself

if you want a copy of a story to prove it (it will have a timestamp and originating address too, so you'd have to go to considerable length to fake something like that).

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. Here's the real story about the beheading video

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5629119

American fakes own decapitation in tape
22-year-old staged Iraq execution at San Francisco house

Aug. 7, 2004

SAN FRANCISCO - A video aired Saturday that purportedly showed an American being decapitated in Iraq was a hoax.

The American, Benjamin Vanderford, reached by The Associated Press in San Francisco, said he videotaped the staged beheading at his friend's house using fake blood.

Vanderford, 22, said he began distributing the video on the Internet months ago in hopes of drawing attention to his one-time campaign for city supervisor. When his political aspirations waned, he thought the video would serve as social commentary.

"It was part of a stunt, but no one noticed it up until now," Vanderford said. "I did this for a couple of reasons. One is to attract attention. But two is to just make a statement on these type of videos and how easily they can be faked."



It's amazing how much a story can change in just a few hours.