The Associated Press Lies and Deceives While Defaming Islam and Christianity, in Its Latest Apologia for Israel's Massacre on Gaza
On December 28 — the day after the Israeli carpet-bombing of the 1.5 million impoverished and imprisoned Palestinians of Gaza began — Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a religious decree stating that those who die while defending Palestinians against Israeli aggression in Gaza will be considered martyrs.
Since then, thousands have reportedly volunteered, and on December 30, the Iranian daily, Payvand News, released a news brief titled "Students ready to launch 'Esteshhadi' operations in Gaza," reporting thus:
A large number of students from various universities of Iran on Tuesday voiced their readiness to launch Esteshhadi (martyrdom-seeking) operations in Gaza.
In separate phone calls to IRNA, students from universities of Tehran, Mashhad and Kerman announced their readiness to undertake operations in defense of the people of Gaza.
So according to a Persian source, the Persian term those students are using — Esteshhadi — translates to "martyrdom-seeking." And their actions are reportedly "in defense of the people of Gaza."
AP, on the other hand, translates it only slightly differently. This morning's AP headline on the story is titled "Volunteer suicide bombers seek to attack Israel" [1]; its lede goes thus:
Hard-line Iranian student groups have appealed to the government to authorize volunteer suicide bombers to leave Iran and fight against Israel in response to the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip. . . .
Five hard-line student groups and a conservative clerical group launched a registration drive on Monday, seeking volunteers to carry out suicide attacks against Israel.
Now, that is how you get people's attention, from the headline to the lede, and if you're a really good compiler-editor, your readers will be salivating for the juicy bits in the ensuing dialogue:
"Volunteer student suicide groups ... are determined to go to Gaza. You are expected to issue orders to the relevant authorities in order to pave the way for such action," the students advised Ahmadinejad in an open letter, a copy of which was made available to The Associated Press on Wednesday.
(Yes. They were "made available," and no doubt subsequently translated to the liking of AP's settler-editors at the W. Jerusalem bureau, as well as the IDF and the Hasbaranik groups that practically edit for them.)
Now let's recap.
— Ayatollah Khamenei called the missions voluntary defense of the people of Gaza against Israeli aggression; the reward upon death being martyrdom.
— Payvand News gave us the actual term (Esteshhadi) students are using to describe the act of dying while defending Palestinians against Israeli aggression, along with the correct translation according to Muslim faith: martyrdom-seeking.
— AP calls it by its typical war-on-terror name: suicide bombings (and "attacks" on "Israel"), even though, as far as both AP's and Payvand's readers know, the students said NOTHING about bombs or particular acts of violence. And of course, those students are "hard-line": a designation given by AP to practically anyone (but especially a Muslim or an Arab), who staunchly opposes Israeli and U.S. policies in the region. (Perhaps Ghandi and Mother Teresa are "hard-line" too.)
This is ridiculous enough, what with the obvious sensationalism typically employed by "the world's most trusted source of news and information"; but consider the following.
ANY mission wherein an Arab or Persian Muslim — or really, anyone — goes into Gaza, seeking to defend Palestinians against practically indomitable Israeli aggression, will have about a 1-in-100 chance of coming out alive. AP can very well refer to this as "suicide"; but the fact is, even in Christian tradition, when someone dies in the service of God — and particularly, in defense of the weak, defenseless, and oppressed — it is NOT considered SUICIDE. It is MARTYRDOM. There is honor and holiness in martyrdom, while there is shame and blasphemy in suicide.
AP's selective, sensationalistic, and obviously agenda-inspired use of the "translation" — suicide bombing — is no better than referring to the Israeli Army's practice of putting Druze and Christian soldiers on the frontlines as blood libel. In the very least, it shows a lack of professionalism, honesty, and objectivity on AP's part; at most, it is a disgusting, politically-motivated, collectivist attack on several billion humans of the world and their faith.
Now, if that wasn't enough deception and collectivist defamation to get the war drums pounding, don't worry: the editor threw in a nasty use of scare quotes, as well as AP's favorite and most-prolific bald-faced, anti-Iranian lie:
In a speech Tuesday, Ahmadinejad called for the trial of Israeli leaders on charges of massacring Palestinians in Gaza. His comments come a day after Iran's judiciary set up a court to try Israeli leaders for such "crimes." [Using double quotes on only the word crimes is done for no other reason than for the AP editor to tell us, "Crimes? Ah ha ha ha ha!" -dt]
Iran considers Israel its archenemy and Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for Israel to be "wiped off the map." [See the accurate translation of Ahmadinejad's statement, here, and proof of AP's intention to keep lying about it, here. -dt] Iran also is Hamas' main backer, though Tehran denies sending weapons to the Islamic militant Palestinian group that took control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007.
And of course, just in case we forget whom the bad guys are, the Israeli military-state is just "Israel"; while its Palestinian counterparts are always modified with several adjectives and adverbs because, after all, it's bad to be Muslim and violently defend yourself, your people, and others against the wanton aggression of the Almighty States.
AP stands for Abominable Propaganda.
- - - - -
1. apnews.myway.com//article/20081231/D95DLPD01.html. Emphasis added.
Submitted by detain_this on Wed, 2008-12-31 20:39
- detain_this's blog
- Login or register to post comments
- 102 reads
-
I'm surprised that AP didn't say that it was all about oil.
Looks like the upcoming 'international crisis' under Obama that everyone seem to be talking about is the Middle East, perhaps even involving Iran.
At some point I assumed that it could be the Pakistani-Indian issue escalating into a full-scale war over the false flag attack.
I appreciate your effort, but as a Muslim who's heard views from all over the spectrum, I can tell you that when the muslims who support "suicide bombing" refer to "suicide bombing," they call it a "martyrdom operation".
Just what the truthseeking people need, because I read with considerable dismay the AP news you just cited to single out for rebuttal.
I was aware of AP's penchant for propaganda ("wiped off the map" quote repeated ad nauseam every damn time whenever Iran and Ahmadinejad are mentioned) but "suicide bombers"? I've heard of Iranian young men commiting "martyrdom" in Iran-Iraq War.
I would commend the heroic and humanitarian efforts to combat the travesty of evil by Zionist thuggery, but I truly don't want for Iranians to attempt to "interfere" with Israel that could be twisted -- through fingerpointing of blame for false flag attacks for sheer propaganda value -- as an excuse to attack Iran that escalate the geopolitical situation for the worse.
Zionist violence and oppression of Palestine as well as Lebanon makes my blood boil with rage. Israel has dug itself a grave. Only when Israel attacks Iran, then it is a fair game, and I look forward to Israel being obliterated as a regime and a power.
I just want to add something extra here:
The Arab leaders are just one of the hands that feed "israel".
Lebanon shines in comparison, that is because of Hezbollah and former president Lahud. Unfortunately, Lebanon is still rife with pigs like jumblaat and seniora, and hariri jr.
Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia must stop with theses unIslamic dictatorships in their countries and strengthen their people, not bog them down.
Egypt and Jordan [the leaders] must stop taking money from the USA and align themselves with Palestine.
Saudi Arabia is just too pathetic. Those kings and sheiks use "israel" as an excuse to keep their own people down, all the while they do business with the other hand that feeds "israel"....the USA.
All those fat Arab leaders care about is themselves, their status and riches. So much for calling themselves Muslims.
SHAME!
Ahmadinejad appeals to them time and time again to unite, but the Arabs don't listen...they are just too fat and arrogant.
Do the Arab leaders support Ahmadinejad? Hardly.
Bullies all around in different guises:
1. Arab leaders
2. USA / israeli gov. & military
3. Zionist/jew owned and operated media.
I appreciate the comments. Notice how AP is listing the "pro-U.S." Arab regimes that are criticizing Hamas thus: Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia. Nothing unusual, right? But, the they list the ones criticizing Israel as being: Iran, Syria, and the militant group Hezbollah.
In other words, they conceal the fact that pretty much all of Lebanon is shunning Israel and that, even before Dec. 27th, Suleiman, Siniora, and Hariri were all snubbing and refusing to talk with the Israeli government. It may have something to do with the Spring elections, but wtf? AP says nothing about this. AP is stuck between having to admit that Lebanon is not so pro-U.S. anymore, and having to admit that Lebanon is united against Israel. So they go the typical, easy route: deceitful pigeon-holing.
AIPAC
Apartheid Israel Placing America in the Crosshairs
–or–
American-Israeli Pimping-America Committee
Egypt and Jordan both have signed peace treaty with Israel, and these nations' head of states and their diplomats do not want to appear tactless towards Israel in diplomatic relationship that might harm the integrity of the peace agreement.
This is why Egypt refuses to allow suffering and terrorized Palestinian Arabs to safe areas at Gaza-Egypt border in Sinai because Israel will perceive Egypt to "coddle" the refugees as "terrorists" and threaten the security of Egypt's sovereignty if this happens.
Same apply to Jordan. Both do not want war with Israel. Both try to keep peace stable by disallowing Palestinian Arabs to migrate to safety for relief of hunger, fear and other emotions as the subject of Zionist oppression and terror.
As for Saudi Arabia, it's about oil, of course. Saudi kingdom needs USA to "feed the whale" to enrich them at the expense of the suffering Palestinians which they ignore with coldness.
Time have changed since OPEC imposed 1973 oil embargo in response to USA's compliance to provide material assistance to fuel Israel's war aggression (Yom Kippur War).
The League of Arab States is indeed cowardly in regards to Israel's barbarous treatment of Lebanon and Palestine. Some, like Saudi king Abdullah, may complain, but it's all talk and no action while Israel's aggression continues with impunity.
I have said this before, I opine Saudi kingdom deserves to be overthrown for their complicity in perpetuation of social injustice, internal and external, in being callous towards the poor, the minorities, female sex and Palestinians/Lebanese Arabs-Muslims-Christians.
I don't know what majority of specific Islam religion Syria, Egypt and Jordan have. Saudi Arabia is mostly Sunni, with the rulers as Wahhabist co-religionists. Iran is Shiite. Saudi kingdom may not like Iran because of fundamental religious difference in Islam culture, unless I'm wrong.
It appears Saudi kingdom is somewhat neutral towards Iran, unless Saudi monarchy agrees with USA (CIA) and Israel that Islamic Republic of Iran government under cleric system should be overthrown and return to Shah-style dictatorship to appease relations and exploit resources for oil while further oppressing the indigenous population under totalitarian police state.
For the speculative reason above, Saudi kingdom really should be overthrown because not only are they absolutely callous towards the Zionist rape of Palestine but they also admit to keeping America and parts of the world addicted to oil 'permanently' to enrich themselves. Good Muslims object to lavish materialism because it poisons the soul with rampant greed that render conscience deaf and mute to the agonizing cries of pain and suffering, no matter how closely related Saudi monarchy is to other Semitic peoples outside of S.A.
Cold-hearted Saudi princes and kings who do nothing to remedy the crisis but encourage Zionist and Imperialistic violence and oppression by silence will be apt to do their penance in Hell when they pass away of violence or old age.
And I am ashamed of the Arab leaders who are helping the Zionist entity... How can they do this to their Palestinian brothers and sisters?! They have no dignity!!! They must break off ties with Israel and pressure Egypt to open the Rafah crossing immediately!!!
'Where are your Arab sensibilities? When a million-and-a-half Arab people in the Gaza Strip are living under a siege, in hunger, under threat? My humanitarian, religious, Islamic, and Arabic sensibilities call on me to take part in actions and protests against it.'
- Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah
'Silence on the Gaza blockade is disgraceful. Silence on the blockade amounts to participation in the Israeli occupation.'
- Sheikh Naim Kassem
Can be found Here
Thank you for yet another great post DetainThis.
http://jnoubiyeh.blogspot.com/
I would estimate that there were about 400 people. We had four corners in downtown San Diego during rush hour.
There were a lot of signs and Palestinian flags. Good spirits were shared by all present.
I surmised by the dress of some of the women and some of the slogans chanted, that there was a large Muslim population present. But there was also a feeling that everyone should participate, so the Arabic(?) slogans were usually changed to English ones.
Some pretty black Muslim sisters were protesting next to me and my brother. They wore modest dresses made of nice material that left only their faces and lower arms exposed. They were all smiles and they loaned us a big sign to wave. (We didn't have time to make one ourselves.) Most of them ran off to do their prayers at 5-ish, and then came back about 10 minutes later. Whenever an Arabic slogan went up on our corner, the sisters asked those chanting to please be more inclusive. Although the Arabic was impossible for me, I still felt welcome. There was one Arabic (Muslim?) slogan that I was told meant: "God is Great." Even though I am a Catholic, I didn't find that one objectionable or difficult to pronounce. Indeed, God is Great, so I yelled that at the top of my lungs.
I did wonder where these people had been at all of the other anti-war rallies that had been held in the same place over the years. I also wondered where all all of the anti-war people were at this rally.
Maybe we need to get the Palestinian groups to talk to the Anti-War groups.
-----------------------
"Stop judging by appearances, but judge justly."
"The people of Gaza are the purest and most honorable people, and those who abandon them are participating in the crime, killings and treason. We have been calling to open the Rafah crossing; today if you hear all speeches you will see that the calls for Egypt to open the Rafah crossing are unanimous. We are talking about steadfastness in Gaza and the first condition to consolidate steadfastness there is to open the gates for it."
- Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah
http://jnoubiyeh.blogspot.com/
was the slogan you heard, Chris?
-----------------------
"Stop judging by appearances, but judge justly."
I guess all spellings are approximations of sounds. Also people who speak different languages hear subtleties that other non-speakers do not.
But yes, that's what it probably was.
-----------------------
"Stop judging by appearances, but judge justly."
Calling Vanna, gimme a vowel .... may be Allahu Akbar?
Happy New Year! Allahu Akbar!
Now Vanna, tell him what he's won!
-----------------------
"Stop judging by appearances, but judge justly."