Jihadis Playing Possum

Wall Street Journal Best of the Web ^ | 8/08/06 | JAMES TARANTO

[Hazcat]

Plainly this scene was staged for the benefit of the cameras, though it is important to note we know of no evidence that the photographer was complicit in the staging. It is, however, a clear example of how terrorist groups use journalists to spread their propaganda.

[Gator101]

"Wait wait Mr. AP Photographer...Akmed was not settled yet. Lay down and stay still Akmed!. Ok, now take your picture. Got it? Alright! Everybody grab your sheets and let's meet down at the crater where the rocket warehouse...err, I mean *baby milk* factory used to be."

[LizJ]

Does anyone know if someone has compiled a complete list of all these fake, doctored and staged photos?

I really want to share all of this information with as many people as I can, and pointing them to one place would be good. I'll compile my own list if I have to. This is really quite amazing that they are being so blatant.

[Cecily]

For some of them, try http://www.honestreporting.com

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Taranto has added an update, including this link with more pictures of the same body:
http://www.theaugeanstables.com/2006/08/06/post-on-washington-post-removed/print/

[i_dont_chat]

When they die, people steal their shoes. Thus, dead and bare feet.

[Gator101]

Thanks for the link. It now appears that they were, in fact, dead bodies, including the once sitting up. I'm big enough to admit when I am wrong. I think that is what separates us from the kook-left fringe who will turn to tin-foil and conspiracies when confronted with the truth.

This still certainly doesn't mean that all the pictures we have seen out of Lebanon are accurate nor is the reporting not heavily biased against Israel. In this case though the picture seems to be what it purported. It's a pity the WSJ didn't see the other pictures before they wrote their article. Their update and keeping the post up instead of doing a CNN-like disappearing act speaks to their honesty.

[Grut]

This still certainly doesn't mean that all the pictures we have seen out of Lebanon are accurate...

You're a mensch to admit the error, but aren't we all jumping the gun a little? Today's excitement about the Qasmiya Bridge, for instance, just exposes how little most bloggers and blog readers know about photography.