Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Mistranslated Osama bin Laden Video - the German Press Investigates
Action Report Online ^ | 12/23/2002 | Craig Morris

Posted on 01/11/2002 5:25:08 AM PST by Demidog

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 121-140 next last
To: Demidog
The fact that the Government may have mis-translated is troubling.

Let's not be hasty...

The fact possibility that the Government may have mis-translated is troubling.

Flag me if you find those translations, it would be interesting to see what Arabic-speaking Freepers have to say. Not necessarily persuasive, because they won't have listened to the tapes themselves, and one person's "garbled" may be another's "clear as a bell."

But definitely interesting.


61 posted on 01/11/2002 7:36:39 AM PST by Sabertooth
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: Ada Coddington
according to Gerry Spence OJ and Bill Clinton were innocent.
62 posted on 01/11/2002 7:40:54 AM PST by Freedom of Speech Wins
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: mountaineer
"This means a lot, coming from a criminal defense lawyer.

Oh? Are they even worse than other lawyers? Are they likely more dishonest than your typical prosecuting attorney, on his route to higher office, out to win his case at any cost?

63 posted on 01/11/2002 7:42:07 AM PST by Aurelius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Ridin' Shotgun
No that one fails the WTF test. In that Enron got huge during the Clinton administration, went on fine for years without the Clinton FTC and SEC caring. Completely ignored their New York auditors. And now that the Bush administration version of the authorities found massive impropriety all the yahoo's are blaiming Bush. All the crimes were done on somebody else's watch, they actually got CAUGHT on Bush's watch by Bush's people, and yet it's Bush's fault... WTF?!

Although I suppose there is a little brilliant idiocy in the idea that these guys (supposedly with Bush's help, or at least the help of his good friends) would be smart enough to cook the books for years, but dumb enough to not pay of the auditors to look the other way. Which does bring into question just how much this was a conspiracy involving lots of members of the Bush Cabinet and how much it was just a few business leaders getting stupid.

64 posted on 01/11/2002 7:43:31 AM PST by discostu
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: SunStar
Link here.It seems that some independent translators heard more than others.

Bin Laden named nine hijackers on tape, not one By David Ensor
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) --The original translation of the Osama bin Laden videotape misses the fact that bin Laden identifies nine of the hijackers, a Saudi dissident says and an independent translator hired by CNN confirmed Thursday.

"The translators missed a lot of things on the tape," said Ali Al-Ahmed, director of the Saudi Institute, an organization that promotes human rights in Saudi Arabia.

Al-Ahmed said bin Laden identifies nine of the suspected hijackers -- not just Mohamed Atta as had the original translation.

Al-Ahmed and the independent translator -- who did not want to be identified -- said bin Laden named two additional hijackers on the tape: the brothers Nawaf al Hazmi and Salam al Hazmi.

Later, he said four other hijackers were from the Al Ghamdi tribe. He also mentioned two others, both named al Shehri.

Also left out of the translation, they said, were the names of three Saudi clerics who publicly backed the attacks, according to the man speaking with bin Laden on the tape. At least one of those three Saudi clerics was possibly a government official.

One more striking example of detail left out of the government translation, according to Al-Ahmed and the independent translator: Bin Laden's description of exactly what he said to others just before the radio announcement that the first of the attacks had succeeded.

They quoted him as saying he told followers, "When you hear a breaking news announcement on the radio, kneel immediately, and that means they have hit the World Trade Center."

65 posted on 01/11/2002 7:49:55 AM PST by RGSpincich
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: Demidog
they're right, they're right!

Bin Laden couldn't have dunnit,

must be the CIA and MOSAD.

66 posted on 01/11/2002 7:52:15 AM PST by pollwatcher
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pollwatcher
I don't think anyone has claimed that bin Laden couldn't have done it.
67 posted on 01/11/2002 7:53:54 AM PST by Demidog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: Aurelius
According to Gerry Spence, the US government never plays it straight.

The problem with Mr. Spence's comment is the word "never." It is a broad generalization lacking supporting evidence. As the old saying goes, "All generalizations are false, including this one."

My response to the original posting was based on my personal experience with some defense attorneys, who very frequently don't play straight with the court or the prosecution, because to be truthful would result in their clients' going to jail. I have no doubt whatsoever that some defense attorneys are honest, so if my previous comment sounded something Spence would say, that is, an unwarranted blanket, broad-brush smear, then I apologize.

I do not believe it's true that the U.S. government never plays it straight, although Ruby Ridge, Waco, etc., clearly demonstrated that some government officials are blatant liars and that the government sometimes doesn't play straight.

68 posted on 01/11/2002 7:54:07 AM PST by mountaineer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: discostu
In that Enron got huge during the Clinton administration, went on fine for years without the Clinton FTC and SEC caring.

And of course Bush steps forward to block the Congress from eyeballing anything that might harm Clinton's rep any further (or exact any justice for the people). And of course, Enron was possibly Bush's largest contributor in his quest for Governorship in Texas. and of course ... and of course ... and of course.

How many times are these 'in-bed-together-creeps' gonna pull the wool over your eyes and flat out lie to you before you say 'wait a danged minute, here'?

Go find the side by side photos of Osama and the taped Osama. They're on the web. Take a good look at them and then THINK, for the love of Pete!

BTW ... I am aware that there's a 't' on the end of brilliant. My fingers aren't awake yet.

69 posted on 01/11/2002 7:57:49 AM PST by Ridin' Shotgun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: mountaineer
Yes, I guess "never" is a bit strong.
70 posted on 01/11/2002 8:04:52 AM PST by Aurelius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

Comment #71 Removed by Moderator

To: Buckhead
It proves for one that if there's anything to be proven it is that the administration is protecting the Saudis.

This would make sense since the Bush's do alot of personal business with the Saudis.

72 posted on 01/11/2002 8:11:39 AM PST by Demidog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Buckhead
Islamofascist apologists at the Islamofascist nerve center at the Univ. of Hamburg are full of camel sh*t.

Your bigotry is showing, Buck.

73 posted on 01/11/2002 8:16:15 AM PST by Ridin' Shotgun
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Demidog
It doesn't prove anything. Do you know anything about the agenda of the Germans who had this transcript done? Do you know anything about the changes in dialect from Arab to Arab? Do you know anything about transcribing audio tapes?

It's not logical to think that the government deliberately mistranslated the tape because it would be too easy for anyone who speaks the language to show them to be lying.

Having transcribed from audio tapes on a regular basis for over a decade, I can tell you that a transcript done in haste will have some inaccuracies. Also you have to understand that different people will hear minor things differently, no matter how much time is available to transcribe it.

This is just more nonsense from people who make money from "exposing scandals." To report a story in a sensational light is more profitable than to report that everything is just fine.

74 posted on 01/11/2002 8:20:53 AM PST by alnick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: alnick
Do you know anything about the agenda of the Germans who had this transcript done?

I know that 200,000 Germans held a candlelight vigil in Berlin a couple of days after the attacks in support of the U.S. Pictures were posted here on FR.

That's more than turned out here in the U.S. If you are going to suggest that Germans hate the U.S. you can pick a different fellow to foist that assertion upon.

75 posted on 01/11/2002 8:25:46 AM PST by Demidog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: Demidog
I know that 200,000 Germans held a candlelight vigil in Berlin a couple of days after the attacks in support of the U.S. Pictures were posted here on FR.

That's got nothing to do with what I said. I said that these people who happen to be German are presumably total strangers to you, yet you take their word as Gospel. Just because 200,000 people who happen to be from the same country as they are held a candlelight vigil is irrelevant.

Again, people who sell newspapers make more money when they can imply something sensational than when they report the bland truth. Because of that, you should be careful what you believe, especially if it's coming from an unkown entity.

When you present this kind of report as fact or as "proof" of something, as you said, it reveals your agenda as anti-Bush, even to the extent of defending Osama Bin Laden.

76 posted on 01/11/2002 8:37:49 AM PST by alnick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

Comment #77 Removed by Moderator

To: Freedom of Speech Wins
Both were acquitted, so he is technically correct.
78 posted on 01/11/2002 8:53:54 AM PST by Ada Coddington
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: alnick
German are presumably total strangers to you, yet you take their word as Gospel.

You'll need to back up that assertion with some evidence for it to stand.

79 posted on 01/11/2002 8:54:04 AM PST by Demidog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: Buckhead
Nice work.
80 posted on 01/11/2002 8:55:49 AM PST by Demidog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100 ... 121-140 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson