ilmdge posted:

I have never seen more shameless propaganda. Professionally produced and uploaded by the white house.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/22/495021467/he-will-be-our-brother-boy-6-asks-obama-to-bring-syrian-boy-to-live-with-him

Someone needs to re-edit this video so that the letter is shown arriving at the White House only to be thrown in the trash and then a second later a half eaten apple is dumped on top of it.

Liebe Freunde, dass meine Kritiker einer Terrororganisation mehr glauben als mir ist schon ein Hammer. Hier ein paar Infos für Menschen, die mir vertrauen:

1.) Dass Jabhat Al Nusra (Al Qaida) das Interview bestreiten würde, war von Anfang an klar. Die Offenheit, mit der ein einfacher, nicht hochrangiger Kommandeur, über die wahren Ziele von Al Qaida sprach, muss der obersten politischen Führung äußerst unangenehm sein. Der US-Regierung geht es genauso. Der Al Qaida-Kommandeur spricht aus, was eigentlich die ganze Welt vermutet.

Derartige nachträgliche Dementis sind schon fast Rebellen-Brauch. Und beinahe verständlich. Geschenkt also. Welcher ertappte Dieb legt gleich ein Geständnis ab?

2.) Zur Identität des Al Qaida- Kommandeurs. Wir haben seine Identität genau recherchieren können und wissen praktisch alles über ihn. Auch über seinen privaten Hintergrund. Das Interview wurde über einen Rebellen aus Aleppo arrangiert. (Ich habe seit Jahren Kontakte zu syrischen Rebellen.) Es fand außerdem an einem Ort in unmittelbarer Sicht-und Schussweite von Jabhat al Nusra statt, den nur ein Mitglied von Al Nusra gefahrlos erreichen konnte. Ein Teil seiner Aussagen wurde darüber hinaus kurz darauf vom Al Nusra-Mufti von Aleppo fast wörtlich bestätigt. http://www.almayadeen.net/news/politics/42000/%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%B8%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%AE%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A3%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%AD%D9%84%D8%A8

Andere Voraussagen über das Desinteresse der Rebellen an einem Waffenstillstand haben sich ebenfalls bestätigt. Genauso wie seine Vorhersagen über geplante militärische Aktivitäten in mehreren Städten Syriens. All das spricht für die Authentizität des Mannes.

In Syrien tragen zahlreiche muslimische Männer (wenn auch nicht die Mehrheit) Ringe und manchmal sogar um den Hals Goldkettchen. Das ist also nicht unüblich. Abu Al Ezz ist erkennbar kein Salafist. Er ist ein Kriegsknecht. Er war früher bei der 'Freien Syrischen Armee'. Aber Al Nusra zahlt besser. Deshalb kämpfen für Al Qaida inzwischen viele nur des Geldes wegen.

Es gibt zahlreiche Al Nusra- und Co.-Kämpfer die keinen Bart tragen. (siehe Bilder) Nicht nur wenn es sich, wie auf dem Beobachtungsposten im Steinbruch, teilweise um Al Nusra-Späher handelt.

3.) Besonders heftig irrt sich der Herr 'Geolocator'. Der Schmarren, den er erzählt, ist richtig peinlich.

Er hat offenbar nicht einmal meinen Text zum Video gelesen. Das Interview fand - so mein

Text - 'im Niemandsland zwischen den Fronten' - statt. Niemand hat an irgendeiner Stelle behauptet, der Steinbruch sei Rebellengebiet.

Die vom 'Geolocator' auf Carta genannte Stelle ist nicht der Ort unseres Interviews. Unser Interview-Ort war Kilometer von der Stelle entfernt, die er nennt. Der Herr 'Geolocator' stützt seine Recherche u.a. auf 2 Türme, die man im Video sieht. In Wirklichkeit gibt es in der Nähe von Steinbrüchen unzählige solcher Türme.

Wir waren südwestlich von Aleppo , und nicht südlich, wie vom Geolocator behauptet wird.

Der Geolocator behauptet, wir hätten unser Interview beim Haraybel Checkpoint geführt. Das ist falsch. Wir haben das Interview in Wirklichkeit bei Khan Tuman aufgenommen. Unsere Satellitenbilder zeigen nicht nur genau wo wir waren, sondern auch, dass das Gebiet nicht unter der Kontrolle der syrischen Armee ist.

Der Ort, den er nennt, unterscheidet sich auch farblich vom Ort des Interviews. 'Unser' Steinbruch war, wie Ihr in dem Interview sehen könnt, schneeweiß, nur ein kleiner Fleck war schwarz. Während die Location des 'Geolocators' nur außen hell und innen dunkel ist.

Freddy hat noch mehr Videos, die den Weg zu 'unserem' Steinbruch genau zeigen. Dass wir jetzt derartige Details rauskramen müssen, um Al Qaida, seine Propagandisten und einige Ignoranten zu widerlegen, ist eigentlich Zeitdiebstahl.

Ergebnis: Manche Dinge kann man eben nicht am Computer herausfinden, sondern man muss höchstpersönlich seinen Arsch unter großen Risiken in die Kriegsgebiete bewegen. Computer-Helden machen das leider nie. Und das ist nicht geschenkt, das ist dilettantisch und unverantwortlich.
Ich muss offenbar noch viel häufiger aus dieser Region berichten. Die Unwissenheit einiger Kritiker tut fast schon weh. Insoweit war mein Konter eigentlich viel zu nett. Ich möchte auch einmal ganz offen sagen,dass ich Zeit meines Lebens auf der Suche nach der Wahrheit war. Und bin. Das gilt auch für meine Reisen und Recherchen in Syrien. Manche Wahrheiten sind leider unbequem, das weiss ich auch. Trotzdem werde ich das, was ich nach sorgfältiger Recherche als wahr erkannt habe, immer aussprechen. Ich halte das für meine Pflicht. Auch wenn es Kritik hagelt.

Euer JT

Jürgen Todenhöfer ENGLISH STATEMENT: The fact that my critics choose to believe a terrorist organisation more than me is messed up! Here is some further information for people who trust in me:

It was clear from very beginning that Jabhat Al Nusra (Al Qaida) would deny the interview. The openness with which a simple, not high-ranking commander speaks about Al Qaida’s true aims must be aggravating for the top-ranking political leadership. The same applies to the US government. The Al Qaida commander says what the whole world has been speculating.

Such subsequent disclaimers by the rebels are nothing unusual. So one can safely ignore that. Which thief pleas guilty immediately once you catch him?

2) Regarding the identity of the Al Qaida commander: We have researched his identity in depth and know practically everything about him. Including his private background. The interview was arranged by a rebel from Aleppo. (I have been in contact with Syrian rebels for years now.) Furthermore, it took place in an area that is in immediate proximity (visibility and range of fire) of Jabhat al Nusra - only Al Nusra members would be able to enter this region safely. Some of his statements were confirmed almost word by word shortly after by the Al Nusra mufti in Aleppo. http://www.almayadeen.net/.../%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%86%D8...
Other predictions, for example about the rebels’ disinterest in a truce, have also proven themselves to be true. Just like the prediction of a planned military activity in several Syrian cities. All of this speaks in favour of his authenticity.

In Syria numerous Muslim men (not a majority, but none the less many) wear rings and sometimes even necklaces made from gold. That’s nothing unusual. Abu Al Ezz is quite obviously not a salafist. He is a more of a “soldier of fortune”, someone who fights for money and fame not for pride and honour. He used to be part of the “Free Syrian Army”. However, Al Nusra pays better. Hence, there are now many who solely fight for Al Qaida because of the money.

There is also numerous Al Nusra fighters who do not wear a beard. As you can see in our pictures.

3.) Completely wrong and mistaken is he geolocator from Carta’. The nonsense he is fabricating is utterly embarrassing for him.

He obviously didn’t even read my text that went with the video. The interview – as stated in the text – took place in no man’s land between the frontlines. Noone has ever said the stone quarry is an area under control of the rebels.

The place this so-called 'geolocator' identifies is NOT the true location of the interview. Our location was miles away from the place he mentions. The 'geolocator' constructs his argument i.a. around two towers seen in the video. In reality, there are countless towers near the location of the quarry.

The place he mentions also differs in colour from the true location of the interview. “Our” quarry was - as you can see in the interview – snow-white with just a small spot of black. The 'geolocateur’s' location, however, is light only on the outside and mostly dark inside.

We were southwest of Aleppo, not south as alleged by the 'geolocator'.
The 'geolocator' claims we were near Haraybel checkpoint. However, we were near Khan Tuman!!! Here are the satellite pictures:

Our satellite images show clearly without ambiguity that our interview was not in the territory of the government, like my critics try and make you believe.

Freddy has several other videos, which show the way into ‘our’ quarry exactly. The fact that we have to dig out such details to disprove the claims of Al Qaida, its propagandists and some ignoramuses is actually a theft of time.

To sum up: Some things cannot be researched in front of a computer, but require moving one’s butt under great risk into the war zones of this world. Unfortunately, computer-heroes don’t ever do that. And such unfounded criticism is unacceptable, dilettantish and irresponsible.

I obviously have to report even more from that region. The ignorance of some critics almost hurts. In this respect, my reply was actually too friendly. I want to state openly, that my whole life I was (and AM!) investigating to find the truth. This also applies to my journeys to, and research in Syria. Some truths are uncomfortable - I know that. Despite this, I will always speak about what I have recognised to be the truth after careful research. I believe this is my duty. Even when there is a volley of reproaches.

Yours, JT

Ronski, interesting - I have no real knowledge of all this brown moses style "geo-locating" stuff so can't comment on that 1 person says it was here one person says it was there and heres some aerial photos and google streat view images to prove something idk - but I have a real scepticism towards internet people doing that sort of geo-locating stuff after the discrediting efforts of atlantic council employee higgins

As far as the gold ring stuff goes I guess if you approach it from ISIS, Nusra etc being actual salafists rather than being a contras style death squad force which includes a large number of foriegn mercenaries fighting for money then it would seem odd.

I veer towards beleiving its real as it stands because the evidence that it was fake is pretty shaky, and all he's saying is the truth, but will maintain scepticism, let me know if any other stuff comes up proving it was a set-up.

side note: Interestingly the presence of a gold ring was used by some to argue that certain footage of osama bin laden was faked

Petrol posted:

tears posted:

I have no real knowledge of all this brown moses style "geo-locating" stuff so can't comment on that 1 person says it was here one person says it was there and heres some aerial photos and google streat view images to prove something idk - but I have a real scepticism towards internet people doing that sort of geo-locating stuff after the discrediting efforts of atlantic council employee higgins

yeah i personally place zero faith in internet detective geolocation stuff. the stuff Ronnski posted about the journalist is interesting but actually leads me more to believe the interview's real. a guy like this seems more likely to be trusted by a jihadi for an interview than taken in by the syrian government under the circumstances

tears posted:

As far as the gold ring stuff goes I guess if you approach it from ISIS, Nusra etc being actual salafists rather than being a contras style death squad force which includes a large number of foriegn mercenaries fighting for money then it would seem odd.

i would have thought it's more likely a high ranking jihadi would have bling than some dopey foreign cannon fodder? i assume the leadership is pretty cynical and it's the grunts who lap up the salafist dogma uncritically tho

Well theres a reason that Todemhöfer was one of the first western journalists to get to speak to Assad, and even hold interviews with him, and its not because Todenhöfer is a sterling impartial journalist.
For good reasons to immediately doubt the nusra commander interviews believability, im going to point out the ridiculous conception of a pro-Assad journalist of questionable integrity getting an audience with an unidentified "high ranking al-nusra commander" who, leaving his comical outfit and acting aside, proceeds to parrot 100% the syrian states line on the rebel group, throwing in connections to israel and the blocking of humanitarian supplies and basically everything possible to kneecap the rebel groups support among its basis, with al-nusra immediately answering that such a commander doesn't exist while Todenhöfer doesn't really give much verification of him being legit in response either. It is an extremely questionable "smoking gun" from an extremely questionable source with no evidence behind it being real.

It reminds me of when, a few years ago, RT invited a "renowned german journalist" to speak about how the CIA approached him to write fake articles for money, etc. etc., except that "renowned german journalist" was some niche provincial idiot whose only claim to fame is going onto talkshows to repeat far-right lines and claim that muslims eat literal shit

xipe posted:

Ronnski posted:

Probably should mention that Todenhöfer is a well known naive clown who is very easily instrumentalized, and although I can't check it myself, people are claiming that the interview took place in regime controlled territory and that Al-Nusra claims they had no commanders give an interview to him. Would certainly be hesitant to believe an interview that guy got out of a supposed gold ring wearing jihadi

Please don't use alCIAda hate speech, thanks

does this mean accusing people of fomenting "regime change" is projection?

HenryKrinkle posted:

does this mean accusing people of fomenting "regime change" is projection?

"Regime change" is a term that was circulated by the US government and their policy circles, I use it to describe the US policy in a pejorative sense, like "New World Order" or "black helicopters".

These are the same people who doxxed @fivek for toeing the "wrong" ideological line https://t.co/rd2sG4dUjr

— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) October 3, 2016

.@red__square now people seeking "criticism of white helmets" will get Blumenthal's whitewash instead of Beeley's exposé

— Red Kahina (@RedKahina) October 4, 2016