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ABC News' Terry McCarthy has been reporting on war, peace, and everything in between from all around the world for 20 years. He writes about daily life in the areas he is reporting from.
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Algiers Bombing Video
May 08, 2007 6:19 PM
A bomb-making demo on satellite television? I was sitting in the bureau in Baghdad after midnight tonight, vaguely watching the bank of televisions that cover one wall at the end of the office, when I saw on the Al Jazeera screen a large explosion at the side of a building. Turned out it was the explosion that took the front off the Algerian prime minister’s office building in Algiers almost a month ago, April 11th. There were three coordinated suicide bombs that day, killing a total of 33 people.
But then the video, which supposedly was given to Al Jazeera by Al Qaeda who claimed responsibility for the bombings, went on to show the preparation of the bombs. Several men, whose faces were pixilated, were shown screwing down plates on large metal tanks presumably containing the explosives, then smearing some liquid putty over the edges of the plates. The camera then showed what appeared to be a series of detonators built around cheap alarm clocks, sandwiched with small blocks of explosives with wires protruding. One man squats down and squeezes black gel from a tube onto the face of one of the detonators, perhaps some form of glue to stick it to the bomb tanks.
Al Jazeera has become reknowned throughout the Middle East for showing insurgent videos of attacks -- many of them against Americans in Iraq, and also for airing tapes from Al Qaeda spokesmen, including Osama bin Laden. This tape seemed to break new ground in DIY shows for would-be bombers.
The day of the attack Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a North African affiliate of the main Al Qaeda network, claimed responsibility for the bombings on a website, showing the pictures of the reputed bombers and even giving the amount of explosives -- 1,500 lbs -- used in the bomb that partially destroyed the prime minister’s office. But today’s tape allegedly shows the detailed preparations of the bombs before they were used, presumably released for propaganda purposes on the part of Al Qaeda. The face of terror is not hidden or secret -- far from it. Spread quickly over the internet and now by satellite TV it revels in its own publicity machine. Like it or not, the bombers are becoming role models for far too many angry young men across the Middle East -- and the open media serves their cause well.
May 8, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (4)
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this is the first time ive read a news blog.
very interesting stuff..
thanks,
a worried American
Posted by: ryan | May 9, 2007 2:30:30 AM
Angry young men does nto fit! How about Militant Muslim Terrorist, or sick slaughtering terrorist? It is time to properly identify these sick mis-guided murders for what they really are. They care less who they slaughter or why. It is of no concern who they slaughter, innocent men, women, children, who cares?
This is terrorism in the purest sense, the mindless cold blooded murder of innocents for power! This is not the wish, or work, of a loving God--it is pure murder simply to gain power over others through fear (AKA: Terrorism!).
God bless our troops!
Tmblweed
Posted by: tmblweed | May 9, 2007 5:33:35 PM
I dont believe in sensorship, but seriously, what was that channel thinking when they played that video? They knew it added nothing to the story in question, instead just giving pointers on bomb assembly.
As for political correctness, that can go too far too, yes I believe that printing hate and racism and prejudice is incorrect, but is it racism, prejudice, or hateful to print the truth?!
Simply put, those men are killers, they are insane, misguided idiots who use their faith as an excuse to inflict hurt on others and to make war. Its time the muslim community started holding its radical sect accountable so others aren't forced to.
Im not american, but I support its actions in Iraq/Afghanistan. I know several afghani people who are extremely thankful for what america did for them, and I also know a few iraqi people who are waiting for america to sucseed so they can go home to safety for the first time in 30+ years.
Posted by: Dan N | May 9, 2007 9:10:25 PM
American Army hopes to recruit soldiers with its new "America's Army" video game, created and funded by the pentagon to win over the hearts and minds of American teenagers.
The ' America's Army" video game has surpassed even the pentagon's expectations and its now the number one online action game in the country. The Army hasn't seen a recruting tool this effective .
A bomb-making demo on satellite television?
How about.....A war making video game for american teenagers on on-line?
Posted by: a concern mother | May 10, 2007 5:50:58 PM
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