OH WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE

Yesterday I linked to a story about Iraqis mutilating bodies in the street.

Overnight I heard from my buddy Defense Contractor Guy. DCG was once upon a time an Army Intelligence officer. He sees the story from a most interesting perspective

I'm amazed at the coverage of the burning cars and mutilated bodies in Fallujah. Bombs go off, people get killed, and cars burn daily in Iraq. However, this is the first "first hand" account of an attack that I've seen. In fact more than one news organization covered it (I saw photos from Reuters and AP ... but they might have bought rights from the same source...).

I do not believe this was a random attack by disorganized Iraqis. This is called information warfare.

I would bet the press was tipped off that something was going to happen. They were let in to the area unmolested. I do not believe reporters are out roaming the bad parts of town looking for stories ... in Iraq that is a good way to get yourself killed. Rather the Press tends to stay in the Hotels in Iraq and write reports from around the swimming pool or occasionally go out to interview a few people. I want to know what made them go to Fallujah that day at that time!? The terrorists that did this gave the press something to take pictures of - very graphic stuff too! I believe the intent is to discourage the US.

You say I'm being pretty cynical about this??? Well two years ago I heard an Assistant Secretary of Defense call Somalia a successful information warfare operation against the United States. The press could not move freely in Somalia - but were called in and allowed in to take pictures of those soldiers' dead bodies being dragged through the streets. Those pictures were in great measure responsible for us leaving Somalia.

Oh and those people that came by to hit the car with shovels and pose for pictures - that is exactly what it is - posed.

What about the spontaneous uprising of people that mutilated the bodies... I would question whether it was spontaneous. Money can make people do strange, evil, or brave things. Yes - I'm saying those people in Iraq who mutilated and strung up the bodies may have been paid to do that. It has been done before to generate rallies in support of Yasser Arafat (you think any is crazy enough to stand in from of an Israeli tank?)

Here is a quote from 60 minutes with one example: "Arafat may have $1 billion, but he sure isn't spending it to live well. He's holed up in his Ramallah compound, which the Israelis all but reduced to rubble a year-and-a-half ago. Arafat has always lived
modestly, which you can't say about his wife, Suha. According to Israeli officials, she gets $100,000 a month from Arafat out of the Palestinian budget, and lives lavishly in Paris on this allowance."

"He [Arafat] also uses the money to bolster his own standing. Both Israeli and U.S. sources say those recent outpourings of support at Arafat's compound were "rent-a-rallies," and that Arafat has spent millions to support terrorists and purchase weapons."

And don't forget Suicide bombers' families' get paid by the Palestinian Authority (and used to get an additional $25K from Saddam) after they blow themselves up.

I think it would be easy to pay someone to drag a body around.

Sick and evil ... But very possible.

I love having smart friends. Thanks Dave.