Helicopter crash in Afghanistan: Anatomy of press release propaganda

[Goathead]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/04/06/afghan.crash/index.html

Not once in this article is it mentioned that the 16 killed were American soldiers or that the helicopter was assigned to the American military. Nor is it mentioned in this CENTCOM press release:

http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/Casualty_Report.asp?CasualtyReport=20050409.txt

In fact the articles are so vague that you almost can not determine what happened and who was involved. To me this deceptive reporting indicates that it was indeed an American helicopter and that it was shot down due to enemy fire. With all on board being American as well.

[Nite Owl]

1. This is the 'breaking news'

email I got from CBS:

The Pentagon says 16 people were killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.


Soon as I read it I thought it was strange reporting. No doubt that this was what they were told to report.

[rodeodance]

3. cnn cable was real vague this morning also

[kliljedahl]

2. Not a Murkan helicopter but a coalition one?

:wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf:


http://www.kliljedahl.net

[Goathead]

4. Who knows?

Maybe it was from the Kingdom of Tonga.:sarcasm:

[spinbaby]

5. Yep, full spin mode

Notice this article starts out...

"A U.S. military helicopter crashed in bad weather..."

...but down further, we learn....

"Sarjang said the weather was cloudy with strong winds, but had no explanation for why the aircraft came down in a flat, desert area."

Yeah, some bad weather.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050406/ap_on_re_as/afghan_us_helicopter_crash

[rodeodance]

6. 4pm UK time-4 US dead, bad weather, Chinook

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4416683.stm

Wednesday, 6 April, 2005, 16:57 GMT 17:57 UK

'No survivors' in US Afghan crash
A US Chinook helicopter has crashed in south-eastern Afghanistan killing 16 people, at least four of them American crew, officials have said.

The CH-47 helicopter went down in bad weather in the province of Ghazni, a US military statement confirmed.

The statement said there appeared to be no survivors, and two remained missing.

[rodeodance]

7. LA times does not have on front web page

[rodeodance]

8. just now -cnn 16/18 dead, did not say if US, bad weather

[AllegroRondo]

9. Chinook? Say no more.

Theres a reason we call them 'shit-hooks'.

[jasmeel]

10. Read this article and was immediately irritated.

At least the reporter showed a little critical ability. Don't they usually start out telling us it's an accident or weather and then later on it comes out it was an attack? How many times has this happened?

[spanone]

11. I posted this earlier. Nine dead and Nine in American uniforms.

I guess you have to infer that these 'nine',as earlier reported,are American soldiers although it never fucking tells you this!!!! And by the way, this was a 'coalition helicopter' not an American one.......and the people don't believe the press is in on the fix???????

[DeepModem Mom]

12. This is outrageous! Soldiers give their lives...

and their country doesn't even acknowledge it? No point in asking anymore, I suppose, where is our free press --

[stopbush]

13. MSGOP coverage didn't mention a body count

or American deaths this AM.

They posted a graphic that said "Crew of 3" in the upper RH corner.

Propaganda by omission.