February 21, 2005

COPS in Iraq: Terrorist Confessions Shown on Iraqi Television

In every single beheading and murder video produced by the jihadis in Iraq, the victim is first forced to confess. Earlier this month we reported how the new Chief of Police in Mosul was taping confessions from those responsible for murder and broadcasting them. Images of the terrorists murdering helpless victims are juxtaposed with the same men, now broken and seemingly penitent. It seems the show is a big hit in Iraq and is in syndication. This week the national Iraqiya television station began running taped confessions of terrorists following the same format. Notice that Syria plays a prominent role in the confessions.

Reuters:

Iraq's U.S.-backed interim government is stepping up its propaganda war with insurgents by broadcasting videotaped interviews with suspects who appear to confess to killings, rape and theft on the orders of guerrillas.

The offensive was launched in recent weeks on state-run Iraqiya television, which broadcast lengthy interrogations of Iraqis it said had carried out terrorist acts under the direction of "Abdullah", described as a criminal with close ties to Syria.....

Before each man spoke, Iraqiya showed images of masked insurgents in black throwing a kidnapped hostage to the ground before beheading him.

One suspect questioned on Sunday, identified as Saad Ghanim, said he was paid $500 (260 pounds) to help steal $30,000 and then kill the owner of the cash. He said insurgents took the rest of the money to finance their activities.

"They told me I had to fight a holy war against the Americans. Abdullah told me my children would be killed if I did not obey," he said.

"I used the stolen money for gambling."

The interviewer encouraged the men to speak about "filthy crimes" and constantly mentioned Syria.

"So were these goods smuggled with the knowledge of the Syrian government?" he asked.

A suspect named Farhan first said yes and then no....

Ghanim described how he and several other people, including Abdullah, kidnapped a 20-year-old woman, put her in the trunk of a car and then raped and killed her.

"Don't you have a conscience?" asked the interviewer.

The men replied that intimidation and poverty had driven them to join the insurgents and kill and steal from innocents.

"I and someone else held the girl and then Abdullah slaughtered her," said Farhan.