The Iraqi Info Minister

[Darryl G. Thomas]

I've kind of missed this guy. I think he'd be huge success in the Bush Administration:

http://www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com/

[Dr Dave]

He was the best! The personification of the great line: "Who you gonna believe? Me, or your lyin' eyes?"

I expect in the fullness of time he'll get his own talk show.

[patricia]

I was always looking for the twinkle in his eye.
BTW, where is he and the rest of the troupe??

[Chris A]

I miss him, too, but we have Rumsfeld, Powell, Rice and--although scripted--Bush.

[jesus marion joseph]

Originally posted by Chris A
I miss him, too, but we have Rumsfeld, Powell, Rice and--although scripted--Bush.

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

[Chris A]

Originally posted by jesus marion joseph
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

Ok, JMJ...

Well, there was this pot, sitting idly on a stove and, on the next burner, a kettle. There are no witnesses, but it is said that the pot called the kettle black.

JMJ, I really don't know why you want to talk about this...it is very boring.

[Ron Thorne]

Darryl-

My apologies for missing your thread before I fired up a new "Only in Alaska!" thread again today with the same topic. One of the originators of this website lives in Anchorage, and it was big news here, so I thought I'd share the story from yesterday's newspaper.

They also have an online store where you can purchase various items including a coffee cup, barbeque apron, etc. Here's what's printed on the coffee cup ... "No American will ever pour coffee into this mug! Never!"

What an amazing story.

From the website:

Muhammed Saeed al-Sahhaf (M.S.S.) not included in "Death Pack" playing cards distributed to coalition forces. International uproar. NBC News: M.S.S. "curiously absent." Loyal reader Robert Maxwell Reid suggests 53rd-card remedy.

[willy]

Rumors are M.S.S is hiding out with sympathizers in Manhattan.

[catesta]

Originally posted by willy
Rumors are M.S.S is hiding out with sympathizers in Manhattan.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39061000/jpg/_39061593_min-ap-203body.jpg

"Chris, please bring a loaf of bread home with you"

[Chris A]

Originally posted by willy
Rumors are M.S.S is hiding out with sympathizers in Manhattan.

Wrong location, Willy. I understand his failure to convince sent him into a deep depression as he crossed the border into Syria and caught the next thing smoking. He is now in D.C., taking Rumsfeld's advanced course in Disinformation Dissemination (Victoria Clarke is a graduate) while, at night, studying the Powell method of Document Deception at the Konrad Kujau Institute.

Expect Bush to grab him for a White House position upon graduation. What he will do in 2005, when Bush is history, is anybody's guess.

[Ron Thorne]

Hey, kids, wanna pack of really cool collector's edition playing cards? I just discovered that the same 55-card deck (The Death Pack) given to coalition forces is on sale for $5.95 from a partner site. Neato!

If interested, check out greatusaflags dot (you know).

http://www.greatusaflags.com/images/novelty_mw_m.gif

[GoodSpeak]

My favorite story about the "information" minister is when he appeared at a press conference he claimed that the Coalition Forces had been defeated and were not in Baghdad Airport. Only a few US paratroopers parachutted in to make it look like the Americans had entered the city and Saddam has scored a glorious victory, he said.

To which a British correspondent asked: "Did the British tanks parachutte in, too?"



The "information" minister summarily walked off the podium.







A classic.

[Monte Smith]

The reason I love M.S.S. is he was such a boldfaced liar that the Arab world couldn't help but notice the disconnect between what he said and what Iraqi cities fell next. In a sense, his total commitment to bullshit rendered him an ineffective bullshitter. In fact, he became an effective propaganda tool for the USA. Well done, sir!

Similarly, the reason I love al Jazeera is not because it tells the truth. The reason I love al Jazeera is that it is beamed all over the Arabic world and people watch it and trust it and the lies it tells are not the same lies told by the state-run media of the discrete Arabic tyrannies. The Arabic citizenry doesn't necessarily know which media is lying--the state media or al Jazeera--but it knows that the two medias are not congruent in detail.

One state-told truth is the basis for totalitarianism. Multiple stories--even if untrue--are an attack on tyranny. Yeehaw! Hai karate! Wang chung!

[Uli]

Originally posted by Monte Smith
The reason I love M.S.S. is he was such a boldfaced liar that the Arab world couldn't help but notice the disconnect between what he said and what Iraqi cities fell next. In a sense, his total commitment to bullshit rendered him an ineffective bullshitter. In fact, he became an effective propaganda tool for the USA. Well done, sir!

Oh what bull! Everybody understood he was just imitating the Bushis and thus exposing the moron's bigotry. That's why everybody loved him so much.


Originally posted by Monte Smith
Similarly, the reason I love al Jazeera is not because it tells the truth. The reason I love al Jazeera is that it is beamed all over the Arabic world and people watch it and trust it and the lies it tells are not the same lies told by the state-run media of the discrete Arabic tyrannies. The Arabic citizenry doesn't necessarily know which media is lying--the state media or al Jazeera--but it knows that the two medias are not congruent in detail. !


Oh how the American citizenry knows the truth from the Murdoch media! That's why over 50% believe that Saddam was behind 9/11.

[SinginSumo]

And NOW...The al-Sahaf Talking Doll!!! -

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=2588130&src=UK DskTopTkr/GetContent

[Darryl G. Thomas]

Uli,

The funny thing is according to news reports after the fall of Baghdag is that many Arabs believed Iraq was winning the war mainly because of the reporting of the Arab press. Now, supposedly, there's a big questioning of Arab institutions going on in the Arab "street". They don't know who to trust. They certainly don't trust the Western press, that's out of the question. But I think they're learning the consequences of having a press that lies so much.

The root of the problem is that Arab governments have been using the press to deflect internal problems onto America. Behind close doors they support America's actions against Iraq, or the presence of American soldiers (basically hired help since Gulf War I) on their soil. But for public consumption they present and anti-American stance through their press.

Of course we make an easy target due to our support of Israel and despotic Arab governments like Saudi Arabia.

[frankpop1]

chris a, u should go back to the war thread & read your posts. u are the iraqi misinformation director and u still havent stopped.

chris a stars on the fox network new unrealty series.

[Chris A]

I am beginning to wonder about your mental state, FP. Your posts are often incoherent and generally conflicting. Are simply trying to stir up something or are you genuinely confused?

[Monte Smith]

Originally posted by frankpop1
chris a, u should go back to the war thread & read your posts. u are the iraqi misinformation director and u still havent stopped.

Originally posted by Chris A
Are simply trying to stir up something or are you genuinely confused?


Ya see, what we have here is failure to communicate. Yuk yuk yuk--couldn't resist.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

'Comical Ali' re-emerges on TV

Thursday, June 26, 2003 Posted: 3:09 PM EDT (1909 GMT)


BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Ex-Iraqi information minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf re-emerged on Arab television screens claiming the U.S. released him after questioning.

The minister, dubbed 'Comical Ali' for his daily eccentric and exaggerated claims during the war in Iraq, said Thursday the battle had been a "very difficult time. Not just on one man, but on all."

With white hair and without his trademark beret and grin he appeared subdued compared to his usual combative style.

He told Arabic news channel, Al-Arabiya, that he made contact with U.S. forces through friends following the end of the war. He was questioned about his job and later released.

Al-Sahaf was not on the U.S. list of 55-most wanted Iraqis -- the so-called pack of cards.

The minister's daily briefings during the U.S.-led invasion of his country won him cult status, especially in the British media, which dubbed him 'Comical Ali.'

He continued to insist from the roof of the Palestine Hotel in Iraq's capital that coalition forces were facing annihilation as live TV pictures showed U.S. tanks rolling around Baghdad.

He warned Baghdad will be the "graveyard" of coalition forces and that they will lose "even if they bring double American troops."

"Americans are now in disarray," he was seen on Al-Jazeera television as saying.

"They try to engage the world as much as they can and we will continue until they leave our land."

Iraq, he said, will "spread them even more and chop them up."

Asked in the TV interview whether the comments originated from ex-Iraq president Saddam Hussein, or himself, al-Sahaf said: "No, these are all from the Arab history and all will be clear on time."

Al-Sahaf delighted Western viewers with his denials. Merchandise developed around his character, such as an action-man style doll and a song featuring him. (Full Story)

Record producers recorded a dance track including some of his most popular phrases such as, "There are no American infidels in Baghdad. Never!" and on coalition troops, "God will roast their stomachs in hell at the hands of Iraqis."

He has his own spoof Web site called welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com. Its popularity around the world was so great, with 4,000 hits a second, it had to be pulled shortly after going up.

Al-Sahaf's 25-minute interview, which was taped Thursday in Baghdad, will air on Friday.

[clinthopson]

I hear the U.S. olympic Committee is looking for a spokesman to explain why they are so fucked up.

Mohammad Saaeed is the perfect candidate.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

>>Asked in the TV interview whether the comments originated from ex-Iraq president Saddam Hussein, or himself, al-Sahaf said: "No, these are all from the Arab history and all will be clear on time."<<


?????

Professor Irwin Corey comes to mind.

[jesus marion joseph]

I must admit that I have a coffee mug from the web site. It says "no Americans will ever drink coffee from this mug! Never!"

[frankpop1]

With white hair and without his trademark beret

[Angie]

I saw that clip of the Iraqi Information Officer. He is not coloring his hair anymore and was not wearing any headgear. He is far less convincing, with his thin, white hair! Not that he convinced anyone when he colored his hair. In fact, I was wondering if it was really him, or if it was a body double. Where was he?

I heard that statement about him having a discussion with US military types and his body language screamed that he was telling lies. I think that is his customary demeanor. If he said the sun was shining, I'd have to go to a window, to check.

He's served his purpose. Let Saddam's Court Jester fade back into obscurity!

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Originally posted by Angie

He's served his purpose. Let Saddam's Court Jester fade back into obscurity!

Oh, no, this character is clearly destined for greater things. If I were Fox, I'd sign him up for a reality-based TV show SO fast!

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°


Saturday, July 12, 2003 Posted: 5:15 AM EDT (0915 GMT)

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (Reuters) -- Iraq's former Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, nicknamed "Comical Ali" during the U.S.-led war on Iraq, has made a sudden appearance in Abu Dhabi.

"When I leave I always have in my mind that I might not come down this road again, but I hope and pray to God that I can return to Baghdad one day," he said on Abu Dhabi Television Friday.

Sahaf, 63, became an unlikely media star during the war, winning his stripes as a hero to many in the Arab world while Western audiences gasped and then chuckled at his bravado.

He earned his unflattering nickname for proclaiming the defeat of U.S.-led forces even as American troops advanced into Baghdad, and for his habit of handling loaded weapons during news conferences.

"Hopefully, all of them (Arab countries) are our nation, but you always hope to return to your homeland with your memories," said Sahaf, who was shown arriving at the airport in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.

Sahaf said he had mixed feelings about leaving Baghdad.

"I have the same feeling as any ordinary citizen ... It didn't mean much to me to be a minister. But this time I have really mixed feelings, of sadness and hope," said Sahaf, who was met at the airport by a UAE delegation.

"I leave Baghdad ... with feelings of hope, sadness and many other sentiments in the heart and in the mind. But one should be optimistic and cling to faith," said Sahaf, who was accompanied by his wife and children.

Sahaf, who was not on the U.S. "most wanted" list, was freed last month after he surrendered to U.S. forces in Baghdad.

He hinted that he planned to live and work in the UAE.

"I am trying to forge my way in a very objective way and to see what I can do in the future," he said.

"My family ... also have mixed feelings of joy and hope over leaving for a stable and secure place, the UAE. But at the same time they have the memories of the past. What makes it easier is that we are coming to a brotherly country," Sahaf said on the plane taking him to the Gulf Arab state.

In the Arab world, Sahaf gained fame for his colorful use of the Arabic language, using archaic insults to describe the U.S. and British invaders that had Arab commentators debating their meaning and poring over dictionaries.

He branded the British and U.S. leaders "an international gang of criminal bastards," "blood-sucking bastards," ignorant imperialists, losers and fools.

In his first interview last month after Baghdad's downfall, also with Abu Dhabi Television, he defended his press briefings during the conflict.

"The information was correct but the interpretations were not," he said, adding: "I did my duty up to the last minute."

[frankpop1]

QUOTE]Oh, no, this character is clearly destined for greater things. If I were Fox, I'd sign him up for a reality-based TV show SO fast![/QUOTE]

well, youre NOT fox!


so think BIGGER. i agree this cant fade away. A book, a video, a cd by someone like the chemical bros splicing him up, then a mtv video and an extended appearance on mtvs reality show or better yet a guest star on ozzie's.

then a tour with ozzie. 50000 fans in berets cheering and hanging on every utterance. 'THOSE LOUSY AMERICAN PIGS...' host mtv awards, 'i really dont understand all this, but giving the award for best female crotch grab video..."

Time mag 'man of the yr.'
angie has no imagination really. i know send him on a book tour pitching 'bessie'.. er oops,, already done. :)

sorry chris,

couldnt resist