Yesterday we reported that CNN’s website was using photos of the same alleged nuclear facility in two different stories about two different nuclear programs in two different countries.
One CNN story, from last Wednesday, was on Iran’s purported nuclear program; the other, from last Saturday, was on North Korea’s purported nuclear program.
The satellite photos accompanying each respective story turned out to be the same facility despite captions below each photo claiming each represented an alleged facility in the respective countries discussed in each article.
Later in the day, after our report swept the net (topping out mid-afternoon at #6 on Technorati) CNN changed the photo in the North Korea article to a different satellite image of, apparently, a different facility purported — as was the first one — to be near Pyongyang, North Korea.
No explanation was given for the error beyond a statement by CNN, in a correction box, that “an image that was incorrectly identified…”
And now…thanks to some crack sleuthing by “EarlG”, an administrator over at Democratic Underground, we’ve discovered yet another “news” outlet who used another photograph of that same facility — which is apparently in Iran — in yet another story on North Korean nukes!
The newly discovered story is from March of 2004 and found on the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty website!
RFE/RL is a U.S. government funded “news” organization broadcasting over Europe!
And to make matters even more troubling and/or confusing, the filename of the photo used in the RFE/RL story is “Iraq-nuclear.jpg”!
Here is a screenshot from the RFE/RL story which shows the same facility as seen in the photos used with both of the CNN stories:
Here again are the photos from the two different CNN stories (prior to the so-far-unexplained “correction” by CNN):
And here is a side-by-side comparison of the photo from CNN’s Iran story again, next to a rotated shot of the photo from RFE/RL’s story on North Korea:
So we ask again, what the hell is going on here? And, again, who are the sources for these photographs that keep running with stories on both North Korea and Iran?
As we asked in yesterday’s piece, is the source for these photos “someone who may have an interest in ginning-up fears over the two so-far unconquered players in Bush’s ‘Axis of Evil’?”
Or is it all just an innocent mix-up, as some commenters have suggested?
That “innocent mix-up” explanation certainly becomes more difficult to swallow now that the very same facility has shown up again, apparently errantly, in a story from almost a year ago, on an entirely different site, and one which is funded by the U.S. Government!
As well, it’s worth noting that RFE/RL’s “corporate board of directors is composed of the nine Presidential appointees to the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which has oversight responsibility for all nonmilitary U.S. government-funded international broadcasting activities” according to their website’s “Mission Statement”.
And now we must wonder why the RFE/RL photo was named “Iraq-nuclear.jpg”?! Just another “innocent mix-up”???
In regards to CNN’s two stories, we have finally reached someone at CNN who has promised to get back to us with comment on the CNN-related questions from yesterday. We will, of course, share their explanation here if and when it’s received.
We have asked RFE/RL for comment as well, and they too have promised a reply on this matter. The author of their North Korean piece, Mark Baker, RFE/RL’s “deputy managing editor of the News and Current Affairs Department”, apparently works out of Europe, however, and thus the time difference may delay a reply from him on this matter.
UPDATE 2/16/05: Same photo also used on Iraq stories at RFE/RL! While all North Korea and Iraq stories have now had the photo scrubbed from their web pages! Updated story with details here…
Brad, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this photo linked to Syria by the Admin. in light of all the saber rattling going on over the assassination of Lebanon’s former Prime Minister yesterday. Getting real sick of hearing these idiots running around threatening eveyone.
And……I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that our people did it…..Gulf of Tonkin
Once again, great job Brad! I’d like to see the RFE/RL’s explaination. Lazy, lazy reporting meant to inflame the world’s passions against these countries. If you’re going to go to war, at least be honest about it. And shame on the MSM for being complicit!
To some things are getting curiouser and curiouser, while to others things are getting clearer and clearer.
The most busted name in news? Today yes, tomorrow again, along with another corporate criminal perhaps. The days of unfettered criminal deception in media are numbered. Lets make sure the fall is profound and final.
Well at least they’re getting better with the lies. They’re no longer using grade school drawings of "stick men" or mobile chem labs to justify our next war. They found a good picture and they’re sticking to it. I know where I’d like to stick it.
Have you checked Powell’s UN powerpoint presentation for this image? I wouldn’t be surprised to find it there too.
Write a note to Mark Baker at Radio Free Europe via their contact page http://www.rferl.org/about/default.asp#contact
Be Polite, the poor schmuck was probably only following orders.
.
Brad, get a screenshot of the irag-nuclear.jpg at the URL before it disappears too.
Chuck – Have already email Baker, as well as spoken to someone in RFE/RL’s main office. Waiting for the promised reply from either or both of them.
Anon – Captured the screenshot previously (along with the CNN shots).
Apropos of nothing in particular, did anyone think of going back to RFE/RL and using their own internal search engine to look for the following string: iraq-nuclear.jpg?
My wife thought of it (she’s a clever girl). There were nine hits. Check ’em out, and their captions.
Jimmo!
You’re helping???? Are you feeling ok?
re #11, 12: Cheryl: "Jimmo Needs A Hug" is not "Atty Jimmo" … and never has been!
DUMYA’s white house and the MSM propaganda machine are caught in the act of playing fast and loose with the facts in order to promote aggression and war – AGAIN. Last time it was photos of "portable labs" for Iraq’s WMD’s. Fooled (some of) us once. This time a photo of one "nuclear" site used for three different countries – CAN’T FOOL US TWICE. Shame on DUMYA and the MSM. Americans should refuse to play any more of these cat and mouse games with DUMYA and the MSM on such serious matters. DUMYA and the MSM obviously can’t do their jobs honestly and competently. Therefore, Americans should adopt Donald Trump’s line and tell DUMYA and the MSM, YOU’RE FIRED!
The nuclear plant in both photos is definitely the Natanz nuclear complex in Iran. You can get an even better image here.
Here’s an absolutely stunning high res shot of Natanz.
And here’s where CNN got their image from.
Here’s an article on Natanz from March, 2003 issue of New Scientist.
Bottom line, some intern @ CNN probably just pulled the photo out of the slug file and inserted it into both stories. Hey, one nuke’s just like another, right? They all look alike…
Sweetpea – How do you then explain Natanz showing up on the RFE/RL website one year ago?!
There’s a bunch of satellite photos of N. Korea’s Yongbyon plant here.
Like I said previously, probably a tempest in a teapot. Some freakin’ intern at CNN probably just pulled a photo out of the slug file and slapped it on both stories.
Jimmo #11- I apologise profusely. I’m so sorry. I seem to be in a constant state of rage the last week or so and when I saw Jimmo, I confused you with idiothead. Please forgive me.
I don’t think it takes a whole lot of explanation to account for moron factor in the government, Brad.
If CNN’s taking the lead from RFE/RL a year ago, they’re just regurgitating the bullshirt. Isn’t that what CNN does best, anyway?
Don’t wanna piss in your Wheaties – just sayin’.
Sweetpea –
Then you’re suggesting that some CNN intern found a year old story on another website which used a completely different picture of an Iranian nuclear facility on a story about North Korea and then went out and found a different picture of an Iranian nuclear facility to use on a CNN story about North Korea?
Umm…I’ve got this really swell bridge in the heart of Manhattan that I can get for you at a great price, Sweatpea! Interested?
re: #18 – cheryl, np
re: #15… Sweetpea. Negative. Look again.
The file name on CNN is not the same as your linked file, natanz_closeup.jpg. The filename on CNN is iraq-nuclear.jpg.
The filename on RFE/RL is iraq-nuclear.jpg. Exactly the same geographical error and hyphenation as the file on CNN. CNN got the file either a) from the same people who fed it to RFE/RL, or directly from RFE/RL themselves. *Not* from a commercial service or independent research. This picture was "planted" – and it was "planted" under the name "iraq-nuclear.jpg". Don’t give me coincidence, I’m not buying what you’re selling.
On RFE/RL, the same picture heads nine different articles, including articles on "Iraqi WMDs" as well as Korean and Iranian.
Kinda gives new meaning to the term *nuclear plant*, don’t you think?
Brad, in answer to your question re the media, read this- http://www.mises.org/fullstory.aspx?Id=1637
Jimmo – where are you seeing that the CNN image is also called iraq-nuclear.jpg? Neither of the stories referred to here have images with that name. The image with the North Korea story, as noted, has been corrected.
Jimmo – where are you seeing that the CNN image is also called iraq-nuclear.jpg? Neither of the stories referred to here have images with that name. The image with the North Korea story, as noted, has been corrected.
Jimmo – where are you seeing that the CNN image is also called iraq-nuclear.jpg? Neither of the stories referred to here have images with that name. The image with the North Korea story, as noted, has been corrected.
Perhaps the photos are taken of a US nuclear plant and distributed by the US government to all of its MSM whores to pin on whatever country happens to be the American enemy of the month.
Hey everybody here’s a real good question. Since it seems that the media is getting a lot mileage out of this photo has anybody checked to see if this same photo was used by Collin Powell to make his case for the invasion of Iraq. Now if by chance this was the case there is something very, very wrong with this whole thing involving this photo. In fact how about in Gulf War 1. Anybody know where to find those photo’s of the Nuke Plants Bush the first used. Find them and Wag the Dog.
#23 – I must have been hallucinating. Nm.
#24 – I must have been hallucinating. Nm.
#25 – I must have been hall… why are there three of you??
The inevitable response: "Iraq, Iran, North Korea … what’s the difference?"
In all seriousness, why the hell is the name on the rferl.org site "iraq-nuclear"? I’m really curious. Can anyone uncover a story where this same picture was used during the run-up to the war in iraq?
The use of those photos is no "innocent mix-up." There are those who will say, use and do anything to sensationalize their "spin" and continue to fuel the fire of an ugly situation.
google images: iraq nuclear satellite
found http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3481
from March 2003
same pic http://www.newscientist.com/dat...99993481F1.JPG
They say it’s Iran.
No excuse for a mix up.
Wow! Lots of new faces! Hi everyone and welcome to the community!!
The pictures of a nuclear site are no problem at all to come up with. Remember, the great MR. Rumsfeld is one of the top board members for a Sweedish company that builds nuclear plants. This is his part time job on the side so to speak. This company has already built 6 nuclear plants in south Korea and is now trying to build 2 more in North Korea. Conflict of interest, oh no not Mr. Rumsfeld.
Great work, folks. Keep up the research and get to the bottom of this…once all the PROOF is in, then someone with writing gifts should write a great article and send it to every big magazine and newspaper in the world (not to mention posting in blog world) exposing the lies/misinformation in this instance. Some of the MSM will have to publish. Show them "John and Jane America" are not so stupid afterall. They’ll have to raise their standards or get out the "news" business; ditto for the politicians and their own "dirty" business.
RMS #34.
Rummy believes that you build the nuclear plant with the pictures you have.
Team B at it again.
Remember, it’s not OUR reality that matters, it’s THEIRS. What they SAY is true IS by definition TRUE.
Stop doubting our administration, please. They have a direct pipeline to the Allmighty himself, and a timetable in hand for The Rapture. Just let them do what they have to do, trust them totally, and remember…
You DO love Big Brother!
Charlie L
Portland, Oregon
Republicans lie and people die.
Republicans steal and give to their rich friends.
Republicans cheat honest Americans and get away with it.
All the Republicans have to be flushed away in 2006.
Charlie L –
All that the neoCONS need to do is stand in front of a mirror and look into the reflection of a second mirror. Instant reality loop. Self-perpetuating feedback, infinitely regressive.
It’s not the "Republicans," good friend; it’s the regressive neo-CON right.
And the damn image on yet another place, from 3/17/2003
http://www.milnet.com/Iranian-N...Chronology.htm (go to the middle of the page)
source:
http://i.timeinc.net/time/daily...3/iran0308.jpg
i forget these ones…. from 2001-2002 ish…
http://www.globalsecurity.org/w...z-imagery2.htm
So, the picture is gone now. Here’s google’s cache of the page:
Right now, the image is still up there on this URL:
http://www.rferl.org/images/pho...aq-nuclear.jpg
Could we bid for naming rights to this picture?
My city has been crushed by state and federal funding cuts. Maybe if we could rent the nuculor facilitysite picture for a week or so, we could leverage some foreign aid for teacher salaries and a new sewer system.
We’ve tried to convince Homeland Security that bedbugs and headlice might be vectors for bioterrorism, but this hasn’t worked so far. Our own nuke (even if just a picture) might catch their attention.
WHY WAS MY COMMENT ON THESE PICTURES REMOVED?
Hi Carl #42. Are you positive it was here that you posted it? Brad would have said something if he removed it.
Carl – We do not remove comments (or, in the few cases that we do so, we note the removal by replacing the text of the comment with the reason for it’s removal).
Not sure what happened to your comment, or if it was on the original story perhaps? But apologies for the confusion either way. Please feel free to repost here.
What is the deal with the emphasis on "U.S. Government sponsored" news source? Big deal. PBS and NPR are also sponsored by the U.S. Government.
Its likely that RFE just yanked the pictures from the same place CNN did (or from CNN itself) without proper credit and without checking. This is what happens when "news" agencies are more concerned with getting on air first than with what the facts actually are.
Its actually our own fault; we want to know RIGHT NOW. Forget what happened five minutes ago, forget background, and forget the results of further investigation. We want instant gratification.
Animal
A couple people above have asked if this picture could have been used in Powell’s case for war presentation. I’ve checked on it and it doesn’t appear that it was, but maybe I missed something so anyone interested can see for themselves here:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/...0205-1.html#26
hey you lot, nice work. I posted earlier as anon. thanx for the welcome cheryl. new boy on the blog. me in ireland.
I’m sorry, Animal, but your comment #45 is Pure Bullshit.
RFE and CNN screwing up is not OUR FAULT! Get over yourself, pal. You are not that important.
WE do NOT want instant gratification. WE want background, in-depth coverage, AND the results of further investigation. We can’t get it on TV so we come to the net for our news. If YOU want instant gratification and no background then that’s your problem. And if so, you’ve come to the wrong place.
Furthermore, RFE does not have to be concerned with getting on air first. RFE is a propaganda machine, pure and simple. Nothing else. Their only concern is with spinning the spin correctly.
Any further questions?
They are getting so lazy about pushing lies, this will be their downfall. I heard they’re starting to photocopy paperclips on the first page of memos, instead of stapling them together with real staples…Remember that photo of "proof" that the Iraqis moved WMD from that one sealed weapons site??? I wonder how many times that photo was used, also…
Thanks Brad blog and friends. Your past few articles have been very important, globally even!
Distributing widely!
WHAT’S WITH THE SPYWARE PERSISTENT COOKIES AND THE YELLOW COLOR FONT FOR LINKS?
IM a fan of Common Dreams and I think your site is quite interesting.
BUT when I try to link to your site from the Common Dreams newsletter, I start getting one of those persistent cookies from a website called
GMS1.net which is an information gathering advertising bunch of snakes and i *DO NOT***
like that.
what the heck is up with that? What is your ARRANGEMENT with those sharks who collect and archive personal information about people?
And why DO you use yellow –almost-impossible-to-see font color on your links?
THESE ARE REALLY BAD CHOICES TO MAKE WHEN YOU WANT TO *ENCOURAGE* PEOPLE TO VISIT AND VIEW YOUR MUCH NEEDED INFORMATION!
MIGHT WANT TO RETHINK THESE THINGS.
Don’t worry, we will NEVER invade N. Korea-
they do not have any OIL!
regarding the two CNN stories about the Iran and North Korea nuclear weapons programs… which story ran first? Iran or North Korea?
good job brad… keep up the good work
Discussions at the Inter-Korean Vice-Minister Talks
Regarding the North Korean Nuclear Issue
May 16-19, 2005
The South Korean delegation expressed its stance on the peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue, a major obstacle to peace on the Korean Peninsula, by including in the opening statement of the Joint Press Release a sentence stating that the South and North will “cooperate for the peace of the Korean Peninsula.”
The Position of South Korea on the North Korean Nuclear Issue during the Talks
We strongly urged the North to return to the Six-Party Talks as soon as possible.
We reiterated that the “pledge of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula” must be abided by, and possession of nuclear weapons by North Korea will not be tolerated under any circumstance.
In addition, we made it clear that realization of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula is a prerequisite for inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation as well as a plan for the full-scale pursuit of coprosperity.
At the same time, we suggested that we would make an important proposal to ensure substantial progress in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue if the North comes back to the Six-Party Talks.
Urging the North to Make a Favorable Decision on Resumption of the Six-Party Talks
We explained to the North that the international community including the South Korean Government itself has stepped up diplomatic efforts for the peaceful settlement of the North Korean nuclear issue.
We also conveyed the deep concern of the international community over North Korea’s claim on February 10, 2005 that it possesses nuclear weapons and had extracted spent fuel rods from 5MWe nuclear reactors and urged Pyongyang to immediately return to the Six-Party Talks.
Significance of the Inter-Korean Vice Ministerial Talks
In the talks, we placed priority on getting inter-Korean relations back on track and restoring inter-Korean dialogue channels.
As the Six-Party Talks have been deadlocked since last June, we expressed a strong resolve “not to tolerate any North Korean nuclear program and to settle the nuclear issue in a peaceful manner.”
It is our evaluation that the resumption of the inter-Korean talks will contribute to forging a favorable environment for settlement of the nuclear issue and the opening of the fourth round of the multilateral talks.
The North Korean Attitude
The North repeated its previous stance that if the United States retracts its so-called “hostile policy toward North Korea” and shows a willingness to coexist, the Six-Party Talks would be reopened and the nuke issue settled.
The North carefully listened to our stance on the nuclear issue, and it is our assessment that the inter-Korean talks served as an opportunity for the North to fully understand our position in a direct manner.
Check out this site http://geoint.missouri.edu/CGI2/home.aspx
See anything familiar in the graphic header? It has no bearing on anything but I just thought you might find it amusing. :satisfied:
Check out this site http://geoint.missouri.edu/CGI2/home.aspx
See anything familiar in the graphic header? It has no bearing on anything but I just thought you might find it amusing.
Check out this site http://geoint.missouri.edu/CGI2/home.aspx
See anything familiar in the graphic header? It has no bearing on anything but I just thought you might find it amusing.
Check out this site http://geoint.missouri.edu/CGI2/home.aspx
See anything familiar in the graphic header? It has no bearing on anything but I just thought you might find it amusing.
Like I said previously, probably a tempest in a teapot. Some freakin’ intern at CNN probably just pulled a photo out of the slug file and slapped it on both stories.