Baghdad Torture Disinfo

On edit: Originally published over on stevenwarran.blogspot.com on 11/25/07, I've moved it over here in order to gain some focus over there. It really doesn't fit into any categories.

thesmokinggun.com posts a series of illustrations they say came from an al-Qaeda torture manual seized by U.S. military officials in a recent raid on a safe house in Baghdad, Iraq. How this cache, datelined May 30, 2007, came to be in the blog's possession remains unexplained. Recovered, among other material, is "an assortment of crude drawings depicting torture methods like "blowtorch to the skin" and "eye removal." The colored illustrations are bluntly labeled in English, and mounted in pairs under a heading, "Al-Qaeda Torture Methods."

This crude effort at labeled representational art has the fingerprints of American-made DINFOS all over it. It is part of an increasingly hysterical rear-guard action in failed psychological warfare waged by the real perpetrators of worldwide violence, the ones who attempt to cover up American complicity in war crimes like torture by pointing the finger.

No one needs to be reminded of the gruesome ongoing Iraqi on Iraqi violence, so why were they created? Without understanding the creative impulse that led to the making of these images--were they meant to serve as primers, trophies, or talisman?--we must ask if they were created to be declassified.

Although labeled "Al-Qaeda Torture Methods," these examples carry clear cultural references to an objective American experience, like the following pair of pustular gouaches, which unwittingly reference the Texas dragging death of James Byrd by three white, good-old-boys, and the torturous force-feeding of chair-strapped prisoners in Guantanamo Bay detention camps.
That this false-flag public relations scam issued out from the twisted mentality of a segment of the American military, I was able to infer from an obscure reference in the work of a Marine cartoonist, www.sempertoons.com, where mock exercises are given a whiff of hard-body reality with the consequence of a clothes iron burn to the skin of the vanquished!
The threat of a branding with a clothes iron would be motivational to a force which trains with war games and mock exercises. Like similar fraternity branding rituals, it remains safely inside the ethos of tough-guy male bonding. But as a source of heat in a city without electricity for much of the day, a clothes iron seems an unlikely choice for torture. The artist seems to understand this in his choice of plug outlet. Like the S.E.R.E. trainees who undergo waterboarding in anticipation of some real-world eventuality, America's fighting force must accept responsibility for being the cause and not the correction of the violence and moral horror engulfing the planet today.

The web site also posts shots of torture tools neatly set up in the safe house--set dressing, apparently, for a Bahgdad torture chamber, but the tightly focuses images of tidy tool collections don't reconcile with the one shot of a disheveled and filthy "torture chamber,"


the smoking gun writes, "In a raid earlier this week, Coalition Forces freed five Iraqis who were found in a padlocked room in Karmah. The group, which included a boy, were reportedly beaten with chains, cables, and hoses. Photos showing injuries sustained by those captives can be found here."

However the Karmah photographs, (you can't make this stuff up,) dated May 21, are anonymous shots of men with fading bruises and scabbed-over wounds, indicating torture that had taken place sometime previously. Why the men continued to be held without fresh abuse is unclear, since we are told a man freed from the Baghdad house underwent daily beatings.The American evil revealed in the losing Iraqi war is now generating such dismally substandard results. Seeing the pattern where we blame the victim for our own violent crimes more clearly will be an excruciatingly painful experience.

I stumbled upon a fascinating web site, La Voz de Aztlan, with two article by Hector Carreon, Berg decapitation video was filmed inside the Abu Ghraib prison, and "Nick Berg decapitation video declared a fraud by medical doctor" Based on the very simple evidence, I believed the shocking truth when I read it, and its veracity increases when seen in light of the cultural anachronisms and falsity of thesmokinggun posting.

But a more final verification came when I found an assemblage NICK BERG EXECUTION COVERAGE, which documents the way the worldwide media played the Berg story, confirming that what we were told to believe was a myth and a lie to raise our passions against the Arab world. To see, one after another, the 186 U.S. newspapers which ran large photographs on their front-pages, was to realize we were being force fed as surely as any Guantanamo hunger striker.



By way of a comparison, 125 foreign press newspapers ran front-page articles about the Berg beheading, but only 28 of them included a photograph.

That his beheading unleashed such a coordinated and comprehensive media swell of slick and powerful narrative at the best possible moment to deflect attention away from the Abu Gharib scandal, speaks to its synthetic and professional source, and begs the question as to who benefited? Where once we were hated for our freedoms, now we were hated for our abuses.

That that effort worked then, contrasted with the thin propaganda gruel we see now on the the smoking gun, let's me know who will ultimately win. The Smoking Gun is a strange site that apparently caters to law enforcement professionals, consisting mostly of "amusing" mug shots. The images and the hosting site sully one another equally--I can barely tolerate having this post up here but I must be sure and never take it down.
























We all must decide for ourselves who beheaded Nicholas Berg, although, I must say, we've been given enough clues. It remains the most controversial and disruptive issue I've ever attempted to speak to. If it is any solace, the unavoidable pain that awareness of the truth will entail is a pain that must be borne equally by all Americans.

The video itself can be found here.

And an Abu Gharib rape video here

A collection of links from the sweetest seemslikeadream:

The Nick Berg story always had my attention


Family of Beheaded U.S. Man Releases Statement
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Body found on Baghdad overpass identified as that of
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

CNN Transcript On Nick Berg Murder
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

FBI Saw Berg During Iraq Police Detention
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Pa. family angry with American government over son's brutal death
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Parents blame Bush for son's execution
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Body found on Baghdad overpass identified as that of American
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Arab media disagree on story of beheading
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Reporter says Berg held in custody entire time by US authorities
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Bush Condemns Execution of Berg in Iraq
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Beheaded hostage 'had been warned to leave Iraq'
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

FBI Saw Berg Before Beheading
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Berg worked at night on a Abu Ghraib tower
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

CBS: Bizarre New Link in Berg Murder (Berg and Moussaoui)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

CNN: Was Berg in U.S. custody? Answers conflict
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Diplomat's E-Mails Show Berg in Custody
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

E-mails from U.S. consulate to Bergs
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Spokesman Says Berg Never Held by Forces
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

The victim: More than work drew him to Iraq
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Diplomat's e-mails show Berg in custody
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Berg died for Bush, Rumsfeld 'sins' - father
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

U.S.Iraq Consular Officer Payne)Diplomat's E-Mails Show Berg in US custody
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Al-Zarqawi Murdered Berg, CIA Concludes
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

FBI told police to hold Berg
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Beheading not linked to Iraq prison scandal: White House
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Berg beheading: No way, say more medical experts
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

CNN Breaking: 4 arrested in the Berg Murder (2 released)...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Beheaded man named on Free Republic's "Enemies List"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Bush: Berg's killers must be found
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Last days of Nick Berg a mystery
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

US Gov't Disavows E-Mails About Berg's Detention
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

EXECUTION: FOUR ARRESTED
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

BERG MET WITH SHADY IRAQI (Berg's business partner was a Chalabi wannabe)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

William Etty "Reclining Bacchus" Stolen Art

On cradled panel. Bearing a label for the New York, 1949 Centennial Exhibition.

Stolen February 2008

Reward.
With information call:
Police Department, Town of Southampton, New York
631-728-5000
Reference number: 08-3104

Rev. John Hagee

East Hampton 1952: Anita Zahn & The Duncan Method

Subtitle:
In Memorial for Everett Martin Sims
(June 27, 1920-February 18, 2002)

In the 1950's, Ev and his boyfriend "Bill" rented a converted chicken coop on a Lily Pond Lane estate owned by an "Isadorable," one of the German orphans adopted by Isadora Duncan and her sister Elizabeth Duncan in the 1920's, by the name of Anita Zahn. Anita had parlayed her early dance notoriety into a career as a danse arts teacher--at Spence, the Upper East Side girls school during the winter, and in the summertime, at her house on East Hampton's Lily Pond Lane.
Here is Ev standing in front of the ballroom side of the house in 1952. In recent years the house has been owned by Mr. Eastman, Linda Eastman's father. I can't remember, but either the chicken coop, or some portion of the house was said to be the original county poor house--one of the oldest extant structures in Suffolk County, New York.

Anita was the danse instructor to a young Jacqueline Bouvier and her sister Lee. Mrs. Onassis must have learned her breathy manner of speaking from Anita. At the end of every summer a big recital would be held. One of Ev's favorite anecdotes concerned Anita thanking the volunteers who helped pull off the recital one year. He would imitate Anita's hesitant German-inflected staccato,

"And...I would like...to thank...Mr Everett Sims...for cleaning...the toilet bowls."

In my era, centered on the 1980's, Anita was a grand dame presence at all of our big parties. We young people loved to sit at her feet and ask her questions like, "Anita, tell us again the story of why you didn't marry Stokowski," while she ate it up. The marriage between different generations was a key component of the success of those parties.

This is Everett, but not Anita, from the same roll of film, taken on the East Hampton beach in 1952. It just screams La Dolce Vita.

This is Bill, Ev's partner in the era, who recently left us. He was considered major beefcake material in his time. I don't recognize the house, which although it looks tightly built for stormy weather, also looks highly vulnerable to erosion. Perhaps an East Hampton historian/beach walker will inform us of its status.

Bill and Ev were a golden couple. Bill was a literary agent with one big-name client, who shall remain nameless here.

A couple of shots of Bill, who not surprisingly given his looks, was quite a slut.

Ev in Amagansett during the same period.

The following is my favorite shot of Ev because it is his most erotic image, in my humble opinion. He clearly has a major hangover and maybe I should be telling this to my therapist and not broadcasting it on the internet.

In any event---bye Ev. You ain't missing a thing. Just keep an eye out on us please.

Now let me travel as a Thunder God should! Propelled by the power of my enchanted mallet--guided by the strength of my own right arm!

aaron michael lev......oh, never mind.

Don't Try and Make Me Go to Rehab, I Said a No, No, No.

Four days out of Smithers, (open link in new tab, for a MySpace musical background.) age 26, at Pearl's daughter Thykle Omega's wedding, held in the house. Pearl said, "You name your baby Omega and it'll be your last!" The bartender was a friend, Karl Knute, who became part of the great lost tribe of AIDS.

Ghosts of Christmas Past

(Subtitle: The Year the Pictures Turned Out Nice.)


I think this is 1986. Ev and me, looking rather more dynastic than affectionate. I liked the tree we did one year in white CATTLEYA orchids and polychrome Gerbera daisies better.

Ev's family of origin grouping, a shot which displays the wonderful Adam plaster tracery on the 13'-high coved ceiling.

Master of his universe.

Can only remember her name as Pat. Aren't the French tulips absolutely divine? People would ask of the painting, Rothko? Adding, but it is not signed! To which, the standard response was, but it is not finished!


Pat came with Talley Beatty, who was one of the great African-American dancers and choreographers, and a great friend of ours. Many of his dances, like The Stack Up, are still performed in repertory at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

The woman giving Talley the evil eye is Flora Roberts. She was Stephen Sondheim's agent but she's gone now so she didn't get any of the new Sweeney Todd movie moola. Talley died penniless but he got a half-page obit in the New York Times, if that's any consolation.

Ev's F.O.O. and his book authors, in the stairhall between the living and the dining rooms.

My avatar image for 2008.

Girls! Phooey! Can't live with them and you're not supposed to shoot them.

Pearl, who kept house for 20 years and could cook for 150 at parties like these in a tiny kitchen that originally was a butler's pantry--the only significant change in that marvelous 19th-century limestone house. Eunice was hired on to help as Pearl got old.

Squirting a Cutie

MKULTRA

Weaponizing pharmaceuticals.

MKULTRA

LEMON PARTY!

So, what ya gonna do to me when ya catch me, tryviolence? Ya gonna hurt me?

I could use a little...

stevenwarran's rides

18-years-old, circa 1976, in my circa 1970 white MGB. The only car that ever got me laid, although it impoverished my late teenage years. I love the checkbook stuck in my shirt pocket. Clearly, I had just returned from the mechanic's shop where I had drained my accounts dry.

In the 1980's, my ride was a 1966 Daimler, which was always mistaken for a Jag, until I pointed out the "D" on the hubcaps.

It was a four season automobile. It impoverished me for a decade, until I sold it to a real estate broker in Sag Harbor who was as dumb as I was.

The steering wheel was on the right-hand side. I made some of my most memorable arrivals in that vehicle.
We inherited it in something of a goof from someone named Saypol (whatever you do, don't Google "Judge Saypol!") After a dinner party, my partner Ev symmetrically willed him his 1967 230 SL, but Saypol died first, so it was shipped over from Greece.

Ev was a handsome dog.

Who's Running the StevenWarRan Persona?

Whoever it is, they've been at it for some time apparently. Here stevenwarran is at the 1993 March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay & Bi Equal Rights, dressed as a transgendered bumblebee.
Here he is standing between his handlers, "George" to the left, and "Peter" to the right.

Here's Martina Navratilova raising the rainbow flag.

There's Phil Donahue in tie and suspenders!

Here's Peter marching right behind Phil at the head of the parade!

Unlike the 20 or so apocalyptic private security guards protecting Ted Haggard's former congregation, it's doubtful a single marcher is packing heat.

Peter is with Doctors without Borders. He sent an email this week:

I am having a great time in sunny Bangladesh. On the map we are in southern Pirojpur District, city of Mathbaria.

The first week here we were exploring the cyclone devastated areas along the southern coast. We, the "French" team, had the westernmost area next to the Sunderban Forest preserve for Bengal tigers. Everywhere we went we saw wrecked towns and villages, ferries overturned, trees blocking the road, downed power lines and great holes in the road from uprooted trees . We would drive through the wreckage talking to government emergency coordinators, health care workers, village doctors and pharmacists trying to see if there were outbreaks of cholera or diarrhea, dragging trees out of the road and holding up power lines with branches so the car could pass. We slept in abandoned schools, some government official’s bungalow and in the truck. And every night at midnight we sent a report by candlelight and computer battery back to Paris.

In this area, Mathbaria, all of the coastal villages had scores of dead, and the survivors living in shelters built of what pieces of corrugated tin they could salvage, drinking water out of the river with dead animals floating by. I spoke with the head of the area hospital who said that he couldn’t cope with the demand and that there were areas he had not yet reached. So MSF came to help.

We started a mobile clinic program going to the most remote coastal villages and a water treatment program to restore drinking water to the villages and to the hospital. We are also distributing blankets to children under five, soap to all patients and water treatment tablets to all patients and their families. I now have four mobile clinics operating which see over 300 patients a day. We see lots of diarrhea, respiratory and skin infections and every day have to turn away patients with the promise that we will be back tomorrow. Some patients we have to transport to the hospital but almost all we can treat on site.

The situation is gradually improving and I hope that we can finish up by the end of the month and let the national health system take over. It’s a beautiful country; flat, green delta land surrounded by water like Louisiana with rice fields stretching out on all sides. The people are so welcoming to us as they busily and ceaselessly clean up the wreckage. Men stop chopping the fallen trees in the road to wave and women invite us into their palm leaf shelters to get out of the sun, little children dare each other to ask me a question in English.

We have set up clinics wherever possible in whatever can accommodate us. One of our clinics is on a river island so we hired a wooden fishing trawler to glide down a canal choked with water hyacinth,( sometimes we have to get out and push or haul), past broken bridges out into the wide river to the island of Majenchor. The villagers have made a landing jetty for us out of wrecked rowboats so we don’t have to step in the mud while unloading our supplies. Another clinic we reach in a caravan of rickshaw vans that we push along a mud road that winds through the rice paddies. And another is in a village school the walls of which were blown off during the storm but the wooden framework and roof are intact. One of the villagers always manages to bring us tea mid morning.

We rented out an entire small hotel for our base in the city of Mathbaria on the main square right next to the Big Mosque. We eat in a restaurant next door where there is an endless supply of curry, chilis and tea. If you linger long over lunch you can often see dinner being led in, squawking or baaing depending on the menu. My room in the hotel is on the third floor and on ear level with the minaret from which a loudspeaker- amplified call to prayer issues each morning at five. Luckily the singer always clears his throat before starting which is my cue to fold my pillow over my ears. One of the singers has a beautiful voice improvising with an ecstatic lilt, therefore a pleasure to hear. Another lacks enthusiasm, is prone to long pauses so that just when you think he has finished he starts up again, does the call in a rote manner and you feel that he is just phoning it in.

Our office is on the ground floor of the hotel, in back, overlooking a pond by the mosque where people bathe in the morning and schools of black mouthed fish rise to feed in the evening. From the roof you can watch the sunset over the market place and the stars come out in this city without electricity, (we have our own generator). The Eid festival, commemorating Abraham’s aborted sacrifice of Isaac, is coming up on the 21st ( national holiday), and the square in front of our hotel will be filled with the devout I am told. And I am having a great time.

I became the project coordinator so have the task of coping with the thousands of problems to be solved each day. Sometimes I feel like I am pushing the entire project along through this day into the next, listening to staff complain that their lunch was too greasy, having to get customs to let our latest shipment of water treatment pills through without the usual delays, locating the water/sanitation team that missed their boat and attending lengthy coordination meetings with government officials during which we always break for tea. But the place is beautiful, the people friendly, there is no war and I move each day from clinic to clinic, from rice paddy to island, from village to village, gliding down a river or pushing a rickshaw. SO until the end of the month I will be measuring out my life in cups of tea, compiling statistics, attending more endless meetings, supervising clinics in remote, romantic locales and enjoying this beautiful country as it gets back up on its feet. Merry Christmas to all, and Happy Eid Love Peter

I know this was supposed to be about stevenwarran, but the work Peter's doing sounds much more useful.