From propaganda to the press
on 19 May 2008
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The story of Haider Hamza, an Iraqi Ministry of Information teenage propaganda stooge, who eventually became a Reuters reporter soon after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.
This American Life produce
this fascinating story, well worth a listen,
When he was a teenager, Haider Hamza worked in the Iraqi Ministry of Information. He was specially trained to talk to visiting dignitaries and foreign reporters, and he loved his job. It was exciting, and he was treated like a celebrity. Then the war broke out, his family fled, his job disappeared, and Haider suddenly had to figure out what to do next: hide, like his father wanted, or jump into the fray—in one of the most dangerous ways possible. link
His interviews are still propaganda, intended or unintended as he films people who are either unschooled in the subject matter or those who are sympathetic. Everyone is supposed to feel bad about human suffering. The facts are, that after Saddam was removed for violating seventeen peaceful UN Security Counsel resolutions in a 9-11 climate, and twelve million people risk their lives to vote for new leadership. After that, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed in road side bombs, suicide bombs, bombs in the market places, and straight out torture and executions supported by Muslim clerics jockeying for power, and muslims from numerous countries that have come to participate in Jihad. This is happening in many places here in the twenty first century. It cannot be left out of the discussion.