Smart Bombs and War Porn Hit YouTube

The Tyee
and
Alexandra Samur
January 14, 2009Media

As the bombing in Gaza intensified, so did the Israeli Defense Forces' (IDF) online propaganda campaign. The IDF had been uploading several gun camera videos per day of so-called "smart bombs" falling on Gaza to their YouTube channel.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/v/qG0CzM_Frvc&hl=en&fs=1 expand=1]

But recently, following an onslaught of viewer complaints, YouTube yanked one of the IDF's videos that, like the IDF's other YouTube clips, ostensibly showed their "humane actions" (purportedly, it showed operatives loading rockets onto pickup trucks before a fireball from an IDF missile obscured all view of the scene).

Then, YouTube put it back after still more pressure from viewers. That day the IDF posted a response on their channel profile: "We were saddened earlier today that YouTube took down some of our exclusive footage showing the IDF's operational success in operation Cast Lead against Hamas extremists in the Gaza Strip. Fortunately, due to blogger and viewer support, YouTube has put back up some of the footage they removed."

YouTube's attempts to censor the videos seemed to spur the IDF to post even more extreme footage. In early January, 28 new videos shot of the Gaza offensive were uploaded to the IDF's channel. Of these, 20 or so show the army's precision strikes using smart bombs purportedly destroying the Hamas government's offices, and bombs "neutralizing mosques," each of which has been viewed thousands of times. So far, these "precision strikes" have been responsible for 540 deaths in Gaza, including at least 200 civilians. The Associated Press reported that 14 children died on Monday alone.

Though the IDF has claimed its channel is designed to "highlight the IDF's humane action and operational successes" in Gaza, the videos demonstrate the group's mastery of the art of war porn.

Perhaps even more depressing, the growing popularity of these violent videos -- together with the lower viewership for the channel's onlytwo videos that purport to show the IDF's humanitarian side -- suggests there is a dark appetite amongst the viewing public for these mainstream snuff films.

If, when and how a truce will be restored to the region remains to be seen. Certainly, however, there's a new format for the media war being waged, with the IDF's YouTube channel showing "humane actions," and other media outlets focusing on the significantciviliancasualties.

Report typos and corrections to: feedback@alternet.org.

Should Trump be allowed to hold office again?

Understand the importance of honest news ?

So do we.

The past year has been the most arduous of our lives. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to be catastrophic not only to our health - mental and physical - but also to the stability of millions of people. For all of us independent news organizations, it’s no exception.

We’ve covered everything thrown at us this past year and will continue to do so with your support. We’ve always understood the importance of calling out corruption, regardless of political affiliation.

We need your support in this difficult time. Every reader contribution, no matter the amount, makes a difference in allowing our newsroom to bring you the stories that matter, at a time when being informed is more important than ever. Invest with us.

Make a one-time contribution to Alternet All Access, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you.

Click to donate by check.

DonateDonate by credit card
Donate by Paypal
{{ post.roar_specific_data.api_data.analytics }}
@2022 - AlterNet Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. - "Poynter" fonts provided by fontsempire.com.