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© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016.Video of small boy saved from Aleppo rubble sparks social media storm
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paulinusa
Joe, Bush, et al: Please define who is "Many". As is the Russian tradition, it's always a Western conspiracy when it doesn't look good, eh?
Aly Rustom
They said the same thing about Aylan too. He is very much dead. People just can't stomach these images. It makes the Russians and Assad look like murderers (which they are) and kills the west's right wingers' arugments which say we should ban refugees.
CrazyJoe
Poor kid. Life is just so monumentally cruel and unfair. I have a grandson about the same age, and this just rips my soul apart.
Asakaze
How many children were killed in US air strikes in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya and then they photos "spark social media storm" in the West? Zero, I think. Mainstream Western media? Zero. May be paulinusa et al can explain us this wonderful Western tradition.
Aly Rustom
Which photos? Those NEVER came out. The western media never showed them. But then again remember: during the Afghan and Iraq war, we didn't have social media. There was no youtube, twitter, or facebook, so it was easier to hide the images then. Not so today.
Madverts
Arguing over bodycounts is never a position I've been in thankfully.
Shame on those of you have cheered on this miserable conflict. You know who you are...
Asakaze
Exactly. This is the point. It does not matter that in the last decade dozens (if not hundreds, who count them??) of thousands of people were killed by US / NATO military, a lot of them children, but the fact was not covered by the Western mainstream media, complete silence. But if there is even one smallest fact that just can be used in the propaganda war against Russia, then the Western media machine roars into action, supported by little helpers like paulinusa.
Aly Rustom
wrong. The western media did not roar into action- social media did. That's why these 2 poor boys' stories got told. Not because of western, but because of social media.
Because there was no social media back then.
Joe, I feel the exact same way. I myself am half syrian. my father was from Aleppo. My son is 10 months old and quite big for his age, and when he sleeps on his little tummy he reminds me of little Aylan. So this hits home really hard for me.
Asakaze
Are you serious? Then who translated the stories of the victims into English and retell them so they can find their way into world stage, even to the Japan Today? This time it was Reuters. You call Reuters not Western media? And why stories of victims of US air strikes never got translated and retold?
Aly Rustom
We're not talking about stories. What sparked the outrage were the images and videos of these 2 boys.
a picture speaks a thousand words. That's what happened. What do you need to translate about a little syrian boy drowned and washed up on a beach?
Asakaze
Please note this phrase from the article:
And how this happened, who and why propelled the topic in the US and UK sosial media? I don't think usual social media users in US and UK follow Syrian news so closely.
Aly Rustom
Sure they do. Especially if they happen to be of Syrian dissent themselves. I follow Syrian news very closely and I live in Japan.
Madverts
Shocking pictures of distressed and injured children tend to upset us in the West. Just like any Russian parent. Surely even you and your hopelessly one-sided patriotic agenda should be able to grasp this.
Talking about the Americans to hide your own atrocities simply isn't cutting it for the rest of us. This is your conflict. Like I said before, enjoy the blowback for this horrific conflict. Strategically that lone naval base is the prize, and Russia is willing to burn every Syrian to the last baby in order to keep it. Don't expect the rest of the world not to hold you accountable.
Outrider
Asakaze, I agree completely. The western/liberal media is extremely biased in what it reports and shows. Its amusing reading all the disingenuous apologetics from the so called progressives on this site.
Aly Rustom
Madverts- very very well said! Couldn't agree with you more! The Russians and the Syrian regime have a lot of blood on their hands
Outrider
Asakaze, I completely agree with you on this.
Asakaze
Aly Rustom
No, they do not. Most people in the West never heard about Aleppo and they won't be able to find Syria on the map. Only people of Syrian origin like you are really interested in the conflict. But the matter is that such people are a minority, and they can not make the subject a "top trending topic" as the Western propaganda machine is trying to do with it now.
Madverts
Really?? Never noticed such sensitivity of the West during wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, or drone attacks in Pakistan. Seriously, how many shocking pictures of child victims of US / UK air strikes you've seen? "Surely even you and your hopelessly one-sided patriotic agenda should be able to grasp this".
Outrider,
Thanks! It's really regrettable that many media outlets became one-sided propaganda tools.
Madverts
Then you have been living in a cave. But that isn't the case is it? I think you're willfully ignoring something that is easily proven. To say the USA has not been criticized by others in the West (fairly or unfairly) is the height of intellectual dishonesty. I thank you for that.
Like I said. Talking about other people's atrocities to hide your own is morally bankrupt. You Russians own this conflict and the bodycount. Enjoy your Iraq moment - no hurry though, you're going to be bogged down in Syria for quite some time.
Outrider
Madverts, Obama owns this conflict and hillary with him. They supported from the start and continue to support the radical Islamist insurgency intent on toppling the secular Assad government. Thank God for Putin and Russian support fro Assad against ISIS, Al Qaeda and the rest of the "freedom fighters".
Asakaze
Madverts
The subject we're discussing is the role of (social) media in coverage of victims of war. My point: Western propaganda deliberately stresses the victims of war in Syria while completely ignoring the victims of war, waged by the West. Want to prove me wrong? Tell me how Western media cried for victims of US / UK air strikes, everything else is empty words. Or may be you want to say there were no children killed by US / UK bombs? "Then you have been living in a cave".
Madverts
Rubbish.
Try reading The Guardian. Or any balanced news outlet for that matter. Your accusations are insane.
Screaming "look over there!!" isn't working. The only reason you're crying foul is because you're in Denial about the blood on Russian hands. Sorry about that.
Asakaze
Madverts
Wow, very gentlemanly language! I presume you're out of arguments.
And who you are to judge? After all the agressions during the last two decades the West not only has blood on its hands, you can swim in the blood of people it killed.
Moderator
Please keep the discussion civil.
maglev101
I think first target of Western media bashing is usually China, then second is Russia, followed by North Korea & Iran. Sometimes throw in the occasional gang rapes & open defecation issues in India for good measure.
Aly Rustom
and why is there such an outrage over the pictures of the dead and the shellshocked boy? Your western hatred is starting to show. But it doesn't hide the fact that Russia has blood on its hands. I have some sad news for you: everybody knows where Aleppo is and everybody knows where Syria is. To think that after five years of one of the worst conflicts since World War II that people still don't know where Syria is is ridiculous
100% spot on
Asakaze
Aly Rustom
And why there were no outrage over the video where "moderate rebels" beheaded a boy simply because he was pro-Assad? The boy you're so worried about at least alive, and the boy on video is not. And the people who, as you claim, know well were Syria is, did nothing and said nothing on their social media. Why such selective compassion?
Madverts
You're amusing. All my previous posts on the thread are my arguments. May I suppose you read them more carefully?
Some math for you. In Yugoslavia NATO bombs killed several hundred civilians, but that only for starters. In Afghanistan NATO killed dozens of thousands of civilians, several just for fun:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maywand_District_murders >
And of course Iraq. According to WHO, just in three years, 2003-06, in Iraq were killed 150 thousands of civilians. Blood of all these people is on US / NATO. And after all these crimes that even Hitler can be proud of you try to judge other countries? Seriuosly?
My final argument: a convict from Pentonville may not play cop. NATO countries, until they atone they crimes, may not even critisize other countries. Period.
Outrider
Asakaze,
*>and why is there such an outrage over the pictures of the dead and the shellshocked boy
And why there were no outrage over the video where "moderate rebels" beheaded a boy simply because he was pro-Assad? The boy you're so worried about at least alive, and the boy on video is not. And the people who, as you claim, know well were Syria is, did nothing and said nothing on their social media. Why such selective compassion?*
Asakaze, You are speaking the truth. The so-called progressives on this site are in serious denial.
Zodiac
Same as the boy on the beach sadly it will ruffle some emotional feathers and everybody will have forgotten in a few weeks when the next kardashian photo comes out or Trump will say something stupid.
Aly Rustom
Aylan Kurdi drowned thanks to Russia and Assad. Who told you there isn't outrage? There is. But we are not going to deny that Russia is still a monster. That does not excuse their actions either.
Nope. You are just an apologist for a bloodthirsty regime. Congratulations
commanteer
People really are in denial here. I'm an American, and Asakaze is the only one making any sense here. Sad that the others are so easily manipulated.
War is evil. Get it? Children suffer worse that anyone. And sawing off a child's head to a cheering crowd as the rebels did is infinitely worse than killing a child by bomb, if only in intent.
Everybody has innocent blood on their hands, the rebels, Assad, the Russians and the USA. If people think the answer is more war, then there will be more child victims. It's horrible. It's beyond horrible. Which is why emotions need to be kept in check when thinking what we can do to help (if anything). If emotions take hold, it's just more dead children.
There is blood on everybody's hands. Until one can admit that, they are just adding to the problem, not helping.
Aly Rustom
That is true.
Outrider
I suppose that because the Syria carnage is because of obamas and hillarys support and encouragement to the islamic "rebels" the progressives have to buy into it.
Aly Rustom
Nobody is buying into it. But remember who started the war. The situation would not be where it is today had not Assad decided to fire on unarmed protesters who were initially chanting silmeya silmeya peaceful, peaceful. The radicalization occured due to the brutality of the Assad regime. The protests started peaceful, turned into a secular uprising, and then morphed into a radical jihad. You cannot exclude the context in which these things occurred. Something caused the situation to morph into the brutality we see. That something was Assad. He didn't have to go down that route; but that's what he chose. And what neither he nor the Russians understand is that this civil war will not end until he is deposed. My prediction: we are looking at another 5 to 10 years of civil war in syria.
HonestDictator
It's really sickening. Just look at "Before and After" pictures from Syria. All because a "leader" thought he should use heavy-handed "enforcement" against protestors. Thanks Assad... you idiot. Not that the US and other countries acted stupid in the follow up though. The idiocy that helped cause this mess is astounding.
Aly Rustom
HD-couldn't have put it better myself.
Asakaze
Aly Rustom
The indiffirence with wich you reacted to the death of the boy, killed by "moderate terrorists" simply because he was pro-Assad, obviously demonstrates that your attitude towards opponents no softer then Assad's.
Russia intervened in the conflict in November 2015. Before that Assad had fought for five years, and despite all the help from US, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar etc to terrorists of all colors he kept fighting. Why? Because the majority of Syrian people, who stayed in the country and fought for it, don't want Assad to go, just like the killed kid.
I have a bad news for you: Assad will not be deposed. Most Syrians want him to stay.
HonestDictator
I have another example of heavy-handed "enforcement" against protesters, it happened in Ferguson, USA. And who was the wonderful leader who ordered this?
Aly Rustom
How do you know how I reacted to that boy's death? I reacted a lot more passionately than you did for Aylan al Kurdi. You just didn't care.
A russian lie. Russia intervened in 2012 after the bombing of assads assembly where his brother in law was killed. Up until then, there was no foreign intervention on either side.
Because like all dictators, he has a thirst for power- just like putin.
You are not syrian. don't tell us what the syrian people think. I'll tell you since I am still in contact with relatives in Aleppo. All syrians hate him. those who love him are russians and iraninans. That is all.
So now you want to equate the syrian civil war with ferguson??? really?? that just goes to show just how ridiculous the russian narrative has become. absolutely desperate. sad.
yes he will. And when he does, Russia and Iran will be deposed with him. sorry for that reality check.
again, unless you are one of us, please don't tell me what my countrymen want. we want assad out and we want the vampire vlad putin out with him- and we will. Syria is going to be Afganistan 2 for the Russians. This will be the conflict that tears russia apart.
FizzBit
Just to clarify, Russia bombing the crap out of the ISIS control of the oil installations, there transportation routes and trucks, putting a huge dent in their money supply is to keep them at a level of desperation, but not to eliminate them?
Aly Rustom
The Russians are bombing the other opposition groups. They haven't touched IS.
yamashi
@Aly Rustom "we want assad out and we want the vampire vlad putin out with him- and we will. Syria is going to be Afganistan 2 for the Russians. This will be the conflict that tears russia apart."
Keep dreaming and beware speedy cruise missiles.Lol.
Aly Rustom
The Russians tried that in Afghanistan and the Americans tried that in Iraq. Both powers got their butts kicked pretty hard. Russians will get their butts kicked again. So you can keep dreaming LOL.
Asakaze
Aly Rustom
And those who fight for Assad are also all Russians and Iranians? Seriously? All dozens of thosands of soldiers of the Syrian army are all Russians and Iranians? Wow, somebody badly needs reality check. If you knew history even a bit, particularly military and political history, you would knew that no amount of foreign support could help a government that lost support of its people. And the fact that Assad still in power, despite all efforts by mercenaries of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar, tells clearly that the majority of Syrian people support him.
Usual lie from "moderate terrorists". On youtube there are a lot of videos of Russian bombers striking ISIS targets, such like oil trucks etc. Somebody in serious denial here.
You claimed you live in Japan. So how you going to do it? Pushing buttons of your keyboard more desperately?
Keep dreaming. Or better read a book about history. End of discussion with you.
Aly Rustom
No genius. They are Shiites who have pledged allegiance to Iran and so has Assad
Yes that's right you really do.
Really? What about Batista in Cuba? The military supported him but the people didn't that's why Castro was able to overthrow him. That comment right there shows that you know nothing of history; political, military, or otherwise.
No it doesn't. The only reason he is still in power is because he has the backing of Iran and Russia. And even then he's having a hard time. That fact alone should tell you that the people of Syria don't like him. Of course you probably already know that but are just repeating Russian propaganda.
Usual lie from Vlad the Invader's RT News pundits. We are not fooled by those lies. . The only people bombing IS are the Americans. The Russians want them there because they are terrorists just like them.
Look who's pushing the buttons so desperately. We don't have to do anything. The Syrian people will throw him out. Personally I think they will hang by him and Putin by their anklesfrom a gas station like Mussolini was.
Want to talk about history? Let's talk about the 1980s Russia in Afghanistan. Or we can talk about the Americans in Vietnam. I think if you knew anything about history which you obviously don't, you would understand that super powers which invade smaller weaker countries always get beaten.
You gave up. Good. So will Assad and Putin.
Asakaze
You're writing such funny nonsense I can't resist to write one last short post.
So,genius, Shiites are not Syrians? And after that you claim to have some relation to Syria? For your information, Shiites, Sunni, Christians, Kurds and others they are all Syrians. Definitely your way of thinking is no better then ISIS's.
Can you comprehend even simple phrases? Read again, genius, my previous post. I said that no amount of foreign support could help a government that lost support of its people. The case of Batista just confirms my thesis - no amount of foreign (US) support could save Batista. And no amount of foreign (US, Saudi, Qatar) support can save the "moderate terrorists". Wow, it's too early for you to read history books, you should finish school first. And let me use your phrase "That comment right there shows that you know nothing of history; political, military, or otherwise", you fully deserve such description.
No, you are just not worth my time.
Keep fighting with keyboard, Assad is trembling lol