Baghdad, Turkey Baghdad photo scandal

[SoCalDem]

MODs:

DU is credited on this and it's the number 1 on google... sounded "Breaking" to me.. but move it if you must :) going "viral" perhaps..




Baghdad, Turkey Baghdad photo scandal
uruknet.info, Italy - 3 hours ago'

http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m22044&l=i&size=1&hd=0


March 28, 2006

On March 28th 2006, Howard Kaloogian's campaign website contained a photograph which he claims to have recently taken in downtown Baghdad. It was accompanied by the description:

"We took this photo of downtown Baghdad while we were in Iraq. Iraq (including Baghdad) is much more calm and stable than what many people believe it to be. But, each day the news media finds any violence occurring in the country and screams and shouts about it - in part because many journalists are opposed to the U.S. effort to fight terrorism."

Upon further analysis by members of a discussion forum on Democratic Underground, it was found that this photo was actually a fake photo of Baghdad, because it was most likely taken in Istanbul, Turkey.

Many inconsistencies, including the following, were found:

Many signs are written in Turkish, but none in Arabic
Women are seen wearing revealing (western) clothes
Taxi cabs are similar to those seen in Istanbul
Uniquely Turkish traffic signs are present
Signs of businesses based solely in Turkey are present





snip...

[dipsydoodle]

1. Well spotted

I'm quite sure that similar incidents have occured in the past but passed without comment. Was the photographer Joe Kerr or his brother Wayne ?

[Karenina]

41. Mystery solved!!!

See this DU thread for the exact location and better picture of the intersection in a suburb of Istanbul!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x783873

[OKNancy]

2. Looks fine to me. LOL - How about a link to the DU thread

For those who missed it. ( like me , who is stuck in LBN all day. )

[SoCalDem]

4. Here's the link..

real-time detective work in action.. and not an IBM selectric in the bunch :)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x776401

[yellowcanine]

It may just be a coincidence but the link to Kaloogian's site no longer

works. Maybe we crashed the server?
http://www.kaloogianforcongress.com/aboutus.asp?id06=116&par06=104#

[file83]

52. Here's the SCREEN SHOT of the original Kallogian website...

http://tinyurl.com/ozdxt

[Rebellious Republican]

3. K&R good find! N/T

[QuettaKid]

5. WOW ! ! ! What a great way to start the day.

and to think I had a minor part in it. We are a MIGHTY FORCE PEOPLE ! ! ! ! * whew* headrush....gotta sit down*:7 :7 :7

[rodeodance]

6. suspose we do not know what Kaloogian's campaign says about this?

[SoCalDem]

7. Here's some fun stuff on our "new friend"

I had never heard of this freak until I clicked on that GD thread..

He's a character.. connected to the swiftboaters and a bikini model/political columnist/columnist..

a man for all seasons..:)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=781717&mesg_id=781717

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=781653&mesg_id=781653

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=776401&mesg_id=781640

[salin]

8. I would guess it will be passed off as an innocent mistake

the propoganda rhetoric with the picture will be discarded and forgotten (as it is what makes the picture a big deal) - the mistake will be something about the pictures being from the same trip and same disc/roll of film, and that a staffer posted the pic without it being viewed first....

Just my guess.

[SoCalDem]

9. or.. The coffee was so strong, and the sun so bright

he got the vapors and forgot where he was :)

[salin]

15. heh

wonder if the story will make it into the local media - or if the pic will come down from the site and never be mentioned again... :shrug:

btw, :hi: !

[SoCalDem]

18. and howdy to you too

I don't hang out much in LBN these days.. (too depressing)

[KurtNYC]

51. Nope, they have dug their hole deeper - saying they had a

layover in Turkey which is HIGHLY UNLIKELY because their path into Baghdad was via Frankfurt and Kuwait City. Once someone confirms that they were never in Turkey, then their "innocent mistake" will be a blatant, purposeful lie and will get additional ink for the new twist/development.

[SoCalDem]

53. I found an old exerpt where he claimed to be in Baghdad, on the road

FROM Baghdad AND in a hotel in Kuwait.. all at the same time.. It;s in this thread somewhere:)

His pants are SMOKIN'

[Binka]

10. All The Taxis In The ME Are Orange & White NOT YELLOW n/t

It is a law.

[ima_sinnic]

12. seriously, it's a law?! (nt)

[malaise]

16. But, but, but

that photo was placed there for sheeple, not intelligent people who would expose the liars as perpetrators of fraud. Great work as always DUers.
Edit - gr.

[Lochloosa]

28. Good morning Binka. How's the family?

:evilgrin:

[Binka]

29. Family Is Good!

Peyton and I have been sunning ourselves on the deck for the last few days. After a horrible winter the sun has finally come to Sicily.

[Lochloosa]

34. uhhh..have any pics of you 'sunning'

:loveya:

[Binka]

35. No Peyton Is Too Young To Operate My Camera

And man am I white! Shit howdy.

[Lochloosa]

37. There should be a timer on the camera....

}(

[mmonk]

11. Hope this spreads

all over the world and DU continues to get credit.

[greekspeak]

13. Great job of helping expose this fraud

Kudos

[SoCalDem]

14. I personally played no part.. Just lucky googling

:)

[SoCalDem]

17. Not the FIRST time Kaloogian "got lost"

http://www.haloscan.com/comments.php?user=crooks&comment=4616


snip


Right! I thought that rang a bell. The GOP slimeball who ran the CA Republican Assembly races refered to this organization a while back. I'll paste it here because Matt "bin Ladin (D)" is famous for, er, editing his work:


Where was it actually?

Howard Kaloogian was nice enough to e-mail me from Athens to let me know that I "had my facts wrong again". The facts came right from his press release.

He claims to be in his hotel room in Kuwait City but the press release clearly states that he was 'en route from Baghdad , Iraq to Kuwait City, Kuwait". See his own press release below.

Which is it? I can tell you that the highway from Baghdad to Kuwait City is a very different place than the nice hotels that are in Kuwait City.



The Honorable Howard Kaloogian

(State Assemblyman 1994 - 2000, 74th Assembly District)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Contact: Sal Russo - [phone] or [email protected]

Kaloogian to Announce For 50th Congressional Seat



Upon learning of the decision of Congressman Duke Cunningham not to seek re-election, the Honorable Howard Kaloogian, who served as State Assemblyman for northern San Diego County from 1994-2000, will soon formally announce his candidacy for the 50th Congressional district.

"I will be officially announcing my candidacy once I have returned from my mission of supporting our troops in Iraq," Kaloogian said.

Kaloogian is currently traveling from Baghdad, Iraq to Kuwait City, Kuwait in his capacity as Chairman of Move America Forward

(www.MoveAmericaForward.org) - a non-profit organization that supports American troops and their mission to fight the forces of terrorism.
posted on Monday, July 18, 2005 8:12 AM

Note, this front organization lays astroturf for congressional candidate Kaloogian. It seems to be fully integrated with RMR consultants.
Pacific John | Homepage | 08.25.05 - 12:56 am | #

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[salin]

21. Chairman of "MoveAmericaForward"... isn't that the group

that was a pretend grassroots org pushing for social security privatization? Only good news there is that he is probably so far gone with the bush protectionism (ala praise and defend all things bush) - that he will inevitably say a bunch of things "for the cause" that no longer resonate with most folks on the street - iow he will marginalize himself ala Bushjr - you know the way Mehlman is telling all GOP candidates to self-destruct by holding on to "Brand W. Republicans".

[SoCalDem]

23. yep... a "front" organiuzation... He should have stayed with them

He's not doing too well going after the "Dukester's" seat

Monday Deadline For Special Election Registration
http://www.kfmb.com/story.php?id=44225
KFMB, CA - Mar 27, 2006
... 36 percent. Brian Billbray is just behind her with 11.7 percent. Eric Roach has 11.2 percent. Howard Kaloogian at 10.6 percent.

[salin]

25. That is a huge lead for Busby.

Not big enough to preclude a run-off, but certainly big enough for her to win the run off and a possible dem take-over of the seat. Now wouldn't that be something.

[DoYouEverWonder]

24. Well done

another corrupt repug liar exposed.

:toast:

[Nothing Without Hope]

45. These blatant lies should be put in the campaign against this creep n/t

[ChairmanAgnostic]

19. Anyone think about giving KO a head's up on this one?

he loves this stuff.

[ima_sinnic]

31. I have sent him the 2 DU thread links

... and I'm pretty sure others have also.

[AzDar]

20. Good work, Y'all !! n/t

[Starbucks Anarchist]

22. Seems Kaloogian and Bush have fake turkeys in common.

[qanda]

26. I was just coming back to see what happened with the fake Iraq picture

I knew it wasn't of Iraq as soon as I saw it. What does Kaloogian have to say for himself?

[Rose Siding]

27. If Kaloogian has a Democratic challenger, we should tell her/him.

And the DNC.

[jamesinca]

44. Francine Busby

She is one of two Dems running in the district to take Randy "Duke Cunninghams seat. MoveOn is supporting her with phone banking operations and she has a website linked in the research forum.

[Brotherjohn]

30. In yesterday's thread, KBlagburn had a response from Kaloogian:

"He also said that they had alot of pictures with arabic writing on the signs but were told they could not publish them. That they had to publish pictures that were "non discript" so that you couldnt tell where the photo was taken."

"they had to publish pictures... that you couldnt tell where the photo was taken."?!?

Oh PUL-EEEZZE!!!

If that doesn't sound like a lame attempt at CYA, I don't know what does!

His next response, upon irrefutable evidence, will be:
"We visited Turkey on the way, and we must have gotten the rolls mixed up"

And notice how the original site says "we" took the picture. That way, if discovered, he can lay it on a flunky.

I'm waiting for when the actual original photo, and photographer, surfaces.

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[K8-EEE]

32. They Should Take Video Where Michael Moore Did

The RWer nuts get so pissed at the footage of Iraq pre-invasion as "suggesting Saddam was a nice guy" which of course it does not; it does suggest that pre-bombed cities are much nicer for human beings than post GWB invasion cities.

Or go to those same streets and take the video now, suckers.

[formercia]

33. Road kill award of the Day

Road pizza on the Information Superhighway......

Another clueless Republican steps on his dick... :evilgrin:

[donkeyotay]

36. OMG. There are western tourists SHOPPING in Baghdad?

not even sheep could believe that. Oops. "I was accidently lying my ass off." He'll make a perfect replacement for the last crook.

"We took this photo of downtown Baghdad while we were in Iraq. Iraq (including Baghdad) is much more calm and stable than what many people believe it to be. But, each day the news media finds any violence occurring in the country and screams and shouts about it - in part because many journalists are opposed to the U.S. effort to fight terrorism."

[Karenina]

42. You simply MUST see the photo in this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x783873

[donkeyotay]

43. LOL. But WHY, WHY do the people in that thread hate America???

God talks to the GOP, so I can't believe they'd steer me wrong. I'm sure the real pictures of western tourists shopping in Baghdad will surface soon.

:rofl:

[troubleinwinter]

38. Baghdad taxi:

Binka, in post #10 says the taxis are orange and white. These are photos of taxis in Baghdad:

[onenote]

39. so let's ask the obvious question

Did Kaloogian even go to Iraq? If he did, how much did he get out and see? Because if he thinks this is what Baghdad looks like, then he probably wasn't really there...

onenote

[formercia]

46. I had the same thought

He just hated to leave that posh room in Kuwait City. Plenty of front line troops to visit there.

[SoCalDem]

47. and of course he told so many fibs, he couldn't remember

what he said, and to whom:)

a perfect fit for the Dukester's empty chair :)

[Odin2005]

40. Woohoo! I knew it was Istanbul!

:woohoo:

[wicket]

48. Editor & Publisher has picked this up:

http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002274257

Here's the GD thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=786529&mesg_id=786529

[KansDem]

49. Photo of another Turkey...

Well, actually two turkies...

[cascadiance]

59. Kaloogian being an Armenian...

... I'm sure you just insulted him more than you even realized. Congrats!

[The_Casual_Observer]

50. Another right wing lying sack of shit, just like the rest of them.

This is all they have folks.

[Rex]

54. The irony of his statement cannot be overlooked.

"We took this photo of downtown Baghdad while we were in Iraq. Iraq (including Baghdad) is much more calm and stable than what many people believe it to be. But, each day the news media finds any violence occurring in the country and screams and shouts about it - in part because many journalists are opposed to the U.S. effort to fight terrorism."

I hope the GOP has a 1000 more like Howard the Dumbass.

[file83]

55. Let me turn his statement AROUND on him....

"We took this photo of downtown Baghdad while we were in Iraq. Iraq (including Baghdad) is much more dangerous and chaotic than what many Republicans believe it to be. But, each day the GOP finds any calm occurring in Turkey, tells people it's Iraq, and screams and shouts about it - in part because many Republicans are opposed to the U.S. Main Stream Media's effort to tell the truth about the violence going on in Iraq."

Now, doesn't that feel a little closer to the truth, Mr. Kalool-Aid?
:rofl:

[Rex]

57. LOL!

:rofl:

[SoCalDem]

60. Amazing how they all scuury to claim credit..UNTIL

it all turns to shit...and then they blame it on anyone BUT themselves..

Personal responsibility to a republican is always someone else

[IndianaGreen]

56. Keith Olbermann had this on his show tonight!

It made the "worse person in the world"! Keith has 3 categories: worse, worser, and worst!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

58. Kick!

cause we're famous! :) :blush: :)

[brooklynite]

61. Here's additional news from the local paper...

In a separate e-mail message to his supporters on Wednesday, Kaloogian blasted bloggers and journalists for using the photograph as a way of "attacking (his) campaign."

"The liberal journalists who dominate the ranks of the media want American troops to pull out of Iraq before the mission there is completed," he wrote.

In the e-mail, Kaloogian went on to ask for contributions to his campaign.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/03/30/news/sandiego/5_31_313_29_06.txt
- - -
Don't you just hate underhanded campaign tactics like letting voters know the truth?

[pinniped]

62. It made the front page of sfgate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/03/30/BAGD9I0HQP1.DTL