November 17, 2005
The Lies of Fallujah: The Hidden Massacre, Part 1
[Note: Fallujah: The Hidden Massacre is a recently released film from Italian Rai News24, an offshoot of communist-dominated channel Rai 3, and was directed by Sigfrido Ranucci. Thanks to Sgt. B of The Gun Line for the tip in this post at Argghhh!]
Starting with a lie
Fallujah, the Hidden Massacre, begins with a scene of horrified Vietnamese civilians fleeing a village after an air strike. Many are injured and burned by napalm, including a young girl who stripped naked to escape her burning clothes. The narrator of the Italian film explains that:
This is how a photo can speak about war, in Vietnam. Kim Phuc, age nine, whose fragile, naked body mutilated by the napalm thrown by the Americans, running, arms outstretched to escape death. It is 1972, and the image will circle the globe over...
Except this is alternative history.
On June 8, 1972, at approximately 1:00 PM, AE-1 Skyraiders belonging to the South Vietnamese Air Force based at Bien Hoa, bombed and strafed the outskirts of the village of Trang Bang near the Cai Dai pagoda. American forces were not involved in any aspect of this tragedy.
Phan Thi Kim Phuc says actions by photographer Huynh Cong "Nick" Ut that day saved her life.
But it was the South Vietnamese Air Force, and not Americans who rained fire upon the village of Trang Bang. It is an act of great arrogance and/or incompetence that Rai News 24 would try to rewrite the events surrounding one of the most famous photographed events of the Vietnam War.
Sadly, this is the mark director Sigfrido Ranucci makes throughout this truly incompetent and dishonest film.
Or, alternately, they simply just ASSUMED that it was the Americans that did that and never bothered to fact check this assumption.
Posted by: circlethewagons at November 17, 2005 01:27 PMI don't think there was any assuming about it. I'm sure Ranucci's intent was served by his product.
Posted by: Old Soldier at November 17, 2005 02:25 PM'Fallujah, the Hidden Massacre, begins with a scene of horrified Vietnamese civilians fleeing a village after an air strike. Many are injured and burned by napalm, including a young girl who stripped naked to escape her burning clothes. The narrator of the Italian film explains that:
This is how a photo can speak about war, in Vietnam. Kim Phuc, age nine, whose fragile, naked body mutilated by the napalm thrown by the Americans, running, arms outstretched to escape death. It is 1972, and the image will circle the globe over...
Except this is alternative history.
On June 8, 1972, at approximately 1:00 PM, AE-1 Skyraiders belonging to the South Vietnamese Air Force based at Bien Hoa, bombed and strafed the outskirts of the village of Trang Bang near the Cai Dai pagoda. American forces were not involved in any aspect of this tragedy.'
I'm not condoning their program, but look at what they said: 'This is how a photo can speak about war' - the photo certainly shows that. Further, it says 'American forces were not involved in any aspect of this tragedy.'. Are you saying they were (gentle rib ;-) )?
Regs, Shaggy
Posted by: Shaggydabbydo at November 18, 2005 02:20 PMokay, the part in the gray text box? that i swhat the documentary claimed. the part after that was my refutation of their lies, smarta--
;-)
Posted by: Confederate Yankee at November 18, 2005 04:41 PMHi Confederate Yankee,
Ah, sorry, yes.
Regs, Shaggy
Posted by: Shaggydabbydo at November 18, 2005 10:12 PMWasn't south vietnam allied to americans? Who provided the weapons to them? Hmm!!
Posted by: joyia at November 22, 2005 03:04 PM
