Analyst: Al-Qaeda Videotapes Digitally Doctored
UPDATE: Krawetz is now claiming that the logos were NOT added at the same time. Geez guy, make up your mind. -r.
http://prisonplanet.com/articles/august2007/020807tapesdoctored.htm
From the article:
"Krawetz's most telling discovery comes in the form of a detail contained in a 2006 Ayman al-Zawahiri tape. From his analysis he concludes that the As-Sahab logo (the alleged media arm of Al-Qaeda) and the IntelCenter logo (a U.S. based private intelligence organization that "monitors terrorist activity") were both added to the video at the same time.
This clearly indicates IntelCenter itself is directly creating or at least doctoring the Al-Qaeda tapes before their release. After all, why would Al-Qaeda terrorists be interested in branding their videos with the logo of a U.S. based organization that is run by individuals with close ties to the military-industrial complex?"
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Busted.
georgewashington.blogspot.com.
Wow. Is it just me or
Wow. Is it just me or should this be ALL OVER THE INTERNETS.
The Eleventh Day of Every Month
from wired blog -
UPDATE: For those of you who asked for Krawetz's program, you can view the source code here.
You can also view his BlackHat presentation here (PDF). For those of you who think the software is better used to catch media manipulations of photos and video, Krawetz did present examples of these in his talk.
And to "Ann" who commented that she doubts al Qaeda would put subtitles on a video, As-Sahab, the logo in the lower left corner of the two al Qaeda videos is the production arm of al Qaeda. Yes, the organization has its own media production team.
2ND UPDATE: I quoted Krawetz as saying that the evidence indicates that the IntelCenter and As-Sahab logos were added to the al-Zawahiri video at the same time. Ben Venzke of IntelCenter says his organization didn't add the As-Sahab logo. He points out that just because the error levels are the same for two items in an image, that doesn't prove they were added at the same time, only that the compression was the same for both items when they were added.
3rd UPDATE: I was finally able to reach Neal Krawetz at the BlackHat conference to respond to the questions about the IntelCenter and As-Sahab logos (Krawetz doesn't have a cell phone on him so finding him at the conference took a while). He now says that the error levels on the IntelCenter and As-Sahab logos are different and that the IntelCenter logo was added after the As-Sahab logo. However, in a taped interview I conducted with him after his presentation, he said the logos were the same error levels and that this indicated they were added at the same time. Additionally, after I'd written the first blog entry about his presentation, I asked him to read it to make sure everything was correct. He did so while sitting next to me and said it was all correct. He apologizes now for the error and the confusion it caused.
see: http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/08/researchers-ana.html
spin
"He points out that just because the error levels ARE THE SAME for two items in an image, that doesn't prove they were added at the same time, only that the compression was the SAME for both items when they were added."
"He now says that the error levels on the IntelCenter and As-Sahab logos are DIFFERENT"
"However, in a TAPED interview I conducted with him after his presentation, he said the logos were the SAME error levels and that this indicated they were added at the SAME time."
oops...you're on tape....don't get your panties in a twist....relax fellas...nothing is going to happen to you...the MSM have known about this sham since the start .....you still have the contract
Interesting...
It doesn't sound like the author completely buys the guy's reversal.
Who needs digital proof anyway?
Anyone who could not figure out that the tapes were fakes years ago must still believe in the War on Terror and that 911 Was an Outside Job. The point is well made by prison planet: "Al-Qaeda...always seem to make a point of releasing the videos at the most politically expedient times for the benefit of the Bush administration. Whether it's to justify a war, win an election or divert from a scandal, Bin Laden, Al-Zawahiri or their stooges can always be relied upon to come up with the goods and save Bush's bacon."
Opinion vs Proof
Of course we all know the tapes are fake. But that's opinion (albeit based on some good analysis)
Solid proof that IntelCenter and As-Sahab use the same post-production facilities would be pretty earthshaking.
huh?
Can't tell what to believe about this... and for someone else who may be more skeptical than I about Prision Planet's fact checking this will make no sense at all.
Watson write up
Analyst: Al-Qaeda Videotapes Digitally Doctored
IntelCenter and As-Sahab logos added at same time, indicating Pentagon linked "middleman" is directly releasing Al-Qaeda videos
An expert computer analyst has presented evidence that so-called "Al-Qaeda" tapes are routinely digitally doctored and has also unwittingly exposed an astounding detail that clearly indicates a Pentagon affiliated organization in the U.S. is directly responsible for releasing the videos.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/august2007/020807tapesdoctored.htm
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media." ~ William Colby, Former Director, CIA