Serious doubts over Time magazine's claim to have interviewed Al-Shabab leader

Speculation is rife about a helicopter attack that targeted Al Shabab in Marka, a city near Mogadishu. There are several versions of what happened, but there are few things we know: 1) there was such attack 2) there was high level Al shabab member closeby 3) the attack failed and that's why no one is claiming (though the US carried similar attacks before).

But the story that caught my attention was Time magazine's improbable claim that they have interviewed Mukhtar Godane, the Amir or leader of Al-Shabab. This is a man who is reclusive and secretive even by Al Shabab standards, has never given media interviews - a  Mullah Omar of sorts. So the claim he he not to only gave an interview but chose to speak to Time magazine is very difficult to believe.

I would say with certaintly it's a hoax, a shameful fabrication.

Last week a Somali website, Somaliweyn.com, published a photo they claimed to be Al Shabab's leader but again people who had met him say it's a fake.

It's understandable journalists' obsession with reaching reclusive figures like Mukhtar Godane, Mullah Omar or OBL but if you can't get to them, then don't make up interviews.

It's dangerous to report from Somalia so Western media outlets like Time rely on fixers, often young men with little journalism training or experience but still Time Magazine has a responsibility to check these claims.

Update 1:
There are other reasons for my skepticism about the interview. For example, the article repeats speculations about Al-Shabab internal struggle almost word for word from other sources. For example, the government published a propaganda statement about how it's pushing back Al Shabab because of their in-fighting. There were a lot of similar speculations in the Somali media but little substance.
This is another reason for my doubts: The Time's interview claims that Al Shabab leader told them they were meeting to solve a dispute between him and his deputy. Al Shabab are very secrative about their internal affairs so for the top leader to volunteer such information is hard to believe.

Update 2:
Abu Mansour, the deputy leader of Al Shabab denied that there is any dispute between him and Godane. The clip of his denial is in VOA Somali (in Somali). More on this in English from Mogadishu Man blog.  In the sermon Abu Mansour says there is no dispute at all within the ranks of Al Shabab. I think Time needs to retract and apologize for this fabricated interview.

Cheap shot

One thing we know about the inner workings of the Iranian government is that no one knows, let alone commenting on personalities. BBC's Jon Leyne commenting on the results of the election in Iran writes:

And the internal battle within the conservatives may rather suit him. He has always been a leader attached to the principle of "divide and rule."

I'm amazed at the assured tone he uses, I wonder what information did have to reach this judgement? It could be true, but that was a cheap shot.

Who cares?

A useless news item - circled red - is placed right at the top, why? It might matter to a Brits but the rest of the world doesn't give a shit! Talk about messed up editorial priority.

Dubai closes two pakistani TV stations

One of the ugly fallouts of the state of emergency in Pakistan was the media crackdown by Musharraf's regime. But the worst episode of this was when two TV stations which were closed down in Pakistan swtiched their broadcasting to their offices in Dubai media city, a supposedly free space for the media, but then president Musharraf told Dubai authorities to close the two stations, and they were closed. Yes, believe it or not, the government of Dubai closed the two stations because of the emergency rule in Pakistan. This is a dangerous precedence but we shouldn't be surprised that the freedom provided in Dubai's media city was as superficial as the rest of the Dubai.

60 minutes interviews Ahmedinejad

Mike Wallace, from CBS 60 minutes, interviewed Iran president Ahmedinejad in Tehran. Wallace says that Ahmedinejad is an impressive fellow. Of coursehe is, compared to the pitiful and ignorant lot who're running for president - not to mention the chief himself. We in the Middle East know that Ahmedinejad doesn't exactly run the Iran, but he is obviously a smart enough to be a president and before that a professor.

Wallace also plays defender of US administration:

"Well, the Americans are overly sensitive. And, of course, the American government. I don't know why they're opposed to Iranian progress," the president said.

Asked if he really believed that the United States is against Iranian progress and development, Ahmadinejad said, "That is true. That is what I am saying."

"You know that's not so," Wallace replied

But Wallace would've be in a difficult position back home if he didn't say such a thing or throw some disrespectful words. you can read the whole interview here.

A stupid interivew you would agree

I would agree with angry Arab, this is the stupidest interview i've seen in a while (with Dalia Sofer). Asked about Ahmadinejad:

Didn’t President Ahmadinejad begin his career as one of the guards? In photographs, I always think he looks more like a homely professor than a tyrant. Yes. He’s so dangerous, but he looks like a little mouse.

That's low, and how about this; when asked "what was it like growing up in a Muslim country (Iran)?"

Every morning before classes the entire school would line up in the schoolyard and sing revolutionary songs. Afterward we would chant: “Marg bar America! Marg bar Israel! — Death to America! Death to Israel!” Did school officials know you were Jewish? Yes, but they view Judaism and Zionism as different entities. They may have some tolerance for the religion, but Israel is Zionism, and that’s the evil. As they say, the big Satan is America, and the little Satan is Israel.

I'm sure growing up in a Muslim country as a Jew - lets say Iran - wouldn't be worse than growing up a Muslim in Jewish country like ISREAL.

Two Top Somali Journalists Killed

Two prominent Somali journalist have been killed in Mogadishu within hours of each other. Ali Iman Sharmarke was one of the owners of HornAfrik, he died instantly after his car exploded after running over a remotely-controlled landmine. He was coming back from the funeral of a fellow journalist Mahad Ahmad Elmi, of Capital Voice, who was shot in the morning. The two men were daring journalists who were not afraid to offend the warlords and now the insurgents and the TFG. The TFG closed HornAfrik several times and they've also received threats from other armed groups.

What Horn Afrik has done was amazing, when they started Mogadishu was controlled by warlords, they had to employ militias or armed guards to protect their reporters and photographers. Their radio shows was also very popular allowing residents to complain about the warlords and militias in the city. Hopefully what Ali Sharmaarke had started will continue.CBC Canada has a long report on the Horn Afrik, few years back.

Documentary on Gaza; must see!

Rageh Omar goes back to Gaza after 10 years to film this wonderful documentary. He meets the head of the family that kidnapped Alan Johnston, who denies kidnapping the journalist (but they did) instead he asks why the whole world cares about the fate one westerner and not the thousands of Palestinians killed.

There is also a rare interview with Ala’a al Homs, head of Al Aqsa Martyr Brigades, the military wing of Fatah and one of the pioneers of kidnappings in Gaza; Al Homs admits that kidnappings aren't helping the Palestinian cause. The second part of the documentary is even more compelling, Rageh shows the harsh conditions in Gaza that is responsible for the violence and kidnapings in Gaza.

It's a compelling documentary. You can watch it here, part1 and part2

BREAKING NEWS: Israeli troops shoot Palestinian journalists

Just a day after Hamas succeeded in releasing Alan Johnston, Israeli troops were caught on camera shooting Palestinian journalists in Gaza. The soldiers continue shooting even though the journalists are down. One of the journalists lost both his legs and is in a critical stage. This is not the first time the Israelis target journalists.

This is not the first time the Israelis do it and certainly not a mistake. Welcome to the daily lives of the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Finally, Alan Johnston released!

I was ecstatic this morning when I heard the news that Alan Johnston was finally released. For four long months, he was held by a group calling themselves "The Army of Islam", actually a violent family called the Dogmush. During his ordeal he was once rumored to have been killed and later shown in video recording wearing an explosive belt.

When Hamas took control of Gaza they made it clear that the release of Alan Johnston is at the top of their agenda, and they've delivered. You can find a detailed account on how Hamas did it on BBC:

Fortunately for Alan, when Hamas took control in Gaza the rules of the game changed.

Hamas's priority is to restore law and order to the Gaza Strip, and one the first items on that agenda was to get Alan Johnston freed.

The group's Executive Forces, a kind of irregular police force in Gaza, and its military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, deployed in the Dogmush neighbourhood.

Up to five members of the clan were detained in the last few days. There are reports that water and electricity were cut off in some streets.

Calls also came from senior members of the family from different branches to free Alan.

It is a relief all round that the pro-Hamas forces did not resort to a military solution, which could have endangered the lives of Alan Johnston, as well as captors, rescuers and bystanders.

The captors were clearly afraid of such a possibility. At one point they dressed Alan in what appeared to be an explosives belt, of the type used by suicide bombers, which they said would be detonated if they were attacked.

It took Hamas to take full control of Gaza for Alan to be released, Fatah is much weaker and was unable to pressure the kidnappers (besides Fatah was busy trying to bring down the elected Hamas government, using American money).

This also sends a strong message to the Israelis, if you want the Israeli soldier in captivity to be released you must release some of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

I use to listen to Alan's reports on BBC, his prospectives and observations about the living conditions in Gaza were much need and his sympathy to the blight of the Palestinian people was heartwarming. Alan talked about his ordeal and thanked Hamas and everyone who took part in his release.

Links for 21-6-2007

Martin Moore Blog: The twilight zone between blogs and journalism
Excellent post, the example of a newspaper citing a blog in a journalistic work. Yet another example of blurring the line between blogging and journalism.

BB Editor's Blog: A year on

Editor's blog one of the favorite blogs and certainly one of the best ways to learn about editorial transparency, it's has been a year since it's launched - well done.

washingtonpost - 'West Bank First': It Won't Work

An interesting piece, while the authors don't go into the reasons of Hamas outburst and US efforts to undermine the democratically elected Hamas (in fact they seem to agree with this). But they make a good point, that Western efforts to isolate Hamas in Gaza and flood the West Bank with money isn't going to work.

Unidentified man

Despite all their coverage on Somalia, Reuters is having difficulty identifying the Somali PM Gedi.