Offensive propaganda
Is this sign real or fake? It seems quite convenient how CAIR and others are using it for propaganda purposes.
How do we know this is from Iraq? That appears to be a Real Madrid T-shirt. Are those being passed out or sold in Iraq? There is Arabic writing behind them, however that doesn't imply Iraq specifically. The thumbs up signs are just too much. Supposedly they do not have the negative connotation when used by or to Americans in Iraq, but they still are an insult in much of the world.
And, could the supposed Marine pictured be a Boudreaux, or could he be Spanish or an Arab?
As for the writing, it's already been pointed out that the abbreviation should be "LCPL" instead of "Lcpl." It's already been pointed out that the text is oriented too far to the right, almost as if to avoid the shadow. What about the other words. How many English speakers capitalize non-proper nouns such as "Dad," "Knocked," and "Sister?"
I suspect it will come out this is a fairly sophisticated attempt at propaganda.
UPDATE: I'm no handwriting expert, but this writing appears a bit too curvilinear for someone who's a native user of the Roman alphabet. Look at the tails of the 'd's. The segment in the lower right goes down at a 45 degree angle, much like the Greek alpha. Look at the lower legs of the 'K's. They're too horizontal, and they don't match the upper legs. The 'S' in "Sister" looks almost like an Arabic letter. The 'u' in "Boudreaux" is also missing a tail, making it look like the Greek letter. I also noticed a period after "Killed my Dad." However, "then" is not capitalized; most English speakers would consider that disconcerting.
UPDATE 2: Also, note the supposed Marines' sleeves. If he put his arms down to his sides, it looks like his sleeves would be an inch or two too long. Based on that and the information above, I strongly favor this being a real picture of a fake event.
UPDATE 3: The Marine and sign appear to be real.
UPDATE 4: I deleted the last comment. No suggestions of violence please. For more on comments here, see this post.
Posted to Iraq at April 5, 2004 12:44 PM
Having visited parts of the mideast and Africa I can say that football (soccer) jerseys for well known clubs are ubiquitous. Surely a knock off jersey, and you can buy those at markets for less than a couple dollars.
I would concur on most of the rest of your points, it seems photoshopped. I hope it is.
Posted by: platosearwax at April 5, 2004 11:32 PM
Having visited parts of the mideast and Africa I can say that football (soccer) jerseys for well known clubs are ubiquitous. Surely a knock off jersey, and you can buy those at markets for less than a couple dollars.
I would concur on most of the rest of your points, it seems photoshopped. I hope it is.
Posted by: platosearwax at April 5, 2004 11:33 PM
Winning hearts and minds.
Posted by: Alfredo at April 6, 2004 09:28 AM
That Lcpl Boudreaux photo floating around the net is a fake. Somebody's idea of a joke I guess.
http://www.imagedump.com/index.cgi?pick=get&tp=59682
Posted by: Mrs. Observant at April 11, 2004 06:59 AM
Of course its real. As for your "sophisticated" handwriting analysis....You have way too much time on your hands!!
Posted by: Hello!!!! at April 15, 2004 07:06 AM
Of course its real. As for your "sophisticated" handwriting analysis....You have way too much time on your hands!!
Posted by: Hello!!!! at April 15, 2004 07:06 AM
Being in the service, one of the most obvious flaws with this picture is that Lance Corporal is a Marine Corp. rank, and most of the Marines in Iraq are wearing digital camo. DCUs. The ones in this photo, however, are the standard DCUs worn by the Army, not the Marines.
Posted by: issuesbc at April 15, 2004 07:21 AM
This is fake. Do a google and you find multiple versions.
Posted by: Willer at April 15, 2004 01:15 PM
pretty sure it's the guy,.....pretty, pretty sure it is,.....has truth in the writings,....absolutely no clue.
Posted by: two cent at April 20, 2004 11:27 AM
Ol' LCPL Boudreaux looks like he'll get a free ride on his screwy idea of a good time in Iraq, now that the Army has beat him out with photos of sexual perversion in Abu Ghraib prison. Or are all those Photoshop fakes, too?
Posted by: Joe at May 1, 2004 03:00 PM
