Da Techguy's (no longer backup) Blog

Drudge reports that the IDF is taking the war to YouTube:

In the midst of its Gaza operations, the IDF is entering yet another conflict zone: the Internet. The Israeli army announced yesterday the creation of its own YouTube channel, through which it will disseminate footage of precision bombing operations in the Gaza Strip, as well as aid distribution and other footage of interest to the international community.

IAF destroys truck with Grads
Footage shows terrorists loading vehicle with missiles; Navy joins op.

“The blogosphere and new media are another war zone,” said IDF Foreign Press Branch head Maj. Avital Leibovich. “We have to be relevant there.”

This is exactly the right move as they will be able to report unfiltered news but news that the media chooses to ignore. After all if nobody reports on something; such as Col John Chu’s 6/29/06 testimony before the House Armed Services Committee reporting on WMD found in Iraq; as far as people are concerned it never happened.

A YouTube clip is worth 1000 words.

Meanwhile the Gazans have taken their propaganda war to Second Life:

Dozens of people have been gathering since Saturday in Second Life at a protest of the recent attacks in the Gaza Strip. The Egypt and Qatar-based news site, IslamOnline.net, has built a Palestine Holocaust Memorial Museum with scores of pictures of the attacks and people wounded in the attacks drawn news sources around the world. The museum was previously named the Gaza Holocaust Museum, about which we blogged in March 2008. Those who identified themselves who attended the gathering were mostly in Egypt, but also included people in Morocco, Italy, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, France and the United States.

The gathering is an example of the rich, textured opportunity that 3D immersive spaces like Second Life offer for people to express their concerns about present day issues.

I wonder if the 2nd life pro Hamas protesters will also be physically attacking pro Israel 2nd life protesters? I would doubt is as I suspect the pro Israel people have actual lives to live.

The dichotomy is actually perfect. Israel moves to inform using reality while Hamas tries to sway opinion using fantasy.

Update: Via Glenn Confederate Yankee reports that Hamas supporters are flagging Israel’s youtube posts and have already succeeded in having some pulled;

Several of the videos showing the Isreali Air Force hitting Hamas rocket launching sites with GBU-39 precision-guided bombs have been flagged by pro-Hamas (or at least anti-Israeli) users and momentarily removed for terms of use violations before being restored. Some have been removed and have not been restored. Expect this online battle to continue, and perhaps intensify.

Considering Google’s/Youtube’s history this should be no surprise.

LGF is reporting this too.