News & Analysis
Polish Plane Crash Stirs Internet
This digitally enhanced video does a good job at showing the activity on the ground minutes after the crash of the Polish presidential plane in Russia. Audio translated by a collaborative Facebook effort of Russian, Polish and English native speakers. The revelations are stunning. – YouTube
Dominant Social Theme: A sorrowful tragedy has taken place and we mourn.
Free-Market Analysis: This is a powerful video – Click here to view. Is it a hoax? If it is proves to be true – and not fake or mistranslated – it will go down in the annals of history (unless it goes down the memory hole) as one of the most significant and memorable video documentaries ever created. Yes, if true, it would be worthy of an Oscar and other mainstream media awards, though it likely will not receive a single one.
The initial video – which appeared in early April was not apparently much commented on in the mainstream Western press – has already received in aggregate millions of views. The enhancements appear to be have been performed serially (apparently by a nameless crew at Facebook), and not necessarily by professional journalists. Even if it is a hoax, it certainly presents the powerful emotional punch the Internet is capable of delivering.
The posting of the enhanced video with subtitles (or at least one of them) – when we viewed it – only had about 600 views on YouTube, though it has been reposted elsewhere. It is posted on "YouTube as Digital Enhancement of Amateur Plane Crash Site Footage (w / English Subtitles) in Smolensk." Watching the video is blood-curdling. If true, it is like being in a time machine and observing first-hand as yet another tragic chapter in the history of humankind is writ large in a bloody hand.
What would be the reasons for an assassination of the Polish President? Lech Kaczynski had a reputation as an independent thinker, a conservative and was apparently opposed to the further centralization of EU power in Brussels. He also seemed to take an adversarial stance toward Russia that included placing US missiles on Polish soil. His burial was attended by very few foreign leaders, though volcanic ash was said to have impeded the travel plans of many.
Because of the controversy surrounding him, there were plenty of conspiracy theories floated after the plane crash. But one could be pardoned for assuming that the talk would not give way to documented, official evidence, given the history of how such tragedies unfold. There is the initial shock, then the accusations fly and sometimes there is an "investigation" – one that is inconclusive and does not amount to much.
We have often written about the changed communication environment of the 21st century and this YouTube video might seem a case in point. The Internet has made communication control increasingly difficult and this video and its elaborations would, in fact, seem to be proof positive of this perception – in an emphatic fashion (and of free-market economist FA Hayek's "spontaneous order," as well).
The video seems to show a heinous crime in action, the execution of survivors of the plane crash by shadowy figures. You can see the figures running through the woods and hear the gunshots. You can read translated dialogue. In trying to figure out the provenance of the video, we came across the following report, apparently issued by the Polish Military Prosecutor's Office, with a publication time: 28 April 2010, 21:00 and posted at kavkazcenter.com:
The video made several minutes after the crash of Polish president's plane near Smolensk, Russia is true, Military Prosecutor's Office of Poland said, the Azerbaijani news agency APA reports quoting CNN Turk.
The video shows three moving silhouettes jumping from the plane, laughter and the pilot's voice calling for help are heard. Poland's Military Prosecutor's Office said the documents related to the flight were being investigated, 60 gave testimonies, but it was impossible to specify the exact time of the crash.
The author of the video is reportedly Andrey Menderey. He was stabbed shortly after the video was released on the Internet. Andrey Menderey was unplugged from the artificial respirator by an unidentified person.
Conclusion: Is the video a hoax? Are the translations accurate? The Internet is increasingly full of hoaxes, often released in our opinion by various intel agencies and other individuals and institutions that wish to discredit the Internet and its truth-telling capability. But regardless, true or not (or at least until it is provably false), this short YouTube clip amply illustrates the emotional punch this intimate yet wide-ranging informational technology is capable of delivering. It also, of course, raises disturbing questions about the thus-far official narrative of the tragic plane crash and the Polish President's demise.
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Posted by Jacek on 02/17/11 04:36 AM
PS. I am a Pole myself.
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Posted by Lila Rajiva on 06/16/10 10:19 AM
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Posted by Tom Petrie on 05/22/10 02:46 PM
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Posted by Anna on 05/07/10 11:37 PM
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Posted by Femacamper on 05/05/10 10:03 AM
Maybe you should do an article! You seem to have your head on straight.
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Posted by Gem on 05/05/10 04:12 AM
When the reports of the plane crash came through on the radio, and it was stated that all the Polish leaders were aboard, it seemed "too good to be true" if you understand me: what I mean is that it simply sounded like a fake accident.
I was startled that the Polish authorities would allow all their chiefs to travel in one aircraft at the same time, it was just too easy to get away with.
I am reminded of the car "accident" which involved Morgan Tchangerai and ended with the loss of his much loved wife. That too was just too co-incidental to be the work of accident alone, especially with a gentle leader like Mugabe at the helm. I am grateful that a much saddened Morgan survived to be able to take Zimbabwe further.
I have to explain myself a little here: I view these "behind the scenes" groups who seek to gain power over the greater population as negative entities. They are not seeking the further good of mankind. I will say that in doing so, they are missing the point of their own earthly incarnation. I speak as one who has not missed that point, and can find beauty and solace in (almost) everything I behold. I can find enjoyment in the very passing of time, the sunrise and sunset, rainfall and wind.
My point is: how many of our great leaders - public and otherwise, rich and poor - can enjoy their lives in the way that I have found in myself? Most people are racked with worry, envy or greed; all these things lead away from your true inner self and the true gift of humanity which is to be able to enjoy one's very existence in the way that a blackbird (merel) sings out its joys of being alive every morning.
I come from a farming family, and know how important food is to a human. It does not grow by means of dollars or euros or any fictional or notional device. Plants need things that cannot be bought, plants can only be nurtured, and to do so you must be able to understand what a plant is (and what it is not!).
But back to the topic, whatever the goodness or badness of the former president of Poland, it is wholly wrong for anyone to interfere with his life.
Again, I might not agree with everything that is said in this media site, but that is not why I read it! Thanks for taking a stand guys.
Reply from The Daily Bell
Thanks the thoughtful feedback.
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Posted by Kris on 05/05/10 03:17 AM
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Posted by Bill on 05/04/10 10:07 PM
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Posted by Femacamper on 05/04/10 09:04 PM
Definitely, weather could have been affected, as fog can be generated with mineral salts blown in the air. If there was any explosive used, the evidence was cleaned up promptly.
Communication difficulties have been confirmed to not be the issue. They have the black boxes and air traffic control records, and have issued a statement saying this was not the case.
It's quite possible there were survivors, as it was flying very low to the ground, and at that speed, there would be a high survival rate, perhaps 80%. The fuselage of the plane was intact, it's the wings and other parts that were torn off. Crash photos confirm this.
The crash survivors were limping away, likely with their last breath of energy. I could clearly see them climbing out of the remains.
The cameraman was filming from far enough away that he could avoid confrontation, while at the same time still be able to catch distant movement. By the time they noticed his presence, the guilty Russians in question decided to run rather than find out who was watching them.
Many more questions already are answered here in my article:
Click to view link
Reply from The Daily Bell
It is a comprehensive article.
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Posted by Scott on 05/04/10 08:44 PM
:)
No, this is the Blair Witch Project trying to start World War III theory...
Reply from The Daily Bell
Ha! A new one.
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Posted by Femacamper on 05/04/10 06:47 PM
Definitely, weather could have been affected, as fog can be generated with mineral salts blown in the air. If there was any explosive used, the evidence was cleaned up promptly.
Communication difficulties have been confirmed to not be the issue. They have the black boxes and air traffic control records, and have issued a statement saying this was not the case.
It's quite possible there were survivors, as it was flying very low to the ground, and at that speed, there would be a high survival rate, perhaps 80%. The fuselage of the plane was intact, it's the wings and other parts that were torn off. Crash photos confirm this.
The crash survivors were limping away, likely with their last breath of energy. I could clearly see them climbing out of the remains.
The cameraman was filming from far enough away that he could avoid confrontation, while at the same time still be able to catch distant movement. By the time they noticed his presence, the guilty Russians in question decided to run rather than find out who was watching them.
Many more questions already are answered here in my article:
Click to view link
Reply from The Daily Bell
It is a quite comprehensive article.
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Posted by Scott on 05/04/10 01:49 PM
- Daily Bell
"Warsaw, Poland, April 13 (UPI) -- Six bodies of Polish officials killed in a weekend Plane Crash in Russia were trapped under debris Tuesday, search officials said. Crews worked around the clock to build an access road to the crash site to enable a crane to be brought in to lift parts of the fuselage, the daily Rzeczpospolita newspaper said. The Saturday crash of the Tu-154 jet short of the runway at Smolensk in heavy fog killed President Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria, along with 94 other... "
It would seem that at least some bodies were in fact found at the site?
Since I could cook that video myself in less than a week my first reaction to it would be negative. It's awfully convenient that the alleged videographer died of stab wounds in Kiev shortly after the video was leaked.
It doesn't make much sense to kill someone after they've released evidence unless you're just using a random stabbing victim in Kiev to cover the real source of the material.
Clever idea though. Great way to start a war.
Reply from The Daily Bell
Ah ... Perhaps this is the "Israel is trying to start World War III" theory?
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Posted by Lance E. Schultz on 05/04/10 12:24 PM
What is not mysterious is the fact they are now gone and thus can no longer stand in the way of a certain agenda. Where and how they went is inconsequential; it is the fact they went at all that should be rather troublesome to the core.
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Posted by MetaCynic on 05/04/10 12:12 PM
If the Russians had something to do with the crash, how would they have accomplished this so close to the landing strip as to make it look like a weather related accident? Any kind of explosive or missile would leave very noticeable forensic evidence. Could Russian agents have tampered with the plane's instruments prior to the flight?
English is the language of commercial air traffic control. Since this was a military airfield the air traffic controller was a Russian trying to communicate with a Polish pilot. Perhaps there were communication difficulties. The black boxes could confirm this. The black boxes could also confirm if the Russian air traffic controller was deliberately misleading the pilot as to his position.
It's hard to believe there were any survivors. Who was doing the running? Survivors? Would they have been in any condition to run? What would be the point of shooting survivors especially since that suspicion will result in autopsies confirming gunshot wounds.
What was the cameraman doing there? Was he a passerby? If so there could have been others which could explain the running and shooting. Soldiers from the base could be firing warning shots to chase away looters. If they were shooting survivors, would they have failed to notice the cameraman openly wandering around documenting their crime?
Reply from The Daily Bell
You make good points.
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Posted by Kevin on 05/04/10 11:47 AM
Click to view link
The original webpage.
http://www.naszdziennik.pl/index.php?dat=20100417&typ=tk&id=tk22.txt
Reply from The Daily Bell
Thanks.
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Posted by Lance Schultz on 05/04/10 11:22 AM
Reply from The Daily Bell
Actually, if one accepts the hypothesis of a nefarious conspiracy, the Polish delegation was not going anywhere at all, let alone all at once in one plane to a memorial of some sort. Hypothetically, according to conspiratorialists, the way these attacks seem to work (in any country) is that the individuals involved never set foot on a given airplane but are shepherded away long before any passenger manifests are released. What happens to them is therefore a mystery, according to conspiratorialists, as are the reported lack of bodies at the crash site.
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Posted by John Acord on 05/04/10 08:50 AM
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Posted by Adrian W. on 05/04/10 07:04 AM
Reply from The Daily Bell
Believe it to be Russia, at least initially.
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Posted by Michael Ponzani on 05/04/10 06:13 AM
This proves the Rus still are our enemy. I thought so immediately after hearing of this tragedy. It is also interesting that the Polish leadership were killed about ltwelve days after rejecting the IMF's austterity/loan programs. I bet the same thing wkould happen to Greece's leadership if they were to stand up to those "international agents of cosmopolitism."
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Posted by George Sign on 05/04/10 04:54 AM
Click to view link
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