New Question For Reuters

Update - I'll be doing a call in radio interview with WTVN in Ohio on this shortly. You can catch the streaming here. Link fixed.

The Reuters story is literally exploding on too many blogs to link, see Memerorandum. I have a new issue regarding Adnan Hajj and Reuters, though we may not be able to get a straight answer. Take a look at the two images below.

The images are filed the very same day. How much would you like to bet that that Hizbollah guerrilla and the fireman with the hose are the very same individual? (Click thumbnails to enlarge.)

I made a comparison image at bottom. I'm thinking he either had a Hizbollah guerilla pose as a fireman, or a fireman pose as a guerilla. Or, um, the man is actually both.

Here:Note photo date and especially the serial number - 2006_07_17t055734. A fireman attempts to put out a fire in a factory that was targeted by Israeli missiles in Choweyfet, southern Beirut, July 17, 2006. (Adnan Hajj/Reuters)

And Here: 2006_07_17t100442. A Lebanese Hizbollah guerrilla aims his rifle as smoke rises from a burning object in a Beirut suburb July 17,2006. Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz said on Monday that no Israeli jet or helicopter had been shot down over Lebanon but did not rule out that a drone many have been downed. REUTERS/Adnan Hajj(LEBANON)

Comments

[mylena]

I'm sorry but I do not see any resemblance between the two, their hair color is different and the boldness is compeltely different???!!!!!

[Vanderleun]

Have to agree. No obvious resemblance. You need more than this. Sorry.

[Dan]

I didn't think it could be proven, but I find it odd that they are wearing what looks like the same shirt, have the same cowlick - that little tuft in the back middle of the head. But I agree, without a face, it can't be proven.

[Carol Herman]

This woman sees it! The male baldness pattern is the same on both men's heads. So, it's the same man. Just as it would be if you could get him to hold up his hands for fingerprints. (Also, here, I'm not sure. But I think the fireman may even be in the same shirt! But the photo of the "terrorist, and his gun" gets to add a flak jacket.)

Where's the long shot? Where you could see what surrounds the photographer? Maybe, he has a makeup chair nearby, so the cosmetician can remove nose shine? Heck, Geraldo Rivera. Remember him? His mustache got caught in fake pictures in Afghanistan, and I don't think he's been shown, since, on TV.

Just to mention, spooks, when they want to meld into crowds, look for "nondescript looks." And, they change hats. In other words, one change to their outward appearances, and most people are fooled.

[Carol Herman]

If you still don't see it, concentrate on just the cowlick. That's a tell tale wisp. Matches. That's what I first saw.

[mylena]

well i'm a woman too!!! i'm looking it over and over, but no I don't see it. baldness pattern is not equal The first man has a lower/bigger round, Even the thickness of hair is completely different (thin versus thick/brittle). The haircolor from the second man is greyer....

[Frank IBC]

Is the column of smoke in the leftmost picture the same one as in your article from yesterday, "Is Reuters Doctoring Photos?" - the photo with the two Hizbullah on the motorcycle?

Not necessarily photoshopped, just the same object taken from a slightly different location. But the column of smoke in the latter picture cuts off more abruptly than I would expect it to do.

[Frank IBC]

I don't think the "militant" and the "fireman" are the same guy. The militant is more bald with just a few twinges of gray at the temples and is wearing a shirt with no collar, the fireman is wearing a shirt with a color and has much less hair loss, but more gray hair all over.

[Tom Suhadolnik]

I don't know if the militant or fireman is the same guy, but I know the militant photo is probably staged. That fire you see is a pile of tires burning in the background. The rubble in the foreground looks like is a pile discarded commodes and appliances.

I know because the same militant was photographed at the same angle for the cover the US News and World Report a few weeks ago. Being a former firefighter I was drawn to the photo because I was wondering what could be burning and making so much smoke. When you look closely at an magazine cover sized version of the photo you can see all the details.

Of course in that photo the militant was not crouched down looking across the field of trash, he was standing with his back to the dump. His uniform was supprisingly clean. I know when I wear a black t-shirt for more then five minutes in a dusty environment it looks dirty.

I can't prove it, but I cannot imagine the dump was attacked or that a militant was deployed to protect it either.

[Carol Herman]

Oh, yes. The fire hose. One person. Aims and fires? When I was a kid, they used to open the fire hydrants so we could play. The pressure is amazing. It's not like your holding your "hose" to pee, guys. And, even then, you can miss the center of the latrine.

As to the comparisons of the two pictures where you see the bald dome and its cowlick, what to focus on is the cowlick itself. To a barber, it would be the same guy. Different pictures are not overlays.

Adnan Hajj is a Where's Waldo composer if ever there was one. Everything is done for photo opportunistic pictures. Then, like the GREEN HELMET guy with the dead baby, wearing the absolutely clean blue binky; you can see that Hajj has a great eye for the details. WITHOUT THE REALITY.

I'd bet he carries a painters brush in his back pocket; to brush away dust. Though Reuters is blaming "dust and poor lighting" as not catching obviously photoshopped pictures.

Meanwhile, to really bring this story home, Little Green Footballs, Charles Johnson, has added Godzilla to the faked Beirut scene; Faked because it even replicates buildings. Some dust. Some dust storm AHEAD! Hold onto your hats, folks. Reuters learned nothing from C-BS.

[Frank IBC]

Carol Herman -

I'm not sure the guy is actually "holding a hose". It looks like it's anchored to the fire truck and he's simply aiming it.

[anon]

i'm all for exposing the truth, but i think you're going a little overboard. those two guys are definitely different; one is balding, the other has a full head of hair. maybe he bought the other guy a toupe? stick to the real stuff - staged and altered photos.

[Dan]

a full head of hair

You're allowing the lighting to influence you. If it isn't the same guy, fine. Who knows for sure? But both are balding. Put the later in the same sun and I doubt you'd see much difference.

[Phoenix]

The bald spot looks doctored. But check out the ears. No way they're the same man.

[mylena]

from a barber point of view???!!, the substance of the hair is different, not alike the hoseguy has obvious brittle grey hair, the gun guy doesn't. Just because they have sort of the same pose doesn't make it the same person.

[Frank IBC]

I wonder if either of them is "Mr. Green Helmet". Now that would be funny. Unfortunately I couldn't find any pictures of him, from the rear, helmet-less.

[Rick]

As a fireifhgter, if I'd lost that much hair in a few days, I too would grab an AK and go nuts............

[Ginny]

I'm still wondering about White Tee Shirt Guy, in those pictures from Qana where he's standing around casually in the basement, then gets hystrionic for the cameras. He obviously is not the girls "father." Has he been seen in any other of Hajj's pictures? Or in any other pictures period?

I don't think the two bald guys are the same--different weights and different hair texture and cut. And see on the lower right side of the bald spot? One has hair going up into it; the other doesn't.

[Carol Herman]

IT'S THE GREEN-HELMET GUY!

Sans his helmet, he's got this balding spot.

I know you don't see it yet; but wait. Because "GREEN-HELMET is turning up in lots of photos, now that Adnan Hajj bot caught. Reuter's has gone and deleted all of his 900+ photos. But you'll see. These photos, up ahead, will match out to being not only "the same guy." BUT THE GREEN-HELMET MAN. Take your time.

[rhina]

The hizbollah gunman is featured in the July 31 issue of the Time Magazine.In the picture it shows a pile of tires burning.