well, what did you expect? the History Channel *is* a Fox-owned station, and we all know that Fox is the official propaganda wing for the Neocon 4th Reich....
I'm really glad I don't have cable.

If you want to send the History Channel comments, here's a link. You might have to paste this in your browser. Anyway, I sent them an earful.

http://www.history.com/global/feedback/faq.jsp?NetwCode=THC&level_1=nodes_38&level_2=nodes_71&level_3=nodes_86&x=23&y=13

Look, all it takes is a little bit of editing :
1."The United States have emerged as the most clear and present danger to American security." Now, who could quarrel with that?
2. "the US or its allies." Delete. We got allies?
Not demonstrable. Israel, much of the time. Saudi Arabia, when it suits them. The Europeans' DNA prevents them from being anybody's allies. Read Ferguson's "War of the World."
3. Unless the show is narrated by Henry Kissinger, in that croaking, German-accented, convoluted manner, people will try to make sense of the program. They will, of course, fail and tune into "Bowling for Dollars" reruns, the show that represents our national spirit better than anything else. If Kissinger marrates, they will accept his from the German-translated pomposities as wisdom, as does the Washington Post.
Iran, mein Fuehrer, und mach schnell!

Wow, I guess the History Channel finally wore out all the old, public-domain WW2 footage in their archives.

This dovetails nicely with a show I noticed on the History Channel yesterday morning called "Saddam and the Third Reich". Here's how they describe it:

"Few people realize that the Baath party was actually formed upon the principles and organizational structure of the Nazi party. Iraq, because of its oil and hatred of Jews, was an important battleground between the Axis and Allied powers in World War II. Nazi propaganda was broadcast throughout Baghdad, and Iraqis often went on rampages against Jews throughout the war. One of the most ardent Nazi supporters during WWII was named Khairallah Talfah. Talfah was Saddam's uncle. After the war, many of the key Iraqi Nazi supporters, all of whom evaded prosecution, wound up involved in Saddam's rise to power. This special examines the key individuals of the Iraqi-Nazi connection, the little-known battle for Iraq in WWII, and the strange link to Saddam Hussein."

So, by the transitive property of the History Channel, Iran is Nazi Germany. QED. Those who don't recognize this threat are as wimpy as Neville Chamberlain's little sister.

I love documentaries so much my marriage is in serious trouble, but I can't watch the (Learn Nothing From) History Channel. The more you know about the topic, the more outraged you get.

Oh well. As Santayana said, "Those who do not remember the past are doomed to watch the History Channel."

They have had that on before. I've always enjoyed History Channels conservative slant.

I think that special was aired right after Operation Perpetual Escalation (The second Iraq War) started.

I hope they clarify whether such a program, if it exists and if it is intended to be "used against the US and its allies" would be used aggressively or if they would use it against invasion forces or in retaliation against an attack if its deterrent effect failed. The former would seem to be suicidal while the latter seems totally rational. If distinction is not considered then the piece is pure propaganda.

the History Channel *is* a Fox-owned station

Actually, it isn't.  It's part of A&E Television Networks, jointly owned by The Walt Disney Company (37.5%), The Hearst Corporation (37.5%), and NBC Universal (25%).

So, you know, not FOX, but nothing terribly trustworthy.

I also noticed the original "Planet of the Apes" was on the History Channel over the weekend. I hope people aren't looking to them for credibility.

I suppose if Henry Ford were alive today, he'd have to say: "The History Channel is more or less bunk."

A relatively new coinage to refer to our traditional Westasian enemy [i.e. I just encountered it recently at Moon of Alabama, the site for refugees from the late, great Whiskey Bar of Billmon - but I see by googling that it's at least a couple of years old] is

INRANQ

I meant

IRANQ

please excuse that slip of the finger

the once proud military tradition of Iran, its recent decline in power

The Iranian army managed to prevent Iraq from toppling its government in spite of the fact that the West supported Iraq while Iran was diplomatically isolated. Clearly this means that Iran is a weak country with no reason to be be proud of its armed forces.

I am continually appalled by the militant and nationalistic History Channel. How many programs are about warfare? Sure, they dwell upon WWII, but most of their history-related programming focuses on military history. My favorite is the one where they reinact actual battles in Afghanistan against the Taliban, so the viewers at home can share the excitement and glory of gunning down the Muslim Threat.

Oh we're
Marching, Marching on to TEHRAN
With the Eagle and the Sword
We'll TEACH them ALL about Democracy
And CLAIM the OIL for our Reward
Marching, Marching on to TEHRAN
We'll SPILL their BLOOD along the Way
Yes, increase Halliburton's BOTTOMLINE
And take the OIL for our Pay

Marching, Marching on to TEHRAN
Without a sound from Congress' Halls
They WON'T utter a single Word
'Cause NONE OF THEM have got the BALLS
Marchimg, Marching on to TEHRAN
We'll have OUR Children clear the Way
And TRADE THEIR LIVES for an SUV
And GRAB THE OIL for our Pay

>> the world's super powers

What the hell is this plural crap?!
Super powerzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Hello?!

Who's the world's SOLE superpower, huh?

So much anti-americanism on the teevee... it's gross.

I also noticed the original "Planet of the Apes" was on the History Channel over the weekend. I hope people aren't looking to them for credibility.

Posted by Susan

Susan,

Considering the atavistic Chimp-in-Chief who now occupies the Executive Mansion, the All Hitler/All the Time Channel's credibility may no longer be suspect.

Did anybody know that Hitler used drugs and was a very bad man who committed atrocities after being supported by German corporate elitists who enabled him to be in a position of ultimate power?

Give them a break, people! In 40 or 50 years they might show a documentary about another evil fascist who was under the influence of drugs and committed atrocities world-wide after being slipped into the ultimate position of power by American corporate elitists!

Personally, I can't wait to see that one! Where's my popcorn?

ah the hitler channel.

they;re just looking to find a new source of footage, cause most of the ww2 vets are probably too old to care about tv anymore.

The show was produced in 2005 and first shown on History Channel in December 2005, then again last year in June. Whenever the war talk heats up, out it comes -- readymade propaganda.

Sorry for the double post, the site was being weird.

to Dayv: www.moonofalabama.org

My apologies for the multiple posts. I got a 'cannot find server' error, and when I reloaded the comments, my comment wasn't there. Next time I'll just assume it went through.

Ah, the War and Bible Channel... by turns boring and ridiculous.

And a "History Channel" was such an exciting, promising prospect. We got ripped.

Mike Meyer,

Nice reworking of the old Firesign Theatre tune. Just for shits and giggles, here's the original (unfortunately still too relevant with its choruses of brainless Fundies...):

@ALBUM: Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me The Pliers
@SONG: The Rough-As-A-Cob March
-------------------------------------------

(source: From "Big Book of Plays", page 62-63)

Choir: We're marching, marching to Shibboleth,
With the Eagle and the Sword!
We're praising Zion 'til her death,
Until we meet our last reward!
Men: Our Lord's reward!
Women: Zion! Oh happy Zion!
O'er wrapp'd, but not detained!
Men: Lion, f'rocious Lion!
His beard our mighty mane!
Women: At First and Main!
Men: Oh, we;ll go marching, marching to Omaha,
With the Buckram and the Cord!
Women: You'll hear us "boom" our State!
Men: Ha, ha! As we cross the final ford!
Women: The flaming Ford!
Choir: Zion! Oh mighty Zion!
Your bison now are dust!
As your cornflakes rise
"Gainst the rust-red skies,
Then our blood requires us must
Go ...
Men: Marching, marching to Shibboleth,
With the Eagle and the ...
Women: The Buckram and the Cord!
Men: Sword! Praising Zion 'til her death!
Women: Ha, ha!
Men: Until we eat our last reward!
Women: The flaming Ford!
Choir: Zion! Oh righteous Zion!
There is no one to blame!
For the homespun pies
'Neath the cracking skies
Shall release the fulsome rain!
Tenor: Shall release!
Men: Shall release!
Soprano: Shall release!
Women: Shall release!
Choir: Shall release the vinyl rein!

Here's hoping that we don't all wind up crossing that Flaming Ford through the unwanted agency of The Decider.

Love that Firesign. THE FIGHTING CLOWNS is a lot more relevant. "Oh, Afhganistan, Save us from Babylon, if they can take your name away, can they take us too.(they do, man)

In early 2003 I remember them showing a pseudodocumentary about Normandy in which they talked to various sons of WW2 leaders- Eisenhower's kid, Montgomery's kid, etc. It was so obvious and disgusting, but at least they didn't have a story about the Faith of George W. Bush like Newsweek. Remember that, with the butcher-in-chief praying on the cover?

And I remember another occasion when they talked about the cars of various presidents, and they showed FDR's Ford V8 with hand controls, which is supposedly the 1st car specially built like that, and then they cut to some auto historian who offered the throwaway line that "people liked FDR even though he didn't do anything about the depression, because he gave people hope."

For me that was the moment I came closest to throwing the TV set out the window. The bit with the WW2 sons at least had the snarky compensation that Rommel's son spoke better English than Dubya.

My pappy was a WWII/Korean War vet and a 20 year lifer. Had he lived to see this incessant nonsense on the Hitlery Channel, he would be saying the same thing that he used to say whenever John Wayne's (as well as all other) war movies were shown on TV: "Goddamned propaganda movies! How can you kids watch that crap?"