About us Login Get email updates
Quick Clip
Print

Only on Fox: Cable channel aired photos of aliens attacking Library Tower

February 09, 2006 1:55 pm ET

Trouble viewing clip? Download: QT | WMV

In a February 9 speech, President Bush disclosed details of what he described as a foiled Al Qaeda plot to fly a commercial plane into the tallest building in Los Angeles. Shortly after his speech concluded, Fox News aired numerous images from the 1996 film Independence Day (Twentieth Century Fox) showing the reported target of the attack -- the Library Tower, now known as the U.S. Bank Tower -- being destroyed by alien invaders.

On the February 9 edition of CNN Live Today, anchor Daryn Kagan also noted that the tower "was depicted as being blown up" in Independence Day, but, unlike Fox, CNN did not show movie images of the building being attacked.

From the February 9 edition of Fox News Live:

BRIGITTE QUINN (Anchor): And again, back to what the president was saying a little while ago, this morning, in his speech on the "war on terror." He talked about the U.S. Bank Tower -- otherwise known as the Library Tower. We've been showing you pictures of that throughout the morning. A little background on that building that was apparently the target of a second wave of attacks that was to have been perpetrated by Al Qaeda. There are some pictures; and that's one from the movie -- the 1996 movie Independence Day. You might remember that. It was the -- I guess the first building to be destroyed by the alien invaders in that movie, so, certainly a landmark. A couple of other factoids about it. The building was designed to withstand an earthquake; unclear how it would've withstood an attack by an airplane.

Expand All Expand 1st Level Collapse All Add Comment
    • Author by tommy (February 09, 2006 2:01 pm ET)
         

      It's TV. It's visual. The anchor clearly identified the pictures as being from a movie. The image on the screen was clearly labeled "From: Independence Day".

      No misinformation, again.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by shoes89 (February 09, 2006 2:09 pm ET)
           

        I'm almost confused by this post. What is MMFA trying to say here?

        Report Abuse
        • Author by pete592 (February 09, 2006 3:46 pm ET)
             

          Gettin' pretty old if you ask me.

          In case you may be new around here, MMFA does not limit itself exclusively to misinformation.

          Report Abuse
      • Author by neoskepticon (February 09, 2006 2:18 pm ET)
           

        you have to be kidding me, no misinformation? maybe not "information," but certainly propoganda.

        If you knew anything about psychology you might understand that seeing images and hearing words connect up neural networks in the brain. This can ultimately be used for something innocuous, like getting you to buy soda and popcorn at the movies, or it can lead to something sinister, like fooling droves of ill-informed citizens that a war is necesary.

        I'm no big fan of Iran, but all of this fearmongering stinks to high heaven circa March '03

        Report Abuse
        • Author by shoes89 (February 09, 2006 6:23 pm ET)
             

          it's a little condescending to believe that "ill-informed" citizens somehow cannot differentiate between a movie and real life, but you can?

          I think MMFA has the same problem here.

          Report Abuse
          • Author by mefirst (February 09, 2006 9:31 pm ET)
               

            uh no it's not. not when you have millions upon millions of people watching these "reality" shows and then discussing them as if they're real. i know, i've heard it. people getting engaged with cameras following them around 24-7, and it's accepted as reality. perhaps that's your cup of tea?

            Report Abuse
      • Author by skiploader1111 (February 09, 2006 2:40 pm ET)
           

        a news outlet reported the deaths of more US soldiers while showing movie scenes in the background of soldiers being killed?

        Report Abuse
        • Author by tommy (February 09, 2006 2:50 pm ET)
             

          Very good point, and yes, I would find that offensive. Whether it's an apt analogy to this is a bit of a head scratcher for me?? Soldiers are real people with families and loved ones, these images don't provoke such a personal image.

          But your comment made me think - for the record, FOX does use graphics to a ridiculous end - that can't be denied.........maybe this was over the top a little? I will give you that.

          Report Abuse
          • Author by neoskepticon (February 09, 2006 2:56 pm ET)
               

            I think it's a pretty personal image for a lot of people, particularly anybody living in L.A. thinking about what it would look like to watch that building collapse like we all watched on CNN that fateful Tuesday in September.

            Report Abuse
          • Author by skiploader1111 (February 10, 2006 2:50 am ET)
               

            showed movie clips of soldiers dying while talking about real soldiers dying. Also, I don't think it is an apt analogy either now that I think of it more. The reason is that if a network did what I described, it would seem to me to be intentionally offensive. I don't think that Fox was trying to be offensive here. I think just that the graphics guys were just having a little too much fun with the subject. There are some people that would have a visceral reaction to the clip in the context shown though.

            Report Abuse
    • Author by dave_chicago (February 09, 2006 2:08 pm ET)
         

      Fox engages in fearmongering-exactly what the Bush administration wants.

      'Still not afraid, viewers? Well here's what it would look like.'

      Report Abuse
      • Author by Lynn (February 09, 2006 2:18 pm ET)
           

        Fear mongering is all they have and sadly it has worked well for them, they have incited an irrational paranoia by many in the country. I'm sorry I don't get up everyday and think is this the day I'm going to be killed in a terrorist attack.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by dave_chicago (February 09, 2006 3:12 pm ET)
             

          It sure is a coincidence, ain't it, that this alleged, thwarted terror plot is revealed in the midst of Bush's attempts to justify illegal wiretapping.

          Report Abuse
          • Author by Dem02020 (February 09, 2006 5:54 pm ET)
               

            Ever since December's (New York) Times gave us news of 'warrantless wiretapping', we've been given the noise of 'terror', time after time, by this administration.

            In just 2+ months, how many video-taped bogeymen? How many 'terror plots' alleged (and how many foiled) by this administration?

            You'd almost think that these threats served the administration, with how timely they are.

            I heard Mr. Murtha respond to a 60 Minutes question, on whether the video-taped 'al-qeada demon', who gloated over the U.S.'s resolve in Iraq; on whether that served for or against troop withdrawal; for or against the 'Murtha Plan'...

            ..."against!", Mr. Murtha said...

            ..."those threats (so timely) serve to keep us in Iraq!"

            Mr. Murtha has said also that the people were way ahead of the Congress and the administration with regard to troop withdrawal: True.

            But way behind of him and us, with regard to the bogeyman.

            True also.

            Report Abuse
    • Author by Dem02020 (February 09, 2006 2:15 pm ET)
         

      FOX News should also accompany their 'news' reports on the 'warrantless wiretapping' issue with film clips from 'The Fortune Cookie', or 'The Conversation', or 'The Anderson Tapes' (can anybody suggest others?).

      Whenever they report on Intelligence briefings at the CIA, they should accompany their reports with clips of Get Smart, where CONTROL's Maxwell Smart and the 'Chief' are trying to talk to one another using the 'Cones of Silence', shouting ever louder from within their plastic bubbles...

      ...that suff always slays me; it'd be worth watching FOX News just to see such stuff again.

      Report Abuse
      • Author by dave_chicago (February 09, 2006 2:48 pm ET)
           

        >>(can anybody suggest others?)<<

        I don't know, but I haven't seen this much tapping since "Top Hat".

        Report Abuse
    • Author by captfoster2 (February 09, 2006 2:21 pm ET)
         

      I think you are missing the point of what MM is reporting on....which is:

      How does images from a movie have anything to do with a posible terrorist attack??

      Other than to spread more fear into those that only watch Fox Opinion as their only news source!!

      This is another example of Fox's inability to report real news!

      Like sex....scary, destructive pictures with opinion and flap sell more than real news!!

      No doubt Roger Ailes gets a pat on the head every so often from Karl Rove........."Sit Roger Sit........good dog!!"

      Report Abuse
      • Author by tommy (February 09, 2006 2:26 pm ET)
           

        I completely understand why FOX did this - it's because this is the age of graphics gone mad.........to include a visual aid of any sort to accompany a story is TV 2006.

        But to deem it as some nefarious brainwashing mechanism on behalf of the Bush administration, or to promote fear, is ridiculous.

        Sensible people know we are at risk of another attack, it could come anytime........it is not some theory, and despite many here would like to minimize the terrorist threat - they would be the first to call for Bush's head if we get hit again.

        Report Abuse
    • Author by crackpotpress (February 09, 2006 2:34 pm ET)
         

      And it's no coincidence that ID4 is a 20th Century Fox Film.

      Their President also wears a flight suit.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by skiploader1111 (February 09, 2006 2:36 pm ET)
         

      while in the background showing movie scenes from "Platoon" or "Black Hawk Down" depicting soldiers getting shot or blown up.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by watchingthenews (February 09, 2006 4:15 pm ET)
         

      If you can't see what's wrong with the clip they used; you are exactly the type of veiwer that they want.

      I'm hoping Jon Stewarts crew caught it.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by MickD (February 09, 2006 4:40 pm ET)
         

      Is the straight faced blathering by Brigritte Quinn the anchor. "That's one from the movie..." Paddy Chaevsky's 'Network' film is starting to look tame next to the Fox propagandists.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by Intrepid Liberal Journal (February 09, 2006 5:00 pm ET)
         

      movie that William Bennet celebrated for its "values"?

      Report Abuse
    • Author by rufus t firefly (February 09, 2006 5:07 pm ET)
         

      for CAPTFOSTER! Well said. This piece didn't happen by accident. Someone at the Fox branch of the Ministry Of Disinformation consciously put this clip in. Why? It has nothing, really, to to with the story being reported. The only connection I can think of is both the video and audio are equally fake. How convenient for the policy making branch of the government to have a nationwide media outlet that thinks nothing of putting up theatrically contrived images to underscore its constant fearmongering!

      Report Abuse
    • Author by sgv (February 09, 2006 5:17 pm ET)
         

      Following Movie Clips Should also be used on Fox: War on Christmas-Clip of Mr Potter from It"s A WonderFul Life . Col. David Hunt- Picture of George C Scott as Patton Bill O'Reilly- Bogie Caine Mutiny Just more Fox crap!

      Report Abuse
    • Author by amcg826 (February 09, 2006 6:25 pm ET)
         

      "I don't think anybody could have predicted that ... they would try to use an airplane as a missile," she said at the May 2002 press conference.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by helenec (February 09, 2006 6:50 pm ET)
         

      mainstream media has lost touch with reality and truth is being held hostage by this madness - is there a solution?

      Report Abuse
    • Author by mefirst (February 09, 2006 9:27 pm ET)
         

      everything on fox is made up anyway.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by west1 (February 09, 2006 10:17 pm ET)
         

      C'mon Fox, jazz it up! Next time you want to show a photo of Bush, why not use a Saturday night impersonator; or how about using King Kong segment to depict what would have happened to the building, or how about using scenes from It's a Wonderful Life during the weather forecast to show snowfall!

      Report Abuse
    • Author by monkeyboyiv (February 09, 2006 10:35 pm ET)
         

      If MMFA really wanted to drive home a point, they would have asked other questions rather than bringing up a non-issue: How would a shoe bomb help terrorists? Wouldn't a shoe bomb blow off the cockpit before the terrorist take it? Why would the administration come right out and say "This was not to bring support for the president's terrorist surveillance program" before anyone had to ask? Why wait nearly three years later to share this information? Why did the mayor of LA know nothing about it, he said it was news to him? Why is the president, and FOX, trying to scare the ignorant masses that would believe this? Next, Bush will say that they halted a plot back in the 1800s that would have destroyed the White House and FOX would show the appropriate clips from ID4. At that time, CNN could show clips from Mars Attacks. My thought is that Bush and FOX are trying to steer the attention away from his proposed budget, which is getting the same warm reception as his Social Security Program from last year.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by myke (February 10, 2006 3:12 am ET)
         

      Gee, if they're that desperate to scare their viewers into voting Republican I think I can dig out some footage of a giant terrorist ape wreaking havoc on the Empire State Building and kidnapping a Pretty White Female at the same time. That ought to do it.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by right-winger (February 10, 2006 7:21 am ET)
         

      HEY I BET KARL ROVE LOVED IT !!!!

      Report Abuse
    • Author by right-winger (February 10, 2006 7:35 am ET)
         

      THE ONLY REASON BUSH TOLD THE U.S. ABOUT THE PLOT IS BECAUSE KARL ROVE PR ISN'T WORKING!!!

      Report Abuse
    • Author by starwheel (February 10, 2006 9:14 am ET)
         

      So Bush prevented an attack on the US Library tower from space aliens?

      Sounds as feasible as the plot he allegedly foiled in 2002.

      Doesn't his leaking of this administration help the terrorists win? Now they know what they did wrong to get caught this time.

      Come on, these bozos have been exploiting 9/11 everyday to justify their war in Iraq, illegal wiretapping, etc. If they foiled an attack in 2002, dontcha think Karl Rove would have exploited it for political points during the 2004 campaign?

      It is amazing how naive people can be.

      I wonder how many of these foiled terrorist plots these guys have stashed away for emergency purposes like trying to sell their domestic spying program or diverting the media's attention away from the Libby revelation yesterday or Brownie's extortion attempt of the administration for "legal protection".

      Report Abuse