The tightly edited clip of Jeremy Corbyn has been re-played by British mainstream news channels, comparing the actions of US forces during the Iraq war to those of the Islamic State.
In the interview with Russia Today, Mr Corbyn was asked what it would take for Iraqi forces to take control. "It requires a sense of unity," he replied.
"Among people in Iraq that want to stay part of Iraq…
"And also an acceptance and an understanding of why so many people in so many of the cities in the north have been prepared to accept the ISIL forces."
I must say, BBC News seems pretty obsessed about the whole Corbyn thing….I wonder why.
— Scary Biscuit (@ScaryBiscuit) August 21, 2015
But on the point of the brutality of ISIS, Corbyn compared their actions to those of US troops in the Iraqi city of Fallujah in 2004.
"Yes, they are brutal, yes, some of what they have done is quite appalling, likewise what the Americans did in Fallujah and other places is appalling."
LOL smear attacks on Corbyn are hysterical. Now he's a 'near communist', Putin lover, & Russia dove. #ReeferMadness https://t.co/XbPdmwVbte
— Ben Goren (@BanGaoRen) August 21, 2015
The clip broadcast on British news channels ended abruptly there, leading to newspaper headlines that Corbyn has compared the US army to ISIL. The clip however, has been available on YouTube since it was first broadcast — over a year ago.
Yet with 'silly season' upon the British media while parliament is in recess, broadcasters and broadsheets need to fill space. And it seems anti-Corbyn commentary fits perfectly well.
latest anti-Corbyn smear combines DailyBeasts 2 favorite things: left-bashing & Russia bashing http://t.co/a7mt7PlesD pic.twitter.com/zHATR0CgTG
— Adam Johnson (@adamjohnsonNYC) August 18, 2015
And also causing a social media storm is his latest announcement that he would apologise for Britain's invasion of Iraq in 2003 if he became Labour leader.
Brilliant and why the Blairites are terrified of Corbyn. Their Culpability condemns us to their neo-liberal hell. https://t.co/kbFPHlBy1n
— Kanjin Tor ™ (@xugla) August 21, 2015
Torygraph "Corbyn hints at closer ties with Russia" translated into English what Corbyn actually said was this…. pic.twitter.com/E5cQH1Qow7
— Vaun Earl Norman (@Vaunearl) August 15, 2015
In a statement to the Guardian, Corbyn said: "So it is past time that Labour apologized to the British people for taking them into the Iraq war on the basis of deception and to the Iraqi people for the suffering we have helped cause. Under our Labour, we will make this apology."
Sounding similar to the late MP Tony Benn who defended his decision in 2003 to vote against any invasion, Corbyn said: "Let us say we will never again unnecessarily put our troops under fire and our country's standing in the world at risk.
"Let us make it clear that Labour will never make the same mistake again, will never flout the United Nations and international law."
Labour should apologise to the Iraqi & British people for deception & suffering of Iraq war http://t.co/OP7Xq79rjp pic.twitter.com/lUEpoB2Bcp
— Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn) August 20, 2015
The civilian death toll in Iraq stands at 219,000, according to the Iraq Body Count project.
As for comparisons between ISIS brutality and US soldiers, another one to note is perhaps the orange jumpsuits worn by prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and Western hostages held by ISIS militants. Images are easily found on the internet.
