The Coptic Give-Away

Xymphora:

"Whose Innocence?: Thoughts on Copts, Muslims, and a World Gone (Temporally) Mad" by Anthony Shenoda"

"When I first watched the "film," or the trailer, or whatever it is, I had little doubt that Copts, or someone quite familiar with Coptic historical meta-narratives, were behind it. Many of the slanderous comments against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad in the film are made by all manner of right-wing Christians and Jews, but the Coptic give-away in that 13 minute clip was the bit about the Egyptians believing in one god some five thousand years ago. This is a typical modern move on the part of many Copts and the nineteenth century Orientalist scholarship of things Coptic from which these narratives have frequently drawn authority. If, once upon a time, Egyptian Christians were engaged in the destruction of a pagan Egypt, now they are concerned to show how Christianity in Egypt was the natural evolution of an Egyptian religiosity that already hinted at a triune godhead, resurrection of the dead, and eternal life. This largely has to do with a desire on the part of many Copts to secure their national and Egyptian territorial belonging. Other scenes in the available clip also supported my thinking that Copts might be involved: The scene in which the doctor is educating his daughters (?) on the ways of Muslims shows an image of Jesus that is extremely popular among Copts, an image that I have not seen popularly among other Christians. And the Syrian monk, Bahaira, who makes a later appearance, is an indication that whoever made this “film” 1) has a pretty good sense of contemporary Coptic monastic garb and 2) is aware of the very commonly held view among Copts (but also the Ethiopian Orthodox Christians that I have met) that the Quran was written by a (fallen) Christian monk. People who are aware of Islamic history know that Muhammad had met a Syrian monk called Bahaira. Many Copts hold that this monk is the “true” author of the Quran."

The Mossad-did-it theories are worse than useless. There is absolutely no evidence that the Mossad was involved. The Mossad thesis is connected to the idea that the Muslim unrest is supposed to hurt Obama's reelection. On the contrary, Obama will be able to have all the electoral advantages of having a war - Americans love wars, and love to vote for Presidents waging them - without actually having to wage a war. He just needs to drone kill some Libyans and then announce he's killed more American enemies, just like he killed Osama. Instant hero. Of course, once that happens the usual suspects will announce that this proves that the Mossad was behind the film, as they were really trying to help Obama get reelected!   And the Geo-political conspiratorial circle of life is complete.

Who made the anti-Muslim video? What L.A. County knows but is not saying.

Huh.  More intrigue surrounding this bunch of "Coptic Christians."  Raw Story.

A movie cannot shoot in Los Angeles County without a permit, and a permit makes public the names of the film’s writer, director, and producer.


This means that answers to the question of who was behind “Innocence of Muslims,” the anti-Muslim project that sparked a wave of mob violence across the Middle East and may have created the cover for a deadly attack on US diplomats in Libya, now appear to be in the hands of Los Angeles County officials. And they are not talking.

A US law enforcement official told the Associated Press Thursday that authorities believe that a 55-year-old Coptic Christian, a US citizen named Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, is behind the film. A convicted felon, Mr. Nakoula has changed his version of events numerous times in interviews with various news outlets.
On Thursday, after being contacted by both the FBI and the US State Department and on its legal counsel’s advice, the office of the CEO of L.A. County removed from public availability what has been confirmed as the permit issued to shoot at least part of the anti-Muslim film. Permits are normally available online and by request from the county.
And:
Paul Audley, president of FilmL.A., the nonprofit group charged with issuing film permits for L.A. County, confirms that a permit was issued to Media for Christ, a conservative nonprofit based in Duarte, Calif., east of Pasadena, to shoot what eventually became “Innocence for Muslims.”

The permit was pulled for a project titled “Desert Warriors,” he says, but is quick to add, “We do not get involved with the content of a movie because that would get into issues of free speech.”

It was a single day permit – for Aug. 18, 2011 – and is filed with Los Angeles County under permit number F00043012.

Here's a weird thought:  What if  the "Libyan protest"/attack wasn't scheduled to coincide with the release of this "film," rather, the film was released(made known) to coincide with the scheduled attack?  Wouldn't that be a kick in the pants?  A logistical stretch, maybe..  But then again, maybe not!

Also:  All that filming in just one day?  Wow!  What an efficient production team!  This doesn't smell at all!  Thanks, Internets!