What Gives AP? Jerusalem Post?

AP supposedly found religion and decided that a photo edited image of General Dunwoody meant that the AP would no longer run photos taken by the Pentagon. That image edited in the background of a US flag. It was wrong for the Pentagon to do so, but it would be nice if the AP lived up to its own so-called code of conduct.

The AP has a long history of running photos with clearly biased captions, photos from dubious sources including terrorists. They routinely ran photos that were nothing more than propaganda against Israel during the Hizbullah war despite clear evidence that the person taking the photos was stage managing the situation. Jules Crittenden points out that the AP also failed its readers by omitting key details from reports such as that the US was winning in Iraq.

With that in mind, it would appear that they're passing off a screen captured image as their own. In fact, they don't question when this photo was taken at all - the caption is provided below:

Newly released pictures of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. Did he try to send Iran missile parts? Photo: AP

I came across this photo while looking at a Jerusalem Post story on a foiled plot to ship missile technology from North Korea to Iran. What got me curious was the fact that the photo shows lush vegetation when North Korea is currently experiencing late fall weather. In fact, the weather in Pyongang this morning is nearly as cold as it is in New York City.

There was something fishy about the photo, so I dug a little deeper. Lo and behold, I came up with this photo, courtesy of Getty Images, with the caption below:

NORTH KOREA - OCTOBER 11: In this frame grab made off undated North Korea's Korean Central Television (KCTV) footage aired on October 11, 2008 North Korean leader Kim Jong Il claps as he inspects a female military unit in North Korea. It marked the first time in 58 days that photos of Kim in public have been broadcast by North Korean news media showing the reclusive ruler looking well despite reports he had suffered serious health problems. (Photo by Korean Central Television/Yonhap via Getty Images)

Notice anything curious? Yes, I'm sure you might. It would appear that the AP photo is little more than a cleaned up screen capture closeup of Kim Il Jung, and Getty Images provides a wee bit more detail too about the circumstances of the photo. This was broadcast back in October, though it is undated footage so it could be from any time prior to the October airdate.

So, this could be a problem with AP or the Jerusalem Post. In either case, AP provided the image, and most likely provided a caption to run along with the photo. The Jerusalem Post ran that image and didn't think anything of it. At a minimum, we're talking quality control problems, but they're also misleading readers that this is a more recent photo than it actually is.

UPDATE:
Hot Air links. Thanks!