Fake Belgian news report frightens nation...

[afleitch]

Belgium has been had. On Wednesday, a French-language television station hoodwinked the country, reporting that Flanders had declared its independence. It was a hoax, just like the one Orson Welles perpetrated on the United States in 1938 with the radio broadcast of “War of the Worlds.” And as in the U.S., this one caused a bit of a panic. 

From an AP report:

Frantic viewers flooded the call center of the RTBF broadcaster that aired the stunt. Embassies called Belgian authorities to find out what was going on, while foreign journalists scrambled to get confirmation.

“Ambassadors who were worried asked what they had to tell their capitals,” said Senate Chair Anne-Marie Lizin. “This fiction was seen as a reality and it created a catastrophic image of the country."

The network that broadcast the program defended itself, claiming it revealed the ‘importance of debate on the future of Belgium.”

'NEWSFLASH' - here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IsWT5jCcuo

[Colin]

Well so many people believed it because Flanders has been threatening secession, or a looser union, for at least a decade now and especially since the rise of Vlaams Blok/Belang.

[afleitch]

Well so many people believed it because Flanders has been threatening secession, or a looser union, for at least a decade now and especially since the rise of Vlaams Blok/Belang.

I'm a supporter of Felmish independence (I go there quite alot anyway and I fell in love with it) but I get the impression any independence declaration would be less spontaneous, Afterall, everything else there is like clockwork

[Joe Republic]

What I wouldn't give to pull a prank on Belgium.  I am so jealous.

What other pranks could we pull on some countries?

[Colin]

What I wouldn't give to pull a prank on Belgium.  I am so jealous.

What other pranks could we pull on some countries?

Scottish Rebels Seize Holyrood and Most of Edinburgh; Vow To Continue Fight Until Indpendence Is Granted

Parti Quebecois Issues Unilateral Declaration of Indpendence Over Liberal Opposition; Brouchard Called Upon To Head New Nation

[afleitch]

Scottish Rebels Seize Holyrood and Most of Edinburgh; Vow To Continue Fight Until Indpendence Is Granted

Not so far fetched Particularly if Scotland votes 'yes' and Westminster dig in their heels. Regardless of how people feel about independence, I think there would be public protests if it was denied after a public vote. As a civil servant I would probably strike if I believe Scotland's sovereignty was being violated.

It would be fun to make a timeline of such a scenario

[Joe Republic]

What I wouldn't give to pull a prank on Belgium.  I am so jealous.

What other pranks could we pull on some countries?

Scottish Rebels Seize Holyrood and Most of Edinburgh; Vow To Continue Fight Until Indpendence Is Granted

Parti Quebecois Issues Unilateral Declaration of Indpendence Over Liberal Opposition; Brouchard Called Upon To Head New Nation

People of Gibraltar: Your sovereignty is questionable!!! lol

[Colin]

What I wouldn't give to pull a prank on Belgium.  I am so jealous.

What other pranks could we pull on some countries?

Scottish Rebels Seize Holyrood and Most of Edinburgh; Vow To Continue Fight Until Indpendence Is Granted

Parti Quebecois Issues Unilateral Declaration of Indpendence Over Liberal Opposition; Brouchard Called Upon To Head New Nation

People of Gibraltar: Your sovereignty is questionable!!! lol

Governor Bob Taft Secedes From Ohio; Republic of Bob Taft Formed After Brutal Assault On His Reality By Members of the Ohio National Guard

[Gabu]

Parti Quebecois Issues Unilateral Declaration of Indpendence Over Liberal Opposition; Brouchard Called Upon To Head New Nation

That would be a letdown for Canadians when they found out it wasn't real...

[J. J.]

Demark Invades German; Schleswig-Holstein Reannexed

"The Queen has her homeland back," PM declares.

Bundeswehr retreats to Hanover

[Colin]

Scottish Rebels Seize Holyrood and Most of Edinburgh; Vow To Continue Fight Until Indpendence Is Granted

Not so far fetched Particularly if Scotland votes 'yes' and Westminster dig in their heels. Regardless of how people feel about independence, I think there would be public protests if it was denied after a public vote. As a civil servant I would probably strike if I believe Scotland's sovereignty was being violated.

It would be fun to make a timeline of such a scenario

Well those first two were supposed to be rather likely. That would be an interesting scenario though, but then again I appreciate almost any timeline of some Future or Alternate event.

[??????????]

Alsace-Lorraine Returned to its' rightful owners.


Ah, if only.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Alsace-Lorraine Returned to its' rightful owners.


Ah, if only.

Shouldn't that be Elsaß-Lothringen?

[??????????]

Alsace-Lorraine Returned to its' rightful owners.


Ah, if only.

Shouldn't that be Elsaß-Lothringen?

True dat.

[Tender Branson]

Demark Invades German; Schleswig-Holstein Reannexed

"The Queen has her homeland back," PM declares.

Bundeswehr retreats to Hanover

Austria invades Italy, South Tyrol annexed - Tyrol reunited again !

[??????????]

Demark Invades German; Schleswig-Holstein Reannexed

"The Queen has her homeland back," PM declares.

Bundeswehr retreats to Hanover

Austria invades Italy, South Tyrol annexed - Tyrol reunited again !

Now THAT I would approve of wholeheartedly! Would I get my family land and all its' benefits back Harry?

[Tender Branson]

Demark Invades German; Schleswig-Holstein Reannexed

"The Queen has her homeland back," PM declares.

Bundeswehr retreats to Hanover

Austria invades Italy, South Tyrol annexed - Tyrol reunited again !

Now THAT I would approve of wholeheartedly! Would I get my family land and all its' benefits back Harry?

Of course you would ! But I doubt that Austria is able to "invade" Italy right now. We even have leased jets from Switzerland now, and Italy is part of NATO, so the US will come over to help Italy out and bomb us to pieces ... Maybe you can put in a good word at the Austrian Embassy in Washington DC for us

[bullmoose88]

Demark Invades German; Schleswig-Holstein Reannexed

"The Queen has her homeland back," PM declares.

Bundeswehr retreats to Hanover

Austria invades Italy, South Tyrol annexed - Tyrol reunited again !

Now THAT I would approve of wholeheartedly! Would I get my family land and all its' benefits back Harry?

I know a bunch of good boys whose names end in "y" who wouldn't be pleased. They'd like to sell you some cement shoes if the homeland lost S. Tyrol.

Capiche?

[Wakie]

Sicily Declares Independence From Italy

Spanish and Portugese Forces Clash Over Border Town of Olivenza

and then one to mess w/ old school Washington politicians and CIA members ....

Full Details of CIA's European Operation Gladio Revealed

For entertainment go look up Operation Gladio if you haven't heard of it.  The details are .... interesting.

[minionofmidas]

Demark Invades German; Schleswig-Holstein Reannexed

"The Queen has her homeland back," PM declares.

Bundeswehr retreats to Hanover

Austria invades Italy, South Tyrol annexed - Tyrol reunited again !

Now THAT I would approve of wholeheartedly! Would I get my family land and all its' benefits back Harry?

I know a bunch of good boys whose names end in "y" who wouldn't be pleased. They'd like to sell you some cement shoes if the homeland lost S. Tyrol.

Capiche?

It's spelt Capisce?

[afleitch]

For entertainment go look up Operation Gladio if you haven't heard of it.  The details are .... interesting.

Indeed It appears to an extension of the thinking that existed in 44-45 when some insisted that the Axis powers should be forced into a swift peace and we would use its armed forces, intelligence and leaders to keep heading east into the Soviet Union.

[Wakie]

For entertainment go look up Operation Gladio if you haven't heard of it.  The details are .... interesting.

Indeed It appears to an extension of the thinking that existed in 44-45 when some insisted that the Axis powers should be forced into a swift peace and we would use its armed forces, intelligence and leaders to keep heading east into the Soviet Union.

Yep.  While I like the idea of establishing potential resistance forces in case of Soviet invasion it is scary that as late as the 80's they were responsible for domestic terrorism in Western Europe.

[Gabu]

Demark Invades German; Schleswig-Holstein Reannexed

"The Queen has her homeland back," PM declares.

Bundeswehr retreats to Hanover

Austria invades Italy, South Tyrol annexed - Tyrol reunited again !

Now THAT I would approve of wholeheartedly! Would I get my family land and all its' benefits back Harry?

I know a bunch of good boys whose names end in "y" who wouldn't be pleased. They'd like to sell you some cement shoes if the homeland lost S. Tyrol.

Capiche?

It's spelt Capisce?

Also, any real Italian mobster has a name that ends in an I.

[minionofmidas]

Demark Invades German; Schleswig-Holstein Reannexed

"The Queen has her homeland back," PM declares.

Bundeswehr retreats to Hanover

Austria invades Italy, South Tyrol annexed - Tyrol reunited again !

Now THAT I would approve of wholeheartedly! Would I get my family land and all its' benefits back Harry?

I know a bunch of good boys whose names end in "y" who wouldn't be pleased. They'd like to sell you some cement shoes if the homeland lost S. Tyrol.

Capiche?

It's spelt Capisce?

Also, any real Italian mobster is spelled with an I.

So is Tirol, silly.

(Had to slightly reword your post.)