Jazeera's Iraq Coverage Hits U.S. Raw Nerve

[No2W2004]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=597&ncid=762&e=8&u=/nm/20040519/tv_nm/media_us_jazeera_dc

DOHA (Reuters) - Dogged by scandal, insurgency and rising anti-U.S. sentiment in the Middle East, the United States has lashed out at the popular Arabic network Al Jazeera whose graphic coverage of Iraq (news - web sites) seems to have hit a nerve.

During the 2003 U.S.-led Iraq war, the 24-hour television news station made its name by beaming pictures of bloodied Iraqis, bombed Baghdad buildings and slain U.S. and British soldiers into millions of Arab homes, providing an image of the war not often seen in the Western media.

The U.S. administration has repeatedly criticized the Qatar-based channel's coverage of Iraq as "inaccurate and anti-American" but at the same time, U.S. officials have appeared several times on the station.

But earlier this month, President Bush (news - web sites) snubbed Jazeera and gave interviews about the abuse of Iraqi detainees to its rivals while his secretary of state raised concerns about the station with Qatar's foreign minister, saying its "inflammatory" coverage was clouding bilateral ties.

[Momof1]

1. FOX news anyone??? n/t

[Aidoneus]

3. hm?

[Momof1]

4. What is Al-jeezra

Just a diffent view point (a Fox News for Saudi Arabia.)

[Aidoneus]

5. 3 points

a) spelling:--al-Jazeera ("the island")
b) what is it:--excellent
c) where is it:--Qatar

[mmm]

7. I find them reliable for the most part

Definitely light years better than Fox

[Aidoneus]

2. the truth hurts..

may it strike more than a nerve!

[cliss]

6. Donald Rumsfeld said last Friday,

"Al-Jazeera has lied about us every single day of their broadcasting, distorting and telling untruths".

Al-Jazeera is actually a privately funded information network. I believe they are funded by Saudi money, so Bush can't interfere too much (after all, what's a little disagreement among friends?)

I for one, am very grateful there's a voice of opposition to the hideous behemoth that is US broadcasting.

[hatrack]

8. Ooh! No President Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp Interview for you!!

Bad network! No banana!

I'm sure there wasn't a dry eye in the house at Al Jazeera when that little edict came down - NOT.

[KharmaTrain]

9. Ain't It Something...So Much For Democracy

I thought this regime was all for "freedom of speech"...ya know, the stuff Saddam would throw you in a rape room for if you stepped out of line.

While I tend to think Al Jezeerah skews their coverage to cater to their large Arab audience, yet another glaring hypocrisy with this regime has to be picked on.

If this regime had been smart and used television wisely, instead of cramming all sorts of propaganda at the Iraqi people, that they hate, they wouldn't be watching Al-Jezeerah and Al Aribiya and other channels for the news of what's going on in their country.

This regime revels in how Faux has served them well in media manipulation, but it sure ain't fun when it's someone else's TV station...eh Karl???

[corporatewhore]

10. How dare they show how ugly war is

instead of showing us the sanitized US friendly one