peteEU said:
My point is that much of the "hatred" towards Al Jazeera in the US seems be based on right wing anti arab talking points and the oh so called "truthful words" of Rumsfeldt and Co.
Though the memory of 9/11 fading in the minds of many, as a survivor of both WTC attacks, my enmity towards al Jazeera knows no bounds. This enmity is based not only on the personal losses in the WTC and other 9/11 attacks themselves, but the scenes of jubilation in Arab lands that al Jazeera displayed prominently afterwards. Yes, these same scenes were shown on US networks, but it is my impression (and you may be able to correct me if I'm wrong on this) that al Jazeera played these scenes over and over and over, in effect, helping enormously to glorify the attacks of 9/11. OBL has always been very media savvy; in doing this, al Jazeera aided the efforts of the architect of 9/11 tremendously.
Perhaps "Rumsfeld and Co." demonized al Jazeera, thats largely a matter of opinion. But remember that, at the time, we in the West had very little information with which to evaluate/compare al Jazeera. Consequently, based on the al Jazeera that was presented to most of us in the West, demonization of al Jazeera wasn't too difficult a task. To me, and I suspect to many other Americans, this is personal. Very personal.
With respect to al Jazeera and Iraq and the ensuing WOT following 9/11, I welcome al Jazeera's coverage. If nothing else, it demonstrates to the world the effectiveness, the breadth and depth, and the singleness of purpose of al Qaeda's and radical Islams purposes and intents as portrayed thru their media efforts. For a relatively mild example, have you seen some of the recruiting commercials for suicide bombers? Especially those originated on Iranian TV? Very telling.
Further, it is my impression, and possibly that of other Americans, that OBL's messages get much more extended coverage on al Jazeera than anywhere else in the world, excepting radical Muslim websites. Hence, it is hard for those with that impression to
not conclude that al Jazeera favors radical Islam - but keep in mind that those impressions were, until the formation of the new outlet, formed by the al Jazeera as presented in the US by the other media outlets, so perhaps there is a very good reason for that attitude.
We, the public in the West, need to see al Jazeera and al Arabyia in their totality. We need to be more
accurately aware of how we are being portrayed, what is being said that shapes attitudes and beliefs about the West in the Arab world in general and the Muslim world in particular. Equally important, we need to see their portrayal of Islam, both radical and moderate, both Sunni and Shiia, and their view of the rest of the world.
Just my opinion. YMMV.
And I am niether.
