Foreign intervention is not something they are thrilled with no matter how noble the intent. Holding a gun to someone's head at the same time you're telling them, "we're doing this for your own good", is not guaranteed to win too many hearts and minds. This a very proud and ancient culture, with parts of it predating Mohammad, and they don't take well to what they view as insults to their pride.
Obviously it would be a different story if it were proven that Al-Jazeera were acting as some sort of adjutant to the terrorists and actively aiding and abetting people behind the murder of civilians. But they are an Arab-language broadcaster in the Arab world, so they report verbatim what is said around them.
How is that so different from what happens over here? The president or the prime minister speaks, the cameras whir, tape machines record, and the broadcasts are at six. Does that make our radio and television stations dispensers of propaganda? How much analysis do you ever see of video clips from a press conference or sound bite given by a politician on the six o-clock news?
If I don't agree with whatever President Bush says in a speech, and N.B.C. allows him to broadcast it verbatim, only offering up the usual mush-mouthed, talking head, which manages to repeat what the speech was about without offering an opinion, as analysis, can I call that propaganda? It amounts to the same thing as Al-Jazeera reporting on the latest dung dripping from the mouth of Assad in Syria or the President of Iran and me not agreeing with him.
All networks reflect the interests of their audience or they would soon be out of business. People in the Arab world want to know what the leaders of the countries in that region are saying. You and I want to know what our political bosses have to say on a particular issue. Why shouldn't the people of Jordan have the same right?
In fact, Al-Jazeera has an image problem in the Arab world; they are seen as being too Western by a lot of the more radical elements. They don't just play it safe and broadcast opinions that are going to appeal to the most vocal segment of their audience.
Russel Smith in his media column in the Globe and Mail talks about one show that recently aired on Al-Jazeera that would be guaranteed to raise the hackles of fanatical clerics everywhere. It was a discussion between an Arab-American female psychologist and a Muslim cleric.
Article comments
1 - troll
good post G
here's a link to the interview with Wafa Sultan refered to above still active as of this am
and here's the transcript
troll
2 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
Very well written. Not all "right wing" folks get in a dither over Al Jazeera. I'm considered right wing over here (even though I am truly a leftist), and they're perfectly okay with me. They don't replay Palestinian suicide propaganda, and they take a point of view that makes many Arabs think.
I may not like what they say, or how they say it, but I'm sure listening to Israel National News would raise the hackles of any "Palestine" lover. It raised the hackles of the government so much here that they knocked them off the air altogether and now Israel National Radio is an internet station only.
3 - tommyd
There's more truthful reporting on one Al-Jazeera show than 1000 Fox "News" broadcasts. If one calls Al-Jazeera "propaganda" without saying the same about Fox "News", then I know that person is a liar, hypocrite and a dupe. It's so easy, try it sometime!
4 - Brian Sorrell
There is an excellent documentary about Al-Jazeera available:
Control Room
You learn that though AJ is an Arab-language station in its broadcasts, many behind the scenes are from the BBC. And yes, they speak English in the Control Room.
You also learn that AJ is not entirely about Iraq. They are renegades on many fronts, with respect to reporting.
It's a riveting documentary, whatever your persuasion.
5 - Eric Olsen
the answer to your title question, g-man, is "pressaganda"
6 - gypsyman
Okay Eric I'll bite, although I think I can guess, give me a definition of pressaganda. That's a great word by the why, take a patent out on it now, and may I use at some point in time? Of course I'll give full credit where credit is due.
I'm serious, I can't think of any better way of describing press outlets that have turned into shills for a government or political party or agenda. It can apply across the board in a completly non-partisan manner...
Ruvy, I would never think to put any labal on you, from what I've read and heard from you in letters, you don't tend to follow a political ism, just your heart.
I'd heard about the doc. Control room, I believe it was telecast on the C.B.C. a while back and I cursed myself for missing it. But I read a really good interview with the people who made it. That's what opened my eyes to the fact there was more to these people than was being portrayed in our media (I'm including Canada in that)
Troll thanks for the links to the transcripts, that will make for interesting reading.
gypsyman
7 - Eric Olsen
propaganda in the form of journalism and vice versa