What do you think of Al Jazeera broadcasting in America?
Sadie (thank you, Sadie) sends along the following:
It’s not just Al Jeezera, it’s the ‘timing’ too. Ramadan begins today. Next month marks 10 years (September 11), Durban III NYC, P.A./Hamas urging for statehood (Hamas fired 26 rockets into Israel during the month of July), Madam
Clinton said it’s “real news” and the NYT doesn’t find a problem – what could go wrong.
Qatar & Al Jeezera (betcha you were thinking something else) So, what are you thinking? Time-Warner, etc. said we had no questions, do you?
Qatar has been ruled as an absolute monarchy by the Al Thani family since the 19th century.
There are no democratic institutions or elections, and power is assumed on a hereditary basis.
CNN had the gulf war. Fox News had the war on terror. And Al Jazeera English had the Arab Spring.
The country’s biggest cable and satellite companies each declined requests for interviews about Al Jazeera last week; most cited policies against talking about any specific carriage decisions. But they expressed no public concerns about Al
Jazeera’s content.
DQ here: I favor it. We should be able to hear what they are saying. What would be very interesting, though, is to monitor what is being said on Al Jazeera English and compare it to what is being said on Al Jeezera Arabic.