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| Arabia |
| Al-Jazeera link to Saddam |
| 2003-05-28 |
| Wow, you coulda fooled me... The director-general of the controversial Arab satellite television Al-Jazeera had been sacked, Qatari sources said last night, amid allegations he worked with Saddam Hussein's intelligence services. Ya don't say! Mohammed Jassem al-Ali had held the top job at the Doha-based station since it launched the Arabic-language channel in 1996. Al-Jazeera and Mr Ali have been accused by Western media of collaborating with the former regime in Baghdad. Mr Ali visited Iraq before the US-led war and met Hussein during an hour-long interview. Ahmed Chalabi, leader of the American-backed Iraqi National Congress, has accused several Al-Jazeera journalists of working for Iraqi agencies, based on documents found in state archives in Baghdad. Mr Ali, who has denied the charges, could not be contacted last night. This isn't a huge shock. Hey, you gotta root-root-root for the home team. Wonder what they've got in the state archives on CNN? Inquiring minds want to know. Al-Jazeera enjoyed a special status in pre-war Iraq, being allowed to work independently of the Information Ministry, which controlled foreign media. Hey, why not, when one of their boys is already in charge... The US and Britain criticised Al-Jazeera after it carried footage from Iraqi television of dead coalition soldiers and prisoners of war. The 24-hour network has emerged as a rival to international media giants, notably after its groundbreaking coverage of the Afghan conflict, but its no-holds-barred coverage has also sparked rows between Qatar and several Arab governments. If this is true, it should just do wonders for the independent media in the Arab world. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #9 I didn't get LH's pun. Yes, Sullivan represents the new wave of the GOP (even if he isn't a Republican himself) which casts off the homophobic trappings of the party of Buchanan and Duke. |
| Posted by: ColoradoConservative 2003-05-28 17:04:59 |
| #8 sullivans not just gay, hes willing to criticize Bush on foreign policy, and to see good in Dems when they deserve it (by his lights) Some of the criticisms of Bush I have made here on certain issues are parallel to some of Andy's concerns (particularly on commitment to nation-building) While i certainly disagree with Sullivan on many things, he remains one of the most interesting voices out there (no pun intended) |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2003-05-28 14:54:51 |
| #7 The point to take home boyz and girlz is that whatever Al-Jeerza said, the Arabs lapped it up like a starving dogs. They only reported what their fans wanted. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2003-05-28 14:50:02 |
| #6 Being conservative doesn't mean being a kneejerk anti-gay , just ask Sullivan |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-05-28 14:12:34 |
| #5 glad to see you like Andy Sullivan, CC. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-05-28 13:32:14 |
| #4 On Sullivan's comment: Yes, I know the Arab press hardly has the standards of, er, say, the New York Times, ... Droll, droll, droll! LOL! |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-05-28 12:50:57 |
| #3 Andrew Sullivan's take on it: http://www.andrewsullivan.com/ AL JAZEERA'S CORRUPTION: So now we know that the head of al Jazeera was also in Saddam's pay. Yes, I know the Arab press hardly has the standards of, er, say, the New York Times, but people should stop treating al Jazeera as if it is a credible journalistic source. It's an adjunct to Islamo-fascism. |
| Posted by: ColoradoConservative 2003-05-28 11:14:56 |
| #2 Does anyone seriously think that M J al Ali was the only Al-Jaz employee on Saddam's payroll? Does anyone seriously think no other Al Jaz staffers are taking bribes? |
| Posted by: mhw 2003-05-28 11:13:15 |
| #1 Now, I fully expect the New York Times Op-Ed section to be all over this, right? Paul, Howell, Chris? |
| Posted by: ColoradoConservative 2003-05-28 11:11:40 |