STUNNED ARAB MEDIA REPORT SADDAM'S ARREST, WHILE PALESTINIANS TRY TO AVOID THE NEWS

IMRA ^ | 12-13-03 | Michael Widlanski

[SJackson]

STUNNED ARAB MEDIA REPORT SADDAM'S ARREST, WHILE PALESTINIANS TRY TO AVOID THE NEWS

By Michael Widlanski Jerusalem 14 December 2003 1:30 PM

Arab language media reacted quickly, though sometimes in a somewhat stunned fashion, to American reports that U.S. forces had captured former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, touching off celebrations in Baghdad.

But the broadcast media of the Palestinian National Authority which has been very friendly to Saddam, tried to ignore the news, treating it as a marginal news item attributed to rumors linked to a scheduled American press conference in Iraq

"An American military spokesman said there would be a special press conference soon, and American reports say it is linked to reports of the arrest of former president Saddam Hussein," declared a one ayem news bulletin by Voice of Palestine radio, controlled by Yasser Arafat.

The Palestinian broadcasts, which featured the news as the fourth news item, made no mention of Iraqi crowds celebrating the capture of Saddam, a big supporter of Arafat and a financial supporter of Palestinian "martyrs" who have blown themselves up attacking Israelis.

The Palestinian Authority's television station broadcasting from Gaza ignored the news entirely for several hours, but other Arab media quickly broadcast details of popular glee at the news of Saddam's arrest.

"There are signs of rejoicing in the streets, where people are parading and we hear celebratory shooting in the air," declared Baghdad-based Rafah Sa'ad, reporter for Abu-Dhabi satellite television.

Similar reports were carried by Al-Jazeera satellite television, which broadcast its news along with biographical sketches of Saddam Hussein and his family.

Al-Arabiyya satellite television also featured family pictures and newsreel footage of Saddam inspecting troops and petting children, while underneath it showed captions detailing Saddam's reported arrest in his home town of Tikrit.

The Arab satellite stations aired interviews with Arab security experts who said they felt the arrest of Saddam, if true, would aid American efforts inside Iraq.

Even the strongly anti-American Al-Manar tv station, controlled by the pro-Iranian Hiaballah terror group, opened its news shows with intensive coverage of the American capture of Saddam.

"Throngs of Iraqi people have rushed to the streets, and there are signs of joyful shooting in the air inside the Iraqi capital," declared Diah Nasry, the Al-Manar correspondent in Baghdad.

[Michael Widlanski is an expert in the Arab media and a lecturer at the Rothberg School of the Hebrew University] (c) 2003 Michael Widlanski

[beaware]

I was at Costco in Orlando Florida this morning. You should have seen how quickly they switched from CNN to Fox News after I asked them to!

[lentulusgracchus]

And for over TWO years, after WWII there was resistance ....

Anyone know if we ever stood any of the Werewolves against a wall?

The Japanese never did that, though a few officers committed seppuku. One word from the Mikado was all it took.

[Mr. Silverback]

SADDAM HUSSEIN CAPTURED

WOO-HOO, OOH-RAH, HOO-AH AND HALLELUJAH!!!

SUCK IT UP, ARAB STREET!!

This one's for Rafat Abdulamajeed Muhammad!!!

I'm supposed to be studying...But I couldn't imagine being off FR today, a day I have waited for since 1990, for two-fifths of my life! I have wanted this bag of used bowel movement made to answer for his crimes for a very long time, and I'm holding back tears right now thinking about all those people in Hallabjah. But hey...that doesn’t mean there’s no room for humor!

A joke written by my lovely wife, Rambette66

Santa.

Bad Santa

Really, Really Bad Santa.

Woo-hoo!

[Mr. Mojo]

Peter Jennings' ex-girlfriend (Palestinian activist Hanan Ashwari) deeply saddened. ......and so is Peter himself, I suspect.

[SwinneySwitch]

Saw Dan this morning. He really did seem down. He was talking about how they had "literally man-handled Saddam".

Dan's right! We should have let some female troops "woman-handle Sadman".

[hunter112]

Cheers to your wife for coming up with that! Made me laugh out loud!

[HP8753]

Female newscaster on CNN just admitted that Democrat Candidates who have been hoping things go south in Iraq will possibly be hurt by this news

[HP8753]

I think one more piece of good news for GW will cause them to go full goose bozo

Buy stock in Eli Lilly & Co. because the use of Prozac will double and possibly triple shortly

[Desron13]

"I think one more piece of good news for GW will cause them to go full goose bozo

Buy stock in Eli Lilly & Co. because the use of Prozac will double and possibly triple shortly

Wow, you’re right! By the way, do you have any idea who manufactures thorazine?

[backtobasics]

"Throngs of Iraqi people have rushed to the streets, and there are signs of joyful shooting in the air inside the Iraqi capital," declared Diah Nasry, the Al-Manar correspondent in Baghdad.

Could this be true that "throngs" of Iraqis are celebrating? I was just over at the OTHER site and they were allowing that there were only about 50 at best. The dems appear to want to try and ignore this news even more than the Arabs........go figure.

Sadly too......I found out there that I cannot search the archives of past post because I do not donate(and never will) to the site. All I wanted to do was compare past post to recent post about the importance of capturing Saddam.......might be interesting reading.

[Annie03]

I flipped channels this morning as well. Dan Rather was SO SAD, and the guests I saw weren't taking his bait to turn it into an election issue. Also amused hubby by mangling some reporter names and my own version of what network acronyms really stand for.

[ridesthemiles]

No more stunned than NBC's Tom Brokaw ... to say he was glum would be an understatement. Andrea Mitchell reported in from Washington and all she could talk about was the fact they haven't found any WMD in Iraq.

We haven't found then in Iraq because most of them and their evidence was moved to Syria in the weeks prior to out bombing Bagdad. I predict that Syria is next of Bush's targets to tell the world there is a new Sheriff in town.
I also am thinking that right now, Syria is trying desperately to figure out how to expose the fact that Saddam sent them inappropriate cargo.....

[ridesthemiles]

I saw Dan, too. He really seemed down in the dumps. Can't imagine why!

Where was Peter Jennings? Wonder what his reaction is to the fact that all the other heavy hitters were all over the screen this AM, and his space got taken up by little Georgie boy. I can't stop thinking that George S. is acting the part of a grown up. He looks like he is about 15 yrs old in church attendance garb.

[ridesthemiles]

Peter Jennings' ex-girlfriend (Palestinian activist Hanan Ashwari) deeply saddened. ......and so is Peter himself, I suspect.

Oh- I forgot about her and his affiliation with her. Do you suppose the CIA is tracking their cell phone calls, etc?

[mylife]

[Gritty]

"... and next, recently joining our exciting line-up of talented and distinguished Democrat Candidates for President, I would like to introduce my new favorite, just in from Tikrit and with a fresh bath and shave,... "

[NutCrackerBoy]

He's a lucky man.

[Maynerd]

No more stunned than NBC's Tom Brokaw ... to say he was glum would be an understatement. Andrea Mitchell reported in from Washington and all she could talk about was the fact they haven't found any WMD in Iraq.

I watched Dan Rather. He truly seemed bothered, down and irritated. Then I turned to the Fox News reporter (Jim Angle?), who had an almost mirthful smirk on his face. Priceless!!

The first question I saw from Dan Rather to the CBS White House correspondent was "Where is Karl Rove?". Never misunderestimate the idealogical bias of the press.

[Lazamataz]

The Palestinian broadcasts, which featured the news as the fourth news item, made no mention of Iraqi crowds celebrating the capture of Saddam, a big supporter of Arafat and a financial supporter of Palestinian "martyrs" who have blown themselves up attacking Israelis. The Palestinian Authority's television station broadcasting from Gaza ignored the news entirely for several hours, but other Arab media quickly broadcast details of popular glee at the news of Saddam's arrest.

It has become one of my goals to make sure Palestinians never get a homeland ANYWHERE.

Can you imagine these jerks with the machinery of a nation at their disposal?

[Annie03]

Why thank you. Have to admit I'm lucky too because he knows he's a lucky man :D