Al-Jazeera kills Arizona border reports (Minutemen refuse to cooperate)

Arizona Daily Star ^ | 6/28/05 | By C.J. Karamargin and Michael Marizco

[IonImplantGuru]

The Arab television network Al-Jazeera pulled the plug Monday on a series of news reports about the Arizona-Mexico border amid criticism that the information could help terrorists slip into the United States.

Al-Jazeera planned to launch the series this week with coverage of a Phoenix rally by the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, a volunteer civilian border-watch group that has attracted international media attention.

"I wanted to cover the story from the human point of view," said Nasreddine Hssaini, the Washington, D.C.-based Al-Jazeera reporter behind the series. "I wanted to go to Tombstone and Sasabe. I wanted to tell the story of democracy in action."

The network canceled the project, Hssaini said, after Minuteman organizer Chris Simcox refused to cooperate and then notified the Border Patrol and members of the state's congressional delegation about Al-Jazeera's plans.

[snip]

But Al-Jazeera's growing popularity has brought greater scrutiny. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld accused the Qatar-based network of encouraging militants by airing hostage executions.

For Simcox, Al-Jazeera and al-Qaida are virtually one and the same. They wanted to come to Arizona "to do reconnaissance," he said. "I will not have a part in that. I will not work with the enemy."

[IonImplantGuru]

"I wanted to go to Tombstone and Sasabe. I wanted to tell the story of democracy in action."

Unh-huh, yeah, right!

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Hey come on, I'm sure there are some non Jihadis at Al Jazeera. I have it on good authority there are even one or two employees at cnn who don't hate America.

Just don't ask for their names, they swore me to silence.

[Jeff Head]

Local journalism professors sided with Hssaini and defended Al-Jazeera as a serious news outlet.

"They are a legitimate news organization," said Jacqueline Sharkey, head of the journalism department at the University of Arizona. "There has been criticism in some of the ways they have covered the war in Iraq - just as there's been criticism of the way some of the U.S. media have covered the war in Iraq."

What a bunch of mushy brained, useful idiots.

I guess that Pravda and the NAZI Ministry of Information in World War II would also have been "legitimate" news sources to these peoeple.

[cripplecreek]

I kinda liked Simcox's suggestion that John McCain explain border security to Al Jazeera.

[jackbenimble]

It seems once again that patriots is a more descriptive word for the Minutemen then vigilantes.

When is President Bush going to apologize?

[hattend]

For Simcox, Al-Jazeera and al-Qaida are virtually one and the same. They wanted to come to Arizona "to do reconnaissance," he said. "I will not have a part in that. I will not work with the enemy."

Sounds like the right thing to do.

[Textide]

"I wanted to cover the story from the human point of view," said Nasreddine Hssaini, the Washington, D.C.-based Al-Jazeera reporter behind the series.

Why bother? Your audience hardly qualifies as 'human'.

[wingsof liberty]

Riddle me this: Al-Jazzera is based in Qatar, which is supposedly one of our most steadfast allies in the middle east. The Army even set up thier Central Command base there during the second Gulf War. So why then is Al-Jazzera, the primary mouthpeice of terrorism in the world today, able to operate there with impunity and without sanction?? It just doesnt make sense.

[Roccus]

Qatar must have freedom of the press.(rolleyes)

[elcid1970]

The Osama News Network needs to be outed wherever they turn up in our Republic, and expelled.

[panaxanax]

"When is President Bush going to apologize?"

Don't hold your breath, we'd hate to lose you.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

For Simcox, Al-Jazeera and al-Qaida are virtually one and the same. They wanted to come to Arizona "to do reconnaissance," he said. "I will not have a part in that. I will not work with the enemy."

If only some of our senators were this patriotic . . .

[ScreamingFist]

Why doesn't Al-Jazeera just cross the border and do their story from the Mexican side? Oh yea, those reporters that didn't get kidnapped would have their asses shot off.....kind of like the mid-east.

[IonImplantGuru]

So why then is Al-Jazzera, the primary mouthpeice of terrorism in the world today, able to operate there with impunity and without sanction?? It just doesnt make sense.

I've given that some thought and the best I can come up with is: better the (d)evil you know, than the one you don't. It may be possible that we allow Al-Jizzra to exist because we have moles or taps or ??? in place and can extract usful intel. Otherwise, it seems to me, we have the ability to EMP them into the electronic stone-age and would have before now.

I figure 9/10 of what's going on in the WOT is off the media radar screen - and thus off our screens too.

[mthom]

Wheres the apology from Dane?

[ScreamingFist]

Otherwise, it seems to me, we have the ability to EMP them into the electronic stone-age and would have before now.

Why bother, I remember one Bright Star deployment in Egypt when EC-130E's were broadcasting Looney Tunes on the local channels, quite refreshing....

[sam_paine]

Riddle me this: Al-Jazzera is based in Qatar, which is supposedly one of our most steadfast allies in the middle east. The Army even set up thier Central Command base there during the second Gulf War. So why then is Al-Jazzera, the primary mouthpeice of terrorism in the world today, able to operate there with impunity and without sanction??

Answer: Al-Jazeera is a brilliant joint spook military collaboration used in psyops to villify the enemy. Discuss.

[Travis McGee]