U.S.-Based Arabic Channel Faces Probe

IMDB.com ^ | 6 June 2007

[paudio]

The Virginia-based al-Hurra satellite television network that is financed by Congress and beams to the Arab world may be subject to an independent review following reports that it has routinely aired broadcasts that include denunciations of Israel or Jews. The station, which reportedly receives $62 million in funding annually (plus an additional $40 million for a station that targets Iraq), was reportedly set up as an alternative to the principal Arab news channel al-Jazeera, which has frequently been attacked by U.S. politicians as sympathetic to Arab militants. But the Associated Press reported Tuesday that al-Hurra has aired programs that have included a lengthy speech by Hezbolla leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah and Palestinian prime minister -- and Hamas leader -- Ismail Haniya -- and referred to the founding of Israel in 1948 as "the catastrophe."

[paudio]

Can't they find somebody who speak Arabic but doesn't hate Israel?

[endthematrix]

CRS Report for Congress

The Middle East Television Network: An Overview

FAS

(includes background on al-hurra funding)

[rmlew]

Can't they find somebody who speak Arabic but doesn't hate Israel?
Jews whose families where expelled from Arab countries?
Too bad the Arabist CIA doesn't care.

The real problem is leftists don't curb Islamists.

[FreePoster]

While we give Saudi Arabia a hard time, we’d better check to make sure we’re not funding some Jihad preachers ourselves. Somewhere in the federal budget I half expect we are.

Anyway, whatever propaganda it spews is a drop in the bucket compared to what the Democratic leaders in Congress have been broadcasting. Half of what OBL says is just the Arabic translation of Kennedy and Pelosi.

[sageb1]

This infuriates me.

[Inquisitive1]

It might be a ploy to gain credibility in the eyes of their ‘target market’.

[sageb1]

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Broadcasting_Board_of_Governors

BBG Board Members

* Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, Chairman
* Joaquin F. Blaya
* Blanquita Walsh Cullum
* D. Jeffrey Hirschberg
* Edward E. Kaufman
* Norman J. Pattiz
* Steven J. Simmons
* Condoleezza Rice

[edit]
Contact

Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG)
330 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20237
Tel: 202 203-4545
Fax: 202 203-4585
Website: www.bbg.gov

[sageb1]

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Middle_East_Television_Network

The Singapore Straits Times reported in March 2004 that two Saudi clerics said that Muslims should not watch, work for, or advertise on the U.S. funded Al-Hurra satellite channel. In a written fatwa, Sheik Ibrahim al-Khudairi said the channel was “founded by America to fight Islam, and to propagate massive decay to Americanise the world.”[8]

The Hill reported in July 2004 that nearly half of the Voice of America’s staff signed a petition complaining that the Broadcasting Board of Governors launched “new services in the Middle East with no editorial accountability” while cutting back VoA programs in the region. One VoA editor called the new Middle East networks - Radio Sawa, Al Hurra and Radio Farda - “expensive and ill advised.” The VoA petition claims the new networks “provide inadequate news coverage and do not operate under VoA’s charter, which guarantees balanced reporting.” Other Middle East media have questioned the credibility of the new U.S.-funded networks.[9]

In October 2004, the Washington Post reported that Al Hurra’s news director Mouafac Harb bristled at the claim that offered a more pro-U.S. version of the news than other Arabic channels and was having a hard time reaching many viewers because of the perception that it is American propaganda. Al Hurra news director Mouafac Harb responded to charges by saying, “We’re state-funded, but not state-run. I don’t recall getting a phone call from someone trying to steer the news. Ever.” The Post pointed out, however, that U.S. Rep. JosT E. Serrano (D-N.Y.) said at a hearing in April, that’s exactly why Congress is funding it. “Do not tell us it’s not propaganda, because if it’s not propaganda, then I think ... we will have to look at what it is we are doing,” Serrano said.[10]

[sageb1]

And from the same link"

"Changes in Leadership and Programming

A March 2007 opinion piece by Joel Mowbray in the Wall Street Journal expressed concern at changes in Al Hurra's programming since "longtime CNN producer, Larry Register" became the channel's news director in November 2006. "Investigations into Arab government wrongdoing or oppression were no longer in vogue, and the ban on turning the airwaves over to terrorists was lifted. For those who had chafed under Mr. Register's predecessor -- who curbed the desire of many on staff to make Al-Hurra more like al-Jazeera -- the new era was welcomed warmly," wrote Mowbray. [17] "

[Gideon Reader]

There are hundreds of thousands of Jews who were driven out of their homes in more than twenty Arab nations who are skilled and eloquently fluent in Arabic.
But something tells me that this U.S. effort at kissing the asses of the Noble Sons of the Sands has little interest in hiring JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSSS!!!

[sageb1]

U.S. Government Gave Airtime to Terrorists, Official Admits

[LIConFem]

Financed by congress?

Financed BY CONGRESS???

I give up...

[Netizen]

This infuriates me.

Me, too. I'm guessing that this arabic station is on cable. We don't have an arabic station, but, if we do get one, I'll use that opportunity to cancel cable.

[sheik yerbouty]

Probe them with a cattle prod..

[paudio]

I'm guessing that this arabic station is on cable. We don't have an arabic station, but, if we do get one, I'll use that opportunity to cancel cable.

I believe they only broadcast the program to the Middle East, not in the US.

[Netizen]

I guess that’s ok and is needed to combat al jezerra. Tough call. Hate to waste the money but I guess we need to counter jezerra’s propaganda. I just think we waste too much money on foreign aid to countries that hate us. Thanks for clarifying, though, appreciate it. :)