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The U.S. backed Arab-language news network Al Hurra broadcast video on Wednesday depicting grisly acts of torture on Iraqi citizens ordered by Saddam Hussein. But so far at least, the shocking new video remains embargoed by U.S. media outlets. The Washington Post admitted on Friday that it was in possession of some of the gruesome torture images - but did not publish them in a report on the video buried on Page A21. Instead, Post editors decided to front-page stale images of U.S. abuse of suspected terrorists held at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison. "The [Hussein torture] video reached news outlets,"...

Some of the readers asked about my opinion about the interviews that GWB gave to Al-Hurra and Al-Arabeya TV channels and since I'm a CIA agent (I'm thinking of leaving them to work for the Mossad. I've heard they pay better), I guess my opinion would be biased, so I decided to offer you some of the responses I saw on the BBC Arabic which offers a comment section for Arab readers to post their opinions about the hot topics. There were about 30 comments today, since it's still fresh on the site. As usual, the comments from Iraqis-in general-contradicted...

WASHINGTON — President Bush (search) has granted interviews to Arab news outlets in an effort to temper rising fury over images of American troops abusing Iraqi prisoners. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Tuesday night that Bush will conduct two 10-minute interviews with the U.S.-sponsored Al-Hurra television network and the Arab network Al Arabiya. "This is an opportunity for the president to speak directly to the people in Arab nations and let them know that the images that we all have seen are shameless and unacceptable," McClellan said. "These images do not represent what America stands for, nor do they...

WASHINGTON — America's efforts to counteract the ill effects of Arabic satellite station Al Jazeera (search) appear to be paying off. The first ratings are in for Al Hurra (search) — the U.S.-based Arabic language television station that just went on the air in February, and they look promising. "Al Hurra" means "the free one" in Arabic. From its studios in Springfield, Va., it broadcasts news and public affairs programming throughout the Middle East and is available on all the same satellites where its long-standing competitors, Qatar-based Al Jazeera and Al Aribiya (search) are seen. The idea is to counter...

US launches “accurate” Arabic satellite television broadcasts In a bid to offset the spread of anti-American messages by pan-Arab media outlets, the US government launched Al-Hurra, a satellite television station broadcasting Arabic language news and information programming across the Middle East and North Africa, on Saturday, February 14, 2004. The broadcast schedule will expand progressively over the first month of operations to the point of providing a round-the-clock news and information service by March 14, stated a press release. “The people will hear free and open discussions not just about conflict in the Middle East, but also about subjects...

In a desperate effort to reverse America's negative image in the Arab world, a new Arabic-language television station called Alhurra ("the free one") has been added to the diet of existing government-sponsored broadcasting outlets in the Arab region. The new station joins America's Radio Sawa and its slick Hi magazine as post-September 11 Arabic-language media tools that the US hopes to use to win Arab hearts and minds. Judging from the broadcast content of its first day, Washington has a long way to go to achieve its goals. Alhurra operates with a $62-million grant from the US government. Judging from...

CAIRO, Egypt - Even before its first broadcast, a satellite television station financed by the U.S. government and directed at Arab viewers is drawing fire in the Middle East as an American attempt to destroy Islamic values and brainwash the young. Al-Hurra, or The Free One, is to start broadcasting Saturday. President Bush (news - web sites) has promised the news station, which will build up to 24-hour programming within a month, will "cut through the hateful propaganda that fills the airwaves in the Muslim world." It already has landed a one-on-one interview with Bush. White House Press Secretary Scott...

Arabs slam Washington's TV channel US-funded news station seen as Bush bid to spread propaganda and to undermine Islamic values CAIRO - Even before its first broadcast, a satellite television station financed by the US government and directed at Arab viewers is drawing fire in the Middle East as an American attempt to destroy Islamic values and brainwash the young. Al-Hurra, or The Free One, is to start broadcasting today. US President George W. Bush has promised that the news station, which will build up to 24-hour programming within a month, will 'cut through the hateful propaganda that fills the...