Al Jazeera rejects leaked US claims

[Turborama]

Source: Al Jazeera English

Al Jazeera has dismissed the claims made in the leaked US cables that the state of Qatar is using the news network as a bargaining chip in foreign policy negotiations by adapting its coverage to suit other foreign leaders and offering to cease critical transmissions in exchange for major concessions.

Al Jazeera said the claims, which were published by the Guardian newspaper, on Sunday were far from the truth.

"This is the US embassy's assessment, and it is very far from the truth. Despite all the pressure Al Jazeera has been subjected to by regional and international governments, it has never changed its bold editorial policies which remain guided by the principles of a free press." said Al Jazeera in response on Sunday.

The latest classified US documents released by WikiLeaks include a US diplomatic cable written in November, 2009, saying the channel could be used, "as a bargaining tool to repair relationships with other countries, particularly those soured by Al Jazeera's broadcasts, including the United States."

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/12/2010125231346145291.html

---

The American government have had a problem with Al Jazeera since the invasion of Iraq, when they literally went to war on them. As I detailed at length here: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Turborama/84

Also, how many news organizations have publicly published their code of ethics? http://iwantaje.com/code

Oh, and apparently Mossad's chief has a problem with them, too: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/116742

[Demeter]

1. Al Jazeera is a Model of Real Journalism

They trade in factual information, not gossip and infotainment. And I have yet to find them publishing propaganda to suit anyone's governmental program.

I like Al Jazeera for the enemies it makes: Mossad, the US perpetual war machine, Israel, etc.

[Imajika]

5. LOL @ model journalism. You gotta be kidding.

"I like Al Jazeera for the enemies it makes: Mossad, the US perpetual war machine, Israel, etc."

Why yes, Arab news network doesn't like the Mossad, the US or Israel - shocking!

Al Jazeera has very strong biases, just as many other media outlets have. You get one strong political perspective from Al Jazeera (largely Pan Arabist) in much the same way you get another strong political perspective from FOX News (US right wing). Both are extremely biased for their own particular causes.

"They trade in factual information, not gossip and infotainment."

HAHAHHAHA. Tell that to all the people in the Middle East who relied on Al Jazeera for news during the invasion of Iraq. Al Jazeera led people to believe the American army was actually bogging down and the mighty Republican Guard were halting the US advance. Basically, Al Jazeera was echoing Baghdad Bob, cheering on the Iraqi military and relaying absolute BS to its audience. This is why so much of the Arab world was stunned when the Republican Guard folded quickly and US forces entered and captured Baghdad. The whole time Al Jazeera had been feeding them propaganda about the mighty Republican Guard being a hero to all Arab peoples.

edited spelling

[Turborama]

6. Wrong

Al Jazeera has not said it doesn't like Mossad, the US or Israel. That's what the poster you are replying to said.

Al Jazeera has very strong biases, just as many other media outlets have. You get one strong political perspective from Al Jazeera (largely Pan Arabist) in much the same way you get another strong political perspective from FOX News (US right wing). Both are extremely biased for their own particular causes.

You obviously have never watched Al Jazeera English. It's very easy to do, they upload everything to the internet. Check out the links at the bottom of their homepage: http://english.aljazeera.net/

Also, check out the myths that they bust here: http://iwantaje.com/hm

I watch it regularly on TV and it's one of the best sources of news available.

"They trade in factual information, not gossip and infotainment."

HAHAHHAHA. Tell that to all the people in the Middle East who relied on Al Jazeera for news during the invasion of Iraq. Al Jazeera led people to believe the American army was actually bogging down and the mighty Republican Guard were halting the US advance. Basically, Al Jazeera was echoing Baghdad Bob, cheering on the Iraqi military and relaying absolute BS to its audience. This is why so much of the Arab world was stunned when the Republican Guard folded quickly and US forces entered and captured Baghdad. The whole time Al Jazeera had been feeding them propaganda about the mighty Republican Guard being a hero to all Arab peoples.

Nice try but this is the BS Rumsfeld was feeding Americans at the time of the invasion. Read this and learn about what really happened: http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Turborama/84

Finally, here are some facts and figures to dwell on...

Facts and Figures

Al Jazeera Network has 69 bureaus across the globe - the majority are rooted in the global South

Al Jazeera English has more than 1000 highly experienced staff from nearly 50 nationalities, making Al Jazeera English’s newsroom among the most diverse in the world.

The Al Jazeera English global footprint continues to grow, broadcasting to more than 190 million households in more than 100 countries. A complete list of countries currently broadcasting AJE is available at http://english.aljazeera.net/watchaje

Al Jazeera English broadcasts news and current affairs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from four strategically located broadcast centers: Doha, Qatar; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; London, England, and Washington, DC.

Approximately 50% of the Al Jazeera English website traffic comes from the United States and Canada.

Al Jazeera’s branded page is one of the most watched news channels on YouTube.

In January 2007, Al Jazeera English replaced BBC World on Yes, Israeli satellite television.

The Al Jazeera Network Consists of:
Al Jazeera Satellite channel (Arabic)
Al Jazeera English
Al Jazeera Documentary
Al Jazeera Sports
Al Jazeera Mubasher (Live)
Al Jazeera Media Training and Development Center
Al Jazeera Center for Studies
Al Jazeera Mobile
Al Jazeera.net (the English and Arabic web sites)

http://iwantaje.com/aje

[Imajika]

7. Your links are basically useless...

The first is Al Jazeera explaining why Al Jazeera doesn't have the biases others claim it has. Why, yes, people deny their biases. Fox News claims it has no biases.

The second is a link to, well, I don't know what since it is completely irrelevant to anything I posted.

"Nice try but this is the BS Rumsfeld was feeding Americans at the time of the invasion."

The point was that DURING the invasion of Iraq, Al Jazeera was covering some version of the war they WISH was happening instead of providing real, factual news about what was going on. Al Jazeera consistently made it sound as if the Iraqi military was fighting the US to a standstill, they constantly heralded the mighty Republican Guard, covered the rear guard actions against US forces as if they were actually significant, etc. When US forces crushed the Republican Guard and rolled into Baghdad after just 3 weeks or so, much of the Arab world that had gotten their news from Al Jazeera was stunned. I remember watching video of distraught Palestinians asking reporters how this could be as Al Jazeera had been reporting that the mighty Republican Guard had kept US forces out of Baghdad. Basically, Al Jazeera was channeling Baghdad Bob instead reporting what was really going on.

If you don't think Al Jazeera has biases, blind spots, etc, then your just refusing to accept reality.

[Turborama]

8. No, you clearly haven't watched Al Jazeera English & don't know about the subject we are discussing

Otherwise you would be able to point out the specific "bias" that Al Jazeera English has.

I am talking about Al Jazeera English and I strongly suspect the poster you were originally responding to was as well.


The link was totally relevant and I strongly suggest others observing our discussion have a read of it so they decide on exactly how relevant it is with regards to the propaganda war Bush & Rumsfeld carried out against Al Jazeera during the war. Unfortunately that propaganda war succeeded and evidence can be still be seen, right here, right now.

Where did you get this information about what Al Jazeera was reporting during the invasion of Iraq? American MSM, perchance? Or do you speak Arabic and watched it as it happened?

With regards to what they state on their website which you so easily dismissed, I'll post it here to see whether anyone else agrees with your false equivalence with Faux...

Hits & Myths

There are a number of misperceptions and myths that exist about Al Jazeera and Al Jazeera English in North America, that fortunately are not evident in the rest of the world. We would like to address some of these misperceptions head on, and encourage you to watch the channel for yourself to judge, via www.livestation.com/aje or www.youtube.com/Aljazeeraenglish

Myth: Al Jazeera Supports Terrorism
No, this is a absolutely not true. Al Jazeera Arabic, like many other broadcasters, has received Osama Bin Laden tapes and material from other sources that are of interest to the general public. Al Jazeera makes an editorial judgment to air small amounts of newsworthy content if it is deemed relevant. We are certainly not alone in this decision - just about all the other major broadcasters do the same. People often neglect to mention that AJ wasn’t the first network to broadcast a tape from Bin Laden, and the last tape that was released online was first picked up by another outlet. What is true is that Al Jazeera has given more airtime to American leaders than has ever been given to Osama Bin Laden.

Myth: Al Jazeera is Anti-Semitic
Since January 2007, AJE has been available on YES TV in Israel. The decision was made to remove BBC and replace it with AJE because AJE was thought to be unbiased and balanced. We have given more air time to Israeli officials than any other news channel outside of Israel. AJE is a channel that reports all sides of the story. Our Jerusalem bureau is our largest bureau, and our coverage of Israel is extensive. But you don’t need to hear this from us - The Jerusalem Post and Haaretz have both written pieces on our unbiased reporting in which they describe Al Jazeera English as an important, international news organization.

Myth: Al Jazeera is Anti-American
Absolutely not. Al Jazeera is committed to providing an international platform for American voices, often reaching places where the American perspective is rarely heard. Our news coverage and programming coming from the US is extensive, and over the last months we shared the US political process with the world, devoting countless hours to speaking to Americans and telling their stories. Guests on the channel have included Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, as well as General David Petraeus, Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Michael Chertoff.

Myth: Al Jazeera Shows Beheadings
This is a complete inaccuracy. Al Jazeera has never and will never broadcast a beheading. Our journalism upholds the strictest guiding principles of accuracy, impartiality and objectivity. For more information on our standards you can read our http://iwantaje.com/code">Code of Ethics.

Myth: Al Jazeera English is a Translation of the Arabic Channel
Al Jazeera English is unlike any other channel in the word. We are truly concerned with reporting international affairs, not just news that is governed by the West. We are a separate channel from Al Jazeera Arabic and we offer a different perspective. However, we are proud to build on the Arabic channel’s heritage of fearless reporting.

Myth: Al Jazeera has a Specific Agenda
Al Jazeera has no commercial or political constraints, which automatically gives us less bias than any other English channel. It is true to say that Al Jazeera has a unique point of view, that we continuously question the news agenda and that we offer an alternative perspective to other Western-based outlets. Unlike other English language news networks, at AJE we balance the information flow from the geographical South to the North and provide our viewers an opportunity to hear all sides of the story and have their own point of view.

http://iwantaje.com/hm

(edited to get the links live)

[rAVES]

2. but but but IT SOUNDS FOREIGN!11

[stray cat]

3. Wikileaks is CIA and is really the governnment controlling what people think they know

Ie people will believe anything if you pretend it's leaked....

Conspiracy theories for example -

[howaboutme]

4. The mainstream media has become a controlled tool

used by the elite and the establishment to twist us like windsocks, and the sooner we understand that, the sooner we can totally discredit them and turn it off.

The internet remains the only viable alternative although the major sites are all controlled and owned by those of the same interests. My sense is that the FCC and the "net neutrality" issue is being bent by the establishment to assure that only the current controlled major players will remain. The other aspect is the trend toward censorship and removing sites without due process under some pretense of copyright infringement, or hate, or supporting terrorism. The issue is totally about control and control for any reason is not good for the continuation of our democracy.

The Wikileaks is a thorn in their side because it is about raw data and not about the filtered data that we receive through the discerning eye of "the media" which publishes or muzzles depending upon the need for diversion and those involved. Wikileaks should have offered full data releases to the minor and major alternative news sites instead of just the MSM. Force the MSM to compete with the alternative news sites. The other trend is for the MSM to buy up any site that gains traction and at one time even Al Jazeera was on the table to be sold to Haim Saban an Israeli media tycoon. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3787007,00.html