Someone is providing the major news network, Al Jazerra, a booth at . . .

[frankly_fedup2]

both the Democratic Convention as well as the Republican Convention to provide live news coverage. Isn't Al Jazeera the propaganda news station that are an outlet for the terrorists to get their supposed messages out before they murder another human being? But they are going to have a sky booth!

I'm listening to Mike Gallagher on Fox Radio, 1340/1380 KOLA a.m. (on the Internet). They had advertised Alan Colmes and I have not heard him before and was hoping that he, at least, did a decent job when he wasn't around Hannity. However, this Gallagher guy comes on.

Mike Gallagher is an obvious neocon. He said the Democratic Convention was supplying the major Arab propaganda network, Al Jazeera, a sky booth at the Convention. Then about 5 minutes later, he added that the Republicans are going to provide that to Al Jazeera as well.

I've never heard of this Mike Gallagher guy before. He has, within the first five minutes of his show, had two callers. One is stating that Al Jazeera is a big supporter of Kerry. Yeah, right. He is also announcing how well the Republican Convention is already scheduled to end on Friday; however, the Dems are closing their's down on Thursday and what idiots they are. The second caller made a comment about how Michael Moore is calling American's stupid, calling America names while he is in Europe. Funny thing, he could not specify anything.

He is continuing to announce that Al Jazerra, the news network that I personally am disgusted in because they will show the be-headings, and continue to be a world outlet for the terrorists and their threats. I feel that if they would not play the tapes, read the letters, etc., they would stop helping the terrorists with their intent on murdering innocent people just trying to work. I wonder if they ever thought about that? I wonder if Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield, or Powell has ever asked them to please not play the tapes? If they did not play the tapes, maybe the kidnappings would stop. If the terrorists do not have an outlet for their threats, then what would be the point in kidnapping anyone? Seems like a simple solution, and I may be naive and way off base, however, it seems to me like common sense. However, Al Jazeera loves having the scoop on all this inhumanity.

I'm sure those Arab Countries that get Al Jazeera also get our major news networks like CSPAN and CNN, FOX, etc., so Al Jazeera is not giving their audience anything different then our own news networks . . . are they?

This Gallagher guy is saying they are doing this to provide the terrorists with information, which if they were, I'm sure our Intelligence Agencies are listening and watching them closely.

Does anyone see any danger with this? I have mixed feelings? One of his guests is pointing out to Gallagher that it might be a good thing to show the Arab people how a Democracy works. Maybe???? Does anyone know if they have ever covered our conventions before?

But why are we being nice to Al Jazeera, After all, the terrorists give them the scoops regarding Bin Laden tapes, kidnappings, be-headings, etc. Is there anything this network won't show???

He is not saying WHO is doing this, providing them with their own little sky booth, but I have a suspicion. Maybe . . . oh . . . Bush and Co, inc. Maybe they still are having to kiss some butt for some reason? Maybe he thinks by doing this he will win the Iraqi people over if they see what a "Compassionate Conservative" he is. I haven't heard him say that since the 2000 debates, but every time he is on the boob tube, I hear the "Compassionate Conservative BS again.

Am I wrong? Am I being racist? Am I being paranoid? I really don't know if this is a good or bad idea. After all, they have lied about our soldiers in the past as well as their intent. They also are very one-sided on the Israeli/Palestinian conflicts, and I do not have to tell you which side they trash.

I've been trying to get through, and if anyone else is interested in talking to this person, the number is, 1-800-655-MIKE.

Internet

[2Design]

1. several of us here find Al Jazerra much more balanced than

cnn or fox....they used to be the bbc network, I think I read, while under sadaam.....they just show the news....like our networks use to do when they were fair and balance...

during vietnam war you saw more scenes like on al jazerra than now...

the networks used to be for the people's news...now they seem to be more for the corporate state.....

so if you don't like al jazerra...you don't have to watch it...
there will be news networks from around the world I guess..and they are just one more..

[papau]

6. They are BBC trained and have good ethics not seen in some US media

But they do give the Arab point of view

Which is never seen on the US Media

And which is on occassion as non-fact based and non-balanced as Fox.

But it is the point of view that may not be fact based, albeit a common viewpoint in the population that they serve.

They get the actual "facts" correct - unlike Fox.

Reuters& the BBC takes a while longer to confirm what they are being told by the street. Al Jazerra tends to simply report - and note where the info came from.

I prefer Reuters & the BBC.

:-)

[frankly_fedup2]

15. I have read Al Jazeera online and they are not so innocent or

truthful about everything. Also, the "Turn the channel if you don't like it and don't watch it." comment is right up there with "If you don't love America then leave it."

My main point, which obviously no one seemed to get, was the fact that they appear to be the network for the terrorists. That is the first place they send their videos for Al Jazeera to show. If they had no outlet for their threats, maybe they would not kidnap people. That was my whole point.

Also, I have never heard of that Galligher guy before and was wondering if anyone else had.

Lastly, I really don't think I'm a racist; however, some of you do since I made the post. I did ask your opinion. However, some of you took the liberty to take some cheap shots. Although you may be right, but I do not feel I am a racist person. Paranoid, yeah, racist . . . no.

One question though, if 15 Arab men were on a plane that you were on, constantly moving around and acting suspiciously, would you be somewhat concerned? By being concerned, would that make you racist because they were all Arab? So everyone on that plane that this happened on would they all be racists as well? Well, the bathroom closest to the cockpit had it's mirror broken and the wall had been cut in an attempt to get through to something. This was reported by CNN today.

I appreciate everyone's candor; however, some of the responses have been rather cruel.

[jbane]

32. The 15 Arab men on the plane...

The 15 Arab men on the plane moving around, etc. would not only cause me concern. I would be ducking under my seat in anticipation of the Sky Marshals taking control of the situation ASAP. When it comes to a situation like that, I don't care what someone else might call me. I will act first (and perhaps offend) and apoligize (alive) later.

[lottie244]

39. Please give direct evidence of AJ being untruthful.

I just want to know.

[lottie244]

38. Not only much more balanced but much more honest.

Three major stories that the US accused AJ of being biased and untruthful about turned out to be true. I haven't seen nearly the number of events that call for retractions from AJ as from the NYT and WSJ and other major media print and broadcast in the US.

[rawstory]

2. PLEASE! Fox is worse than Jazeera

Obviously Jazeera has their slant but I'd prefer them to Fox any day. They're media; they have a right to be there. And after all our talk about free speech and democracy BULLSHIT we should at least let the Arab networks we are open to letting them cover us -- what have be got to hide? Another fraudulent election, perhaps?

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Aidoneus]

4. al-Jazeera is an excellent source

Though neither that, nor your post, qualifies as Latest Breaking News.

[frankly_fedup2]

16. Well, the moderators must disagree because they have

not moved it yet.

Of course, they may not have gotten to it yet. You can always hope!

[Aidoneus]

24. Noticed that

They're a little slow at night. At any rate, I wasn't going to alert them to it (not my style), I just didn't have time at the moment to take a scalpel to the rest of your post beyond the little note in my title. If it's still around in an hour or two, I will hopefully do so.

[frankly_fedup2]

42. Congratulations . . .

You speak and it happens. I wish I had that power. Must be because of who you know . . . not what you know.

By the way, are you one of our new moderators?

FYI: See latest news. I just posted a post of a story from CNN. Seems the DNC made Al Jazeera take down their banner.

Woops, I better find a URL for the story or they will move that one too.

Yikes, you guys are too good.

[lostnfound]

5. Go see "The Control Room" and have your eyes opened.

AlJazeera was once praised (or was it insulted?) as the CNN of the Arab world. Later, the slander campaign against them was carried out by Rumsfeld & company who desparately wanted to pressure them into NOT covering the carnage in Baghdad.

GO SEE IT. It's a great movie. You will be amazed to SEE, with your own eyes, the AMERICAN propaganda which was so apparent during the war. The fall of the Saddam statue? Video shows the square was empty, except for a parade of likely 'imports' who just HAPPENED to be carrying a pre-1991 Iraqi flag with them. Yeah, right.

[Fed Up]

7. Freepers are mad The Dish Network offers Jazeera.

Look, you can't understand the words, just look at the pictures.

Mike Gallagher is a whiny wind-bag from Texas. Who listens to that cave dweller but his fans that already think like him?

He can shout from now until November that "John Kerry supports international terrorism, John Hanoi Kerry is an international terrorist," and it won't have any effect.

[frankly_fedup2]

17. I had Dish network for a while before changing to Direct TV . . .

and there was no opportunity to purchase Al Jazeera news. There were a lot of Latino stations; however, no Arab stations.

Plus, I was in no way agreeing with this guy. I had just never heard of him before.

I do watch Link TV on Direct TV. When they do different newscasts out of the middle east, I don't recall Al Jazerra, but they could have been on there sometime. Link news Mosaic is pretty good and I watch it everyday at 2 p.m. to get the Arab perspective as they have reports from several of the Arab states including Jordan, UAE, Libya, Iran, etc.

[Scurrilous]

8. Arab TV to get inside DNC look: Al-Jazeera grabs spot in FleetCenter skybx

http://news.bostonherald.com/dncConvention/view.bg?articleid=36521

<snip>

"It's been called everything from the CNN of the Arab world to Taliban TV.

Next week, though, the controversial Al-Jazeera network will for the first time at a political convention take its place alongside other major networks in a skybox, providing live coverage of the Democratic National Convention from the FleetCenter.

``We're basically just a bunch of hard-working people of every ethnic background, working very hard like everyone else in the news business,'' Washington-based Al-Jazeera producer Stephanie Thomas told the Herald."

<snip>

"Started eight years ago and funded by the Emir of Qatar, the network now has more than 40 million viewers worldwide and is considered the No. 1 news source in the Arab world. It is available in the United States on the DISH Network while Canadian officials recently gave permission for a censored version of the channel to air.

The network has a Washington bureau, and reporters have White House access and cover Congress. Al-Jazeera, which will be affiliated with ABC during the DNC, has 16 staffers covering the convention who will work out of a FleetCenter skybox alongside ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and Fox."

[frankly_fedup2]

19. Thanks for the information. . .

I should have looked it up myself instead of posting and asking anyone if they had any information.

[bloom]

9. Seems like a good think for

people in the Middle East to know more about what's going on over here when we are over there doing what we are doing.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[thebigidea]

10. if they let the likes of Puffy Pundit Sean Hannity in, AJ better get in

hopefully they can lock Alan Colmes in a broom closet somewhere so he can snivel quietly: "Sean... over to you Sean... please let me out, Sean... uh, we have to take a break... uh... Sean... the door, Sean... please, Sean... its not funny any more, Sean..."

[Media_Lies_Daily]

11. Personally, I would rather see the full story from Al Jazeera than get....

...the crap that passes for news in this country.

Our networks could show the same things shown by Al Jazeera, but sometime between Vietnam and today, a bunch of rightwing conservative companies bought the mainstream media and decided what the American people could, and couldn't see.

If your criticisms of Al Jazeera are coming from the FOX television network, I can tell you right now why you're confused. FOX has NEVER broadcast ANYTHING that was "fair and balanced", and they rarely publish the facts about ANY story.

[thebigidea]

13. Aw, but they let Charles Krauthammer call himself a journalist.

Doesn't that count for ANYTHING?

[countmyvote4real]

14. It only counts because his medical degree hasn't been revoked.

And yet he practices and practices and practices. Maybe one day he'll get one of them right.

[frankly_fedup2]

20. I don't watch Fox. (nt)

[Media_Lies_Daily]

23. But you do LISTEN to FOX, don't you? Read your own post.

[frankly_fedup2]

26. No, I don't listen to FOX either. . . .

I happened to come across it this one time tonight because I got a new Program called Replay Radio. As I was going down a list of available stations, I saw "Alan Colmes' name and what time his show came on. I thought I would check it out because I had never heard him on his own show where he could actually talk, since Hannity was not around, and I hoped he would have a good show.

Instead, this Gallagher guy came on. I don't know if Alan Colmes show has been canceled or not. That is where I heard about the Al Jazeera sky booths, et al.

You guys are treating me like I'm some kind of neocon or something.

We are on the same side.

[umtalal]

18. Al Jazeera Rocks !!

there is a spin off the english.aljazeera.net. it is aljazeera.com. hmmm?

[frankly_fedup2]

22. Yes, I am aware of that site and it is among my list of

foreign news reports I try to read everyday. What did the "hmmm" mean at the end of your post?

[umtalal]

43. It is full of lies?

[TexasBushwhacker]

21. Ask Mike if we would want to cut Al-Jazeera off?

Seriously. Think about it. Whether you support our occupation of Iraq or not, WE ARE THERE, and we're going to be there for a while. Al Jazeera is the only Arab network that broadcasts in English. It is no more or less guilty of propaganda than any other new organization. They all have points of view. They all (ours, theirs, etc.) are going to see themselves as the "good guys" and their enemy as the "bad guys". So if we shut out Al-Jazeera, are we acting like we are ultimately "good guys" to the Arab world, or "bad guys".

Al Jazeera will cover our conventions. We can allow them access, as we would an major news organization, and hope for the best, or we can deny them access and I guarantee we'll get the worst.

[maggrwaggr]

25. hey, Frankly, have you ever actually watched Al Jazeera?

Or is your opinion of it formed by what you've read in the US press?

Just wondering .....

Me, I haven't seen Al Jazeera except for their website, where they helpfully displayed photos of many, many dead babies which US bombs had killed in Fallujah long after "major combat operations" had supposedly ceased.

I was glad to see somebody actually showing the results of our tax dollars at work -- dead babies.

I'd like to see "Control Room" before I make any further opinions of them. It's playing in LA now and I'm gonna try to catch it.

[tkmorris]

27. I don't get this thread at all

You said that you don't watch Fox, but your original post has you listening to the self-same Fox on the internet.

Then you refer to Al Jazeera as the network of the terrorists, or some such, while in a later post you state that you visit their website every morning!

A little advice here. Take it friendly, that's the way I intend it. You don't like Fox? Wonderful, I don't either. So turn it off. Seriously, it's just poison. Once you've done that learn about Al Jazeera. If you don't like their flavor of news, that's fine, but at least take an open-minded view of what they do. It'll help you lots; you'll be better informed, have a more worldly view of current events, and be far less likely to get flamed on DU for getting your facts wrong.

As for calling Mike Gallagher on the phone.......sorry mate, no can do. I'd rather discuss racial issues over coffee with Charles Manson. Maybe it's just me.

[frankly_fedup2]

28. I guess I did not make my post very clear and I apologize for that . . .

I do read Al Jazeera on line, I just happened upon Fox Radio Network tonight for the first time in my life (and I swear for the last time in my life AND if I ever do happen upon it again, I will never tell anyone about it).

Even though I read Al Jazeera along with US, Canadian, Australian, and British, and I do see the difference in the reporting.

Because I read them does not mean I agree with everything they say or do.

Al Jazeera provides a service for these terrorists (whether they feel that way or not or so it appears). The terrorists, for some reason, will send their letters, statements, videos, audio threats, speeches, whatever to Al Jazeera first. Then Al Jazeera will show their threatening videos, which in turn gives them a public voice. I was just saying, if they would not do this, maybe the kidnappings and be-headings might stop. If the terrorists have no public voice, (which the media provides them), in my opinion, there would be less acts of terrorism. Maybe I am naive or do not fully comprehend the reasons for Al Jazeera's participation with these terrorists; but I'm on line researching everyday and trying to learn as much as possible, or at least trying to understand the why's of this insane World we now live in.

[CaTeacher]

29. Sigh. I wish I could get

Al Jazerra on my tv. I definitely would enjoy watching the news more.

[muriel_volestrangler]

30. Cutting the message out of one section of the media

would not have much effect, and might just anger the 'average Arab' more because of the censorship.

Things like this have been tried before; for instance, Britain banned its radio and TV from broadcasting the speeches of Sinn Fein members in the late 80s and/or early 90s - Thatcher called it 'denying them the oxygen of publicity'. This (a) got them complaining about censorship, (b) was got round by having actors repeat the words, which the regulations didn't cover. In the end, the actors were lip-syncing to pictures of Gerry Adams.

In the case of al Qaeda and such groups, they have the choice of several Arabic TV and radio stations, and many newspapers. Al Jazeera may have been their first broadcast choice, because it doesn't censor much (but note that they did decide to not show the actual beheading of people). It has been banned by some Arabic countries because it is critical of them. It is also now the widest broadcast coverage in Arabic, I think, so it's not surprising that tapes with messages get sent to them.

If Al Jazeera did decide to start censoring the material it's given, then I think the messages would get out in other ways - Arabic newspapers are published all over the world, and have a wide variety of viewpoints that you'd never be able to censor successfully - and Al Jazeera would just lose credibility in the eyes of Arabs. Remember it's also the station on which Arabs are most likely to see proper interviews with Western and Israeli government officials, which may help the situation in the long run. The Internet is also used for distributing a lot of the material too. I don't think the kidnappings would stop if Al Jazeera refused to show any terrorist material.

Al Jazeera does have an Arabic viewpoint, and a bias (another thread on DU shows that they seem to be largely ignoring the Darfur killings in Sudan - the government and militia are Arabic, and the victims aren't). A few days ago, the BBC got Martin Bell (ex war correspondent and independent anti-corruption MP) to review "Control Room". He thought Al Jazeera was less biased than Fox News - he reckoned about the same as CNN. Both have prejudices based on the typical viewer they aim at, but show a reasonable spectrum of factual news.

[tkmorris]

33. But that's wrong

First of all, Al Jazeera is not the only way they get these videos out there. At least two have been primarily distributed via the internet, ostensibly through domains that had no idea what they were hosting.

Secondly, on at least one occasion Al Jazeera has reported receipt of a video, but not aired it for exactly the reasons you describe. That is to say, they don't desire to help the terrorists in their attempt to spread fear.

Thirdly, and most importantly, I think you need to understand where AJ is coming from. They report news to the Islamic world, and they take an Islamic view of events quite often. They often take the point of view that the US is way out of bounds in it's treatment of the Islamic people. For this reason they sympathize in a way with the "terrorist" viewpoints, if they don't quite agree with their methods. The US is running roughshod over the Islamic people and AJ simply reports that as honestly as they can. Your views of what AJ does seem to mirror what the American news media would like you to believe rather than what they actually are. Think of them as CNN Middle East if it helps you any. They are naught but a news organization, trying to report the happenings in the world as best they are able, to the Islamic people they serve.

[Tight_rope]

31. Ever heard of freedom of the press!

[frankly_fedup2]

41. Yeah, I've heard of it, but obviously it does not count

for Al Jazeera. I posted a report from CNN where the Dems made Al Jazeera take down their poster. No one else had too.

Now, why would they do that? Could it be because of controversy? Could it be because they are Arabs? Could it be . . . no . . . Could it be the Democratic Party is racist (like some of you have called me)? I dunno but I don't think it looks too good for the Dems to do that. (Now that was my opinion. Those who feel the need to call me names, insult me and/or my intellect, etc., just because my opinion may differ from yours, I will be sure to take into consideration cause YOUR opinions mean so much to me). Not really, but even if I disagree, I will respect yours.

Which one of you are going to start the "Leave the Al Jazeerra banner up or we won't watch" petition?

Not me. According to you all who do not know me at all, I hate these people and am a racist. You remind me of the Freepers and how they attack anyone that might want to discuss an issue.

If you are what represent the Democratic party (not all of you), It's starting to make me think I do not want to be part of a party that treat their peers the way these posts that have attacked me for expressing an opinion. It's so funny because we are on the same side.

I should take my monthly contribution and give it to another Dem site where the other posters respect the opinions of others without attacking them. Hmmmmm.

[Xenus Sister]

34. After bombing them on purpose

and killing one of their reporters, we damned well should extend some courtesy to them.

I agree, Control Room is an excellent movie.

[newyawker99]

36. Hi Equipoise!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Xenus Sister]

37. Thanks newyawker99!

Good to be here. I'm new to politics but I'm learning fast.

[lottie244]

40. And don't forget the Arab journalists who were killed

Of course, it was an "accident" Especially the ones killed by Israel. We know Israel wants the truth to get out.

[prodigal_green]

35. Go see Control Room

most of the Al Jazeera reporters are former BBC correspondants. They know how to report a story. You've just gotten so used to our press rolling over and playing dead that you've forgotten what real journalism looks like.

BTW, AJ is often accused of being an arm of the American/Zionist axis in the Middle East.