Nothing will impact how much antiwar news we hear more: but "JAZEERAGATE?"

[Jeffersons Ghost]

While it may never reach epic proportions of Watergate, nothing will impact the nature of news that we hear in the future, more than reliable reports disputing the current barrage of propaganda.

Some might wonder why six month old news on Haditha and other past atrocities are finally in the forefront but media insiders likely know the reason. Move over BBC and Fox, Al-Jazeera is spreading its wings. If you think timing of the Jessie Macbeth story, which asserts that My Lai-type Massacres are widespread in Iraq, is accidental prepare for an awakening. If you blinked you missed the whole show but don't feel dumb. Mental missiles are firing across the web at a mind-boggling rate and no relief is in sight.

Prepare to experience information overload in the "War of Ideas" and buckle the mental safety-belt because an odyssey of illusion is just beginning in the wake of new Al-Jazeera TV news, in English. Did the prospect of Al-Jazeera in English trigger a recent flood of facts and falsehoods? Not long ago, reliable sources reported initial broadcasts were to begin in April or May. According to one source, "Al-Jazeera's English-language channel has suffered a further setback, with its launch delayed until September at the earliest."http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1781396,00.html

"The Qatar-based, 24-hour news channel was originally set to launch in April but a series of construction and technical problems at its four centres in London, Doha, Kuala Lumpur and Washington meant this was pushed back on two separate occasions to June."

We know why the current U.S. dictatorship desires deception. Pure profit is primary motivation for the dynamic-duo of deceit that currently wields the Military Industrial Complex like children playing cowboy: But other than profit, what motivates Al-Jazeera? While I personally doubt it will ever happen again in the U.S. the truth might be nice motivation in media for a change.

Here is some background from Wikipadia, an online dictionary. It appears Al-Jazerra is hiring a reliable well-known news team. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jazeera

IS "JAZEERAGATE" ON THE HORIZON?

On July 4, 2005 Al Jazeera officially announced plans to launch a new English-language satellite service called Al Jazeera International. Highly protested by many Americans, organized campaigns surfaced against Al-Jazeera's efforts to establish the planned English language network in the United States, protests lead by groups such as the United American Committee. The controversy over Al-Jazeera's establishment in North America has been dubbed by some as "Jazeeragate". Al Jazeera has announced this long-expected move in an attempt to provide news about the Arab world, especially Israel, from the Middle Eastern perspective. The new channel will have broadcast centers in Doha (current Al Jazeera headquarters and broadcast center), Athens , London, Kuala Lumpur, and Washington D.C., when the station launches in May 2006. The channel will be a 24-hours 7-days a week news channel with 12 hours broadcasted from Doha and four hours from each of London, Kuala Lumpur, and Washington D.C.

In September 2005, Josh Rushing joined Al Jazeera International. He was the press officer for the United States Central Command during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, and in that role was featured in the documentary Control Room. Rushing will be working from the Washington DC Bureau. He commented that "In a time when American media has become so nationalised, I'm excited about joining an organisation that truly wants to be a source of global information..." Former CNN and BBC news anchorwoman and award winning journalist Veronica Pedrosa and veteran UK broadcaster David Frost have also joined the team, along with Riz Khan, a former BBC reporter who most recently was host of the CNN talk show Q&A, CNN producer James Wright, and Kieran Baker, a former editor and producer for CNN who most recently was Acting General Manager, Communications and Public Participation for ICANN. On 2 December 2005, Stephen Cole, a senior anchor on BBC World and Click Online presenter, announced he was joining Al-Jazeera International. The network announced on 12 January 2006 that former Nightline correspondent Dave Marash would be the co-anchor from their Washington studio. He described his new position as "the most interesting job on Earth." On 6 February 2006 it was announced that the former BBC reporter Rageh Omaar would host a daily weeknights documentary series, Witness. With Al-Jazeera's growing global outreach and influence, some who thought of them as an "alternative media" source have changed their minds.

Here's a blog about protests today at the Al-Jazeera U.S. station in DC. http://vitalperspective.typepad.com/vital_perspective_clarity/qatar/index.html

On Sunday, five people (at its peak) from the United American Committee, a conservative group formed to "promote awareness of threats which face America from within our very own borders, primarily focusing on Islamic extremism in America," protested against the planned launch of al-Jazeera's planned English language U.S. station at their Washington headquarters. UAC Founder & Chair Jesse Petrilla explains in an interview some of the rationale behind the protest in this radio interview.

The UAC said they weren't protesting their right to broadcast, but rather "to let the network know that they are not welcome in the U.S., and to send a message to any cable providers not to carry al-Jazeera's planned American station which the UAC feels broadcasts propaganda sympathetic to the enemies of the U.S." A sample letter which people are urged to send to their cable companies and satellite providers, listing the problems with al-Jazeera, is offered to people via the UAC site here (MS Word).

Here are actual photographs of the small group of protestors and the first paragraph from their website:

Jazeeragate: Conservative Group Protests Planned English Language Network
PHOTO OF SIGN W/ SWASTIKA DELETED SEE PREVIOUS LINK!

A non-partisan movement of concerned Americans, promoting awareness of threats which face America from within our very own borders, primarily focusing on Islamic extremism in America. A movement to promote citizen involvement in national security issues, and to awake Washington on the issue of Islamic extremism. A diverse group, all Americans, united, striving for a better tomorrow in America. A tomorrow where our children may be free, free from Islamic extremist threats at home.

I wonder how "free" their children will be after the current parade of fools finishes destroying our Bill of Rights.

[Taxloss]

1. David Frost is extraordinarily well respected in Britain.

One of the top five names in current affairs - almost a British Walter Cronkite. Securing him is a huge coup for a-J. Their London office is within walking distance of my flat - I might apply for a job ... heh.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

2. keep us updated if you get hired! this story is near invisible in US media

we do seem to be getting a bit more anti-war video on TV, though. Perhaps Al-J TV is the stimulus.

[KoKo]

3. Where will al-Jazeera appear on MSM in US? Which Cable Channel

will pick it up...or is it only "high end" or Satellite? :shrug:

[Stinky The Clown]

4. That's what came up for me, too .......

.... will they be given any cable slot anywhere?

[Jeffersons Ghost]

5. I only know of a DC broadcast facility so far but if you guys vote...

and kick it up, I'll stay on the story as it develops.