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Why Al Jazeera Isn't Available In The United States










Al Jazeera's reporting on the Egypt uprising has been unparalleled. Coverage on the usual channels has been ridiculously biased, US-centric, and banal. For an example of the differences, if you have the CNN iPhone or iPad app, check the "live" link on it. It goes straight to Egypt State Television. On the other hand, Al Jazeera has consistently provided on-the-street information, even after being cut off by the Egyptian government.

Global Grind has an exclusive email interview up with Al-Jazeera anchor Imran Garda, who lays the blame at the feet of an excessively paranoid Bush administration and their feverish need to shape the news as pro-US, anti-Arab. I'd say that's about right.

For several years Al Jazeera English was perceived by American cable providers and the American public as the voice of Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden. With its coverage of the uprising in Egypt, do you see a shift in American perception of Al Jazeera English as a legitimate news organization that reports the news in a fair and balanced way? If so, how?

Regarding the perception within the US - that is true. Although pre-9-11, and particular pre the US-led invasion of Iraq, we were celebrated by numerous policymakers, intellectuals and journalists. Thomas Friedman of the NY Times wrote a piece in 1999 championing how free, open and credible Al Jazeera was, and how groundbreaking it was for the region, particularly since it upset the status quo of authoritarian leaders running propaganda channels in each country within the Arab world.

With the aftermath of 911, I think there was a strong desire to frame the US response, and specifically the "War on Terror" in very clear cut, almost ideological terms. Al Jazeera showing the effects on civilian populations of air raids which the military told the public only killed "insurgents" or "terrorists" certainly didn't help when you're in the DOD and trying to assure the public of the absolute righteousness of a just war, whether in trying to oust the Taliban in Afghanistan or topple Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

Because seeing those images might just have changed how we viewed what we were doing over there. After all, Walter Cronkite got away with it during the Viet Nam war and look what happened. Can't have a repeat performance of that in these times, now can we?

However, there seems to be a thaw under the Obama administration, but not necessarily with cable companies.



Petition your carrier to add Al Jazeera here.

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