U.S. Network Falters in Mideast Mission

[kskiska]

Source: WP

Monday, June 23, 2008; Page A01
CAIRO First of two articles

The Egyptian bureau of al-Hurra, an Arabic-language television network financed by the U.S. government, boasts a spectacular view of the Nile River and the capital's bustling streets. But inside, all is quiet.

The bureau's satellite link was unplugged with little explanation a few weeks ago by a local company, making it impossible to broadcast live. Since then, staffers have had to use a studio controlled by the Egyptian secret police, who have warned guests not to say anything controversial on the air.

Al-Hurra -- "The Free One" in Arabic -- is the centerpiece of a U.S. government campaign to spread democracy in the Middle East. Taxpayers have spent $350 million on the project. But more than four years after it began broadcasting, the station is widely regarded as a flop in the Arab world, where it has struggled to attract viewers and overcome skepticism about its mission.

(snip)

Since its inception, al-Hurra has been plagued by mediocre programming, congressional interference and a succession of executives who either had little experience in television or could not speak Arabic, according to interviews with former staffers, other Arab journalists and viewers in the Middle East.

It has also been embarrassed by journalistic blunders. One news anchor greeted the station's predominantly Muslim audience on Easter by declaring, "Jesus is risen today!" After al-Hurra covered a December 2006 Holocaust-denial conference in Iran and aired, unedited, an hour-long speech by the leader of Hezbollah, Congress convened hearings and threatened to cut the station's budget.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/22/AR2008062201228.html?hpid=topnews

[tomreedtoon]

1. Could be worse. They could run network shows.

They could push "The Bachelorette" and "I Survived a Japanese Game Show" as an example of the freedom they want to bring to the region. Or run movies like "True Lies" with Islamics "doing America a favor" by nuking all the gays in Key West, with Schwartzenegger returning the favor by blowing them all to hell.

America can't promote a democratic way of life if our leaders don't know or care what democracy is.

[Solly Mack]

2. "In April 2003, Congress created al-Hurra ...

al-Hurra began broadcasting via satellite in February 2004 from an office park in Springfield, Va. Arabic...

The station's mission is to provide objective news for a region where hostility to U.S. policy is widespread. Executives said they have accomplished that goal.

"It's taken time to show that we're not the propaganda channel, that we're not the Bush channel,"


There have been a few journalistic coups, such as when the station broke word of Saddam Hussein's execution"

LMAO...uh...alrighty then

because you guys were just ever so much better than the other channels.....or maybe you got word ahead of time from..oh, I dunno...higher up...and got into place....

[NM Independent]

3. Oh No! Arab Fux News is a Bust!

[tom_paine]

4. Proving the Arabs aren't as dumb as Hannity-watching mouth breathers.

Who'd a thunk it?