[piasa]

We should take it down. Someone on Fox today said it was at least partly funded by Saddam Hussein. (As if that doesn't look obvious enough given their content.)

[piasa]

Some sources say it's funded by the Qatari government, one even says Egypt but that sounds like it's out in left field since it's based in Qatar. It would be interesting to find out for certain, does anyone have a reliable source on its backing?

I doubt very much that it is "independent."

Of course, considering how nasty "independent" US media outlets are, the spin isn't much different from Dan Rather.

From what some source said on the talking head shows, we're not hitting Bagdhad TV because we have word there are kids in or around the building. as a result, the Baathists are able to keep their population in doubt about the state of their leadership and their ability to suppress any dissident groups, as far as any Iraqi knows, has not been hindered. Presumably they can also signal their fighters and agents via their broadcasts, even worldwide thanks to al Jazeera and others.

Al Jazeera and other outlets are probably free of the human shield problem, though. Could be interesting.