BEIRUT, Lebanon - Al-Manar, the television station of Lebanon's Hezbollah militants that has glorified suicide bombers, lost its satellite feed to the United States on Saturday after Washington put it on a list of terror organizations. Posted on 12/19/2004 2:27:37 AM PST by M. Espinola
BEIRUT, Lebanon - Al-Manar, the television station of Lebanon's Hezbollah militants that has glorified suicide bombers, lost its satellite feed to the United States on Saturday after Washington put it on a list of terror organizations.
The exclusion from U.S. TV screens came less than a week after France banned its broadcasts, but al-Manar's troubles airing its anti-Israel message abroad don't seem to hurt its popularity in the Arab world. The station till enjoys the support of the Lebanese and Syrian governments and a broad and sympathetic Arab audience.
The station, which ranks fourth or fifth among Lebanon's nine stations, has drawn protests from across the globe for airing anti-Israel programs that include videos glorifying Hezbollah and other Arab suicide bombers who target Israelis, describing the attacks as "heroic martyrdom operations." Its presenters refer to Israel as "the enemy."
"We are sorry to lose our audience in France and America. We will work to change that. Meanwhile, we still have our faithful viewers elsewhere," said Hassan Fadlallah, Al-Manar's news director.
The United States placed Al-Manar on its list of terrorist organizations Friday, dismissing freedom of speech objections and accusing Al-Manar of inciting violence in the Middle East.
"We don't see why here or anywhere else a terrorist organization should be allowed to spread its hatred and incitement through the television airwaves," said U.S. State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher.
Fadlallah told The Associated Press, "This is a blatant attack on press freedoms and an exercise in intellectual terrorism against the voices that are opposed to U.S. and Israeli policies. It is part of an organized Israeli campaign against Al-Manar to keep it from transmitting the facts of the Arab-Israeli struggle."
Lebanese authorities have threatened to reciprocate against French channels for the ban. Lebanon considers Hezbollah - a militant Shiite Muslim group high on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations - to be a legitimate resistance organization fighting Israeli occupation.
Al-Manar's broadcasts to the United States through satellite operator Intelsat, were halted Saturday, Fadlallah said. French authorities banned satellite television broadcasts by the station on Dec. 13, soon after a Nov. 23 program that quoted someone described as an expert on Zionist affairs warning of "Zionist attempts" to transmit diseases such as AIDS to Arab countries.
Al-Manar - the self-proclaimed "Channel of Resistance and Liberation" - airs documentaries, dramas, political talk and health shows - but even some of its entertainment programs are centered on "the struggle" against Israel, with some of its game shows featuring questions on the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Youssef Fawaz, a 42-year-old grocer, said he watches Al-Manar and will continue to do so "because it speaks for all Arab people." He rejected accusations that Al-Manar incites violence, saying the station "shows facts on the grounds. They (Americans) are the violent ones, they are the terrorists. Look what they've done to Iraq."
The station is widely seen in the Palestinian territories for its interviews and quick coverage of events affecting Palestinians. It is also popular with Shiite Muslims, believed to be the largest group in Lebanon.
"Al-Manar is committed to the truth, and the Americans are afraid of the truth reaching the public there," said Ali Sharefeddine, a Lebanese student.
ping
its about frikin time....
Islam, The Alleged Religion of Peace® ( TARP™ )? Click this picture:
Finally
Yep.
Thank you for the ping jet.
They tried but were denied.
You can't blame them really, they most likely thought they would be given some sort of "protected status" in the United States in the same way that Muslims Fundamentalists financed by Saudi Arabia use our "freedom of religion" laws and rights against us.
I caught some of their programming posted on the web some months ago. Total idiocy. A bunch of bearded fanatics sitting around, spouting hate and filth toward the west. Indescribable. Their attitude toward women was perfectly clear. Half the human race can put laundry on their heads and walk behind the goats. Change their hearts and minds anytime soon? They understand overwhelming force and nothing else, so in the end that's what we'll be forced to use. But I suppose this won't happen until bin Laden manages to set off a dirty bomb in downtown L.A.. Then we'll waste time fixing blame. Retaliation would have to be fast and total...but it won't be. PC thinking will still be de rigeur.
Unless allied nations, plus those remaining on the side lines, truly fathom this jihadic cancer is not restrict to Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan coupled with other international locations under attack by the jihadists, but, the entire world is at risk to even nuclear attacks from rouge Islamic states such as Iran. The outcome of the Iraqi national elections, I hope, shall determine, when, not if, the terrorist axis of Iran-Syria-Lebanon are finally & firmly confronted in order to break the back or rouge states promoting Shi'ite related terrorism, not only in Iran but spreading the seeds of Islamic madness in other nations as well. As you pointed out the required response to the ongoing global threats by radical Islamists will not be totally addressed until after some other unthinkable act of horror is inflicted on the innocents.
Imagine if either Christian or Jewish groups attempted the same in the 'Royal Opec Arabian Oil Kingdom?
About time.
Scary, France beat us to it.
I think it's about time to apply the same standard to mosques and shut them down!!!
Bump
It's fine that we cut this off here, but from where are they broadcasting this filth?
Seem pretty simple to end that, as well.
where did you get that book? I can't find it on Amazon. Thanks
The book...lol non, no, I found the graphic, not the book, while researching.
Think if we wanted tax free status in Arabia to warn the public about the evils of Wahhabism, or Iran? I know, silly to even bring the matter up :)
When it comes to non-profit status for the jihadic faithful..do unto others as they are already doing to US!
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