Posted on 05/19/2004 8:49:24 AM PDT by chance33_98
Tony Haddad, President of Lebanese American Council for Democracy, Available for Interview; Solid Proof of Al-Jazeera's Anti-American Propaganda
5/19/2004 9:41:00 AM
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To: National Desk
Contact: Ronn Torossian, 212-999-5585
WASHINGTON, May 19 /U.S. Newswire/ -- American reporters and commentators, as well as American government officials, have frequently been critical of the Al-Jazeera news network. Their primary complaint against the biggest and most-watched Arab media network is that its coverage is biased against America and in favor of America's enemies. Recent experiences of Lebanese- Americans show these complaints against Al-Jazeera to be valid, and show that Al-Jazeera twists facts and only gives airtime to those whose opinions conform to the network's lopsided point of view.
"Al-Jazeera's recent coverage of the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act has been completely one sided and has twisted the facts," said Tony Haddad, president of the Lebanese American Council for Democracy. "Aljazeera's coverage has portrayed this act as an American aggression against an Arabic country, namely Syria, and the network has intentionally misidentified it as the 'Syria Punishment Act.' In so doing, Al- Jazeera intends to gloss over the basic overriding fact that motivated the creation of this law in the first place, and that is the Syrian occupation of Lebanon," said Haddad. "We as Lebanese Americans have been working with our friends in Congress, since the year 2000. As Lebanese Americans we witnessed first hand the brutality of the Syrian regime, such as its indiscriminate shelling of cities and villages, and its taking advantage of the world's engagement in the first Gulf War to overthrow Lebanon's legitimate government and replace it with a puppet government. This was the motivation behind the Act."
"Al-Jazeera cannot defend its actions any more," said Haddad. "If anyone has any remaining doubts, this is solid proof of their anti-American behavior. We call upon Al-Jazeera to bring a representative of the Lebanese-American Council for Democracy-the organization that was thanked for its work on the Act by Congressmen on the floor of the House of Representatives-on to its network to speak the truth about the SALSRA."
The Lebanese American Council for Democracy is dedicated to the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon in compliance with U.S. and international law. The LACD works toward greater peace and stability in Lebanon and in the Middle East by promoting the principles of democracy, individual liberty, free markets, and the rule of law.
"Twists facts and gives airtime to those whose opinions conform to their point of view." This is a description of the liberal media here.
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