Al-Jazeera spokesman: 'We don't deal in politics'

CNN.Com / World ^ | Tuesday, September 23, 2003 Posted: 5:27 PM EDT (2127 GMT) | CNN.Com

[Bobby777]

PHILLIPS: What you have been told with regard to access in Iraq?

BALLOUT: There has been a decision by the Governing Council that Al-Jazeera should refrain from covering -- quote -- "official activities" -- unquote -- of the Governing Council for the duration of two weeks.

[Bobby777]

Al-Jazeera spokesman: 'We deal in terrorism!'

sorry, couldn't resist!

[Bobby777]

FReepmail me if you'd like to be on or off this ping list ...

[Kay Soze]

They dont deal in journalisim either.

[McGavin999]

When even the Iraqi people are complaining about the bias the media is showing, and is disgusted by the way Al Jeezera is presenting what is happening in Iraq, then it's time Al Jeezera figures out they are doing their brother Muslims more harm than good.

[cookcounty]

PHILLIPS: "Does Al-Jazeera have a code of ethics or a set of rules when it comes to standards and practices, and choosing what stories you will and will not cover?"

JIHAD BAILOUT: "It certainly does ... it's a core value that almost every single news organization in the world [has], and basically, we look for the newsworthiness and the news value of whatever we have, the relevance of it, and the reliability of the source."

It was by meticulous and judicious application of these principles that Al-Jazeera reported that the Israelis murdered 3,000 Palestinian civilians in Jenin.

[dwd1]

There is a fear among Al-Jazeera journalists that they will lose out on the best stories and not be as well informed if they do not show hostility against the West...

They are doing what they think they must to maintain their position....

That Minister of info for the former Iraqi Regime and others with such an attitude are what make Al-Jazeera what it is.... when do they deal with honor killings.... Distribution of wealth... Education Issues... Health Issues .... Religious Tolerance....

[McGavin999]

Well, they WILL lose out on the best stories if they continue to be hostile to the west. They are in a position to witness and report on the birth of a nation. It's a unique story that only a few will be permitted to see first hand. History is in the making and they are missing out on it by pushing an agenda they think will advance their careers. Instead they will be recorded in history as failures and fools.

Is that what they want?

[Cindy]

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "WE DON'T DEAL IN POLITICS"


LOLOLOLOL hahahahahah....Really?

[American in Israel]

then it's time Al Jeezera figures out they are doing their brother Muslims more harm than good.

The concept of personal harm does not apply in eastern cultures, it is what is good for the village or the family center. Because of this they do not care if they hurt the Iraqi people because in their eyes the good of the Jihad outweighs the good of the people.

It is very hard to explain the emotional damage that the average Islamic Arab is walking around with when parents do not care for them as individuals, but only for what they can do for them. You cannot earn your fathers love by accomplishing anything in personal growth, only by bringing home the bacon. This is the driving force behind the willingness to kill themselves to become a maryter, nobody loves them, but they can be hero's by the application of a little suicide. The "They will love me when I am gone" is a very powerful force in humans, and it is multiplied a thousand fold in the loveless society of Islam.

Mohammad may have been an evil manipulator, but he sure understood the dark part of mens hearts when he compiled the Koran.

[McGavin999]

Very interesting analysis and one that I think is dead on for the Palestinians. It would seem that the Iraqi people are an exception to this since they actually seem to love their children.

I have to think that this is something that has developed over the past 30 or so years and is most likely attributable to the Wahabbi influence.

[TXnMA]

Al Jazeera: wholly-owned subsidiary of Al Quaida

[Bobby777]

exactly ...

[Bobby777]

the 2/3 of the Iraqi population that are glad to be free of their dictator recognize Al-Jazeera as the Voice of Islamic Terrorism that it is ...

it is designed to spread disinformation, spin-doctor, etc. to rile up the Muslim population for jeehawd ...

that's why they always have the "exclusive" on OBL tapes, Khaled Shaikh Mohammed when he was free (hehe) and "Saddam" tapes ...

and they're being shut down ... however they'll still be broadcasting to many areas ...

they're the "Tokyo Rose" of these factions, I believe ... and each month I get further confirmation ...

[Bobby777]

absolutely ... that's their style ...

[squidly]

Am I the only one who finds it amusing that this guy's first name is Jihad?

[Bobby777]

LOL (I thought that was funny too) ... this guy must be a straight-man for Baghdad Bob!

[Bobby777]

Al Jazeera: wholly-owned subsidiary of Al Quaida

dead on ... we'd better keep a close eye on our "friends" in Qatar and Kuwait too ... this is no small problem ... and religious ties supersede political ties by a factor of at least 100 ... i.e., Saudi Arabia ...

IF, and I mean "if" (because I don't think he's stupid enough to await the inevitable attack on Tora Bora) OBL is alive, he's in the basement of Mecca ... A) a building his daddy built, B) a place America would *never* go and C) the perfect place to give out his word-of-mouth instructions ...

since they don't dare use a satellite phone anymore or they're going to get a Hellfire in their ear ... "can you hear me now?" ... GOOD ... BOOM!

[Bobby777]

Al-Jazeera spokesman Jihad Ballout

OH MY GOSH!!!! I'm so used to seeing "jihad" and "Islam" together it didn't even register ...

GOOD CATCH!!!!!!!!!!

[dwd1]

There will probably be some hedging of bets. After all, they will have the footage. They will be able to go back and correct themselves when it is in their best interests. The sad part is that they will, as you have stated, missed out on an opportunity to report on the birth of a nation. From where I sit, this time and their lack of professionalism and objectivity will be remembered for what it is... Propaganda and a major failure of reporters to tell both sides of the story in a fair and objective way... They have broken the most important rule in journalism... The journalists have become the story....