Al-Jazeera called 'security risk' for America
"WASHINGTON – The proposed expansion into American cable markets by Al-Jazeera, the Arab-language broadcaster headquartered in Doha, Qatar, could offer a serious security risk for America, according to speakers at a conference held here."
"Documents released by WikiLeaks have shown that Al-Jazeera lacks editorial independence. Owned by Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, it acts an integral tool of the emirate's foreign policy, according to Kincaid."
"WikiLeaks cables documented U.S. Ambassador Joseph LeBaron saying: "Al-Jazeera's ability to influence public opinion throughout the region is a substantial source of leverage for Qatar, one which it is unlikely to relinquish. Moreover, the network can also be used as a chip to improve relations. For example, al-Jazeera's more favorable coverage of Saudi Arabia's royal family has facilitated Qatari-Saudi reconciliation over the past year."
"...the panel pointed out that Al-Jazeera's primary Arabic-language network has frequently served as a mouthpiece for Muslim Brotherhood figures such as Egyptian-born cleric Yusuf al-Qardawi and for terrorists such as Osama Bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki.
"The network interviewed Awlaki, who has been marked for death by the Obama administration, in the immediate aftermath of the attempted Christmas Day bombing and the Fort Hood shootings. Al-Jazeera quoted Awlaki as praising the attacks and encouraging Muslims to engage in violence against the United States and "take revenge for all Muslims across the globe."
"The Muslim Brotherhood’s website, Ikhwanweb, describes Khanfar as having a Muslim Brotherhood background, but the Al-Jazeera chief denied his politics have an impact on his channel's coverage.
"However, media critic Mamoun Fandy testified before the 9/11 commission that Al-Jazeera's reporters were a "Who's Who" "in the rank and file of the Brotherhood."
"Kincaid also cited a federal lawsuit seeking damages from the network due to its alleged involvement in Hezbollah's 2006 rocket attacks against Israel. The case claims that Israel-based Al-Jazeera employees helped the terror group determine the accuracy of its attacks against the Jewish state.
"Al-Jazeera should be designated a terrorist organization just like [Hezbollah's channel] Al-Manar," Geller said. "Al-Manar's designated a terrorist organization.
"Don't tell me this is a free speech issue; this is war, and it's an invitation to radicalize the American Muslim population. It's devilish, and we are not even raising a hand," she said.
"Kincaid hopes information about Al-Jazeera's alleged role in aiding radical Islamic terrorism will convince the U.S. State Department to follow suit and label the network as a foreign terror organization."
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=283661
"WASHINGTON – The proposed expansion into American cable markets by Al-Jazeera, the Arab-language broadcaster headquartered in Doha, Qatar, could offer a serious security risk for America, according to speakers at a conference held here."
"Documents released by WikiLeaks have shown that Al-Jazeera lacks editorial independence. Owned by Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, it acts an integral tool of the emirate's foreign policy, according to Kincaid."
"WikiLeaks cables documented U.S. Ambassador Joseph LeBaron saying: "Al-Jazeera's ability to influence public opinion throughout the region is a substantial source of leverage for Qatar, one which it is unlikely to relinquish. Moreover, the network can also be used as a chip to improve relations. For example, al-Jazeera's more favorable coverage of Saudi Arabia's royal family has facilitated Qatari-Saudi reconciliation over the past year."
"...the panel pointed out that Al-Jazeera's primary Arabic-language network has frequently served as a mouthpiece for Muslim Brotherhood figures such as Egyptian-born cleric Yusuf al-Qardawi and for terrorists such as Osama Bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki.
"The network interviewed Awlaki, who has been marked for death by the Obama administration, in the immediate aftermath of the attempted Christmas Day bombing and the Fort Hood shootings. Al-Jazeera quoted Awlaki as praising the attacks and encouraging Muslims to engage in violence against the United States and "take revenge for all Muslims across the globe."
"The Muslim Brotherhood’s website, Ikhwanweb, describes Khanfar as having a Muslim Brotherhood background, but the Al-Jazeera chief denied his politics have an impact on his channel's coverage.
"However, media critic Mamoun Fandy testified before the 9/11 commission that Al-Jazeera's reporters were a "Who's Who" "in the rank and file of the Brotherhood."
"Kincaid also cited a federal lawsuit seeking damages from the network due to its alleged involvement in Hezbollah's 2006 rocket attacks against Israel. The case claims that Israel-based Al-Jazeera employees helped the terror group determine the accuracy of its attacks against the Jewish state.
"Al-Jazeera should be designated a terrorist organization just like [Hezbollah's channel] Al-Manar," Geller said. "Al-Manar's designated a terrorist organization.
"Don't tell me this is a free speech issue; this is war, and it's an invitation to radicalize the American Muslim population. It's devilish, and we are not even raising a hand," she said.
"Kincaid hopes information about Al-Jazeera's alleged role in aiding radical Islamic terrorism will convince the U.S. State Department to follow suit and label the network as a foreign terror organization."
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=283661
