Arabs heap scorn on new TV network

CAIRO – Arabs yesterday dismissed as slanted, arrogant and condescending a new US-funded Arabic-language television network Alhurra, which was launched to polish the image of the United States in the region.

“The channel and its presenters insist on the fact they are free, as if they were telling the Arab viewer he is not, that he is oppressed and the United States will teach him freedom,” Egyptian pundit Salama Ahmed Salama said. “It’s quite a stupid way of proceeding,” said Salama, the editorialist for the government newspaper Al-Ahram who is often critical of the Egyptian political process.The network, which means “the Free One” in Arabic, was launched on Saturday in 22 Arab countries, seeking to rein in the influence of the Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya networks.On Sunday, Alhurra broadcast an interview with US President George W Bush in which he repeated his commitment to liberty and democracy in the Middle East, as well as a debate on the lack of freedom in Arab countries.”The news bulletins are slanted.They eclipse the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a bit and the way of presenting information is much less sophisticated than the Western news networks that we know,” Salama told AFP, referring to organisations like CNN and BBC.The Broadcasting Board of Governors’ Middle East Committee supervises the Alhurra network which is financed by the US Congress.Jordanian newspapers yesterday accused Alhurra of lacking credibility and displaying arrogance.The editor-in-chief of Al-Arab Al-Yawm daily, Taher al-Adwan, said Alhurra’s first duty should be “to provide proof on the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq which were the (US) pretext for invading that country and occupying it”.”The new American media campaign in the Arab world is not aimed at spreading democracy but hiding the truth, withholding information,” Adwan wrote.”We have pity for this satellite channel because its mission will be very difficult in winning the trust of the Arab world,” he said, adding that “lies” are at the core of Bush’s policies towards Arabs.In the United Arab Emirates, the Al-Khaleej newspaper said “this media offensive does not differ from the military, political, and economic invasion as well as the terror” of the US administration, which “does not hide its animosity toward Arabs and Muslims”.”If US policy in the region were healthy and convincing, they would not resort to cosmetic means to improve their image,” it said.- Nampa-AFP”It’s quite a stupid way of proceeding,” said Salama, the editorialist for the government newspaper Al-Ahram who is often critical of the Egyptian political process. The network, which means “the Free One” in Arabic, was launched on Saturday in 22 Arab countries, seeking to rein in the influence of the Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya networks. On Sunday, Alhurra broadcast an interview with US President George W Bush in which he repeated his commitment to liberty and democracy in the Middle East, as well as a debate on the lack of freedom in Arab countries. “The news bulletins are slanted. They eclipse the Israeli-Palestinian conflict a bit and the way of presenting information is much less sophisticated than the Western news networks that we know,” Salama told AFP, referring to organisations like CNN and BBC. The Broadcasting Board of Governors’ Middle East Committee supervises the Alhurra network which is financed by the US Congress. Jordanian newspapers yesterday accused Alhurra of lacking credibility and displaying arrogance. The editor-in-chief of Al-Arab Al-Yawm daily, Taher al-Adwan, said Alhurra’s first duty should be “to provide proof on the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq which were the (US) pretext for invading that country and occupying it”. “The new American media campaign in the Arab world is not aimed at spreading democracy but hiding the truth, withholding information,” Adwan wrote. “We have pity for this satellite channel because its mission will be very difficult in winning the trust of the Arab world,” he said, adding that “lies” are at the core of Bush’s policies towards Arabs. In the United Arab Emirates, the Al-Khaleej newspaper said “this media offensive does not differ from the military, political, and economic invasion as well as the terror” of the US administration, which “does not hide its animosity toward Arabs and Muslims”. “If US policy in the region were healthy and convincing, they would not resort to cosmetic means to improve their image,” it said. – Nampa-AFP