Attempts to bomb and slander Al-Jazeera out of existence are driving viewer numbers UP

ok, so let me see if i have this right... the u.s. threatens iran about its nuclear program which makes it more determined than ever to have one... the u.s. puts up an electronic news crawler on its building in havana spreading anti-castro messages to cubans and castro becomes more determined to resist any and all u.s. pressure... the u.s. intentionally, unintentionally or otherwise bombs al-jazeera in afghanistan and iraq, bans them outright from reporting there and jails al-jazeera reporters in guantanamo and iraq yet the existing audience grows more fiercely loyal and new viewers tune in daily... ummmmm... what's wrong with this picture...?

The Al-Jazeera bureau in Afghanistan was bombed by U.S. warplanes in 2001. During the invasion of Iraq, U.S. tanks shelled Al-Jazeera journalists in a Basra hotel. Shortly after, its office in Baghdad was hit by a missile from a U.S. warplane; correspondent Tareq Ayoub was killed.

Al-Jazeera reporters have been detained by U.S. forces and placed in prisons in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. It has weathered verbal attacks from U.S. defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld and from government officials in many countries in the Middle East.

[...]

U.S. President George W. Bush attempted to convince British Prime Minister Tony Blair to agree to bomb the headquarters of Al-Jazeera in Doha in Qatar in November that year, according to a report in Britain's Daily Mirror citing "top secret" minutes of the meeting where this was discussed.

Submit To Propeller
Tweet