This is a chance for all to watch an individual evade the truth at every turn, if you have a legitimate question for this representative of CAIR, I suggest you follow the instructions below from the American Congress for Truth!
Action Alert: Contact MSNBC
Action Alert
This Sunday, March 18th on "Meet the Press" with Tim Russert, Congressman Joe Sestak (D. -7th Dist. PA) who will appear at an April 7th Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) fundraiser in his Delaware County district outside Philadelphia, will be appearing.
Please go to the Meet The Press website, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/ , scroll down the center/left column (the first box is "NBC video," the next is "Russert on Politics") to the third box, scroll down to the bottom option which invites you to SUBMIT A QUESTION FOR A GUEST. Request that Sestak be asked why he insists on appearing at a CAIR fundraiser, despite its well-known connections to terrorist groups (Hamas, the Holy Land Foundation, the fact that at least five of CAIR's employees and board members have been arrested, convicted, deported, or otherwise linked to terrorism-related charges and activities etc.) This is not only a Jewish issue - CAIR's connections to terrorism endanger all of us.
Be as specific as possible, and try to dispel one or two of his lame excuses, i.e. He is going there to speak to his Muslim constituents; he is going to tell the CAIR audience that Israel is a staunch ally; that 250 of his constituents are going to be there; that if CAIR were a terrorist organization the US would have shut it down as it did to the Holy Land Foundation (which provided CAIR with seed $, and for which CAIR raised money POST 9/11!); that he employs a former CAIR employee because, despite interviewing her 3 times ,he didn't realize she had worked for CAIR and now...well, she's only 23 and he "loves [his] employees."
PLEASE PASS THIS ON.
Lawyer wants Sestak to end ties with CAIR
By WILLIAM BENDER,
A Democratic lawyer is ratcheting up the pressure on U.S. Rep. Joseph Sestak and trying to build Jewish opposition to his planned attendance of an upcoming Council on Islamic-American Relations banquet and the hiring of a former CAIR staffer. Robert Lipshutz, a former Philadelphia assistant district attorney, distributed a letter Tuesday to Delaware County rabbis, calling on Sestak to cancel the April 7 speaking engagement in Philadelphia and fire his district outreach coordinator, Adeeba Al-Zaman.
With 32 chapters, CAIR describes itself as the nation's largest Muslim advocacy group. It devotes much of its resources to anti-defamation work and educational activities, but has also been flagged by prominent Democrats -- including Sens. Barbara Boxer and Charles Schumer -- for having ties to terrorist organizations.After facing some pointed questions Sunday at the B'nai Aaron Synagogue in Haverford, Sestak said Tuesday he stands by his decision to speak at the event and hire Al-Zaman to coordinate outreach activities in his district."It even says in the Torah, understand the other side before you make a judgment. Once you make your judgment, you should speak the truth. And the truth here -- and I looked into CAIR during the campaign -- is that they do some good," said Sestak, D-7, of Edgmont."But that isn't enough. They must condemn terrorism -- by name, the perpetrators -- and disassociate themselves from those who have murky ties or have been indicted."Sestak, who considers himself "a friend of Israel," said he would incorporate that message into his speech at the Hilton Philadelphia. Approximately 250 of the congressman's Muslim constituents are expected to attend the CAIR event.Lipshutz, 59, a Montgomery County Democrat who said he voted for congressional candidate Lois Murphy, isn't satisfied."You always have to be able to take in information to see if maybe you have to make a mid-course adjustment," said Lipshutz, who wants Sestak to cut all ties with CAIR and fire Al-Zaman.In his letter to Sestak, which was sent Tuesday to local rabbis, Lipshutz wrote: "I believe you are so sure of both your own goodness and of your judgment about this young woman that you failed to consider not only that your judgment may have been wrong, but also in the impact your decisions have made and will continue to make on others."The convictions of two former CAIR members on charges of supporting terrorist operations and engaging in financial transactions with Hamas was reportedly a factor in Boxer's decision to rescind an award to the head of CAIR's Sacramento office.Schumer, D-N.Y., said during a 2003 Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism hearing that CAIR has "ties to terrorism" and "intimate links with Hamas."The group's government affairs director, Corey Saylor, told the Daily Times this month that CAIR condemns "any act of terrorism, whoever commits it." He said individuals indicted or convicted for supporting terrorists were not acting on behalf of the organization.In the wake of negative news coverage, CAIR's Pennsylvania chapter has altered its Web site at least twice.The invitation for next month's "Connecting and Sharing" event was separated into a banquet with Sestak's name on it and a fund-raiser without his name. Sestak will not be participating in the fundraiser.The online biography for Al-Zaman, a stepdaughter of a CAIR board member, has also been scrubbed of any reference to her job with the congressman. Sestak said Tuesday he did not request the phrase be removed."I did not know it was on. I did not know it had been taken off," he said.Of Al-Zaman, Sestak said, "I cannot speak highly enough of her."
©DelcoTimes 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyday, American Congress for Truth (ACT) is a 501c3 non profit organization on the front lines fighting for you in meeting with politicians, decision makers, speaking on college campuses and planning events to educate and inform the public about the threat of radical Muslim fundamentalists to world peace. We are committed to combating the global upsurge of hate and intolerance.To continue and bolster our efforts, we need your continued solidarity, activism and financial support. We are only as strong as our supporters. We thank you for helping us carry on this important work.
American Congress for Truth (ACT) , P.O.Box 6884, Virginia Beach, VA 23456Email: member@americancongressfortruth.comIf you no longer wish to receive these emails, please click here to unsubscribe
Saturday, March 17, 2007
You Can Help!
A request to help from the American Congress for Truth, here is your chance to help out The United States! This is our responsibility!
Action Alert about "Television Takeover"
ACT members earlier received an article entitled:
Television Takeover: Taxpayer-financed Al-Hurra is becoming a platform for terrorists.
Please make you voice heard in this intolerable situation by asking your legislator to have the Department of State replace the Al-Hurra director, Larry Register. Below is a letter you can send to your senators and representative in Congress. Go to the American Congress for Truth CONTACT CONGRESS link at: http://www.americancongressfortruth.org/contact-congress.asp.
Email and/or fax the letter to your legislator. For much greater impact, ALSO call them at both their local offices and their Washington offices. If you have never called a legislator before, it is very simple. A staffer will answer, and all you need to do is tell them you have a request for your legislator and state some version of the first paragraph of the letter that you feel comfortable with. Since this is not an active bill in Congress, you might be required to give the staffer some background. Be passionate, but polite. Get the staffer on our side. That will make our voices even louder.
Dear Representative or Senator________,
The taxpayer-financed Middle East TV network, Al-Hurra, has recently turned into an anti-democratic, terrorist-friendly voice. Please demand that the State Department's Broadcasting Board of Governors replace Larry Register, the network's new director.
Since the network's direction was taken over by longtime CNN producer, Larry Register, last November, the coverage has dramatically shifted toward more pro-terrorist and anti-democratic stories and commentary. Launched in February 2004, Al-Hurra broadcasts three separate feeds: Europe, Arab nations, and Iraq. The network's mission is to support our public diplomacy to the Arab world. It is supposed to showcase the American political process and report on things that get little attention on other Arabic networks, such as human-rights abuses and government corruption.
Iraqi Member of Parliament Mithal al-Alusi says stories that cry out for further investigation, such as recent arrests of those accused of supporting the terrorists in Iraq, are instead getting mere news-ticker mentions at the bottom of the screen. And Arab voices for freedom, which used to have a home on Al-Hurra, are now absent. "They're driving out the liberals," he complains.
The new direction of Al-Hurra was showcased on February 9 when riots broke out at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem after Israel changed security measures to accommodate repair work near the mosque. Al-Hurra gave two hours of live coverage, thirty minutes more than Al-Jazeera. Al-Hurra's Muslim guests vilified Israel, creating conspiracy theories about Jewish "plans" to destroy the Al Aqsa Mosque. The Al-Hurra anchors asked such questions as, "Do you think that the timing of these actions is as innocent as Israel pretends?" The Al-Hurra anchors included Ikrima Sabri, imam of the Al Aqsa Mosque, who was Yasser Arafat's hand-picked mufti of Jerusalem. During the broadcast, Mr. Sabri accused Israel of firing guns and throwing bombs into the mosque and refusing to allow medical care for the wounded.
Iraqi parliamentarian al-Alusi said, "Al-Hurra should have the role of transporting democracy, and to help Iraqis understand freedom. If you have a good product, you must sell it in a good way. The United States is a very good product."
It is essential that the State Department's budget of over a half billion dollars to fund International Broadcasting Operations be spent wisely since this is an essential part of our war on Islamic Jihad. If Mr. Register cannot follow the Al-Hurra mission statement, then replace him with someone who can.
Sincerely,
Your Name
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyday, American Congress for Truth (ACT) is a 501c3 non profit organization on the front lines fighting for you in meeting with politicians, decision makers, speaking on college campuses and planning events to educate and inform the public about the threat of radical Muslim fundamentalists to world peace. We are committed to combating the global upsurge of hate and intolerance.To continue and bolster our efforts, we need your continued solidarity, activism and financial support. We are only as strong as our supporters. We thank you for helping us carry on this important work.
American Congress for Truth (ACT) , P.O.Box 6884, Virginia Beach, VA 23456Email: member@americancongressfortruth.comIf you no longer wish to receive these emails, please click here to unsubscribe
Action Alert about "Television Takeover"
ACT members earlier received an article entitled:
Television Takeover: Taxpayer-financed Al-Hurra is becoming a platform for terrorists.
Please make you voice heard in this intolerable situation by asking your legislator to have the Department of State replace the Al-Hurra director, Larry Register. Below is a letter you can send to your senators and representative in Congress. Go to the American Congress for Truth CONTACT CONGRESS link at: http://www.americancongressfortruth.org/contact-congress.asp.
Email and/or fax the letter to your legislator. For much greater impact, ALSO call them at both their local offices and their Washington offices. If you have never called a legislator before, it is very simple. A staffer will answer, and all you need to do is tell them you have a request for your legislator and state some version of the first paragraph of the letter that you feel comfortable with. Since this is not an active bill in Congress, you might be required to give the staffer some background. Be passionate, but polite. Get the staffer on our side. That will make our voices even louder.
Dear Representative or Senator________,
The taxpayer-financed Middle East TV network, Al-Hurra, has recently turned into an anti-democratic, terrorist-friendly voice. Please demand that the State Department's Broadcasting Board of Governors replace Larry Register, the network's new director.
Since the network's direction was taken over by longtime CNN producer, Larry Register, last November, the coverage has dramatically shifted toward more pro-terrorist and anti-democratic stories and commentary. Launched in February 2004, Al-Hurra broadcasts three separate feeds: Europe, Arab nations, and Iraq. The network's mission is to support our public diplomacy to the Arab world. It is supposed to showcase the American political process and report on things that get little attention on other Arabic networks, such as human-rights abuses and government corruption.
Iraqi Member of Parliament Mithal al-Alusi says stories that cry out for further investigation, such as recent arrests of those accused of supporting the terrorists in Iraq, are instead getting mere news-ticker mentions at the bottom of the screen. And Arab voices for freedom, which used to have a home on Al-Hurra, are now absent. "They're driving out the liberals," he complains.
The new direction of Al-Hurra was showcased on February 9 when riots broke out at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem after Israel changed security measures to accommodate repair work near the mosque. Al-Hurra gave two hours of live coverage, thirty minutes more than Al-Jazeera. Al-Hurra's Muslim guests vilified Israel, creating conspiracy theories about Jewish "plans" to destroy the Al Aqsa Mosque. The Al-Hurra anchors asked such questions as, "Do you think that the timing of these actions is as innocent as Israel pretends?" The Al-Hurra anchors included Ikrima Sabri, imam of the Al Aqsa Mosque, who was Yasser Arafat's hand-picked mufti of Jerusalem. During the broadcast, Mr. Sabri accused Israel of firing guns and throwing bombs into the mosque and refusing to allow medical care for the wounded.
Iraqi parliamentarian al-Alusi said, "Al-Hurra should have the role of transporting democracy, and to help Iraqis understand freedom. If you have a good product, you must sell it in a good way. The United States is a very good product."
It is essential that the State Department's budget of over a half billion dollars to fund International Broadcasting Operations be spent wisely since this is an essential part of our war on Islamic Jihad. If Mr. Register cannot follow the Al-Hurra mission statement, then replace him with someone who can.
Sincerely,
Your Name
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyday, American Congress for Truth (ACT) is a 501c3 non profit organization on the front lines fighting for you in meeting with politicians, decision makers, speaking on college campuses and planning events to educate and inform the public about the threat of radical Muslim fundamentalists to world peace. We are committed to combating the global upsurge of hate and intolerance.To continue and bolster our efforts, we need your continued solidarity, activism and financial support. We are only as strong as our supporters. We thank you for helping us carry on this important work.
American Congress for Truth (ACT) , P.O.Box 6884, Virginia Beach, VA 23456Email: member@americancongressfortruth.comIf you no longer wish to receive these emails, please click here to unsubscribe
Our Taxes at Work!
I received this from ther American Congress for Truth, it amazes me to no end how the people who are supposed to represent us, in reality fail us. How do you like knowing your tax dollars are being wasted in Iraq when we have need for that money here!
Television Takeover
Taxpayer-financed Al-Hurra is becoming a platform for terrorists.
Television Takeover Taxpayer-financed Al-Hurra is becoming a platform for terrorists.By JOEL MOWBRAYThe Wall Street Journal
Fighting to create a secular democracy in Iraq, parliamentarian Mithal al-Alusi had come to rely on at least one TV network to help further freedom: U.S. taxpayer-financed Al-Hurra.
Now, however, he's concerned. The broadcaster he had seen as a stalwart ally has done an about-face. "Until now, we were so happy with Al-Hurra. It was taking stands against corruption, for human rights, and for peace. But not anymore."
Stories that he believes cry out for further investigation, such as recent arrests of those accused of supporting the terrorists in Iraq, are instead getting mere news-ticker mentions at the bottom of the screen. And Arab voices for freedom, which used to have a home on Al-Hurra, are noticeably absent. "They're driving out the liberals," he complains.
Mr. Alusi is not the only one concerned about the recent changes at Al-Hurra. Ken Tomlinson, the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors -- the congressionally-created panel charged with overseeing Al-Hurra, among other government-funded broadcasters -- is currently demanding answers about the network's decision last December to broadcast most of a speech by Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hasan Nasrallah.
Sitting up straight and raising his index finger, he states emphatically, "It's the single worst decision I've witnessed in all my years in international broadcasting."
The airing of the Nasrallah speech is a sign of the network's new direction since it was taken over by a longtime CNN producer, Larry Register, last November. Launched in February 2004, Al-Hurra broadcasts three separate feeds: to Europe, Arab nations and one for Iraq. The network is supposed to be a key component of our public diplomacy to the Arab world. Its mission statement calls for it to showcase the American political process, and just as important, report on things that get little attention on other Arabic networks, such as human-rights abuses and government corruption.
Within weeks of becoming news director, Mr. Register put his own stamp on the network. Producers and on-air talent quickly understood that change was underway. Investigations into Arab government wrongdoing or oppression were no longer in vogue, and the ban on turning the airwaves over to terrorists was lifted. For those who had chafed under Mr. Register's predecessor -- who curbed the desire of many on staff to make Al-Hurra more like al-Jazeera -- the new era was welcomed warmly.
"Everybody feels emboldened. Register changed the atmosphere around here," notes one staffer. "Register is trying to pander to Arab sympathies," says another.
The cultural shift inside the newsroom is evident in the on-air product. In the past several months, Al-Hurra has aired live speeches from Mr. Nasrallah and Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, and it broadcast an interview with an alleged al Qaeda operative who expressed joy that 9/11 rubbed "America's nose in the dust."
While a handful of unfortunate decisions could be isolated, these actions appear to be part of Mr. Register's news vision. Former news director Mouafac Harb, a Lebanese-born American citizen, was not shy about his disdain for terrorists and had a firm policy against giving them a platform. But Mr. Register didn't wait long to allow Hamas officials on the air to discuss Palestinian politics.
At a staff meeting announcing the reversal of the ban on terrorists as guests, Mr. Register "bragged" about his personal relationship with Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar, a top Hamas official, according to someone who was present. Contacted on his cell phone last week for comment, Mr. Register declined, indicating that he couldn't spare even two minutes anytime in the coming days.
Perhaps it is because Mr. Register is so casual in his attitude to terrorists that interviewers now toss softball questions to fiery anti-Western guests, while also taking digs at one of America's closest Middle Eastern allies, Israel.
The new Al-Hurra was on full display Feb. 9, when riots broke out following Israel's implementation of security measures that limited access to the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
In roughly two hours of breathless live "breaking news" coverage -- which outdistanced al-Jazeera by 30 minutes -- Al-Hurra's Muslim guests vilified Israel, and one spun conspiracy theories about the Jewish state's "plans" to destroy the Al Aqsa Mosque. No doubt the Islamic talking heads were egged on by the Al-Hurra anchors asking questions such as, "Do you think that the timing of these actions is as innocent as Israel pretends?" (Translations were provided by a fluent Arabic-speaking U.S. government official.)
This powder keg of a panel included Ikrima Sabri, imam of the Al Aqsa Mosque, who is best known for his tenure as Yasser Arafat's hand-picked mufti of Jerusalem. During the broadcast, Mr. Sabri accused Israel of firing guns and throwing bombs into the mosque, then refusing to allow medical care for the wounded.
Mr. Sabri's propaganda should not have come as a surprise. Just weeks before 9/11, Mr. Sabri delivered a passionate Friday sermon, broadcast nationally on official Palestinian Authority radio. He prayed for the destruction of Israel, Britain and the United States. (The sound clip and transcript were provided by the Palestinian Media Watch.)
If anyone should be savvy about people like Mr. Sabri, it ought to be Mr. Register. With two decades of experience at CNN, including three years running the Jerusalem bureau, he should know that live TV is the wrong venue for firebrands or guests prone to outrageous commentary.
Complicating matters is that once someone is on Al-Hurra live, Mr. Register lacks the basic requirement to stay on top of unfolding coverage; he doesn't speak Arabic. Had Mr. Register been able to understand Mr. Nasrallah's Dec. 7 speech, perhaps he would have rushed to cut away early on. Before the five-minute mark, Mr. Nasrallah told the audience to stop their celebratory gun-firing, explaining, "the only place where bullets should be is the chest of the enemies of Lebanon: the Israeli enemy."
Former Broadcasting Board of Governors member Norman Pattiz understands the perils of turning over the airwaves to the likes of Mr. Nasrallah. Though he wouldn't comment on anything relating to recent months -- he left the board last year, before Mr. Register's arrival -- Mr. Pattiz said bluntly, "Simply handing a microphone over to a terrorist and letting them spew is not what I would call good journalism."
Though Mr. Pattiz is a well-known Democrat who feuded constantly with Mr. Tomlinson, a Republican, the two men had one area of agreement: Mr. Harb, Al-Hurra's original news director. Sounding remarkably similar to Mr. Tomlinson, Mr. Pattiz said, "The direction Al-Hurra launched in is the direction in which it should continue to go, because it was very successful."
Mr. Alusi, the Iraqi parliamentarian, agrees. "Al-Hurra should have the role of transporting democracy, and to help Iraqis understand freedom," he says. "If you have a good product, you must sell it in a good way. The United States is a very good product."
Mr. Mowbray is working on a book about the struggle for the heart of Islam in America.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyday, American Congress for Truth (ACT) is a 501c3 non profit organization on the front lines fighting for you in meeting with politicians, decision makers, speaking on college campuses and planning events to educate and inform the public about the threat of radical Muslim fundamentalists to world peace. We are committed to combating the global upsurge of hate and intolerance.To continue and bolster our efforts, we need your continued solidarity, activism and financial support. We are only as strong as our supporters. We thank you for helping us carry on this important work.
American Congress for Truth (ACT) , P.O.Box 6884, Virginia Beach, VA 23456Email: member@americancongressfortruth.comIf you no longer wish to receive these emails, please click here to unsubscribe
Television Takeover
Taxpayer-financed Al-Hurra is becoming a platform for terrorists.
Television Takeover Taxpayer-financed Al-Hurra is becoming a platform for terrorists.By JOEL MOWBRAYThe Wall Street Journal
Fighting to create a secular democracy in Iraq, parliamentarian Mithal al-Alusi had come to rely on at least one TV network to help further freedom: U.S. taxpayer-financed Al-Hurra.
Now, however, he's concerned. The broadcaster he had seen as a stalwart ally has done an about-face. "Until now, we were so happy with Al-Hurra. It was taking stands against corruption, for human rights, and for peace. But not anymore."
Stories that he believes cry out for further investigation, such as recent arrests of those accused of supporting the terrorists in Iraq, are instead getting mere news-ticker mentions at the bottom of the screen. And Arab voices for freedom, which used to have a home on Al-Hurra, are noticeably absent. "They're driving out the liberals," he complains.
Mr. Alusi is not the only one concerned about the recent changes at Al-Hurra. Ken Tomlinson, the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors -- the congressionally-created panel charged with overseeing Al-Hurra, among other government-funded broadcasters -- is currently demanding answers about the network's decision last December to broadcast most of a speech by Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hasan Nasrallah.
Sitting up straight and raising his index finger, he states emphatically, "It's the single worst decision I've witnessed in all my years in international broadcasting."
The airing of the Nasrallah speech is a sign of the network's new direction since it was taken over by a longtime CNN producer, Larry Register, last November. Launched in February 2004, Al-Hurra broadcasts three separate feeds: to Europe, Arab nations and one for Iraq. The network is supposed to be a key component of our public diplomacy to the Arab world. Its mission statement calls for it to showcase the American political process, and just as important, report on things that get little attention on other Arabic networks, such as human-rights abuses and government corruption.
Within weeks of becoming news director, Mr. Register put his own stamp on the network. Producers and on-air talent quickly understood that change was underway. Investigations into Arab government wrongdoing or oppression were no longer in vogue, and the ban on turning the airwaves over to terrorists was lifted. For those who had chafed under Mr. Register's predecessor -- who curbed the desire of many on staff to make Al-Hurra more like al-Jazeera -- the new era was welcomed warmly.
"Everybody feels emboldened. Register changed the atmosphere around here," notes one staffer. "Register is trying to pander to Arab sympathies," says another.
The cultural shift inside the newsroom is evident in the on-air product. In the past several months, Al-Hurra has aired live speeches from Mr. Nasrallah and Hamas leader Ismail Haniya, and it broadcast an interview with an alleged al Qaeda operative who expressed joy that 9/11 rubbed "America's nose in the dust."
While a handful of unfortunate decisions could be isolated, these actions appear to be part of Mr. Register's news vision. Former news director Mouafac Harb, a Lebanese-born American citizen, was not shy about his disdain for terrorists and had a firm policy against giving them a platform. But Mr. Register didn't wait long to allow Hamas officials on the air to discuss Palestinian politics.
At a staff meeting announcing the reversal of the ban on terrorists as guests, Mr. Register "bragged" about his personal relationship with Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar, a top Hamas official, according to someone who was present. Contacted on his cell phone last week for comment, Mr. Register declined, indicating that he couldn't spare even two minutes anytime in the coming days.
Perhaps it is because Mr. Register is so casual in his attitude to terrorists that interviewers now toss softball questions to fiery anti-Western guests, while also taking digs at one of America's closest Middle Eastern allies, Israel.
The new Al-Hurra was on full display Feb. 9, when riots broke out following Israel's implementation of security measures that limited access to the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
In roughly two hours of breathless live "breaking news" coverage -- which outdistanced al-Jazeera by 30 minutes -- Al-Hurra's Muslim guests vilified Israel, and one spun conspiracy theories about the Jewish state's "plans" to destroy the Al Aqsa Mosque. No doubt the Islamic talking heads were egged on by the Al-Hurra anchors asking questions such as, "Do you think that the timing of these actions is as innocent as Israel pretends?" (Translations were provided by a fluent Arabic-speaking U.S. government official.)
This powder keg of a panel included Ikrima Sabri, imam of the Al Aqsa Mosque, who is best known for his tenure as Yasser Arafat's hand-picked mufti of Jerusalem. During the broadcast, Mr. Sabri accused Israel of firing guns and throwing bombs into the mosque, then refusing to allow medical care for the wounded.
Mr. Sabri's propaganda should not have come as a surprise. Just weeks before 9/11, Mr. Sabri delivered a passionate Friday sermon, broadcast nationally on official Palestinian Authority radio. He prayed for the destruction of Israel, Britain and the United States. (The sound clip and transcript were provided by the Palestinian Media Watch.)
If anyone should be savvy about people like Mr. Sabri, it ought to be Mr. Register. With two decades of experience at CNN, including three years running the Jerusalem bureau, he should know that live TV is the wrong venue for firebrands or guests prone to outrageous commentary.
Complicating matters is that once someone is on Al-Hurra live, Mr. Register lacks the basic requirement to stay on top of unfolding coverage; he doesn't speak Arabic. Had Mr. Register been able to understand Mr. Nasrallah's Dec. 7 speech, perhaps he would have rushed to cut away early on. Before the five-minute mark, Mr. Nasrallah told the audience to stop their celebratory gun-firing, explaining, "the only place where bullets should be is the chest of the enemies of Lebanon: the Israeli enemy."
Former Broadcasting Board of Governors member Norman Pattiz understands the perils of turning over the airwaves to the likes of Mr. Nasrallah. Though he wouldn't comment on anything relating to recent months -- he left the board last year, before Mr. Register's arrival -- Mr. Pattiz said bluntly, "Simply handing a microphone over to a terrorist and letting them spew is not what I would call good journalism."
Though Mr. Pattiz is a well-known Democrat who feuded constantly with Mr. Tomlinson, a Republican, the two men had one area of agreement: Mr. Harb, Al-Hurra's original news director. Sounding remarkably similar to Mr. Tomlinson, Mr. Pattiz said, "The direction Al-Hurra launched in is the direction in which it should continue to go, because it was very successful."
Mr. Alusi, the Iraqi parliamentarian, agrees. "Al-Hurra should have the role of transporting democracy, and to help Iraqis understand freedom," he says. "If you have a good product, you must sell it in a good way. The United States is a very good product."
Mr. Mowbray is working on a book about the struggle for the heart of Islam in America.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Everyday, American Congress for Truth (ACT) is a 501c3 non profit organization on the front lines fighting for you in meeting with politicians, decision makers, speaking on college campuses and planning events to educate and inform the public about the threat of radical Muslim fundamentalists to world peace. We are committed to combating the global upsurge of hate and intolerance.To continue and bolster our efforts, we need your continued solidarity, activism and financial support. We are only as strong as our supporters. We thank you for helping us carry on this important work.
American Congress for Truth (ACT) , P.O.Box 6884, Virginia Beach, VA 23456Email: member@americancongressfortruth.comIf you no longer wish to receive these emails, please click here to unsubscribe
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