Did Bush really just say that Islamic militants "are being aided by elements of the Arab news media that incites hatred and anti-Semitism"? Hoo boy. Can't wait to actually see a transcript of the speech (not available at the White House site yet).
And here we thought that official American understanding of and policy towards the Arab media was finally getting a little bit smarter... what with Hughes ending the al-Jazeera ban, and all that.
Maybe he didn't get the memo? Maybe Hughes didn't enjoy her appearance on al-Jazeera? Maybe the speech was written in the dumber precincts of the administration, which had been keeping a thankfully lower profile lately?
Either way, I'll wait for the transcript.
...
OK, well, in context it's hard to say what he meant. He didn't actually say "al-Jazeera" (or "al-Arabiya", for that matter) - so maybe he meant al-Manar, which actually does fit the profile described in the speech. But by not specifying - if, indeed, that's what he meant - he leaves it wide open for the broader interpretation: blaming the Arab media for America's problems. That is so 2004. And so very counter-productive.
....
last comment.... is it just me or did that speech come across as second-rate, re-heated wingnut blogging? I'm not going to say anything more about it... with any luck, this speech will quickly, and deservedly, fade into obscurity.
The influence of Islamic radicalism is also magnified by helpers and enablers. They have been sheltered by authoritarian regimes, allies of convenience like Syria and Iran, that share the goal of hurting America and moderate Muslim governments, and use terrorist propaganda to blame their own failures on the West and America, and on the Jews. These radicals depend on front operations, such as corrupted charities, which direct money to terrorist activity. They're strengthened by those who aggressively fund the spread of radical, intolerant versions of Islam in unstable parts of the world. The militants are aided, as well, by elements of the Arab news media that incite hatred and anti-Semitism, that feed conspiracy theories and speak of a so-called American "war on Islam" -- with seldom a word about American action to protect Muslims in Afghanistan, and Bosnia, Somalia, Kosovo, Kuwait, and Iraq.
Posted by: Jon Alterman | October 06, 2005 at 12:08 PM
Well, Alterman has certainly whipped up a nice tale, but I have to say it's fairly nonsensical.
In any case, I rather enjoy the categorical assertions like the above by people who've clearly gotten their "knowledge" of the Arab media 3rd hand, and yet can lecture about it.
Posted by: The Lounsbury | October 06, 2005 at 02:49 PM
No, he forgot the quote marks but that was a transcription of Bush's speech. Alterman does speak Arabic and has first hand experience, by the way, but in this case he can't (and wouldn't!) claim credit for the text...
Posted by: the aardvark | October 06, 2005 at 03:35 PM
You know, I had no idea that this was the CSIS Alterman. I thought it was a random comment by a guy named Alterman.....
Apologies all around.
But odd that it looks just like a looney tuney comment in that conext.
Posted by: The Lounsbury | October 06, 2005 at 03:52 PM
hence my last comment that the whole speech sounded like warmed over wingnut blogging. Weird, weird stuff!
Posted by: the aardvark | October 06, 2005 at 04:20 PM
Indeed, I proved your point.
Posted by: The Lounsbury | October 06, 2005 at 05:56 PM