:
Fri/Sat - Dec 4 -

THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE -

Aljazeera TV Net is currently carrying 2 articles on their website that behoove more than merely a
passing glance.

The first article is an op-ed piece by Mohammed al-Obaidi entitled "Why Iraqis should boycott the election." Woo-woo!

This manifesto is so wacky that I won't even try to reprise it here. But sometimes it's important to make an effort to gain some insight into how even wacky people think.

Sure, I could pick out some obvious howlers for you.

For example: *their links to international intelligence agencies.* [Code Word Alert! ... hint: they meet every month under the Full Moon in the Prague Cemetary.]

But I'm in a Take-No-Prisoners mood tonight and by the time I finished the second article, I was really frosted.

Mind you, I want Aljazeera to do well. And I am generally supportive of their aspirations to become a sort of Arabic CNN. But then they go and pull some shenanigan like this: "Al-Manar deplores French ban call."

I respect AJ's attempt to get the "other side" of the story. That's a given. But if you read this article about Al-Manar carefully, you'll realize that this isn't THE story because a crucial and intrinsic element of THE story has been omitted: viz; in what specific way Al-Manar violated their pledge.

And not only was this a bretrayal of Al-Manar's oath, but Aljazeera's website editor doesn't seem to think that the issue itself is important enough to even mention, which brings me to another important question.

Has Aljazeera actually done any programs or educational outreach to explain how and where AIDS and Ebola originated and how these diseases are spread?

This Al-Manar article is infuriating and outrageous. First, it lies by omission; and spreading lies is Evil. Can we at least agree on that?

Second, it is completely irresponsible in its abject failure to educate its audience or readers about the disease.

Is Aljazeera also telling its market that AIDS is caused by a magical djinn?

Obviously, I'm a little short on patience tonight, so I'll stop here, rather than rant on about it.

Sigh! Maybe it's just Aljazeera Evil Twin Night at that TV station right now... but I sure would like to dock that reporter's paycheck for this travesty of ethical practices.

...