Failure of US Funded Arabic Propaganda Network Par for the Bushite Course
The Washington Post's two part coverage about the failed US funded Arabic language propaganda network reported: "Al-Hurra -- "The Free One" in Arabic -- is the centerpiece of a U.S. government campaign to spread democracy in the Middle East. Taxpayers have spent $350 million on the project. But more than four years after it began broadcasting, the station is widely regarded as a flop in the Arab world, where it has struggled to attract viewers and overcome skepticism about its mission.
"Since its inception, al-Hurra has been plagued by mediocre programming, congressional interference and a succession of executives who either had little experience in television or could not speak Arabic, according to interviews with former staffers, other Arab journalists and viewers in the Middle East."
It's a well done series and worth the read.
But an excellent summary of this guaranteed failure comes from DailyKos: "This week the Washington Post will be taking a two-part, front page look at the failure of al-Hurra, an Arabic-language propaganda network financed by the U.S. government and created to win those ever-elusive hearts and minds in the Middle East. But let¢s save you some time because the reason for this $350 million dollar failure is pretty much summed up in these three lines:
Whatever this criminal and intelligence challenged administration touches turns to cow pies. But the Bushites figure, what the hell, it's only $350 million of regular hardworking taxpayers' money, not from the pockets of their wealthy haves and have mores or corporate cronies that don't pay their fair share of taxes.
How do you say "permanent failure" and "impeachment" in Arabic?
"Since its inception, al-Hurra has been plagued by mediocre programming, congressional interference and a succession of executives who either had little experience in television or could not speak Arabic, according to interviews with former staffers, other Arab journalists and viewers in the Middle East."
It's a well done series and worth the read.
But an excellent summary of this guaranteed failure comes from DailyKos: "This week the Washington Post will be taking a two-part, front page look at the failure of al-Hurra, an Arabic-language propaganda network financed by the U.S. government and created to win those ever-elusive hearts and minds in the Middle East. But let¢s save you some time because the reason for this $350 million dollar failure is pretty much summed up in these three lines:
"And now that the mystery of why al-Hurra only manages to attract 2% of its target audience is solved...."[A] succession of executives who either had little experience in television or could not speak Arabic.
One news anchor greeted the station's predominantly Muslim audience on Easter by declaring, "Jesus is risen today!"
In 2004, when an Israeli airstrike killed the spiritual leader of Hamas, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, virtually all Arabic news channels interrupted their regular programming. Al-Hurra continued with a cooking show.
Whatever this criminal and intelligence challenged administration touches turns to cow pies. But the Bushites figure, what the hell, it's only $350 million of regular hardworking taxpayers' money, not from the pockets of their wealthy haves and have mores or corporate cronies that don't pay their fair share of taxes.
How do you say "permanent failure" and "impeachment" in Arabic?
Comments