With most of the world’s eyes transfixed on the ongoing revolution in Egypt, many are doing so thanks to the in depth coverage provided by the enormously popular al-Jazeera news network. With that no doubt in mind, Egypt’s Information Minister had the al-Jazeera bureau in Cairo closed today, and its broadcast license revoked.
It comes as hardly a surprise, as Egypt has already shut down the entire Internet, much of the nation’s cell phone service, text messaging, etc, in a desperate attempt to quell dissent through sheer information control. It isn’t working, of course, but that only seems to make them more determined to try.
But even more noteworthy is that increasingly across the Middle East, where its audiences are, the network is finding itself persona non grata for broadcasting factual, but embarrassing, information.
Tunisia moved against al-Jazeera just before the revolt there, and Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh accused the network of “inciting unrest” on behalf of both Israel and al-Qaeda by covering the growing protests there. Wherever there is a US-backed dictator in the region, its a safe bet al-Jazeera’s broadcasts are being condemned for making them look bad.
Even the would-be US-backed dictatorship, the Palestinian Authority, is not immune. President Mahmoud Abbas has been angrily condemning the network for the leak of 1,600 Palestinian Papers related to the peace deal. The authenticity of the papers have been attested to by a number of nations, but Abbas and his allies insist al-Jazeera forged the entire block, just to make him look bad.
Mubarak takes his orders from Egypt’s billionaire generals, while the US Empire glorifies and enriches the Egyptian military. For comes now the Egyptian Army, just this hour, to arrest six international reporters. Surely the military will end up being the peoples worst enemy.
ONOEZ NOT AL-JAZEERA !!! I guess I'll just have to rely on PressTV, broadcasting in English out of Iran.
As for the Egyptian Army, I think they are going to side with the people or sit this one out altogether; I don't think they have the stomach for taking on the public with a heavy hand like the police forces are wont to do. The generals know the game is up for Mubarak and they don't want the country to fall apart so I think they'll do their best to prevent that from happening- and turning on your own people is a sure-fire way to set the entire country on fire. Mubarak and those loyal to him need to recognize their days are numbered and get out while they still can- take the money you've stolen, whatever, but just get out and let the nation begin the rebuilding process.