There are some interesting things on Al Jazeera. I know it offends a lot of people -- they don't always show the respect or have the tact that we desire. But, if we wonder what the pulse of the Middle East is, looking outside of the U.S. media is a good direction.

strother..I could not agree more. But looks at some of the posts we get here and where they come from. Certainly not exactly non partisan in many cases. Further, foreign sources are discredited out of hand and that is just plain wrong.

Thank you Strother, for demonstrating out the Al JAzeera is the not problem, and if fact, is a beacon of free press in a region where very little exists.

After many years of spewing propaganda, Al JAzeera prints an op-ed (in English) which is critcal of the terrorist, not for their goal, but for there methods . . . and so you conclude that they are a BEACON of the free press. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads/icon_rofl.gif

I don't, island, but I do consider them as another source of information that just may have a bit of value in helping me understand some of the motivation for the actions of the suicide bombers (or whatever name is given to them as of late). I take ALL "news networks" with a LARGE grain of salt. Some more than others.

You can support that, ofcourse, that Al Jazeera has been "spewing propaganda" for years?

You guys are so far out there that you think any opinion that doesnt mirror yours is "propoganda". Ofcourse AlJazeera presents a different skew. Ofcourse AlJazeera serves a Middle Eastern market. Money is correct. Treat it as your window to the Arab street.

Fact remains the basis of Al Jazeera sprang from the BBC and it operates to BBC standards. It IS a beacon of "free" press in a region run by despots. You might be interested to research the list of govts that AlJazeera has run foul of. Mostly extremist theocratic govts like in Iran and the United States.

It can only but aspire to FOX standards ofcourse, but one day perhaps....

I knew it! I knew it! I knew it! The Fox comparison. So Stu, if you heard one thing on FOx and another on that "beacon of free press" al jezeera, who gets the nod?

And Strother suggests that 2 appologies for 9/11 shows overall good faith. The overall percentage of support for terrorism in the muslim world is said to be above 75%. This is a problem.

I am enjoying this BB less and less. :(

I wonder if anyone here criticizing it has ever watched Al Jazeera? I have. It used to be available on cable within an Arabic language program.

They appeared to present all sides of issues -- which I realize for some, woudl be very disturbing.

Mule, "said to be" by whom?

Every news source is going to have some sort of bias - if only to appeal to a certain market. I think it's highly relevant to contrast fox with al jazeera as they have different bias. Coming from someone who lives in a western nation, is anglo and dosn't support terrorism or suicide bombings I generally find al jazeera to be less extreme in its bias and more professional in its presentation than fox. Fox is for the most part a joke. Just too far out there. Infotainment anyone?
It's designed to appeal to a certain type of person with certain views and it just so happens it fits nicely in america - not sure if the news source is the chicken or the egg. Either way, uncle rupert's got a lot to answer for.

gavin..I am sure that there are those who will take exception to your comments re: FOX. don't..I see FOX as pandering to a certain type of individual, no better or no worse than other providers of opinion.

Well, I believe FOX panders. The question is whether it panders more or less than other media sources.

Agreed.

MSNBC..in my opinion is the 1 network that has equal amounts of right/middle/left coverage....

Hardball (middle)
Scarborough (right)
Olberman (left)

etc, etc,

FOX....

is dumbed down news for sadistic reborns without a heart ;-)

SvK

I watch all about equally..which is not often....but IMHO...Some of the opinion shows on Fox do indeed pander a bit...but the actual news shows are much more fair than most of the others which have obvious agendas.

Brit Hume doesn't have an agenda? Sean Hannity doesn't have an agenda? OF all the FOX commentators at least I think O'Reilly gives some aura of objectivity, although admitting that he is a conservative (and there is nothing wrong with that; just honest) I like Aaron Brown somewhat, Lou Dobbs, and Hardball.

moneyguy...

i agree...

Aaron to me is the epitomy of a decent, good journalist....i love hardball

MSNBC is great

svK

woodward bernstein on daily show now!!!!!