JihadTV: The Enemy on Our Airwaves
It’s long been obvious that Al Jazeera (aka “JihadTV”) must have some sort of quid pro quo relationship with Islamic terrorist groups, and it’s been frustrating to see our mainstream Western media turn a blind eye to this while continuing to uncritically use the footage JihadTV supplies—often directly from the cameras of terrorists. In today’s Wall Street Journal, Dorrance Smith is finally asking some of the right questions: The Enemy on Our Airwaves. (Hat tip: LGF readers.)
In addition to being subsidized by Qatar, Al-Jazeera has very strong partners in the U.S. — ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, CNN and MSNBC. Video aired by Al-Jazeera ends up on these networks, sometimes within minutes. The terrorists are aware of this access and use it — as in the Ake case — to further their aims. They want to reach the American audience and influence public opinion.
The arrangement between the U.S. networks and Al-Jazeera raises questions of journalistic ethics. Do the U.S. networks know the terms of the relationship that Al-Jazeera has with the terrorists? Do they want to know?
There has been no in-depth reporting about Al-Jazeera in the U.S. and virtually no scrutiny of Qatar and its relationship with the network. Why not? Is it that the American networks don’t want to give up their tainted video? And since they all get the same material and all air it at the same time, do they feel a certain safety being in bed together? The cable networks have become addicted to the latest B-roll video. If that video was obtained by means that violated their own standards and practices, would they air it? Would they even know?