Alhurra is on the air, a needed step towards breaking the monopoly of anti-American and anti-Semitic media in the Middle East. Only time will tell if it really helps, but the initial opposition from the usual naysayers makes me think they are worried it might.
A U.S. government-financed satellite television station aimed at Arab viewers made its debut broadcast Saturday, airing an interview with President Bush in which he praised Iraqi determination to achieve democracy.Posted by Alan at February 14, 2004 06:28 PMAl-Hurra, or The Free One, began broadcasting at 11 a.m. with footage showing windows being opened, symbolizing freedom.
Al-Hurra is broadcast from the Washington area but with facilities in several capitals, including Baghdad. With a largely Arab staff, it will at first broadcast 14 hours a day, building up to 24-hour programming within a month. The station, costing about $62 million in its first year, promises a balanced approach.