I noticed a very interesting thing regarding the position of Al Jazeera in Iraq and Lebanon.
In Iraq, if you went to any Shia and asked him about Al Jazeera, you will most probably hear curses raining on the Qatari financed channel. If you asked a Sunni, praises are what you will get.
Now the complete opposite is true in Lebanon. Shias who form the core supporters of Hezbollah love Al Jazeera and Lebanese Sunnis who are mostly in the anti-Syria camp despise it.
In Iraq, Shias who mostly welcomed the removal of Saddam Hussein, rightfully believe Al Jazeera is sympathatic to Sunni terrorism and acts indifferently towards the massacres committed against them ever since Saddam's regime ended in April 2003. This is the reason why Arabic speaking Shias tend to watch Al Arabiya instead making it the number one news channel in Iraq. They see Al Arabiya as more balanced and much more critical of what suicide bombers and head choppers are doing in Iraq.
Sunnis on the other hand welcome Al Jazeera's anti-America rhetoric and the channel's emphasis on their civilian casualties during the coalition's military campaigns in Iraq's Sunni heartland. That's not to say that all Sunnis supported the initial wave of terror unleashed on the Shias when Saddam fell. Many Sunnis welcomed the removal of Saddam and hoped for a better future with their Shia countrymen. All what I'm trying to say is that an opinion poll would undoubtly show that Al Jazeera is less popular with Shias than with the Sunnis in Iraq.
We find the complete opposite in Lebanon. The pro-independence anti-Syria March 14 alliance is composed of the largest Sunni political block, one of the largest Christian parties, and the Druze community. The Sunnis who are members of March 14 feel Al Jazeera has an agenda which is against their attempts to rid Lebanon of all Syrian influence. Mustapha, a Sunni Lebanese blogger, shares his perspective on the channel in one of his posts.
Now, what led to Al Jazeera being hated by one sect in Iraq and loved by the same sect in Lebanon. There is one significant reason. Al Jazeera's platform, its agenda, its editorial line, is based on a sole basis: anti-Americanism. The channel is obsessed with America. If I forgot to lift the toilet seat up and drops of piss ended up on the seat, Al Jazeera will report that with its usual anti-American twist. This what really makes Al Jazeera so unprofessional simply because you can't be a professional news outlet while your entire editorial line is determined by one factor whether it is anti-Americanism or pro-Americanism.
So this is what happened: Al Jazeera supported the anti-America terrorists in Iraq and ended up upsetting the Shias who are victims of the same terrorists. Knowing that the US wants to end Syrian hegemony over Lebanon as well as Hezbollah's threatening influence, Al Jazeera worked against that and ended up being hated by the Lebanese Sunnis.
Another important factor invoving Lebanon that I should mention is the position of Saudi Arabia which is the region's main backer of Sunnis in Lebanon (Rafik Hariri himself was a Saudi citizen). The Saudis are very much concerned about the status of Lebanese Sunnis and therefore support March 14 who not only despise Syrian influence but also the Iranian meddling that their Shia countrymen bring to Lebanon (something Saudi is not so happy with). Qatar on the other hand competes with Saudi Arabia for regional influence and therefore it wants to undermine "Saudi's allies" in Lebanon. And here where Al Jazeera comes in.
Very enlightening, BP. Complicated, but it makes perfect sense. Thanks!
Comment by Bec — November 24, 2006 @ 3:52 pm
It will be amusing when Baby Lion realizes that ‘regime change’ is off the table in America and the old policy of supporting tyrants, as long as they pay lip service to human rights, the State department, etc. etc., is back on top.
That is when Hezebolla will request “aid” from Syria and the tanks will roll back across the border.
Will the UN fight or watch? Can the French beat the Syrians? Will they even bother to try?
Here is a hint for Assad. Leave the Turks alone.
Of course, once the UN withdarws it’s troops, the IDF will have cart`e blanc in Lebanon. Here is a hint for the IDF. Shoot the reporters first.
The UN will do nothing if Syria take Lebanon by Force, but will raise holy billy-bob hell if Israel invades Syria.
Comment by da 12th anon — November 24, 2006 @ 4:50 pm
What I find interesting in your argument is that, depsite the obvious difference in the position of this group of Sunnis compared to another, there is an underlying assumption that all Sunnis or Shia should have the same political alignment because they are Sunni or Shia. In my mind, this is not true. People in the Arab world may have other dimensions to their identity, you know.
Comment by Amr Gharbeia — November 25, 2006 @ 1:26 pm
12th Anon…
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
I don’t think the people of Lebanon are going to be fooled by overtures of “peace” coming from Syria again… ever. If they are, shame on them.
It’s time for Syria to pull out of Lebanon.
And, BP… thanks for the thoughtful clarification of what’s happening over there. There are entirely too many people in the West who seem to think that the religious sects are political organizations where everyone has a monolithic goal in mind. Shia’s are in Iran, and must therefore be anti-American (never mind that Arabic-Persian split, they’re all the same, you know!), or that all Sunnis are secular like the Ba’athists (never mind that Sunni is a RELIGIOUS sect… just never mind that!).
The religious sects in the Muslim world are political only to the extent that certain individuals and leaders within them are political. The notion that all those within a sect must think exactly the same way is racist. It is a failure to give the individuals within the group the dignity of having their own minds to think with. They are not each sect a monolith in thought or goal.
They are mostly people who just want to be left alone.
Thanks again :).
Comment by mamapajamas — November 25, 2006 @ 10:29 pm
This propaganda fed into Lebanon was their downfall. Only because hezbollah already to take control. The Muslims in United States can all so have al-jazeera! Americans cannnot! I want to see it, the propaganda we may face here and not understand. Why two standards? Maybe it should conform before their very eyes! Their brains maybe become rechanneled so they can see the real truth and think true ideas and meanings to theirs and other personal lifes and our real connection to God. Who does not want to be let alone? Why are they here then? Why did they come? Seems the Palestines do the same thing. Blow up people, taunt, and then run for cover and say CEASE for now! If they want to be left alone I hope they all return home and we can leave. Except the problem of Iran! People-if they only saw what is on this al-jazeera and then where it come from! They know, it’s not good for anyone. We are hitting some low standards. Some of those people aligned with al-jajeera! Feeding into their propaganda! Sometimes I watch all the different languages stations, I don’t know what they say. I pick up a few words but I watch how they see this “American Problem”. Which is really the Worlds!
Comment by Peg — December 6, 2006 @ 4:27 pm
You state the way Shia’s and sunnis feel about Aljazeera as fact and then jump into conclusions. First I seriously challenge the first fact, I.E. that Iraqi Sunnis and Lebanese Shia’ like Aljazeera while the other muslism sect does not ine ach respective coutry… What poll was taken .. I personally think it reveals a dumb rhetoric that enforces the Sunni/Shia split, which if it exists, is the result of the retardness of people who are stupid enough to believe such rhetoric by their retarded ass leaders. Enough paranoia and stupidity already…
Comment by remondo — April 10, 2007 @ 5:41 pm
amore incontro
news
Trackback by amore incontro — April 28, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
Hi there…Thanks for the nice read, keep up the interesting posts..what a nice Wednesday
Comment by Lebanese Music — January 2, 2008 @ 11:23 pm