good article

[Agent_V]

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exer...4F5D869307.htm

enjoy,
Alexander

[Maeve_Mari]

It's from Aljazeera. Thinktank: Iraq war boosted al-Qaida I'm afraid to look! More bad news for the U.S.

[Soldier]

Yes, because I'm sure Al-Jazeera isn't biased at all. Nothing like those filthy Republicans at Fox...

[Maeve_Mari]

Yes, because I'm sure Al-Jazeera isn't biased at all. Nothing like those filthy Republicans at Fox...

Oh no, I wouldn't have thought that at all!
I really am afraid to look. It feels like such a tailspin of hate around the world!
Oh my.
We sure need a good strong leader to help us out of this one.
Vote Bush!!! I am so convinced now, having read this article, but there is no other way for the world to see peace againl, than to let him lead us into the safety this world needs. I cant believe i thought we could make it any other way!
Thank-you for your patience with me, and God Bless.

[Soldier]

Gotta love insubstantial sarcastic replies, that actually say nothing...

[Agent_V]

Yes, because I'm sure Al-Jazeera isn't biased at all. Nothing like those filthy Republicans at Fox...

If you actually took the time to read the article, you've had seen that it's an AP news-wire, incidentally, one that has been picked up by dozens of other newspapers around the globe, including the boston globe, seattle post, sydney morning herald, etc.

Al-Jazeera sure is biased, but their bias is practically the opposite of Fox's. One cannot be objective by being subjected to the same bias 24/7...

Alexander

[jeff]

And the piece quotes an Israeli thinktank, the Jaffee Centre for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University. Hardly a source of Islamofascism.

[Soldier]

If you actually took the time to read the article, you've had seen that it's an AP news-wire, incidentally, one that has been picked up by dozens of other newspapers around the globe, including the boston globe, seattle post, sydney morning herald, etc.

Al-Jazeera sure is biased, but their bias is practically the opposite of Fox's. One cannot be objective by being subjected to the same bias 24/7...

Alexander

Then why not quote one of these dozens of other sources, that's a bit more credible?

[Maeve_Mari]

Then why not quote one of these dozens of other sources, that's a bit more credible?

Perspective Soldier - Al Jazeera is quite credible, from an Arab perspective it is their Fox News.

[Soldier]

That makes no sense whatsoever.

[Agent_V]

In a way Soldier is right, since the article is quite well aligned with Arab interests, one should scrutinize it a bit more carefully than a similar article that appears in the washington post, just in the same vein that I would be less immediately critical of an article in Al-jazeera that reports that the Iraqi people love americans, than if that article was a white house press release.

However, I first saw that article appear when I was browsing aljazeera, hence why I posted it's link. Because of the following knee-jerk reaction, I bothered to find more pro-western sources that would confirm it as not just being simple fabrication by our terrorist enemies.

Alexander

[Inquartata]

So perhaps instead of debating the circumstances of the article or the bias of al Jazeera we should analyze the substance of the claims made in it?

Except there doesn't seem to be anything in the way of proof of those claims offered therein. I see only assertions by members of the JCSS to that effect. Now, insofar as these members are possessed of some expertise and reputation in the field---and they certainly appear well-credentialed---some attention seems due to those assertions. However, let us remember Sen. Edward's bromide about how "a long resume does not equal good judgment". And let us remember too that others, with opinions contrary to those of the JCSS staffers, also have excellent credentials. Given this, wouldn't it be nice if we were offered some sort of evidence of this putative "boosting" of Al Qaeda, rather than just conclusions?

In other words, the article demonstrates nothing substantive. It merely makes allegations. Why are we to accept them?

[jeff]

Soldier, I think Maeve_Mari's point is that if you want to know the Arabist perspecfive, biases and all, then Al-Jazeera is an appropriate source.

As Inq says, it would be better to discuss the argument made by the Jaffee Center based on their article, rather than the short AP story redistributed by Al-Jazeera, CBS News and others. Now, if only the AP article actually cited which report by JCSS... Homepage is http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/index.html for those who want to pursue it.