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| International |
| Soddies recall ambassador to Qatar over al-Jazeera... |
| 2002-09-30 |
| Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador to the neighboring Gulf state of Qatar in a spiraling dispute worsened by accusations against the kingdom on the Doha-based Al-Jazeera satellite television station. Ambassador Hamad al-Tuaimi flew back to Riyadh Monday. A short statement carried by the official SPA news agency late Sunday, September 29, announced that the Saudi ambassador had been recalled from Doha for "consultations". It did not give further details. It was the first time the kingdom has publicly announced the summoning home of an envoy posted in a fellow Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) state. I think al-Jazeera, whether one agrees with them all the time or not, has this "free press" idea down pretty well. In the space of a month or two, they've managed to cheese off the USA, al-Qaeda, and the Soddies. Not bad at all... Tensions surfaced between Doha and Riyadh in recent months after Al-Jazeera aired programs deemed offensive to Saudi Arabia. The row between the Gulf neighbors was triggered by a June 25 live debate on Al-Jazeera in which participants criticized Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah's Middle East peace initiative, accused Saudi Arabia of having "betrayed the Palestinian cause", and made disparaging remarks about the kingdom's founder. "Saudi officials and ordinary citizens alike were angered by the hostility to the kingdom's founder, King Abdul Aziz al-Saud, that transpired from that debate," a Saudi official told AFP Monday, requesting anonymity. "Well, he did have a big nose, and his B.O. was overwhelming, and he cheated at cards..." Qatari leaders use Al-Jazeera "to score political and personal gains at the expense of Gulf and other Arab states," he charged. They're winning my heart, at least until the next time they cheese me off, and I don't even speak Arabic... A diplomat from a Gulf Arab state based in the Saudi capital said Riyadh had delivered a protest to Doha in early July after Al-Jazeera persisted in offering a platform to Saudi dissidents and critics of Saudi policy. Oh, horrors! Can't have that. Nope, nope. Couldn't possibly have that... Heh heh. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #2 I think it's a principle that pays off, though. If there's only one source available, and that one doesn't make sense, people tend to think they're missing a point someplace and agree with it anyway. "They must know something I don't know..." If there are multiple sources, and none of them make sense, it's doubtful they all agree on the details. This induces confusion and a tendency to discount them all. If there are lotsa sources, and most don't make any sense, but a few do, the ones that do will gain influence. Al-Jazeera's a first step on a long road, but it's a necessary step. I'm all for it. |
| Posted by: Fred 2002-10-01 05:57:30 |
| #1 Have to admit I'm a bit fond of al Jazeera. I think you are spot on with : "...al-Jazeera, whether one agrees with them all the time or not, has this "free press" idea down pretty well." Chortling... |
| Posted by: Kathy K 2002-09-30 17:24:31 |