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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Allawi takes questions on Iraqi TV |
| 2005-01-04 |
| Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi simply smiled during the live television show when a man called to praise terrorist mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The Iraqi leader then moved on, offering to find information about a woman's detained son and see why a student didn't get into the graduate program of his choice. The surprisingly frank hour-long call-in program, "The Iraqi Podium," is a rarity for the region, giving Iraqis the chance to pepper Allawi with questions, from the mundane to the serious. Judging by the show's popularity, Iraqis are taking advantage. The show's host, Abdul-Karim Hammad, said he proposed the show to Allawi, who agreed. It may be a campaign ploy as Allawi tries to burnish his image ahead of January 30 elections, but from the nature of the questions, it appears the calls aren't screened. "I told him the one condition, which is that you have to accept anything the people say even if they insult you," Hammad said. "He said it was fine, as long as he wasn't criticized personally, but they can say anything they want about his work." The program is broadcast every Sunday on the U.S.-funded Al-Iraqiya television station. Although it is linked to the United States, it's a major change for Iraqis after Saddam Hussein's 23-year reign ended in April 2003. Then, tightly controlled state-run media only praised Saddam, and many Iraqis would not dare criticize the president, even in their homes. Other members of the government, including the interior minister and defense minister, have occasionally appeared in similar shows on Al-Iraqiya, but not with Allawi's frequency. Such programs have been aired in Lebanon but the practice is otherwise rare in the Middle East, where leaders are more accustomed to working behind closed doors, without much criticism from their people. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #1 his civil engineering score was low? SH&T! I lived in a fraternity on campus, tell me about low... |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-01-04 8:00:39 PM |