American Censorship of Arab News Media - Al Arab Al Yawm, Jordan

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

Defending our freedoms, eh?

http://watchingamerica.com/News/43758/american-censorship-of-arab-news-media/


The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill to censor some of the Arab news media, particularly satellite channels “if Washington deemed, with Israeli backing, that these satellite channels are broadcasting content that is in conflict with American and Israeli interests in the region.

Note that the United States claims to defend human rights and freedom of the press but accuses the “terrorists,” wherever they are, of lacking respect for democracy and human rights. At the same time, the U.S. is behaving contrary to what it preaches because it considers the basic measure for freedom of the press to be something that does not harm American or Israeli interests.

This is a new definition of media freedom that even the most powerful of dictatorships have failed to achieve. The United States and its high ranking planners have forgotten that they have U.S. government news media funded by American taxpayers that can only be broadcast outside the United States. U.S. law prohibits such broadcasts inside the country under legislative codes that do not allow the Treasury to finance media that is privately-owned rather than government-owned.

The signatories that helped pass the repressive law recognize that the U.S. and Israeli news media have free reign around the globe as a result of the freedoms of press, speech, and religion that are protected throughout world.

Indeed, the Arab satellite media happens to be more democratic than its American and Israeli counterparts because Arab satellites host both sides of the issue. The satellite will not host an American official without its Iranian counterpart, and such is the case with Israeli officials that became familiar faces in Arab news media, as well. Where are the American and Israeli news media when it comes to that freedom, though? Do they allow an Iranian official or a Hamas official to express his opinion?

[babylonsister]

1. Do you know when this happened? I tried to google with no success. nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. No. The article doesn't say.

[Robb]

3. Interesting, that.

No bill number, unattributed quotes, no references whatsoever and defeats my best attempts to find another source that it happened.

[newfie11]

4. Rupert Murdock wins! We know fox tells nothing but the truth n/t

just in case had to add this:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Robb]

5. Interesting side note.

Going through Google's Arabic translator, from the original article, http://www.alarabalyawm.net/pages.php%3Farticles_id%3D10572&sl=ar&tl=en">rather changes the meaning in the first sentence.

It probably means little, and I speak no Arabic. Are the words for "censor" and "monitor" similar? :shrug: I really don't know.

[madrchsod]

6. aimed at those who can`t do a simple fact check....

the wild and whacky world of disinformation.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. H.R. 2278

To direct the President to transmit to Congress a report on anti-American incitement to violence in the Middle East, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. ANTI-AMERICAN INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

(a) Findings- Congress finds the following:

(1) Freedom of the press and freedom of expression are the foundations of free and prosperous societies worldwide, and with the freedom of the press and freedom of expression comes the responsibility to repudiate purveyors of incitement to violence.

(2) For years, certain media outlets in the Middle East, particularly those associated with terrorist groups, have repeatedly published or broadcast incitements to violence against the United States and Americans.

(3) Television channels that broadcast incitement to violence against Americans, the United States, and others have demonstrated the ability to shift their operations to different countries and their transmissions to different satellite providers in order to continue broadcasting and to evade accountability.

(4) Television channels such as al-Manar, al-Aqsa, al-Zawra, and others that broadcast incitement to violence against the United States and Americans aid Foreign Terrorist Organizations in the key functions of recruitment, fundraising, and propaganda.

(b) Statement of Policy- It shall be the policy of the United States to--

(1) designate as Specially Designated Global Terrorists satellite providers that knowingly and willingly contract with entities designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists under Executive Order No. 13224, to broadcast their channels, or to consider implementing other punitive measures against satellite providers that transmit al-Aqsa TV, al-Manar TV, al-Rafidayn TV, or any other terrorist owned and operated station;

(2) consider state-sponsorship of anti-American incitement to violence when determining the level of assistance to, and frequency and nature of relations with, all states; and

(3) urge all governments and private investors who own shares in satellite companies or otherwise influence decisions about satellite transmissions to oppose transmissions of telecasts by al-Aqsa TV, al-Manar TV, al-Rafidayn TV, or any other Specially Designated Global Terrorist owned and operated stations that openly incite their audiences to commit acts of terrorism or violence against the United States and its citizens.

(c) Report-

(1) REQUIREMENT FOR REPORTS- Beginning 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the President shall transmit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on anti-American incitement to violence in the Middle East.

(2) CONTENT- The reports required under paragraph (1) shall include--

(A) a country-by-country list and description of media outlets that engage in anti-American incitement to violence; and

(B) a list of satellite companies that carry mediums described in subparagraph (A) or designated under Executive Order No. 13224.

(d) Definitions- In this section:

(1) ANTI-AMERICAN INCITEMENT TO VIOLENCE- The term ‘anti-American incitement to violence’ means the act of persuading, encouraging, instigating, advocating, pressuring, or threatening so as to cause another to commit a violent act against any person, agent, instrumentality, or official of, is affiliated with, or is serving as a representative of the United States.

(2) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES- The term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.

(3) MIDDLE EAST- The term ‘Middle East’ means Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Passed the House of Representatives December 8, 2009.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-2278

Dec 8, 2009: This bill passed in the House of Representatives by roll call vote. The vote was held under a suspension of the rules to cut debate short and pass the bill, needing a two-thirds majority. This usually occurs for non-controversial legislation. The totals were 395 Ayes, 3 Nays, 36 Present/Not Voting. source

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Thanks for posting. I looked but couldn't find it.

[Behind the Aegis]

10. Not a problem.

[Robb]

9. Thanks. I don't see

...the censorship part, nor the "if Israel says so" bit. Looks like a monitor-and-finger-wag resolution. :shrug:

[Behind the Aegis]

11. I don't see it either.

The piece was a distortion and added "blue/white" baiting (Israel's flag's colors). Unless I missed it, I didn't see any defined penalties, just suggestions.