Gary Fitleberg, January 5, 2003

American government officials have accused and believe Al Jazeera of being an instrument to promote hatred, incitement, terrorism and violence in the Arab world and internationally.

The Arabic television channel Al Jazeera aired and broadcast an audiotape of Osama Bin Laden in which he urged Muslims to fight against the U.S. occupation in Iraq. The speaker on the tape specifically mentioned the capture of Saddam Hussein by U.S. forces in December indicating that the tape was made within the last three weeks.

The tape also criticized the Gulf Arab states for supporting the U.S. invasion of Iraq, urging that the fight against U.S. forces should be with arms and not through dialogue.

The speaker on the tape also called Muslims to fight against what he called conspiracies against Islam.

Al Jazeera was the channel that had the exclusive first interview with Osama Bin Laden after September 11, 2001.

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2004 Gary Fitleberg