To understand the threat posed by Al Jazeera you first must understand the Islamic concept of taqiyya -- Sharia-approved deception directed at infidels. You must understand that those who promote Sharia law do not feel obligated to tell the truth but merely to say what is necessary and useful to them.
Yet most Westerners continue to think that Muslim mores, laws, and ethical constraints are near identical to those of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Naively or arrogantly, today's multiculturalist leaders project their own worldview onto Islamists, thinking a handshake and smiles across a cup of coffee, as well as numerous concessions, are enough to dismantle the power of God's word and centuries of unchanging tradition. The fact remains: Right and wrong in Islam have little to do with universal standards but only with what Islam itself teaches - much of which is antithetical to Western norms.
It must, therefore, be accepted that, contrary to long-held academic assumptions, the doctrine of taqiyya goes far beyond Muslims engaging in religious dissimulation in the interest of self-preservation and encompasses deception of the infidel enemy in general. This phenomenon should provide a context for Shi'i Iran's zeal - taqiyya being especially second nature to Shi'ism - to acquire nuclear power while insisting that its motives are entirely peaceful.Beware Al-Jazeera Coming to America
The real concern for American viewers is not the quality of the product on the screen, but rather two mostly hidden issues: the government behind the network, and the difference between Al-Jazeera's Arabic and English versions.
To Americans, Al-Jazeera purports to be the equivalent of CNN or Fox or MSNBC – an independent purveyor of news. Yes, Americans know that most media leans left and a little bit of it leans right, but the networks themselves are generally free of government manipulation. Al-Jazeera, however, is a wholly owned arm of the Government of Qatar. The State Department describes Qatar as "an hereditary constitutional monarchy governed by the ruling Al Thani family in consultation with a council of ministers, an appointed advisory council, and an elected municipal council." [In other words, a dictatorship, and the switch from the elder Al Thani last month to his son this month may be no change at all.]
This is not CNN, but Pravda; not Fox, but Izvestia. When Americans watched Soviet propaganda masquerading as news during the Cold War, they were aware of its source and aware of its biases toward communism and against free markets and free systems. The British government openly and proudly owns the BBC, and while the corporation's mandate is "to provide impartial public service broadcasting," viewers know what they're measuring against.
What should viewers know about Qatar that might impact how Al-Jazeera covers news?Egyptian Al Jazeera Staffers Resign to Protest Pro-Muslim Brotherhood Bias
On Monday, Gulf News reported that 22 staff members at Al Jazeera's Egyptian news operation resigned to protest what anchor Karem Mahmoud described as the network's "biased coverage" that skews their reporting of recent events in favor of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Mahmoud, now the former anchor at Egypt's Al Jazeera news operation, said that "the management of [Al Jazeera] in Doha [Qatar] provokes sedition among the Egyptian people and has an agenda against Egypt and other Arab countries." At every broadcast, Mahmoud said "there are instructions to us to telecast certain news" that casts the Muslim Brotherhood in a favorable light.
Mahmoud's allegations were supported by Haggag Salama, a correspondent for Al Jazeera based in Luxor, Egypt. According to Salama, Al Jazeera's Egyptian network is "airing lies and misleading viewers."Exposed: Al Jazeera Airs Fake Brotherhood Injuries and Deaths
A near hysterical woman is heard lambasting the Egyptian military for supposedly killing peaceful Brotherhood protesters, while the Al Jazeera crew videotapes a man who appears to be either unconscious or dead — a supposed victim of the military. His hand rests on his torso; his shirt under his hand is covered with blood, implying there is a bullet wound in that spot. However, when the unsuspecting doctor treating him tries to lift the man's shirt, this supposedly unconscious or slain man — with his eyes still shut and his facial expression unmoved — subtly lifts his left leg both to push the doctor's hand away and block his unharmed and blood-free torso from being taped by Al Jazeera. Of course, the person videotaping instantly stopped — but not before enough of this shameful episode was recorded, proving Al Jazeera's nonstop pro-Brotherhood propaganda campaign, one naively or intentionally followed by most of the Western media.
