TV job offer for former Iraqi information minister DUBAI (AFP) - An Arab TV news channel has offered a job to Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s top spin doctor, former Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Said al-Sahhaf. Sahhaf, who became a global celebrity for his persistant refusal to admit that US troops were in Baghdad, has been told by the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya channel that there is a job waiting for him. "We see no problem in having Mr. Sahhaf join us. First of all, Sahhaf is not on the list of the 55 Iraqis most wanted by the Americans, and he won international fame (during the Iraqi war). We would be happy to have him on our team," Ali Al-Hedeithy, the head of Al-Arabiya told AFP. During the war, the bespectacled Sahhaf won fans worldwide for his in-your-face defiance as US and British troops swept through the country in their drive to topple Saddam Hussein. Sahhaf has dropped out of sight since US forces took the Iraqi capital on April 9, abruptly ending Saddam's 24-year-rule. A Web site in his honor, www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com, featuring his most quotable "bons mots" drew an overwhelming response after its launch, attracting 4,000 visitors per second, according to its webmaster. "There are no American infidels in Baghdad. Never!" reads the first of the "treasury of deathless quotes" on the site. Even President George W. Bush (news - web sites) said last week that he had stepped out of meetings in Washington to catch a few of Sahhaf's daily press conferences. "He was great," Bush told NBC television. Al-Arabiya, based in Dubai with operations in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Lebanon, noted that it had already plucked from the ranks of Saddam's officials former UN ambassador Mohammad Aldouri for a recent series of interviews on the Iraq (news - web sites) war.
That is the one! It would have to be in NY so the guy would still stand a chance at being able to blend in with the people.
I think the primo gig for the guy would be to host a new reality TV show called "When Your Hallucinations Become the Truth".
I'm surprised Fox didn't get him first and make some sort of reality TV show with him in it. Yall are more creative than me so someone else can figure out a funny theme for the show.
Clearly, you didn't read the article, because Al-Arabiya is described further in the last paragraph. Al Arabiya is a new channel that was started to compete with Al Jazeera. Al Arabiya though, will try to be less offensive to the Arab dictators. There is no doubt that Al Arabiya is a PERFECT example of the Arab mainstream press. They are not interested in truth, but dedicated to help the Arab dictators maintain their grip on power in the region.
Substitute Fox for Al Arabiya and Arab dictators for conservative U.S. Presidents and we have a match.
Criticizing one biased news source and defending another equally biased news source destroys whatever credibility you had left.
Damn, what should have been a humorous thread has been hijacked once again by the politicos. I do have one question however - in a totalitarian country ruled by a dictator, is his views/ideology the mainstream or is the views of his oppressed subjects the mainstream? Just curious (in a philosophical sense). Actually, I could see Sahhaf on a show like Hollywood Squares. Put him in the center square and he's a sure winner (as long as you disagree with his answer).
Let's see, you are defending a person who compared a country that doesn't respect a free press, and doesn't allow its citizens self-determination..... to The United States government and Fox News, the most popular cable network in the country. hmmmmm, I think you don't have much of a case here. I mean, really, don't you reread your posts sometimes and laugh at yourself? Go ahead- make your case that Fox News is as biased as Al Arabiya that is ADMITTEDLY monitored by religious leaders and dictators for content.
Mmmkay.... For starters, here is an article from FAIR, the media watchdog group whose acronym stands for Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. I will now wait for you to denounce FAIR as a mouthpiece for the "Liberal Media". FOX News Channel's Right Wing Tilt And, just so you know, I believe FOX is easily as biased as Al Arabiya. I do not think that FOX is as biased as Al Jazeera. PS: Roger Ailes is easily as much of a "monitor" as any Middle East religious leader or dictator. Ever read up on him? The man doesn't know the meaning of "fair and balanced" so why should the media outlet he runs know the meaning of it!
Since Al Arabiya is admittedly more biased toward Muslim clerics and leader than Al Jazeera, this mini-debate must end now. You have no idea what you are talking about, and the very fact that you think Fox News can be compared to a dictator's controlled press is ridiculous. This thread was NOT politicized until you wacko lefties felt the strange need to defend the Arab mainstream press, which is absolutely NOT free. You guys are just arguing for the sake of being disagreeable in this case. This is truly a low point for FB and Tex.
#1, I wasn't "defending" the Arab Mainstream Press. Show me where I was. #2, if you think that FOX, and for that matter CNN, are examples of "free press", you need to educate yourself. Free-er perhaps than others, but certainly not free.
jonheath, you are basically making two points. One is that Al Arabiya is biased and the second that Al Arabiya is government controlled. I have never heard of Al Arabiya but say for the sake of argument it is biased, it still is fair to compare it to Western media such as Fox News which is also quite biased in the views of many. OTHO, if Al Arabiya is govt owned or controlled than of course it is not a fair comparison as Fox News, however biased it may be, is not under govt control. Whether Al Arabiya is biased or not is subjective so there is no need to "prove" this. However, jonheath, since you assert that Al Arabiya is " dictator's controlled press", could you provide some evidence for this? Thanks.
