Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
New Arabic Satellite Television Station in Middle East Sponsored by U.S.
Aired February 19, 2004 - 06:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: You know, one way the United States is trying to win hearts and minds in the Arab world is through the air waves. A new television station is reaching out to people in the region, but it may be falling far short.
Our Rym Brahimi explains from Amman, Jordan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Political cartoonist Emad Hajjaj was the first in Jordan to react to the arrival of the new Arabic language satellite channel, "Al Hurra," or "The Free One," with this drawing, translated here in English.
EMAD HAJJAJ, CARTOONIST: This is a common scene. You could see it in daily news coming from Iraq. In my opinion, this is how the Americans look at us.
BRAHIMI: The U.S. government sponsored TV channel in Arabic aims to promote democracy and build more understanding to change America's image among Arabs in the Middle East. Hajjaj says he has nothing against the principle, and for some, like his own 25-year-old brother, it's appealing.
MOHAMMED HAJJAJ, TV VIEWER: It's a very, very good channel. I am watching it every day.
BRAHIMI: But Hajjaj says it will take more than a U.S. sponsored channel for Washington to win hearts and minds in the region. He and many others keep coming back to Israel and Iraq.
E. HAJJAJ: The "Al Hurra" TV is talking about building a trust. The Americans should stop the building of Sharon's wall.
MUSTAFA HAMARNEH, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES, JORDAN: This is not an adequate tool to change perceptions about America and American policy in the region. America has to change its policy on the Arab- Israeli front and on the Iraqi front.
BRAHIMI: I sat with students at Jordan University, some of whom hadn't seen the station before. Only one approached it with an open mind.
ALIA BRIZAT, SOCIOLOGY STUDENT (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): If it wanted to convey the truth as it is and is able to do so, then why not? Let "Al Hurra" spread. BRAHIMI: It's not the specific content that we heard objections to, it's the channel's declared agenda, made obvious by its promotion, that's been met with criticism and sarcasm.
DIMA WAFA, BIOLOGY STUDENT: Look, we are the ones who are going to open everything in front of your faces and you used to live in a very dark place and nothing, you used to be nothing.
BRAHIMI (on camera): Whether people end up watching the new satellite channel "Al Hurra" or not won't necessarily mean that it will change their minds with regard to U.S. policy in the region. In the Arab world, there's still a lot of suspicion with regard to what many perceive as an anti-Arab agenda on the part of the U.S. administration in this area.
Rym Brahimi, CNN, Amman, Jordan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Sponsored by U.S.>
Aired February 19, 2004 - 06:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: You know, one way the United States is trying to win hearts and minds in the Arab world is through the air waves. A new television station is reaching out to people in the region, but it may be falling far short.
Our Rym Brahimi explains from Amman, Jordan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Political cartoonist Emad Hajjaj was the first in Jordan to react to the arrival of the new Arabic language satellite channel, "Al Hurra," or "The Free One," with this drawing, translated here in English.
EMAD HAJJAJ, CARTOONIST: This is a common scene. You could see it in daily news coming from Iraq. In my opinion, this is how the Americans look at us.
BRAHIMI: The U.S. government sponsored TV channel in Arabic aims to promote democracy and build more understanding to change America's image among Arabs in the Middle East. Hajjaj says he has nothing against the principle, and for some, like his own 25-year-old brother, it's appealing.
MOHAMMED HAJJAJ, TV VIEWER: It's a very, very good channel. I am watching it every day.
BRAHIMI: But Hajjaj says it will take more than a U.S. sponsored channel for Washington to win hearts and minds in the region. He and many others keep coming back to Israel and Iraq.
E. HAJJAJ: The "Al Hurra" TV is talking about building a trust. The Americans should stop the building of Sharon's wall.
MUSTAFA HAMARNEH, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES, JORDAN: This is not an adequate tool to change perceptions about America and American policy in the region. America has to change its policy on the Arab- Israeli front and on the Iraqi front.
BRAHIMI: I sat with students at Jordan University, some of whom hadn't seen the station before. Only one approached it with an open mind.
ALIA BRIZAT, SOCIOLOGY STUDENT (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): If it wanted to convey the truth as it is and is able to do so, then why not? Let "Al Hurra" spread. BRAHIMI: It's not the specific content that we heard objections to, it's the channel's declared agenda, made obvious by its promotion, that's been met with criticism and sarcasm.
DIMA WAFA, BIOLOGY STUDENT: Look, we are the ones who are going to open everything in front of your faces and you used to live in a very dark place and nothing, you used to be nothing.
BRAHIMI (on camera): Whether people end up watching the new satellite channel "Al Hurra" or not won't necessarily mean that it will change their minds with regard to U.S. policy in the region. In the Arab world, there's still a lot of suspicion with regard to what many perceive as an anti-Arab agenda on the part of the U.S. administration in this area.
Rym Brahimi, CNN, Amman, Jordan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Sponsored by U.S.>
