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Arab World, Television Closely Followed Bush U.N. Speech
Aired September 23, 2003 - 13:07 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Walt told us a little bit about how the speech played in Baghdad, but how did the Arab media play it and send that message out to those who are watching in the Arab world?
We've had Octavia Nasr watching some of the reaction and some of the newscast on Al-Jazeera and Al Arabiya. She joins us now from one of our control rooms where she's been busy watching a lot of television this morning.
Octavia, let's talk about Al-Jazeera first? What was their take on the Bush speech?
OCTAVIA NASR, CNN INTERNATIONAL SENIOR EDITOR: Well both networks actually had almost the same reaction, just like the rest of the Arab street. Basically they saw nothing new in that speech. They all ran it in its entirety with translation. They also summarized the speech at the end as soon as Mr. Bush was done speaking.
Let's take a listen to what Al-Jazeera had to say. This is the Jazeera Washington bureau chief commenting on the speech. Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): He tried to link the fight against terrorism from 9/11 to his actions in Afghanistan and Iraq to the bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad, which is more proof that terrorism hurts everyone in the world community.
It's a reminder that there is no middle ground between aiding terrorism and fighting it. And that the terrorists shouldn't have friends in this assembly. It is a clear threat and the reminder of the American position on you're either with us or against us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NASR: The same idea was echoed on other Arab networks. Same thing, basically. Mr. Bush reiterating his position on the fight against terrorism. They were sort of expecting to hear an apology or in some way softer tone from Mr. Bush. And that didn't come through.
And let's take a listen now to one expert on Middle East affairs that Al Arabiya host right after the speech.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Bin Laden and Mullah Omar are still at large, so is the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The Palestinian issue faces huge problems. He didn't mention North Korea, he didn't mention Iran even though he spoke about the importance of stopping nuclear proliferation. Instead of addressing all of these failures, he stressed his victories.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NASR: So as you can see, the Arab media also dissecting the speech, just as we're doing. But, of course, they have a totally different take on it. They're talking about the tone of voice, the posture, the demeanor.
Also there's a reference to the Iraqi Governing Council that was present in the person of Ahmed Chalabi. And there's a lot of criticism here saying how come he didn't mention him by name. This is sort of the hero of the mission in Iraq. How come he wasn't mentioned by name which could signal -- and this is, again, according to Arab media, could signal a drift there between Mr. Bush and Chalabi.
O'BRIEN: Let me ask you, Octavia, these days when you watch any sort of news broadcast, there's a lot more going on. Look right below me here, and that goes for Arab television as well. What were you seeing in the crawls, the tickers, side panels that might have waited the coverage one way or the other?
NASR: I'm glad you asked me that question. I took notes here. And, again, you have to understand that what you read on the Arab networks is a translation from the original English. So I'm going to translate the translation so that our viewers understand how the message is conveyed to the public.
One line said, "We will switch the Middle East to democracy after our success in Iraq." Obviously, this is very interesting for Arab audiences. This is a message that the U.S. is there to switch the Middle East to democracy one country at a time. So basically they're starting in Iraq, but then the others will follow.
While you were seeing on our crawls, for example, "Arab nations must not support terrorism," you were seeing on Arab networks lines like "Israel has to create the right atmosphere for the creation of a Palestinian state".
So obviously the interests are different, the messages are different and the audiences are very, very different.
O'BRIEN: Octavia Nasr who's been watching some Arab-based television for us today. Thanks very much for your insights.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired September 23, 2003 - 13:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Walt told us a little bit about how the speech played in Baghdad, but how did the Arab media play it and send that message out to those who are watching in the Arab world?
We've had Octavia Nasr watching some of the reaction and some of the newscast on Al-Jazeera and Al Arabiya. She joins us now from one of our control rooms where she's been busy watching a lot of television this morning.
Octavia, let's talk about Al-Jazeera first? What was their take on the Bush speech?
OCTAVIA NASR, CNN INTERNATIONAL SENIOR EDITOR: Well both networks actually had almost the same reaction, just like the rest of the Arab street. Basically they saw nothing new in that speech. They all ran it in its entirety with translation. They also summarized the speech at the end as soon as Mr. Bush was done speaking.
Let's take a listen to what Al-Jazeera had to say. This is the Jazeera Washington bureau chief commenting on the speech. Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): He tried to link the fight against terrorism from 9/11 to his actions in Afghanistan and Iraq to the bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad, which is more proof that terrorism hurts everyone in the world community.
It's a reminder that there is no middle ground between aiding terrorism and fighting it. And that the terrorists shouldn't have friends in this assembly. It is a clear threat and the reminder of the American position on you're either with us or against us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NASR: The same idea was echoed on other Arab networks. Same thing, basically. Mr. Bush reiterating his position on the fight against terrorism. They were sort of expecting to hear an apology or in some way softer tone from Mr. Bush. And that didn't come through.
And let's take a listen now to one expert on Middle East affairs that Al Arabiya host right after the speech.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Bin Laden and Mullah Omar are still at large, so is the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The Palestinian issue faces huge problems. He didn't mention North Korea, he didn't mention Iran even though he spoke about the importance of stopping nuclear proliferation. Instead of addressing all of these failures, he stressed his victories.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NASR: So as you can see, the Arab media also dissecting the speech, just as we're doing. But, of course, they have a totally different take on it. They're talking about the tone of voice, the posture, the demeanor.
Also there's a reference to the Iraqi Governing Council that was present in the person of Ahmed Chalabi. And there's a lot of criticism here saying how come he didn't mention him by name. This is sort of the hero of the mission in Iraq. How come he wasn't mentioned by name which could signal -- and this is, again, according to Arab media, could signal a drift there between Mr. Bush and Chalabi.
O'BRIEN: Let me ask you, Octavia, these days when you watch any sort of news broadcast, there's a lot more going on. Look right below me here, and that goes for Arab television as well. What were you seeing in the crawls, the tickers, side panels that might have waited the coverage one way or the other?
NASR: I'm glad you asked me that question. I took notes here. And, again, you have to understand that what you read on the Arab networks is a translation from the original English. So I'm going to translate the translation so that our viewers understand how the message is conveyed to the public.
One line said, "We will switch the Middle East to democracy after our success in Iraq." Obviously, this is very interesting for Arab audiences. This is a message that the U.S. is there to switch the Middle East to democracy one country at a time. So basically they're starting in Iraq, but then the others will follow.
While you were seeing on our crawls, for example, "Arab nations must not support terrorism," you were seeing on Arab networks lines like "Israel has to create the right atmosphere for the creation of a Palestinian state".
So obviously the interests are different, the messages are different and the audiences are very, very different.
O'BRIEN: Octavia Nasr who's been watching some Arab-based television for us today. Thanks very much for your insights.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
