On 13 November 2001 a 230 kilograms heavy U.S. bomb hit the Kabul office of the TV channel Al Jazeera and destroyed the whole building (BBC 2001). Although the incident occurred during the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, the station was located in a residential area and the Pentagon was informed about its location. International concerns rose up the next weeks and after BBC constantly brought new disclosures about the incident to light, the Pentagon relented and published an official statement in which it confirmed a deliberate destruction. In the eyes of the Pentagon and U.S. government the bombing was legitimate because in their estimation, Al Jazeera is as a part of the propaganda machine of the “enemy”, cooperating with terrorists (Miles 2005, 165-167).
About 10 years later things seem to have changed a lot. In March 2011, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testified in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Al Jazeera provided more informative news coverage than the opinion-driven coverage of American mass media (The Huffington Post 2011). However, she is not the only one whose perception about the TV channel seems to have changed in the last years. “Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus […] and Adm. Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, all have appeared on the network's Arabic and English channels in the last year.” writes the Los Angeles Times at the end of 2011 and claims that “The Obama administration is courting the pan-Arab television network Al Jazeera in an attempt to improve a history of testy relations with one of the most influential news outlets in the Middle East.” (Los Angeles Times 2011).
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The history of Al Jazeera
- The U.S. view on Al Jazeera in time
- September 11 attacks
- War in Afghanistan
- Iraq War
- Arab Spring
- Possible reasons for the changing U.S. perceptions
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The aim of this paper is to explore the changing U.S. perception of Al Jazeera, particularly focusing on how the station's reporting influenced U.S. officials' perspectives during critical events. The paper investigates the shift in views, from the post 9/11 "War on Terror" period to the "Arab Spring" era.
- The history and "culture" of Al Jazeera.
- The perception of Al Jazeera by U.S. officials during the "War on Terror" period.
- The evolving perception of Al Jazeera by U.S. officials since the beginning of the "Arab Spring."
- The impact of Al Jazeera's reporting on U.S. policy towards the Middle East.
- The potential reasons for the changing U.S. perception of Al Jazeera.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter introduces the topic by highlighting a 2001 incident where the U.S. bombed an Al Jazeera office in Kabul and contrasts it with more recent positive interactions between U.S. officials and the channel. The chapter poses key questions about the shift in perception and outlines the paper's structure.
The second chapter provides a brief history of Al Jazeera, explaining its origins and outlining its core values of independence and liberal reporting. This chapter details the motivations behind its creation by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar.
The third chapter examines the perception of Al Jazeera by U.S. officials, focusing on four crucial events: the September 11 attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the Arab Spring. This section explores how Al Jazeera's reporting during each event influenced U.S. perspectives.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This work explores the changing perception of Al Jazeera by U.S. officials, focusing on the "War on Terror", the "Arab Spring", and the impact of Al Jazeera's reporting on U.S. policy. It delves into the role of Al Jazeera as a significant non-state actor in the Middle East and examines the station's independent and liberal journalistic approach. Further, the paper explores the broader context of Qatar's relationship with the U.S. and its role in shaping regional media landscapes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How has the U.S. view of Al Jazeera changed over the last decade?
The perception shifted from viewing Al Jazeera as a "propaganda machine for terrorists" in 2001 to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praising its informative news coverage in 2011.
What happened to Al Jazeera's Kabul office in 2001?
A U.S. bomb destroyed the building. The Pentagon initially claimed it was a legitimate target because they viewed the station as part of the "enemy's" propaganda machine.
What are the core values of Al Jazeera?
The station is known for its independent and liberal journalistic approach, aiming to provide a pan-Arab perspective that often contrasts with Western mass media.
What role did the Arab Spring play in changing U.S. perceptions?
During the Arab Spring, U.S. officials began to recognize Al Jazeera's influence and its ability to provide real-time, informative coverage of regional shifts, leading to more positive engagement.
Who founded Al Jazeera and why?
It was founded by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, to create an influential and independent news outlet in the Middle East.
- Citar trabajo
- Adam Balogh (Autor), 2012, Changing Perceptions - How the U.S. view on Al Jazeera changed in time, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/209934
