Redux: Lebanon Asks U.S. To Remove Ban on Hezbollah T.V. & U.S. Bans Arab Channels

The Lebanese government has asked the United States to uplift a domestic ban on a television network owned by the Lebanese party-cum-militia Hezbollah (Party of God), which the U.S. State Department deems a “terrorist” organization.

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Lebanese President Michel Suleiman made the request in a meeting with Republican Senator John McCain, who is visiting Lebanon in a discussion about U.S. so-called assistance to the nation and is meeting several other prominent officials (including prime minister Sa’ad Hariri).

al-Manar T.V. was banned in the 1990s by the U.S. Congress under the pretext that it engaged in the broadcasting of anti-Semitic material. While al-Manar has showcased anti-Jewish sentiment, this is selective banning. The U.S. Congress does not condemn let alone ban anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and anti-Black discourse often expressed on right-wing outlets Fox News and AM talk radio, and the latter broadcast, it should be emphasized, on public airwaves overseen by a federal agency.

Recently, the U.S. Congress even went so far as to pass a resolution calling for punitive measures against al-Manar and akin stations. What this entails exactly is unclear, but represents an incredible and arrogant statement that the United States will seek to punish foreign television station that offend its sensibilities. The U.S. Congress claims that al-Manar promotes anti-American sentiment (a sideshow: it is all about Israel), but what about that? Now apparently it is an offense to American sensibilities if anyone dares to critique U.S. wars and occupation in the region and unequivocal U.S. support for the apartheid state of Israel. American policy promotes anti-Americanism, not the messenger. Will the U.S. military now start bombing Arab television networks (’o wait, it has already done that)?

Both the ban and the December ‘09 resolution were passed at the behest of the Israel lobby, and the former was steered through Congress by Daniel Shapiro who now runs the Middle East desk in President Obama’s National Security Council. In the United States, having a degree in Arab/Islamic studies and conversing in Arabic is cause for suspicion; but serving the Israeli lobby makes one a Mid-East “expert” and qualifies you to run policy for the U.S. government.

al-Manar was previously available through Arabic language satellite packages which cater to hundreds of thousands of American subscribers. The U.S. government has banned U.S. dish providers from offering the station, but, unfortunately, for the U.S./Israel lobby al-Manar may still be watched live streaming online (left-hand corner).

A ban on the website may now be next. In the cause of Israel, no measure - no matter how antithetical to U.S. principles of free speech - will stand in the way. Members of Congress have campaign contributions to consider!

Redux:

The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a bill to censor some of the Arab news media, particularly satellite channels if Washington deemed, with Israeli backing, that these satellite channels are broadcasting content that is in conflict with American and Israeli interests in the region.

It is strange that this U.S. legislative step, which was opposed by only three members of the House of Representatives, came on the heels of the president’s success in turning a new page in the Islamic and Arab world by drawing a new framework for their relationship, based on mutual respect and common interests rather than opportunities, particularly as stated in his speech at Cairo University.

Note that the United States claims to defend human rights and freedom of the press but accuses the “terrorists,” wherever they are, of lacking respect for democracy and human rights. At the same time, the U.S. is behaving contrary to what it preaches because it considers the basic measure for freedom of the press to be something that does not harm American or Israeli interests.

Full text of H.R. 2278 can be found at THOMAS.

For more information on H.R. 2278, see Gov Trak.

This is a new definition of media freedom that even the most powerful of dictatorships have failed to achieve. The United States and its high ranking planners have forgotten that they have U.S. government news media funded by American taxpayers that can only be broadcast outside the United States. U.S. law prohibits such broadcasts inside the country under legislative codes that do not allow the Treasury to finance media that is privately-owned rather than government-owned.

The signatories that helped pass the repressive law recognize that the U.S. and Israeli news media have free reign around the globe as a result of the freedoms of press, speech, and religion that are protected throughout world.

Indeed, the Arab satellite media happens to be more democratic than its American and Israeli counterparts because Arab satellites host both sides of the issue. The satellite will not host an American official without its Iranian counterpart, and such is the case with Israeli officials that became familiar faces in Arab news media, as well. Where are the American and Israeli news media when it comes to that freedom, though? Do they allow an Iranian official or a Hamas official to express his opinion?

Unfortunately, the U.S. legislation, which would grant Obama the right to censor Arab media (such as Al-Manar – Hezbollah, Al-Aqsa – Hamas and the Iraqi Al-Zawra) and report on their performance in six months, is in itself an attack on the freedom of the media and the press, the freedom of expression, and religion.

This demonstrates a policy of ethical and professional double standards, a downfall from which the U.S. administration has always suffered.

The bill passed by the House of Representatives confirms the claims of critics of U.S. policy in the Islamic world as a whole, and the Middle East in particular, that it is a policy based on double standards when Washington places its interests and Israel’s interests above the values and principles it advocates in the Middle East region.

U.S. lawmakers did not hesitate to impose penalties on satellite owners that allow for “hostile” news media by regarding them as supporters of terrorism. In addition, the lawmakers are discussing a bill sponsored by the U.S. administration to tie its monetary aid to countries in the Middle East with how well those countries manage to censor their media from harming U.S. interests – a strange excuse for logic.

And this is a nation that likes to claim it is the 'champion of the free world' and that Arabs 'hate us for our freedom'. Even America'c client Gulf regimes have voiced strong opposition to the legislation - not that their opinions will count for any influence.

To repeat: In the cause of Israel, no measure - no matter how antithetical to U.S. principles of free speech - will stand in the way.

The Senate may soon pass the arbitrary and illiberal law as well - also at the exclusive behest of Israel. Arab-Americans may soon be prevented from watching the media they prefer not in the name so much of American interests but the interest of a foreign nation. The U.S. constitution is once again shredded in the name of Israel and its powerful lobby. The U.S. president will acquire the right to ban channels not because they are 'hate speech' or owned by 'terrorists', but simply because they criticize America's relationship with Israel and Israel's illegal and immoral policies. Is there nothing the U.S. Congress will not do for Israeli PAC money - especially in an election year? It is no surprising it passed overwhelming considering the campaign contributions at stake in what is expected to be a competitive season. What a country!

And does the Israel lobby think it can censor all media? The channels can be found online - including on YouTube. But they may soon be targeting the internet as well.

Arabs and Muslims do not hate you because they are envious of your so-called freedoms, rather, they hold you in contempt because of your hypocrisy, stupidity and zealot support for Israel that leads you to undermine the very freedoms you claim others hate you for.