Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DOHA581
2008-08-14 05:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Doha
Cable title:
AL-JAZEERA EXPLAINS LESSENED AL QAEDA COVERAGE
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C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000581
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2018
TAGS: PTER KPAO QA
SUBJECT: AL-JAZEERA EXPLAINS LESSENED AL QAEDA COVERAGE
Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000581
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2018
TAGS: PTER KPAO QA
SUBJECT: AL-JAZEERA EXPLAINS LESSENED AL QAEDA COVERAGE
Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) During an August 12 office call by visiting Senate
Foreign Relations Committee Staff Member Perry Cammack,
Al-Jazeera Network (AJN) Managing Director Wadah Khanfar said
the network still receives tapes from Al Qaeda but doesn't
bother airing them or mentioning them because "Usama bin
Laden has lost all credibility among Muslims and is no longer
the symbol he once was." Khanfar elaborated that Al Qaeda's
brutality in Iraq has "destroyed" the organization and its
claim to speak for Muslims.
2. (C) Comment: AJN's reduced coverage of Al Qaeda may be
meant to curry favor with the government of Iraq, as part of
its strategy for gaining permission to re-open its bureau in
that country. That is something Khanfar has been negotiating
hard for with the Iraqis for several months.
3. (C) While AJN may have backed off on its coverage of Al
Qaeda and associated tapes, the past month has seen a marked
increase in its coverage of the Taliban, including interviews
with Taliban representatives. Septel will report the results
of a separate conversation with Khanfar regarding AJN's
renewed interest in the Taliban.
3. (U) Mr. Cammack did not have an opportunity to clear this
cable.
LeBaron
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2018
TAGS: PTER KPAO QA
SUBJECT: AL-JAZEERA EXPLAINS LESSENED AL QAEDA COVERAGE
Classified By: Amb. Joseph LeBaron, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) During an August 12 office call by visiting Senate
Foreign Relations Committee Staff Member Perry Cammack,
Al-Jazeera Network (AJN) Managing Director Wadah Khanfar said
the network still receives tapes from Al Qaeda but doesn't
bother airing them or mentioning them because "Usama bin
Laden has lost all credibility among Muslims and is no longer
the symbol he once was." Khanfar elaborated that Al Qaeda's
brutality in Iraq has "destroyed" the organization and its
claim to speak for Muslims.
2. (C) Comment: AJN's reduced coverage of Al Qaeda may be
meant to curry favor with the government of Iraq, as part of
its strategy for gaining permission to re-open its bureau in
that country. That is something Khanfar has been negotiating
hard for with the Iraqis for several months.
3. (C) While AJN may have backed off on its coverage of Al
Qaeda and associated tapes, the past month has seen a marked
increase in its coverage of the Taliban, including interviews
with Taliban representatives. Septel will report the results
of a separate conversation with Khanfar regarding AJN's
renewed interest in the Taliban.
3. (U) Mr. Cammack did not have an opportunity to clear this
cable.
LeBaron