# Bush wanted to bomb al-Jazeera HQ in Doha, Qatar? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 22, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282 "2005-11-22T18:06:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/141 "2005-11-27T02:54:24Z")
Guys? Dick Cheney. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/142 "2005-11-27T03:09:05Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > Aljazeera described those murderers as “freedom fighters” on a “heroic operations”. Then it should be no problem providing a link to the al Jazeera reporting on that story, right? Because I have found two al Jazeera references, and neither describes the attackers as “freeedom fighters.” Now, the Voice of Palestine radio operation called the attackers heroes, but there is no evidence that al Jazeera made any similar claim unless it may have been reporting what Voice of Palestine had said. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/143 "2005-11-27T03:33:22Z")
Regarding [post #116](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6834370&postcount=116), after some staff discussion, I have disabled the links that **Dishfunctional** provided to the videos of the executions. Our “two click” rule is intended to make sure that no poster stumbles into an awkward situation (such as at work) by simply clicking on an apparently innocent link. While the rule is generally enforced regarding pornography, executions in process are probably not good things to have pop up unexpectedly, either. Not every browser has mouse-over pop-ups capabilities, (and not everyone will recognize every name in the urls), so the links, embededed as text, had the potential to cause some difficulties for people who opened them unaware of what they displayed. Let’s show some respect for our fellow posters by not placing unexpected links that could cause difficulties if opened without foreknowledge. [/Moderator Mode] ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/144 "2005-11-27T03:55:31Z")
> [@Rune](#): > > Anyway I’ve heard Chaque Chirac has suggested mining and bombing Fox News and sowing the earth undernethe the rubble with salt. I think we can all agree that my word is as good as anys, and just take that as a fact. What a complete idiot that Chaque Chirac is, huh? If the source is just making shit up (like you are doing), why not release the “secret” memo and blow his credibility out of the water? And WTF is a “Chaque”? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/145 "2005-11-27T04:19:18Z")
If it helps, you can see their releases on their website. > **[Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/)** > > News, analysis from the Middle East & worldwide, multimedia & interactives, opinions, documentaries, podcasts, long reads and broadcast schedule. Interesting stuff! Their code of ethics… If I may quote? > [@Al Jazeera](#): > > Being a globally oriented media service, Aljazeera shall determinedly adopt the following code of ethics in pursuance of the vision and mission it has set for itself: > > 1. Adhere to the journalistic values of honesty, courage, fairness, balance, independence, credibility and diversity, giving no priority to commercial or political considerations over professional ones. > 2. Endeavour to get to the truth and declare it in our dispatches, programmes and news bulletins unequivocally in a manner which leaves no doubt about its validity and accuracy. > 3. Treat our audiences with due respect and address every issue or story with due attention to present a clear, factual and accurate picture while giving full consideration to the feelings of victims of crime, war, persecution and disaster, their relatives and our viewers, and to individual privacy and public decorum. > 4. Welcome fair and honest media competition without allowing it to affect adversely our standards of performance so that getting a “scoop” will not become an end in itself. > 5. Present diverse points of view and opinions without bias or partiality. > 6. Recognise diversity in human societies with all their races, cultures and beliefs and their values and intrinsic individualities in order to present unbiased and faithful reflection of them. > 7. Acknowledge a mistake when it occurs, promptly correct it and ensure it does not recur. > 8. Observe transparency in dealing with news and news sources while adhering to internationally established practices concerning the rights of these sources. > 9. Distinguish between news material, opinion and analysis to avoid the pitfalls of speculation and propaganda. > 10. Stand by colleagues in the profession and offer them support when required, particularly in light of the acts of aggression and harassment to which journalists are subjected at times. Cooperate with Arab and international journalistic unions and associations to defend freedom of the press. As for the ‘freedom fighters’ part, wasn’t that a third party editorial? ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/146 "2005-11-27T18:47:09Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Regarding [post #116](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6834370&postcount=116), after some staff discussion, I have disabled the links that **Dishfunctional** provided to the videos of the executions. > > Our “two click” rule is intended to make sure that no poster stumbles into an awkward situation (such as at work) by simply clicking on an apparently innocent link. While the rule is generally enforced regarding pornography, executions in process are probably not good things to have pop up unexpectedly, either. Not every browser has mouse-over pop-ups capabilities, (and not everyone will recognize every name in the urls), so the links, embededed as text, had the potential to cause some difficulties for people who opened them unaware of what they displayed. > > Let’s show some respect for our fellow posters by not placing unexpected links that could cause difficulties if opened without foreknowledge. > > [/Moderator Mode] I understand, **Tom** , and I apologize. That seems an entirely fair interpretation of the “two click” rule. Frankly, I’m amazed that this is the first time this issue has arisen, with specific regard to the beheading videos. As soon as they became available, I wanted to see them, because like many people, I simply had no frame of reference within which to properly access this type of alleged behavior. All previous descriptions of “atrocities”, such as those attributed to the Nazis during WWII, Pol Pot’s regime, etcetera, simply didn’t cover this sort of activity, so I had to try to understand it for myself. Just as millions of people have taken the tour of Auschwitz (and I have) to see for themselves what they had only heard of, I just had to see for myself these un-edited clips in order to broaden that frame of reference I mentioned, and to convince that part of my humanity that still doubted any such things could possibly be happening. So, in the likely event that there are those who, like me, want that information for reasons similar to those which I have described, in observance of the ‘two click” rule I will provide a link to the page that contains the four links I posted earlier. The links are at the bottom of the page. Be forewarned… these are extremely graphic. You will see people dying a slow, agonizing and horrifying death. These people are fully aware of their circumstances, and to the extent that they can with whatever faculties remain, they first beg for their lives, then as they realize they are being killed, they fight wildly to the very end. You will do more then watch their deaths… you will hear their deaths as their final screams gurgle from their severed throats. I simply cannot exaggerate the horrific nature of these clips. I promise you that these sights and sounds will haunt you. You cannot watch these clips, and then carry on as if nothing has changed, because something will have changed. Whatever terms you currently use to define “humanity” for yourself will be changed forever, and definitely not for the better. Click [here](http://www.rimcountry.com/reminder.htm). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/147 "2005-11-28T18:35:21Z")
> [@Dishfunctional](#): > > Not accepting for one minute that Bush ever seriously considered taking out al Jazeera, I don’t think it’s unreasonable for the CiC to look askance at the virtual voice of the enemy, along the lines of the infamous [“Tokyo Rose”](http://www.fbi.gov/libref/historic/famcases/rose/rose.htm) case after WWII. Why are you characterizing al-Jazeera as the “voice of the enemy”? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/148 "2005-11-28T18:38:08Z")
> [@Vetch](#): > > Actually we do. How it compares with your act I have no idea. > [Freedom of Information Act](http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000036.htm) Thanks for the correction! I wonder if the _Daily Mirror_ could use that to get the relevant memo released – but I doubt it; Part II exempts info that’s important to “national security,” and if your government’s anything like ours, that means anything that might be embarrassing. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/149 "2005-11-28T18:39:18Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > “There ought to be limits to freedom” -Bush (1999), in reference to a website that criticized him. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/150 "2005-11-28T18:44:03Z")
> [@Dishfunctional](#): > > I thought it fairly common knowledge that al Jazeera has been and remains the news outlet of choice for Islamic terrorists, to include Osama bin Laden, Ayman al Zawahri, and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, to name just a few. In that sense, al Jazeera is the voice of the enemy… not exclusively, but they certainly have performed that function. . . . I don’t care if the news outlet is in the Middle East or Middle Earth, if they routinely broadcast messages from our enemy and those messages cannot be heard anywhere else, then they are the _de facto_ voice of that enemy. This is a whoosh, right? You can’t seriously mean to defend a position that self-evidently idiotic, can you? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/151 "2005-11-28T18:46:10Z")
[Cite.](http://www.rtmark.com/old/more/articles/bushdallas0522bush1bushsite.htm) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/152 "2005-11-28T19:13:48Z")
Update: British Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has ordered the _Daily Mirror_ to publish no further details of the memo in question, or they will be in violation of the Official Secrets Act; and the newspaper has “essentially agreed to comply.” [http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm\_objectid=16401707%26method=full%26siteid=94762%26headline=law-chief-gags-the-mirror-on-bush-leak-name\_page.html](http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16401707%26method=full%26siteid=94762%26headline=law%2dchief%2dgags%2dthe%2dmirror%2don%2dbush%2dleak-name_page.html) Meanwhile, the head of Al-Jazeera has flown to the UK to demand answers of the British government. [http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1518324.htm](http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1518324.htm) Al-Jazeera now has a page up of comments received via its website on this story. As in this thread, some commentators are highly skeptical of the story while to others it seems quite obviously plausible: [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/326255B5-5F1F-467A-8B3E-1C3B94A99A3E.htm](http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/326255B5-5F1F-467A-8B3E-1C3B94A99A3E.htm) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/153 "2005-11-28T19:35:05Z")
Meanwhile, in response to Lord Goldsmith’s gag order, MP Boris Johnson has declared that if someone will get him a copy of the memo, he will publish it in _The Spectator_ and risk a jail sentence. [http://www.boris-johnson.com/archives/2005/11/bush\_and\_al-jaz.html](http://www.boris-johnson.com/archives/2005/11/bush_and_al-jaz.html) And BlairWatch is trying to recruit persons willing to make the same committment: [http://www.blairwatch.co.uk/node/603](http://www.blairwatch.co.uk/node/603) The Wikipedia now has a page up (updated as events develop) on the “al-Jazeera bombing memo”: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al\_Jazeera\_bombing\_memo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Jazeera_bombing_memo) ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/154 "2005-11-28T20:27:16Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > This is a whoosh, right? You can’t seriously mean to defend a position that self-evidently idiotic, can you? Sorry, **BG** , but not having the depth of experience (or vocabulary) that nearly 10,000 posts on this board undoubtedly provides, the term “whoosh” means nothing to me. Please elaborate, and if a response seems worth my while, I’ll provide one. Hopefully, defining that term will go considerably farther toward explaining to me exactly why you take issue with my position than did your post, and you won’t have to devote any more energy or specificity to your objection than the negligible amount you already have. ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/155 "2005-11-28T20:32:23Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Why are you characterizing al-Jazeera as the “voice of the enemy”? As I’ve already said… > [@Me](#): > > I thought it fairly common knowledge that al Jazeera has been and remains the news outlet of choice for Islamic terrorists, to include Osama bin Laden, Ayman al Zawahri, and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, to name just a few. In that sense, al Jazeera is the voice of the enemy… not exclusively, but they certainly have performed that function. . . . I don’t care if the news outlet is in the Middle East or Middle Earth, if they routinely broadcast messages from our enemy and those messages cannot be heard anywhere else, then they are the de facto voice of that enemy. Now, if you have a better explanation for why I characterized al Jazeera as the “voice of the enemy”, I’d be interested to hear what you think. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/156 "2005-11-28T20:38:40Z")
> [@Dishfunctional](#): > > Sorry, **BG** , but not having the depth of experience (or vocabulary) that nearly 10,000 posts on this board undoubtedly provides, the term “whoosh” means nothing to me. Please elaborate, and if a response seems worth my while, I’ll provide one. IIRC it means a joke/sarcastic comment someone doesn’t realize is not serious. For example If I said "Yeah, and the Nazis were good guys because they had an enlightened forestry policy :rolleyes: ", and someone else returned with a rant about all the evil the Nazi’s did - that’s a whoosh, or so I understand. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/157 "2005-11-28T20:43:11Z")
> [@Dishfunctional](#): > > Sorry, **BG** , but not having the depth of experience (or vocabulary) that nearly 10,000 posts on this board undoubtedly provides, the term “whoosh” means nothing to me. Please elaborate, and if a response seems worth my while, I’ll provide one. > > Hopefully, defining that term will go considerably farther toward explaining to me exactly why you take issue with my position than did your post, and you won’t have to devote any more energy or specificity to your objection than the negligible amount you already have. A “whoosh” is a position you don’t really mean to take, usually intended to entrap into serious confrontation with it any Doper whose irony meter is improperly calibrated. I was characterizing as “self-evidently idiotic,” which it is, the very idea that al-Jazeera’s broadcast of terrorists’ statements makes it the “voice of the enemy” and, therefore, by implication, a legitimate military target. Even in purely hypothetical terms, that is completely indefensible. All al-Jazeera is doing is what our own news networks **should** be doing – broadcasting everything of relevant news value regardless of the source. And who can dispute that statements by al-Q terrorists are not only relevant, but crucially important to any coverage of the “War Against Terrorism”? ---
**Author:** ![Avenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Avenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avenger)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/158 "2005-11-28T20:43:45Z")
> [@Dishfunctional](#): > > if they routinely broadcast messages from our enemy and those messages cannot be heard anywhere else But that’s not true is it? I mean, you may not be aware of this given the hours you apparantly spend watching Al Jazeera and hearing these messages that you believe ‘cannot be heard anywhere else’, but the reports are in fact passed on by all media outlets. Hence those of us who don’t share your arab linguistic talents also get a translated form of them. [Here](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,164707,00.html), for example, is Fox News. You consider them ‘voice of the enemy’ too, presumably? ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/159 "2005-11-28T21:13:14Z")
> [@Der Trihs](#): > > IIRC it means a joke/sarcastic comment someone doesn’t realize is not serious. For example If I said "Yeah, and the Nazis were good guys because they had an enlightened forestry policy :rolleyes: ", and someone else returned with a rant about all the evil the Nazi’s did - that’s a whoosh, or so I understand. Thanx… now it makes sense. Learning something, _anything_, justifies having made the grudging decison to get out of bed in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Dishfunctional](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/35a633/32.png) [@Dishfunctional](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dishfunctional)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282/160 "2005-11-28T21:22:21Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > A “whoosh” is a position you don’t really mean to take, usually intended to entrap into serious confrontation with it any Doper whose irony meter is improperly calibrated. Got it. > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > I was characterizing as “self-evidently idiotic,” which it is, the very idea that al-Jazeera’s broadcast of terrorists’ statements makes it the “voice of the enemy” and, therefore, by implication, a legitimate military target. Even in purely hypothetical terms, that is completely indefensible. All al-Jazeera is doing is what our own news networks **should** be doing – broadcasting everything of relevant news value regardless of the source. And who can dispute that statements by al-Q terrorists are not only relevant, but crucially important to any coverage of the “War Against Terrorism”? I’m afraid you are inferring something I never implied. As a matter of fact, I spoke directly to that point, saying exactly the opposite. You might want to take a look at the rest of my comments in [that](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6836101&postcount=135) post. > [@Me](#): > > I used Tokyo Rose as an example of the type of communication operations that draw the attention of those who would control the battlefield. I wasn’t condoning or condemning such tactics, just commenting that it is done. > [@Originally Posted by tomndebb](#): > > There is simply no legitimate reason to target a news agency unless it actually begins broadcasting stolen military plans. > > **Me** > For the record (since it seems to be necessary), I agree. My noting that the president might have wished al Jazeera were off the air is quite a ways from 1) my condoning such an action, or 2) the president condoning such an action. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-wanted-to-bomb-al-jazeera-hq-in-doha-qatar/332282.md?page=9)