Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
Al-Qaida memo to Bin Laden warns of 'cunning methods' of US news networks
2 views
Skip to first unread message
Ubiquitous
May 4, 2012, 5:03:21 AM5/4/12
to
Al-Qaida spokesman Adam Gadahn a fan of 60 Minutes but said Fox News
'lacks neutrality' and CBS is 'close to being unbiased'
Osama bin Laden pondered the merits of US television news channels as he
considered how to extract the best propaganda benefit from the tenth
anniversary of 9/11 last year, and concluded that CBS was "close to being
unbiased".
But an American-born media adviser for al-Qaeda warned Bin Laden to
beware of the broadcasters' "cunning methods" as he described Fox News as
a channel in the "abyss" that should "die in anger", CNN as too close to
the US government and MSNBC as questionable after it fired one of its
most prominent presenters, Keith Olbermann.
In a memorandum made public by the US military's Combating Terrorism
Center on Thursday, Bin Laden asked for advice on exploiting the
anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
"We need to benefit from this event and get our messages to the Muslims
and celebrate the victory that they achieved. We need to restore their
confidence in their nation and motivate them. We should also present our
just cause to the world, especially to the European people," he said.
Bin Laden suggested contacting Al-Jazeera.
"You can point out to them that this way they will be showing the other
opinion," he said.
But he also wondered if it would be good to work with an American
channel, suggesting CBS as "close to being unbiased". Bin Laden added
that the organisation should approach a British journalist, Robert Fisk
of the Independent, and other reporters to press home the message that
the major powers would be better concentrating on climate change than
pursuing al-Qaida. He wrote:
"This is a chance to explain our motives for continuing the
war. The wise people would tell you to give people their rights
in order to be able to focus on other vital issues such as
global warming. They have the option to stop the war, but we
do not have any option, except to defend our nation. This is
a conflict between the biggest cultures in the world at a time
when the climate is changing rapidly."
A US-born al-Qaida spokesman, Adam Gadahn, wrote back to Bin Laden laying
the merits or otherwise of using US news stations to mark the "Manhattan
battle" as it is referred to in the memo.
Fox News is dismissed because it "falls into the abyss as you know, and
lacks neutrality too".
"I used to think that MSNBC channel may be good and neutral a bit, but is
has lately fired two of the most famous journalists – Keith Olbermann and
Octavia Nasser the Lebanese," wrote Gadahn.
In fact, Nasser was sacked from CNN after she sent a tweet mourning the
death of a Hezbollah leader. Olbermann was dismissed for making financial
donations to Democratic party politicians.
CNN is questioned, although its Arabic "version brings good and detailed
reports".
"As for the neutrality of CNN in English, it seems to be in cooperation
with the government more than the others (except Fox News of course)," he
said.
Gadhan describes ABC as "all right":
"Actually it could be one of the best channels, as far as
we are concerned. It is interested in al-Qaida issues,
particularly the journalist Brian Ross, who is specialised
in terrorism. The channel is still proud for its interview
with the shaykh (Bin Laden)," he said. "CBS channel was
mentioned by the shaykh. I see that it is like the other
channels, but it has a famous programme (60 Minutes) that
has some popularity and a good reputation for its long
broadcasting time. Only god knows the reality, as I am not
really in a position to do so."
The merits and shortcomings of other major US broadcasters are considered
before Gadahn decided he couldn't make his mind up and worried that
al-Qaida's message may come under critical scrutiny. He wrote:
"In conclusion, we can say that there is no single channel
that we could rely on for our messages. I may ignore them,
and even the channel that broadcast them, probably it would
distort them somehow. This is accomplished by bringing analysts
and experts that would interpret its meaning in the way they
want it to be. Or they may ignore the message and conduct a
smearing of the individuals, to the end of the list of what
you know about their cunning methods."
"In general, and no matter what material we send, I suggest
that we should distribute it to more than one channel, so that
there will be healthy competition between the channels in
broadcasting the material, so that no other channel takes the
lead. It should be sent for example to ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN
and maybe PBS and VOA. As for Fox News, let her die in her
anger."
Gadahn also mentions sending "special media material" on the 9/11
anniversary to a number of newspaper journalists around the world,
including Fisk. The intent, he said, is to "show the fairness of our case
to the whole world and the European peoples in particular".
As it turned out, the advice was not required. Bin Laden was killed four
months before the anniversary.
'lacks neutrality' and CBS is 'close to being unbiased'
Osama bin Laden pondered the merits of US television news channels as he
considered how to extract the best propaganda benefit from the tenth
anniversary of 9/11 last year, and concluded that CBS was "close to being
unbiased".
But an American-born media adviser for al-Qaeda warned Bin Laden to
beware of the broadcasters' "cunning methods" as he described Fox News as
a channel in the "abyss" that should "die in anger", CNN as too close to
the US government and MSNBC as questionable after it fired one of its
most prominent presenters, Keith Olbermann.
In a memorandum made public by the US military's Combating Terrorism
Center on Thursday, Bin Laden asked for advice on exploiting the
anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
"We need to benefit from this event and get our messages to the Muslims
and celebrate the victory that they achieved. We need to restore their
confidence in their nation and motivate them. We should also present our
just cause to the world, especially to the European people," he said.
Bin Laden suggested contacting Al-Jazeera.
"You can point out to them that this way they will be showing the other
opinion," he said.
But he also wondered if it would be good to work with an American
channel, suggesting CBS as "close to being unbiased". Bin Laden added
that the organisation should approach a British journalist, Robert Fisk
of the Independent, and other reporters to press home the message that
the major powers would be better concentrating on climate change than
pursuing al-Qaida. He wrote:
"This is a chance to explain our motives for continuing the
war. The wise people would tell you to give people their rights
in order to be able to focus on other vital issues such as
global warming. They have the option to stop the war, but we
do not have any option, except to defend our nation. This is
a conflict between the biggest cultures in the world at a time
when the climate is changing rapidly."
A US-born al-Qaida spokesman, Adam Gadahn, wrote back to Bin Laden laying
the merits or otherwise of using US news stations to mark the "Manhattan
battle" as it is referred to in the memo.
Fox News is dismissed because it "falls into the abyss as you know, and
lacks neutrality too".
"I used to think that MSNBC channel may be good and neutral a bit, but is
has lately fired two of the most famous journalists – Keith Olbermann and
Octavia Nasser the Lebanese," wrote Gadahn.
In fact, Nasser was sacked from CNN after she sent a tweet mourning the
death of a Hezbollah leader. Olbermann was dismissed for making financial
donations to Democratic party politicians.
CNN is questioned, although its Arabic "version brings good and detailed
reports".
"As for the neutrality of CNN in English, it seems to be in cooperation
with the government more than the others (except Fox News of course)," he
said.
Gadhan describes ABC as "all right":
"Actually it could be one of the best channels, as far as
we are concerned. It is interested in al-Qaida issues,
particularly the journalist Brian Ross, who is specialised
in terrorism. The channel is still proud for its interview
with the shaykh (Bin Laden)," he said. "CBS channel was
mentioned by the shaykh. I see that it is like the other
channels, but it has a famous programme (60 Minutes) that
has some popularity and a good reputation for its long
broadcasting time. Only god knows the reality, as I am not
really in a position to do so."
The merits and shortcomings of other major US broadcasters are considered
before Gadahn decided he couldn't make his mind up and worried that
al-Qaida's message may come under critical scrutiny. He wrote:
"In conclusion, we can say that there is no single channel
that we could rely on for our messages. I may ignore them,
and even the channel that broadcast them, probably it would
distort them somehow. This is accomplished by bringing analysts
and experts that would interpret its meaning in the way they
want it to be. Or they may ignore the message and conduct a
smearing of the individuals, to the end of the list of what
you know about their cunning methods."
"In general, and no matter what material we send, I suggest
that we should distribute it to more than one channel, so that
there will be healthy competition between the channels in
broadcasting the material, so that no other channel takes the
lead. It should be sent for example to ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN
and maybe PBS and VOA. As for Fox News, let her die in her
anger."
Gadahn also mentions sending "special media material" on the 9/11
anniversary to a number of newspaper journalists around the world,
including Fisk. The intent, he said, is to "show the fairness of our case
to the whole world and the European peoples in particular".
As it turned out, the advice was not required. Bin Laden was killed four
months before the anniversary.
RichA
May 4, 2012, 2:30:48 PM5/4/12
to
On May 4, 5:03 am, Ubiquitous <web...@polaris.net> wrote:
> Al-Qaida spokesman Adam Gadahn a fan of 60 Minutes but said Fox News
> 'lacks neutrality' and CBS is 'close to being unbiased'
>
Good to see CBS is such a good friend to Muslims...
> Al-Qaida spokesman Adam Gadahn a fan of 60 Minutes but said Fox News
> 'lacks neutrality' and CBS is 'close to being unbiased'
>
JRStern
May 4, 2012, 6:51:55 PM5/4/12
to
On Fri, 04 May 2012 05:03:21 -0400, Ubiquitous <web...@polaris.net>
wrote:
>But an American-born media adviser for al-Qaeda warned Bin Laden to
>beware of the broadcasters' "cunning methods"
I think what it actually said is that CBS employs many cunning
linguists.
J.
wrote:
>But an American-born media adviser for al-Qaeda warned Bin Laden to
>beware of the broadcasters' "cunning methods"
linguists.
J.
Remysun
May 5, 2012, 3:36:27 AM5/5/12
to
> But he also wondered if it would be good to work with an American
> channel, suggesting CBS as "close to being unbiased". Bin Laden added
> that the organisation should approach a British journalist, Robert Fisk
> of the Independent, and other reporters to press home the message that
> the major powers would be better concentrating on climate change than
> pursuing al-Qaida. He wrote:
I daresay, Bin Laden was very affected by those floods that hit
> channel, suggesting CBS as "close to being unbiased". Bin Laden added
> that the organisation should approach a British journalist, Robert Fisk
> of the Independent, and other reporters to press home the message that
> the major powers would be better concentrating on climate change than
> pursuing al-Qaida. He wrote:
central Pakistan.
Obama didn't get him, Al Gore did!
Now that's what I call An Inconvenient Truth.
0 new messages