Al Jazeera English will launch on an American network within the next six months, according to its London bureau chief.

Sue Phillips said the channel – which is currently only available online in the US through link-ups including a deal with YouTube – is overcoming misinterpretations about its agenda that earned it “the terrorist channel” label.

“The climate has changed in the US,” she said. “We’re almost confident in saying we should be on a platform in the States within the next six months.

“There’s much more of an understanding now about Al Jazeera. The Americans are warming to us.”

At last count, there are over 300 TV stations currently broadcasting in the Arab world. Per capita, that's more stations per person than any region in the world.  Here comes another one... Future News

Future News will be launched on Nov. 21 as the wealthy Hariri family expands its media empire, which already comprises satcaster Future TV and the Al-Mostaqbal newspaper.

The 24-hour Arabic-language news channel will air the same day that Lebanon's parliament is set to elect a new president amid a deepening political crisis.

At launch, Future News will operate seven hours a day but plans to be 24/7 by the end of the year, according to project manager Nadim Munla.

Operating on what Munla describes as a modest budget, it will have 250 to 300 employees and correspondents in 10 cities including Beirut, Lebanon; Washington, D.C.; Paris; Tehran, Iran; Gaza City; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Going from one extreme to another, observers can't help wonder, with everyone becoming a broadcaster, who is actually watching all this programming? Furthermore, there is no way most of these stations are making a profit, not with that kind of fragmentation.  So, who is paying the bills for all these modern day soap boxes?

Perhaps a better idea would be to take some of these operation budgets, consolidate efforts and put together quality programming that Arab audiences may want to actually watch..

So, let me see if I understand this.  Hamas kicks Fateh's ass in Gaza, and somehow this is portrayed as a victory for Fateh?  Abbas, being the loyalist to his party and bank account, immdiately suspends parliament and swears in one of his buddies as prime minister, then has the nerve to refer to the Hamas action as a "coup d'etat"?

Almost immediately he becomes the darling of the US, Europe, and the Israelis.. suddenly he is the voice of moderation according to Western media outlets known for their objectivity (insert sarcasm here).  The criminal embargo by the US and Europe is lifted as Abbas is hailed as the bright new hope for peace in the region.

So, what is likely to happen now... Abbas and his Fateh thugs will crack down on any dissent in the West Bank, as money from the US and Europe starts flowing back into the coffers of his corrupt regime.  Some symbolic gestures will be made to show that a Hamas free regime can live in peace with the oh-so-civilized Israelis.  Leftists and progressive will either flee the country or shut their mouth in fear of retribution. 

In other words, Abbas will become another Mubarak, Abdallah, etc... another Arab leader who gets his marching orders from the state department.

Oh, and Gaza will continue its status as the world's largest concentration camp ensuring that another generation of Palestinians will embrace fundementalism as a form of resistance. 

Jerry Falwell just died ... and I'm not sure how to react. 

I should be overjoyed, yet I'm still calm about the whole story. Maybe it's the surprise of it all. Maybe it has yet to settle in.

I mean we are talking about Jerry Falwell here, the head of the so-called "Moral Majority," the leading anti-gay crusader, a major dispenser of hate against Muslims and Arabs, one of the original leaders of the so-called "Christian Zionist" movement.

For years I have held nothing but hate and contempt against Jerry Falwell. 

He represented to me all things wrong about this country.  I have always felts that he and his followers have hijacked Christianity from us in the same way that Bin Laden has done with Islam.  His remarks about AIDS and 9/11 still resonate and still make my blood boil.  His silly remarks about the gay community only increased ignorance and hate in this country.

So, I should be very happy. I should be out there offering champagne to my loved ones and neighbors.

Yet, it just feels like an other day in my life ... for now.

Mabrouk to humanity. Mabrouk to America and welcome to hell "reverend." There is a special seat reserved just for you.  Can you please take Pat Robertson with you?
 

Someone sent a note to the Arab NY list, a local information email list I belong to, looking for "Muslim Fashion Designer" to participate in the next season of "Project Runway". 

For those of you not familiar with the popular cable show on Bravo, Project Runway is a competition that pits fashion designer against each other with weekly eliminations leading to one winner at the end of each season. The show is hosted by Heidi Klum, the georgeous german super model.

While I am sure the intent of the producers to reach out and seek "Muslim Fashion" designer are innocent and sincere, I couldn't help but wonder what would this lead to.  Is the inclusion of a Muslim designer a smart PR move to increase audience? Or is this a well meaning (albeit racist) attempt by the producers to prove that Muslims are capable of producing beautiful things (not just blow up the planet).

And why just pick on Muslims? Why not have a Project Runway - Religion Edition?  Designers from various religions and sects can be represented.  Oh the fun we could have.  What Would Jesus Wear (WWJW)?  Hey, Orthodox Women, check out the new hot sheets with pre-cut holes ... Budhists can maybe mix some colors to orange... this could get very creative ...

Who knows? Maybe if we move the religious and secterian hatred from the streets to the runways, it might give the rest of us a chance to just watch it on TV and figure out who is the wackiest.

Pass the popcorn, kosher salt only.

Brilliant... Brilliant...  Brilliant

The digital team at Al Jazeera has figured out yet another way to bypass the silly lock-out that US cable companies have imposed on them.  The global network has launched a channel on You Tube, the leading online video destination. And unlike their other online partnerships, this one is completely free. 

Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=AlJazeeraEnglish

So far, they have been posting episodes of their popular shows like Riz Khan and The Listening Post.  News Update in English are likely to follow very shortly.

In a very short period, the "channel" is now 66 in popularity on  You Tube, which is great when you consider the massive amounts of content the site carries. 

The list of donors in support of Lebanon from the Paris III meeting is out.. let's take a look at the various donations...

SAUDI ARABIA: Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said Saudi Arabia would give $1.0 billion to help development projects and a further $100 million in budget support.

Thank you Hariri family.. now, let's hope some of that money makes it to the people that need it the most (i.e The South), and not go on yet another super luxury resort on the outskirts of Beirut. (or worse, swiss accounts)

 
UNITED STATES: $770 million, conditional on approval of U.S. Congress. A senior U.S. official said it would include $250 million in cash transfers tied to economic reforms. A further $220 million will fund Lebanese military equipment and training. $184 million goes to support the international peacekeeping mission, $60 million to train and equip security forces, $50 million to fund reconstruction projects and $5.5 million for demining.
 
Keyword here is "conditional on approval of U.S. Congress", watch Tom Lantos, Ileana Ross and Lieberman spring into action on that one... as they say (Ataloh El Ateel wou mishyouh bi Jzantoh...) Murder a victim, then attend their funeral...
 
 
ARAB MONETARY FUND: $700 million over the next five years.
WORLD BANK: $700 million in additional funding to support implementation of the government's program. Up to $400 million could be made available this year. 

 
Sweet... keep an eye on when and where those $$ go

 
FRANCE: 500 million euro ($649.4 million) loan "with very favorable conditions". 
 

Merci, but it's a loan.. on top of all our other debts... it will take generations after us to pay back, if ever...
 
 

EUROPEAN UNION: Almost 400 million ... [Read More]

Just what the Arab World needed, another 24hr News Channel... Future TV from Lebanon announced that they will be launching a new all-news channel: "Future News" as early as this coming April.

Chairman of Future TV, Nadim Munla, admits that the TV will have its own biases towards the Future Movement in Lebanon (read Saad Hariri).  Munla also insists that the venture will be profitable in a very short period. Arab new network such as Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya who have been around much longer, have yet to show a profit.  Advertisers in that region simply shy away from any news or political content.

Ok, so let's see.. by my count, we have Orange TV for Aoun, Manar for Hizbullah, Two Future stations for Hariri, NBN for Amal (Berri), LBC for the phalangists, not to mention the official stations, TeleLiban, and countless private non-political networks... all in a country with a population less than that of Manhatan...