AL JAZEERA A MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD FRONT?

Network gains U.S. foothold with purchase of Gore's Current TV
- Aaron Klein, WND

JERUSALEM – Al Jazeera, which this week announced it purchased Al Gore’s Current TV for $500 million, has a long history of close ties to and support for the Muslim Brotherhood.

Al Jazeera’s founders, themselves close to the Muslim Brotherhood, have long attempted to gain influence in the U.S., including through the financing of Arabic classes in American public schools via a Muslim Brotherhood-linked charity.

Al Jazeera this week announced a plan to establish a new U.S. cable news channel, tentatively call Al Jazeera America, utilizing the purchase of Current TV.

The Qatar-financed network is hoping to retain and even increase Current TV’s distribution rights in more than 40 million homes to broadcast its own new network.

Al Jazeera Director General Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani announced, “By acquiring Current TV, Al Jazeera will significantly expand our existing distribution footprint in the U.S., as well as increase our newsgathering and reporting efforts in America.”

Thani explained the new network seeks to provide domestic and international news for an American audience. Al Jazeera reportedly plans to open new bureaus across the U.S. and increase the network’s staff domestically to over 300 employees.

Al Jazeera has a long history of close ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Yusuf al-Qaradawi, one of the top leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, rose to fame in the Arab world after Al Jazeera gave him his a major platform. Many regard Qaradawi as the de facto spiritual leader of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood.

Qaradawi achieved star status because of his regular sermons and interviews on Al Jazeera.

The Arab news network strongly supported the revolution against former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and has taken a friendly tone toward the country’s new Muslim Brotherhood leadership.

Al Jazeera was founded with financing from the emir of Qatar, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who previously served as the network’s chairman.

The network is still financed largely from Qatar, where its headquarters are located.

The current chairman of Al Jazeera is Sheik Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, the Qatari emir’s cousin.

WND previously reported an Arabic language program established in several U.S. schools is funded by a Qatar group that maintains close ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, while the group’s founder started the Al Jazeera television network.

For more of the article go to: http://www.wnd.com/2013/01/al-jazeera-a-muslim-brotherhood-front/#9JfHXHRpppsZE0kb.99