<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> On the eve of the conflict in Iraq, the US administration tried to re-establish more friendly relations with the Arab media. This article reviews American public diplomacy and communications strategies towards the Arab satellite networks, with particular emphasis on the Qatar-based al-Jazeera Channel, and considers the degree to which American strategies succeeded. The American experiences with al-Jazeera during the war in Iraq were similar to their experiences during the war in Afghanistan. The main finding is that the US administration lacks a comprehensive communications strategy towards al-Jazeera: In both conflicts the US administration started by courting the channel, giving exclusive interviews and participating in debates, but when war started friendly relations came to an end. When al-Jazeera focused on the ugly face of both wars, the American administration reacted with criticism, threats and attempts to silence the channel.</p></abstract>

On the eve of the conflict in Iraq, the US administration tried to re-establish more friendly relations with the Arab media. This article reviews American public diplomacy and communications strategies towards the Arab satellite networks, with particular emphasis on the Qatar-based al-Jazeera Channel, and considers the degree to which American strategies succeeded. The American experiences with al-Jazeera during the war in Iraq were similar to their experiences during the war in Afghanistan. The main finding is that the US administration lacks a comprehensive communications strategy towards al-Jazeera: In both conflicts the US administration started by courting the channel, giving exclusive interviews and participating in debates, but when war started friendly relations came to an end. When al-Jazeera focused on the ugly face of both wars, the American administration reacted with criticism, threats and attempts to silence the channel.

Courting, Criticism, Censorship and Bombs

Cand.philol., Assistant Professor, Faculty of Journalism, Library and Information Science, Oslo University College, P.O. Box 4, St.Olavsplass, N-0131 Oslo,

Nordicom Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The Bush Administration’s Troubled Relations with al-Jazeera Channel from September 11 to the War in Iraq

On the eve of the conflict in Iraq, the US administration tried to re-establish more friendly relations with the Arab media. This article reviews American...

Courting, Criticism, Censorship and Bombs

Published Online: Feb 14, 2017

Page range: 81 - 96

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2017-0220

Keywords
al-Jazeera channel, US administration, war in Iraq, public diplomacy, arab satellites and media at war

© by Tine Ustad Figenschou

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Courting, Criticism, Censorship and Bombs

Published Online: Feb 14, 2017

Page range: 81 - 96

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2017-0220

Keywordsal-Jazeera channel, US administration, war in Iraq, public diplomacy, arab satellites and media at war

© by Tine Ustad Figenschou

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
al-Jazeera channel, US administration, war in Iraq, public diplomacy, arab satellites and media at war