Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=4/11/03

TYPE=SPECIAL REPORT

TITLE=ARAB TV TONE CHANGE

NUMBER=9-14

BYLINE=WILLIAM CHIEN

DATELINE=KUWAIT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: During his three weeks on assignment in Kuwait, V-O-A's William Chien has come into close and extended contact with Arabic-speaking news reporters. In this report he examines how their attitudes towards the war have changed over time.

TEXT: They came with a veritable chip on their shoulder. Almost all the Arabic-speaking reporters I encountered in my three weeks in Kuwait arrived with a very critical attitude toward the U.S. and British coalition forces. Maybe they were more open with me because I am Chinese, but there can be no mistaking that their attitudes changed completely when U-S troops entered Baghdad and took control. The result of this sea-change in attitude is clearly visible in the reports they file.

/// ACT SAUDI NATIONAL TV REPORT. ///

That was a new report on the war in Iraq from Saudi National Television Station. Forty-eight hours ago, this same television station would have been openly supporting Saddam Hussein. Now this same television station is broadcasting celebratory scenes in the streets of Iraq.

/// ACT CHEERING OF BAGHDAD RESIDENTS ///

Just as the tone of their reporting has changed, so has the angle they take moved from protest to process. They used to broadcast voices protesting the war and reports of Iraqi casualties, but very little on the war's development. Now, the experts who criticized the war have been replaced by voices of coalition troops and cheering from the people of Baghdad.

/// ACT CHEERING OF BAGHDAD RESIDENTS ///

Some Arabic television anchors are even referring to Saddam Hussein as the "former president of Iraq." One media outlet in Kuwait labels this change as a "slap in the face to those who loyally supported Saddam Hussein."

Before Abudzabi T-V ended their news report last night, the anchor told the audience that they would no longer use the term "on the frontline" to report about this war. The anchor finished by saying that they "hope the listening audience and the people of Iraq do not experience any more war."

The same evening, Lebanon's al-Hayat L-B-C T-V aired an interview with a British woman who came to Baghdad as a human shield to stop the advance of coalition troops. The woman said in the interview that she was shocked by the speed of the collapse of the Saddam regime. This former supporter of Saddam Hussein said she had to admit that the Iraqi people now have their freedom. (Signed)

NEB/WCH/