© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
Al-Jazeera has backed down from a plan to broadcast a series of reports on the open U.S.-Mexico border focusing on the catch-and-release program of non-Mexican foreigners apprehended by Border Patrol agents.
WND reported the plan last weekend, stirring criticism by public officials who saw danger in having an Arab TV network, accused of sympathy for Islamic terrorists, reporting on a potential national security problem for the U.S.
Al-Jazeera planned to launch the series this week with coverage of a Phoenix rally by the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, a volunteer civilian border-watch group that has attracted international media attention.
Reporter Nasreddine Hssaini, the Washington, D.C.-based Al-Jazeera reporter behind the series, said he wanted to go to Tombstone and interview leaders of the Minutemen and others. But the network canceled the project after Minuteman organizer Chris Simcox refused to cooperate and then notified the Border Patrol and members of the state's congressional delegation about Al-Jazeera's plans.
U.S. Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., noting that Al-Jazeera has been known to broadcast messages from the al-Qaida leadership to terrorist cells around the globe, was among those who expressed outrage about the planned broadcast.
Hssaini mentioned an interest in covering the increase in apprehensions of illegal aliens known as OTMs – other than Mexicans. These foreigners increasingly include Arabs, Muslims and others from the Middle East. The reporter also mentioned his familiarity with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement police of catching and releasing OTMS – particularly those not specifically known to be on any terrorist watch list.
"The group has been denied requests for interviews by Minuteman Civil Defense Corps organizers but they still insist on filming the groups' activities along with the rest of the media during a July 4th weekend mission near Arivaca, Arizona," said Simcox.
Simcox contacted the offices of Arizona's two Republican U.S. senators – John McCain and Jon Kyl – to invite them to do interviews with al Jazeera, "so perhaps they can explain to the viewers of this news outlet just how secure America's borders really are."
"The offices of the Arizona members of the United States House of Representatives will also be contacted to alert them to the presence and the intent by the Al-Jazeera news crew to film the lack of security along the U.S. border with Mexico," said Simcox. "The office of the Department of Homeland Security will also be notified. The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps also wonders just what DHS would tell al-Jazeera about the condition of our border security."
The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps is the citizen border patrol that virtually stopped illegal crossings from Mexico in a highly trafficked area of Arizona. It is now making plans for similar actions in other areas, other states and along the Canadian border.
"Would we allow Japanese or German television to film the unsecured border during World War II?" asked Minuteman spokeswoman Connie Hair. "These people broadcast to the enemies of America. It's not a news story, it's recon."
Previous stories:
Al-Jazeera to look at open U.S. border
ACLU man joins Minuteman, chapter gets suspended
Minutemen head to Texas
Anti-Minuteman site promoting sabotage
Minuteman Project eyes Texas patrol
Border Patrol union supports Minutemen
ACLU aiding illegal entry into U.S.?
Mexican army escorts border drug-runners
Minutemen catch 141 illegals so far
Minuteman Project snagging first illegals
ACLU to monitor Minuteman Project
Showdown at border?
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Illegal aliens invading U.S.
