Al Jazeera Called "Security Risk" for USA

Conference speakers warn expansion plans 'invitation to radicalize Muslims'

WASHINGTON – The proposed expansion into American cable markets by Al-Jazeera, the Arab-language broadcaster headquartered in Doha, Qatar, could offer a serious security risk for America, according to speakers at a conference held here.

The conference at the National Press Club, which included speaker Cliff Kincaid of America's Survival, called on Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., to hold hearings on the issue in his Homeland Security Committee.

A panel that included Kincaid, blogger Pamela Geller, securities analyst Charles Ortel, independent TV producer Jerry Kenney and investigative journalist Lee Kaplan agreed that the network, often used by terrorists to deliver their messages to the world, actually has helped radicals such as al-Qaida, Hezbollah and Hamas in their efforts to radicalize Muslims.

"Al-Jazeera's anti-American programming already has a dangerous foothold in the United States," Kincaid said. "And it is seeking to expand to millions of homes through a deal with the cable giant Comcast. Any such deal would pose an unacceptable danger to American citizens by further adding to the potential for home-grown jihadists inspired by al-Jazeera’s inflammatory programming."