Al-Jazeera Protects Its Terrorist “Sources”   June 23, 2006

In the strange but true department, Aljazeera “has rejected the claim by an American author that it leaked information that led to the capture of alleged leading al-Qaeda figures.” On the other hand, a group called Friends of Al-Jazeera seems to be accepting a claim, made by the same author, that the U.S. deliberately bombed Al-Jazeera’s offices.

So how reliable is this author, Ron Suskind?

Al-Jazeera says that Suskind, author of The One Percent Doctrine, “told CNN that information about the hiding places of alleged al-Qaida figures, Khalid Sheikh Mohamed and Ramzi Bin al-Shibh, obtained by Aljazeera in 2002, was leaked to Qatari officials. Suskind said the information was communicated to the Emir of Qatar, who communicated it to US officials.”

In a press release, “Aljazeera described Suskind’s claim as ridiculous and baseless.” Aljazeera said it was “well known for its editorial independence” and its “commitment to protect the rights of sources”.

The “rights” of sources? Does that mean it did have or has sources in al Qaeda?

Regarding the claim that the U.S. deliberately bombed Al-Jazeeera, CNN analyst David Ensor told Wolf Blitzer that, “…all I can tell you is that I’ve talked to several former very senior CIA officials, and they say none of them heard anything about a plan to bomb Al Jazeera, and none of them ever were aware that the U.S. government had done that deliberately.”