[20050817]RS21565_中东电视网：概述.pdf

1 The BBG is a quasi-independent entity responsible for all U.S. government and government-sponsored, non-military, international broadcasting.Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21565Updated August 17, 2005The Middle East Television Network: An Overviewname redactedMiddle East Policy AnalystForeign Affairs, Defense, and Trade DivisionSummaryWith the United States engaged in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the war on terrorism,Congress and the Bush Administration have created a U.S. government-sponsoredArabic-language television station to bolster U.S. public diplomacy efforts in the MiddleEast. Supporters of this initiative have asserted that there is a receptive audience forU.S. television, which could counterbalance negative perceptions of U.S. policy that arecommonly found in the Arab media. Critics maintain that the Arab media market isalready saturated with Western stations and that U.S. public diplomacy funds would bemore effectively used in other programs. According to the 9/11 Commission Report,“the government has begun some promising initiatives in television and radiobroadcasting to the Arab world,