Thursday Video: Egypt aids the Iraqi insurgency

Egypt is one of several Sunni Arab governments that have pledged to support President Bush's new strategy in Iraq. But despite repeated requests from American and Iraqi officials, Egypt continues to broadcast violent propaganda from Iraqi Sunni insurgents, 24/7, on its Nilesat satellite television provider. Today's Thursday Video is a taste of Al Zawraa's programming, provided to FP by Lawrence Pintak, director of American University in Cairo's television journalism program:

Al Zawraa divides its hatred between Americans and Shiites:

Al Zawraa began two years ago as an above-ground, hard-line Sunni TV station, based in Iraq, until the Iraqi government closed it down last November, around the time Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death. Today, it's an underground station with brutal, no-holds-barred content, often amateur, shaky footage showing American soldiers crumpling to the ground after being shoot [sic], and alleged American atrocities against Iraqi civilians. The station's anchors wear military fatigues and rail against the Shiite-led Iraqi government.

The sectarian strife in Baghdad is spilling into the wider region. Al Zawraa appears to be a symptom of Sunni unease about the rise of the so-called Shiite Crescent. Faced with growing threats, the Egyptian government may feel pressure to support its Sunni brethren.  There are probably healthier ways to do that, however.

For another video clip from Al Zawraa, see the MEMRI Blog, which flagged this last week.