Inside Al-Jazeera

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Yesterday I kept getting e-mails about the new design of our show page. In reading the first few e-mails I assumed the e-mailers were mistaken — what new design? Finally, after so many e-mails, I went to the show page myself and saw there is a new design. No one told me. I write the blog, send/e-mail the pictures to be posted, etc., but rarely go to the page to see it since I supplied all the material and know what is on it. So, to all the e-mailers who wrote me telling me — thanks.

If you watched last night, you know we took a mini road trip for you. We took our cameras across Washington, D.C., to the Al-Jazeera Channel's Washington bureau. We had never been there so we were curious about their bureau and figured you might be, too. On our mini road trip, I also learned they have a bureau in New York City and plan one for Detroit. The news channel broadcasts in Arabic, but plan to do another channel in English beginning in May. We got interested in going to Al-Jazeera yesterday since they received in their Middle East offices the Usama bin Laden tape (and the tape of the American journalist Jill Carroll who faces the possibility of execution murder by her captors in the next few hours.)

In addition to the interview that we conducted and aired last night with Mohammed Alami, the managing editor of Al-Jazeera, we took still pictures of the bureau. I have posted those pictures today. The bureau is very nice and is on K Street (the famous street that is known for all the offices of lobbyists.) Please click on the links above to see the Al-Jazeera pictures. (Incidentally, Mohammed Alami, who has lived in the United States since 1988, and who is from Morocco, reminded me that in the year 2000, when I was at CNN, he interviewed me about the Bush/Gore recount. He also said his wife watches "On the Record" every night. Needless to say, I was very happy to hear his wife is a viewer.)

Last night, General Bob Scales and General Don Edwards were on the show. I had a chance to talk to them very briefly before we went to air and they were teasing me about saying "my generals" or "our generals." Apparently both have been approached in public places (General Scales said airports) and been asked, "Aren't you one of Greta's Generals?" They think that is a riot. By the way, you would love these two men... they are absolutely wonderful. They are smart, decent and candid. They care immensely about the men and women who serve our country. On non-war topics — i.e. non-serious — they are fun and can laugh. Whenever I see either of them on the air on other shows, I immediately stop whatever I am doing and listen.

Finally, I received e-mails about when Part 2 of our interview with Senator Obama will air. We expected yesterday morning to air it last night, but decided to air it tonight.

Now for some e-mails:

E-mail No. 1

I am sick to death of Beth Holloway and I believe this story has been DONE. We have many tragedies, occurring daily here, on American soil. We can all assume Natalee got with bad company and was killed, I don’t believe we will ever know how, or proof of who did it. Let’s give it up. Mom is really enjoying her spot on TV.
Sharon Wadley
Pampa, TX

E-mail No. 2

I think your show is very fair. By the way, you seem to like detective work — did you read a lot of Nancy Drew books when you were young?
R. Schroder
Alexandria, VA

ANSWER: I am the youngest of three children, the oldest is my brother, so my parents bought the set of Hardy boy books for my brother. Hence, as you probably understand, my older sister and I read Hardy boy books and not Nancy Drew. If my sister had been the oldest child, my brother and I would have both read Nancy Drew books. Growing up when I did, families did not often splurge and buy both. By the way, I loved the Hardy Boy books.

E-mail No. 3

Hi Greta,
I too just returned from a R.C. cruise and had a room almost identical to the Smith room. I don't watch you every single night and I haven't heard you talk much about the height of the balcony. It is pretty high — I'd guess four feet. How tall was George? It would have been hard for him to simply pass out and fall overboard.
L. Anderson
Acworth, GA

E-mail No. 4

Greta,
Reading some of the negative views posted about Beth Twitty. It always amazes me how some people have no compassion. Let's hope they never have to walk in Beth's shoes. My Aunt went to her grave not knowing if her son was dead or alive. He went missing in California several years earlier. He was slightly mentally retarded. She had even hired a private detective but never did find a trace of him. No one can imagine how horrible this is unless you have to go through it.
This morning as I sat with my coffee and watched the morning news, I saw where NASAS was launching the space ship to Pluto. It will cost us taxpayers 700 million dollars! Just makes me sick to think how much more good that money could do by going to help find the lost or maybe even helping the elderly people of this country afford a better health plan so they won't have to choose between their medicine or food.
Toni
LA

E-mail No. 5

When are you going to start covering the real new instead of obsessing on missing white women. You are an arm of the Bush press machine. Maybe FOX should start hiring journalists instead of wannabes.
Moira Adams

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