Interesting development in Iraq

The Mesopotamian reveals that a new TV station serving Iraq has started up. This station is a bit different from your average TV station.

A most important development in the media sphere is this new T.V. channel called "Al-Fayhaa" that started recently transmitting from Dubai, U.A.E.; despite its humble financing and capabilities. It is able to beam only 3 hours per day each afternoon with repeats in the evening. Despite that, its popularity is skyrocketing. This station has hardly any programming ability, relying mainly on receiving calls from the public and some voice reports from inside Iraq, where they don't even have the ability to use cameras or produce serious reports from the ground; so it is more like a televised radio station rather than a proper T.V. channel. The significant thing is the absolute freedom of the callers to say whatever they wish without the slightest attempt by the anchormen to edit or interfere, and also each caller is given ample time to express his views however humble or poorly expressed. In some way it is like the internet, a space of unedited freedom for the ordinary people to express themselves. This is quite revolutionary, since the internet is still out of reach of most people in Iraq.

Think of an Internet bulletin board, live and on your TV, where anyone can call in and express their opinion. In the MidEast!

You cannot possibly convince me that this could have occurred before the Iraqi war. Nor could you convince me that this isn't an earth-shattering event in the MidEast. Iraqis won't be the only ones listening. Nor will Arab Muslims be able to argue that their comments are controlled by the Americans or by the Iraqi Provisional Government.

Don't hold your breath waiting to hear about it on your evening news or read about it in your newspaper though.