Condemning Mideast TV Programming that Incites Violence

CONDEMNING MIDEAST TV PROGRAMMING THAT INCITES VIOLENCE -- (House of Representatives - September 09, 2008)

Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I strongly support House Resolution 1069, which addresses and condemns the spread of encouragement to violence against America and Americans by Middle East-based media outlets. This is not a problem in theory, Mr. Speaker. When TV channels broadcast attacks by insurgents on U.S. soldiers in Iraq or newspapers publish repeated calls for the destruction of the United States, they further endanger the security of American civilians and military personnel in the Middle East. These channels are then broadcast on satellite providers that transmit not only to the region, but as far away as Europe, Asia, Africa and even North America.

We must do everything we can to prevent our enemies from recruiting potential insurgents and homicidal bombers. They must be prevented, from Beirut to London to New York, who seek to shed American blood wherever and whenever they wish.

Media outlets that provide financial, material, or technological support to violent Islamic groups should be held accountable for their hate speech that incites murder of American civilians and military. Given that recipients of U.S. aid, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, control many of the satellite providers that transmit such incitement, we should use our leverage to urge these nations to act responsibly and stop putting these calls for murder on the air of their television stations.

I again rise in very strong support of H. Res. 1069, and I urge my fellow members to do as well.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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