HOLLYWOOD - An Al-Jazeera producer and a New York Times writer clashed Tuesday night on Larry King's CNN talk show over the Arab network's claims that it is attempting to broadcast all sides of the Middle East debate. Judith Miller, who herself became news this week when she received a letter containing a powdery substance (it tested negative for anthrax), asked Dana Suyyagh whether it was true that Al-Jazeera calls Palestinians who commit suicide raids in Israel "martyrs." The following exchange then took place:
Suyyagh: "Yes, we do. We do."
Miller: "And do you think that's objective or..."
Suyyagh: "Yes."
Miller: "Did you call the people who blew the Twin Towers up martyrs?"
Suyyagh: "No. We never called them martyrs. That is an act of terror. We go with international opinion on that one, yes." ...
Miller: "So terrorists who kill people, civilians in Israel, are martyrs, and terrorists who kill Americans are terrorists? Is that your news standard?"
Suyyagh: "No. We have a standing policy that people who are martyrs are people who give themselves for a cause. What happened in New York and Washington, we believe, was causeless."