Suggested Introduction and Outro for "The View from Washington: America's Effort to Praise, Discredit, and Compete with the New Arab Media"

INTRO
Soon after Al Jazeera began showing up on television sets throughout the Arab world, American officials praised its potential for spreading democracy and free expression across the region. They set out on what amounted to a charm offensive, appearing frequently on it and other Arab media outlets, adding the US perspective to the mix of coverage. But that was BEFORE 9-/11

The US led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq followed. Arab media outlets covered both conflicts - often in ways President Bush and indeed many other Americans found troubling. Sometimes there were images of dead American soldiers or hostages being beheaded; sometimes there was material from Osama bin Laden and other enemies of the United States.  The US charm offensive turned into a war of words. Can American security interests in the Middle East be reconciled with something as unruly as the new pan-Arab media.  Correspondent Sam
Litzinger (Lit – zinger) looks for answers in Washington, DC.

Note…Segment begins with natural sound
Outcue is: Sam Litzinger, Washington followed by television programming fade out

OUTRO
Sam Litzinger’s report IS part of the documentary special 24-seven: The Rise and Influence of Arab Media produced by the Stanley Foundation and KQED Public Radio.