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The original purpose of Al-Jazeera, which started in November, 1996, is to broadcast dissenting views which created controversies in the Arab States, in the United States and Europe. The network gained worldwide attention following the September 11,2001 attacks, when it broadcast video statements by leader of al-Qaeda Oussama Bin Laden. Al-Jazeera introduced a level of freedom of speech, breaking taboos and states control over political and social issues, wich irritated many Arab regimes particularly Saudi Arabia. The United States and United Kingdom strongly protested Al-Jazeera coverage of the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. US officials claimed an anti-American bias to Al-Jazeera news coverage; Washington accused Al-Jazeera of engaging in propaganda on behalf of terrorists. Al-Jazeera managed to federate an Arab public opinion, breaking down barriers in the Arab world. This forced US administration and some Arab states to inaugurate their own satellite TV channels to counter the growing influence of Al-Jazeera in the Arab world.