The New York Times is reporting that a new U.S.-government run Arabic satellite tv station could be broadcasting into the Middle East as early as January. The government is hoping the new station, called Al Hurra which means the Free One, will serve as a counter to Al Jazeera. The station marks the largest government sponsored international media project since the U.S. launched Voice of America in 1942. The credibility of the station is already coming under criticism from within the Arab world. In an interview with the New York Times, the station’s news director [Mouafac Harb] attempted to show that the station would be more objective and balanced than Al Jazeera. He said if the station were to report on an Israeli raid on Palestinians that his station, unlike Al Jazeera, would see no need to note that the Israelis were flying U.S.-made aircraft. Harb asked “Why say that? You can feel which way they are leading you.” The U.S. government plans to spend $62 million on the station during its first year.