The Los Angeles Times reports Secretary of State Colin Powell met Tuesday with Qatar’s foreign minister for “intense discussions” about the government-funded Al Jazeera satellite TV station. The discussions are expected to last several more days. Powell said on Monday that Al Jazeera’s news coverage has intruded on relations between the US and Qatar, one of Washington’s closest military allies in the Gulf. The Times reports the Pentagon has been systematically monitoring the station and compiling its objection to the reporting especially its coverage in Iraq. State Department spokesperson Richard Boucher claimed the issue is not about media freedom. He said Al Jazeera has crossed from reporting to “screaming 'Fire!' in a crowded theater.” During the recent seige on Falluja, Al Jazeera was the only broadcast outlet inside the city during a time when the US killed up to 600 Iraqis. Their images of dead Iraqis were broadcast throughout the world. A spokesperson from the network said “We are not involved in politics and try to report what is happening on the ground. We give ample space to various points of view on any issue.”