Attacking Press Freedom

The New York Times for one, has been unwittingly used to further the pro-war agenda of the administration. Who can forget the reporting of Judith Miller who was spoon-fed lies from the mouth of insiders like Lewis Libby. Much of these lies sold the American public on the tragic decision to back an unjust and illegal war in Iraq. The Times, embarrassed by their uncritical analysis of the administration’s evidence of rushing to war, issued a mea culpa to the public. And since then, they have tried, however belatedly, to dissect this White House’s doings.

In a Democracy, a free press is vital to enriching the public’s understanding of the issues. But in a post 9-11 America, some are attempting to control the press and use it as their mouthpiece to disseminate the propaganda they want to inculcate the masses with. After 9-11, in many instances, the press played right along.

The New York Times for one has been used unwittingly used to further the pro-war agenda of the administration. Who can forget the reporting of Judith Miller who was spoon-fed lies from the mouth of insiders like Lewis Libby. Much of these lies sold the American public on the tragic decision to back an unjust and illegal war in Iraq.

The Times, embarrassed by their uncritical analysis of the administration’s evidence of rushing to war, issued a mea culpa to the public. And since then they have tried, however belatedly, to dissect this White House’s doings. In doing so they helped expose the illegal NSA warrantless spy probe that is eavesdropping into the lives of average Americans. This has opened them up to attacks such as the one recently logged by Republican Congressman Peter King.    
 
King, of Massapequa, Long Island says the New York Times should be prosecuted for revealing that the Bush White House has a “secret� program that is attempting to track the financial money trail of those engaged in terrorism. King claimed that “the New York Times is putting its own arrogant, elitist left wing agenda before the interests of the American people.� He also stated that he was “calling on the Attorney General to begin a criminal investigation and prosecuting of the New York Times. And the Attorney General has already stated that he thinks journalists can be prosecuted. Bush and Cheney true to form have blasted the coverage as being harmful to the troops and the war on terror. You know the saying, “tell a lie often enough and it becomes the truth.�

But truth is the very thing these people dislike. And they have no shame in the methods that they will use to suppress it. This idea of prosecuting the press is nothing more than their latest strategy to shape the information that they want out. It is extremely ludicrous to think that anyone involved in terrorism doesn’t already know that these types of operations exist.
Congressman King also said that the publishing of the information was “treasonous.� But the congressman should be asked why he hasn’t said anything about this illegal war, based on lies, that has left over 2,500 dead Americans. Isn’t that what’s really treasonous?

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