Bush Goal: The New State-Controlled Press: CRACKDOWN in Progress -->

[Dr. Jones]

It is no secret that the Bush Administration has long despised the free press. For a number of years now, it has sought to reign in our free press, dictate what the press can and can't say, and ultimately control the press as a State-run institution with free reign to disseminate whatever falsehoods and propaganda they desire. Our current climate, brought on (conveniently) by 9/11, has allowed them to begin implementing this goal.

Through intimidation and bullying, blackmailing and threats, the Bush Administration now has its target set on decimating the free press. Will they be successful? Will the press fight back? We can only HOPE.

White House Trains Efforts on Media Leaks
Sources, Reporters Could Be Prosecuted

By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 5, 2006; Page A01

The Bush administration, seeking to limit leaks of classified information, has launched initiatives targeting journalists and their possible government sources. The efforts include several FBI probes, a polygraph investigation inside the CIA and a warning from the Justice Department that reporters could be prosecuted under espionage laws.

Numerous employees at the CIA, FBI, Justice Department and other agencies also have received letters from Justice prohibiting them from discussing even unclassified issues related to the NSA program, according to sources familiar with the notices. Some GOP lawmakers are also considering whether to approve tougher penalties for leaking.

"There's a tone of gleeful relish in the way they talk about dragging reporters before grand juries, their appetite for withholding information, and the hints that reporters who look too hard into the public's business risk being branded traitors," said New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller, in a statement responding to questions from The Washington Post. "I don't know how far action will follow rhetoric, but some days it sounds like the administration is declaring war at home on the values it professes to be promoting abroad."

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/04/AR2006030400867.html?referrer=email&referrer=email

[Lindsay]

1. Gee, Keller, ya think?

About damned time you woke up.

[randr]

2. This is another Rovian attempt to gather in the sheep

I think they have played out their welcome and this will be seen for what it is. An un-American attempt to point the finger at the messenger.

[izzie]

8. I think the war has started on the press and it is fighting back.

The best thing that could happen is the WH puts one reported into jail. Bush does seem to like to get the ant hills acting up before he goes in. Right now he has just about every ant hill of federal workers and news men plus the whole middle east up set, I would wonder where to put my foot down right now. He has got party men running every thing and it is all run badly and it is sort of interesting watching it all. Sad because it is my country but still interesting as it goes into free fall.

[liberal N proud]

3. Maybe I am just stupid, but the reporter has no way of knowing what is

classified information and can not be disclosed.
If they hear information from a government source, it is then fair for them to report it, is it not?
If it is the leak they are trying to plug, stopping the media is the wrong place.
But then we are dealing with the most corrupt organization on earth and for them to take out the media serves two purposes for them, control of the media and demonstrate to the rest of the country what they will do to dissenters.

[still_one]

6. but when the classified information is based on illegal activieis

a very moral question evolves

This is what happened with the pentagon papers and daniel elsberg

please remember that 6 million Jews were killed in nazi germany, and it was perfectly legal under german law at that time
many attrocities throughout history were justified on scrececy and a convienent law

When Christ was crucified it was also perfectly legal under roman law

It is the courage of the fourth estate that has helped keep our country free, will it continue?

[sui generis]

4. this is clearly a case of "he to smelt it . . . "

Every time you hear a leak from the Whitehouse administration "on condition of anonymity" you can be absolutely certain it was a planned political operation orchestrated by Rove or Cheney, without a doubt.

No they're saying "look! over there! a shiny thing!"

[Joanne98]

5. If the press doesn't declare war on the WH they're doomed!

Stand up know or forever bow down to the dictator.

[still_one]

7. Based on the last six years we are doomed

but assuming there is still some investigative journalists, and heroic people in government there is still hope