More attacks on freedom of speech and the press
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Though radio's "Voice of America" (VOA) is thought by most to be an agency of the US State Department, it has been, in fact, an independent agent since the mid-seventies and has its own charter from the government to operate as a free agent. Because of this, VOA officials gave the red light to an interview with Taliban leader Muhammed Omar on the heels of the 9-11 terrorist attacks. So, if VOA is a free agent, how could the State Department get away with quashing the airing of the interview? CNN subsequently aired portions of the interview; then soon after this VOA aired it, then was attacked by a former Nixon-Agnew publicist for doing so on the grounds that it aided and abetted the enemy, bin Laden. The article, by the Baltimore Sun's writer Jules Witcover, can be read at "http://www.sunspot.net/news/opinion/oped..." and is titled Attempt to muzzle VOA reveals ignorance of media's role. Witcover, rightly, said that the media's role is precisely to inform the public, in this case, about an enemy that must be understood to be defeated. Since, allied with the Taliban or not, bin Laden believes every man, woman and child in the US must die in his so-called "jihad", bin Laden, and anyone who supports him (and the Taliban does), must suffer the consequences of their murderous actions, even if he is not directly responsible for the terrorist attacks. Thus, we need to know more about them and him--goodness, there has been enough foolish emotion, grandiose "let's nuke Afghanistan" nonsense throughout this period--from the media pundits, no less--we need to know the facts.
Thanks to the New York Times for their article on how dissent against the "War on Terrorism" is making for trouble in the workplace as well as on the street. it is good to know the "paper of record" is keeping an eye on this issue. Read the article In partiotic times, dissent is muted by Bill Carter and Felicity Barringer at "http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/28/busine...". There is also a report of a study on reaction to dissent and freespeech in these times (the so-called "bandwagon effect") in the article 'War fever' rising, researcher says by Mary Roser at "http://www.austin360.com/auto_docs/epape...".
Two Websites have also been shut down by ISP's (under pressure from the new Department of Homeland Security) because of their dissenting opinions. Read about it at "http://www.geocities.com/freedomofpress/...". The two sites that have been taken down are an IRA site (www.iraradio.org) and the political dissent site of actor Al Lewis of "Grandpa" on "The Munsters" fame (www.allewislive.com)--both have radio broadcasts through Pacifica Radio's WBAI in New York City.
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