Public Anxious to Relinquish Press Freedom

Two-thirds of the public believes the government should have the right to stop the media from disclosing military secrets, says an ABC News poll released yesterday.

Yes, it should.

But whomever LEAKED those secrets to the press should be tried for treason first.

I don't believe that the current regime and I share the same view as to what "military secrets" are.

Fifty-six percent of those surveyed also say news organizations are more obliged to support the government in wartime than to question the military's handling of the war.

Would those same 56% have wanted to know about the little Jewish problem in WWII if they were German?

If your government is doing wrong, and no one reports it, who will stop it from doing wrong?

"Information about military operations can do grave damage to the mission and put people's lives at risk," Clarke said. "I think the press understands the need for operational secrecy and not putting people's lives at risk."

How would the press know about military operations before they happen? Did someone leak it to the press? Why isn't that person up on treason charges?

Unless you're talking about reports about missions as they happen. In which case, I refer you to Wolfe Blitzer's coverage during the first Gulf War. He reported EVERYTHING and NONE of his reporting helped Saddam.

Overall, the ABC poll says, six in 10 Americans say the government's ability to keep wartime secrets in more important than a free press, while 34 percent disagreed.

As I've said before, I am now convinced that Fascism is the natural state of the human race.

Even in peacetime, 28 percent say the government should have the right to control what information the media report.

Would they even know when their rights were lost?

The findings break down along partisan lines. While 65 percent of Republicans say the government's ability to keep wartime secrets is essential, only 47 percent of independents and 38 percent of Democrats agree. Similarly, 44 percent of Republicans say the media should be more questioning than supportive of goverment, compared to 60 percent of independents and 67 percent of Democrats.

Guess I'm a democrat.

Post #75,212 by deSitter 1/17/03 4:27:12 PM Reply	Public Anxious to Relinquish Press Freedom ..should there be a war in Iraq: [link\|http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5682-2003Jan17.html\|http://www.washingto...82-2003Jan17.html] This is very disturbing. -drl
Post #75,310 by Brandioch 1/17/03 11:22:17 PM Reply	Hmmm. Two-thirds of the public believes the government should have the right to stop the media from disclosing military secrets, says an ABC News poll released yesterday. Yes, it should. But whomever LEAKED those secrets to the press should be tried for treason first. I don't believe that the current regime and I share the same view as to what "military secrets" are. Fifty-six percent of those surveyed also say news organizations are more obliged to support the government in wartime than to question the military's handling of the war. Would those same 56% have wanted to know about the little Jewish problem in WWII if they were German? If your government is doing wrong, and no one reports it, who will stop it from doing wrong? "Information about military operations can do grave damage to the mission and put people's lives at risk," Clarke said. "I think the press understands the need for operational secrecy and not putting people's lives at risk." How would the press know about military operations before they happen? Did someone leak it to the press? Why isn't that person up on treason charges? Unless you're talking about reports about missions as they happen. In which case, I refer you to Wolfe Blitzer's coverage during the first Gulf War. He reported EVERYTHING and NONE of his reporting helped Saddam. Overall, the ABC poll says, six in 10 Americans say the government's ability to keep wartime secrets in more important than a free press, while 34 percent disagreed. As I've said before, I am now convinced that Fascism is the natural state of the human race. Even in peacetime, 28 percent say the government should have the right to control what information the media report. Would they even know when their rights were lost? The findings break down along partisan lines. While 65 percent of Republicans say the government's ability to keep wartime secrets is essential, only 47 percent of independents and 38 percent of Democrats agree. Similarly, 44 percent of Republicans say the media should be more questioning than supportive of goverment, compared to 60 percent of independents and 67 percent of Democrats. Guess I'm a democrat.
Post #75,314 by Silverlock 1/17/03 11:29:50 PM Reply	Crap article The point raised, however, is non-trivial. Our "free" US press is anything but. Every major US news outlet is owned by a mega-corp. Reports are slanted. Can this be debated? The only place to get non-corp news is off the internet. Find some good foriegn press to read. I like the Guardian, The Scoop, The Economist (be careful with this one) and specific writers in several other papers. From the US- Paul Krugman is my current favorite (NYTimes columnist, how bizarre). Followed closely by Joe Conasen, And always and forever, Molly Ivins. ...rare is the dollar of corporate profits that bears a tax burden heavier than the burden on an employee's wages. [link\|http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/opinion/columns/kinsleymichael/\|Michael Kinsley]

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