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09/23/2003 Archived Entry: "Isn't democracy supposed to include a free press?"
Isn't democracy supposed to include a free press?
You'd think so, wouldn't you? But entire Arab networks are being told that their coverage will be limited in Iraq.
The US-appointed Iraq Governing Council says it has decided to limit the operations of two leading Arabic news channels for "encouraging terrorism".
The news channels have angered Iraqi officials in recent weeks by broadcasting pictures of masked men calling for attacks against US-led occupation forces in the country. "The Governing Council has decided to ban al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya from covering council activities and official press conferences, and to deny their correspondents access to ministries and council buildings for two weeks," the council said in a statement.
Why is a bunch of guys appointed by the US putting curbs on Arab networks? It wouldn't have anything to do with controlling the news that would eventually reach these shores, would it? Nah.
Replies: 2 people speak up
Executive Order: Establishing the Office of Global Communications
signed by Bush in July, 2003
") The Office shall assess the methods and strategies used by the United States Government (other than special activities as defined in Executive Order 12333 of December 4, 1981) to deliver information to audiences abroad. The Office shall coordinate the formulation among appropriate agencies of messages that reflect the strategic communications framework and priorities of the United States, and shall facilitate the development of a strategy among the appropriate agencies to effectively communicate such messages."
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/01/20030121-3.html
Posted by Allison @ 09/23/2003 06:38 PM NY
im so fucking sick of all this, can we just have a revolution now and be done with it? doesnt the constitution practically demand that we force these assholes out of power? im not talking about overthrowing the government, im talking about reinstating the government. this is a constitutional republic, without the constitution, we are not governed, we are ruled, and that is what our government was established to prevent. once a government begins to rule, rather than govern, than that government has outlived its usefullness. the governments only real function is to defend our personal liberties, as well as our lives, this government is doing neither. i dont know if simply voting can really do any good anymore, whoever we vote for will just be a variation on a theme. in 2004, say dean, or clark gets elected, what then? do you think any of them will put thing back the way they were before the usurper stole power? no, at best, they will slow the tide of fascism that is drowning us, but no one has the power to put things back the way they were, the precedent has been set, you cant close the barn doors now. the problem is not that our government has been hijacked by right wing nuts (well, ok, that is A very big problem) but that both the democrats and the republicans are owned by the same people.
what we need is a new constitutional convention, except this time we have the internet, so real democracy is possible. we need to make a few changes.
1)term limits, not just for one office, but a Total Government Service Term Limit. no one can serve in any combination of elected positions for more than 10 years. the "JOB" of politician must be eliminated, and replaced with people who serve for a while and then go back to their lives. that would cut out a lot of corruption.
2) real campaign reform. we need to eliminate any corporate money from elections. corporations, unions, churches, and any other collective groups cannot vote in the election, why should they be able to pay for the campaigns, they are not people, and have no inherent rights.
3)real media reform. we need to outlaw corporate controll of the media, the airwaves are public property, that is why the media companies have to lease their frequencies, its damn time we took them back. the media companies need to stick to manufacturing entertainment rather than owning stations, they can make plenty of profit selling their shows to local media outlets
4) real tax reform. taxes are so high, and so much money is wasted. it is insane that the wealthy in this country pay almost no taxes, and the poor have to chose between buying prescriptions, or paying their property taxes and not losing their homes. sales taxes are also an excessive burden on the poor, and the wealthy dont even pay social security taxes.
there are so many other things, but this tirade has already gone on too long, ive just been watching the news all day getting more and more furious.
Posted by justin @ 09/23/2003 09:08 PM NY
