Is the media hurting the war?

I believe the media has also undermined the war by never forgetting to mention which soldier/marine/airmen/sailor died to today, but never seems to mention when a school is built, when a random act of kindness was bestowed on the Iraqi citizens, or when there seems to be some headway.We can't forget that good news is no news worth mentioning in that industry. They thrive on it.As for the restrictions he wants to impose, I think this is treading on dangerous terrain. The freedom of speech is paramount and should be protected at all cost. However, if yellow journalism is detected, there should be steep penalties for it. First of all, that's not true. There are plenty of covert operations that go on that the media has not picked up on prior to its commencement. But even if that was true, blame the morons blurting out the intel to journalists.

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"The problem of Christianity is not that it has been tried and found wanting, but that it is difficult and left untried" -G.K. Chesterton

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The freedom of speech is paramount and should be protected at all cost. However, if yellow journalism is detected, there should be steep penalties for it.

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The freedom of speech does not entail the freedom to do whatever the hell you want. It never ceases to amaze me how many people just don't get that. For some odd reason they see the word "freedom" and think it means they can do absolutely anything, or say absolutely anything.You can't say fire if there is no fire, you can't say bomb on an airplane, you can't threaten to harm another person, and you can't present intended distortions because any prudent person has a reasonable expectation to be hearing truthful matters from the media.

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"The problem of Christianity is not that it has been tried and found wanting, but that it is difficult and left untried" -G.K. Chesterton

They aren't stopping them from saying whatever they want. They are simply saying, "We are watching what you say. We'll expose you if you lie."But then again, many of these media watchdog groups are slanted and biased themselves.Here, pick your favorite one:Accuracy in Media - Accuracy in Media
FAIR - FAIR is the national progressive media watchdog group, challenging corporate media bias, spin and misinformation.
http://www.mediaresearch.org/ Which is why I boycott Google. You may remember litigation against Google in a congressional hearing about a year and a half ago. China has asked Google to give them their own version of the search engine in Mandarin Chinese.The only stipulation was that if you typed up, say, "Tienanmen Square," pictures of Tank man or of any kind of political revolution against the communist party were removed. Instead, if you typed up Tienanmen Square, you'd be shown cushy images of people frolicking in the park.That's censorship. But Google obliged because the payout was huge. So I no longer use Google. And if you Google, then you unwittingly support censorship. They'd last longer than CBS, NBC, and ABC. Those were men from his own unit denouncing him. They aren't journalists in any sense of the word.

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"The problem of Christianity is not that it has been tried and found wanting, but that it is difficult and left untried" -G.K. Chesterton

The same penalties for Clinton's perjuring.... A stern talking to.

Well, lets see... Let me just give you an example that appeals to your own philosophical views so that you'll understand. What danger is there in telling the American people that Iraq is a threat to national security as an excuse to save the value of the American dollar or to secure our oil status?

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"The problem of Christianity is not that it has been tried and found wanting, but that it is difficult and left untried" -G.K. Chesterton

Its very simple, but for some reason, many people have made a mountain out of a molehill.I'll give you a brief synopsis. The NSA and the FBI, along with many allied nations, have set up electronic surveillance through both the Raptor program (FBI), and the Echelon program (NSA). These are major aspects of SIGINT for the US and its allies. The US have been intercepting these transmissions for years and years now.Its yielded a lot of success in the past, however, there was a major trip up as far as prosecution is concerned. The end game is prosecution. But there was a problem in the past.The Patriot Act removed several restrictions. Most notably, was that it dismantled the barrier between intelligence officials and law-enforcement officials from sharing information and working together on investigations for the suppression or prevention of terrorist acts. And as we all know, the intel community was criticized to no end about how 9/11 could have been prevented if only the agencies involved were communicating with one another.Before the (PA) was passed, when a plot was uncovered to commit acts of terrorism, the Intel community was said to have obtained the information. So some people were saying, fine, I understand that you are concerned about civil liberties, but at least allow us to use the intercepted information to stop the act itself and we won't seek prosecution. The Clinton Administration still said no.The PA removes those barriers so that we can both stop the action and prosecute.

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"It is better to shun the bait, than struggle in the snare." -Ravi Zacharias

I suppose I could turn the argument around on you and asked what it has lost... But, you asked the question, so I will oblige you.Over 200 suspects have been thwarted since its inception. Most notably, Iyman Faris. Other notable notables include, but are not limited to:The West Coast Airliner Plot: In mid-2002, the United States disrupted a plot to attack targets on the West Coast using hijacked airplanes. The plotters included at least one major operational planner involved in planning the events of Sept. 11.The East Coast Airliner Plot: In mid-2003, the United States and a partner disrupted a plot to attack targets on the East Coast using hijacked commercial airplanes.The Jose Padilla Plot: In May 2002, the United States disrupted a plot that involved blowing up domestic apartment buildings. One of the alleged plotters, Jose Padilla, also allegedly discussed the possibility of using a "dirty bomb" in the United States.The 2004 U.K. Urban Targets Plot: In mid-2004, the United States and partners disrupted a plot that involved urban targets in the United Kingdom. These plots involved using explosives against a variety of sites.The 2003 Karachi Plot: In the spring of 2003, the United States and a partner disrupted a plot to attack Westerners at several targets in Karachi, Pakistan.The Heathrow Airport Plot: In 2003, the United States and several partners disrupted a plot to attack London's Heathrow Airport using hijacked commercial airliners. The planning for this attack was undertaken by a major Sept. 11 operational figure.The 2004 U.K. Plot: In the spring of 2004, the United States and partners, using a combination of law enforcement and intelligence resources, disrupted a plot to conduct large-scale bombings in the United Kingdom.The 2002 Arabian Gulf Shipping Plot: In late 2002 and 2003, the United States and a partner nation disrupted a plot by al Qaeda operatives to attack ships in the Arabian Gulf.2002 Strait of Hormuz plot: In 2002 the United States and partners disrupted a plot to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the entrance to the Persian Gulf from the Indian Ocean.2003 tourist site plot: In 2003 the United States and a partner nation disrupted a plot to attack a tourist site outside the United States. The White House did not list what site that was. SourceI dare say that the Patriot Act, with the employment of the Echelon program and human intelligence, is proving its worth. Unless of course you're cool with more 9/11 style attacks.Then of course, we also have this

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:Most notably, was that it dismantled the barrier between intelligence officials and law-enforcement officials from sharing information and working together on investigations for the suppression or prevention of terrorist acts.

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This is the theme, yes. What else were you expecting? Government agencies sanctioned in watching you masturbate? Yes, I am aware of how voluminous it is. Most laws are like that. Try cracking open the United States Code some time. Sheesh... talk about dry material. Source? It already proving its worth. You live in San Diego. You and I know that it is the largest West Coast military town in the nation. Unless you're cool with Miramar MCAS, the Coronado bridge, San Onofre power plant, Camp Pendleton MCB, 32nd Street Naval station, North Island naval air station, Lindbergh Field, Pacific Beach, Mission Beach, Gaslamp District etc, etc blowing up, by all means, oppose it.I just don't understand why people think this act is detrimental to their civil liberties.So, on the flip side of the coin, what are some of the instances where civil liberties have been broken as a result of the PA? There is ample evidence that all higher ups knew that a 9/11 was imminent. Not the exact locations or times, but we all knew it was going to happen sooner or later. Well, at least I did. I remember when people used to say, "who?", to the name Osama bin Liden.And the CIA blamed the FBI, and the FBI blamed the CIA. Both have a large role in taking responsibility as far as I'm concerned. Then when has Dick Morris, Clinton's own advisor, say that he didn't do it? Edwards signed on it, Sen. Dodd voted for it, Senator Biden and Sen. Clinton co-sponsored it. I mean, honestly... Why the sudden shift from approval to disapproval? They didn't read it?

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:The PA removes those barriers so that we can both stop the action and prosecute.

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Right, its wonderful, because now just the threat gives probable cause. Obviously not illegally since it was passed through legislature. And as far as them spying on you, they've been doing it all along, unbeknownst to you. They will always monitor things that threaten the United States-- unapologetically so. But then again, they aren't really spying on you anymore than we are spying on you. They are monitoring actions typed and spoken. But I assume you realize that no one can monitor everything, but rather, have specific words and phrases that automatically begin the evesdropping. What do you think will happen to you as a result of the Patriot Act? Help me understand the fear and help me understand what you think the government is doing right now, either to you, or to some hapless guy in Kentucky because I really don't understand the objection.I mean, remember the Stasi? That's intrusion! Collecting EVERYONE's urine specimens and recovering the scent of people from adrenal glands, wiring everyone's homes, killing dissenters of Communism, etc, etc... That is an affront to civil liberties, not government agencies being able to act quickly and decisively to provide and protect the very freedom you demand from them.I mean do think they honestly give a fig about you or your friends? They aren't after you. Hell, I doubt they even know you exist, let alone give one whit about you. (Well.... unless of course you are in cahoots with the some dudes). Edited by nemesis_juggernaut, : No reason given.

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"It is better to shun the bait, than struggle in the snare." -Ravi Zacharias

All ten items are substantiated fact too. Are you postulating that the White House made them up? Okay.....? Why are you mentioning this? Yes, since the collusion factor would have to be enormous otherwise. It would be real easy to debunk these if they were in fact inventions of "Dubya," the evil slime monster from the bogs of despair. Yeah, nations that participate in the Echelon program against people destroying the Great Satan and its allies. You say that as if it detracts from the argument.Gosh, if I didn't know any better I'd swear that you're rooting for the visiting team. Tsk, tsk... Shame on you. Edited by nemesis_juggernaut, : typos

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"It is better to shun the bait, than struggle in the snare." -Ravi Zacharias