Burying our Heads in the Sand

Reading in the Washington Post today I read of increased efforts to "plug leaks" that supposedly jeopardize national security. Now I'm not for jeopardizing national security, but it does concern me that we would criminalize efforts to alert the American public to government misdeeds or problematic actions. Secret prisons, illegal surveillance, prisoner abuse -- do we really want to remain in the dark about such things? In the 1940s the German populace claimed ignorance of the Nazi program of genocide -- they didn't want to know and the government was only too eager to oblige them.

Whether the executive branch is in Republican or Democratic hands, the press provides an important check on unconstrained political power. The current administration is more concerned about secrecy than most, but it's not the first to be so concerned. But secrecy, though needed in certain areas, must always be kept in proper bounds. Prosecuting journalists for sharing stories like Abu Graib would be not only unjust but counterproductive. Besides, the BBC will not be under any constraints. Do we want to be relegated to getting our news from foreign sources. Let's pull our heads out of the sand and remember why we are Americans!

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