US News Media Does Not Have the Freedom To speak Freely: Espionage Act

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

To some of you it may come as a surprise that the u s news media is under sanctions---they cannot use their first ammendment right of free speech due to the 'patriot act'.

This point was brought out in open when Obama's press secretary was confronted by a news reporter----.

Here's a partial transcript of their exchange:
TAPPER: The White House keeps praising these journalists who are, who've been killed--
CARNEY: I don't know about "keep." I think--
TAPPER: You've done it, Vice President Biden did it in a statement. How does that square with the fact that this administration has been so aggressively trying to stop aggressive journalism in the United States by using the Espionage Act to take whistleblowers to court? You're--currently I think that you've invoked it the sixth time, and before the Obama administration, it had only been used three times in history. You're--this is the sixth time you're suing a CIA officer for allegedly providing information in 2009 about CIA torture. Certainly that's something that's in the public interest of the United States. The administration is taking this person to court. There just seems to be disconnect here. You want aggressive journalism abroad; you just don't want it in the United States.
CARNEY: Well, I would hesitate to speak to any particular case, for obvious reasons, and I would refer you to the Department of Justice for more on that. I think we absolutely honor and praise the bravery of reporters who are placing themselves in extremely dangerous situations in order to bring a story of oppression and brutality to the world. I think that is commendable, and it's certainly worth noting by us. And as somebody who knew both Anthony and Marie, I particularly appreciate what they did to bring that story to the American people. I--as for other cases, again, without addressing any specific case, I think that there are issues here that involve highly sensitive classified information, and I think that, you know, those are--divulging or to--divulging that kind of information is a serious issue, and it always has been.
TAPPER: So the truth should come out abroad, it shouldn't come out here?
CARNEY: Well, that's not at all what I'm saying, Jake, and you know it's not. Again, I can't--specific--
TAPPER: That's what the Justice Department's doing.
CARNEY: Well, you're making a judgment about a broad array of cases, and I can't address those specifically.
TAPPER: It's also the judgment that a lot of whistleblowers' organizations and good government groups are making as well.
CARNEY: Not one that I'm going to make.

Jay Carney and Jake Tapper clash over

 

[Free Soul]

Cheers sir, thanks for sharing this.

God. Jay Carney was totally out of sorts there –if it is the right way to put it.
Doesn’t come to me as a surprise though probably wasn’t a surprise for you either.
What was news to me was the Espionage Act was only used 3 times in the total history of the USA, and Obama Administration used it 6 times already. Well Obama has been a change MK II ++ in increasing the Drone strikes in Pakistan at least 6 folds or even more, that too in just first few months of his taking the office- très bien

I discovered Democracy Now! a few years back (daily progressive, non-profit, independently syndicated program of news, analysis, and opinion), it’s a great listen, though i do not agree with everything they say, but who can resist the chance to listen to Noam Chomsky, Late Howard Zinn, my personal favourite Norman Finkelstein and Amy Goodman. And also Tariq Ali is on Democracy Now every now and then.

It’s just awesome specially the insight i got on so many things listening to them lot.

Before Bradley Manning there was Whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg 1971 ‘the Vietnam Files’ who uncovered Pentagon that too in 1971 when he could have been made to disappear and nothing would have happened. But no Espionage Act was invoked on him (thanks God for that)

One can only find more and more deeper love and respect for Obama with every passing day

 

[MastanKhan]

Hi,

Actually the 'espionage act' didnot register on me till I read that news item----I had been wondering over the years that why is the u s news media so much strangulated----. There is no foreign news---there is no open criticism of strategic millitary issues---nobody wants to talk about the u s millitary failures---.

So, comparatively, pakistani news media has more freedom of speech than the u s news media has----at this stage the pakistani media has had more freedom than the u s media had ever had in its history of free speech.

Pakistani media can openly share any news item regarding pakistan or about anyone without any regard to secrecy or discretion----the u s news media never went that far.

 

[iPhone]

well, of course. When year after year CBS 6pm news and 60 minutes covers war in Afghanistan with footage of temporary schools for local children set up in tents by the US forces, marines playing soccer with the Afghan kids, and the occassional bomb patrol to give the gritty war feeling. And meanwhile international press is shouting about weddings being bombed and people gathered around oil tankers blown to bits, you kind of think to yourself, what is going on with the US reporting.

On the other hand, just three years ago when the Swat op was launched by the Pak army, every news channel in Pakistan, except for PTV, went balistic on the army. The hue and cry that was raised over displaced people......The news anchors, the talk show hosts and their guests, the liberals and the conservative both alike, were invited by the hordes on tv channels and literally lambasted the army. Everyone became a military expert all of the sudden and went into details of how badlly the operation was being conducted.

Sometimes I think there is just too much freedom of speech and expression in Pakistan media. And half the time they do more harm than good. It's like a child with a gun.

 

[Free Soul]

Well in my opinion espionage act would be used against future guys like Manning and Daniel Ellsberg. Obama is making sure that no such leaks occur.

What works for US is that the general consensus is whatever the policy of the state is. That is why there is a huge following for Glenn Beck and such like - we from our perspective may find him repulsive but if he didn’t have the ratings he would not get prime spots.

America being big in every respect, size, economy, power almost became a big island nation cut off from rest of the world, every state on its own is a full fledge country, like Louisiana is bigger than whole of England. Natural resources, energy... America became fully self-reliant, they don’t give a damn about rest of the world cuz they don’t have to.

I think media in USA gets under pressure but not that much; they do what they do by choice. In my opinion if US wanted they would have floored Noam Chomsky, Late Howard Zinn, Norman Finkelstein and Amy Goodman for good, US puts pressure on them but they say and do what they do.

Espionage act is a deterrence against the likes of Manning and Daniel Ellsberg. Once they cut off the source the media won’t have nothing meaning full to push forward.

Pakistan Media is a different beast all together; I would only say this much, an educated analysis of someone /something can be done if it has some shape or form to it. Sorry Pakistan Media doesn’t know its head from its tail. No follow up on news and reports, cheap public consumption material, and our Anchors have mental aptitude of a retarded Chimp - not all but majority. So is the case in Indian media.

Please Note : Above is just my opinion, and I think over time Pakistan Media would mature, and America is starting to realize that there is a limit to bulldozing their opinion over rest of the world

 

[Donatello]

Hi,

Actually the 'espionage act' didnot register on me till I read that news item----I had been wondering over the years that why is the u s news media so much strangulated----. There is no foreign news---there is no open criticism of strategic millitary issues---nobody wants to talk about the u s millitary failures---.

So, comparatively, pakistani news media has more freedom of speech than the u s news media has----at this stage the pakistani media has had more freedom than the u s media had ever had in its history of free speech.

Pakistani media can openly share any news item regarding pakistan or about anyone without any regard to secrecy or discretion----the u s news media never went that far.

This is exactly what i felt when i was there. But most news there is garbage and i can't believe the lack of common sense most Americans have.