Plain Dealer Kills Stories

Does anyone really think we are "making progress" against terrorism with this war in Iraq? Does anyone think we can ever "win?"

Does anyone really think this administration has acted or is acting in the best interests of the American people?

If so, think again.

Catherine the Great said: When the people start to complain about problems at home, start a war.

Why? It keeps people's attention occupied, fearful and focused elsewhere and off the treachery of those in power.

Yesterday the Cleveland Plain Dealer - Ohio's largest newspaper - announced that it had decided to kill two investigative pieces regarding our government because they were based on anonymous sources - whistleblowers still employed by the government - and the paper would be sued by our government and would lose. Reporters - after the Judith Miller precedent - would go to jail. The paper would have serious legal problems.

Although the reporters were willing to go to jail to see the stories published, the corporation that owns the Cleveland Plain Dealer was not willing to fight for a free press. It killed the stories.

In fact, even if the sources in the government came forward, because the sources are leaking classified material - and "classified" is what the government makes anything it does not want us to know about - the paper still would not print the stories.

To the surprise of the editor of the Plain Dealer, there has been no outrage expressed by the public over this story or the Administration's stifling of the press and government whistleblowers.

So what is everyone doing? Having a good time, I guess. Not too worried, I guess. The bombing happened in London, not in the U.S.

And did anyone report this death of our free press? Was it a big story on any major station?

Of course not.

Yet it should be, because secret policies - and the push for the war in Iraq - have helped create terrorists.

You know by now that this administration planned to go to war against Iraq come hell or high water. These neo-cons operate out of a limited world view that believes in "creative destruction" as a political strategy. They are far closer in ideology to Trotsky than to true "conservative" American politicians.

Although they never accepted that what they did could turn Iraq into a breeding ground for terrorists, it plays into their hands just fine.

They never planned to leave Iraq; now they argue that they can't.

You know there are documents that show the extent of the treachery. But those documents are under wraps. The administration never wants us to see the proof. And most of us seem to be okay with that.

Well, remember, there are no victims. Only volunteers.

If we continue to volunteer to be dupes for those in power, the world situation will only continue to deteriorate. Americans will continue to be killed; maybe a whole generation.

Meanwhile there are two stories that we should know about that might outrage us if we knew about them. Two stories that might make people say: get out of Iraq and stop shooting up the world and making enemies.

Stories that most likely play into the whole terrible drama of Iraq and our contribution to this terrorism fiasco and growing hate for us.

But we will never know.

If you think we should, write to your Representatives and Senators and demand protection for the press in exposing government manipulation, corruption and secrecy.

If you don't, we'll have what France had or worse.

20 years ago France's President Francois Mitterrand approved the sinking of a Greenpeace ship, the Rainbow Warrior, in a New Zealand Harbor.

He did this because Green Peace was planning on protesting nuclear tests using the ship.

New Zealand, ally of France, considered it a terrorist act.

Mitterrand orchestrated a cover-up while feigning ignorance over who did the bombing. He kept up a game of "searching for the truth" while condemning and supposedly searching for the "criminals." He even called the attack on the Rainbow Warrior "a criminal and absurd act."

But the criminals were in the French administration and included the President of the republic.

According to The Standard the action earned France "...a reputation as an arrogant nuclear power prepared to go to any lengths to defend its interests" but, until now, a link to Mitterrand could never be proved.

Does any of this sound familiar?

The French story - of how Mitterrand ordered the attack - was classified and under wraps for twenty years. It has just been revealed.

When will we find out the role Bush played in 9/11? And the lengths to which this administration has gone to further its arrogant power mongering in the Mid-East?

With this precedent of jailing reporters and killing investigative reporting of government duplicity, the answer is: NEVER.