National Security and the Press
In light of the TTT (Two Treasonous Times') recent rendition of aid and comfort to the enemies of the United States, I find this message from an earlier time on point.
Arguably (less so on the contrary side in the light of case law), the United States has indeed been at war since the Joint Resolution Authorizing the Use of Military Force. Still the press insists on providing aid to our enemies.
There can be even less well found argument as to the presses exercise of self restraint in the interests of national security. Having failed to police themselves, it is time for them to be poiiced from without.
Time to prosecute the traitorous bastards.
Hat Tip: Powerline
But I do ask every publisher, every editor, and every newsman in the nation to reexamine his own standards, and to recognize the nature of our country's peril. In time of war, the government and the press have customarily joined in an effort, based largely on self-discipline, to prevent unauthorized disclosures to the enemy. In time of "clear and present danger," the courts have held that even the privileged rights of the First Amendment must yield to the public's need for national security.
Today no war has been declared--and however fierce the struggle may be, it may never be declared in the traditional fashion. Our way of life is under attack. Those who make themselves our enemy are advancing around the globe. The survival of our friends is in danger. And yet no war has been declared, no borders have been crossed by marching troops, no missiles have been fired.
If the press is awaiting a declaration of war before it imposes the self-discipline of combat conditions, then I can only say that no war ever posed a greater threat to our security. If you are awaiting a finding of "clear and present danger," then I can only say that the danger has never been more clear and its presence has never been more imminent.
It requires a change in outlook, a change in tactics, a change in missions--by the government, by the people, by every businessman or labor leader, and by every newspaper. For we are opposed around the world by a monolithic and ruthless conspiracy that relies primarily on covert means for expanding its sphere of influence--on infiltration instead of invasion, on subversion instead of elections, on intimidation instead of free choice, on guerrillas by night instead of armies by day.
Arguably (less so on the contrary side in the light of case law), the United States has indeed been at war since the Joint Resolution Authorizing the Use of Military Force. Still the press insists on providing aid to our enemies.
There can be even less well found argument as to the presses exercise of self restraint in the interests of national security. Having failed to police themselves, it is time for them to be poiiced from without.
Time to prosecute the traitorous bastards.
Hat Tip: Powerline
