Press Freedom

In our war with the Islamofascists one of the most important elements is undoubtedly "the war of ideas". We need to show the people of the Arab world that our institutions and our society are better than theirs, and that if they ever want to progress out of the tyranny and economic malaise that has afflicted them for so long they, will need to emulate in some way the system that we have. For this end the US has set up a number of information outlets that broadcast to the Arab world in an attempt to "win hearts and minds". As of now, these have been marginally successful, in large part because our campaign is being undercut by the defeatism of our own media and even more so by the anti-American propaganda, outright mendacity, and incitement of Arab news services like Al-Jazeera. As Ralph Peters writes: "Al-Jazeera not only encourages the assassination of American soldiers, but pulls out all the stops to excite anti-U.S. hatred throughout the Arabic-speaking world." Yet despite this, Al-Jazeera is allowed to continue its propaganda campaign in Iraq because the Coalition Provisional Authority believes that this is an example of freedom of the press. Peters goes on to point out why this is absurd:

This is idiocy, a perverse political correctness based upon a rejection of common sense.

Press freedom is a treasure of our civilization, but it's also distinctly a product of our civilization — one that doesn't always export well. It works in our society for numerous reasons.

First, despite undeniable excesses, there's a fundamental respect for facts in our media. Second, our press is not rewarded for encouraging mass murder. Third, we have libel and hate-crime laws that work. Fourth, the great majority of journalists take pride in the standards of their profession — despite popular notions to the contrary.

We also have healthy, vigorous, combative competition. In the end, the members of our media keep each other honest. One should never underestimate the jealousy journalists feel toward one another as a factor in exposing fabrications. The glee with which reporters unmask the sins of more successful colleagues is an unappreciated virtue of the profession.

Al-Jazeera has no such controls. It's Pravda without the truth — in living color. As long as the network glorifies its host, the Emir of Qatar, and avoids anything beyond the most lightweight criticism of select Arab leaders, it's allowed to incite hatred, assassination and genocide.

Facts are never allowed to interfere.

Undoubtedly freedom - any kind of freedom - must be counterbalanced by responsibility; you can not have the first without the second. By allowing Al-Jazeera's (and others like it) presence in Iraq, we are teaching the wrong lesson - that freedom exists in a vacuum, without the burden of responsibility.