http://www.williamkwolfrum.com/2010...the-24th-most-free-in-the-world-and-dropping/ Freedom of the press has declined for the eighth year in a row, according to Freedom House’s annual report. And while the media has focused on the lack of media freedoms in such places as China and Venezuela, they’ve virtually ignored the U.S. position – No. 24 (PDF). And following in the footsteps of the Bush Administration, the Obama Administration seems intent on making the media less free. From Crooks & Liars: In early 2008, the Bush Justice Department subpoenaed New York Times reporter James Risen over his book, State of War: The Secret History of the C.I.A. and the Bush Administration. Now, just two weeks after taking action against an NSA whistle-blower who leaked information about contract corruption to the Baltimore Sun, the Obama DOJ is continue its predecessor’s push to compel Risen to divulge his confidential sources. … … as the New York Times detailed, despite the Obama administration’s professions of support for a new media-shield law, Attorney General Eric Holder is continuing President Bush’s pursuit of Risen. For those who believe their freedoms are being taken away, hopefully they’ll soon recognize that a free and competent media is where all freedoms emanate. The list is on this site: http://freedomhouse.org/ The bottom includes:North Korea , Turkmenistan , Burma , Libya The top: the Scandinavian countries Countries with high quality of life are near the tom ****ty ones are at the bottom.
First of all, it had nothing to do with whistle blowing, this is in regard to the terrorist bank account tracking program, which was very effective until its details were leaked and then published by the NY Times. Whistle blowing implies this program was nefarious in some way. Now the NY Times is morally contemptible for printing classified information for no good reason (I'm not sure revealing classified info to our enemies counts as treason legally, but it's treason by my personal standards). But legally the NY Times aren't bound to keep classified info secret. The leaker is bound, and the leaker commited a crime. The NY Times reporter is in trouble with the DoJ because he is withholding information related to a criminal investigation. Namely, the identity of the leaker. Personally I would charge him with obstruction of justice. Being a journalist doesn't exempt you from testifying in criminal investigations. Only lawyers and doctors have that exemption, for good reason.
