US newspapers accused of complicity as drone report reopens security debate

The Guardian ^ | 6 February 2013 | Karen McVeigh

[Cheerio]

New York Times and Washington Post knew about secret drone base in Saudi Arabia but agreed not to disclose it to the public

US news organisations are facing accusations of complicity after it emerged that they bowed to pressure from the Obama administration not to disclose the existence of a secret drone base in Saudi Arabia despite knowing about it for a year.

Amid renewed scrutiny over the Obama administration's secrecy over its targeted killing programme, media analysts and national security experts said the revelation that some newspapers had co-operated over the drone base had reopened the debate over the balance between freedom of information and national security.

[Cheerio]

Take a trip down memory lane and revisit what the NYSlimes published during the GWB Regime. The 4th Estate needs to lose its freedom of the press, and be held accountable for shaping RAT politics in the USA.

[Timber Rattler]

Yeah, so where is Seymour Hersh now? He was a non-stop security breach throughout the Bush Administration, but now’s he’s gone silent?

[cld51860]

Exactly. If a Republican were in office, they would stumble all over themselves to disclose these bases, and every last detail about them. We would never hear the end of it.

[EQAndyBuzz]

I’ve seen enough. Time for the republicans to write their own fairness doctrine policy which holds the media accountable.

[Smokin' Joe]

I am more concerned about the bases they will be using against American Citizens right here at home than the ones abroad.