Government Secrecy and the Role of the Media

Last week it was revealed by an article in the Guardian, that the American being held in Pakistani custody for the death of two Pakistani citizens was a CIA agent with connections to Xe (formerly Blackwater). This revelation was particularly embarrassing for the US as President Obama had previously claimed that the man in question, Raymond Davis, was a "diplomat."

Of course, now that the Guardian has revealed otherwise the US government has been forced to admit that the man roaming around Pakistan with a glock handgun, a telescopic lens, and various other gadgets was in fact not a diplomat.

More embarrassingly perhaps was the Guardian revelation that some in the US media knew that Davis was a CIA agent, but went along with the ruse after being asked to by the US government. Among those who knew, but refused to publish the truth--The New York Times and the Washington Post.

Just today America's paper of record has run an explanation and defense of their decision not to print the truth about Davis. It can be read here.

For the other side of the debate, I recommend Glenn Greenwald's scathing piece at Salon.

I'm wondering what others think of this controversy--did the New York Times do the right or were they as Greenwald suggested "an active enabler of government propaganda."

Personally, I think Greenwald is right. It's bad enough that the President of the United States intentionally mislead the American people and the world, but it's even worse for a purportedly "free press" to know about this and say nothing. The US is becoming increasingly more engaged in a not-so secret war in Pakistan that was not authorized by Congress and therefore has little or no oversight. Our escalating involvement in Pakistan has serious repercussions for the American people as a whole. It should be remembered that our involvement in Vietnam started first with aid to the French, then with "military advisors," and finally escalated into a full scale war. The American people have a right to know about the foreign policy their government conducts and with our increasingly docile Congress, that role needs to be filled by the media. Sadly, like Congress, they seem intent on shirking their duty.

Posted by Chip Gibbons