What’s this supposed to be about?
Treasury Department Is Warning Publishers
of the Perils of Criminal Editing of the Enemy
The current terrorist situation justifies making somewhat different judgments about the appropriate tradeoffs between security and procedural safeguards for liberty than would have been appropriate before 9-11. But that ought to be a reason for the people running the Federal government to be exceptionally careful not to do anything unnecessary to raise fears that the extra powers they’re being given to protect all of us are being abused, or used idiotically.
Instead, the current Administration seems devoted to stirring up as much fear of itself as possible. Maybe their hope is that liberals and Democrats can be induced to complain about the foolishness, thus making themselves look soft on terror. That certainly worked in the 2002 elections.
Or maybe they’re just the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.
[If anyone can find something resembling an actual justification for the “no-editing” policy, I will cheerfully post it or link to it.]
Criminal Editing?
Both Teresa Nielsen Hayden and Linkmeister have must-read opinion essays on the Treasury Department's warning… Mark A.R. Kleiman is outraged too. Looks like this one may have very long legs.