State Dept vetted speakers for criticism of Bush Adminstration

[sabra]

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/nation/15903402.htm

State Dept vetted speakers for criticism of Bush Adminstration
McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON - An internal State Department review has found that U.S. officials screened the public statements and writings of private citizens for criticism of the Bush administration before deciding whether to send them on foreign speaking assignments.

The screenings amounted to "virtual censorship" in the State Department's selection of speakers, said a report by the department's Inspector General's Office. McClatchy Newspapers obtained a copy of the 22-page "sensitive but unclassified" report, which was completed in September.

The vetting practice appears to have been part of the Bush administration's efforts to control information, muffle dissenting views and promote positive assessments of its policies to foreign audiences.

It also appears to be contrary to the guidelines of the U.S. Speaker and Specialist Program, which taps U.S. experts to deliver lectures, serve as consultants and conduct seminars overseas or from the United States via teleconferences. The guidelines call for the State Department to provide speakers "who represent a broad range of responsible and informed opinion in the United States" and are "not limited to the expression of U.S. government policies."

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. We will have no criticism

of the fuhrer.

For people who are so 100% sure they are right about everything, they sure have thin skin.

[jokerman93]

2. Yep

They can dish it out but they sure can't take their own medicine.

[Tempest]

3. Can we call it Fascism yet?

The administration has obviously crossed over the line.

[lyonn]

4. "an internal State Department review.....'

Who in the world are they? Skimmed article and didn't find the answer. Biden asked for answers to this issue as to speakers for the Dept. due to a Knight Riddder story late in 05 and this is the results. Meanwhile, Knight Ridder was bought by McClatchy newspapers.

It could be that when Amb. Wilson went to Niger for the CIA and reported back unsatisfactory conclusions that bushco didn't want that could have put our secret govt. in higher gear to stop the info flow to the public. It must be a "need to know" kinda situation and we don't need to know. They keep their lies buried and talkers get dismissed.

[Supersedeas]

5. Dr. Condi has cracked the whip--shape up or expect what Lebanon got

[Az_lefty]

6. sheesh, I guess I'm lucky I get to leave my house.

:shrug:

[NVMojo]

7. State Dept vetted speakers for criticism of Bush Adminstration

WASHINGTON - An internal State Department review has found that U.S. officials screened the public statements and writings of private citizens for criticism of the Bush administration before deciding whether to send them on foreign speaking assignments.

The screenings amounted to "virtual censorship" in the State Department's selection of speakers, said a report by the department's Inspector General's Office. McClatchy Newspapers obtained a copy of the 22-page report, which was completed in September.

The vetting practice appears to have been part of the Bush administration's efforts to control information, muffle dissenting views and promote positive assessments of its policies to foreign audiences.

It also appears to be contrary to the guidelines of the U.S. Speaker and Specialist Program, which taps U.S. experts to deliver lectures, serve as consultants and conduct seminars overseas or from the United States via teleconferences. The guidelines call for the State Department to provide speakers "who represent a broad range of responsible and informed opinion in the United States" and are "not limited to the expression of U.S. government policies."

more...

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/15903402.htm

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

8. B@st@rds

:grr:

[NRaleighLiberal]

9. Shocked, I tell ya...I am just shocked! That they would do this...man...

[MadMaddie]

10. Is this a surprise....the Repugs want a Dictatorship this has been

their goal all along..

[Tempest]

11. Dupe

This was posted earlier today.

[badgerpup]

14. This board does move fast and it probably got buried in the Kerry threads

I've posted threads that go down in less than a minute...and I KNOW that they have some content that's worth reading...:shrug:
Still one always hopes...

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

12. Virtual?

:shrug:

[Doctor_J]

13. When can we start calling it fascism?

:shrug:

[kestrel91316]

15. Gosh! They wouldn't really do that, would they? I think this is just

more lies by the "liberal media".