Tunisia Extends Press Freedom Crckdn (GOV'T BANS ALL PHOTOS OF JOHN KERRY)

[mobuto]

Tunisia extends press freedom crackdown: report

Key North African US ally Tunisia has widened a crackdown on local media, even banning pictures of US Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry from newspapers, the country's only legal rights group says.

The Tunisia's Human Rights League says as part of its efforts to snuff out dissent, the Government of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was mistreating and jailing journalists and censoring news reports.

State censorship has even reached foreign dignitaries, including banning Senator Kerry's pictures to please US President George W Bush, it added.

"The Government has made it clear to ban publishing the picture of John Kerry ," the League said.

--continued--

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1099222.htm

I guess not all foreign leaders are for Kerry. In fact, from Prince "Zionists-are-responsible-for-yesterday's-terrorist-attack" Abdullah in Saudi Arabia, to the autocrats in Tunisia and Algeria, to Islam Karimov in Uzbekistan, to Saparmurat Niyazov in Turkmenistan, to the al-Sabahs of Kuwait, George Bush has a broad network of friends among our oldest and most-trusted allies. So when will the White House criticize this move?

[rockymountaindem]

1. Gotta love the great awakening of democracy in the Mideast.

What a joke. Why do we take these countries seriously?

[mobuto]

5. Because they're our close and trusted allies

Human rights, human schmights, we're all on the same side.

[stevedeshazer]

2. It appears

The Tunisian government is in favor of the hand that feeds them. They don't care if the US switches hands, apparently.

[Minstrel Boy]

4. "They don't care if the US switches hands, apparently."

Or, perhaps they're assured that it won't.

[stevedeshazer]

6. I'm thinking that

they are greasing both sides of the skid, if ya know what I mean. :)

[mobuto]

19. I really don't think Tunisia

is privy to much of any information, but nice thought.

[Minstrel Boy]

20. Neither do I, but

Tunisia's in a tough neighbourhood. Perhaps its government is simply adept at recognizing authoritarian regimes and anticipating their actions.

[fearnobush]

3. This only Proves that Bush is indeed is a Dictator.

[TahitiNut]

7. He just hasn't gone through the "Autocrats Anonymous" ...

... 12-step program, yet. :silly:

He's not really in denial; he just likes it. :shrug:

[Just Me]

8. WHAT? WHAT?!?!?!?!?

OMFG!!!!

*breathing*

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

:crazy:

It's "Saturday Night LIVE".

right?

:bounce:

This can NOT be real,...

:silly:

Hmpff.

This IS real, isn't it *sigh*.

:mad:

We have GOT to clean out the fascists/imperialists/???? out of this house - - ASAP.

:kick:

[leesa]

9. Who do they think they are, the US media, aka WH whores?

[Tellurian]

10. Wherever there is an election...the U.S. demands access..

intentions highly suspect:

"U.S. officials on Tuesday demanded access to the region.
They warned of a humanitarian catastrophe unless aid workers
reached the Darfur region by June, when rains will make it
impossible to deliver food, medicine and shelter to about
900,000 internal refugees."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N29656074.htm

yep. uh, huh--

And then these pesky elections get in the way..


http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=3142

[keithyboy]

11. Notice, they are all dictators like Bush.

What else is new?

[NMDemDist2]

12. crap crap crap eom

[Fridays Child]

13. Hey, George, how's that domino democracy theory working for ya?

I wonder if the American press will call on b*sh to condemn Tunisia's attempt to meddle in US politics and to state unequivocally that their suppression of information about his Democratic rival does NOT please him.

Obviously, Tunisia isn't a major player on the world stage but one of the most important features of the "democracy" which b*sh wants to "instill" in the Arab world is under direct attack by a so-called ally.

[Forkboy]

14. my first thought was "unbelievable!"

but on further reflection,knowing Bush,it's not.It's not unbelievable at all :-(

[Octafish]

15. If it's good enough for ABCNNBCBS, it's good enough for Tunisia.

Seems the only time the guy's mentioned in the mainstream Corporate McPravda press here is for being Jane Fonda's friend flip-flopping.

[despairing optimist]

16. John Kerry Bans All Photos of Tunisia

He has far better ways to spend his time than on silliness like this.

[mobuto]

18. Exactly

Except Americans living abroad in Tunis might not now be exposed to the excellent coverage of the American election cycle they might otherwise expect.

[bobthedrummer]

17. I am struck by the similarity to US media and the campaign of Dennis

Kucinich.