Stephen,

A good read. Furthermore, I find it apropos that the article right above it also castigates the media as does the top item on the Iranian lessons list. (it may be numbered 7, but it's still on the top).

Most of MSM in our country and western Europe have positioned themselves squarley in opposition to the war on islamofascism and many western values in general.
The reasons may vary but the conclusion seems inescapable.

I read at an early age that, "freedom is the luxury of self discipline." If ever there comes a restriction on free expression in western countries, it will be largely due to the excesses of an irresponsible and undisciplined MSM.

I doubt if it will come to that as the MSM are shooting themselves in the foot with large segments of the electorate.

Ofcourse the more preferable course would be their descent into irrelevancy. Nothing like loss of market share and revenue to make the owners, publishers, editors realize that their problem.

However, I fear a backlash on the freedom of the press and public expression almost as much as the barbarians we are fighting. Islamists are not the only fascists in our midst. But the MSM just seems to get worse as it gets more desperate.

I don't expect them to be cheerleaders for this or any administration. I don't want them to quit investigating and brining out the truth, even when it does not help those in power. But I think that many are getting tired of relentless, unsubstantiated rumor mongering, partisan spinning and evident bias being passed off as objective and responsible journalism.

I have always wondered what it was like to be alive and adult in the years running up to world war 2. Did they see the inevitable conflict slouching inexorably toward them?

I guess maybe I am finding out now. Perhaps the world is not on the verge of a major sh*t storm, but developments keep wafting the smell of sewage.

This latest intimidation of the western press by islamic violence is extraordinarily disturbing, because it seems to hint that the phoney war of the last few years is drawing to a close and that very soon blood will be running in the streets all over at least in major parts of Europe and Asia and the Middle East.

To paraphrase Jayne in Serenety: This is starting to damage my calm.

doug

Right before WWII you had a majority isolationist attitude, including in the government. But FDR had time to work propaganda to get his point across prior to Pearl Harbor. Now, even after 9/11, too many people - particularly on the left, but not exclusively so - seem to think this is just not that big of deal. I am afraid for what will have to happen to arouse us, and I fear how many people must die to make our elites (who are our elites no longer or so it seems) understand the gravity of our current situation.

Plowshear,

You know, I was a farmer. It's a wonderful life. I'm all for... all for teaching others how to feed themselves and let them be happy. Help them stand up for themselves. The beauty of growing things.

Every bone in my body resonates with sewing salt in the wahabilist nightmare.
SaudirainCarthage Mullawata ha, fatawa fogurafool. Send them to parada- saell.

I love my enemy.