04-08-2003, 03:43 AM
I can think of only one way this can be construed as treason at the moment. During war, spouting American propaganda is OK, spouting enemy propaganda is not. This is because how the media portrays the war has a significant effect on the populations in question. Pro-American broadcasts at home will rally support to finish the war. Pro-Iraqi broadcasts over there will rally support to resist America, and prolong the war. Thus a media reporter can effect the outcome of the war with his speech. If he does so significantly for the enemy's cause, he's a traitor.
The full result of this reasoning is that freedom of press concerning war coverage is thrown out the window. The press gradually reverts to simply a tool of the state, like in the Iraqi dictatorship we profess to hate, since anything resembling freedom of press must take a back seat to war interests.
The full result of this reasoning is that freedom of press concerning war coverage is thrown out the window. The press gradually reverts to simply a tool of the state, like in the Iraqi dictatorship we profess to hate, since anything resembling freedom of press must take a back seat to war interests.