Don't Try That Here Little Missy

What's the point of truth or beauty or knowledge
when the anthrax bombs are popping all around you?
We've gone on controlling ever since.
It hasn't been very good for truth, of course.
But it has been very good for
happiness. One can't have something for nothing
--The Controller, Brave New World
_________

A heartwarming story from our Mid East allies, Egypt:

''An Egyptian court sentenced Howayda Taha, a producer of Al Jazeera , to six months in jail, or a fine of $1,760, for her part in producing a feature on torture by the Egyptian police. Ms. Taha was arrested in January while the Arabic television channel was collecting material for the feature, including recordings of real torture incidents. . . (Al Jazeera Journalist Sentenced)''

Egypt., the lynch-pin of U.S. policy and major recipient of U.S. foreign aid (= your tax dollars). Unfortunately, your money doesn't purchase democratic action, but rather, totalitarian control of the press.

Maybe they are just outgunning us on the rush to achieve the New Democracy, and extending the secrecy which we thus far reserved for government into the private realm. Obviously U.S. policy firmly supports Egyptian torture of terror suspects [keyword: suspects.]

On the bright side: At least the Egyptians didn't bomb the local Al Jazeera office. That sort of thing was a bit ham-fisted. Attacking the journalist is more of a surgical strike.