Dictatorship Abhors a Vacuum
By Mitch Berg
Ed, on the road with the Romney campaign in Iowa, writes regarding the Venezuelan peoples’ dissatisfaction with Chavez’ imposition of his version of the Fairness Doctrine shutting down of the opposition press:
Dictatorships and oppression will afflict mankind for ages to come, and we have to be prepared to fight against it, using the most effective weapons in our arsenal. Fred [Thompson, in an interview today] reminds us that simple communication of truth, and the establishment of our credibility from that effort, is perhaps the most powerful and effective weapon against tyranny that we possess. It’s high time that we start using it again.
This has been one of the worst effects of not only the Clinton Administration, but of both Bushes; Papa George, eager to claim the “peace dividend” at the end of the Cold War, began the process of shutting down America’s information efforts around the world; Clinton and Bush Junior continued the trend.
And yet throughout history, especially during the broadcast era, “propaganda” has been an essential part of getting the truth to oppressed people around the world. Throughout the Cold War, Radio Free Europe broadcast news to Eastern Europe; Radio Marti to Cuba. During World War II, occupied Europe relied on the BBC for news (as well as coded broadcasts to resistance units – the Beeb was the fastest way to get information to guerillas in Nazi territory).
And yet, today, as we fight a war in the Middle East, and continue fighting a three-decade-long undeclared war against a theocracy that is as deeply-unpopular with its own people as were Poland’s, Hungary’s and Czechoslovakia’s among theirs, we have…
…nothing. No US information service, no “Radio Free Persia” broadcasting to Iran; virtually nothing broadcasting to the Middle East outside of Iraq itself. No US broadcast outlet serving the Venezuelan that might be looking for something not vetted by Hugo Chavez…
…except the American mainstream media’s foreign outlets. Which is, of course, the problem…
June 1st, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Mitch quoted: “simple communication of truth, and the establishment of our credibility from that effort, is perhaps the most powerful and effective weapon against tyranny that we possess.”
Yes, we have to let the world know the simple truths that Iraq was behind 9/11, the earth isn’t warming up and that humans cooexisted with dinosaurs. Wingnuts and truth: not exactly a natural fit.
By the way, Angryclown is liking Thompson’s chances to win the Republican nomination. Thompson ducked Vietnam, but that’s kinda becoming a requirement for national Republicans these days. He’s not real hard-working and can read lines well. I think they call that “Reaganesque.”
Thompson kinda kills your boy Rudy if he gets in the race, dontcha think Mitch?
June 1st, 2007 at 3:20 pm
AC must be a puppet mouthpiece for Rolling Stone. Was at the local newstand this week. While glancing over the periodicals, noticed the cover of RS metioned an article inside, that in so many words said “all the Republican candidates are idiots and losers”.
The lefties can’t just attack one at a time, but go all.
Hey did you hear? Was it National Review? Said Hillary is the new Nixon. Preceived as Shady, untrustworthy, mean, self-centered, cold, etc. Of course, Mrs Nixon was a nice honest person, so the comparison ends at the spouse.
June 1st, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Angryclown is liking Thompson’s chances to win the Republican nomination.
It’s an interesting possibility.
Thompson ducked Vietnam, but that’s kinda becoming a requirement for national Republicans these days.
Tell it to Duncan Hunter – who, if ’08 doesn’t go well, is a solid contender for ’12.
He’s not real hard-working and can read lines well. I think they call that “Reaganesque.”
No, “reaganesque” is focusing on leading rather than obsessing over micromanagement.
Thompson kinda kills your boy Rudy if he gets in the race, dontcha think Mitch?
Rudy’s not “my boy”, just a contender. But yeah, Fred could really shake things up.
June 1st, 2007 at 4:58 pm
AC said,
“Thompson ducked Vietnam, but that’s kinda becoming a requirement for national Republicans these days.”
That and the fact that his trophy wife is 25 years his junior. No word on whether or not he dumped #1 while she was in the hospital recovering from cancer treatments though.
June 1st, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Doug,
Do you have a point?
June 1st, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Actually, Thompson’s first marriage ended amicably in 1985. He did not marry again until 2002.
June 4th, 2007 at 9:25 am
The lefties can’t just attack one at a time, but go all.
We’re like Pringles!