State Department using ideological litmus tests to screen speakers

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON - The State Department has been using political litmus tests to screen private American citizens before they can be sent overseas to represent the United States, weeding out critics of the Bush administration's Iraq policy, according to department officials and internal e-mails.

In one recent case, a leading expert on conflict resolution who's a former senior State Department adviser was scheduled to participate in a U.S. Embassy-sponsored videoconference in Jerusalem last month, but at the last minute he was told that his participation no longer was required.

State Department officials explained the cancellation as a scheduling matter. But internal department e-mails show that officials in Washington pressed to have other scholars replace the expert, David L. Phillips, who wrote a book, "Losing Iraq," that's critical of President Bush's handling of Iraqi reconstruction.

"I was told by a senior U.S. official that the State Department was conducting a screening process on intellectuals, and those who were against the Bush administration's Iraq policy were not welcomed to participate in U.S. government-sponsored programs," Phillips said.

more…
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/13314542.htm

[grytpype]

1. Knight Ridder strikes again!

You can see why "investors" want KR to sell off all its newspapers, probably to News Corp or Sinclair!

[mazzarro]

2. These rethuglican administration is the most parochial in thought

This is really disgraceful of a party/administration/clique that is so afraid of difference of opinion and debate. The only way they can be engaged is if they can vilify the opponents to their hearts content without consequence or counter arguments. Every so often, I can always count on them to find new ways to make decent minded people retch so badly than before.

[Wordie]

3. I so agree with you. Without any real, open debate, democracy is at risk.

Yet they claim to be defending democracy. It's like a nightmare that you can't wake up from.

[0007]

7. U. S. Army School of the Americas, Fort Benning, Columbus, Georgia

does it for me.

This secretive administration that screens books, films, and now speakers have no shame. Yet they complain about how rotten and bad Michael Moore is for this country.

This administration lays claim to high morals

[DeepModem Mom]

4. K&R

[Moderator]

5. kick

[Pale Blue Dot]

6. State Department using ideological litmus tests to screen speakers

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/13314542.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

In one recent case, a leading expert on conflict resolution who's a former senior State Department adviser was scheduled to participate in a U.S. Embassy-sponsored videoconference in Jerusalem last month, but at the last minute he was told that his participation no longer was required.


State Department officials explained the cancellation as a scheduling matter. But internal department e-mails show that officials in Washington pressed to have other scholars replace the expert, David L. Phillips, who wrote a book, "Losing Iraq," that's critical of President Bush's handling of Iraqi reconstruction.


"I was told by a senior U.S. official that the State Department was conducting a screening process on intellectuals, and those who were against the Bush administration's Iraq policy were not welcomed to participate in U.S. government-sponsored programs," Phillips said.

...

The article sites several examples, including a trip by Barack Obama to Indonesia.

[ckramer]

8. US said to use a litmus test to block American speakers

The State Department has been using political litmus tests to screen private American citizens before they can be sent overseas to represent the United States, weeding out critics of the Bush administration's Iraq policy, according to department officials and internal e-mails.

In one recent case, a leading specialist on conflict resolution who's a former senior State Department adviser was scheduled to participate in a US Embassy-sponsored videoconference in Jerusalem last month, but at the last minute he was told that his participation no longer was required.

State Department officials explained the cancellation as a scheduling matter. But internal department e-mails show that officials in Washington pressed to have other scholars replace the specialist, David L. Phillips, who wrote the book, ''Losing Iraq," which is critical of President Bush's handling of Iraqi reconstruction.

''I was told by a senior US official that the State Department was conducting a screening process on intellectuals, and those who were against the Bush administration's Iraq policy were not welcomed to participate in US government-sponsored programs," Phillips said.

link

[Liberty Belle]

9. kick! More whitewashing and censorship.

[VegasWolf]

10. All right! Let's really enhance the view of Americans to those abroad

by sending our dumbest, bible thumping people to represent America.

[Supersedeas]

11. Saying one thing while internal documents reveal another--see a pattern

Too bad the Corporate Media is too blind to see.