News aggregator
Labor Jumps Into Arkansas Senate Race - New York Times (blog)
Tiger Woods Back Home From Rehab, Golfing Daily - Us Magazine
Obama explores Republican ideas for revised health care bill - USA Today
Obama promotes energy-jobs program in Savannah - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Jerry Brown to Run for California Governor - Wall Street Journal
Afghanistan: Media ban on attack coverage is ‘to protect journalists’
The government of Afghanistan sent out mixed messages on Tuesday about its plans to restrict media coverage of insurgent attacks, at once denying that it was banning live coverage of attacks while defending the plans as being "to protect journalists."
Reuters reported on Monday that Afghanistan "announced a ban on news coverage of Taliban strikes ... saying such coverage only emboldened the Islamist militants."
Reporters would still be allowed to cover insurgent attacks, but only after the fact, and only with permission from the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan's spy agency.
"No filming will be permitted while attacks are under way, and live broadcasts will be banned even from a distance," Reuters reported.
But on Tuesday, with journalists expressing concerns about the measure, Afghan officials took a softer stance. The Associated Press reported that government officials denied they are planning to ban live coverage, saying they are "developing guidelines, not restrictions, to prevent live footage from aiding fighters at the scene."
Story continues below...google_ad_client = "pub-5155643920455169"; google_ad_slot = "2705912538"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250;According to Waheed Omar, a spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the "guidelines" would be designed to protect journalists during attacks. Omar also said insurgents have been using live broadcasts to give instructions to other fighters, though he did not elaborate how.
"I would not call it restrictions," he said, as quoted at AP.
"Omar's explanation was oblique," writes McClatchy correspondent Dion Nissenbaum. "At the end of the news conference, it was still unclear exactly how and when the new restrictions would go into effect."
Nissenbaum quoted the senior managing editor at the Associated Press, who said: "We believe broad, pre-emptive bans on coverage are inconsistent with a democratic society. ... Experience shows there are many ways to cover important breaking stories without interfering with police or security operations."
Nissenbaum's report suggests that a series of devastating, high-profile attacks in Kabul in recent weeks may be prompting the Afghan government to try to reduce the bad news in the press.
In January, Afghan stations aired live coverage of a three-hour Taliban attack in Kabul. And, last Friday, reporters were on-the-scene outside a Kabul hotel while Afghan security forces were involved in a prolonged gunfight with the last remaining insurgent holed up inside.
During the fighting, Afghan security officials warned journalists gathered in the street that they would have their cameras confiscated if they filmed the ongoing attack.
Top court considers reach of gun rights - Reuters
Talks under way on jobless benefit deal, senator says - CNN
Democratic Leaders Go to Albany to Meet With Paterson - New York Times
Iowa town reacts to guilty verdict in killing of prep football coach - USA Today
Same Park, Same Guy: Other Woman Attacked by Chelsea King Suspect - ABC News
Jerusalem plan would demolish Palestinian homes - The Associated Press
Pakistan Seizes Insurgent Stronghold on Afghan Border - Wall Street Journal
Gov. Bill Ritter injured in bicycle crash - Los Angeles Times
Colbert’s advice to GOP on the uninsured: F*ck ‘em!
Stephen Colbert presented his late-night audience with an interesting metaphor for health care reform Monday.
Republicans and Democrats are like a husband and wife fighting over whether to have a health care baby. But "you're never going to get pregnant while both of you are in bed with the insurance companies," Colbert said.
After spending a week focusing on the Winter Olympics, Colbert turned his attention to last week's health care summit. "The only way it could have been more boring was if they were curling," he joked.
Comparing the summit to a "seven-hour marriage counseling session," Colbert said that one of the parties -- the GOP -- was "not being emotionally honest" and should fess up and admit it doesn't want a health care baby.
"Don't hide your true feelings, guys, repeat after me: fuck 'em!" Colbert said. "If those 30 million people want health care, let them get a better job or join the Army or go to Canada or eat Flintstones vitamins ... stop faking care-gasms."
Story continues below...google_ad_client = "pub-5155643920455169"; google_ad_slot = "2705912538"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250;This video is from Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, broadcast March 1, 2010.

