Your Press Pass is now revoked, permanently

PRESIDENT Bush planned to bomb Arab TV station al-Jazeera in friendly Qatar, a "Top Secret" No 10 memo reveals.

-snip-

Al-Jazeera infuriated Washington and London by reporting from behind rebel lines and broadcasting pictures of dead soldiers, private contractors and Iraqi victims.

The station, watched by millions, has also been used by bin Laden and al-Qaeda to broadcast atrocities and to threaten the West.

Al-Jazeera's HQ is in the business district of Qatar's capital, Doha. Its single-storey buildings would have made an easy target for bombers. As it is sited away from residential areas, and more than 10 miles from the US's desert base in Qatar, there would have been no danger of "collateral damage".

Dozens of al-Jazeera staff at the HQ are not, as many believe, Islamic fanatics. Instead, most are respected and highly trained technicians and journalists.

To have wiped them out would have been equivalent to bombing the BBC in London and the most spectacular foreign policy disaster since the Iraq War itself.

The No 10 memo now raises fresh doubts over US claims that previous attacks against al-Jazeera staff were military errors.

source

and this from a very good article I reckon, worth reading the whole thing

Wars are always dirty. Those engaged in war seldom admit the truth about the brutal means they are using. Those conducting an unpopular occupation are tempted to use all possible means to suppress those who resist occupation. The press, to the degree that it functions as an independent force, serves as one factor providing disincentives to the use of the most barbarous techniques available. Given the extent to which the American corporate press has often echoed obviously false US claims long after their absurdity became apparent, the international press like Al-Jazeera plays a critical role in limiting US brutality. By suppressing the press in Iraq, the US has increased its ability to kill with impunity. Evidence that many tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians have died at US hands suggest that the US has actively seized the opportunity.

I dunno, so much I could and would like to say, however this is one of many instances where I believe its better to research this for yourself, as there’s way better writers and better informed commentators than me to put this in perspective. Make up your own minds.

I will say - if correct and let’s face it when discussing the Bush Administration and allegations against it, more often than not (unfortunately), these stories tend to be correct and over time are proven so. If correct it’s high time the sane nations of the world collectively made George W and his henchmen accountable for the crimes against humanity they most certainly are in my mind guilty of.

To my American friends, your nation and the people of this planet deserve better than what you and we are currently being served via the Whitehouse.

I expect little from some of our planets leaders, yet from the USA I expect nothing less than what their Constitution promotes and promises, my country is too small to have any large impact on global affairs, the US could so very easily make this planet a better place for all – lets never forget this simple premise, for it is a very noble one.

Yeah I’m an idealist, shoot me….