February 10, 2005 - There are three seemingly unrelated news stories getting a high level of attention this morning. The first is seemingly the most ominous. North Korea announced publicly that it had manufactured nuclear weapons. Buried down in the lower paragraphs of the story is the information that during the course of the six-sided talks last year North Korea had told US negotiators that they had built at least one nuclear weapon. That information was withheld by the Bush Administration; withheld from the Congress; and withheld from the American people.

The second story is that of the hitherto suppressed portion of the 911 Commission report. The classified full report and the redacted version were deposited with the National Archives last Friday and are just now getting attention. You will recall that in the immediate aftermath of the Twin Tower Attacks the Administration said that no one could have predicted that terrorist would use airliners as bombs. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was the primary Bush spokesman using that line. The redacted version of the 911 Report indicates that between April and September 2001 the FAA sent at least 52 security warnings to the nations Airlines and Airports; that several pointed to Al Qaeda and Bin Laden; and at least one of which issued in the spring of 2001 stressed that if the terrorists intention was for a suicide attack causing a spectacular explosion then a domestic hijacking would be their preferred method. The Bush Administration took five months reviewing that report before letting it see at least the partial light of day. It was finally released after the campaign; after the election; and after the President had taken his oath of office for the second time.

The third story is that of the Internet Entrepreneur who had been masquerading as a newsman at White House press briefings and the President’s news conferences. He claimed to be working for an independent Internet based news service called Talon News and was issued White House press credentials under an assumed name. He was notable for lobbing up soft pitches on cue for Scott McClelland and the President to hit out of the park. Whenever the questioning had grown hot the ersatz newsman was right there to cool things off by changing the subject. Members of the White House press corps pass extensive background checks when they get credentials. Somehow the checkers missed JDG’s several Internet ventures of questionable taste promoting activities of doubtful legality. Talon News seems to be an Internet site allied with GOPUSA, an operation of a long time Texas GOP operative.

What do these three news items have in common? They illustrate the lengths to which the President and his administration will go to prevent the Congress and the American people from having accurate and objective information upon which to make judgments. They reflect the President’s view of public information, “What they don’t know can’t hurt me!”