Orders of this nature, exercising editorial control by a public servant, no matter how worthy and well-intentioned, are anathema to media defendants.
Colin L. Powell's private and public comments about Iraq provide another sad reminder of how easily, in Washington's political culture, personal integrity among public servants is sacrificed in favor of loyalty to one's superiors (editorial, April 20).
"In the end, Ed Hanna probably would like to be perceived as a dedicated public servant who challenged Uticans to take pride and do better," the editorial said.
"It is a threat to democracy," said Keiichi Kiriyama, an editorial writer for the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper, adding that the legislation would "have a chilling effect on public servants, who could become wary about giving the information" to journalists.
He has been an outstanding and loyal servant of BBC News over the past 38 years and is widely and rightly admired for his editorial judgement and personal integrity.
Whether in cartoons, advertisements, travelogues, editorials or human interest stories, it is always the same: we are buffoons, harlots, knaves, wastrels, criminals, subdued servants or child-like simpletons.
"Cabinet ministers and civil servants from both sides now regularly exchange visits," but, "to build real trust, military and intelligence officials must join in," the editorial says.
