Should CIA website be banned? This organization promotes drone strikes which radicalize youth, and is alleged to be implicated in torture and thousands of killings worldwide .
I am not someone that ever wishes to promote violence however I do believe in reporting all sides of a conflict and that rules on censorship of websites pertaining to security must equally apply to all whether state, insurgent, media or other. Militant websites are frequently closed down whilst incendiary material on government websites remains untouched.
It is very easy to leap on a newly launched Taliban website questioning its threat to state security whilst dismissing state actors and press that could equally be argued to be putting a country at risk.
Sana Saleem takes up the issue of the Taliban website on her blog but fails to address that for some, the websites of national and international security services can be equally provocative inciting acts of aggression yet their existence is rarely questioned. She writes,
“I just checked the website: http://www.umarmedia.com and was surprised to see that it was still accessible in Pakistan. The website carries propaganda material that clearly incites violence, especially against security forces. Can you please tell me why there has been no action on such blatant display of hate speech? While the authorities do not even blink before blocking access to websites like IMDB and XBox, why was an official website for a terrorist group left unblocked? Please note this is not the only website that incites violence, several other websites exist and have been functioning for years. Still, it is rather shocking to see the TTP’s website being launched very publicly in Pakistan, where the group is responsible for murdering over 50,000 civilians”
National and international security is a valid issue but then I must ask why people do not apply the same standards to state websites where institutions are linked to violence that may exceed legal boundaries. For example, should the CIA website be banned until there is a thorough investigation as to its role in relation to torture… Becoming aware that a state practices “enforced disappearances” ignores fair judicial process, tortures and carries out unlawful killings can turn some to respond through aggressive acts. Alongside state websites do we then also consider banning all media websites that cover stories which could in turn incite violence and threaten security… where does it stop?
Take the CIA story as reported in the Guardian, the possibility of a criminal violation by CIA personnel. Senator Dianne Feinstein, chairwoman of the Intelligence Committee accused the CIA of “illegally accessing Senate staff computers kept at the agency over the past year, while Senate staff conducted an investigation of the CIA’s secret torture programme.” The website reported,
“CIA director John Brennan informed Feinstein that CIA staff had discovered a top secret internal CIA report on the torture program, known as the Panetta review, on the staff computers. But Brennan would not tell Feinstein, she said, when or how the CIA had accessed the Senate computers, and he would not assure her that it would not happen again.”
Feinstein stated,
“I have grave concerns that the CIA search may well have violated the separation of powers principle in the US constitution. I have asked for an apology and a recognition that this … was inappropriate. I have received neither.”
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/11/dianne-feinstein-cia-senate-committee-live
CIA Director John Brennan has also promoted a drone programme which has killed many civilians going about their daily business. There is plenty of evidence from both Pakistan and Yemen that drone strikes leading to “collateral damage” radicalize youth and promote retaliation attacks so is there a valid case for banning websites featuring John Brennan and the CIA and any site championing drone attacks?
Back in November 2013, crime and security minister, James Brokenshire stated that UK measures for censoring “extremist” content of websites would be announced shortly with support from prime minister David Cameron who favours a ban. It is likely that “a government-funded body, possibly within the counter-terrorism referral unit, will order companies including BT, TalkTalk, BSkyB and Virgin Media to block websites, according to industry sources.” There is likely to be collaboration with the US on this issue,
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/nov/27/ministers-order-isps-block-terrorist-websites
In yesterday’s Telegraph (April 5th 2014) a security source disturbingly claims that former prime minister Tony Blair and other politicians knew in detail about CIA torture and the rendition…. “everything”. The source stated that “they could have said [to M16] ‘stop it, do not get involved’, but at no time did they do this.
The question I ask is why are so many silent on security issues relating to party political websites and media interviews which advocate unjust foreign policy and could be radicalizing youth. I checked this out in an recent interview with Brits where well educated, middle class males (including reverts to Islam) had travelled to Pakistan to take up “jihad”. As part of one interview I asked the following,
Question…. To what extent were you radicalized by US and British foreign policy?
Answer…. Not just Britain and America but the philosophy and attitude of “West” as a whole was off putting and the more I looked at their history and actions, the more I was convinced of their shaky foundations and the realism of Islam.
Question…. What are your thoughts on drone strikes?
Answer…. Just one of the instruments in the war against Islam. Every drone that kills five people produces 50 new soldiers of Islam. Kill a leader and you inspire hundreds more soldiers of Islam.
The complete interview shows that this man and others were radicalized by a variety of information sources and media as well as personal contact which influenced choices. Even the A level subjects taught at school impacted on one man’s thinking introducing him to global politics in relation to “Africa, poverty, sanctions in Iraq, Muslim genocide in Bosnia and Palestine.” Taking this into consideration who and what do we censor?
Should we ban all websites and news programmes that show wars built on false information such as Iraq, promoted by alleged war criminal, former British PM Tony Blair who along with George Bush instigated violence on a massive scale leading to a number of groups taking up arms against occupying forces?
Do images of British forces on army website radicalize youth given recent killing of Lee Rigby?
What about banning websites of the Armed Forces that encourage young people to join up and invade countries irrespective of whether there is a valid reason and legality? After all there have been recent reported incidents of suspected bombs left at armed forces recruiting offices.
Can we allow any press coverage of controversial night raids in Afghanistan, that might lead to retaliation attacks and encourage more recruits to militant ranks?
Individuals are exposed to many influencing factors in day to day life. There is a wide spectrum of websites that could be argued to put state security at risk, a person could just as easily be influenced by a violent game or drama on TV. Therefore the same censorship rules must be applied to all websites whether state, insurgent, media or other and stop these ridiculous double standards!
Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.
Carol Anne Grayson (Radical Sister) blog 
sana saleem seems to blind of one eye, she can behold violence by Taliban but cannot sense the atrocites committed by security forces of Pakistan. she seems to be “Generalist” rather than Journalist.
It is important always to explore all sides. Unless we do this we remain blinkered and sometimes we are very surprised by what we find. Can’t rely only on media, we need to do our own research!
a very sound, well-substantiated article. makes a nice, informative read.
Thanks, its easy to stay in a comfort zone but when we step out we can see how brainwashed we have become to accept a prescribed narrative!