Guitar pick not included

The editor and two reporters from one of Denmark’s main newspapers have gone on trial charged with publishing secret intelligence about Iraqi weapons.

In articles published in 2004 they quoted from analysis by a Danish intelligence agent, Frank Grevil.

His report, written before the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, concluded that there was no evidence of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Iraq.

The Berlingske Tidende journalists could go to jail if found guilty.

It is being viewed as a landmark case in Denmark, which is usually an ardent defender of freedom of expression.

An offence of publishing confidential Danish government documents is punishable by fines or up to two years in prison.

Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen supported the US-led invasion of Iraq and told parliament he was convinced former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was in possession of WMD.

What’s with Denmark journalists? Don’t they know that Freedom of the Press is only supposed to mean freedom for those who own the press?

BTW — the intelligence agent who leaked the info has already been sentenced to jail.



  1. V says:

    But it’s all okay because we’re bringing our wonderful and cherished freedom and democracy that we value so much to the Iraqi people!

  2. ECA says:

    TRUTH costs more then a Lie.

  3. Mr. Fusion says:

    Most countries proscribe jail for leaking state secrets. Some more then jail. I have a problem when it becomes payback to the journalists though. Most citizens can see the hypocrisy and stupidity of punishing those who spread the truth.

  4. jbellies says:

    State secrets, like herring, should have an Expiration Date. Sounds to me that this sort of report should have a short life on the secret shelf. By the seashore.

    Should high government officials be able to sidestep revelations and embarrassment by keeping info under wrap?

  5. ECA says:

    4,
    In the USA they have that…
    20 years, and ALL that stuff is’Supposed’ to be released.
    After all those responsible, are Probably DEAD.

  6. noname says:

    #5 In the US there is no time limitation for documents classified Secret. The Government has documents more the 50 yrs old, still classified because they supposedly contain sources and methods.

    It seems factual, recently we have done more harm to our long term National Security in the name of keeping National Security secrets then anything the press might have disclosed. There is nothing about our on going foreign policy failures that the Neo Cons can blame on the press. In fact if the “truth” about WMD was publicly known and properly, openly debated maybe we would not have invaded IRAQ. “Truth and Openness” what a concept; wish that turd GW knew what “Truth and Openness” means.

  7. DeLeMa says:

    So, because someone in another country says the same things that our own media reported, it makes the statments more true…?

  8. jbellies says:

    #7 No, they can’t be more true. They are simply true.

  9. ECA says:

    6,
    you are talking about a person with the intellectual ability of a snowman, a pet rock, a cranked up, Used up, pot head of a Layabout.


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