This post is a brief addendum to yesterday's post warning of the need for strong, independent investigative journalism to keep a careful watch on the American military. One journalist is doing just that. He is William Arkin of the Washington Post, who has started a blog called "Early Warning." You can see the postings on the blog here.
Here's what he says in his posting about the mission of the Early Warning blog.
"My basic philosophy is that government is more incompetent than diabolical, that the military gets way too much of a free ride . . ., and that official secrecy is the greatest threat citizens actually face today."
"[M]y larger objective is a more informed public and to demolish false authority, in government, in the special interests, and in the media."
If you look at his blog, you'll learn the fate of Able Danger and Global Harvest. I doubt you will be comforted. Here, too, is the introduction to another post, warning of the growing likelihood that military intelligence may spy on US citizens.
The post-Katrina agitation to repeal the Posse Comitatus Act comes in the wake of another assault on a venerable protection of the rights of Americans, namely the web of Executive Orders and regulations restricting military and civilian intelligence agencies from collecting information on U.S. citizens.
Kudos to Mr. Arkin, because this is the kind of reporting that is necessary if ordinary Americans are to have a chance to know what our military is up to.