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Campbell’s letter said Special Forces were at serious risk, if named, from supporters of Osama bin Laden, Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
“Even before the Defence Secretary announced there had been UK casualties, journalists were present at the hospital where they were being treated and, more worryingly, at their homes,” he said. In one case a soldier was unable to go home because of fear of being photographed and identified.
The Sun tracked down one of the British soldiers injured fighting in Afghanistan to his home - but they say they were not going to identify him, just talk to him.
However, this did not stop Geoff Hoon taking out an injunction against the paper and a letter being fired off by Alistair Campbell.
Alister Campbell: “It is a matter of concern that someone injured while fighting for his country is unable to return to his home to rest and recuperate with his family because of continuing press interest. The interest in this has gone well beyond merely recording that casualties were suffered.”
The Sun: “It was wholly unnecessary for the MoD to have applied for the injunction, since the editor had already given assurances at the highest level that we would not be publishing anything that led to these individuals being identified.
So which are you more comfortable with - a lurid story which could lead to serious security problems for the SAS being published? (And remember it's The Sun; this isn't going to be the true story of the Afghan people's struggle, after all. It'll be 'our brave boys.')
Or continuing attempts by the British Government's to stifle the news, no matter how lurid the news may be?
Is this a 'I may not agree with what you are saying, but i defend to the death your right to say it' type censorship argument, do you think? |
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