U.S. Condemns Tunisian Press Crackdown It Actively Funds Elsewhere
The New Arab highlights Tunisian protests against a 'crackdown on press freedom,' with some calling it 'unprecedented.' Meanwhile, across the Mediterranean, the United States Congress funds governments that routinely silence journalists, albeit often with a more sophisticated blend of surveillance and 'counter-terrorism' legislation. One might wonder if the 'crackdown' becomes more 'unprecedented'
only when the target government isn't a strategic partner in Washington's favored regional conflicts or isn't diligently enforcing its preferred narratives. This selective outrage serves as a convenient distraction. When critics point out Saudi Arabia's bone-saw brand of censorship, or Egypt's overflowing prisons for journalists, suddenly 'stability' becomes the paramount concern. The West's
consistent double standard suggests press freedom is less a universal right and more a geopolitical leverage point, wielded only when convenient, and certainly not when it might disrupt preferred arms deals or proxy wars. Tunisian journalists, keep protesting; just don't expect consistent support from those who fund their counterparts' oppressors.