NYT’s KELLER ADMITS MEDIA NOT ‘NEUTRAL’ ON WAR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 6, 2006

CONTACT: TIM SCHEIDERER OR COLLEEN O’BOYLE AT 703.683.5004

NYT’s KELLER ADMITS MEDIA NOT ‘NEUTRAL’ ON WAR

NYT Leak Sparks Lawsuit and Investigation of U.S. Anti-Terrorist Program

Alexandria, VA—Since publishing a highly controversial story about a secret U.S. program that monitors financial transactions as a tool to fight terrorism, New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller has defended the newspaper’s actions, claiming that “one man’s breach of security is another man’s public relations.” Mr. Keller has also now admitted that the liberal press is not “neutral in this war on terror.”

Indeed, the track record proves that the New York Times and Bill Keller are not “neutral” but grossly biased against the U.S.-led war against terrorism. And now, thanks to their liberal biases, the NYT’s story on the anti-terrorist financial monitoring program has generated the following damage to the United States:

a federal class-action lawsuit against the program, alleging violations of financial privacy laws;
complaints filed in 32 countries alleging that the program violated European and Asian privacy laws;
and, the Belgian prime minister is calling for a Justice Ministry investigation into whether the program, based in Belgium, violated Belgian law.

“If the New York Times wanted to undermine the U.S. war against terrorism and entangle our government and national security resources in protracted legal battles, instead of in battling America’s enemies, the New York Times has succeeded,” said Media Research Center President Brent Bozell. “Mr. Keller said it himself: The press is not neutral in the war against terrorism. The liberal media are opposed to this war and will do anything, including disclosing U.S. national security secrets, to stop the war and hand America’s enemies a victory.

“The Times’s actions are despicable. It’s time for a complete investigation of the New York Times and, if warranted, prosecution of the newspaper, its editors and its publisher.”

To schedule an interview with MRC President Bozell or an MRC spokesperson, please contact Tim Scheiderer (x. 126) or Colleen O’Boyle (x. 122) at 703.683.5004.