Justifying this attempt at press censorship, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said that Bin Laden might be attempting to use the international news media to convey coded messages to his followers. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice chimed in, asking U.S. broadcast networks to use judgment in deciding whether such taped messages should be aired.

Responding to the administration's move, CNN, which has an exclusive agreement with Al Jazeera television in Qatar, which broadcasts widely in the Arab world, stated, "In deciding what to air, CNN will consider guidance from appropriate authorities."

Secretary of State Colin Powell, meanwhile, asserted October 10 that the statements by Bin Laden may contain "some kind of message." Powell said he asked a number of top analysts at the State Department to check it out.

Powell didn't say what kind of secretive messages or signals they are looking for or expect to find. Perhaps they were worried secret signs are being sent to the third base coach on one of the baseball teams in the playoffs for a spot in the World Series this month?

The Bush administration has already imposed extensive limitations on what war news the U.S. media may cover as Washington steps up its assault against Afghanistan. And the major media is going along with this unprecedented secrecy demanded by the military.

In an October 10 column titled "Too Much Information," Deroy Murdock, a columnist with the Scripps Howard News Service, demanded that journalists must now "clam up about sensitive military and intelligence matters." He added, "Our enemies...see our news programs, papers, and websites. Those should be the last place they find useful information. Reporters and their sources can discuss such interesting details in their memoirs.... Meanwhile, zip it."

Complaining about supposed leaks to the media, President Bush October 9 issued an order limiting access to military and intelligence briefings to just eight selected members of Congress. He said such leaks are unacceptable "when American forces are at risk overseas."

Education Secretary Rodney Paige got into the act with a plan to get schoolchildren to "show your patriotism." He called upon all 107,000 public and private elementary and secondary schools in the country to organize students to join in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at the same time on October 12.

The school board in Madison, Wisconsin, has taken exception to the education secretary's request. The board has expressed its opposition to forcing children to say the pledge, especially due to the phrase, "one nation under God."  
 
 
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