On the recordMarch 17, 2011
Mr. Speaker, it has been said that the first casualty of war is the truth. In war, the way information reaches the people is through the messengers of truth, a free and independent press. One way to hide the truth in Qaddafi's war is for the dictator to prohibit the media from finding out the facts, from finding out the truth. So it should come as no surprise that four New York Times journalists covering the war have disappeared in Libya, presumably captured by Omar's troops. They are Anthony Shadid, Stephen Farrell, Tyler Hicks, and Lynsey Addario, all veteran journalists and photographers that have covered other world conflicts. More than 300 other journalists have been attacked during the recent turmoil in the region, and four have been killed. Last year, 57 journalists were murdered worldwide. Journalists are the eyes and ears for the world, so when they are assaulted, kidnapped, harassed, censured, or murdered by dictators, those actions are a direct attack on truth and human freedom. And that's just the way it is. ____________________
