Press will be losers in information war

By ELEANOR BLACK

Journalists covering the impending war against terrorism are worried they will be cut off from the action.

As American troops steel themselves for battle, reporters at the Washington Post, Time magazine, CNN and CBS News are preparing for a battle of their own - access to information.

American President George W. Bush has already pledged to closely guard details about US intelligence and strategy and a military officer has warned that journalists will be fed misinformation along with the facts. "We're going to lie about things. It is an information war - certainly the bad guys will lie."

Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Government officials that revealing too much to the press could result in defence personnel losing their lives.

Attorney-General John Ashcroft has decided not to alert reporters to further arrests of the around 100 people said to be material witnesses to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Press access to American troops may also be restricted. Generally, when the US goes to war the press is invited along to capture the touching human stories which help to strengthen the nation's resolve. This time it is expected the press corps will be kept far away from much of the action.

In Washington, journalists are already complaining about censorship.

Late last week the planned radio broadcast of an interview with Taleban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar was scratched when State Department staff intervened.

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said it was inappropriate for the state-owned broadcaster Voice of America to air Omar's negative views of the US.

The Gulf War set a new benchmark for press coverage with live shots of the action and strict military control of journalists' itineraries. Members of the press worked in "pools" and could not move around Saudi Arabia without permission.

This time, security is likely to be even tighter. Given that the enemy is not restricted to one country or region and secrecy is the key, the US military may view the press corps as more of a hindrance than a help.

At the same time, public expectations about access to information have probably never been higher. Having watched the World Trade Center crumble into a heap of concrete and twisted metal as it happened, viewers will want to watch those responsible punished on the small screen, too.

Map: Opposing forces in the war against terror

Afghanistan facts and links