Gunner's Blog

On June 11, 2003 CHINFO ordered FHTNC to cease distributing their releases to this website. That order was based upon flawed evaluation of the facts, and is most certainly not supported by the facts. I am reminded of my all time favorite New Yorker cartoon - two well dressed middle-aged business men are at a cocktail party, both with drinks in hand. One is saying to the other "I would defend with my very dieing breath your right to make that remark, but, on the other hand, it is one of the most stupid remarks that I have ever heard."

This story takes place from that date until the present. For two years, very quietly, I tried several means to persuade CHINFO to reverse his decision. That effort included emails from yours truly to CHINFO and a congressional inquiry that I started by writing a letter to my congressman. The last mail from my congressman to CHINFO didn't even get a response. In my opinion, that failure is somewhat arrogant.

On the second anniversary of the order, I decided that logic would never persuade CHINFO to reverse the decision which supports my contention that the decision was arbitrary and capricious. The only place left to go is to the American public, the final arbiter in matters such as this. I may or may not be successful in my attempt to have the decision reversed. I do not delude myself into believing that the success of USAFNS is of great importance in the overall scheme of things. BUT, it is vitally important that our leaders not be allowed to take a difficult situation and abridge our rights as citizens and as publishers. This is an example of a very questionable decision being cloaked in the guise of "national security."

In my opinion, it is not a matter of national security, but McCarthyism, pure and simple. Also, Nixon's "Enemies List" comes to mind. There are rumors of a "list of websites" that the webmaster of the Navy wants to "shut down". I hope to get confirmation of that rumor shortly through the Freedom of Information Act.