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From: janw@inmet.UUCP
Newsgroups: talk.politics.misc
Subject: Re: Spies and the Media
Message-ID: <7802402@inmet>
Date: Sat, 13-Sep-86 14:01:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: inmet.7802402
Posted: Sat Sep 13 14:01:00 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 16-Sep-86 05:31:14 EDT
References: <1107@masscomp.UUCP>
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Nf-From: inmet.UUCP!janw    Sep 13 14:01:00 1986


[alang@masscomp.UUCP ] /* ----- "Re: Spies and the Media" ----- */
>>- Why is it that an american  caught  with  secret  documents  is
>>"framed" and "innocent", beyond a shadow of a doubt?

>Because we're the good guys.

We *are*, but the answer is still wrong.

The American would still be a good guy if he *was* spying against
the USSR, but he would not be innocent of spying.

He is to be presumed innocent legally until proved guilty.
He won't be, as there's no due process in the USSR.

He is to be presumed innocent by the public, and defended,
unless there's evidence of his guilt. There's none except
the statements of Soviet authorities, and they are not
trustworthy.  

>>- Why is a soviet spy automatically "guilty"?

>Because they are communists.

He is not, legally, until proved guilty.

He probably is, in reality, because the prosecution will have  to
prove  its  case  under  stringent conditions - and they wouldn't
want international humiliation - so they must have moved careful-
ly and on good evidence.

>>- Do any of the reporters covering the case actually have any evidence
>>either way?  or, are they simply assuming Rambo Ronnie always tells the
>>truth?

>The president of the United States would never lie.

The press has not been noted for this much trust in the  adminis-
tration.  I expect they do have evidence.

>>From what I've seen, the U.S. govt. is willing to let Daniloff rot in jail
>>in order to have a topic for jingoistic, anti-communist speeches and a
>>reason to refuse to seriously negotiate in Geneva. Any Comments?

The events have proved you wrong.

>We would never do such a thing.

Right, this time, unfortunately. The government has already  buck-
led under and (this part is good) Daniloff is already out of jail.

Some journalist think it was done for fear the *Soviets* would
refuse to come to Geneva. "Jingoistic, anti-Communist speeches"
from the president - necessary as air to restore the
nation's morale - have unfortunately stopped long ago.

Instead he is going to Geneva - circus at best,
worse if it's serious. 

>What's the matter with you?  Didn't you go to a public school?

Public schools do not teach  anti-Communism  -  as  they  should.

Compare the text-book treatment of Nazi Germany (a totalitarian
ex-enemy)  and  of  China (totalitarian and an ex-enemy) and even
the USSR - totalitarian, and the current enemy of this nation.
The  latter  is  infinitely  more positive, for no good reason at
all.

Even opinions similar to those of Mr. Groupe are not at all an ex-
ception among public school teachers.

>			Alan Groupe

Making Daniloff's frame-up an occasion for America-bashing is
characteristic of the inverted logic of the loony Left.

		Jan Wasilewsky