that pushing some key freedoms throughout the world, the 1st amendment among them; and also reducing narcotrafficking violence on our southern border, are a couple of generally worthy long term foreign policy goals.  I mean, if we're going to have a foreign policy, you know.

Part of the problem is that NOBODY likes to be reminded how pathetic they are, so when we offer help, you can't always expect them to take it cheerfully - except as far as they may parasitize us.

Obviously you are right on this one.  I kind of meant it figuratively, but was too distracted when I  made the post to think my words through carefully.  I guess it is more that our society is stable enough that we aren't in a situation where drug cartels or religious organizations dictate what we can talk about in the media.  That is how I meant freedom of the press (media).

On the opposite side, sometimes we have TOO MUCH freedom of the press!  I'm kidding, but if it isn't bad enough for the Shrub administration to constantly be fear mongering, now, in the name of "newsworthiness" and making that administration more media accountable, we get the media itself fear mongering:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The FBI said Friday there is no specific, credible threat of a terror attack aimed at college basketball arenas or other sports stadiums, but acknowledged alerting law enforcement to a recent Internet posting discussing such attacks.

The FBI and Homeland Security Department distributed an intelligence bulletin Friday to state and local law enforcement nationwide describing the online threat against sporting venues, said Special Agent Richard Kolko, an FBI spokesman in Washington.

"We have absolutely no credible intelligence or threats pertaining to this issue," Kolko said.

With conference tournaments taking place this weekend, and the NCAA tournament scheduled to begin Thursday, the bulletin was sent "out of an abundance of caution," Kolko said.

The NCAA Final Four begins April 1 in Indianapolis.

The online message described a potential attack in some detail, calling it an efficient way to kill thousands of people using suicide bombers armed with explosives hidden beneath their winter clothing, said a federal law enforcement official who read the bulletin.

But the government document also said U.S. intelligence sources could not corroborate the information or say whether the site was linked to al-Qaida.

In the past, intelligence assessments have been sent in advance of major holidays and sporting events because they pose an inviting target for terrorists.