By Ed Kinane

Whether Democrat or Republican, administrations incessantly invoke empty words. “Freedom,” “democracy,” and “national security” come to mind. They are empty because they are never defined.

In these times asking what words mean is much needed for clarifying issues and questioning authority.

When we watch a president or other administration functionary meet the press, do we ever hear a journalist ask, “Just what do you mean when you use the term ’sovereignty’?” Journalists tend not to ask basic questions.

And for good reason. If you ask such questions, you may not be invited back; you or your publication may well be forever denied access to the politico.

Is this speculation? No. I’ve experienced what can happen when journalists pry and push the bounds of self-censorship. In September 2003 while working with a U.S. human rights group in Baghdad, several of my colleagues and I joined a press conference within the “green zone.” General Sanchez, second in command, was speaking on behalf of the CPA, the Coalition forces.

During the Q&A each of us asked the General a question. Mine was about how many investigations had the CPA conducted into allegations of abuse of Iraqi civilians by U.S. soldiers. My colleagues asked similar pointed questions. The General’s curt responses allowed no opportunity for follow-up. At the end of the session a journalist from a U.S. news agency congratulated me for asking what he felt he couldn’t risk asking.