White House People Harassing Journalist

James Risen is the target of White House People

The White House People are upset that New York Times journalist James Risen exercised his right to free speech.  As reported by Alex Park in Mother Jones:

In State of War, Risen revealed a secret CIA operation, code-named Merlin, that was intended to undermine the Iranian nuclear program.  The plan...was to pass flawed plans for a trigger system for a nuclear weapon to Iran in the hopes of derailing the country's nuclear program. 

Tehran
(photo: National Geographic)

Facts:

• There are nine governments that have nuclear weapons* 
• Iran does not have nuclear weapons
• Iran has made all it's highly enriched uranium harmless**     

The U.S. hasn't allowed these facts get in the way of a good sanctions regime.  

The Congressional Research Service says that as a result of the trading restrictions people of Iran have been subject to crippling inflation.  Life's most basic staples have increased in price by 50% over the last two years alone.

Journalists like James Risen poke giant holes in the western public relations campaign against Iran.  The White House People can either apologize for the pain & suffering caused by the sanctions (and lift them), or threaten journalists with prison time while ignoring the harm caused by the restrictions.

Which is the right thing to do?


*according to the Federation of American Scientists  

**Haaretz, July 2014