"The Bush administration has imposed heavy secrecy and censorship measures on the testimony of retired Gen. Wesley Clark, the former NATO commander seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, when he takes the stand later this month at the war crimes trial of Slobodan Milosevic.

The administration's action will blunt the drama of what many expected to be crucial moment in Milosevic's lengthy trial and perhaps one of the defining moments in the presidential campaign of Clark, who defeated the Yugoslav leader in the Kosovo campaign.

At the insistence of State Department's legal office, the courtroom's public gallery will be cleared when Clark is called to testify Dec. 15 and 16 in The Hague. Cameras that normally broadcast the proceedings on closed circuit television and the Internet will be blacked out."

Even when other Generals or high level officials like former Secretary of State  Madeleine Albright testified at the Hague, this was not done.  If a subject comes up that might be sensitive, then that portion is done in private, reports the OK Daily.  But it is important to have all proceedings done in open so the world doesn't suspect and Milosovec can't claim anything shady went on while in private.

But Bush doesn't care.  He doesn't want General Clark getting the positive media coverage showing him bringing down first hand one of the worst tyrants and war criminals in recent history.

Of course, there's even more.  Not only has the President ordered a complete media blackout, but - just in case you doubted he was doing this to stop Clark from getting good coverage - he has ordered, "a 48-hour delay on the release of the trial transcript that will enable State Department lawyers to examine Clark's testimony and request the deletion of portions that they deem harmful to national interests."  Yes, they want a delay that is long enough that the press will lose interest before it gets the transcript and, in typical Dictator Bush style, complete censorship editorial control over what gets released at all.

Again, remember, this never has happened before.  As the OK Daily reports, "for a high profile public figure, the secrecy surrounding Clark's testimony is unprecedented, especially in light of the fact that Clark has written a lengthy book and numerous articles on NATO and the Kosovo war, and has freely given his opinion on these subjects as a TV commentator and presidential candidate."

The Daily reports that the normal procedure is: 

"When high-ranking officials are called as witnesses, the normal procedure for dealing with sensitive testimony is to allow representatives of their government to be present in the courtroom and to intervene if they believe the official's testimony might harm national interests. The tribunal then goes into a temporary closed session to deal with that portion of the testimony.

"Closed sessions are for victims who might be harmed, not governments who might be embarrassed," said a tribunal source."

For German General Klaus Naumann, for British envoys Paddy Ashdown and David Owen, and for former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, testifying in public was just fine.

They weren't running for President against the first American Dictator.

With Milosovec acting as his own lawyer, the direct confrontation with General Clark - the man who led the call and commanded the troops to bring Milosovec down - should be fireworks like nothing seen before; a true, great, exciting moment in the world's history and the history of decency and democracy triumphing over brutality and tyranny.

But don't bother trying to find out about it on the news.  They won't know anything that went on, not for at least 48 hours, and only what the Bush administration decides to let out then.

Democratic candidates take note:  stop worrying about what your message should be or what snappy phrases might work best, stop dreaming of that moment up on stage during a debate going toe to toe with President Bush, and start to realize, the President and his people will come up with method after method of ensuring your message never gets heard.  Last election they timed the war to ensure there was no media space to cover election pitches, they are squelching Clark, they censor the press when it covers President Bush already, forbidding interviews of soldiers even here in America (see story here.)

Be ready, Democratic hopefuls, and be ready America, a ruthless, free-speech hating, self-promoting at all costs and damage to freedom, democracy, and America dictator is out to silence you by any means necessary.  He thinks the world is his Rush Limbaugh show and he gets to hang up on anyone who can show he is wrong.  That is how he operates.

The rest of the press is asleep on this, and even The Oklahoma Daily that did such a great job breaking this story couldn't just call it what it is:  a power play by a merciless dictator of a President.  They have to hint, infer, and not reach the obvious conclusion, allowing the President's game of sewing doubt to succeed.

Fortunately, The Moderate Independent operates like a kick in his Soviet-like balls each time Premiere Bush tries to pull one of these stunts.  He is relentless - so are we.  Spread the word, and by continuing to grow The Moderate Independent's readership, we will further become a media voice to be reckoned with for America - and best of all, finally one that is capable of reporting truth and facts without fear or reservation.