The Bush administration’s devious strategy to combat the terrorists may be working. Knowing how these thugs hate us for our freedom and thus wish us harm, the Bushmen have brilliantly deduced that the terrorist threat can be reduced if our freedoms are reduced. A less free America is a less hated America and, therefore, a safer America. It makes perfect sense, right? Of course, after more than two centuries of freedom, it takes time to trash the Constitution and create widespread repression and injustice. Fortunately, the Bush administration has been working around the clock to make this nation safer and less free. And all indication is that the hard work of these dedicated patriots is starting to pay off. In today’s Washington Post, Nora Boustany reports on the recently issued Worldwide Press Freedom Index, an annual assessment of journalistic freedom conducted by the group, Reporters Without Borders. How did the U.S. do?

Although it ranked 17th on the first list, published in 2002, the United States now stands at 53, having fallen nine places since last year.

“Relations between the media and the Bush administration sharply deteriorated after the president used the pretext of ‘national security’ to regard as suspicious any journalist who questioned his ‘war on terrorism,’� the group said.

“The zeal of federal courts which, unlike those in 33 U.S. states, refuse to recognize the media’s right not to reveal its sources, even threatens journalists whose investigations have no connection at all with terrorism,� the group said. [full text]

In short, the Bush administration’s plan is working! Don’t you feel safer already?