Grayson, the Guardian, and the Soldiers: Defense Amendment Would End Troop Censorship

This is a story that hasn't been covered yet, as far as we know: Alan Grayson is fighting for the right of US troops in the Middle East to read any online news outlet they want - including the one that keeps breaking new stories about the NSA.

They’re fighting for freedom, but they can’t read the story that has captivated the world. At least, America’s troops in the Middle East can’t read about the NSA scandal on the British newspaper which broke the story, together with the Washington Post. The Obama Defense Department blocked troops’ access to the Guardian website on July 1.

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Rep. Alan Grayson has introduced an amendment to the upcoming Defense Appropriations Bill which is impressive in its economy of language. It reads in full: “None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to restrict the access of members of the Armed Forces to publically available online news media during morale, welfare, and recreation periods.”

We would expect Grayson’s amendment to enjoy bipartisan support. National security isn’t threatened by providing our troops with the same other Americans have – especially since they’re citizens and voters, as well as soldiers. Democrats should support Grayson’s amendment because it fits well with their pro-soldier and pro-freedom of speech rhetoric. Republicans should support it because it’s making a potential source of Administration criticism available to our fighting – and voting – men and women.

http://crooksandliars.com/richard-rj-eskow/grayson-guardian-and-soldiers-def?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2397, AS REPORTED DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL
OFFERED BY MR. GRAYSON OF FLORIDA
http://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/GRAYSO_160_xml716131219251925.pdf

Another amendment I proposed bans the awarding of defense contracts to companies convicted of fraud or bribery.
I proposed an amendment to the Defense bill which would stop the NSA from spying on Americans.
https://twitter.com/AlanGrayson