Iranian bloggers in prison

“Imprisoned Bloggers were tortured” says ex-VP

I added this link to the sidebar, along with a link to bloggers without borders. Eventually, with the direction in which our own country is moving, I think there will be an issue in the U.S. over the silencing of bloggers. Not likely as overt, but something more subtle, and perhaps eventually simply done by virtue of making internet access costly or restricted. On the other hand, recall the case of Sherman Austin. And, consider these paragraphs on the U.S. State Department's Overview of State-Sponsored Terrorism page:

Terrorist Use of Information Technology

Terrorists have seized upon the worldwide practice of using information technology (IT) in daily life. They embrace IT for several reasons: it improves communication and aids organization, allows members to coordinate quickly with large numbers of followers, and provides a platform for propaganda. The Internet also allows terrorists to reach a wide audience of potential donors and recruits who may be located over a large geographic area.

In addition, terrorists are taking note of the proliferation of hacking and the use of the computer as a weapon. Extremists routinely post messages to widely accessible Web sites that call for defacing Western Internet sites and disrupting online service, for example. The widespread availability of hacking software and its anonymous and increasingly automated design make it likely that terrorists will more frequently incorporate these tools into their online activity. The appeal of such tools may increase as news media continue to sensationalize hacking.

Continuing with the plight of the Iranian bloggers...

As if being censored by the regime hasn't been painful enough, now US based hosting copmanies have started to shut down private and governmental Iranian accounts with a short notice.

[...]

I've heard that many registrars such as GoDaddy doesn't allow Iranians to register domain names either.

I wonder whether this is what president Bush considers standing with a nation for their freedom. Who else is using these websites other than mostly secular, freedom-loving Iranian youth?
  Editor: Myself blog

Ah yes - supporting and spreading freedom and democracy and human rights all over the globe.

WTF? Afraid the U.S. government will prosecute them for "aiding and abetting" the enemy? Probably not an unfounded worry, though. Who knows, maybe they've already been approached.