It is interesting to note how defensive certain parties can be with regards to the ' freedom ' of the American press, and simultaneously be equally ready to condemn the young press that exists back home.

The press is all about power, and power that is just not measured in terms of financial returns but also in terms of being able to coax an entire population into a particular way of thinking. A totally free, unbiased press? I'd like to see one. Many things have been said about the long 200-year history of the American press, but once you scrutinise the relevant history, there is always that niggling doubt things are not what they seem to be, and the readers are led to a certain direction of thinking.

The press in the West is hardly free of outside influences. Emphasis on stories is determined by various factors, e.g. nationalism, political pressure, the expectation of the readers. The press in the West is even polarised to various degrees. Watching CNN and then the BBC, you might be wondering if they are talking about the same events.

For example, stories about massive flows of Muslim populations around the globe, most of whom are running from the effects of the American war on terror, just don't make the American press. It's just a minor detail that is probably not viewed as threatening to the Americans, but to the Europeans, it's a major problem that might end up threatening their way of life.

Or maybe the American press just insists on portraying the image of a 'prefect war'. The 'freest' press in the world willfully ignores stories about vast migrations of terrified people running for their lives from American bombs and threats. And it refuses to ask hard questions about American war strategy even after Europeans break the news for them.

And it does not end with the war only. Queries about Halliburton's involvement in post-war Iraq are hardly raised despite its connections with Dick Cheney. And Malaysia is criticised endlessly for the cronyism that exists within the system. Rupert Murdoch is currently threatening to switch his support from the Labour party to the Conservatives (because Labour's Euro policy is not to his right-wing liking), and thus change the tone of the various newspapers under his control.

Unbiased, free press? I think not. The mayhem faced in our world today is not exactly unreported, but the facts are emphasised in whatever method deemed necessary.

I doubt there is such a thing as a totally liberal press. I doubt it ever existed, and I doubt it ever will. After all, there are more than two sides to each story, and as far as I am concerned we can all just agree to disagree, and read everything with a pinch of salt.