In the news about Daniel Pearl today, I heard that FBI agents received the videotape of his death by posing as journalists. I've never been quite sure if it is actually unlawful for law enforcement to pose as journalists in this country, but I think it is, as an infringement of the First Amendment. The idea is that if the cops pretend to be journalists, people will distrust all journalists. (Imagine that, if you can. Oh, wait, we're almost there already.)
I'm going to assume that such laws don't apply to FBI agents operating elsewhere in the world, but I had thought there was a longstanding policy in our intelligence and law enforcement agencies that they don't do this. Anyone know? Thoughts on the ethics? I didn't know Daniel Pearl, but I know several of his peers at the Journal, and used to be a business reporter myself, so it's not as if I don't care about catching those who murdered him. But the threat to free speech rules out the tactic of pretending to be a journalist. I do know that the intelligence agencies are prohibited from hiring Peace Corps volunteers for a long time after they leave the Corps. Ten years, IIRC. Nick
