YouTube defends terrorist videos as 'free speech'

Another reason to block youtube:

YouTube defends terrorist videos as 'free speech'
Website bans animal cruelty, welcomes films of insurgents slaying U.S. troops

Terrorists riddle American soldiers with bullets and explosives while chanting "Allahu Akbar" or "God is the greatest" in videos on the popular Google-owned video-sharing website, YouTube.

With a quick search of the site, the following can be found:

* IEDs detonate on U.S. soldiers in a pickup truck
* Graphic video of numerous explosions killing Marines
* A U.S. medic being gunned down by a terrorist
* A Humvee explodes, killing five U.S. soldiers
* Chemical weapons attacks
* A video entitled "Fight to the End" featuring a series of violent explosions killing American troops
* Insurgent snipers picking off U.S. soldiers

Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., wrote a letter to YouTube Monday requesting that it remove videos used for recruitment by terror groups asking Google to "implement its own policy against this offensive material, remove these videos from YouTube, and prevent them from reappearing."

The website's community guidelines warn, "Don't post videos showing bad stuff like animal abuse, drug abuse or bomb making. ... Graphic or gratuitous violence is not allowed. If your video shows someone getting hurt, attacked or humiliated, don't post it."

However, while YouTube has policies to protect against abuse of animals, the site features dozens of violent and graphic videos of terrorists killing U.S. soldiers. Prominent logos identify many of the films as works of Islamist terrorist organizations.

"A great majority of these videos document horrific attacks on American soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan," Lieberman wrote. "Others provide weapons training, speeches by al-Qaeda leadership, and general material intended to radicalize potential recruits."

Liberman said the company is acting as a voice for terrorists by allowing dissemination of videos around the world.

"YouTube also, unwittingly, permits Islamist terrorist groups to maintain an active, pervasive, and amplified voice, despite military setbacks or successful operations by the law enforcement and intelligence communities," he wrote.

YouTube refused to respond to multiple WND calls and e-mails requesting a comment. Instead, the company defended its content in a press release, saying it had removed some videos that depicted gratuitous violence or hate speech, but it decided to keep the majority of the films to promote "free speech."

"Most of the videos, which did not contain violent or hate speech content, were not removed because they do not violate our Community Guidelines," YouTube said. "While we respect and understand his views, YouTube encourages free speech and defends everyone's right to express unpopular points of view. We believe that YouTube is a richer and more relevant platform for users precisely because it hosts a diverse range of views, and rather than stifle debate we allow our users to view all acceptable content and make up their own minds."

The following are posts displayed at the bottom of controversial videos showing violence against U.S. soldiers:

* "Go back to America! No one called you here or even invited or asked for your help. And you say they don't deserve to be blown with IEDs? Please ..."

* "The only good American, is an Dead American. Thank you Iraqis for killing so much Americans, thank you so much!"

* "It will be a beautiful day when USA gets nuked! DEATH TO THE USA."

* "USA is a country of cowards that pick on the weak and poor that's the way its always been. USA has never attacked a strong nation. That's because USA would lose. USA is full of the human trash."

* "YouTube needs to take this off! This is our father, brother, uncle and friend fighting for us over there! We need to show more respect!"