Google removed my entire AdWords campaign yesturday.

Not a single ad. Everyone of them. I'm not sure why - and i think the decision is deeply troubling. Google seems to think so too, because they sent me a rather long explanation about free speech and search and such.

I'll tell you the story of what happened, and you decided if you think the ads should have been pulled.

On July 18th - as the conflict in the middle east was heating up, i began to search the web for videos shot by real people of the conflict. I wanted to hear real voices. I found plenty. And so i created a channel to aggregate those videos - organize them - in a central place where people could see them and share their own.

There was no spin. No pro Israel bias. No Pro Lebanese agenda. Not that opinion and perspective should be censored. But in my case, i wanted to create a place with room for people of all persuasions to post and share opinions.

Then i set up a Google Adwords account to let people know the site existed.

==================

Israel/Lebanon War Video
See real video. Post Your Own
Comments and Opinions.
Warzone-video.magnify.net

==================

Israel War Video
User-Generated Video from the
Front Lines. Uncensored.
Warzone-video.magnify.net

==================

Hezbollah War Video
Uncensored User-Generated Video
from the Front Lines.
Warzone-video.magnify.net

==================

Lebanese War Video
Uncensored User-Generated Video
from the Front Lines.
Warzone-video.magnify.net

==================

All four ads came back: "Disapproved"

What's happening between Israel and Hezbollah and Lebanon is on one level very complicated, and on another quite simple.

The media is treading gently - trying to make sure that they don't show any side favoritism.

At the same time - real people are anxious to tell their stories - and that would seem to be part of the way to find a solution.

Here's the email i got from Google:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

adwords-support@google.com
Subject: Your Google AdWords Approval Status
Date: August 3, 2006 7:06:32 AM EDT

----------------------------------------------
Campaign: 'WarZone,' Ad Group: 'israel/lebanon'
----------------------------------------------

AD TEXT:

Israel/Lebanon War Video
See real video. Post Your Own
Comments and Opinions.
Warzone-video.magnify.net

Ad Status: Suspended - Pending Revision
Ad Issue(s): Unacceptable Content
~~~~~~~~~

AD TEXT:

Israel War Video
User-Generated Video from the
Front Lines. Uncensored.
Warzone-video.magnify.net

Ad Status: Suspended - Pending Revision
Ad Issue(s): Unacceptable Content
~~~~~~~~~

AD TEXT:

Hezbollah War Video
Uncensored User-Generated Video
from the Front Lines.
Warzone-video.magnify.net

Ad Status: Suspended - Pending Revision
Ad Issue(s): Unacceptable Content
~~~~~~~~~

AD TEXT:

Lebanese War Video
Uncensored User-Generated Video
from the Front Lines.
Warzone-video.magnify.net

Ad Status: Suspended - Pending Revision
Ad Issue(s): Unacceptable Content
~~~~~~~~~

SUGGESTIONS:
-> Content: Due to the sensitive nature of this matter, we are not able
to run this ad at this time. As noted in our advertising terms and
conditions, we reserve the right to exercise editorial discretion when
it comes to the advertising we accept on our site.

---------------------
POLICY DEFINITIONS:

Unacceptable Content: Google believes strongly in freedom of expression
and therefore offers broad access to content across the web without
censoring search results. Please note that the decisions we make
concerning advertising in no way affect the search results we deliver.
Please note that both your ad and keywords have been suspended at this
time.

----------------------------------------------
Campaign: 'WarZone,' Ad Group: 'israel/lebanon'
----------------------------------------------

AD TEXT:

Israel/Lebanon War Video
See real video. Post Your Own
Comments and Opinions.
Warzone-video.magnify.net

Ad Status: Suspended - Pending Revision
Ad Issue(s): Unacceptable Content
~~~~~~~~~

AD TEXT:

Israel War Video
User-Generated Video from the
Front Lines. Uncensored.
Warzone-video.magnify.net

Ad Status: Suspended - Pending Revision
Ad Issue(s): Unacceptable Content
~~~~~~~~~

AD TEXT:

Hezbollah War Video
Uncensored User-Generated Video
from the Front Lines.
Warzone-video.magnify.net

Ad Status: Suspended - Pending Revision
Ad Issue(s): Unacceptable Content
~~~~~~~~~

AD TEXT:

Lebanese War Video
Uncensored User-Generated Video
from the Front Lines.
Warzone-video.magnify.net

Ad Status: Suspended - Pending Revision
Ad Issue(s): Unacceptable Content
~~~~~~~~~

SUGGESTIONS:
-> Content: Due to the sensitive nature of this matter, we are not able
to run this ad at this time. As noted in our advertising terms and
conditions, we reserve the right to exercise editorial discretion when
it comes to the advertising we accept on our site.

---------------------
POLICY DEFINITIONS:

Unacceptable Content: Google believes strongly in freedom of expression
and therefore offers broad access to content across the web without
censoring search results. Please note that the decisions we make
concerning advertising in no way affect the search results we deliver.
Please note that both your ad and keywords have been suspended at this
time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The problem with this answer, and the idea that they 'censor' advertising but not search results is that search results are based on popularity - and without exposure no one will know that this site exists.

Also, what is strange is that Google is delivering ads like these:

Hezbollah vs Israel
Hezbollah capture 2 Israel soldiers
Will this lead to Israel-Iran war?
vanrcook.tripod.com/nextwar.htm

War in the Mid-East
Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah.
Read the Latest News.
www.RealTruth.org/SpecialReport

I'm hardpressed to know what the difference is between my ads, and the ones above. (except that they point to text, not video, and not UGC).