Or like this where people actively planted stories in the foreign press to create black propaganda.
These are fascinating developments in this ongoing story. Thanks for this incredible post.
Posted by Mary at July 10, 2006 10:15 AM>(The pushback was strong enough for at least one respected (British) reporter to fall hook, line and sinker for the whole nonsense - to the point of even appearing dangerously unintelligent.)
That is one way of looking at Michael Smith. The other way of looking at him is to say that he works for Rupert Murdoch.
Posted by john fletcher at July 10, 2006 10:58 AMFascinating story and Laura Rozen has been following it closely.
Wow, Birch Tree Farina only cost $10,000? Payola Williams wrote his propaganda for $240,000. Lastly and maybe this is a bit naive on my part, wonder if Birch Tree is/was really a sismi agent or sismi operative working undercover as an alleged journalist and editor?
And lastly, "Birch tree" interesting name especially in light of Scooter Libby's reference here at home in his love letter to Judy Miller with his "aspens change in clusters" reference when the administration and Ms. Miller were actively spreading disinformation and/or trying to cover their tracks regarding the Plame Nigergate bullshit? The similarity in techniques and names in interesting.
Posted by emal at July 10, 2006 11:31 AMBush, Blair, Berlusconi: the Triumpherate of Evil.
Since we now know that Bush's and Berlusconi's right-wing governments were busy buying "journalists," I just wonder if the Blair government was doing the same?
It more and more appears to me that the West actually lost the Cold War, especially with so many right-wing West leaders today acting like a bunch of Communists.
Posted by The Oracle at July 11, 2006 01:12 AM