18-01-2011, 10:26 PM
Lauren,
You are in the enviable position of opening the doors of perception for a group of what appear to be thoughtful, courageous readers.
You might reassure them that even the most well-read and otherwise experienced deep political observers are often hard-pressed to avoid victimization by clever agents of disinformation. Over the years I've been fooled often, more than once in the most embarrassing of ways. As a result I've developed skin that arguably is too thick -- skin that at times may be impenetrable by the truth.
Alas, there are no easy formulae to apply to sexy tales such as Vinson's in order to assay their truthfulness -- beyond, that is, the application of common sense informed by as much deep political study as you can bring to the process.
Vinson may have been pitching a screenplay or novel. Literally. He may have told the truth as he knows it, but a "truth" regarding events designed to muddy the investigative waters. He may have been a witting spreader of disinformation.
What I conclude with a strong degree of confidence is that Vinson's story is worthless as an investigative lead unless we see its value as a variation of what Peter Dale Scott has termed a "negative template."
I hope this helps.
Charles
You are in the enviable position of opening the doors of perception for a group of what appear to be thoughtful, courageous readers.
You might reassure them that even the most well-read and otherwise experienced deep political observers are often hard-pressed to avoid victimization by clever agents of disinformation. Over the years I've been fooled often, more than once in the most embarrassing of ways. As a result I've developed skin that arguably is too thick -- skin that at times may be impenetrable by the truth.
Alas, there are no easy formulae to apply to sexy tales such as Vinson's in order to assay their truthfulness -- beyond, that is, the application of common sense informed by as much deep political study as you can bring to the process.
Vinson may have been pitching a screenplay or novel. Literally. He may have told the truth as he knows it, but a "truth" regarding events designed to muddy the investigative waters. He may have been a witting spreader of disinformation.
What I conclude with a strong degree of confidence is that Vinson's story is worthless as an investigative lead unless we see its value as a variation of what Peter Dale Scott has termed a "negative template."
I hope this helps.
Charles
Charles Drago
Co-Founder, Deep Politics Forum
If an individual, through either his own volition or events over which he had no control, found himself taking up residence in a country undefined by flags or physical borders, he could be assured of one immediate and abiding consequence: He was on his own, and solitude and loneliness would probably be his companions unto the grave.
-- James Lee Burke, Rain Gods
You can't blame the innocent, they are always guiltless. All you can do is control them or eliminate them. Innocence is a kind of insanity.
-- Graham Greene
Co-Founder, Deep Politics Forum
If an individual, through either his own volition or events over which he had no control, found himself taking up residence in a country undefined by flags or physical borders, he could be assured of one immediate and abiding consequence: He was on his own, and solitude and loneliness would probably be his companions unto the grave.
-- James Lee Burke, Rain Gods
You can't blame the innocent, they are always guiltless. All you can do is control them or eliminate them. Innocence is a kind of insanity.
-- Graham Greene