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There's a long and occasionally interesting book waiting to be written about US involvement in overt and covert political engineering throughout the world.

Western countries have hardly been immune. In fact the US has hardly been immune.

Some methods:

Media influence - 'pundits' and reporters either funded with Washington money and paid to produce talking points on cue, or pressured by management not to cover certain stories.

Indirect and false front campaigning, as per Mr Ganley.

Funded support for expedient movements and political action groups.

Think tanks - q.v. pundits.

Infiltration of activist groups for reporting and direct influence

Direct pressure on politicians through blackmail or threats

Agent provocateur operations to discredit activist groups

Assassination and other covert ops

False flag domestic terrorism

Coups and attempted coups

Vote fixing

You don't need to suggest a conspiracy - the conspiracy is obvious and all of these operations are a well-documented part of the historical record.

It's nice to pretend we're living in a happy shiny democracy, but really - not so much.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Thu Apr 10th, 2008 at 07:08:58 AM EST
Infiltration of activist groups for reporting and direct influence

Hell, that goes on here for no apparent reason, as in the case of those cookie-baking peaceniks in Fahrenheit 9/11.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Thu Apr 10th, 2008 at 10:19:53 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Once you have a tool you have to use it.

When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Apr 10th, 2008 at 01:27:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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