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.

I think we should emphasise that it is not in the interests of the neo-con project of  "a new American Century" to countenance the development of a stronger EU which would be in a significantly better negotiation position vis a vis the US than all the member states individually.  Ireland is never going to effecive oppose e.g. rendition flights on its own - but neither would it veto an EU directive on the issue.  Thus a strong EU is not in the interests of the Neo-con tendencies in the US.

Ganly has strong commercial ties and interests within the US defense and security establishment and thus could not claim to be a disinterested observer or simply acting in his capacity as a "concerned Irish citizen" as he claims.  In that sense Libertas is very defiately a "front" organisation for other interests, and it would help the pro-treaty campaign if we could highlight the contrdictions in the No camp.

I'm happy to draft LTE to Irish Times where I am a semi regular - do you want to try the Indo group - or should we publish jointly on behalf of Eurotrib as this would give letters a much better chance of being published.

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."

- Jake

"It seems to an outsider that Americans have a deep distrust of their government. Frankly, I don't blame them. I don't trust [their] government either."

Declan Ganley is also Chairman and CEO of Rivada Networks, a US Defense contractors with former Generals, Admirals, and key members of the US defense establishment on his board.

According to Jane's Intelligence Digest (17/1/8, (New EU treaty worries US intel services)  "United States policymakers are concerned its provisions could present serious challenges to transatlantic intelligence and homeland security co-operation."....  "US intelligence and security officials have been able to circumvent EU institutions in many cases so far by relying extensively on formal and informal arrangements with the individual member governments. In addition, Washington has felt confident that its European allies would use their powers to veto unwelcome EU-wide proposals in areas related to security and defence. If adopted, the Lisbon treaty could threaten many of these arrangements. "

In other words, US the US intelligence establishment is confident that Ireland, acting on its own, would never veto (eg) rendition flights through Shannon, whereas the EU, with a strengthened Common Foreign and Security Policy, just might.

Am I the only person connecting the dots here?

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."

According to Jane's Intelligence Digest (17/1/08, "New EU treaty worries US intel services")  "United States policymakers are concerned its provisions could present serious challenges to transatlantic intelligence and homeland security co-operation."....  "US intelligence and security officials have been able to circumvent EU institutions in many cases so far by relying extensively on formal and informal arrangements with the individual member governments. In addition, Washington has felt confident that its European allies would use their powers to veto unwelcome EU-wide proposals in areas related to security and defence. If adopted, the Lisbon treaty could threaten many of these arrangements. "

In other words, the US intelligence establishment is confident that Ireland, acting on its own, would never effectively oppose such things as rendition flights through Shannon, whereas the EU, with a strengthened Common Foreign and Security Policy and a legally binding Charter of Fundamental Rights, just might.

Could there be a connection here?

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."