-Caveat Lector-
>From http://theregister.co.uk/content/6/25574.html
}}}>Begin
NY Times sicks FBI on MSNBC journo
By Thomas C Greene in Washington
Posted: 05/06/2002 at 06:11 GMT
In 1998, kiddiots Slut Puppy and Master Pimp humiliated the New York Times with a
defacement that took the paper's Web site off line for the better part of a day before
its clueless admins could regain control of their equipment. This year, the venerable
'Gray Lady', as the paper loves to hear itself called, was stung again by a humiliating
hack courtesy of Adrian Lamo, who effortlessly grabbed the private details of James
Carville, James Baker, Larry Lessig, Robert Redford, William F. Buckley Jr., Jeanne
Kirkpatrick, Rush Limbaugh, Vint Cerf, Warren Beatty and Jimmy Carter, along with
hundreds of other noteworthy contributors to its Op-Ed page.
The newspaper pursued Slut Puppy and Master Pimp through federal law
enforcement channels, and no one should be surprised to learn that it's pursued
Lamo as well in hopes of furthering the fiction that its shit doesn't stink. And that's
understandable when the colossal ego of an 'American institution' is on the line.
What's not understandable is that in its quest for vengeance, the paper and its FBI
anti-hacking Pinkerton squad have commanded members of the press to cough up
confidential information regarding the Lamo case, conveniently forgetting that real
journalists need to keep their notes and correspondence private in order to do their
jobs properly.
One wonders how the NYT would react to a subpoena to turn over its own reporters'
notes and e-mail correspondence. We reckon they'd be indignant. Yet they put in
motion a process that has rewarded MSNBCi reporter Bob Sullivan with an FBI
subpoena to do just that on the Times' behalf.
Sullivan was ordered to surrender e-mail correspondence and interview notes related
to Lamo and to SecurityFocus Editorial Director Kevin Poulsen, who has followed
Lamo's exploits closely.
Now it gets interesting. The FBI subsequently withdrew the subpoena on grounds
that it hadn't been adequately reviewed by the DoJ, which supposedly makes the
final call on whether or not a journalist should be persecuted. We know that the FBI
is an almost transcendently honourable institution, so we're confident that the
negative press potential here had nothing whatever to do with the decision.
It's not known whether or not the subpoena will be re-submitted once Lord Protector
Ashcroft has had a chance to look it over; but his record isn't the greatest. Earlier
this
year he saw to the jailing of freelance journo Vanessa Leggett, who's believed to
have confidential information useful to a murder investigation. Leggett spent nearly
six months in the federal slam as a reward for being an exemplary -- that is, tight-
lipped -- journalist, and still managed not to capitulate to government abuse.
We very much hope that Sullivan (whose work we happen to like, btw) won't have to
make a sacrifice like that to keep the NYT feeling good about itself. But the company
clearly hasn't a clue about Internet security, as this new and highly amusing story
illustrates. And as it exhibits the sort of ethical consistency customary to the touts
and pimps lurking about the Bangkok bus terminal, we do worry that it might be in
the market for a scapegoat .... any scapegoat. ®
Related Links
Background on the Leggett case [looks like she'd qualify for political refugee status
in
a number of countries -- ed.]
Forbes journo Adam Pennenberg's similar run-in with the Reno DoJ
End<{{{
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Forwarded as information only; no automatic endorsement
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material
is distributed without charge or profit to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information
for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe
simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not
believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do
not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not
believe in anything merely on the authority of Teachers, elders or wise men.
Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it
agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all.
Then accept it and live up to it."
The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutta
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will
teach you to keep your mouth shut."
--- Ernest Hemingway
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
