Mary wrote:
"That none of this appears to be true is indeed evidence-- evidence that Defkalion was lying." NO, IT IS NOT EVIDENCE THAT THEY ARE LYING! There are a number of explanations which are just as plausible: - knowledge of the application's existence has not made it up to whatever level of the manager who was asked at that time. If that manager became aware of the application the next week, would they take the time to contact the person who asked, if they even knew who that was, to update them on the existence of the application, or, - the Dept involved may be under direction to NOT answer questions related to the application due to its potentially overwhelming nature and/or military use. Relying on statements from as politically charged an environment as this, and with all the turmoil in Greece, and with all the corruption and power struggles going on, as evidence of DGT's lying, is walking way out on a very flimsy limb. Also, note this phrase in your statement, "appears to be true". Perceptions are used by clever people to mislead the masses. politicians and people in decision-making positions are keenly aware of this. I've known people at the Director level in govt organizations who have specifically said that "perceptions are everything". they know that their effectiveness as a Director is based more on perceptions, than facts and figures. So they carefully cultivate the perceptions that others have of their Dept. I don't think its pathological at all to ask whether or not there was an application submitted. checking up on claims by some person or company is appropriate. However, depending on the circumstances, as I have now stated several times as being the whole point, it is a very rare instance where those kinds of inquiries results in any definitive conclusions. ergo, the initial inquiry degrades into useless bickering. -Mark
