Re: press trickery of the worst kind

[Gadi Evron <ge () linuxbox org>]

Gadi Evron wrote:
> Update:
> Mr. Harris sent me an email stating he sent in a correction 
> recommendation. Let's see what happens with it.

I guess his "recommendation" was not accepted. The lies are still on the 
web page. Oh well.

It happens.

        Gadi.


> Gadi Evron wrote:
> > I spoke yesterday with one David Harris--I shouldn't have. He is a 
> > reporter for a Chinese publication and was writing a story on "cyber 
> > war" in the middle east. He was referenced by a friend so I was happy to 
> > help him.
> >
> > I mentioned how whenever there are political and ethnic 
> > tensions--anywhere, cyber after-math follows. This often consists of 
> > silliness such as kids attacking with defacement and DDoS attacks. I 
> > also mentioned "warfare" is buzzword, hyped, over-kill which shouldn't 
> > be used lightly.
> >
> > At no point did I speak of Israel as a state. I told the reporter that I 
> > don't work for the Israeli government these days and that I can't 
> > comment anyway as I know nothing about what Israel does or doesn't do.
> >
> > Here is what he wrote:
> >
> >      "Gadi Evron, a private consultant formerly responsible for security in 
> > Israeli government's non-military computer system, does not deny that 
> > his country has a large-scale activity using the Internet to disrupt 
> > enemy activities. He just tends to err when it comes to talk of the more 
> > grandiose plots. "
> >
> > Even if I forgive him for calling me a consultant...
> > I called the guy, and he said: "well, you did not deny it".
> >
> > Of course I did not deny it, how can I deny something I know nothing 
> > about? He may as well have said I didn't deny the Roswell landing and 
> > alien abductions.
> >
> > Immediately after what is referenced to me without quoting, he puts a 
> > quote which claims this even more vehemently. He then attributed it to 
> > someone else at the end of the paragraph almost as an after-thought:
> >
> >      "While it is clear Israel has successfully used cyber-tactics 
> > against its enemies, it is harder to know to what extent Israel has been 
> > hit, according to Dahan. "
> >
> > I don't know where Dahan comes up with his facts, but I my alarm bells 
> > should have ringed when the repoter, Mr. Harris, asked me about silly 
> > rumored conspiracy theories against the US government--they were so 
> > ridiculous I don't even remember what they were.
> >
> > Was this reporter just looking for a hit story, no matter if 
> > unsubstantiated and unprofessional, or is this some sort of agenda?
> >
> > This is trickery of the lowest sort, and yellow journalism if I've ever 
> > seen such. Unless it was an honest mistake on the reporter's part--in 
> > which case I hope this is fixed soon.
> >
> > You can find his article, here:
> > http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-07/15/content_11709201.htm
> >
> >      Gadi.


-- 
Gadi Evron,
ge () linuxbox org.

Blog: http://gevron.livejournal.com/
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