CIA funds "alternative" media through nonprofit foundations?

October 30, 2002 12:48 PM

CIA funds "alternative" media through nonprofit foundations? "The multi-billion dollar Ford Foundation's historic relationship to the Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] is rarely mentioned on Pacifica's DEMOCRACY NOW / Deep Dish TV show, on FAIR's COUNTERSPIN show, on the WORKING ASSETS RADIO show, on The Nation Institute's RADIO NATION show, on David Barsamian's ALTERNATIVE RADIO show or in the pages of PROGRESSIVE, MOTHER JONES and Z magazine. One reason may be because the Ford Foundation and other Establishment foundations subsidize the Establishment Left's alternative media gatekeepers / censors" -- heavy claims. A several part report, in considerable detail. My note - the Mexican PRI, when it ran Mexico, used to fund a whole constellation of Mexican Leftist groups - the threat of withdrawing funding $ proved a very effective way of keeping dissent within "safe" limits.
posted by troutfishing (27 comments total)

Gee Whiz Trout, I was wondering why only one link, then I found out it was one link leading to many, many links. Well done. I guess I've something to read over lunch. BTW I ? the flow chart. Why is Skull and Bones on it?
posted by elwoodwiles at 1:06 PM on October 30, 2002

oops. I love the flow chart.
posted by elwoodwiles at 1:06 PM on October 30, 2002

So just Donahue is funded by the CIA? Why can't Hardball can't get goverment funding?
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 1:07 PM on October 30, 2002

Note that the site (and the accompanying chart) is part of the constellation of stupidity that includes copvcia.com's Michael Ruppert et al. It's typical conspiracy lunacy.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 1:12 PM on October 30, 2002

From troutfishing link:

quick recommended links:

•Mad Cow Productions


Any one remember this thread?
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 1:14 PM on October 30, 2002

I can't believe it took this long for somebody to discover the awful truth behind Chip Berlet, whoever that is. Curse you, Chip Berlet!
posted by Skot at 1:19 PM on October 30, 2002

the dude's thesis is that since the ford foundation was once tied in some way to the CIA, all the alternative media with even the most distant ties to the foundation are somehow self-censoring. i appreciate all the research (this person is obviously clinically obsessed with this topic) into the history of every person ever affiliated with the media he mentions, but some of the connections he's trying to make are groan-inducingly thin. (for the purposes of full disclosure, i do have close ties to an organization with close ties to some of the media he mentions, though i don't think the ford people have seen fit to send us any of their hush money yet.)
posted by jfc at 1:24 PM on October 30, 2002

Yesireebob, when I see that many links on a theory, especially when there's a nice chart of just who's who in the big picture, that's when I know there's real hard evidence to support the proposition being made. (Sorry, I couldn't find Icke's chart linking the Queen, the Rockefellers, and our reptilian overlords, although I know it's there somewhere. I didn't want to poke around too long for it, though - it makes me feel, well, icky.)
posted by yhbc at 1:31 PM on October 30, 2002

In times of U.S. imperialist war, anti-war books by anti-conspiracy theorist Chomsky, such as 9/11, tend to sell well and even make mainstream media best-seller lists. So, even without being directly dependent upon grants from Establishment Foundations which wish to discourage public opinion from considering the evidence dug up by U.S. conspiracy journalists and researchers, ALTERNATIVE RADIO/Z MAGAZINE/SOUTH END PRESS may have a vested economic interest in attempting to marginalize anti-war journalists involved in 9/11 conspiracy research and journalism. From part 4

Hmmmm. I don't know about a site that calls Noam Chomsky an anti-conspiracy theorist. The thesis makes some sense: That the CIA would attempt to control liberal media outlets by funding them. The larger article, however, seems to be stretching. Often, in a not so subtle sub-text, the author seems to be trying to explain why 9/11 conpiracy 'researchers' are being marginalized in the leftist press.
posted by elwoodwiles at 1:35 PM on October 30, 2002

Gee - some are creduluous, others instantly dismissive. Go figure. I guess I'll have to (*arrogant and smug sigh*) dredge up the documents of the CIA'a admission of it's campaign to control USA media during the 60's -- though that's not exactly proof of the claims at hand, it would be rather powerfull circumstantial evidence.

In light of the recent admission, by the CIA in congressional testimony, that it commits 100,000 serious crimes a year in foreign countries (they keep track -- I wonder about detailed breakdowns?), would a little media manipulation program be surprising. If I worked for the CIA (and was *gulp* unscrupulous) I'd recommend such a program myself.
Everybody ELSE is doing it. Why not the US gov? (well.... Constitutionality? Hair splitting, I say!)

I'm a bit pressed for time at the moment, but I'll try and post links (on this thread) to docs. of these two claims (60's CIA media manipulation, and "100,000" crimes testimony) sometime this evening (I'm on the East Coast). Wrigglingly yours, trout.
posted by troutfishing at 1:42 PM on October 30, 2002

The best thing about the flowchart is that it includes every good shadow group, or at least enough for me to win Conspiracy Theory Bingo. "Hey I got Skull & Bones AND the Trilateral Commission!!"

True to form, the Theory is devoid of any actual proof of wrongdoing, only the implication that there might possibly, one day be some.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 1:44 PM on October 30, 2002

Of course, even if some of this story is true............ this doesn't prove that my REAL identity is actually that of one of your reptilian OVERLORDS living in Area 51....nope, not at all......heh heh heh
posted by troutfishing at 1:45 PM on October 30, 2002

Trout: I do think the idea of the CIA using charitable foundations for their own purposes needs looked at. It is very possible that the CIA has used funding to control elements of the more liberal sectors of the media. But this guy wants us to believe that 9/11 conspiracy 'researchers' are being marginalized due to the CIA's efforts. It's a stretch right along with the idea of a 9/11 conspiracy in and of itself. The skull and bones connection also makes the article to appear thin and somewhat hysterical. I get the politics on this, but disagree with the rhetorical approach.
posted by elwoodwiles at 1:58 PM on October 30, 2002

This list is obviously false. It doesn't mention the Vatican, the Gettys, the Rothschilds, or Colonel Sanders (before he went tits up).
posted by Ty Webb at 1:59 PM on October 30, 2002

i hate the Colonel, with his wee beady eyes...
posted by jbelshaw at 2:01 PM on October 30, 2002

Of course, even if some of this story is true............ this doesn't prove that my REAL identity is actually that of one of your reptilian OVERLORDS living in Area 51....nope, not at all......heh heh heh

And I'm not an alien, nope... say, could you just hold still while I ram my ovipositor down your throat and lay eggs...
posted by namespan at 2:03 PM on October 30, 2002

While this seems pretty out there to me, there's a great history of CIA involvement in the arts and letters world - though not for the reasons that immediately come to mind. In the 1950s and 60s, the CIA and other governement agencies secretly supported magazines like Look and touring art exhibits featuring abstract expressionism and experimental theater. Their idea, the sort that only nefarious, Ivy League types could imagine, was that the sight of these various and controversial art forms blooming in the US was a pretty convincing argument for American capitalism. For a good read on the subject, check out Francis Stonor Saunders' The Cultural Cold War.
posted by risenc at 2:17 PM on October 30, 2002

reptilian overlords?

Don't forget your tinfoil hat...
posted by twine42 at 3:03 PM on October 30, 2002

WOW. David Icke is truly deranged. I can't believe I haven't come across that site before, as I find tinfoil hat sites to be delightfully entertaining, but it was hard to enjoy that one. It's so clear that the man is mentally ill.

Reptilian overlords, indeed.
posted by astrogirl at 6:24 PM on October 30, 2002

They got one thing right, Zmag (re: 9/11) and Chomsky (re: Cabal) are quite anti-conspiracy. Of course I see this as common sense, he sees it as being part of a conspiracy. Come to think of it he probably would classify anyone, including me, who doesn't believe in a conspiratorial view of history as being part of a conspiracy.
Now excuse me, I have to go report this thread to my reptilian onerlords.
posted by talos at 2:37 AM on October 31, 2002

Gee, here I've been thinking it was common knowledge that the CIA places operatives inside ALL major media centers. And they use the "journalist" cover story so much it's cliche.

Anyone remember the recent flap at CNN over 5 agents being placed there?

Anyone know the CIA term "Mighty Wurlitzer," what it means and how it is implemented? We see/don't see the results every day.

Ask the Venezuelans what they think about CIA control of the media. And don't forget the great co-operation provided by Opus Dei.
posted by nofundy at 12:04 PM on October 31, 2002

Just googled the term Mighty Wurlitzer and ended up reading Daniel Brandt's Journalism and the CIA.

Somebody tell me how deep the rabbit hole really goes, please...
posted by namespan at 4:16 PM on October 31, 2002

namespan - I enjoyed those articles....here's another good one, The Crimes of Mena. There really is no end to this particular rabbit hole.....it's just another way of being, essentially ------ government by mafia.....
posted by troutfishing at 10:15 PM on November 2, 2002

CIA > CPB > PACIFICA >[WBAI]

Now, THAT'S funny.
posted by ParisParamus at 4:28 AM on November 3, 2002

Paris - as I said, the Mexican gov. (PRI) used to do this. It works really well! Liberals just don't GET power politics, and the power of advertising (a la Ed Bernays). It would never occur to them to play at this sort of game. Too nice? Lower testosterone levels?
posted by troutfishing at 9:51 AM on November 3, 2002

I listened to "Grampah Al Lewis" on WBAI Saturday while riding my bike on the Palisades. Good stuff!
posted by ParisParamus at 4:57 AM on November 4, 2002

Paris - Hmmm.....Not my region......I'll have to check for an archived webcast
posted by troutfishing at 10:07 AM on November 4, 2002