Bob Kolody vs. Coca-Cola

June 21, 2001 4:44 PM

Bob Kolody vs. Coca-Cola
"Throughout the late 1950’s and early 60’s the CIA began expanding its operations. In order to effectively fight the Cold War on a global scale, it needed to establish bases in every major country. This meant that agents would need a plausible cover in order to penetrate the borders of international frontiers. They couldn’t just show up with CIA stamped on their passport ... As a solution to the problem the CIA was able to convince Coca-Cola, one of the first truly globalized companies with product distribution operations in virtually every corner of the world, to be used as a cover for the U.S. intelligence agency."
posted by bytecode (27 comments total)

This story was nominated a number of times on Slashdot for Roblimo's "best online news story" discussion. I didn't come away from this story with any great confidence in the journalism. Where are the outside sources looking at the claims of this, honestly now, ragtag group? Where are the intellectual property professors and Forbes authors looking at the alleged lapse in Coke's copyright? I love a David and Goliath story as much as the next CIA agent, but this story left me wondering what the fuss was about. The author is too close to the story.
posted by Yogurt at 5:14 PM on June 21, 2001

It's an okay story, but I prefer the other white meat... Call it conflict of interest.
posted by dincognito at 5:24 PM on June 21, 2001

If this is a fully fledged factoid then no wonder certain countries wouldn't allow its sale for a while. Wonder if that old claim about them wanting to know its secret ingrediant/s for religious purposes (kosha type things) before they could endorse it was just a spin to cover this deeper underlying motive? Good link either way Bytecode.
posted by Kino at 5:36 PM on June 21, 2001

The opening paragraph of this story i found in a serious newspaper whilst browsing for info on India's 16 year coke ban has almost inspired me to up sticks and emigrate there; Then i remembered: I never could stomach Curry-Wursts and Cow-Urine.
posted by Kino at 6:19 PM on June 21, 2001

Good link? After wasting an hour trying to find anything worthwhile in the story I finally threw up my hands in frustration and gave up.

Coke stole a can design idea. Big freakin deal.
posted by y6y6y6 at 6:21 PM on June 21, 2001

Don't be dissin' coke while y6y6y6 is in da house.
posted by Shadowkeeper at 6:27 PM on June 21, 2001

Bejeeesus.. You spent an hour there y6y6y6? No wonder you hate it!
posted by Kino at 6:37 PM on June 21, 2001

Kino: I've never heard of anyone drink cow urine in India. India has the largest vegetarian population on the planet.
posted by riffola at 6:38 PM on June 21, 2001

Riffola: No, not you.. ya big silly!.. that Ray guy who made the page has!.
posted by Kino at 6:50 PM on June 21, 2001

Just wish it wasn't so damn hard to read... White fonts on black backgrounds which go on in blocks of text for pages and pages just doesn't hold my interest.
posted by fooljay at 6:52 PM on June 21, 2001

Proving once and for all that the web is way behind Ken Hite. Which is odd, since Suppressed Transmission started out as a web column...anyway, Ken covered all of this, and a whole lot more, a couple of years ago.
posted by Ezrael at 6:58 PM on June 21, 2001

Perhaps that's why all them pay sites with the same.. erm.. design approach keep interspersing hardcore porn amongst the content Fooljay.
posted by Kino at 7:00 PM on June 21, 2001

I think y6y6y6 works for the cia!
posted by bytecode at 7:16 PM on June 21, 2001

[I've never heard of anyone drink cow urine in India. ]

I have seen in documentaries where they annoint themselves with it for good fortune though.
posted by revbrian at 7:34 PM on June 21, 2001

'I love a David and Goliath story as much as the next CIA agent'

Blimey, maybe that's what Yoghurt meant up there, Byte. They were subtly communicating in codish fashion! We foiled them! I'll see what other info i can glean. Ahem.. THE EAGLES FLY TONIGHT!.. nudge nudge... wink wink... OwWwWw!! Geddofffff!!!!
posted by Kino at 7:38 PM on June 21, 2001

So noone's really terrified because the (Chicago) court system is full of fraud and corruption?

That Coca-cola corp. and it's network can buy judge decisions in every step of the court system?

Or have I read a different article, perhaps?
posted by willem at 7:42 PM on June 21, 2001

Dunno Willem, was there any distracting nudey pictures randomly placed amongst the enthrallment?
posted by Kino at 7:49 PM on June 21, 2001

Lots of people in China drink their own urine these days, though. Then there's the Jesus diet.
posted by rodii at 8:17 PM on June 21, 2001

Sheeks!... what kind of monster have i unleashed!!!

Ha! Check out the page title!! Go on... Click!

Rodii: The urine thing is your monster from here on in! That link has made you its righfull parent!! I'm thinking only of the childs best interests!
posted by Kino at 8:32 PM on June 21, 2001

"I think y6y6y6 works for the cia!"

I absolutely deny that I am a CIA plant. My Website is NOT a big smoke screen designed to lull you into trust. I had NOTHING to do with the strange sounds on your phone. Just drink more Diet Coke and every thing will be fine.

"So noone's really terrified because....."

Welcome to the US justice system. Justice gets purchased everyday. Go down to your courthouse and watch some jury trials start to finish. The cut and dried cases get settled out of court. Close cases will go to the best lawyer, who goes to the highest bidder.
posted by y6y6y6 at 9:16 PM on June 21, 2001

Willem: I think it could a blockbuster, front page, Pulitizer-winning news story, if it were true. But I need more reasons to believe it.
posted by Yogurt at 9:16 PM on June 21, 2001

Hell who cares if it's true? Throw in a few car chases and Halle Barry topless and sell the screenplay to Hollywood!
posted by ZachsMind at 2:41 AM on June 22, 2001

Lots of people in China drink their own urine these days, though. Then there's the Jesus diet.

the trend started in japan, then moved to china. why do people like to attribute gross stuff to china and cute stuff to japan? i'm often mistaken for being japanese, btw.

why is pepsi constantly doing taste tests? i always end up picking coke when deliberately trying to pick out the pep.

hmm. what i got out of it is to distinguish the law from the enforcers, that the law itself is sound and necessary. well, relatively sound.
posted by elle at 4:01 AM on June 22, 2001

I think y6y6y6 works for the cia!

Well, as we all know, 70% of MetaFilistines are government agents.

I sure could use a nice cold can of Coke right now...
posted by briank at 6:32 AM on June 22, 2001

> why do people like to attribute gross stuff to china and
> cute stuff to japan?

Can't say about China, but Japan has for some unfathomable reason become the world capital of Cute, with the world's highest per capita production and consumption of Cuteness. Does anyone have the faintest notion why this is so? Oniko, what hast thou wrought?
posted by jfuller at 7:05 AM on June 22, 2001

Heck, here in Atlanta, Coke is more powerful than the CIA!
posted by trox at 7:27 AM on June 22, 2001

Go figure! we call coke "the dark waters of yankee imperialism". Viva Latinoamérica!
posted by papalotl at 3:04 PM on June 22, 2001