[NYTr] Code Pink Hoaxes CBS's "Politico" Blog Readers with Fake Blackwater Press Release

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

sent by David Grace - Oct 30, 2007

[So not all liberals are AOL lamers with not a clue what to do with
computers. Kudos to the Code Pink hacker, whoever she is. -NY Transfer]


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/30/politics/politico/thecrypt/main3430225.shtml

Blackwater Plans To 'put The Mercy Back In Mercenary'
CBS News, NY - 12 hours ago

Blackwater usa's got the whole oversight thing taken
care of. Responding to rising criticism of its Iraq
operations, the security contractor will announce ...

[The page cannot be found ...

site removed a few hours later & following story explains]

                         ***

CBS Politico - Oct 30, 2007
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/30/politics/politico/thecrypt/main3431303.shtml

You Can Make This Stuff Up

By Ryan Grim

(The Politico) In this business, you sometimes come
across news items and think, "You couldn't make that
stuff up." Well, sometimes you can.

Code Pink today pulled off a hoax that pulled in
Politico and a number of other news outlets when it
ginned up a fake release, saying that Blackwater USA
was creating a new "Department of Corporate Integrity"
that would put the "mercy back in mercenary." That
should have been a tip off.

"We do some silly things, but we didn't do that," said
Anne Tyrrell, who is actually a spokesperson for
Blackwater USA.

"We got a lot of international press," said Code
Pink's Desiree Fairooz, most recently in the news for
confronting Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice with
fake blood on her hands. "It was a spoof."

Copyright 2007 POLITICO

                            ***

[the following post speaks to previous back & forth]

Wonkette.com - Oct 30, 2007
http://wonkette.com/politics/faux-politico/politico-falls-for-hoax-blackwater-press-release-316774.php

faux politico

Politico Falls for Hoax Blackwater Press Release

oops - One of old man Politicos blogs, The Crypt, had
an interesting story up earlier today called
Blackwater Plans To put The Mercy Back In
Mercenary, but now the the link to that story goes
straight to Politico.com. Ruh roh.

The story referenced a Blackwater USA release in
which the infamous company announced it would form a
Department of Corporate Integrity to rebuild its
image. Politico has since pulled down the story,
probably because the release was a hoax.

Whats awesome about computers, however, is that
copy-paste exists. After the jump, the full Politico
story.

UPDATE: Politico has revealed that the fake press
release was from lefty protest group CODE PINK  like
that raging hobo lady who attacked Condi last week.
Brilliant.

Arent these Politico guys supposed to be old and
experienced or something?

    October 30, 2007 Read More: Iraq

    Blackwater plans to put the mercy back in
mercenary

    Not to worry -- Blackwater USA's got the whole
oversight thing taken care of.

    Responding to rising criticism of its Iraq
operations, the security contractor will announce this
morning that it is forming a new Department of
Corporate Integrity.

    A statement the company put out is frank about the
urgency of the new department. Blackwater has felt a
need to defend its corporate name and clear up its
public image, it reads.

    Just as in warfare, a good offense is the best
defense, said Eric Prince, chairman and CEO of the
Prince Group and Blackwater, USA. So, we are going on
the offense to defend the image of our great company.

    The money line from the release: Blackwater plans
to put the mercy back in mercenary.

    Full statement after the jump:

    Blackwater USA Unveils New Corporate Integrity
Department

    WHEN: Tuesday, October, 30th, 11 am

    WHERE: Phoenix Park Hotel, 520 North Capitol
Street, N.W., Washington DC

    WHO: Blackwater USAs new Department of Corporate
Integrity

    WHAT: As part of the 2007 Annual Summit of the
International Peace Operations Association (IPOA),
Blackwater will be unveiling its new Department of
Corporate Integrity. Given the publics concern over
recent allegations about the lack of oversight and
accountability for private security contractors in
Iraq, Blackwater has felt a need to defend its
corporate name and clear up its public image. Just as
in warfare, a good offense is the best defense, says
Eric Prince, chairman and CEO of the Prince Group and
Blackwater, USA. So we are going on the offense to
defend the image of our great company.

    Blackwater has become synonymous with mercenary,
but the public doesnt understand that mercenary has
actually been a positive term throughout history,
said Max Boot of the Council of Foreign Affairs at the
IPOA opening plenary. Mercenaries have provided
services to kings, popes, and national governments
that armies could not provide. So instead of running
from the label mercenary, Blackwater should embrace it
and reclaim the term.

    Directing the new Department of Public Integrity
is Kitty Laver, who has 20 years experience in public
relations and corporate responsibility. My job is to
put the mercy back in mercenary, says Laver, who will
be unveiling the departments new code of conduct and
presenting new measures the corporation is taking to
hold its employees and contractors accountable for
unethical behavior. Im certain the American public
and the Iraqis will embrace the new, improved
Blackwater, says Laver.
    By Ryan Grim 10:27 AM | comments (0) | post
comment | permalink

[Politico]

                            ***

Editor & Publisher - Oct 30, 2007
http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003665292

Code Pink Punks 'Politico' in Blackwater Hoax

By Joe Strupp

NEW YORK - With all of the news about Blackwater USA's
problems, it wasn't a surprise that a fake story about
the company creating a "Department of Corporate
Integrity" would make it on to several valid news
sites.

CBS News and Politico.com were among the victims of
the fraud, reportedly perpetuated by Code Pink,
according to Politico, which posted a correction
today. CBS reprinted a Politico story on its site.

"In this business, you sometimes come across news
items and think, 'You couldn't make that stuff up.'
Well, sometimes you can," Politico reported in its
note. "Code Pink today pulled off a hoax that pulled
in Politico and a number of other news outlets when it
ginned up a fake release, saying that Blackwater USA
was creating a new 'Department of Corporate Integrity'
that would put the 'mercy back in mercenary.' That
should have been a tip off."

"We do some silly things, but we didn't do that," Anne
Tyrrell, a spokesperson for Blackwater USA, told
Politico.

The full original story read as follows.
*

Not to worry Blackwater USA's got the whole oversight
thing taken care of.

Responding to rising criticism of its Iraq operations,
the security contractor will announce this morning
that it is forming a new "Department of Corporate
Integrity."

A statement the company put out is frank about the
urgency of the new department. "Blackwater has felt a
need to defend its corporate name and clear up its
public image," it reads.

"Just as in warfare, a good offense is the best
defense," said Eric Prince, chairman and CEO of the
Prince Group and Blackwater, USA. "So, we are going on
the offense to defend the image of our great company."

The money line from the release: Blackwater plans "to
put the mercy back in mercenary."

Joe Strupp (jstrupp at editorandpublisher.com) is a
senior editor at E&P.