A media blitz against 'conspiracy theorists' among Pakistani media people is getting fresh impetus. It started months ago from the pages of NYT and Washington Post - but is coming to flower in Pakistan. The intent? To hush up, malign, and discourage any mention of foreign clandestine operations in the Pakistani media.
Early on, the crusade to sanctify the Pakistani media of conspiracy theories was the fare of anonymous blogs. Now, with NFP and Ayesha Siddiqa weighing in just last week, it has become mainstream. The trend begs examination.
For instance, are the writers of such articles authority on clandestine operations? Or is it that they can account for every one of the 75 billion dolllars the US spends on intelligance annually? Mind you, the $1.5 billion annual injection sanctioned by the Kerry-Luger law is about remaking Pakistan - the world's sixth most populous nation. What could $75 billion spent on intelligance not achieve?
How much of the U.S. inteligance spending would flow to Pakistan? Not a dollar, the cinspiracy-bashers would seem to argue. On the other hand, when the U.S. is spending billions to help remake a pivotal ally, spending a few hundred million dollars on psyops would be the most logical thing to do; after all, it's about remaking.
One wonders why nobody is running about castigating, mocking, and demonising David E. Sanger and NYT for spreading the conspiracy theory (January 2009) that the U.S. is undertaking 'new efforts, some of them experimental, to undermine electrical systems, computer systems and other networks on which Iran relies' for nuclear resreach and development.
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