I've been reading web sites covering some of the more blatant lies this Bush administration has been shoving down America's throat and when I came to LA Indy Media's web page, what should I find but a mention that Bush and his regime had to use an equally notorious PR firm to help them sell their lies to the ignorant, gullible sheep.

The Hill & Knowlton PR firm has been used by Scientology after extensive and massive public relations problems due to numerous felony indictments, felony raids around the world, and well covered homicides. For background:

http://www.xenu.net/archive/CourtFiles/occf31.html?FACTNet
http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/profiles/hk/hk4.htm
http://www.skeptictank.org/gs/sci315.htm
http://www.hamline.edu/apakabar/basisdata/ 1992/10/01/0000.html
http://www.holysmoke.org/heber/heber02.htm

Is there _zero_ irony in the fact that Bush has to use the same PR firm? It means that Bush and his regime at leat knows their lying is so incompetent that they had to bring in professional liars for hire.

Their dirty deeds to support imperialism and the worst elements of capitalism extends through much of the entire 20th century. They were instrumental in many of the post WWII propaganda campaigns to break the back of organized labor, among other things.

Some might also remember Hill & Knowlton's roll in Gulf War I. They coached the niece (or was that the daughter...I forget... anyway, one of the two) of the Kuwaiti ambassador to the US in how to present a BS story to Congress. She testified about how Iraqi soldiers raided hospitals in Kuwait city, tossing babies on the ground and stealing incubators. Her performance was so powerful that it was sited as the main testimony that moved a large number of Congresspersons off the fence to vote for war authorization. It was later understood that had that testimony not been delivered, it was quite possible that war authorization would not be granted. Well, within about 9 months, some enterprising investigative reporters realized that up to 300 incubators (her testimony) stolen in Kuwait City would equate to an order of magnitude more incubators than one would find in any city in the world, relative to the size of the population. Hill & Knowlton simply screwed up. They made their tall story too much of a whopper. But nothing ever came from this in spite of the crystal clear historical record. The "brilliance" of Hill & Knowlton is that they get away with the shit they pedal -- with a little help from complicit media, other institutions of society, and a dumbed-downed (by design) American public.

You shouldn't fixate on any specific PR firm. The Bush Junta makes use of the services from many firms and many different organizations. In fact, they're quite up front about what they do -- even opening saying they will use our money to buy our brains. See the story I wrote last year over here:

http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=203910

(yeah, that's me..... but there are more "x" men out here than just I, and more George Orwell's to boot)

...in and of itself is not bad. At it's best it serves to get out a message of good works well done.

Because an organization retains a PR Firm to help them is not inherently bad. It is only when PR is used to create a false image of goodness or innocence when it then becomes a dark tool.

Take for example the post that started this thread:

The Church of Scientology, despite attempts by their detractors to claim otherwise, has never been involved in, or convicted of, felonious activity. Quite the contrary they are involved in more than a few good works if one takes the time to sweep away the innuendoes and Black PR. They were the only volunteer group which New York City Fire Fighters invited back to the Ceremony to honor their fallen Camrades at the One Year Memorial of 911. They, the Scientologists, are involved World Wide in Social Betterment Groups, particularly Drug Rehabilitation, Adult Literacy, and Human Rights. Along the way they have accumulated more than a few enemies, Drug Companies, Crooked Politicians, the "Usual Suspects, not because they are doing anything wrong, but because they are effective. This offends those who are getting fat off of human misery, and perceive their power to be based on keeping people down.

If I recall they Fired Hill and Knowlton for screwing them over by leaking inside information on a Libel Case they were waging against a major magazine, which had published a "Hit" Piece on them.

Hill and Knowlton does have a proven record of dirty dealing and dishonest PR campaigns. PR Watch has brought their name up quite frequently in connection with dirty deatlings - for example the now infamous "Iraqi's throwing Babies From Incubators" used to sell Gulf Massacre I. They would not seem to be any friend of the truth.

I couldn't agree more, Diogenes.

The post above me. What he said.

Corporate Watch has plenty about these people including the fact that they were the ones responsible for the claims that the Iraqi's were throwing Kuwaiti babies on the floors in hospitals and leaving them to
die.

Corporate Watch also covers Scientology and their efforts to try to lie their way out of their notorious reputation. You'll see that these creeps bailed out two Scientologists from jail. I suspect that these were the so-called "Agent Gold" and one other who were captured inside the Washington offices of the IRS, caught making photocopies of secret IRS documents using forged passes and fake identification.

That was America's single most largest incidence of domestic espionage in its history -- what Scientology called "Operation Snow White" which made L. Ron Hubbard flee from the law while his wife and 10 other criminal kingpins took the fall.

http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/profiles/hk/hk1.htm

That's Corporate Watch's coverages of H&K.

http://www.cosvm.info/stipofev.htm

That's the Stipulation of Evidence covering Operation Snow White and the domestic espionage.

What _honest_ corporation assists those who commit treason by breaking and entering into government buildings to steal and alter documents? What _honest_ corporation commits treason by selling lies to the American people so that they'll believe they need to go to war against innocent people?

These people are scum.

It is obvious that your anti-Bush Rant is cover to present your anti-Scientology Rant. Rather dishonest don't you think? Flying under false colors from Square One. Doesn't do a lot for your credibility.

"Notorious Reputation"? Nice use of a vague smear.

The IRS Settled with the Church of Scientology, granted them full tax exempt status as a Charitalble organization, and published a retraction of their smears; published at their own expense I might add. They then went beyond what was asked and delivered copies to foreign Governments around the World.

The Church of Scientology was subjected to the most extensive investigation ever conducted against a private organization in this country and came out Pure as the Driven Snow - Provably so. Admittedly So in IRS Documents.

From everything I know about them, some from first hand experience, they are one of the most Ethical Groups of whom I know.

L Ron Hubbard died in this country. He was born here and died here. An honest accounting would show him to be a rather remarkable man. He was the youngest boy to ever achieve the Rank of Eagle Scout, neither was ever, indicted, charged, or credibly accused of any crime. He served this Nation as Naval Officer in W.W.II, was a Popular and well read Author, Philosopher, and developed a Religous Philosophy which many people have found workable and beneficial and which apparently you don't like. Not liking something is not sufficient grounds for smearing decent people.

What other dishonest actions are you hiding?