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Underground > Switchboard >

The Guardian's 'Operation Clark County'

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22:44 / 21.10.04

Sorry, it's just dawned on me the extent to which I'm derailing this. The relationship between to US and the UK, special or otherwise, probably deserves it's own thread. I'll get one going when I can give it proper attention.

07:39 / 22.10.04

Maybe I'm being naive but I've always assumed countries only conduct their foreign affairs based on their own interests.

09:28 / 22.10.04

You're probably right. For me, it's the gap between that self-interest and the public facade of white-hatted altruism that really sticks.

But yes. Another thread.

Our Lady Has Left the Building

14:07 / 23.10.04

Always explain, never apologise:

The reader's editor on... a word in the ear of a Clark County voter.

The majority of emails received up to Thursday, whether from supporters of George Bush or John Kerry, were critical (only about 1 in 10 voiced support). It was clear that a "spamming" campaign was involved. One Guardian journalist, with dual American and British nationality - a strong supporter of the exercise - believed the reaction illustrated the intimidatory tactics of the angry right. The response of Democrats, fearing that their cause would be harmed, showed that the intimidation worked. The intention was to smother free speech. The G2 exercise sought to open up debate.

Do you see. If a Republican emailed complaining about O:CC then that was just the angry right wing. If a Democrat emailed complaining about O:CC then that was because they were cowed by the angry right wing. There is no possible way in which the Guardian was wrong to do this.

In a poll I conducted among Guardian staff who had been following the story, of 71 respondents, 13 thought it a legitimate and worthwhile exercise, 14 were undecided and 44 were against it.

It seems that Ian Mayes believes in faith-based newspaper editing.

We're The Great Old Ones Now

15:09 / 23.10.04

I know a couple of people who wrote for this campaign, and they've had an amazing flood of responses, as you might imagine. Many of those responses have been abusive, but equally, a large number have been grateful and positive.

I'm infuriated by the nasty ones, however. If I hear one more 'we saved your ass in WWII', I'm going to puke. I feel like saying 'hey, asshole, Britain fought the Nazis for two years before you came on board and the Russians took casualties like no one ever has - seven figures - so if it weren't for us, you'd be speaking German.'

I realise that's not constructive, and suspect that on this level alone, O:CC was not such a great plan.

Our Lady Has Left the Building

14:10 / 24.10.04

Daily Telegraph: No, we won't gloat as O:CC shuts down.

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