Dougherty Arts Center
Deep Green Resistance Responds
RECEIVED Thu., Feb. 9, 2012
Dear Editor,
After reading the Feb. 3 Austin Chronicle article “Strange Bedfellows” [News, Feb. 3], one comes away with the impression that historian Edward Eggleston’s quote “journalism is organized gossip” may in fact be accurate.
In the recent article by Michael King, there are multiple quotes from email chatter leaked by Anonymous, multiple quotes taken from Stratfor CEO George Friedman’s official response, and quotes taken from Kit O’Connell of Occupy Austin. We see the alleged confirmation of an unnamed source(s) from Occupy Austin that an earlier Stratfor source mentions (involving a dispute between Occupy and Deep Green Resistance). We see attempts made by the journalist to talk to Texas Department of Public Safety and the local police department. But nowhere in the entire article do we see any quotes taken from DGR Austin, nor any mention of DGR’s public response to the leaks which were easily accessible on DGR Austin’s website.
If the author of the piece had done his homework, he would realize that DGR Austin was not present at the Nov. 4 assembly, is not aware of any DGR “manifesto” posted on Occupy’s website, and has absolutely no clue what the “broader disputes over which group was more ‘serious’” are even remotely about. King and/or his alleged sources are confused, lying, speculative, or giving disinformation, and most importantly, they are just plain wrong. It would have been both ethical and courteous for King to contact DGR Austin, which he did not do.
DGR Austin does agree with O’Connell’s assessment that the Stratfor authors seemed clueless in the surveillance endeavors of Occupy and DGR. And much like O’Connell, we do share an immense concern over the alleged collaboration between a DPS agent, Stratfor, and potential ties to local police. A corporate intelligence organization that funds the surveillance and attempted infiltration of local activists and works to share it with government-funded entities is a deeply pressing issue.
Legality issues aside, it is very clear that local activists should think very hard about beefing up their security culture and should keep an eye out for undercover agents and Stratfor personnel.
We hope that local activist groups take a good look at the photo of Stratfor “Watch Officer” Marc Lanthemann so that they may recognize him and make sure he stays exiled from any local activity. To see his photo, and DGR’s official response, please check out www.deepgreenresistance.org/stratforandgovernmentinfiltration.
After reading the Feb. 3 Austin Chronicle article “Strange Bedfellows” [News, Feb. 3], one comes away with the impression that historian Edward Eggleston’s quote “journalism is organized gossip” may in fact be accurate.
In the recent article by Michael King, there are multiple quotes from email chatter leaked by Anonymous, multiple quotes taken from Stratfor CEO George Friedman’s official response, and quotes taken from Kit O’Connell of Occupy Austin. We see the alleged confirmation of an unnamed source(s) from Occupy Austin that an earlier Stratfor source mentions (involving a dispute between Occupy and Deep Green Resistance). We see attempts made by the journalist to talk to Texas Department of Public Safety and the local police department. But nowhere in the entire article do we see any quotes taken from DGR Austin, nor any mention of DGR’s public response to the leaks which were easily accessible on DGR Austin’s website.
If the author of the piece had done his homework, he would realize that DGR Austin was not present at the Nov. 4 assembly, is not aware of any DGR “manifesto” posted on Occupy’s website, and has absolutely no clue what the “broader disputes over which group was more ‘serious’” are even remotely about. King and/or his alleged sources are confused, lying, speculative, or giving disinformation, and most importantly, they are just plain wrong. It would have been both ethical and courteous for King to contact DGR Austin, which he did not do.
DGR Austin does agree with O’Connell’s assessment that the Stratfor authors seemed clueless in the surveillance endeavors of Occupy and DGR. And much like O’Connell, we do share an immense concern over the alleged collaboration between a DPS agent, Stratfor, and potential ties to local police. A corporate intelligence organization that funds the surveillance and attempted infiltration of local activists and works to share it with government-funded entities is a deeply pressing issue.
Legality issues aside, it is very clear that local activists should think very hard about beefing up their security culture and should keep an eye out for undercover agents and Stratfor personnel.
We hope that local activist groups take a good look at the photo of Stratfor “Watch Officer” Marc Lanthemann so that they may recognize him and make sure he stays exiled from any local activity. To see his photo, and DGR’s official response, please check out www.deepgreenresistance.org/stratforandgovernmentinfiltration.
Josh Hinnenkamp
Deep Green Resistance Austin
Deep Green Resistance Austin
