Dr Alan Macleod returns to Bringing Light Into Darkness (BLID) to We review his recent April 2021 article, How Bellingcat Launders National Security State Talking Points into the Press . We discuss his analysis of how Bellingcat and think tanks such as the Atlantic Council, which represent NATO interests are presented as independently thinking entities while they hide conflicts of interest manifested in accepting contributions from the governments they supposedly are judging. Meanwhile, MSM fails miserably in revealing this conflict. In addition to their failure to reveal their government and defense contracting funding sourcing, the appearance of different independent sources of information is presented by our MSM that betrays basic principles of investigative journalism, by failing to reveal this common propaganda tactic, essentially allowing same sourcing to be presented as multiple sourcing. Dr Macleud gives the following example: The CIA will reference Bellingcat which arguably often acts as a front for western intelligence. Meanwhile, Bellingcat former employees populate think tanks funded by defense contractors, western governments and Saudi Arabia type Middle Eastern monarchies. And they all reference each other; The CIA will reference Bellingcat. Bellingcat will reference think tank reports and media pundits, including those with former Bellingcat ties, failing to reveal the conflict of interest while reinforcing the false image that multiple sourcing confirms the accusations that are absent of concrete evidence that are being promulgated to the US public. Dr Macleud continues to point out that there is a huge amount of fraternalization of journalists with intelligence analysts to the point where you are unsure as to where one ends and the other begins. So as a consequence in the past we have seen bombshell after bombshell being based on reports and rumors from ‘anonymous intelligence officials’, adopted as certain truths.
Our BLID investigations are driven by well researched cross referenced factual claims regarding US foreign policy that for some may lead to uncomfortable discoveries. However, an informed US public cannot be achieved through any other means.
