Provocateurs - 2nd son visited today - talked about our WTO resistance experiences 10 years ago.

[ConsAreLiars]

SO and I described one of more commonplace observations of the numerous unprovoked beatings (peaceful sit downs responded to with clubbing, pepper spray attacks by Darth Vader costumed, anonymous (Badge numbers masked over) PIGS and the usual brute force tactics so favored by totalitarian states whose policies serve only the elite.

But he described something that is very typical of how the PIGS and their undercover operatives operate in the service of their masters. PIGS in this case includes agencies like the FBI and DIA and all the rest. It is standard operating practice, and a method that all should be warned about, especially those too young or inexperienced to be familiar with the use of agents provocateur by the powers-that-be.

On Day One, he was near the front of a barricaded line in front of the Hilton, or maybe he said Sheraton, hotel with those opposing the WTO hemmed in on 3 sides by the PIGS and on the 4th by the locked and barricaded buildings behind them. Once the stage was set, a guy next to him, turned around and began throwing punches at those near him, including some of those naifs who get labeled "anarchists." The people nearby began to surge forward to stop him, he vaulted over the barricade holding up his hand which presumably held his badge, the nominal barricade gave way and he sheltered behind the PIGS, having done his job.

At that point the beatings began, and later that same day the easily played and certainly infiltrated naifs broke a few windows, and the corporatist media had their "message" which has been propagated pretty successfully ever since.

(edit to fix spelling error)

[Truth2Tell]

1. I watched the agents provacateur

at WTO 10 years ago also. Plain as day. Changed my view of many things.

[ConsAreLiars]

2. Plain as day for those who were there or even had a trusted frind there.

But those gullible enough to rely on and believe the Corporate Media deceptions will, no surprise, believe that disinfo and propaganda and repeat it as if they were Revealed Truth. You can find many such dittoheads here, sadly. And, of course, none were there. All they know is being fed to them by their masters.

[Truth2Tell]

3. Yep, the media coverage was awful,

but it was what was intended.

I think the overall results were a mixed bag...

On the plus side: the protests put the WTO and the anti-globalization movement on the map. Most people on earth first heard of the WTO in conjunction with Seattle. That's huge. The protests proved that non-violent direct action can indeed work, if people aren't afraid to use it.

On the negative side: the successful efforts at disruption by provocateurs, the orchestrated violent response by the police and the deliberate misrepresentation of events by the media redefined the public protest movement in America. For the last 10 years people have associated public protest with violence and danger. People are afraid to take their children to peace rallies. People are afraid of "anarchists" and disruptors. This keeps numbers down and tactics mild, all as intended.

So it was a one-time success, but the other side has distorted it and turned it against us.

[ConsAreLiars]

4. At least some of the documentary footage is on youtube:

"Showdown in Seattle" part one with connections to a few more is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pqmSPPCiqQ. Not the best source, I'd give it a +1 on the lame scale, but a +4 for accuracy. I'll have to dig out an old DVD that really hits it and find a link.