That may be. On the otherhand it doesn't take a well fiananced or organized operation (i.e. a conspiracy) to achieve this result. If you take an unpopular position and are found to be the least bit sloppy the "press" will often respond like sharks in a feeding frenzy.Byron Angel wrote: ..... If one doesn't pay much attention to "the popular press", then the campaign to blacken Hersh's name would likewise have escaped notice. But I assure you that Hersh's name was well and truly and comprehensively blackened by the Kennedy clan and their supporters within said popular press. The attacks upon Irving reached the US like an avalanche via the very same popular press channels. It is the vehicle of convenience and choice for those properly connected.
I'm not saying it didn't happen but I've seen little to indicate it did. Even the effects you list could as readily be explained by the way most of the modern press operates today. Indeed if you really wanted to target someone like the above there's little point in trying to organize it or support it fiananically. Just drop the right hints (chum the waters) and the press (sharks) will do the rest for you, probably even exceed what could reasonably be planned.You and I will apparently have to agree to disagree on this issue, I think.
Of course in the case of Irving it was well deserved based on his Dresden numbers alone.