Always blame others, e.g. the "government". How about blaming the journalists, who have been sucking up to the government and misinforming the public?

With very few exceptions almost all MSM journalists are corporate whores.

Everybody knows that G.W. Bush was a war hero in Vietnam so where does Rather get off trying to indicate otherwise? And if it wasn't for H.W. Bush the United Sates would have lost the 2nd world war. I think our government should have it's own journalists to report the news and to write history. Whoops, it already does!

It appears that being pushed off his pedestal has given him the motivation to rail against what he used to cooperate with. Corporate take-over of the media didn't happen this year; and, it seems that as long as he was on top, he was willing to look the other way. I am however happy he is using his notoriety to bring attention to the masses of this problem.

Rather has the rest of his life to work towards redeeming his own name and stature but it will take more than then the efforts of one man to correct the biased, manipulative nature of Corporate run information and news where profits determine right and wrong.

Edward R Morrow tried to fight the take over of the "news" from the corporations. He was let go.

Everyone has sold out. "News" corporations are entertwined with defense contractors, big pharma, the auto industry, you name it. They are all kissing each other ass so they can get that next bonus and remodel their kitchens with granite and stainless steel or buy the next S class.

Fuck the truth - there is BUSINESSS TO ATTEND TO - GOD DAMN IT!!

I always like how Bill Moyers describes the mainstream media as not necessarily always biased to the right or the left, but it is more constructive to think of the mainstream media as "stenographers to power". Taking official word, not questioning or seeking truth, and passing it along as fact.

This case is most certainly disturbing and it is good that Rather has the courage to stand up for this. I'm interested to see how this plays out.

Sorry Dan,

I can't sympathize with you. It is too obvious that your enormous ego took a major hit and you are retaliating because you are embarrased.

What ever it takes to get this out in the open I am for. Even then I seriously doubt that the general public will understand. Look how many still believe that Saddam was behind 9-11. What makes anyone think that Dan Rather will make a difference. About all this will do is get him a settlement, out of court, for a large amount of money. Then he will go away. I certainly hope that it takes on a more important and larger reaction but only time will tell. See if this is still news in 3 months . . . then we can see where this is going. But meanwhile don't hold your breath.

I sat in a meeting in 2002 where 2 journalists - 1 TV and 1 newspaper - volunteered the information that representatives of the Bush administration were visiting news orgs and giving them instructions on how to cover the news or lose all access to govt info.

They also each cited instances when a news story detrimental to either Bush, Israel or in praise of Muslims generated threats by corporations to pull advertising over the story content.

So in many cases this has become a way of life.

A good example is in many of today's papers the headline reads:
"Democrats fail to pass anti-war legislation despite unpopular conflict in Iraq"

A more accurate headline would be:
"Republicans block passage of anti-war legislation despite unpopular conflict in Iraq"

The first gives impression to casual reader that the war is due to Dems. the second correctly describes event.

If I owned the newsrooms, I would influence them. What should we expect?

We have allowed the government to be ruled by corporations. What did Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt and so many others warn us about that? ____ Fascism! In Websters, under that word it reads, ___ see Nazism. Well, we have arrived folks, ___ Bush's eagles have landed.

At this pont motives do't matter. I am just glad that someone is finally doing something. Let us also not forget that Rather on pedestal or not (which he earned by the wa), was one of the few if not only journalist and major one at that, who attempted to eleborate on Bush's scheme of lies regarding Bush's military record. It was a set up and they got him. Had he survived perhaps others would speak out.

No matter what you think about Rather he is pointing out a truth that is much more danagerous to our country than the above ad hominen attacks. Let's focus on the issues of corporate and White House abuse of new on public airwaves. Therein lies the fascist problem.

It is funny how some people will sell their soul to the devil for money to do the troll work on these forums. In particular, when they know their grossly incorrect message will not be well recieved, they act like a supporter but throw out damaging tidbits of ideas to implant in peoples minds.

Take zhongman above who posts that Dan Rather waited till he was fired to speak out. What a lie. HE SPOKE OUT WHILE HE WAS THE ANCHOR AND WHY THIS WHOLE THING BECAME NEWS.

Zhongman, I would call you an idiot for trying to plant this lie that Dan was a wimp and only spoke out after he was fired. In truth, he spoke out and lost his job WHILE he was anchor. And because that truth is so blatantly apparent, you are an idiot not for trying but because you though we fall for it.

Speaking out when he knew his job would be threatend demonstrates the greatest courage of all. He KNEW his job wouild be threatened in the previous interviews and actions. He spoke out against Bush in a meeting of journalists. He went and interviewed Saddam Hussien against the White Houses wishes. And for that he was targeted. And when the heat got hot, instead of shutting up, he went public with Bushes record. He fought back against all odds. He is a hero of the very highest regard.

There is not a greater American, there is not a greater patriot in this country than Dan Rather.

God bless Dan Rather and God Damn this country under hilterish corporatism (aka, Bush, Cheney, etc). I would rather see my country nuked of the face of the earth than see it head down the road Bush-Cheney and the corporate elite have taken us. And for that, I am willing to give my life for what this country once was but is no more.

Dan Rather knows he will not win this fight. The courts themselves have been corrupted by corporatism. His purpose is to serve as an example for the rest of you. He was wounded severely and now he is healed enough to take the front lines again. Do you charge out to stand with him? Or hide as cowards in your bunkers? Rather is THE example of courage... one of the few remaining true Americans in this country. He is standing up for what he believes in knowing he will be crucified. He is not only a hero but a true Christian of the highest regard. Compare his Christianity to the satanic Bush-Cheney christianoty that takes the name of Christ to corrupt it with violence, bloodshed, lies, and turn the world against the name of Christ.

It is clear he is not doing this for himself. He knows the lawsuit will fail. He is going to take another hit in the hopes he gives America courage to stand up as one People.... to turn this country around.

So the question is, are you just going to keep sitting there reading the news? Or are you going to do something about it? Are you gonna run and hide when Rather is taken down again? Or are you going to be a true American hero and fight for him?

You see, heros are defined not by commands of their superiors but by independent action for what they feel is right in their hearts. Are you a crowd follower or a hero?

So which is it? Are you an American? Or a weak spineless twit?

Freedom is not free. It must be fought for. It must be died for. Each generation has their part to play. And so far, this generation has been AWOL. And if this country fails as a true democracy, it will not because Rahter lost again, but because you would not try, you would not stand up for liberty. The lack of integrity of the people themselves is why this country will fail.

If the media was smarter and braver--when they got threatened by a government or corporation that says do as we say or we will cut you off.

Just speculate.
Start doing stories that say: sources have suggested that this and that.

Bad stuff. Just say it isnt confirmed.

Canada wants to do that with the seal hunt--preventing protesters from witnessing it. So, the protesters just need to use older footage and say: this is going on right now. The government is blocking witnesses.

For the government to prove its not the case--they would have to let the protesters on the ice. Censorship only works if enough people let it work.

Wildlander, it appears that you are the troll defending Rather. Rather was a corporate shill. That he is only able now, to suggest the emperor might be a bit inappropriately dressed, from the plush comfort and security of retirement is very definition of cowardice!

Are you forgetting the time he gestured a salute through the camera to Bush and said "anything you want me to do for your war on terror, I'll do it, Mr. President!"

Here we go again. I wonder PJD if you are just a second email account and anonymously supporting your comments under your zhongman account?

You see folks, this is how the real trolls work. They sign up with two accounts under two different names and then use their second account to give a false voice and false second individual perception in support of their own previous posts.

PJD and zhogman is likely one and the same person.

Now, PJD, why did you complete blow off the Hussien interview? Rather did that against the expressed wishes of the Bush Administration. And the talk he gave to the press corp against the Bush administration. Did he say the things you claim he did. I doubt it, give me your references. But even if he did, it was early on when he like everyone else was fooled. And he got pissed when he found out he was used and why he turned it around. He fought back.

So PJD, put it where the son doesn't shine.

-Ken

"The Mainstream media really represent elite interests, and what the propaganda model tries to do is stipulate a set of institutional variables, reflecting this elite power, that very powerfully influence the media." -Edward Herman

======================

"The media is the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses." Malcolm X

======================

"Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience. Our problem is that numbers of people all over the world have obeyed the dictates of the leaders of their government and have gone to war, and millions have been killed because of this obedience. . . Our problem is that people are obedient all over the world in the face of
poverty and starvation and stupidity, and war, and cruelty. Our problem is that people are obedient while the jails are full of petty thieves, and all the while the grand thieves are running the country. That's our problem." Howard Zinn, "Failure to Quit", p. 45

====================

"It is part of the general pattern of misguided policy that our country is now geared to an arms economy which was bred in an artificually induced psychosis of
war hysteria and nurtured upon an incessant propaganda of fear."
—General Douglas MacArthur, Speech, May 15, 1951

=======

"One reason that propaganda often works better on the educated than on the uneducated is that educated people read more, so they receive more propaganda. Another is that they have jobs in management, media, and academia and therefore work in some capacity as agents of the propaganda system--and they believe what the system expects them to believe. By and large, they're part of the privileged elite, and share the interests and perceptions of those in power. " Noam Chomsky

A good short article:
Propaganda American Style by Noam Chomsky
http://www.zpub.com/un/chomsky.html
================

Media Education Foundation
Elite Propaganda
THE MYTH OF THE LIBERAL MEDIA
The Propaganda Model of News

Watch/Listen to free 60 min. video:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6435.htm

Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky demolish one of the central tenets of our political culture, the idea of the "liberal media." Instead, utilizing a systematic model based on massive empirical research, they reveal the manner in which the news media are so subordinated to corporate and conservative interests that their function can only be described as that of "elite propaganda."

x
xxx

Richard Thornburgh was Bush Senior's AG. Impartiality, give me a break. This crap of Republican Party over truth and patriotism, against democracy and popularism has been going on a lot longer than the Shrub has been in office. It started with the dregs of the deposed Nixon Admin consolidating into their cabal of neo-conism and raptor capitalism.

"could not autenticate" is a HELL of a lot different than "forged"

From what we have seen of this sorry excuse for a president, let alone a human, I don not doubt that Bush was AWOL and drunk most of the time.

Even REGAN called him a "ne're do well"

Wildlander September 21st, 2007 2:03 pm

CBS has been under the corporate influence for a long time. Maybe Rather should be given kudos for trying to change the system from within. But you convince me that he moved to the top of that corporate media organization without a clue as to the kind of influence it was exerting over it's news content. That wouldn't make him a very good journalist now would it. And, when had he come out and announced that influence before he was fired? Your comments concerning my post display an emotional content that avoids the issue as I see it. He spoke out about the corporate control of the media only after he left his job. If I am wrong on that point, I invite you to show me were he did. I support Rather's actions and hope he is effective in prying-off the stangle hold that corporations have on our MSM. I don't watch it anymore, do you? By the way, I post only under this handle and I would be quicker to call myself an idiot than any of the people who know me. However, you don't know me.

It's pointless to argue with this government. I turned off the MSM nonsense that we get from the Ministry of Truth. They can take their propaghanda and shove it up their collective Memory Holes as far as I am concerned. The time for talking is past.

I really loved it when Rather told the world about bush's obfuscation at military duty,,,and wish like hell he had never capitulated...at least he would have gone out standing by truth.....seems a bit late for the substantive truth ....wish he had done this long ago.

don't forget that rather had the balls to tell the truth about bush's service, or shoiuld i say nonservice. now he is getting villified by some of you who keep harping about the msm. it cost him his job. i tip my hat to him.

What did Rather do that was so out there? The only thing I can think of is he told Greg Palast that the news people stopped doing investigations after 9/11, because if you did so you'd get a tire hung around your neck. But he admitted that he went easy on the administration. So, I mean, it's nice that he realizes he was a tool, but that doesn't really change the past. It only confirms what we already knew.

My husband went to law school with Dan Rather and we have followed his career forever. I believe he is very knowledgeable, but also very sincere and a loyal American. I hope he does get a pile of money out of this - he was wronged and he deserves it!

There is NOTHING new here.
All media in all countries of the world have ALWAYS been controlled by their "governments".

The offices of independent publications have, since heaven knows when, been raided by "government" offcials, e.g. police.
Independent journalists have been found murdered...they were digging too deeply...

Even in "ancient" times people were not allowed to voice their opinions freely.

So again: nothing new here.

Ruth Benderall.
whitepatches@verizon.net

Regardless of ancient history;

It is a good thing that Dan Rather came out to speak at this time.

WHY?

Because:

(not in order of importance)

a) He's a household name. His name recognition is and has been big for decades.

b) When a household name says something, the sheeple listen.

c) As a larger-than-life figure, his speaking out will help others feel more confident in disclosing past abuses such that compiled, could incriminate the criminals at hand in a wolrd court of somekind. (Better and orderly affair than one where we the sheeple get slaughtered by retribution from the rest of the planet. Or maybe not.)

We don't seem to learn much until we get the "life-altering-event" experience to take notice of something or other.

Whether it's revenge or not, it can only be of benefit to the rest of us if we are willing to see this event for the positive aspects it has to offer.

I'm glad he's making a public issue of this, but it's rather hard to take him seriously. Did he just realize that the government and media have been in bed together? Where has he been? It didn't seem to bother him for the 44 years that he's been collecting millions of dollars for spouting corporate propaganda. It's only when he's off the payroll that he finally speaks up. Nevertheless, as I say, it's good he's finally speaking up. Better late than never, I suppose. I presume that, now that he's developed a conscience, he'll be donating a good chunk of his millions to the millions of Vietnamese suffering birth defects from Agent Orange (which he never reported on), or the millions of Iraqis who are now homeless. But I wouldn't hold my breath. :)

BTW, on an historical note, CBS and the Bushes have a very long relationship. In 1932 Prescott Bush, while working at Harriman-Brown Bros, was the lead man in arranging CBS' initial public offering.

I disagree Ruth. ___ Not always. Thomas Paine was never controlled by the Government, or the king. Napolean feared the press more than a thousand cannon, as he so well put it. Then years later, a couple of young reporters dug up the Watergate story and it 'was' published. Edward R. Murrow told it like it was, he stopped "Tail Gunner Joe". Remember that Rat SOB who was a fore-runner of Karl Rove.

The problem here in America lies not quite so much with the newspapers, it lies 'mostly' in television news, which is controlled by a handful who do the corporate dance. Of course I'll admit, they often just read us the newspaper.

Most Americans get their news from TV, if they don't click off after getting disgusted with half of the hour long programs, taken over by stupid commercials that sell HEAD-ON__ apply directly to the forehead, then five more selling insurance or some new drug, and warn us it might cause a heart attack, stroke, or blindness.

The problem is the citizens are not informed of the truths, of citizens who work hard, come home and relax, turn on the boob tube and either listen to half truth newscasts or something that is less depressing. We are no longer a reading society and we want to trust our government and so many do. Then if they're also members of a church, they likely will believe ANY who say they're born again Christians, including presidents. Maybe I'll just shut up here before I piss someone off.

Thank You Dan Rather. If more journalists would get off their prostituted backs and tell the truth for once, this country would again become 'great'. As it is, the USA sadly has to settle for powerful. All things are cyclical. When the 'powerful' is all gone; and it will be, there will be a great wailing and gnashing of teeth.
God Bless you, Dan Rather.

Well said Peter.

Thank you, Dan Rather, for standing up to be heard when it is neither popular nor rewarded. You have caved in the past and we hope that you are able to redeem yourself to some degree here. Heck! At least this story will be forced back into the consciousness of all those Amnesiac Americans who so conveniently forget! Lest we forget, GO DAN!!

Somehow both this story and this discussion bring to mind what my long ago Russian professor told us during class at least once per semester. She told us that we have more propaganda here and it's more tightly controlled than what she remembered of the Soviet Union, and that this was in many ways scarier than the propaganda of the Soviets since with the Soviets you knew it was propaganda but here we pretend to have freedom of speech and that the media tells the unvarnished truth. Worth mention, I went to college during the last bit of Regan's second term and part of the first Bush's Presidency - and my professor was a die-hard Republican party member who'd left the Soviet Union under Stalin near the end of WWII.

Not that I expect anything to come of Mr. Rather's suit, it's nice but scary to hear someone in the media admit she was right.

Why is Rather coming out with this now? Why not three years ago, seven years ago, or longer? He knew it the entire time and finally came out with the truth! So why is Tom Brokaw not coming out with the truth? Why is Wolf Blitzer not coming out with the truth? Forget Bill O'Reilly (I never considered him a journalist anyway). Hell will freeze over before he ever comes out with the truth! And even then he will try to spin it! More importantly, what is Dan Rather going to do with $70 million? He already is a multi-millionaire. If he engages in philanthropic endeavor to restore journalistic integrity and objectivity, then I will praise him. But I am not going to hold my breath.

Even in todays stories about Rather, they are refuring to the "discredited report on Bush's Military Service"

The story was never "discredited"...it has been questionsed by SOME, but never proven to be untrue. The documents have been questioned, the secretary of Bush's Commander at the time says they are real, but they have never been proven to be false or forgeries.

Bush's military service record is still mysterously "missing in action"

this to me says the story is true until proven otherwise

LOL canuckchuck, is there really any question as to whether Bush is a draft dodging coward? Anyone that would even entertain the thought otherwise is a fool or delusional. He's never done an honest day's work in his life and he never will.

zhongman,

>And, when had he come out and announced that >influence before he was fired?

Here are teh sequence of events as they occured.

Dan Rather goes against the Bush Administrations wishes and interviews Saddam Hussein.

In the resulting political attack, he then spoke his mind outside the US in a Britian interview. In that interview had this to day (and many more things aginst the administration):

Dan Rather: "It is an obscene comparison - you know I am not sure I like it - but you know there was a time in South Africa that people would put flaming tyres around people's necks if they dissented. And in some ways the fear is that you will be necklaced here, you will have a flaming tyre of lack of patriotism put around your neck. Now it is that fear that keeps journalists from asking the toughest of the tough questions, and to continue to bore in on the tough questions so often. And again, I am humbled to say, I do not except myself from this criticism."

He said much, much more that damaged the Bush Administration.

Here is one of many links to that interview:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/05_may/16/dan_rather.shtml

When Dan Rather came back to the US, he stated that while he was here under Bushes rule, he would conform (for fear of his careeer and his life). Now some here have nefariousely used that against him, but it was meant in a sense of rebellion. He loves his country for what it once was and he has to survive here, so while he spoke out in Britian he was saying he would keep his mouth shut while here in the US. But the damange was done and they went after him. And he fought back by going public with the investigation of Bushes military career. And for that they brought out the big guns and destroyed him via corpro-govenmental infleuence over big media. Note that they NEVER disproved or found Bushes records.

The people of this country instead of staying focused on the disservice of George Bush, they followed the big media piper and fell in line to the focus on a few documents and they allowed themselves to me mislead in tracking down the real documents that would have proven Dan Rather right. Those documents were never found because during the confusion, intentionally created, they took that moment of confusion to destory Bushes records.

But the point is, Bush was never ever able to justify his time and his improper behavior and AWOL. Now I am certain they will fabricate those documents now, but only after Dan Rather makes it an issue again. The fact that they have not come forth the last 4 years will be proof that any such documents now will be nothing but propoganda fabricated to support Bushes reputation.

At the time, there was not enough time to fabricate pro-Bush documents. And so they had to take the heat of Bush and put in on Dan Rather. The had to discredit the messenger. And the gullible witless people of this country fell in line behind the brainwashing corporate media. It is enough to make one puke. But you have the sequence of events here now and I hope you all will take another look.

Dan Rather spoke out against the Bush Administration a year before this issue of the Bushes military service. He became a target, was set up, and took a fall for the truth. And the people, like a mob, allowed themselves to be led to one of the greatest disservices of this nation by not following through on the service records of Bush. The real issue was never resolved. The American people allowed themselves to be sidetracked and coerced to take down the truth teller - Dan Rather.

Now I have given you the proof you asked for and I have explained the comment Dan Rather4 made about stepping in line behind Bush. He stated that with a real sense of "agaionst his will". But otherwise clearly spoke his mind in Britian to the international community.

-Wildlander

I watched Rather for years knowing full well he wasn't reporting the facts, the day I saw him with his new crew/buzz cut saying he would follow wherever this Prez led.I turned off the tv. and only turn it on now to watch Bill Moyers or music specials ( I subscribe,to the Nation, In These Times, Extra! the New Internationalist,Counter Punch, Progressive,Guardian Weekly last and least the New York Times daily and our daily Gannett rag I listen to Air America Radio, Democracy Now all day long and occasionally to Progressive Radio. So it's the truth is out there just go get it? Turn off the damned tube, especially now that you know where the news is coming from.

I have found the best volume of the best investigative journalism ever! Tell Me No lies. John Pilger. Stories about several of the Investigative Journalists he has known whoes stories have not been permited to be told. Edward R. Murrow, etc. great read.

It was already well documented that Bush used his family status to enter the Texas Air National Guard to evade real military duty, and then even abandoned that champagne unit. These documents revealed no new information, and would certainly be exposed as fraudulent.. This could only lessen the political impact of his shameful military performance while providing ammunition to discredit his opponents – hence improving his re-election bid.

All indications are that this apparent fiasco had been a set up, manipulated by Karl Rove, the genius of such schemes.

Screw the website 'The Nation'.

A better one is the Huffington Post.

The Nation is pro bitch Hillary. The Nation is pro-turncoat democrat.

Wildlander September 21st, 2007 9:06 pm

First off, thank you for your in-depth response. I am inclined to agree with your assessment of the GB military service and Rather's pursuit of it; and, I pretty much figured that Bush's negligence of duty was basically true and that Carl Rove went around the country cleaning up the records. However, my posts are addressing the contention that Rather did not speak out against the corporate control of the MSM throughout his career and NOT Rather's courage against an administration that was sure to retaliate. If you read all the posts I made on this thread that is clear. Furthermore; your personal hatchet job you did on me in your original post is reminiscent of Carl Rove's tactics and don't serve your credibility very well. If I wanted to make the same type of baseless accusations about you, I could say that you and Dan Rather are one in the same. But I think he is smarter than that.

If Dan Rather is a great journalist, William Shatner is a great actor.

Rather has always been a mediocre blowhard corporate shill. It's no wonder he got burned with some crudely forged documents. There was lots of other evidence out there to base the story of Bush's nonservice in the TANG, but rather than give credit to the journalists who'd unearthed it, Rather relied on what he could portray as his own original investigative reporting.

Now he's back to stand up for "democracy" against "big corporate and big government interference and intimidation in news", and along the way try to collect $70M. If I were in the jury I'd find in his favor, for 70 cents.

Its just tat people are getting tired of the way media distorts news. Who the hell cares if OJ is in conflict about some of his trophies. But what do we get day in and day out. It will be interesting after Bush- Cheney leave office to see how the VP ran media operations out of the White House. unfortunately we won't find out till they leave office.Rather won't ever find out through discovery his premise the White House will insure that kind of data is of a protected nature.

I'm curious how Rather's legal team calculated 70 big ones. Lost wages? So if he was paid $70,000,000.01 we're to assume he'd have gone along, and still be shilling for D.C. power-brokers, AIPAC, etc?

I mean, how much of this stand is principled, and how much is personal?

It's about time that we started to get the straight scoop on the corporatizers and their corporatocracy - - thank you, Dan Rather! Where do you think the neo-cons are getting all their support and their fire power? It is time for we "little people" to unite and return the government to the people so it can be for the people and by the people instead of all the special interests.

Earth to Americans... Edward R. Murrow was the head propagandist of the US Information Agency when it was first established. He is no saint.

Soviet media was propaganda but people there knew it. In Union Soviet of America -- people are so brainwashed that they even can't understand that the "mainstream media" is propaganda for corporate controlled governement. Capitalism is result of the same historical thinking that created "communism" and fascism. Capitalism is a threat to democracy and if we have chose between two -- then better capitalism go.

I am glad that Mr. Rather is doing this. Once the heavy hand of the corporation smacked him down, he felt the sting that the rest of us have felt for some time now.

But don't think Rather is alone. Anyone who works for corporate media AS WELL AS other multinational corporations is a potential victim.

You may even be part of the problem if you work for these corporations, the ones that your portfolio manager tells you to invest in.

Golden handcuffs are fine (I guess) until the corporation decides you're crap and you must go.

I read that Rather learned that the investigator hired by CBS was actually hired to get something on he and the producer. The hiring took place after Rather offered to hire an investigator out of his own pocket but was discouraged by CBS with the assurance that they were hiring one. That would make me angry enough to sue. At the time, reporters in the know said that the documents had figuratively "Rove's fingerprints all over it." Rather had the facts and the witness. Everybody forgets that. A Texas source was set up by a woman who disappeared. The source lied about his source saying that it came from the National Guard days. Rather had expected CBS to get an expert validation of the documents. They reflected the facts as the investigation showed them to be. That's one way to get rid of a newsman of Rather's stature.