Star Spangled Staggers

US politics from outside the beltway

Did the Guardian try to rewrite history over Joshua Treviño?

Joshua Treviño is "not a correspondent", says the paper, which days earlier had released a press release to that effect.

By Helen Lewis Published 19 August 2012 9:46

A woman stands at the dock in Gaza City, July 2011. Photo: Getty

This is an odd little story. For some days now, the journalist Ali Abunimah has been raising concerns about the hiring of Joshua Treviño by the Guardian's US team, partially due to this tweet from June 2011:

Dear IDF: If you end up shooting any Americans on the new Gaza flotilla -- well, most Americans are cool with that. Including me.

— Joshua Treviño (@jstrevino) June 25, 2011

As Abunimah noted yesterday in on Al Jazeera:

Among the passengers, whose killing by Israel Treviño endorsed, were poet and author Alice Walker, elderly Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein and several journalists, including Joseph Dana on assignment for The Nation.

Treviño responded with a blog post "clarifying" his tweet, expressing his horror that anyone would have thought he "urged the Israeli Defense Force to shoot Americans participating in the second incarnation of the Gaza flotilla". Because he didn't urge that. He was just cool with that if it happened.

But here's where the story gets bizarre. After Abunimah's story went live, the Guardian US press office contacted him, telling him:

Josh Trevino is not a correspondent for the Guardian. He is a freelance writer on contract to write opinion pieces. His articles will appear on the Guardian’s Comment is Free section of the site (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/us-edition) along with articles from many other freelance writers. Thank you in advance for making this correction.

Except: one problem. As this screen capture shows, the Guardian edited its original press release. This is the new one:

Today the Guardian announced the addition of Josh Treviño to its commentary team in the United States. Formerly of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Treviño will be the newest commentator for the Guardian's growing US politics team through his column On Politics & Persuasion which launches on Monday 20 August.

And this is the old one:

Today the Guardian announced the addition of Josh Treviño to their editorial team. Formerly of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Treviño will be the newest Correspondent for the Guardian’s growing US politics team through his column “On Politics & Persuasion” which launches on Monday, August 20.

Now, there's chutzpah: silently editing your own press release, then asking for a "correction" to reflect the new information.

As Abunimah points out, the current press release still gives the Guardian's US press officer as a contact for "bookings" for Treviño, which they don't do for any old Cif contributor (full disclosure: I am any old Cif contributor).

It also ignores the fact that Treviño has written for the Guardian before: in February 2011, March 2012 and August 2012, according to his author page. It would be odd to press release "Person Who Has Written For Us Before is Still Writing".

So what's going on? I contacted the Guardian, and a spokesperson told me "this really was just a straightforward error, albeit an unfortunate one", adding:

I can confirm that there has been no change in Josh Trevino's terms of employment - the contract has not been altered and he has most certainly not been "demoted" as some articles have suggested. In fact, a simple mistake was made in the press release and this was later corrected. It was clumsy but there is no change to Josh's position.

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Tags: Israel The Guardian

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7 comments

Thu, 2012-08-23 14:25 — Mikhail Kryzhanovsky (not verified)

BARACK OBAMA and MIKHAIL KRYZHANOVSKY CASE
　

My personal situation and my deep concern about the U.S. national security pushed me to write this letter.
I have nothing to lose after I've refused to participate in CIA-FBI conspiracy I have no money, no job, no permanent place to stay. I'm telling the truth though I understand that I violated Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982.
I was born in 1958 in Ukraine, I'm a former KGB USSR and SBU (Ukrainian Security Service) intelligence senior officer, and KGB "Nabat" anti-terror group member (a sniper). In 1991-1992, as SBU illegal intelligence officer, I came to Moscow to get into Russian President Boris Yeltsin "inner circle" to influence his decisions,extremely anti-Ukrainian at the time. Operation was in progress until Kremlin got information about it, and in 1992 Russia and Ukraine signed a Treaty to stop mutual espionage. I had to resign and move to Europe for security reasons.
In 1995 I came to USA where I hoped to work for the government as strategic intelligence analyst . In September I was recruited at "Millenium Hilton" by two CIA agents and signed a certain obligation as "Filament". Then they introduced me to FBI National Security Division agent and next was a joint CIA-FBI conspiracy.
They were impressed by my intelligence, counter-intelligence and anti-terror experience, and also, by my research in political science. They decided to "copy" my Moscow operation .I had to spy on the U.S. Congress and work with Congress Librarian James Billington who knew me as a political scientist through his Moscow representative, and could introduce me to Senators and Representatives. They wanted also to influence the White House and approved my idea to create special instructions for American president on successful election and re-election campaigns, strategic planning and top decisions making, national security, foreign policy and diplomacy, propaganda, economy, war and special operations.
I was paid $900 to start the job and they guaranteed me "anything I wanted", including special CIA status - "stay in USA as long as you want and do whatever you think is necessary" and "best medical service in the world" . It was clear that political surveillance and control over the White House and the U.S. Congress, not national security, was and is the CIA and FBI top priority. Besides, they were interested in effective interrogation,tortures and murders methods -I gave them detailed instructions on that, and that was a big help in Guantanamo, Iraq and Afghanistan.
We talked about the Gestapo methods and I asked them about Gestapo Chief Heinrich Mueller - reaction was really rude: "Never ask questions about him. Don't even try to look after him in America". Interesting, right ?
I wrote "The Professional" presidential handbook, a system of top political management for President Bill Clinton - they wanted me to stay close to him. And then they said thay had "a very important job up to my high professional skills as a sniper" - read this carefully, Mr Bill Clinton.

I was in Washington , D.C. couple of times, estimated the White House and US Congress security, met Irene Steckler, Billington's assistant.
After that I tried to avoid them - I didn't want to be next Oswald.
. In 2000 I 've sent a letter to DCI Tenet saying that I stop cooperation with CIA.They've pressed me very hard in return. I'm immigrant, but I have no green card,no citizenship until now. For years INS ignored my family reunion petition.
There was open and aggressive surveillance in the streets and taking pictures right in my face, illegal searches of my apartment in my absence and stealing papers and phone books, breaking the mail boxes and stealing my correspondence.I had to fight back.
Three months before 9/11 tragedy happened, in June 2001,I've warned American President George W. Bush and the U.S. Senate on CIA anti-American activity, national security collapse and my personal situation.
Senator Hillary Clinton refused to mess with CIA . In 2002 I've called Lus Mendez, her Office Director and asked her to tell her boss the following:"I refused to work for CIA, I've saved your husband's (Bill Clinton's life), you must help me now". Only after that she helped my family to come to USA.

In September 2002, White House sent a request to the Dept. of Justice, where FBI Director R. Mueller blocked it.
June 14, 2004 ,the Office of NYS Attorney General Eliot Spitzer: "If an investigation is ultimately opened, someone from the Bureau will contact you. Janya Washington".
March 24, 2010, Senator Chuck Schumer's (D) New York Office: "You have to hire a lawyer if it's about American national security.We can just trace your correspondence with CIA but we can't investigate anything. Susan Orlove, Director of the Office". Let's investigate what Schumer is doing at his Office !
June 8, 2010 U.S. Office of Special Counsel Patrick Fitzerald (Ken Starr, his predecessor, brought Bill Clinton to impeachment procedure).
U.S. Office of Special Counsel
RE: OSC File No: HA-10-2641
Dear Mr. Kryzhanovsky
Your allegation that Mr. Panetta is involved in a CIA-FBI conspiracy, which you call the "Millenium Hilton" operation, even if true, is not activity that falls within the prohibitions of the Hatch Act. Therefore , we are closing the above referenced file.
Sincerely, Erica S. Hamrick
February 6, 2011 From: Mulqueen, Clifford, Deputy Commissioner/General Counsel, New York City Commission on Human Rights
The New York City Commission on Human Rights does not have jurisdiction over the agencies you take issue with.Talk to Attorney General, CIA, US Congress
I wrote to President Obama ,Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security Secretary and Mark Kappelhof, Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division - nothing happened. Let's investigate why national security is not Obama's priority ?

In 2007, ALGORA, a small publishing company, released my "White House Special Handbook, or How to Rule the World in the 21st Century", based on "The Professional".
President Barack Obama is using my advices on economy, diplomacy, domestic propaganda, war, and if he wants to build socialism, he's moving in a right direction .
I was ready to leave America , but then I said to myself - let them leave, all 20 000 CIA bastards, why me ? As intelligence agency CIA does not exist, America is deaf and blind and that's the fact we have to face.
In October, 12 2010, I had a meeting with two Secret Service agents, John and Bratt (646-842-2107) - they were pretty nervous about the video "How to kill President Obama" I put on YouTube to show the vulnerability of the protection system (video was based on a real fact - DCCC sent me invitation for a dinner with Obama). I've asked them why they allow the White House press office to put Obama's next day schedule on Internet with exact time and place of his trips - it gives a perfect possibility to kill him. You know what they told me ? That it was Rahm Emanuel's order and they can do nothing.
More interesting - they told me they wanted me to work for them too, considering my experience, and they were ready to pay me.Still ,I don't know what's the job,but what if it's same stuff CIA wanted me to
They said :" We know you as "Filament", you work for CIA and we want you to work for us too under the same alias. We'll pay you". So, I'm still acting CIA agent and they're still sure I'll do political murders ? And who's the target now - Obama ? That's why Secret service is nervous - they are in the game ?And now I have to work for US Secret Service - doing what ? I'm still waiting for a phone call.
That's not the end. On January, 20 2011 I talked to FBI agent Eric Perry. He said that the video I put on YouTube made "high authorities, people on the very top vextremely nervous". He didn't explain if it was FBI Director Robert Mueller, the White House Chief of Staff or somebody else. He asked me to delete the video from YouTube. Interesting - why FBI is so nervous, it's not their job. They are in the game ?
Looks like President Obama is in danger and there's connection with his reelection campaign 2012.
Like with JFK assassination, you don't need huge conspiracy - it's enough if CIA Director, FBI Director and Secret Service Director make a deal. Back in 1963 they made a deal not to touch Lee Oswald until he finished the job.
And that's not the end. On July 30, 2012 I had a meeting with another Secret Service agents - Jason and Tim (718-840-1000), who asked me again if I can and if I want to kill President Obama.
Can you tell me what's going on ?

Mikhail Kryzhanovsky
a former KGB intelligence officer
a former KGB "Nabat" anti-terror group member (a sniper)
a former Ukrainian National Security officer
CIA, FBI and US Secret Service "Filament"
the author of the "White House Special Handbook" and "Espionage and Counterespionage Handbook"
homeless, unemployed
prof777prof@yahoo.com

For more information on the case and CIA-FBI-US Secret Service conspiracy contact:
CIA Director David Petraeus, (703) 482-0623
FBI Director Robert Mueller, (202) 278-2000
US Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan, 202-406-5708
US Secret Service agents:
John and Bratt, 646-842-2107, New York
Chris Lienemann, special agent, tel.718-840-1263
Susan Klemm, special agent, tel. 718-840-1448
Gene Gurevich, special agent, tel. 718-840-1305
Address: 335 Adams Street, 30th floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Eric Perry, FBI Queens ,New York
NYPD Anti-Terror Dept knows about me as anti-terror expert and CIA "Filament".

Mon, 2012-08-27 21:02 — Spyhunter (not verified)

"About the "genius superspy", "an outstanding scientist of world renown" and "US president de facto" at the same time"
(look in Google)

Thu, 2012-08-23 12:04 — Keir

The Guardian seems increasingly out of control, increasingly unpopular- and is increasingly in debt. Not an auspicious combination.

Sun, 2012-08-19 21:00 — John Cheese (not verified)

Any interest in holding Barry O to the same level of autobiographical accountability?? College transcripts? Social Security number? Anyone? Bueller?

Mon, 2012-08-20 13:38 — johnnydee (not verified)

This comment is off-topic and - by the standards of some websites, like jstrvino's own Tacitus - disruptive. As such he would likely delete it.

Now, have you anything to say about his provocative tweets and/or the Guardian's shifting explanations?

Mon, 2012-08-20 15:40 — John Cheese (not verified)

Johnny: Journalistic investigation & accountability should hold to all political parties- that's the rub... I point out inconsistancies & journo agendas is a big deal. Go back to sleep.