The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Has Barrett Brown Scammed NBC News?

Posted on | March 9, 2011 | 29 Comments

In-freaking-credible!

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Barrett Brown is either, as Michael Isikoff reports, “an underground commander in a new kind of warfare” — a member of a criminal conspiracy who should be under arrest — or else he’s one of the most successful hoaxers in recent memory. What astonishes me is to realize that just two days ago I was exchanging e-mails with Brown after he threatened me via Twitter over a post I wrote Feb. 14:

Is the FBI Watching Barrett Brown? (And
If They’re Not Already, Shouldn’t They?)

Everything I know about Brown leads me to believe that his claim to be a leader of “Anonymous” is self-aggrandizing nonsense. But here’s the problem: Absent complete access to his computer records, how would you go about verifying or falsifying that claim?

Consider what bush-league crap Brown was up to less than three months ago: In late December, he was posting videos of himself arguing with his girlfriend’s roommate. Before that, he was getting himself banned from blogs. Before that, he had his lawyer threatening me for making jokes at his expense.

So here we have a guy who seems to have spent December trying to get himself noticed by somebody — anybody – and now in March he’s interviewed by Michael Isikoff on NBC Nightly News?

An ability to detect the aroma of bovine excrement is essential to a newsman’s trade and it is my considered judgment that NBC News has been bamboozled, hoodwinked and scammed by Barrett Brown.

There’s an old saying in this business: “If your mother says she loves you, check it out.” And unless the Justice Department announces that Barrett Brown is the focus of a federal investigation, I’m calling bullshit.

UPDATE: Let me explain further why I’m so dubious of Brown’s claim. Stars and Stripes reports:

 The Financial Times reports this week that U.S. law enforcement agencies are investigating plans by members of a hacking collective known as Anonymous to disrupt [Marine Corps Base] Quantico’s operations in protest over the alleged rough treatment of Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, a suspect in the Wikileaks data dump that has sent countries around the world into a tizzy with the disclosure of state secrets big and small.

OK, so “Anonymous” is threatening the U.S. Marine Corps, and meanwhile Barrett Brown — who has been publicly claiming since mid-February to be involved with “Anonymous” — is strolling down the street doing an interview with NBC News? Doesn’t basic common sense tell you that there’s something wrong with that picture?

UPDATE II: Linked by Pamela Geller at Atlas Shrugs — thanks!.

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Category: Barrett Brown, NBC, WikiLeaks

Comments

  • Barrett Brown

    Stacy, stop being a fag.

  • anonymous

    Let little Barrett have his 10 minutes of fame, anonymous will deal with him if he tries to get anything more than that, don’t you worry ;]

  • AnonPainter

    Anonymous finds Barrett useful in some arenas. Sad that the very usefulness he basks in is the very same rope that Anonymous will hang him him out to dry with. He’s a buffoon.

  • Emme

    We shall note in conclusion that we like the guy and want to believe him, but we still have to ask: Did Barrett Brown shave and murder Barrett Brown in 2011?

  • Anonymous

    “Doesn’t basic common sense tell you that there’s something wrong with that picture?”

    In a world where the New York Times can leak classified info shutting down major anti-terrorism operations and not have the entire staff charged with and convicted of treason for aiding and abetting enemies of the US? A world where the US military is being told it needs a quota system for filling commander slots? Not really.

  • anonymous

    @SDN

    You sound slightly retarded, might want to get that fixed.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ricardo-Smith/100001880987041 Ricardo Smith

    U mad?

  • Guest

    “shutting down major anti-terrorism operations”

    You’re begging for the cluestick.

    This is bullshit office talk and you know it.

  • Anonymous404

    I’ve never seen Barrett Brown claim to be a leader, just a mouthpiece, I guess he’s Anonymous’ first spokesperson. And he talks a lot of bullshit because Anonymous talks a lot of bullshit.

    He’s not making threats, he’s regurgitating what shit flows thru the hive. That counts as journalism, even if it is from the gutters of scum and villiany, although Barrett is more representative of the White Knights of Anonymous and their moralfagging crusade, (all the best with that ;)

    Still everyones a bit nervous now Anonymous has shown that it can open networks and steal all the cake,

    U nervous?

  • http://thatmrgguy.wordpress.com/ Mike

    I don’t know about these “anonymous folks”, but one thing I do know for sure…they’re making a big mistake f@@king around with the United States Marine Corps. They will come down on you like the wrath of God and you won’t know what hit you.

  • http://twitter.com/Mgamerz Mgamerz

    You obviously don’t know the definition of Anonymous.
    U MAD?

  • susi

    mcmad?!

    lulz imo~

  • Haz

    hah. “first spokesperson”? sorry Gregg Housh, coldblood, guess you didn’t make as much of a ego-fueled splash as good ol’ bb.

  • Officium Defunctorum

    I always felt that one of the greatest sins against humanity was to underestimate an individual — limiting their potential and dismissing their worth.

    For one, it’s despicable; another, you may be living a lie and convinced yourself otherwise. Usually the consequences are harmless.

    Usually.

    I’d pull back from my own braggadocio and bombast if I were you, McCain. From my experience in the media industry, it’s highly common for journalists to be of the ego-centrically solipsist and pedantic mindset and personality type.

    Ego wars between pots and kettles are silly, if not mindnumbingly childish.

    But, hey, “any press is good press;” you ever thought Barrett Brown has been punking you since the very beginning?

    Memento mori —

    Respice post te; hominem te memento.

  • Anonymous

    Does anyone really know the definition of Anonymous? Or its bulk? One thing’s for sure, Anonymous is definitely ripped, if not exactly in a conventional muscular way.

  • Anamika

    Looks like someone is on a comment flagging spree. Very irritating. Can you please fix it?

  • http://twitter.com/yestradamous yestraday

    BB is a shit stirrer for sure. But sometimes shit needs to be stirred.

  • Anonymous

    Taste my nightstick, beyotch.

    Viewed by the Bush administration as a vital tool, the program has played a hidden role in domestic and foreign terrorism investigations since 2001 and helped in the capture of the most wanted Qaeda figure in Southeast Asia, the officials said.

    Nearly 20 current and former government officials and industry executives discussed aspects of the Swift operation with The New York Times on condition of anonymity because the program remains classified.

    It is not the role of the New York Times to reveal classified data that prevents this country from defending itself.

    And you are a prime example of retardation caused by oxygen starvation caused by rectocranial inversion. FOAD.

  • Anon

    For once in his life, Robert McCain has it completely right.

    This is truly a momentous first. I will mark my calendar.

  • Anamika

  • Pingback: Barret Brown, Anonymous Portavoce | POWIP

  • Anonymous

    Lulz, MSNBC got trolllllllled.

  • Anonymous

    What is up wit’ da rapperz all up in da house, here?

  • Anonymous

    You can taste my nightstick too, down below, b*ttmunch. I cut liberal liars NO slack anymore.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Kevin-M-Allan/1818678096 Kevin M. Allan

    FIRST ANONYMOUS IS JUST THAT AND THEY ARE CLEAR THAT ANYONE WHO SAYS THEY ARE ARE NOT!(sorry caps) second i would watch what you say, anonymous is only a criminal because the government creates laws to bind their people. anonymous is not criminal in my mind they are human real basic humans who have started an effort that is impossible to stop because anonymous could be any of us at any time and any place.I will continue to relay any info i can to help their cause and encourage my twitter and fb friends do the same.Forget barrett brown you should be watching yourself cuz im sure they are watching you!

  • Anonymous

    Urban Dictionary definition of a “white knight”:

    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=white%20knight%20syndrome

    That ain’t what Anonymous has been doing. They’re Anarchists doing their thing. There are a few confused Nihilists along for the ride hence charges of “moralfagging”, but going up against governments and corporations (with the occasional religious nut thrown in) is part and parcel of Anarchism.

  • Anonymous

    Urban Dictionary definition of a “white knight”:

    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=white%20knight%20syndrome

    That ain’t what Anonymous has been doing. They’re Anarchists doing their thing. There are a few confused Nihilists along for the ride hence charges of “moralfagging”, but going up against governments and corporations (with the occasional religious nut thrown in) is part and parcel of Anarchism.

  • Crawford

    They’re criminals because they commit crimes. Actual crimes, like destruction of property and trespass. In a just world, the script-kiddies would be swinging from lampposts.

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