WSJ op-ed writer Elizabeth O’Bagy fired for resume lie

[n2doc]

By MACKENZIE WEINGER | 9/11/13 12:49 PM EDT
The Syria researcher whose Wall Street Journal op-piece was cited by Secretary of State John Kerry and Sen. John McCain during congressional hearings about the use of force has been fired from the Institute for the Study of War for lying about having a Ph.D., the group announced on Wednesday.

“The Institute for the Study of War has learned and confirmed that, contrary to her representations, Ms. Elizabeth O’Bagy does not in fact have a Ph.D. degree from Georgetown University,” the institute said in a statement. “ISW has accordingly terminated Ms. O’Bagy’s employment, effective immediately.”

O’Bagy’s Aug. 30 op-ed piece for the Journal, “On the Front Lines of Syria’s Civil War,” was cited by both Kerry and McCain last week. McCain read from the piece last Tuesday to Kerry, calling it “an important op-ed by Dr. Elizabeth O’Bagy.” The next day, Kerry also brought up the piece before a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing and described it as a “very interesting article” and recommended that members read it.

But the piece had also come under fire for misrepresenting her affiliations. Originally the op-ed only listed O’Bagy, 26, as only “a senior analyst” at the ISW, later adding a clarification that disclosed her connection to a Syrian rebel advocacy group.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/wall-street-journal-elizabeth-obagy-fired-96637.html

[uponit7771]

1. Lying about HAVIN a Phd is pretty stupid, that's very falsifiable information. Has to be more to thi

[liberalhistorian]

3. I agree that it's a really dumb, stupid

thing to do nowadays given how quick and easy it is to verify credentials and how quickly a lie can be discovered. It's actually always been a really stupid thing to do, but there was a time, before the internet and a lot of our uber-modern technology, when it was harder to verify and took more time and effort, so companies often just trusted what was stated on resumes.

But I know some HR and recruitment people and you would NOT believe how common it still is, especially among supposedly educated, "smart" people who should damn well know that they WILL be found out quickly, possibly even before starting work, and that it's a much darker blot on their records than if they'd just tried to get a position with their own, valid credentials. Truly amazing.

[lumpy]

27. Perhaps because it was disclosed that she had connections to a Syrian rebel advocacy group.

as stated in the article.

[Eleanors38]

32. Yet ANOTHER exp. of some institution or company not checking B.G.

I've seen this in universities, school districts, govt. agencies, and corps. Whoosh! Right on through the Dept. of Human Racehorses, someone with an M.A. from Rumblegut College.

[leveymg]

2. Why would an Op-ed by some unknown hawkish policy wonk get so much attention?

Hmmmm . . .

Her opinion piece basically makes 3 propositions. I wonder which parts got Kerry and McCain's interest up:

1) "Moderate opposition forces" are protecting Syrian minorities

Moderate opposition forces—a collection of groups known as the Free Syrian Army—continue to lead the fight against the Syrian regime. While traveling with some of these Free Syrian Army battalions, I've watched them defend Alawi and Christian villages from government forces and extremist groups. They've demonstrated a willingness to submit to civilian authority, working closely with local administrative councils. And they have struggled to ensure that their fight against Assad will pave the way for a flourishing civil society. One local council I visited in a part of Aleppo controlled by the Free Syrian Army was holding weekly forums in which citizens were able to speak freely, and have their concerns addressed directly by local authorities.

Moderate opposition groups make up the majority of actual fighting forces, and they have recently been empowered by the influx of arms and money from Saudi Arabia and other allied countries, such as Jordan and France. This is especially true in the south, where weapons provided by the Saudis have made a significant difference on the battlefield, and have helped fuel a number of recent rebel advances in Damascus.

2) The rebels are getting inadequate weapons because the US wants it that way:

Thanks to geographic separation from extremist strongholds and reliable support networks in the south, even outdated arms sent by the Saudis, like Croatian rocket-launchers and recoilless rifles, have allowed moderate rebel groups to make significant inroads into areas that had previously been easily defended by the regime, and to withstand the pressure of government forces in the capital. In recent months, the opposition has achieved major victories in Aleppo, Idlib, Deraa and Damascus—nearly reaching the heart of the capital—despite the regime's consolidation in Homs province.

At this stage in the conflict, barring a major bombing campaign by the U.S., sophisticated weaponry, including anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapon systems, may be the opposition's best chance at sustaining its fight against Assad. This is something only foreign governments, not jihadists, can offer. Right now, Saudi sources that are providing the rebels critical support tell me that they haven't sent more effective weaponry because the U.S. has explicitly asked them not to.

3) The Jihadis are effective at holding territory because they have "won over local population" through charity

There is no denying that groups like Jabhat al Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham have gained a foothold in the north of Syria, and that they have come to dominate local authorities there, including by imposing Shariah law. Such developments are more the result of al Qaeda affiliates having better resources than an indicator of local support. Where they have won over the local population, they have done so through the distribution of humanitarian aid.

[HooptieWagon]

4. "Curvebelle"

We've seen this movie before... an Administration using a bogus "authority" to gin up the case for war, and suppressing information/intelligence that doesn't support their case. I'm quite surprised that a number of DUers are so gullible to fall for it again.

[leveymg]

5. I was thinking more like Judy Miller. A send-up who burrowed in.

But, unlike Judy, Judy, Judy, I wonder how much influence she really had? I've never heard of her before. Why were both Kerry and McCain spreading her writing around, like gospel?

Are there really so few American sources who have been inside Syria? Even some of the well-combed network TV celebrity correspondents have been claiming to be broadcasting from rebel-held territory, and their "reporting" has been at least as transparently one-sided.

No. I think this may have to do with either something this women has conveyed before or was in the process of planting. There's nothing in this particular article that really stands out as really extraordinary.

[leveymg]

6. I went to her page at the Institute and her Blog is still up, except a recent

video that's been taken down:

Fox News-Expert on Syrian politics, security speaks out

Aug 29, 2013 - Elizabeth O'Bagy
- See more at: http://www.understandingwar.org/press-media/webcast/fox-news-expert-syrian-politics-security-speaks-out#sthash.OFIREWOf.dpuf


I'll try to find that.

[leveymg]

7. Here's the start of a discussion at Conservativesforum about that Fox News interview with her

http://www.conservativesforum.com/cgi-bin/conservatives-forum/YaBB.pl?num=1378216833
Message started by Courdeleon02 on Sep 3rd, 2013, 10:00am

Title: Syrian Rebels not controlled by Al Qaeda
Post by Courdeleon02 on Sep 3rd, 2013, 10:00am This is the most detailed information on the structure of the Rebel forces in Syria. It contradicts the false information that the main stream media is backing that Al Qaeda is controlling the Rebel movement.Moderate forces are the prevailing influence and we need to back them up with military action that will be effective.


http://www.understandingwar.org/press-media/webcast/fox-news-expert-syrian-politics-security-speaks-out

[leveymg]

11. Here's the YouTube in which McCain mentions O'Bagy during a hearing last week

Last edited Wed Sep 11, 2013, 02:46 PM - Edit history (2)

It's interesting that McCain is stroking the notion that the major opposition groups are "moderate" and "secular" and "would never agree" to an Islamic state, while Kerry agrees with that assessment, "for the most part" and gives the impression that al-Nusra and others are really only a problem in the north.

[grasswire]

17. thanks for your diligent research. nt

[leveymg]

19. My pleasure

[malaise]

23. Oops!!

Houston we have a problem!!!

[KoKo]

18. And why would the US State Department use HER as a source when

surely they have people on the ground in Syria. They should have many ME experts with verifiable degrees and backgrounds already in service there.

Why would Kerry and McCain through this out there for people to read assuming that people would take this woman's word writing for the WSJ and only 27 years old over a more seasoned diplomat from the US State Department.

Why use the same kind of "plant" like Judith Miller when everyone remembers she was fired for propaganda. How could they think we wouldn't find out?

Cut off from the people? Living in a Bubble? Too lazy to pay attention to what's going on around them? No sense of history of the past decades when they served in Government?

[leveymg]

28. Maybe, she's just someone's girlfriend?

Stranger things have happened.

[KoKo]

37. I don't think that Kerry would go that far..maybe a Staffer?

I don't see him getting the Heinz Fortune engaged (at his age) with some battle..

But, then ..stranger things have been seen with our Politicians...these past years.

STILL...he should be better Mentoring his Staffers on the "Morality Issue."

[leveymg]

43. Maybe more the other John's type.

Right-thinking girl. That devoted to the cause, she might overlook a lot.

Naw. Just a little free association.

[karynnj]

40. They didn't

Kerry commented on the quote that McCain read - and said he agreed with the part read for the most part. That is NOT using it as a source. He then mentioned the article as interesting -- the same thing he has said of many op-eds = written by many people. Neither comment "uses it as a source of information".

[karynnj]

41. "Plant"????

McCain quoted the article to Kerry, who commented on it. How is this the State Department planting anything? I see many posts suggesting articles as insightful by people without specific qualifications.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

9. good one!

[leveymg]

13. Second that.

[Marr]

14. The best way to become a revered "thinker" in this country

is to say what the 1% wants to hear.

The opinion market is driven by demand, too.

[dreamnightwind]

31. Yes, absolutely correct - nt

[Mojorabbit]

25. I can't imagine anyone being an expert at 26 years old in this field either.

Maybe I am just getting old but that seems awfully young to have much in the way of world experience.

[lumpy]

29. I'll go along with that. Although we do, in small amounts, have some dedicated, serious,

educated young people in the US who are interested in world affairs. I don't personally know any of them.

[Blue_Tires]

8. "Institute for the Study of War??"

a.k.a., "We're a real, legit institute and totally NOT a front organization!"

[Catherina]

10. Hahaha, the 26 yr old Kerry was using to sell War. "Scandal Over “Brainchild” Behind War Policy"

Another brilliant success of our "reliable mainstream" media .

Scandal Over “Brainchild” Behind War Policy

Cliff Kincaid — September 9, 2013




As President Obama prepares to speak to the nation on his desire for war in Syria, critical attention is being focused on the conflicts of interest and hidden agenda of an influential writer for The Wall Street Journal who has argued for U.S. military intervention on behalf of the Syrian “rebels.” The writer, an attractive young woman by the name of Elizabeth O’Bagy, has appeared on CNN, Fox News and PBS, but her controversial connection to one side in the Syrian civil war had been carefully concealed during these appearances.

...

For example, McCain, who has praised Al Jazeera and also appeared on the channel, has called the Syrian rebels “moderates,” openly citing O’Bagy’s work.

...

Her views, for example, were featured prominently in the USA Today article, “Syrian rebels said to seek Islamic democracy,” depicting the opposition to the Assad regime as desiring an American experiment in democratic government for their country. The article said, “Many Syrian opposition members she [O’Bagy] has spoken to compared what they want [in Syria] to the United States.”

...

One leading Catholic thinker told Accuracy in Media that while Obama is coming across as indifferent to the suffering and plight of Christians in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking like “a potential good guy” by speaking up for the rights of persecuted Christians in the Middle East and elsewhere.

O’Bagy’s most influential article appeared in The Wall Street Journal, titled, “On the Front Lines of Syria’s Civil War.” In the article, she claimed that “Contrary to many media accounts, the war in Syria is not being waged entirely, or even predominantly, by dangerous Islamists and al-Qaida die-hards.” Commentary magazine called the article “a very good place to start” in understanding Syria.

...

Before that, on June 22, 2012, she appeared on Al Jazeera, the television channel serving as the mouthpiece for the Muslim Brotherhood, as an “expert” on Syria. This appearance seemed to also make her an “expert” in the eyes of many others in the international and U.S. media.

...

http://www.aim.org/aim-column/scandal-over-brainchild-behind-war-policy/

[font size=3]WHAT! ACCURACY IN MEDIA CALLS AL JAZEERA "the mouthpiece for the Muslim Brotherhood" Say it ain't so! [/font]

Moustafa’s Twitter account currently describes him as working for the “Libyan Revolution, and now Syrian Revolution good times.”

It would be funny if it weren't so sad.

[orenbus]

12. ridiculous

These are the types of sources that John Kerry our Secretary of State uses as part of the argument to take military action against another country? No wonder most of the people in our country have a lack of trust in our own government, it gives an indication of what information our government officials will use to support whatever their arguments may be without proper vetting, unbelievable.

[KoKo]

16. Isn't it someone's job to check out her Resume? NSA? FBI? If they

are relying on her for "intelligence info" then it seems that proper vetting isn't being done while average Americans are being tracked 24/7 and pawed over at Airports along with the other "security measures" anticipated in the coming years.

Do not of them remember Judith Miller and Curveball? Are the people we elect these days BrainDead?

[leveymg]

20. Apparently, someone finally did.

[KoKo]

24. Would have been better to have caught it before Kerry used the source...though.

But, hopefully her exposure will make them think twice and carefully vett the next person who is cited for reference when appearing before a House or Senate Committee hearing of such importance.

[karynnj]

42. This was not John Kerry's source

At most, she wrote an article that he thought the parts cited by McCain as interesting.

[Jesus Malverde]

15. Interesting to see this on twitter - lots of incredulity

https://twitter.com/search?q=%40lizobagy&src=typd

[Tom Ripley]

21. "You must lie only to the readers, but never the human resources department!"

[MisterP]

22. doesn't matter: she got her ideas in the bloodstream and those have been enough

to reroute public discourse: now "without the credible threat of strikes Assad would have no motive whatsoever ... to negotiate a diplomatic solution" is not just acceptable but official for "lefties"

[Vashta Nerada]

26. Looks like the HR department didn't do a thorough background check.

[lumpy]

30. You have to be careful of whom to trust these days. Seems like there is no lack of irons in the

fire in every one's fireplace.

[Bluenorthwest]

33. Kerry and McCain have fallen for so many bogus sources and faked intel that one

might wonder why anyone listens to them about anything. Rubes, patsies, marks for every spinner of tales that comes along.

[KoKo]

34. Indeed...boggles the Mind...n/t

[tabasco]

35. Can you cite some other examples?

Thanks!

[tabasco]

44. Regarding Kerry, can you cite some other examples?

Thanks.

[KoKo]

36. Needs a KICK for West Coast Crowd and International Viewers.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

38. K&R

[Octafish]

39. For a good war, call Curvebell: 1-800-HACKJOB

Tailoring the intel to fit your war plans.

How very imperial.

A doctorate, no less.