LE COUP DU PARAPLUE

As I write this column, Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB officer is struggling for his life at a London hospital. Litvinenko, who had rebelled against the methods of the Russian secret police, had to flee Russia to England six years ago. Several years ago, Litvinenko published a book Blowing Up Russia, where he claimed that Russian secret police was behind the massive killings of civilians in 1999, later incriminated to Chechen terrorists. He was busy with an independent investigation of the murder of the Russian opposition journalist Anna Politkovskaya (killed in Moscow on 7 October 2006), when he himself got assassinated. After a private dinner with an Italian businessman, also known to be on friendly terms with the Russian secret services, Litvinenko was hospitalized. As laboratory analysis showed, he had been poisoned by a heavy toxin called thallium, a potentially lethal metal causing memory losses and severe internal organ damage.

As I write this column, John Smith, a former CIA officer is struggling for his life at a London hospital. Smith who has rebelled against the methods of the American secret police , had to flee the US six years ago. Several years ago, Smith published a book where he claimed that the CIA was behind the massive killings of civilians later incriminated to terrorists. He was busy with an independent investigation of the tortures of the prisoners in Iraq , when he himself got assassinated. After a private dinner with an Italian businessman, also known to be on friendly terms with the US secret services, Smith was hospitalized. As laboratory analysis showed, he had been poisoned by a heavy toxin called thallium, a potentially lethal metal causing memory losses and severe internal organ damage.

If the latter, constructed, news paragraph was true instead of the former, what consequences would it have, even if only published once, in a small circulation medium? Well, for a start, all media all over the world would republish it. Independent investigations and open international investigations would follow. And most definitely, a public scandal in Italy would break out.

The sad truth is, the first paragraph is true. Most Russians don't even know about it. When I entered Litvinenko in Russia 's most popular search engine, Yandex, and hit News, not a single major news network popped up. There came a few results from the remaining free media, such as radio Ekho Moskvy, a few opposition on-line resources and some foreign outlets, such as the BBC and Radio Free Europe. Not a single Russian television channel.

Meanwhile, it has been three weeks since Litvinenko was hospitalized. His condition has not improved.

Two days ago, a large scandal irrupted in Holland . Of the tens of thousands media resources every single one has taken part in spreading the word. The chief of the Netherlands defense staff was called on the carpet and was interrogated on national television. A broad-scaled open investigation is underway. All of this because several detainees in Iraq have been supposedly flushed with water and had to wear lightproof eyeglasses during interrogation.

Please read paragraph one again.