Fool me once...

Playing catch-up but this is important. Last Friday Drudge picked up a story saying Tehran passed a law mandating Jews and other religious minorities wear badges. The piece appeared alongside a giant black-and-white shot of Hungarian Jews wearing the Nazis' yellow stars. Helpful in case you didn't figure out the implications.

The original showed up in Canada's National Post, a CanWest publication, which five years ago handed down corporate policy not to criticze Israel in op-eds. The ownership lineage of the outlet is important to note.

Headlined "Iran: Jews, Christians Must Wear Badges", the story has disappeared from the National Post site, replaced by a back-peddling folo. If you really must read the original, we can (*sigh*) send you to the dribble-mouth archives.

The article's charge is wrong and fits neatly into the pattern of PR groups working with expatriates to invent stories and further the demonization and fear by which elements of the administration can enact their gross schemes. This story was authored by an "analyst" tied to Benador Associates, whose roster includes Richard Perle, Michael Ledeen and other neocon notables.

Plant a story in the compliant right-wing press, push the rest of the media to lap it up, and watch the country swing into a frenzy. Sounds familiar.