[lbo-talk] [Pen-l] Juan Cole, consultant to the CIA?

Carrol Cox cbcox at ilstu.edu
Thu Sep 1 10:39:55 PDT 2011


Gene Coyle writes:

The issue as I see it is not the positions he has taken on invading Iraq or the Afghan war but rather that his association/consulting with the CIA was not made known to the audience on Democracy Now. An analogy is with physicians or other scientists publishing studies of the efficacy of a drug or medical procedure without the journal knowing that they have been paid, one way or another, by the pharma company or other sponsor.

Another analogy is with the "retired" generals and admirals appearing on network TV shows as experts without the revelation of their preparation and/or pay by the Pentagon.

Why didn't we, the audience, know about Coles' associations?

=======

This seems cogent. But he is also a professor. There is a long history of left criticism of professors who lend there expertise to the state. For example, a medical professor or professor of psychology who advise the CIA on torture techniques, or an anthropologist who advises the military on suppression of resistance movements. The list goes on. During the Vietnam War considrable attention was given to this. Leaving aside his published opinions or his appearance on Democracy Now, the fact that he has worked with the CIA makes him professionally unworthy as a scholar and teacher. He should be censured by the appropriate professional organization.

Carrol



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