Everyone else is on the forgery story today (link to WaPo here). I only wish to add:
No computer-literate person who has used both a typewriter and a PC would have made the typgraphic errors found in the memo. Justified spacing? Superscripted “th”? It seems to me that whomever did this forgery grew up with PCs and never had the “joy” of typing on a manual - or electric - typewriter.
And to think I was just arguing with the Wife (may Her name be forever praised!) about the credibility of the internet vs. traditional media.
Score another for the net - yet one more reason to not read newspapers.
UPDATE: Little Green Footballs is partly responsible for breaking this story (note to self: read them more often). Link to more on the story here.
I learned how to type in 1981 on a manual typewriter in high school. I estimate that whomever forged these docs was either incredibly stupid OR:
1. Is younger than me (37).
2. Never watched a show incorporating forensics (CSI counts).
3. Isn’t familiar with the Hitler Diary Forgery Case - putting that person in mid twenties since the story broke in 1983.
4. Doesn’t the recognize the risk of “blowback” should the forgery be discovered.
A person that young would not be a major player in the Kerry (or anyone else’s) campaign. However he could have thought of it, assured his (older) superiors that he could pull it off (maybe by impressing them with his acumen at computers), and then did it.
He (90% chance) is probably shitting twinkies now - and stunned that no one is returning his phone calls.
Score (another) one for age and experience.
