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212 comments on DrumBeat: November 18, 2007

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PrisonerX on November 18, 2007 - 4:37pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Posted at Bloomberg

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aKfmA4fMrsbM&refer=home

its about the OPEC meeting and what was said about the dollar and how it is overshadowing the Climate Change money they are offering etc.

I read and googled the story to try and find out what I could about the purported reason of why the meeting was broadcast to the press via a TV set.

Here is what I found

Several reports keep using the word "broadcast" and report what was "said".

One report said that ONLY the audio was broadcast.

The "mistake" lasted 40 minutes.

It was discovered after Reuters put out a report.

Then some officials and security "burst" into the room and ordered security to "pull the plug" on the 50 something inch TV.

The reason for the mistake was given as " a technician made a "patch" that was incorrect.

Was this on purpose, its very hard to say. I looked to the "cover" of why it was allowed to be heard (can't verify that it was "seen") from any report.

I see the story as possible it was a mistake. Lasting 40 minutes is a long time. It appears that the "communication" side of OPEC found out when they read it coming out over press reports LIVE.

However the "patch" story as (someone that is well familiar of how these things are patched and sent out) bears scrutiny.

To patch something means to "route" it somewhere. If the technician was patching it, where was it "supposed" to go. Was this supposed to go to a recording device. (and did the others in the room know that it was).

You would PULL patches or turn off equipment. Adding something means leaving it on and routing it somewhere. Why did the technicians not notice it was not being sent to where they thought they sent it.

Doing the AV/Video for a meeting like OPEC means security clearances and a reputation that you do things correctly, not some hotel or local guy.

I lean toward a mistake, but the cover story needs scrutiny by the press (which will not happen).

It also is not clear, but this Room and "monitor" they were viewing on appears to have been used to broadcast the "open" part, and was supposed to be turned off/unpatched from that room. Which is why a wrong patch was made doesn't really make much sense. But not knowing what else was in the system etc, hard to say.

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fleam on November 18, 2007 - 5:48pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Stupid blunders with mics and A/V equipment like this happen ALL the time. There are numerous sayings about this, Vox Is Not Your Friend, treat all mics as live, etc.

Anyone who's listened to live feeds on TV or radio, call-ins, etc knows blunders are really common.

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Pudentilla on November 18, 2007 - 6:21pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

On the other hand, if you wanted to send Cheney (and the rest of the world) a message that you were willing to kill the dollar if that's what it took to stop a US war with Iran - this is not such a bad way to do it.

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PeakTO on November 18, 2007 - 7:31pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I guess you have to think about that one. IF he wanted to send Cheney a message as direct as that...he could just pick up the phone.

What does the rest of the world care? Unless to warn us to bail on USD$.

Oops...too late already done that...perhaps they are the ones behind the ball?

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PrisonerX on November 19, 2007 - 2:17am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

A radio/tv show etc and a top meeting of very high officials were it is supposed to be top secret, and for their ears only, is not the same in my opinion Fleam. This is a HUGE mistake if it is a mistake.

One other thing that bothered me was the "show" of bursting into the room and yelling for security to pull the plug etc.

Why didn't they go to the AV people and tell them, and make them pull the plug at their end. My answer to this and why I can understand it, is simple. They didn't wish to let the Leaders know what had happened during the discussion. At least not yet, and they needed to prepare for the press to follow. If these were Saudi technicians, oh my for them. 200 lashes for being in a car and getting raped. What will they get for this.

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Cid Yama on November 19, 2007 - 3:18am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

This report describes the what was seen. Was not audio only.

The live transmission showed OPEC oil, finance and foreign ministers assembled at a round table decorated with bouquets of white flowers and surrounded by flags of the OPEC nations.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/story/7EF8B661148F...

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PrisonerX on November 19, 2007 - 2:39pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Interesting Cyd, so when I start to see conflicting reports of what was on and not on the screen then the whole thing starts to fall apart.

One of th4 links listed here had the reporter specifically say that audio only was sent, not video.

If video was also sent then you have to ask why were the camera's left on also.

not so sure if it was an accident if the camera's were on.

This makes it a compound error and not a single error.

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212 comments on DrumBeat: November 18, 2007

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