Difference between revisions of "Stratfor"
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| − | '''Stratfor''' - | + | '''Stratfor''' -- also known as Strategic Forecasting, Inc. -- is a private company that provides strategic and issues management intelligence analysis to corporations and governments. |
The company, founded in 1996, is based in Austin, Texas and boasts that it has "an intelligence network located throughout the world." | The company, founded in 1996, is based in Austin, Texas and boasts that it has "an intelligence network located throughout the world." | ||
| − | "Stratfor is the world's leading private intelligence firm providing corporations, governments and individuals with geopolitical analysis and forecasts that enable them to manage risk and to anticipate political, economic and security issues vital to their interests," it states on its website. [http://stratfor.com/corp/Corporate.neo?s=ABO] | + | "Stratfor is the world's leading private intelligence firm providing corporations, governments and individuals with geopolitical analysis and forecasts that enable them to manage risk and to anticipate political, economic and security issues vital to their interests," it states on its website. <ref>Stratfor, [http://stratfor.com/corp/Corporate.neo?s=ABO ABO], corporate website</ref> |
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| + | ==Stratfor Hacked by Anonymous== | ||
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| + | On December 25, 2011, according to the ''Associated Press'', "the loose-knit hacking movement '[[Anonymous]]' claimed . . . to have stolen thousands of credit card numbers and other personal information belonging to clients of U.S.-based security think tank Stratfor. One hacker said the goal was to pilfer funds from individuals' accounts to give away as Christmas donations, and some victims confirmed unauthorized transactions linked to their credit cards. . . . It said it was able to get the credit card details in part because Stratfor didn't bother encrypting them - an easy-to-avoid blunder which, if true, would be a major embarrassment for any security-related company."<ref>Cassandra Vinograd and Ramit Plushnick-Masti, [http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_HACKER_CHRISTMAS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-12-25-07-55-27 'Anonymous' hackers target US security think tank], ''Associated Press'', December 25, 2011</ref> | ||
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| + | ==Stratfor in Latin America== | ||
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| + | Al Giordano details what he calls "20 Stratfor Lies about Latin America": | ||
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:Stratfor is one of these snake-oil disinfo sales firms that traffics in "intelligence briefings" for people gullible enough to pay for them. Imagine that: you can get lied to for free all over this great land, but some people actually pay to be deceived! | :Stratfor is one of these snake-oil disinfo sales firms that traffics in "intelligence briefings" for people gullible enough to pay for them. Imagine that: you can get lied to for free all over this great land, but some people actually pay to be deceived! | ||
:Stratfor's track record in Latin America is abhorrent (how many years in a row did it predict that [[Hugo Chavez]] would not survive that year as [[Venezuela]]'s president?). It's "spin" is ideological: pro-corporate, which is no surprise, given that it's undisclosed clientele purchases something called "Business Intelligence Services." | :Stratfor's track record in Latin America is abhorrent (how many years in a row did it predict that [[Hugo Chavez]] would not survive that year as [[Venezuela]]'s president?). It's "spin" is ideological: pro-corporate, which is no surprise, given that it's undisclosed clientele purchases something called "Business Intelligence Services." | ||
| − | :In my opinion, Stratfor engages in circulating [[disinformation]] into the datasphere through its free and paid email memos in ways that seem aimed to help the agendas of that very same corporate world that contracts its services. | + | :In my opinion, Stratfor engages in circulating [[disinformation]] into the datasphere through its free and paid email memos in ways that seem aimed to help the agendas of that very same corporate world that contracts its services.<ref>Al Giordano, [http://www.bigleftoutside.com/archives/000255.php?theme=white 20 Stratfor Lies about Latin America], ''Big Left Outside'', now offline, snips available on [http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x757754 DemocraticUnderground.com]</ref> |
| − | + | ==Stratfor Criticized for Strategizing to Spin Public Health Advocates as "Anti-Chemical"== | |
| − | Mongoven | + | In March 2004, Bart Mongoven from Stratfor's Washington D.C. office appeared on a panel - Strategies for Dealing with Environmental Litigation - at the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas. (Also appearing on the panel were Marc Sisk, Dorsey & Whitney, Washington, DC and Stephen Brown from [[The Dutko Group]] LLC).<ref>NPRADC, [http://www.npradc.org/meetings/annual/Tuesdayam.pdf Annual Meeting Schedule], organizational website, broken link</ref> |
| − | According to ''Inside EPA'', Mongoven said that the collaboration was broadening the debate beyond exposure to pesticides to the health impacts of industrial emissions. According to ''Inside EPA'', he suggested that one option for industry to counter this development was to dismiss advocates stated public health goal and instead portray them as being "anti-chemical" | + | Mongoven warned industry leaders about the increasing collaboration between environmental groups and patients groups on the issue of exposure to chemicals. Washington D.C. trade magazine, ''Inside EPA'', reported Mongoven told the NPRA that "in five years, the environmental community would like to see all debates [be about] the environment and health." Mongoven nominated Collaborative on Health and the Environment as an example of the new approach.<ref>[http://www.insideepa.com/ ''Inside EPA''], publication of Inside Washington Publishers, subscription only</ref> |
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| + | According to ''Inside EPA'', Mongoven said that the collaboration was broadening the debate beyond exposure to pesticides to the health impacts of industrial emissions. According to ''Inside EPA'', he suggested that one option for industry to counter this development was to dismiss advocates stated public health goal and instead portray them as being "anti-chemical." | ||
==Personnel== | ==Personnel== | ||
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===Related SourceWatch articles=== | ===Related SourceWatch articles=== | ||
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===External resources=== | ===External resources=== | ||
| + | ===External articles=== | ||
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*Al Giordano,"[http://www.bigleftoutside.com/archives/000255.php?theme=white20 Stratfor Lies about Latin America]", November 21, 2003. This is a response to a briefing on Latin American promulgated by Stratfor but not freely available on its website. | *Al Giordano,"[http://www.bigleftoutside.com/archives/000255.php?theme=white20 Stratfor Lies about Latin America]", November 21, 2003. This is a response to a briefing on Latin American promulgated by Stratfor but not freely available on its website. | ||
*Manu Raju, "[http://www.insideepa.com/ Industry Fears Growing Role Of Patient Groups In Environment Lobby]", ''Inside EPA'', March 24, 2004. | *Manu Raju, "[http://www.insideepa.com/ Industry Fears Growing Role Of Patient Groups In Environment Lobby]", ''Inside EPA'', March 24, 2004. | ||
| + | ===References=== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Private intelligence-gathering firms]][[Category:United States]] | [[Category:Private intelligence-gathering firms]][[Category:United States]] | ||
| + | {{stub}} | ||
Revision as of 17:57, 27 December 2011
Stratfor -- also known as Strategic Forecasting, Inc. -- is a private company that provides strategic and issues management intelligence analysis to corporations and governments.
The company, founded in 1996, is based in Austin, Texas and boasts that it has "an intelligence network located throughout the world."
"Stratfor is the world's leading private intelligence firm providing corporations, governments and individuals with geopolitical analysis and forecasts that enable them to manage risk and to anticipate political, economic and security issues vital to their interests," it states on its website. [1]
Contents
Stratfor Hacked by Anonymous
On December 25, 2011, according to the Associated Press, "the loose-knit hacking movement 'Anonymous' claimed . . . to have stolen thousands of credit card numbers and other personal information belonging to clients of U.S.-based security think tank Stratfor. One hacker said the goal was to pilfer funds from individuals' accounts to give away as Christmas donations, and some victims confirmed unauthorized transactions linked to their credit cards. . . . It said it was able to get the credit card details in part because Stratfor didn't bother encrypting them - an easy-to-avoid blunder which, if true, would be a major embarrassment for any security-related company."[2]
Stratfor in Latin America
Al Giordano details what he calls "20 Stratfor Lies about Latin America":
- Stratfor is one of these snake-oil disinfo sales firms that traffics in "intelligence briefings" for people gullible enough to pay for them. Imagine that: you can get lied to for free all over this great land, but some people actually pay to be deceived!
- Stratfor's track record in Latin America is abhorrent (how many years in a row did it predict that Hugo Chavez would not survive that year as Venezuela's president?). It's "spin" is ideological: pro-corporate, which is no surprise, given that it's undisclosed clientele purchases something called "Business Intelligence Services."
- In my opinion, Stratfor engages in circulating disinformation into the datasphere through its free and paid email memos in ways that seem aimed to help the agendas of that very same corporate world that contracts its services.[3]
Stratfor Criticized for Strategizing to Spin Public Health Advocates as "Anti-Chemical"
In March 2004, Bart Mongoven from Stratfor's Washington D.C. office appeared on a panel - Strategies for Dealing with Environmental Litigation - at the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas. (Also appearing on the panel were Marc Sisk, Dorsey & Whitney, Washington, DC and Stephen Brown from The Dutko Group LLC).[4]
Mongoven warned industry leaders about the increasing collaboration between environmental groups and patients groups on the issue of exposure to chemicals. Washington D.C. trade magazine, Inside EPA, reported Mongoven told the NPRA that "in five years, the environmental community would like to see all debates [be about] the environment and health." Mongoven nominated Collaborative on Health and the Environment as an example of the new approach.[5]
According to Inside EPA, Mongoven said that the collaboration was broadening the debate beyond exposure to pesticides to the health impacts of industrial emissions. According to Inside EPA, he suggested that one option for industry to counter this development was to dismiss advocates stated public health goal and instead portray them as being "anti-chemical."
Personnel
- George Friedman - Founder, CEO [6]
- Bart Mongoven
Contact information
700 Lavaca Street, Suite 900
Austin, TX 78701
Tel: +1 (512) 744-4300
Fax: +1 (512) 744-4334
Web: http://www.stratfor.com
Articles and resources
Related SourceWatch articles
External resources
External articles
- Al Giordano,"Stratfor Lies about Latin America", November 21, 2003. This is a response to a briefing on Latin American promulgated by Stratfor but not freely available on its website.
- Manu Raju, "Industry Fears Growing Role Of Patient Groups In Environment Lobby", Inside EPA, March 24, 2004.
References
- ↑ Stratfor, ABO, corporate website
- ↑ Cassandra Vinograd and Ramit Plushnick-Masti, 'Anonymous' hackers target US security think tank, Associated Press, December 25, 2011
- ↑ Al Giordano, 20 Stratfor Lies about Latin America, Big Left Outside, now offline, snips available on DemocraticUnderground.com
- ↑ NPRADC, Annual Meeting Schedule, organizational website, broken link
- ↑ Inside EPA, publication of Inside Washington Publishers, subscription only
- ↑ "About STRATFOR: Who we are," Stratfor website, accessed April 2009.
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