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Notes -
If NSA is blackmailing US senators to ensure they vote how it prefers them to vote, what makes you think anyone who isn't a reliable dimwit like the current Czech president or doesn't have a handle ( I dunno, a record of attending Belgian child torture parties) even makes it above regional level in Western Europe?
CIA, hand in glove with BND used to basically run German media during the cold war. Allegations that they're still doing so were levelled by Udo Ulfkotte, who spent 17 yrs as a respected journalist in a prominent newspaper, before leaving and eventually writing a book claiming CIA is basically still running German media, vetting journalists and keeping a watchful eye on the coverage of touchy topics.
I don't believe for a second American influence is just the think-tanker /overt Atlanticist circlejerk that is outwardly evident.
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