I'm really trying to understand what kind of airtight bubble the writers and editors of the New York Times live in. Do they have any understanding of the real world? Any understanding of what happens during a war? Do they really think that paying some money to some people to help you gauge the effects of your information programs is shocking and wrong?
I'm really, really trying to understand what their motivation is here. They can not possibly be this stupid.
The motivation is simple to explain: embarrass Bush and the Republicans who elected him.
To do that the NY Times needs America to lose this war.
To lose this war the NY Times adheres to the old adage: "My enemy's enemy is my friend", and the NY Times sees George Bush as the enemy.
Uh.....they're leftists. SURE they can! (always have been, are now, always WILL be)
"They can not possibly be this stupid."