Reply #4: How about a fifth? [View All]

[CornField]

The person who recreated these document is someone who viewed the originals, but couldn't take possession of them. (i.e., the person was working from memory -- got the gist of the documents, but made errors in the details)

The big issue now is no longer one of forgery. The person(s) who made these documents did, at some point, have access to the originals. They are recreations, verified by Knox.

What I'm curious about is how long has CBS/Rather known about Knox. We're not talking about journalists right out of the starting gate and looking to make a name for themselves. They would not have run with these documents, I don't think, without vetting them out. Did CBS/Rather know prior to their first broadcast that these were recreations of original documents? If so, why use the documents at all? Why not just bring Knox and Barnes together for a segment?

You also have to wonder at the speed in which our friend Punkhead proclaimed the documents forgeries. Given allowance for time zones, he was able to pick these documents apart within 19 minutes. I don't think CBS had even placed them upon their site at that point. This means that this attorney from Georgia would have to know enough about typefaces and print production from the 1970s to have made this declaration after a few short seconds of viewing on a television screen. I can tell you that before starting my own business (graphic design & layout) that I worked in the printing industry for over 10 years. Those documents were not on the screen long enough for me to notice a superscript 'th' -- and even if they had been, I would not have made the connection that quickly.

Also, I believe the copies released by CBS had the address blacked out -- Punkhead's did not. Punkhead got the documents -- or at least talking points on the documents -- well ahead of time.

Stir the pot some more... the folks who discussed the documents on 60 Minutes have already stated that they didn't see the actual papers, that the text was read to them over the phone. Others have stated that they only verified the signature, implying that they also did not have copies of the documents in question in their hands.

Who then, besides CBS, would have had the full documents given to them prior to the broadcast? The White House. CBS would have been dismiss if they had not provided copies of the documents to the White House so they could answer the charges made.

Now, considering that the information contained in these documents is true (based on Knox's interview), how exactly would the White House know for a fact that they were recreated and not the original documents? This happened 30+ years ago ... how would they remember the format of the documents and the exact wording of the documents? I can only think of two ways: 1) The White House has the originals and compared them; or 2) Someone associated with the White House is the recreator.