"Harry " wrote in message
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An unfounded internet report about Mexican drug cartel Los Zetas allegedly
seizing two ranches outside of Laredo raised an internet stir last
weekend. Although the Webb (TX) County Sheriff's Department flatly denied
the rumor, public alarm over the report disrupted normal police
functioning. Kimberly Dvorak, a report originator, apparently still stands
by the story.

The report raised a false public alarm, officials explained at a press
conference convened Thursday in response to ongoing issues the story
spawned. Coping with multiple calls to the county jail, Laredo police, and
Webb County Sheriff's Office interfered with the daily department
operations, according to Assistant Chief Pete Arredondo of the Sheriff's
department.

The story, according to false reports on an online right wing newspaper
and echoed on citizen journalism websites and blogs, involved two ranches
in the northwest area of Laredo that Los Zetas, a Mexican criminal
organization, had reportedly "seized." The notices declared that the
allegation was "breaking news," based on anonymous sources that confirmed
the events. It purported a media blackout was covering up the incident.

Police investigators thoroughly searched the area and found that residents
in question were not even aware of the allegations.

Nevertheless, said Joe Baeza of the Laredo Police, the story took on a
life of its own:

"This is probably a good case study as how far reaching instant media is
and how quickly it can spin out of control."

The fear engendered by the report launched a high volume of calls to the
department swamping the phone lines and impeding normal operations at the
law enforcement offices. Some callers refused to accept police
reassurances and accused them of being part of a cover-up conspiracy.

Right-wing blogger Kim Dvorak was one of those publishing the false report
last weekend. Her post on Allvoices.com, which is still receiving page
views, stands at 3,813 page views (at this writing) with 442 "Likes" from
Facebook. The identical report, cross-posted on Examiner.com, has garnered
354 comments, at least some of which are highly critical.

Dvorak's post concludes: "Stay tuned for updates (sic) reports throughout
the weekend." However, at the time of this writing, she has neither
retracted nor withdrawn the report from either website. Dvorak has not
responded to inquiries about her story.

Other bloggers, both from the political right and from the left,
repudiated the rumor early last week.

Reports of kidnappings, disappearances and murders of journalists abound,
making Mexico one of the most dangerous countries for this profession. The
void this creates promotes the spread of rumors because it can become
nearly impossible to refute or verify stories that appear on blogs or
other alternative news sites.

In reality law enforcement departments are reporting very little violence
on the US side of the border. Those on the political right who promote a
"secure the border" agenda tend to emphasize, and in this case fabricate,
an illusion of violence. Extremely violent incidents on Mexico's northern
border have, however, now spread to many other places in Mexico.

Fabrication? From the right nutjobs? No way!