Down the MEMRI Hole

Borrowing a page from the Scientology harassment manual, the Middle East Research Organization (MEMRI) has sent a legal nastygram to profblogger Juan Cole threatening a (trumped-up sounding) libel suit him and his employer, the University of Michigan, on the basis of some criticisms leveled against the group in this column. Follow-up posts at Cole's blog. I make no judgement about the veracity of the bill of particulars against MEMRI, but it's a little ironic to see a group that trumpets a quote from Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) praising their "enormously effective work, on behalf of truth, civilization, open press of all types" would stoop to this kind of cheap attempt to squelch criticism through intimidation.