USA Today/AP: Circus company goes on trial in spy suit

[PhilipShore]

USA Today/AP
Circus company goes on trial in spy suit
2/27/2006

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-02-27-circus-spy_x.htm

FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — The nation's largest circus went on trial Monday on allegations that it ran an extensive corporate espionage campaign against an animal-rights group and hired a former CIA operative to help conduct the operation.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sued Vienna, Va.-based Feld Entertainment, which produces the Ringling Bros. circus, more than four years ago, claiming the company's president supervised the spying efforts.

PETA claims circus operatives stole sensitive documents such as donor lists. It is seeking $1.8 million in legal fees and damages, as well as full disclosure of the alleged spying activities.

[Mithras61]

1. First thing that went through my mind when I saw this headline...

was Octopussy!

Better send in James Bond! :D

[Betsy Ross]

2. A generation back,

it would have be the acrobats from behind the iron curtain who were accused of spying on the US. Got to admit, that was my first thought at the headline.

[AndyTiedye]

3. Boycott Barnum&Bailey, Cirque de Soleil is Much Better

[ShockediSay]

4. those 'former CIA operative' types

always seem to be around, lurking behind dirty deeds.

They must have some central kind of employment agency

whose slogan is

dirty deeds done dirt cheap

[TexasLawyer]

5. An "Aesop's Fable" on NSA spying...

Children, here is what happens when you have a bunch of circus people who want to exploit animals, who try to subdue any enemies who might call them on that exploitation, and who believe that they're above the law.

[PBass]

6. Unbelievable! I hope Ringling Bros. goes out of business for this (eom)