This article is most likely Russian spin to begin with- or at minimum prop from Colin Powell’s old State Dept buddies. It started with Pat Lang’s blog [http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3647593/posts]. The WSJ picked it up. Lang’s a LaRouchie.
They’re pretty good slipping their stuff into the mainstream, the Powell/state dept people involved in the Valerie Plame tale of woe pulled it once before using Japan Today to seed a story about Powell’s office into the main stream using a source called “Wilkerson” and the editor of Cap Hill Blue, IIRC.
CAP HILL BLUE PLANTED STORIES CONTROVERSY WILLIAM MCKINLEY THREAD
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/942488/posts
I have little doubt it’s the same faction of bureaucrats involved.