Seymore Hersh is a damn good investigative journalist and is not in the habit of publishing without solid sourcing. For me, that gives this story a lot of credibility. Also, the parties involved have already come out with the rebuttal that the article is entirely false. They are not playing word games - they are firmly denying all. Then again, what are they supposed to say? I think the timing of all this is perfect after Nuland testified before Congress about the pipeline being a pile a metal at the bottom of the sea. These people are going to brag about what they have done at some point - they just can't help themselves.