The CIA and JFK: A History of Deceit
With new controversy surrounding the recently released JFK files, and the CIA's rich history of unsanctioned action, we have to ask, can we trust the evidence and their claims of innocence?
Subversive #96: “The JFK Files”
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The Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is the United States government's principal intelligence agency. It was established in 1947 by the National Security Act, which created the CIA, the National Security Council, and the Department of Defense.
The CIA's primary mission is to collect, analyze, and disseminate foreign intelligence information to support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States. The CIA also has the mandate to carry out covert action, which refers to activities designed to influence events in other countries without the direct involvement of the US government.
Over the years, the CIA has played a vital role in a number of significant historical events, including the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and the War on Terror. The agency has also faced criticism and controversy for its actions, including its involvement in various covert operations and its treatment of detainees in the War on Terror.
Controversy
Project Mocking Bird
Project Mockingbird was a CIA program that was active in the 1950s and 1960s. The goal of the project was to influence the media and use it as a tool for propaganda and psychological operations. The CIA worked with a number of journalists and media organizations to plant stories and shape public opinion in support of its objectives.
The project was initiated in the 1950s as a response to the perceived threat of communism and the perceived lack of support for the CIA's activities in the media. The CIA worked with a number of journalists and media outlets, including major newspapers and television networks, to disseminate information and propaganda.
Project Mockingbird was eventually exposed in the 1970s as part of the Watergate scandal and was the subject of numerous investigations. The CIA was criticized for its manipulation of the media and the project was eventually shut down. However, the full extent of the project and the extent of the CIA's influence on the media are still not fully understood.
The CIA's relationship with the media has long been a controversial topic and has raised questions about the role of the intelligence community in shaping public opinion and the integrity of the media. Project Mockingbird is just one example of the CIA's efforts to influence the media and highlights the complex and sometimes controversial relationship between the intelligence community and the media.
MK-Ultra
MK-Ultra was a covert research program conducted by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the 1950s and 1960s. The program was aimed at developing mind control techniques and included a range of controversial experiments on human subjects, including the use of drugs, hypnosis, and other forms of psychological manipulation.
The MK-Ultra program was inspired by the work of CIA scientists who had studied the use of mind-altering drugs by the Soviet Union and other countries. The CIA believed that these drugs could be used to control individuals and sought to develop similar techniques for use in intelligence gathering and other operations.
The MK-Ultra program involved a range of experiments, including the use of LSD and other drugs on unsuspecting subjects, as well as the use of hypnosis and sensory deprivation to alter mental states. Many of the subjects of these experiments were not aware that they were participating in a research program and some were given the drugs without their consent.
The MK-Ultra program was eventually exposed in the 1970s and was the subject of numerous investigations and lawsuits. The CIA was criticized for its unethical treatment of subjects and the program was eventually shut down. However, the full extent of the MK-Ultra program and the effects of the experiments on subjects are still not fully understood.
Torture and Rendition
After the 9/11 attacks, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was accused of using torture and other forms of abuse to interrogate terrorism suspects. The agency was also accused of operating secret detention centers (also known as "black sites") and transporting suspects to other countries (known as "extraordinary rendition") where they could be subjected to torture.
The use of torture by the CIA was revealed in a 2014 report by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. The report found that the CIA had used a range of enhanced interrogation techniques, including waterboarding, sleep deprivation, and confinement in small spaces, on terrorism suspects in its custody. These techniques were deemed to be torture by many human rights groups and were in violation of international law.
The use of extraordinary rendition, which involves the transfer of a suspect from one country to another without due legal process, was also criticized. Many of the suspects who were subject to extraordinary rendition ended up being held in countries with a history of human rights abuses, such as Egypt and Syria. The CIA has been accused of using these countries as a way to bypass laws against torture and other forms of abuse.
The use of torture and extraordinary rendition by the CIA was highly controversial and sparked widespread outrage. Many argued that these practices were not only inhumane but also ineffective in gathering reliable intelligence. The revelations about the CIA's use of torture and extraordinary rendition also damaged the reputation of the United States and its standing in the international community.
Domestic Surveillance Programs
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been accused of conducting domestic surveillance programs without proper oversight or legal authority. In 2013, Edward Snowden revealed that the agency was collecting the phone and internet records of millions of Americans as part of its foreign intelligence-gathering efforts. These programs were authorized under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and the Patriot Act, which were passed by Congress in response to the 9/11 attacks.
The Patriot Act expanded the powers of the intelligence community to conduct surveillance and gather intelligence on individuals within the United States. However, many people were unaware of the extent of the programs and were concerned about the potential for abuse. Some argued that the programs violated the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures.
The revelation of the domestic surveillance programs sparked a national debate about privacy, security, and the role of the intelligence community. Some argued that the programs were necessary to protect national security, while others maintained that they infringed on the privacy rights of American citizens. In 2015, Congress passed the USA Freedom Act, which reformed domestic surveillance programs and imposed additional safeguards to protect civil liberties.
The domestic surveillance scandal was a significant controversy for the CIA and raised questions about the balance between security and privacy. It also highlighted the need for greater transparency and oversight in the intelligence community and the impact of the Patriot Act on civil liberties.
Covert Coups
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has a long history of engaging in coups or the overthrow of governments through illegal or covert means. Coups have been a key tool of US foreign policy and have been used to install friendly governments or to undermine governments deemed to be hostile to US interests.
One of the earliest examples of CIA involvement in a coup was the 1953 Iranian coup, in which the agency played a role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. The CIA worked with British intelligence to organize a propaganda campaign and fund and train Iranian opposition groups. The coup was successful and resulted in the reinstallation of the Shah, who ruled Iran until the 1979 revolution.
The CIA has been involved in a number of other coups around the world, including the 1954 Guatemalan coup, the 1960 Congo crisis, and the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. These actions were often carried out in secret and were justified as necessary to protect US interests or to promote democracy and stability.
However, the CIA's involvement in coups has also been highly controversial and has been criticized for undermining democratic governments and violating international law. Many of these actions have had long-lasting consequences and have contributed to instability and conflict in the countries where they have occurred. The CIA's history of engaging in coups highlights the complex and sometimes controversial role that the agency has played in US foreign policy.
Iran, 1953: The CIA played a role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, who had nationalized the country's oil industry. The CIA worked with British intelligence to organize a propaganda campaign and fund and train Iranian opposition groups. The coup was successful and resulted in the reinstallation of the Shah, who ruled Iran until the 1979 revolution.
Guatemala, 1954: The CIA helped to overthrow the government of Jacobo Árbenz, who had implemented land reform policies that threatened the interests of the United Fruit Company, a major US corporation. The CIA supported a military coup that toppled Árbenz and installed a military dictatorship.
Congo, 1960: The CIA supported the secession of the mineral-rich province of Katanga from the newly independent Congo, which was backed by Belgian interests. The CIA provided logistical support and funding to the Katanga secessionist movement and worked to undermine the government of Congo's Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba. Lumumba was eventually captured and killed, and the CIA was later accused of playing a role in his assassination.
Cuba, 1961: The CIA played a key role in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, which aimed to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro. The CIA trained and funded a group of Cuban exiles to invade Cuba and attempt to spark a popular uprising against Castro. However, the invasion was a disaster and ended in failure.
Indonesia, 1957-58: The CIA supported a military coup that toppled the government of Indonesian President Sukarno and installed a military dictatorship. The CIA provided funding, weapons, and other support to opposition groups and worked to undermine Sukarno's government.
Chile, 1973: The CIA played a role in the overthrow of Chilean President Salvador Allende, who was the first democratically elected socialist leader in Latin America. The CIA provided funding and support to opposition groups and worked to destabilize Allende's government. Allende was eventually overthrown in a military coup and replaced by the military dictator Augusto Pinochet.
Afghanistan, 1979-89: The CIA provided funding, weapons, and training to the mujahideen, a group of Afghan rebels fighting against the Soviet-backed government in Afghanistan. The CIA's support was part of a larger effort to undermine the Soviet Union and was a key factor in the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Nicaragua, 1980s: The CIA provided funding and support to the Contras, a group of rebels fighting against the socialist Sandinista government in Nicaragua. The CIA's support was part of a larger effort to undermine the Sandinistas and was a key factor in the country's civil war.
Iraq, 2003: The CIA provided intelligence support to the US military in the invasion of Iraq, which led to the overthrow of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. The CIA's intelligence was later revealed to be flawed and played a role in the justification for the invasion.
Laos, 1960s: The CIA played a significant role in the secret war in Laos, providing funding, weapons, and other support to the Hmong, a minority ethnic group fighting against the communist Pathet Lao. The CIA's support was part of a larger effort to contain communism in Southeast Asia and was a key factor in the country's civil war.
Vietnam, 1950s-1975: The CIA provided intelligence and logistical support to South Vietnam during the Vietnam War, working to undermine communist North Vietnam and the Viet Cong. The CIA also conducted a number of covert operations, including the Phoenix Program, which targeted suspected Viet Cong operatives for capture or assassination.
Afghanistan, 2001-present: After the 9/11 attacks, the CIA played a key role in the US invasion of Afghanistan, which led to the overthrow of the Taliban government. The CIA has also been involved in the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, providing intelligence and logistical support to the US military and Afghan government.
Syria, 2011-present: The CIA has provided funding, weapons, and other support to opposition groups fighting against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The CIA's support has been part of a larger effort to undermine the Assad government and has been a key factor in the country's ongoing civil war.
Venezuela, 2002-present: The CIA has been accused of supporting opposition groups and attempting to overthrow the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The CIA has denied these allegations, but there have been numerous reports of CIA involvement in efforts to destabilize the Maduro government.
Ukraine, 2014: There have been allegations that the CIA was involved in the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, which toppled the government of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Some reports have suggested that the CIA provided funding and other support to opposition groups and played a role in orchestrating the overthrow of Yanukovych.
Operation Northwoods
Operation Northwoods was a proposed CIA program that was never implemented. It was a plan to create fake terrorist attacks and blame them on Cuba in order to justify a US invasion of the country. The plan was developed in the early 1960s and was presented to the Kennedy administration as a way to counter the perceived threat of communist expansion in the Western Hemisphere.
Operation Northwoods involved a range of covert actions, including the creation of fake terrorist incidents, such as bombings and hijackings, that could be blamed on Cuba. The plan also included proposals to create fake evidence, such as planted weapons and fake documents, to support the notion that Cuba was behind the attacks.
The Operation Northwoods plan was ultimately rejected by the Kennedy administration and was not implemented. It was later revealed in the 1990s as part of the investigation into the assassination of President Kennedy. The existence of the plan sparked widespread outrage and raised questions about the integrity of the intelligence community and the use of propaganda to shape public opinion.
Operation Northwoods is just one example of the CIA's involvement in propaganda and psychological operations and highlights the complex and sometimes controversial role that the agency has played in US foreign policy. It is a reminder of the potential for the intelligence community to engage in deceptive and manipulative tactics in pursuit of its objectives.
November in Dallas
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963, remains one of the most enduring mysteries of the 20th century and has spawned a wide range of conspiracy theories. One of the more persistent conspiracy theories is that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was involved in JFK's assassination.
The CIA conspiracy theory surrounding JFK's assassination has a number of different strands, each with its own set of supporters and detractors. Here is a brief overview of the CIA’s motivations to be involved in the assassination of JFK:
The CIA was motivated by JFK's foreign policy:
JFK was a vocal critic of the CIA and had plans to reform the intelligence community, which may have been seen as a threat by some within the agency.
JFK's foreign policy was focused on improving relations with the Soviet Union and reducing the threat of nuclear war. He pursued a number of initiatives to achieve these goals, including the signing of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and the establishment of a hotline between the US and the Soviet Union. These initiatives were seen as controversial by some in the intelligence community and may have been perceived as a threat to US interests.
The CIA was motivated by JFK's plans to withdraw from Vietnam:
JFK had plans to withdraw from Vietnam and some people believe that the CIA may have opposed these plans and may have been motivated to kill him in order to prevent the withdrawal.
The CIA was heavily involved in the Vietnam War and may have seen JFK's plans to withdraw as a threat to its own interests. The agency had been involved in covert operations in Vietnam for many years and may have feared that a withdrawal would compromise its ability to influence events in the region.
CIA Involvement in the Coverup:
Altering or destroying evidence: Some people have suggested that the CIA may have altered or destroyed evidence in order to obscure the truth about JFK's assassination. This could include tampering with physical evidence, such as bullets or shell casings, or altering or destroying documents or other records.
Disseminating false information: Some people have suggested that the CIA may have disseminated false information about JFK's assassination in order to confuse and mislead people about the true circumstances of the crime. This could include planting false stories in the media or providing false information to investigators.
Using propaganda techniques: Some people have suggested that the CIA may have used propaganda techniques to promote conspiracy theories about JFK's assassination in order to distract attention from the true circumstances of the crime. This could include spreading misinformation or using psychological operations to manipulate public opinion.
Redacted
In response to public demand for more information about the assassination, the US government has released a large number of documents related to the case over the years. However, some documents related to the assassination remain classified and unreleased to the public until very recently.
One of the most well-known examples of classified documents related to the JFK assassination is the collection of files known as the "JFK assassination records." These files include a wide range of documents, including FBI and CIA reports, witness statements, and other materials related to the investigation into JFK's assassination.
The JFK assassination records were initially classified and sealed for national security reasons, but in 1992, Congress passed the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act, which mandated the release of all government records related to the assassination. As a result, a large number of the JFK assassination records were declassified and released to the public.
However, some of the JFK assassination records remain classified and have not been released to the public. These files are considered "restricted" or "withheld" and are typically classified on the grounds of national security or personal privacy. In some cases, the documents may be withheld because they are part of an ongoing investigation or because they contain sensitive information that could compromise national security.
The classification of the JFK assassination records has been a source of controversy for many years and has fueled conspiracy theories about the assassination. Some people believe that the classification of these documents is an attempt to cover up the truth about JFK's assassination, while others argue that the classification is necessary to protect national security.
The classification of the JFK assassination records remains a controversial and debated topic, and it is likely that the debate will continue for many years to come.
Finally Released
While the 1992 law required that all the documents pertinent to the investigation into JFK’s assassination be released by 2017, a large number remained classified and held in secret, despite an executive order from Then President Donald Trump ordering their release. However, on Thursday, December 15th, 2022, President Joe Biden signed a new executive order authorizing the release of the remaining documents, and the US National Archives published some 13,173 files online.
JFK's death spawned decades of conspiracy theories, but on Thursday the CIA said the US spy agency had "never engaged" Oswald, and did not withhold information about him from US investigators.
Long-time JFK academics and theorists have hoped the latest release would reveal more information about Oswald's activities in Mexico City, where he met a Soviet KGB officer in October 1963.
In its latest statement, the CIA said that all information held by the agency relating to his trip to Mexico City had previously been released, adding: "There is no new information on this topic in the 2022 release."
But researchers with the Mary Ferrell Foundation, a non-profit that sued the government to release the files, said the CIA was withholding information about Oswald's time in Mexico.
The foundation said some CIA records were never submitted to the archives and therefore were not part of the batch just released.
The lingering question on the minds of many, is what will we learn in the coming months as journalists and investigators pour over the thousands of newly released documents, and will it answer the question ringing in everyone’s head?
With such a rich history of corruption, assassination, and general disrespect for human rights and transparency, will new evidence be released to show that the CIA was involved in the assassination of President Kennedy? or at the very least, were they aware of Lee Harvey Oswald’s intentions, and guilty by inaction?
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