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Internet Searches Reveal CIA's Secrets

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the those-pesky-interwebs dept.

GabrielF writes "In another blow to the reputation of the agency that just can't seem to get anything right, the Chicago Tribune used web searches and various commercial online databases to uncover a treasure trove of information about the CIA. The Tribune found the identities of over 2600 CIA employees (including an undisclosed number of covert operatives) as well as the locations of over two dozen CIA facilities across the U.S., internal telephone numbers, and information on 17 aircraft."

3 of 284 comments (clear)

  1. Disinformation by SkankinMonkey · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But how are they sure it's not disinformation setup by these organizations to throw people off the trail? I don't have much faith in our government, but I don't think the Intelligence Agencies are that stupid.

    1. Re:Disinformation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      After further thinking, you might realize that it is no better if your statement is true because innocents might get into trouble by being falsely identified as CIA agents. In one way or another, it is stupid.

  2. The article is somewhat misleading... by ChePibe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The article puts up some big numbers, but lest we forget a few things:

    - The CIA is a BIG organization - it needs support personnel, etc. and they are not likely to ALL be undercover. Maintaining cover on accountants and receptionists would certainly be a big waste of resources.

    - Most CIA positions are not undercover, including most analysts

    The article admits a lot of this halfway down: "Not all of the 2,653 employees whose names were produced by the Tribune search are supposed to be working under cover. More than 160 are intelligence analysts, an occupation that is not considered a covert position, and senior CIA executives such as Tenet are included on the list."

    So, in other words, the Tribune puts up a big number that is supposed to be shocking and then, after most people stop reading, admits it's not really that big a deal. The article does state, however:

    "But an undisclosed number of those on the list--the CIA would not say how many--are covert employees, and some are known to hold jobs that could make them terrorist targets."

    There must be at least one - given the example at the top of the article - but no one says how many. The discovery that 26 people are working at Camp Peary (AKA - "The Farm" of "The Recruit" fame) is equally unimpressive, as SOMEONE must work there for support staff, and the 26 individuals discovered are likely to be support staff, not trainers. The 17 aircraft aren't particularly interesting, either, as the CIA likely operates many aircraft openly. Big organizations like the CIA cannot maintain cover on EVERYTHING, nor do they try to, as this report implies

    I'm of the opinion that this article boils down to the following:

    - The Chicago Tribune tooting its own horn
    - A cheap jab at Bush, which seems to represent "objective" journalism these days
    - Sensationalist journalism - they put up big numbers, but those numbers are unlikely to actually mean anything

    Many have jokingly said, "move along, nothing to see here". To be honest, I think those statements are accurate.