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CIA Declassifies the "Family Jewels"

Posted by kdawson on from the in-case-you-were-inclined-to-trust-the-government dept.

An anonymous reader informs us that the CIA has recently declassified for your reading pleasure some records relating to illegal spying, assassination attempts, and other goodies. These are available from the CIA's FOIA portal. From the BBC article: " Last week, CIA chief Michael Hayden announced the decision to declassify the records, saying the documents were 'unflattering but part of CIA history.' The documents detail assassination plots, domestic spying, wiretapping, and kidnapping... Among the documents is a request in 1972 for someone 'who was accomplished at picking locks' who might be retiring or resigning from the agency."

6 of 356 comments (clear)

  1. Good stuff for people across the world by cygnusx · · Score: 5, Interesting

    For example, readers from India might want to check out the CIA's files about the India-China war of 1962, especially since India's Freedom of Information laws (IIRC) don't cover matters of national security.

  2. bah! by ekran · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Where are the top secret documents about the assassination of Kennedy? I wanna read them!

  3. Re:A surprise? by Red+Flayer · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Do you really think the agencies are there to protect the security and wealth of a nation?
    Being a bit of a tin-foil-hatter myself, yet knowing quite a few people who work in the FBI & other agencies -- as institutions, they exist to further their existence and scope. Yet most indidivuals, at least the ones I know pretty well, really do have service to the nation as a prime motivation. Of course, job security etc are also motivators, but it's always refreshing to spend time with people who still believe in the concept of public service.
    --
    "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
  4. The CIA just suddenly became honest? by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Yes, some interesting information, but the underlying purpose of releasing it is TOTALLY dishonest. My understanding is that the CIA is releasing information as a public relations gesture. My understanding is that the agency is releasing only information that no longer matters to it, with any modifications it wants to make.

    Almost the CIA's ONLY purpose is to help rich people get richer by providing information and violence paid for by U.S. citizens. The organization did not just suddenly become honest. (Read the linked article.)

    Bush and Cheney have consistently claimed they are above the law. This fits the definition of a dictatorship: "A form of government in which the ruler is not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition".

    The CIA invented a term for the destructive consequences of its actions: Blowback. Blowback doesn't matter to the agency, however, since it still gets what it wants. Also, for CIA employees, more trouble in the world means more money and promotions.

    Remember, the terms NSA and CIA are just names that you are allowed to know, to try to get you to think you know what the U.S. government is doing. There are many agencies with names and purposes you are not allowed to know. If you are a U.S. citizen, you are, however, expected to pay. If you are not a U.S. citizen (and sometimes if you are), you may be expected to pay with your life.

    1. Re:The CIA just suddenly became honest? by ArcherB · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Yes, some interesting information, but the underlying purpose of releasing it is TOTALLY dishonest. My understanding is that the CIA is releasing information as a public relations gesture. My understanding is that the agency is releasing only information that no longer matters to it, with any modifications it wants to make. Would you feel better if they released information on current operations? Wouldn't that make the the Central Agency, because such a move would require all references to "Intelligence" be removed!

      Bush and Cheney have consistently claimed they are above the law. This fits the definition of a dictatorship: Wow! I had no idea that the current administration had a time machine. Not only did Bush and Cheney travel back in time to commit these operations, but they allowed the release of the documents explaining what all they did! So not only are they above our laws, but they are above the laws of physics!

      Remember, the terms NSA and CIA are just names that you are allowed to know, to try to get you to think you know what the U.S. government is doing. There are many agencies with names and purposes you are not allowed to know. If you are a U.S. citizen, you are, however, expected to pay. If you are not a U.S. citizen (and sometimes if you are), you may be expected to pay with your life. Are you sure you're not thinking of the Free Masons? Is it Skill and Bones? What other secret societies/government agencies could you be referring to? Is it the same one that Arnold worked for in "True Lies"?

      OK, Moulder, put your shiny hat away now.
      --
      There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
  5. I know you're kidding, but... by ChePibe · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I spoke with a professor who taught my course on U.S. Intelligence and National Security a while back. He had been a staffer with the Senate Intelligence Committee for over a decade and had read the entire classified version of the Warren Commission report. His opinion on it was basically this - there simply isn't any sufficient proof to tie the killing to anyone but Oswald, nor proof that Oswald had acted on anyone's behalf, although he did suspect some sort of Cuban involvement somewhere in the killing. But, he qualified, that his suspicions could not be proven and amounted to more of a gut feeling rather than something based strictly on evidence - Castro by then must have known of the numerous attempts Kennedy had ordered on his life.