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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."

4 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.