WASHINGTON, June 26, 2007
CIA Reveals Scandalous "Family Jewels"
Internal Misconduct Reports From 1970's Detail Assassination Plots, Domestic Spying, Wiretapping
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Play CBS Video Video CIA Reveals Cold War Secrets The CIA has released top secret documents also known as "the family jewels." As David Martin reports, for the first time historians will get a look at the darkest secrets of the Cold War.
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(AP)
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The documents detail assassination plots against foreign leaders like Cuba's Fidel Castro, the testing of mind- and behavior-altering drugs like LSD on unwitting citizens, wiretapping of U.S. journalists, spying on civil rights and anti-Vietnam war protesters, opening mail between the United States and the Soviet Union and China, break-ins at the homes of ex-CIA employees and others.
All of the activities described in the documents occurred during the Cold War, a very different time when Communism not terrorism was the main enemy, reports CBS News national security correspondent David Martin.
It's been fifteen years since Tom Blanton, the director of the private National Security Archive, sued to make these files available under the Freedom of Information Act.
"The CIA is finally coming clean on its own skeleton in the closet," says Blanton.
Well, sort of, says Martin. Number one on the list has been blanked out as still too sensitive to release.
The documents reveal the name "Johnny Roselli" and the CIA's failed attempt to use the mafia to assassinate Fidel Castro in 1960. While Castro is still alive and kicking, Johnny Roselli is not. His body was found stuffed in an oil drum floating in a Florida canal.
The CIA's failure to get Castro prompted one senator to label them, "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight."
The 693 pages, mostly drawn from the memories of active CIA officers in 1973, were turned over at that time to three different investigative panels — President Gerald Ford's Rockefeller Commission, the Senate's Church committee and the House's Pike committee.
The panels spent years investigating and amplifying on these documents. And their public reports in the mid-1970s filled tens of thousands of pages. The scandal sullied the reputation of the intelligence community and led to new rules for the CIA, FBI and other spy agencies and new permanent committees in Congress to oversee them.
These documents also were one of the products of the Watergate scandal. Then-CIA Director James Schlesinger was angered to read in the newspapers that the CIA had provided support to ex-CIA agents E. Howard Hunt and James McCord, who were convicted in the Watergate break-in, which led to President Richard Nixon's resignation.The CAESAR, POLO, and ESAU Papers
This collection of declassified analytic monographs and reference aids, designated within the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Directorate of Intelligence (DI) as the CAESAR, ESAU, and POLO series, highlights the CIA's efforts from the 1950s through the mid-1970s to pursue in-depth research on Soviet and Chinese internal politics and Sino-Soviet relations.
Almost 700 pages of responses from CIA employees to a 1973 directive from Director of Central Intelligence James Schlesinger asking them to report activities they thought might be inconsistent with the Agency's charter.
Hunt had worked for a secret “plumbers unit” in Nixon's White House. The unit originally was tasked to investigate and end leaks of classified information but ultimately engaged in a wide range of misconduct.
In May 1973, Schlesinger ordered “all senior operating officials of this agency to report to me immediately on any activities now going on, or that have gone on the past, which might be construed to be outside the legislative charter of this agency.” The law establishing the CIA barred it from conducting spying inside the United States.
The result was 693 pages of memos that arrived after Schlesinger had moved to the Pentagon and been replaced as CIA chief by William Colby. Colby ultimately reported the contents to the Justice Department.
Former CIA Counterintelligence official James Jesus Angleton admitted to opening letters that American citizens had mailed to the Soviet Union.
"We believe that it was extremely important to know everything possible regarding contacts of American citizens with Communist countries," Angleton told an investigative panel.
“These are the top CIA officers all going into the confessional and saying, `Forgive me father, for I have sinned,’” says Blanton.
Inside the CIA, Colby referred to the documents as the “skeletons.” But another name quickly caught on and stuck: “family jewels.”
Some will read the documents and conclude that the CIA was a 'rogue elephant;' others will read the same material and decide it was doing exactly what the White House wanted it to, says Martin.
They first spilled into public view on Dec. 22, 1974, with a story by Seymour Hersh in The New York Times on the CIA's spying against antiwar and other dissidents inside this country. The agency assembled files on some 10,000 people.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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- I bet within 6months of the Bush administrations demise you will hear of there covert action and we will faint as to what undercover business these guys were involved with, that is if Cheney would just give all his secrets to archives.
- Reply to this comment
- are any of you naive enough to know the CIA was involved in covert action. The bigger problem is this new CIA director appointed by Bush and Cheney spending day after day at the CIA This guy a military man which by the way a military person never was over the CIA, and he could not wait to devulge this information. Tell me why I do not believe this information was ever devulged before. What is the purpose of all this information? Is this to let us know the CIA was involved in covert action? Since Cheney is so involved with the executive branch of which he is not apart of as he says I am very suspicious of this man and why he spent so much time at the CIA. I personally don't care, the CIA is set up to investigate problems and to stop them. Are we surprised? I'm not. I am mad that this is out there for a reason and it will come up you will see the CIA doesn't forget and when a new administration all these snoopers and trouble makers will be gone. Keep your eyes open and your ears
- Reply to this comment
- are any of you naive enough to know the CIA was involved in covert action. The bigger problem is this new CIA director appointed by Bush and Cheney spending day after day at the CIA This guy a military man which by the way a military person never was over the CIA, and he could not wait to devulge this information. Tell me why I do not believe this information was ever devulged before. What is the purpose of all this information? Is this to let us know the CIA was involved in covert action? Since Cheney is so involved with the executive branch of which he is not apart of as he says I am very suspicious of this man and why he spent so much time at the CIA. I personally don't care, the CIA is set up to investigate problems and to stop them. Are we surprised? I'm not. I am mad that this is out there for a reason and it will come up you will see the CIA doesn't forget and when a new administration all these snoopers and trouble makers will be gone. Keep your eyes open and your ears
- Reply to this comment
- infidel_US,
It goes back further than Kennedy. We overthrew democratically elected governments throughout the world during the 1950s, beginning with Iran.
It was the C.I.A. that pressured Kennedy into the Bay of Pigs and into increasing our prescence in Vietnam. Before he was assassinated, Kennedy was trying to get us out of Vietnam.
This wasn't brought under control by Carter, it was brought under control by a great American Senator from Idaho named Frank Church,Chairman of the Foreign relations Committee.
If we had anyone of his stature and character in the U.S. Senate today we wouldn't be in the mess we're in.
Of course, he accomplished this with hearings that were criticised as being political. - Reply to this comment
- Well, well.....last night, I heard that this stuff goes back to Kennedy in the early 60's thru Carter in '76. They ALL (probably with the exception of Carter) had their hands dirty.
Posted by infidel_us at 08:05 AM : Jun 27, 2007
You "Heard"? Can't you read for yourself? You fascist have to have someone TELL you this stuff. Now, Assuming it did go all the way back to Kennedy as you claim, how does a small minded little Nazi know Kennedy or Johnson were involved. As someone who went up against Nixon and the Fascist in charge at that time, I KNOW how dirty he was and I KNOW he was using the CIA to spy on AMERICAN's. I also was intelligent enought during the 70's, when the scandal broke, to actually LISTEN to the testimony before Congress, guess what? Kennedy nor Johnson were ever mention on ANY Spying on U.S. Citizens. They WERE involved in some of the outside the US stuff though. Maybe you should get a little of your informantion from somewhere else? Sieg Heil Bush. - Reply to this comment
- Why is it when the neo cons are in power that the CIA gets into trouble. Does anyone else see a pattern here?
- Reply to this comment
- "CIA Family Jewel # 1 missing. Why does this one item remain completely censored after 35 years? ..."
EdHaslam
Keep digging fellow patriot, there are many dark jewels left to be found.
Thank you.
ST
"The value of liberty was thus enhanced in our estimation by the difficulty of its attainment, and the worth of characters appreciated by the trial of adversity."
George Washington, letter to the people of South Carolina, Circa 1790
A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com - Reply to this comment
- So what else is new ? This stuff is common knowledge. How about some more information on the current Seymour Hersh story about Mr. Cheney and his involvement with torture at Abu Ghraib.
- Reply to this comment
- CIA Family Jewel # 1 missing. Why does this one item remain completely censored after 35 years? Every single word of it. Why would the CIA release a list of old news only to point out that there is one really important piece of bad news that the CIA has not told the public about yet? The "news" is "the missing jewel," not the old stories. I have posted the CIA document with "the missing jewel" on my website www.TheMonkeyVirus.com for those who wish to see it. Thanks. Ed Haslam
- Reply to this comment
- "... if those "who are supposed" to uphold it, are the same as those who now "interpret" it to fit their needs -
0 democracy, 1 fascism."
neoconRcrazy
Well of course your current score is correct, but we Americans are restoring the rule of law to our land, and are ashamed it was ever subverted.
However, this has nothing at all to do with immigration or changing our Constitution.
ST
"People will believe in almost anything, except for reality."
SearingTruth
A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com - Reply to this comment
- Well, well.....last night, I heard that this stuff goes back to Kennedy in the early 60's thru Carter in '76. They ALL (probably with the exception of Carter) had their hands dirty.
- Reply to this comment
- Well of course not. There is nothing wrong with our Constitution. The problem is with those who are supposed to uphold and defend it.
ST
if those "who are supposed" to uphold it, are the same as those who now "interpret" it to fit their needs -
0 democracy, 1 fascism. - Reply to this comment
- "SearingTruth
I wonder if you would share the opinion that we should amend the Constitution's Article 2, Sect.1, clause 5 and allow newly immigrated Americans run for President? ..."
neoconRcrazy
Well of course not. There is nothing wrong with our Constitution. The problem is with those who are supposed to uphold and defend it.
ST
"I choose reality over comfort."
SearingTruth
A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com - Reply to this comment
- SearingTruth
I wonder if you would share the opinion that we should amend the Constitution's Article 2, Sect.1, clause 5 and allow newly immigrated Americans run for President?
Where better to find those whose fire for our founding principles still burns bright?
Rome, though ultimately flawed and failed, did call on many non-Romans to lead armies, and even assume the Purple, thus prolonging the Empire for centuries. - Reply to this comment
- "... Will america survive as a true democracy?
Only if we are able to bring forth new leadership which is not tainted by wealth and priviledge. ..."
neoconRcrazy
"An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens....There has never been a moment of my life in which I should have relinquished for it the enjoyments of my family, my farm, my friends & books."
Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Melish, January 13, 1813
"I will not believe our labors are lost. I shall not die without a hope that light and liberty are on a steady advance."
Thomas Jefferson, September 12, 1821
"Is it the Fourth?"
Thomas Jefferson, evening July 3; Jefferson died the next morning, July 4, 1826
A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com - Reply to this comment
- how our present leaders resemble those ancient roman senatorial families - bursting with priviledge and wealth!
Right or left, all millionaires......
A new class of men: democratic imperialists!
Looking from my low station in this Republic to those lofty heights where our leadership stands, I have the sinking feeling that they are going the Roman way -
namely we, the people (plebs)are ;
unable to decide our future -
unqualified to participate in our system
uncontrolable rabble from whom the truth must never be told
They have decided to make all decisions for us, and to package their decisions in such a way as to facilitate our acceptance.
Will america survive as a true democracy?
Only if we are able to bring forth new leadership which is not tainted by wealth and priviledge. Which is not formed in our schools of priviledge
who have failed to teach the basics of morality, justice, truth & honor. - Reply to this comment
- "Remember democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide."
John Adams, letter to John Taylor, April 15, 1814
A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com - Reply to this comment
- "... Within the ranks of the democrat Party you find leaders who opposed the Bush Administration's attitude toward the world and their invasion of Iraq. Within the ranks of the Democrat Party you find leaders who screamed to the top of their lungs when the american Workers were being sold out with "Free Trade". Anyone who doesn't find the Democratic Party representative of the American People has an agenda... a FASCIST agenda wherein they wish for and want a DICTATOR! Sieg Heil Bush!!"
skyk
Hmmm ....
But within the ranks of the Democratic Party I have never heard anything about upholding and defending The Constitution of the United States of America.
And I have never seen any action by the Democratic Party towards restoring its rule of law to our land.
Secret prisons? The illegal abduction, indefinite incarceration, torture, and murder, of domestic and foreign citizens within them? Illegal mass surveillance without warrant?
Sieg Heil to whomever you decide to empower next.
ST
"But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever."
John Adams, letter to Abigail Adams, July 17, 1775
A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com - Reply to this comment
- Let me clue you in; The American People are fed up with the Repubs and the Dems. I.e., you party stooges will start acting on behalf of the actual American people very soon %u2026 or else. We are sick and tired of it and we are not going to take it anymore %u2026 FROM EITHER OF YOU.
Posted by fixitdamnit at 11:52 PM : Jun 26, 2007
I don't know were you live, I'd guess it was the south though, that's the ONLY place on this planet I find people this stupid. The Democratic Party has never been an orderly bunch and I doubt, after over 200 years, they are going to start now. To attempt to throw a blanket over that party and just lump them in is plain stupid. Within the ranks of the democrat Party you find leaders who opposed the Bush Administration's attitude toward the world and their invasion of Iraq. Within the ranks of the Democrat Party you find leaders who screamed to the top of their lungs when the american Workers were being sold out with "Free Trade". Anyone who doesn't find the Democratic Party representative of the American People has an agenda... a FASCIST agenda wherein they wish for and want a DICTATOR! Sieg Heil Bush!! - Reply to this comment
- ... To a black man who survived the civil rights struggle of the 60s, and heard all of the same "national security threat" Bulls-hit before, it looks like a one time attack could very well have been an inside job ordered by those who immediately used it to implement an already formed fascist agenda. ...
brianbwb
Fellow patriot brianbwb, I'm aware of the past clandestine projects you allude to, and do not deny the possibility that they may have been similarly repeated.
However, Bush and his henchmen have provided us with far more immediate evidence than we need to convict them all of high treason against The United States of America. We need not refer to possibilities, when we have absolutes.
ST
"History is replete with examples of its own iteration."
SearingTruth
A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com - Reply to this comment
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