Q Post 3632 Here's a few CIA memos from 1984 discussing how to combat leaks in the press (which is ironic considering the leaks now are coming from within the USIC) Q3632 Image Link to archive of article below Some expounding on my last comment: Here's a few CIA memos from 1984 discussing how to combat leaks in the press (which is ironic considering the leaks now are coming from within the USIC and being used with intent and purpose - showing how this has evolved since 1984): Excerpts from 1984 CIA memo: (My comments in bold) "4. We can just accept the idea that the media have an unlimited license to hunt and publish, that the public has an unlimited right to know, that government secrets are fair prey for media watch-dogs, that the First Amendment inhibits any restraints, and that the proper, democratic relation between government and media is adversarial. Conversely, we can quietly observe that absolute power corrupts absolutely, that the power of the media to publish in this country is nearly absolute, that other people besides the media have the job of promoting the general welfare and providing for the common defense, and that the freedom of the media among others hangs directly on the success of those people. Also, as officers of CIA we can bear personal witness to the massive cost -- in cancelled programs, in lost opportunities, in opposition countermeasures and in threats to (loss of-?) life -- that media exposure has brought. More, we can cite precise parallels in methods and results, if not in motivations, between the media's attempts to penetrate us and our opposition's attempts to do the same. Maybe we have an obligation as citizens and taxpayers with knowledge that is important to the nation's welfare to give voice to our fears. 5. The Agency's posture toward the media is basically defensive, reactive and tongue-tied. What we say is: "no comment"; "that disclosure was wrong and outrageous." Next we wring our hands, send emissaries out to brief key people in the Administration and Congress and correct the record, then hunker back awaiting the next blow. Maybe it's time for an offense as well as a defense and an attempt to get things in better balance. Here are some personal thoughts as to do's and don'ts on this score. DON'T Don't believe we should or can, frontally attack the concepts listed at the start of paragraph 4 (notice, they don't say they SHOULDN'T attack our first amendment rights, just that they shouldn't/can't do so obviously... that alone should be chilling) Don't announce a program to curb the media's excesses. Don't expect much help from Congress in the way of legislation, e.g.l an Official Secrets Act. ... (snipped) DO Remember that the organization (CIA) has official contacts with influential people outside the COmmunity -- people in leadership posts in this society; academia and the media included; and remember that we undoubtedly have in the organization many who know such people unofficially and who could help to provide access if needed. (sound familiar?) Remember that restraint of the press is not per se undemocratic. The British and Israeli examples come to mind. So does our own press' self-restraint in time of war. Freedom of speech and of the press are not absolute concepts. (another one that should be alarming to all - especially in light of the "war on terror" and the use of perma-war to curtail press and speech) The media have owners, Board of Directors, managing editors et al. (We had some success for a while in saving off - REDACTED). The best tack, I think, would be to go to them, state our problem and ask whether there are any situations, short of war, where they would be willing to exercise self-restraint and, if so, to solicit their advice in developing some rules of reason. For example, would it be possible to appoint some authority of sufficient stature (e.g., a Board of ex-Presidents) that the media would trust it on matters of national security? One thing that shouldn't be omitted from such a session with the media brass -- examples of how they've had their cord pulled by disinformation and by charlatans. We have periodic sessions with college and university presidents, some of them undoubtedly with schools of journalism. Why miss the chance of putting our case in these forums as well? The result might well be a challenge to the practice of publishing indiscriminately whatever an investigative reporter can come up with. And, given some curriculum changes, the next generation of reporters might show some elevation of ethics." https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP88B00443R001500080042-1.pdf Then there's this agenda, with some startling items listed: https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP88B00443R000100290001-2.pdf Put all of this into the barrel with Mockingbird and you start to get a glimpse of how controlled the United States Media actually is in our modern world by the USIC.