/wtp/ - We, the People

https://www.generalflynn.com/the-cia

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), established in 1947 under the National Security Act, has long been a subject of intrigue and controversy, not only due to its crimes against humanity worldwide but also because of its penchant for co-opting its civilian oversight to empower itself, often resulting in government commissions and investigations that, rather than exposing the truth, have served to cover up even more egregious crimes against humanity.

Historical Context of CIA Oversight

From its inception, the CIA was designed to operate with a degree of secrecy that inherently challenges oversight. Its mission to gather intelligence and conduct covert operations abroad often places it beyond the reach of traditional accountability mechanisms.Despite this, several "attempts" have been made by the U.S. government to investigate CIA activities, ostensibly to ensure transparency and accountability.

The Rockefeller Commission (1975)

One of the earliest significant efforts was the Rockefeller Commission, formally known as the United States President's Commission on CIA Activities within the United States, established by President Gerald Ford in 1975. The commission was tasked with investigating CIA activities domestically, which had come under scrutiny for potential violations of citizens' rights. However, the findings, while revealing some abuses like the MKUltra program involving illegal drug experiments on unwitting subjects, were criticized for not delving deep enough.Critics argue that the commission's report was more about damage control than a thorough investigation, effectively co-opting the oversight process to minimize political fallout rather than fully exposing the extent of CIA misconduct.

The Church Committee (1975-1976)

Following the Rockefeller Commission, the Church Committee, officially the Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities, was formed. Led by Senator Frank Church, this committee had a broader mandate, investigating not just domestic but also international CIA activities. It uncovered operations like the assassination plots against foreign leaders and the extensive surveillance on American citizens. However, despite its extensive findings, the Church Committee's work is often viewed as a showcase of transparency while simultaneously setting a precedent for limited accountability.The recommendations for reform were significant, but the implementation was patchy, suggesting a strategic co-optation where the CIA's image was polished without substantial change in its operational ethos.

Modern Oversight and Cover-Ups

The pattern of co-optation has continued into more recent times. The Senate Intelligence Committee's report on CIA interrogation techniques post-9/11, released in 2014, is a prime example. While the report detailed the use of torture, it was heavily redacted, and the public release was delayed for years. Critics argue that this delay and the redaction process were designed to protect the CIA from full accountability.The report highlighted the CIA's misleading of Congress about the effectiveness and legality of enhanced interrogation techniques, yet no high-ranking officials faced legal repercussions, suggesting a cover-up to preserve the agency's power and operational freedom.

The Role of Executive Orders

The use of executive orders like EO 12333 has further enabled the CIA to bypass congressional oversight. This order allows for extensive surveillance with minimal oversight, often leading to operations that infringe on civil liberties without public or congressional knowledge. The Brennan Center for Justice has noted thatsuch orders effectively allow the CIA to act outside the law, with oversight mechanisms failing to curb these excesses due to their design or implementation.

The recurring theme in these commissions and investigations is not just the revelation of abuses but the strategic management of information to protect the CIA's operational capabilities. Each investigation, while bringing some level of transparency, has simultaneously served to obscure the full extent of the agency's actions.This pattern suggests a sophisticated co-optation of oversight where the CIA leverages these inquiries to reinforce its autonomy, often under the guise of national security, thereby covering up even more severe crimes against humanity. The CIA undermines democratic principles, erodes public trust in government institutions, and perpetuates a cycle of abuse under the pretense of oversight. For true accountability, the CIA must be criminally investigated and prosecutions must happen.

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