JFK Files Released: Unveiling Cold War Secrets and CIA Misdeeds
The long-awaited release of files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy has finally arrived. While the documents have not delivered a smoking gun definitively proving a conspiracy beyond Lee Harvey Oswald, they have unearthed a treasure trove of previously hidden information about the inner workings of the US government and its intelligence agencies during the Cold War era. These files offer a revealing glimpse into the CIA’s covert operations, exposing a history of questionable practices and shedding light on a period of intense global tension.
The files are particularly rich in details about the CIA’s "tradecraft," a term referring to the methods and techniques employed by intelligence operatives. Included within this trove are further insights into the infamous "Family Jewels," a report detailing the CIA’s illegal activities within the United States between 1959 and 1973. Previous releases of this document had been heavily redacted, obscuring many of the details. Now, with the recent release, a clearer and more comprehensive picture of these clandestine operations is emerging.
One of the more intriguing revelations stemming from the declassified files involves the CIA’s attempts to enlist animals in their surveillance efforts. A previously redacted file details the agency’s experimentation with training birds for domestic espionage. The document explicitly states that "Birds have been trained and tested in the United States to carry small intelligence collecting packages such as audio surveillance devices." This bizarre initiative underscores the lengths to which the CIA was willing to go in its pursuit of intelligence gathering during the Cold War.
Furthermore, Steven Portnoy at ABC Audio uncovered an internal CIA memo from 1966 that highlighted the work of a technical division leader. The memo recommended a "certificate of distinction" for the official, praising their leadership in developing and implementing advanced surveillance technologies. Earlier versions of the document contained redactions that obscured the details of the official’s contributions. The newly released information reveals that this individual spearheaded a team that "conceived and developed" the use of "fluoroscopic scanning" and X-rays to detect hidden listening devices, marking a significant advancement in counterintelligence capabilities.
The Washington Post offered its own selection of noteworthy revelations extracted from the JFK files. One particularly peculiar CIA operation involved the sabotage of Cuban sugar exports. In 1962, the agency tainted 800 bags of raw sugar destined for the Soviet Union, deliberately contaminating the product to make it unpalatable. The CIA’s rationale was to inflict economic damage on the Soviet Union and disrupt its trade relations with Cuba.
"The contaminate we used will give the sugar an ineradicable sickly bitter taste which no process will remove," the CIA explained in its internal documentation. The agency emphasized that the contaminate was harmless to human health but would render the sugar unusable for any food or beverage application. The CIA estimated that this act of sabotage would cost the Soviet Union between $350,000 and $400,000.
However, the release of the JFK files has not been without its drawbacks. The Washington Post also reported on the alarming disclosure of sensitive personal information within the files. Hundreds of social security numbers belonging to living individuals were inadvertently released in unredacted documents. The leaked information included the social security numbers of spies, lawyers, legislators, and former Congressional staffers.
One of the individuals affected by this data breach was Christopher Pyle, a former Army officer and whistleblower who found himself on President Nixon’s list of political enemies. Pyle expressed his dismay at the government’s carelessness, stating "Good lord, government doing foolish things as usual." An anonymous White House official acknowledged the error and announced that affected individuals would receive free credit monitoring services.
For the most comprehensive and insightful analysis of the JFK files, the National Security Archive (NSA) stands out as a leading resource. This non-profit organization, based at George Washington University, specializes in archiving and researching government secrets and documents. The NSA possesses the institutional knowledge, expertise, and resources necessary to thoroughly examine these complex files. Their work has already provided valuable insights into the CIA’s operations and the historical context surrounding the Kennedy assassination.
One of the new files highlighted by the NSA is a 1961 CIA Inspector General’s report on the assassination of Dominican Republic dictator Rafael Trujillo. The files now reveal the names of the CIA officers who were involved in the plot to assassinate Trujillo. This information sheds light on the CIA’s involvement in foreign political affairs and its willingness to intervene in the internal affairs of other nations.
The NSA also drew attention to a document from the "Family Jewels" that exposed CIA counterintelligence operations directed against allies in Washington, D.C. According to the file, CIA agents broke into the French Consulate and stole classified documents. The files also alluded to potentially improper dealings between former CIA chief John McCone and the Vatican.
A memo written by agent Walter Elder to then-CIA chief Walter Colby reveals concerns about McCone’s relationship with the Vatican. "Finally, and this will reflect my Middle Western Protestant upbringing," Elder wrote, "McCone’s dealings with the Vatican, including Pope John XXVIII and Pope Paul VI, would and could raise eyebrows in certain quarters."
Another intriguing revelation comes from a note presented to President Kennedy on the day of his inauguration. White House aide Arthur Schlesinger Jr. conveyed disturbing information regarding the CIA’s presence within US embassies. According to Schlesinger, "47 percent of the political officers serving in United States embassies were CAS," meaning they were spies. In the Paris embassy alone, the CIA had 123 spies operating undercover as diplomats. "CIA today has nearly as many people undercover overseas as [the State Department—3900 to 3700," Schlesinger noted.
As historians and scholars continue to pore over the JFK files, more controversies and revelations are bound to emerge. These documents offer a unique window into a pivotal period in American history and provide valuable insights into the complexities of intelligence gathering, government secrecy, and the Cold War rivalry. The release of these files represents a significant step towards greater transparency and accountability, allowing future generations to better understand the past and learn from its lessons.
