Changing Conditions

[H2O Man]

“Many of the techniques used would be intolerable in a democratic society even if all of the targets had been involved in violent activity, but COINTELPRO went far beyond that...the Bureau conducted a sophisticated vigilante operation aimed squarely at preventing the exercise of First Amendment rights of speech and association, on the theory that preventing the growth of dangerous groups and the propagation of dangerous ideas would protect the national security and deter violence “ – Church Committee; Final Report; 1976.



In the 1970s, a number of House and Senate Select Committee reports confirmed what Americans on the Democratic Left had known for many years: that the intelligence agencies in this country were engaged in systematic programs, which frequently resorted to illegal tactics, to disrupt any group that the right-wing determined to be “subversive.” These programs included – but were not limited to – the FBI's “COINTELPRO,” the CIA's “CHAOS,” and the Nixon administration's “Huston Program.”

The tactics used by the intelligence community included: surveillance, infiltration, discrediting, and disruption. The stated goals were to "expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise neutralize" (J. Edgar Hoover; 3-4-68) the constitutionally protected efforts of groups and individuals on the Democratic Left. The congressional committees identified specific actions which were used: {1} infiltration, by agents and informers, including “agent provocateurs”; {2} psychological warfare, which included planting false information in the media; setting up “pseudo movement groups”; forging letters; and printing and distributing fake pamphlets and “underground” newspapers; {3} harassment through the legal system; and {4} illegal activities, including break-ins and violence.

For the American middle class, the revelations that that the congressional inquires uncovered were shocking. But for the Democratic Left, it was merely confirmation of the harsh realities that they had encountered during the civil rights and anti-war movements.

During the late 1970s, two things happened: one was that the Democratic Left lost its energy and focus; the other was that the intelligence agencies' programs appeared to have been put under control. It is a matter of opinion, of course, as to which of these dynamics came first – the chicken or the egg, so to speak. The Civil Rights movement had made significant progress in the '60s; the anti-war movement appeared victorious when US forces were removed from Vietnam; and President Nixon had been forced to resign in disgrace. President Ford, who pardoned Nixon, had ex-Beatle George Harrison visit the White House; President Carter, who hosted ex-Beatle John Lennon at the White House, pardoned the draft resistors. Things appeared to be changing.

Richard Cheney, however, noted that these congressional committee investigations were geared in a manner to protect future US presidents from undue restrictions on ways to insure the security of the country. When Ronald Reagan was elected, along with Bush the Elder, similar intelligence programs began to target two groups in America: those advocating a nuclear freeze, and those protesting US foreign policy in Central America. More, when Cheney served for eight years as the most powerful vice president in our nation's history, and instituted the most un-American, money-war-and-weapons scheme in the world's history, it was accompanied by the “Patriot Act.”

The Patriot Act, still in full effect, is nothing more than a high-tech version of COINTELPRO et al. The major “differences,” in terms of the Democratic Left, are that it makes great use of the power of the home computer and internet, rather than account books and printing presses, and it makes use of “private” (or “corporate”) intelligence operations and operatives. Where in the “good old days,” the “enemy” was identified as “communists,” today it is “terrorists.” Yet the targets are still those parts of the Democratic Left that advocate for the end of the foreign wars; for the environment; and other issues in the realm of social justice.

It is essential for people to understand that, while for example, J. Edgar Hoover targeted Martin Luther King, Jr. with a vengeance, the vast majority of the domestic intelligence efforts focused the grass roots level. This is because they recognized then – as they do today – that any real movement that has the potential to institute real change in our system can only come from the grass roots. For every one example of a high profile leader being targeted, there are hundreds of examples of grass roots groups and activists being spied upon, infiltrated, having their operations disrupted, and discredited in the media.

“Divide and conquer” is perhaps the most basic of tactics. Examples of this take place frequently, including on the internet. This does not imply, obviously, that every divisive individual who spreads the seeds of dissent is a highly trained agent. No, some people are simply obnoxious fools. Some others simply channel their internal disturbances. And others might simply be giving voice to a weak link in their own chain, or reacting to provocations, misinformation, or disinformation. It only takes one or two people intent upon disrupting a large group to do so.

I've written, in the past, about some of those people who attempted to disrupt the work of a state-wide Native American group that worked for the Iroquois Confederacy since the early 1970s. I remember one who was a detective with the state police. A couple others were employed by private organizations that were invested in denying Native Americans their rights as defined by the Constitution and federal law. Two others were sent by sources that we never were able to identify; I do remember how hostile they became when, upon Chief Waterman's instructions, I let them know that we were fully aware of their agenda, including their tactics.

Recently, I've posted essays about my efforts with environmental advocates in the anti-fracking movement, and also about the need for the Democratic Left to focus more energy on building a movement from the grass roots up. I've had a bit less time to read through various internet discussion sites, on the topics of economic, legal, political, and social justice However, when I've had the necessary time, I've been reminded of the lessons that I've discussed here, today. I hope that, for anyone who has taken the time to read this essay, that it has been worthwhile, and perhaps thought-provoking.

Peace,
H2O Man

[RandomThoughts]

1. Yea I figured this group was fake, when it was the only 'progressive'

group I could find on Internet searches, after years of modified search results.

That does not change, a table set.

Or as I said years ago, I post here to various operatives.

And they won't be able to use flowers.

And I am due beer and travel money.



Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5JkHBC5lDs

Bonnie Raitt - I Can't Make You Love Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW9Cu6GYqxo

Bonnie Raitt - Nick Of Time
http://www.123video.nl/playvideos.asp?MovieID=407128

Dire Straits - Walk of Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZxVC0GB838


Constantine - Bring me to life (Evanescence)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx8d3K_hngw




And on a side note, when I make a comment, with intended support of many better songs, stories, and the many people that tell those stories, and someone else uses that to attack those people, or those songs and stories, you give an opportunity for what I think of as many better ideas to defend.

:loveya:

And I am due beer and travel money, and that not having arrived is an issue.

[RandomThoughts]

2. They also are using video games, and many other 'programs'

To try and issolate those they think are a problem.

Once again they go after those trying to correct the problem, and make things worse.


Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5JkHBC5lDs

Bonnie Raitt - I Can't Make You Love Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW9Cu6GYqxo

Bonnie Raitt - Nick Of Time
http://www.123video.nl/playvideos.asp?MovieID=407128

Dire Straits - Walk of Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZxVC0GB838


Constantine - Bring me to life (Evanescence)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx8d3K_hngw




And I am still standing.

[loudsue]

3. Thank you for writing this reminder, H2O Man. I saw these tactics in the '70's when Jesse Jackson

came to the University of Texas for a rally I was involved in. I saw it with the anti-war demonstrations in the 60's and early 70's. Doesn't it appear to you that the entire Rush Limbaugh/Fox News propaganda mess is designed for the ultimate "divide and conquer" at the behest of the US Chamber of Commerce crowd, organized in the '70's through the Powell Manifesto?

K & R

[starroute]

4. A lot of this went off-the-books under Reagan

Just as restrictions on CIA activities forced Bill Casey to resort to off-the-books operatives -- private firms, former CIA operatives, or the nominally legal groups funded by the National Endowment for Democracy -- so the exposure of COINTELPRO resulted in the job of harassing activists being handed over to groups of eager young movement conservatives like the Council for Inter-American Security or private spy organizations (mainly run by John Rees) that infiltrated left-wing groups and passed information along to the FBI.

Private groups of that sort are less visible now, and if you google on the subject you mainly get twenty-year-old information, but I don't doubt that the same dynamic is still in play. The FBI may be spying legally on peace and environmental activists, but there is also illegal dirty business that appears to be going on through unofficial channels -- ranging from the professional (private mercenary firms and IT surveillance firms) to nominally freelance right-wing dirty tricksters like James O'Keefe.

You couldn't even call it a conspiracy at this point -- it's more of a methodology that anyone who wants to demoralize and discredit liberal causes knows how to operate. But it's very widespread and will become more so as the voices of dissent become stronger.