In 1953, the CIA begins Project MKUltra, a human testing program. Experiments on humans were intended to identify and develop drugs and procedures to be used in interrogations and torture, in order to weaken the individual to force confessions through mind control. MKUltra used numerous methodologies to manipulate people’s mental states and alter brain functions, including the surreptitious administration of drugs (especially LSD) and other chemicals, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, isolation, verbal and sexual abuse, as well as other forms of psychological torture. The scope was broad, with research undertaken at 80 institutions, including 44 colleges and universities, as well as hospitals, prisons, and pharmaceutical companies. Many subjects died under testing, or committed suicide. Others such as Frank Olson were murdered for threatening to expose the program. 1
The most famous subject of this is someone whose name I don’t know how to spell, Ted Kraczynki (the Unabomber guy).
For once: I am a bit surprised.
Yes, usually, Marxist-Leninists on the Internet always go “no surprise” or “I’m not surprised by this,” ESPECIALLY in regard to the CIA.
But you have to admit: this is pretty big when you think about it, whether you want to act like you’re not surprised or be open about not really expecting something like this.
(lol I just don’t want to be that guy that openly admits to being surprised by something even though it’s the “cool” thing to act a bit aloof and expectant, especially if you’re an ML and something about the CIA just came out into the open)
The scale of this, and other things like operation Gladio, is truly staggering.
It is!
Frankly, we should be surprised, is what I’m saying, as this is beyond what most people would even expect (even people like Ben Norton and the rest of The Grayzone).
I don’t want to be optimistic, but the CIA has delineated much of its “responsibility” between different branches, factions, and organizations (like the NED and private contractors and spies).
That being said: I say “optimistic” because that could buy us time to more fully organize and prepare ourselves, as obviously the New Cold War probably took the bourgeoisie somewhat by surprise, at least somewhat.
Well, I’ll just say this: I think the China/Russia/Iran and the other states are more prepared for this so I honestly think that they’ll handle themselves for the time being, but I’m interested to see how much focus they (the international bourgeoisie) put toward “domestic” issues in their own country, i.e. whether they’ll attack the international communist movement in their home turf or not.
We’ve already seen various attacks on old CPs and communist/socialist organizations in Europe, though it seems to be mostly uncoordinated, for the most part (though still no less bad and harmful to the overall movements).
I have high hopes, but let’s be careful and try to strike while the iron is hot (consolidate our forces and organize immediately).
Okay, so: my previous post about “surprises” aside, I will say this: in all likelihood, the universities could be either staunch allies of the CIA and State Department or sometimes unwitting and reluctant partners of them.
However, I would not underestimate the gravity of this: there have been calls in the mainstream media to “put academia back behind a Cold War against terrorism/communism/Russia/China/etc.” (I’m paraphrasing with those quotations). So, while yes, I do believe that the relationship between universities and academia in regard to the CIA and State Department could be a bit on-and-off, it’s likely that:
a) the “ties” themselves never went fully away after the Cold War ended in 1991
AND
b) give it 5 years and as the capitalist class mobilizes itself and its various factions against the global communist movement and Russia/China in particular, you will see a large section of “scholars/experts” either become stooges of the USA foreign policy estalbishment OR you’ll see new “up-comers” enter the field or get promoted in order to attack multi-lateralism or communism/socialism or other anti-imperialist or labor movements across the globe, including in the USA.
IMHO
Thoughts?
Basically: I don’t believe the capitalist class is completely united and consolidated behind the war drive… yet. China/Russia/Iran probably took them by surprise after 2008. But they definitely will ramp up a drive against who we are and our allies.
So, with that said: as I’ll reiterate, give it 5 years or so and we’ll see the New Cold War enter a more intensive phase.
I just don’t think this united capitalist is going to happen again seeing as how most of them are so busy taking in the riches of China’s economy. Capitalists are too concerned about short-term gains to formulate such long-term goals such as class unity against Communism. Would a capitalist really ever deny oneself a contract with a rich economy to form an anti-communist bloc?
But how many faculty at each site knew what it was, that was going down? From what I’ve read around the web most of them seemed like lone-wolf ethically-compromised nutters that would lie about the nature of the work
Its not like anyone (or any institution) would voluntarily admit that they participated. And the US government is surely also interested to sweep this under the rug.
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