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cyberswede

(26,117 posts)
Mon Feb 22, 2016, 06:35 PM Feb 2016

It seems that some people are unfamiliar with the CIA's past

Since this is a topic germane to the primaries (since Sanders once called to abolish the CIA), some folks might like to brush up a little:

http://vho.org/aaargh/fran/livres8/BLUMkillinghope.pdf

William Blum serves up a forensic overview of U.S. foreign policy spanning sixty years. For those who want the details on our most famous actions (Chile, Cuba, Vietnam, to name a few), and for those who want to learn about our lesser-known efforts (France, China, Bolivia, Brazil, for example), this book provides a window on what our foreign policy goals really are.

If you flip over the rock of American foreign policy of the past century, this is what crawls out… invasions … bombings … overthrowing governments … occupations … suppressing movements for social change … assassinating political leaders … perverting elections … manipulating labor unions … manufacturing “news” … death squads … torture … biological warfare … depleted uranium … drug trafficking … mercenaries …

It’s not a pretty picture. It’s enough to give imperialism a bad name.

Read the full details in: Killing Hope: US Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II.

“Far and away the best book on the topic.” – Noam Chomsky

“I enjoyed it immensely.” – Gore Vidal

“I bought several more copies to circulate to friends with the hope of shedding new light and understanding on their political outlooks.” – Oliver Stone

“A very valuable book. The research and organization are extremely impressive.” – A. J. Langguth, author, former New York Times Bureau Chief

“A very useful piece of work, daunting in scope, important.” –Thomas Powers, author, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist

“Each chapter I read made me more and more angry.” – Dr. Helen Caldicott, international leader of the anti-nuclear and environmental movements

http://williamblum.org/books/killing-hope/


14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
It seems that some people are unfamiliar with the CIA's past (Original Post) cyberswede Feb 2016 OP
K&R amborin Feb 2016 #1
Yep libodem Feb 2016 #2
...one key difference being that citizens in the USSR knew they were being lied to. cyberswede Feb 2016 #7
Very True libodem Feb 2016 #11
The CIA does need to be dramatically reformed Cali_Democrat Feb 2016 #3
He said that back in 1974. nt cyberswede Feb 2016 #4
I know. nt Cali_Democrat Feb 2016 #5
oops...I see your edit now cyberswede Feb 2016 #10
We have several intelligence agencies (n/t) dimple Feb 2016 #8
As I recall it, the original mandate was strictly intelligence tech3149 Feb 2016 #14
Thank you! I couldn't believe it when I saw that. How lost some are. nt haikugal Feb 2016 #6
I'm gonna be generous and assume people are too young to remember. cyberswede Feb 2016 #12
We can be generous and hope not, but I won't rule out a tool...:-/ haikugal Feb 2016 #13
K&R kgnu_fan Feb 2016 #9

cyberswede

(26,117 posts)
7. ...one key difference being that citizens in the USSR knew they were being lied to.
Mon Feb 22, 2016, 06:42 PM
Feb 2016

Americans have been pretty gullible. Or in denial.

libodem

(19,288 posts)
11. Very True
Mon Feb 22, 2016, 06:49 PM
Feb 2016

Idiots believe in 'Truth In Advertising'. We are advertized and marketed to through all the media we plug into.

Private and governmental.

 

Cali_Democrat

(30,439 posts)
3. The CIA does need to be dramatically reformed
Mon Feb 22, 2016, 06:39 PM
Feb 2016

But calling for it to be abolished is too much.

We do need an intelligence agency.

I'm sure Sanders will agree with me and will walk back his older comments.

tech3149

(4,452 posts)
14. As I recall it, the original mandate was strictly intelligence
Mon Feb 22, 2016, 07:38 PM
Feb 2016

Even Truman reiterated that after Kennedy was assassinated.

cyberswede

(26,117 posts)
12. I'm gonna be generous and assume people are too young to remember.
Mon Feb 22, 2016, 06:49 PM
Feb 2016

They couldn't really be that uninformed, right?

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