CW-

"the CCIFBI kept all the originals. So there was indeed nothing to stop them from making more copies and sending them out."

Unless the FBI rolled up CCIFBI! Which must have seemed all too possible to CCIBI, even likely. So:

Did CCIFBI send WIN a copy of the Media FBI files just in case, perhaps with instructions to sit on the files a while after the initial release? Were copies sent to other antiwar groups as well?

Think of this as a 1970s version of viral distribution via Xerox and the US Mail. Just in case the mainstream print media didn't choose to act fast enough.

In this case, however, there isn't much information except from politically correct sources.. And you can imagine what their responses were.. :D

Michale

Yeah, I see your point, but I'm pretty sure the quote was directly from the Church Committee hearings, though. I'll dig it out later from my notes, promise.

-CW

As far as I am concerned, Silence Gives Assent :D

As for COINTELPRO having positive aspects, the short answer is "no." I'll provide a quote later (in a rush right now) that essentially says "the FBI got absolutely nothing of any importance from the entire program." (I'm paraphrasing that).

I would be very interested in that quote and it's source..

I am sure you would agree that only an intelligence professional with field experience would be qualified to judge whether or not the activities were productive and bore fruit...

I mean, it's easy for an Anti-War/Anti-Authority activist to say, "It was all for nothing!!!!"...

But that wouldn't carry much weight, I am sure you would agree....

Michale

1. Not really. Two reasons: Media was 43 years ago. That's a long time. Second: the NSA has ALWAYS been secretive. The joke around DC has always been that it stands for "No Such Agency."

2. Dunno about the Kindle thing. As for COINTELPRO having positive aspects, the short answer is "no." I'll provide a quote later (in a rush right now) that essentially says "the FBI got absolutely nothing of any importance from the entire program." (I'm paraphrasing that).

Perhaps they got some infiltration practice for the agents. That's the only thing I can even think of as "positive," and it's a stretch.

TheStig -

I don't recall if the book addresses this, but what was sent to the media in the first round was all photocopies -- the CCIFBI kept all the originals. So there was indeed nothing to stop them from making more copies and sending them out. They did "vet" everything before sending out anything -- they destroyed any legitimate files that weren't political spying and harassment.

Thanks for the link to the originals! I will check them out...

Thanks also for the comment on keeping the book. I put that disclaimer on every book review I do, but I think you're the first to comment on it. I always wonder what people think...

:-)

Gotta run...

-CW

Like!

-David

http://www.warresisters.org/peace-activists-who-exposed-cointelpro-go-public

Gotta love that cover art! Yeah, Baby! The copy I saw around 1974 looked even worse for wear than the download.

I can't help but wonder if Citizens' Commission to Investigate the FBI made and distributed/cached more, perhaps many more, than the 5 copies of the vetted Media Files that are known to have gone to newspapers and congressional reps. It would have been prudent to do so, since 4 of the 5 copies mentioned in your posts went straight back to the FBI. Did the burglars trade craft include provisions for a "second strike?"

The War Resistors League's published a "complete" collection of the files in a 1972 edition of WIN magazine. I'm not sure where WIN got their copies, but I doubt WIN was tight with WAPO. The WIN edition got passed around quite a bit in anti war circles, I recall studying a dog eared copy around the time of the Nixon impeachment.

Copies of many of the Media files can be viewed online at:

https://archive.org/details/FBI-MEDBURG-COINTELPRO

I see no ethical problems with you receiving a free reviewer's copy. After all, you are responsible for the review you published, and I'm assuming your copy is laced with penciled margin notes and sticky memos. Should you need to defend your positions, you need your review copy!

"Mr Gambini? That was a lucid, intelligent and well thought out objection... OVERRULED!"
-Judge Haller, MY COUSIN VINNY

:D

Thanx Liz.. I have my moments.. :D

Michale

I'd also like to hear the answers to those questions and a few others.

Well, two questions, actually..

1. Do you think that the "damage" caused by the Media burglary has shaped the lack of transparency in current NSA activities??

2. While I haven't ready the book (Is it availble on Kindle?? :D) I assume from CW's spot-on analysis that not much attention was paid to the positive aspects of COINTELPRO, et al.. Being somewhat of an authority on current covert and overt surveillance techniques and justifications (Disclosure: I wasn't even born til 1962), I am curious if there is any thought on the positive aspects (if any) of the programs of that era..

I realize that the Politically Correct attitude is to be horrified and aghast at such "blatant" disregard for privacy, etc etc...

But, as they say, there are two sides to every story..

I am curious as to ya'all's thoughts as to the other side of this particular story..

Michale