If only the CIA's rogue operations had been consigned to history as a result of the crimes exposed by the Church Committee, or at the least had brought the CIA under the rule of law and public accountability.
As a recent CIA Director, Mike Pompeo, said of his time at the CIA: "I was the CIA director. We lied, we cheated, we stole. We had entire training courses. It reminds you of the glory of the American experiment." The CIA was established in 1947 as the successor to the Office of Strategic Services.
On the other, the CIA was to subvert the "Enemy," that is, whomever the president or CIA defined as the enemy, using a wide range of measures: assassinations, coups, staged unrest, arming of insurgents, and other means.
In effect, the CIA is a secret army of the U.S., capable of creating mayhem across the world with no accountability whatsoever.
Crucially, the CIA was newly led by Director William Colby, who wanted to clean up the CIA operations.
In December 1974, investigative reporter Seymour Hersh, then as now a great reporter with sources inside the CIA, published an account of illegal CIA intelligence operations against the U.S. antiwar movement.
The CIA has had the last laugh -or better said, has brought the world to tears-by maintaining its preeminent role in U.S. foreign policy, including overseas subversion.
The CIA, established in 1947, has two basic roles: providing intelligence and subverting perceived enemies. Its subversive role has caused global instability. The CIA defines the "enemy," often undermining democracy and human rights. Its methods are secretive and it operates without public scrutiny, with Congress serving as a mere formality.
The CIA's unaccountability has led to devastating consequences. For example, the CIA conspired in the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the democratically elected leader of Zaire, in 1961. The CIA has been held accountable only once, in 1975, by the Church Committee, which exposed its shocking malfeasance. However, this oversight was a rare occurrence, made possible by a unique set of circumstances.
Since 1975, the CIA has continued to operate covertly, often in violation of international law. It has been involved in subversive activities in Afghanistan, the Balkans, Central Asia, Syria, and Ukraine. These operations have resulted in widespread destruction, loss of life, and displacement of people. The U.S. government has not held the CIA accountable for these actions, and there has been little to no oversight from Congress.
The CIA's operations are often shrouded in secrecy, with the public learning about them only through whistleblowers, investigative journalists, and foreign governments. The U.S. government has become increasingly secretive, pursuing aggressive legal actions against the disclosure of classified information. The mainstream media has also failed to hold the CIA accountable, often quoting unnamed officials and perpetuating the official narrative.
Despite the challenges, there is a need for accountability. The current head of the CIA, William Burns, is a respected diplomat who has previously served as Ambassador to Russia. Given his background, he may be willing to support efforts towards accountability.
In conclusion, the CIA's unaccountability and secretive operations have caused widespread destruction and loss of life. It is urgently necessary to open the blinds, expose the truth, and begin a new era of transparency, accountability, and peace in U.S. foreign policy. The 50th anniversary of the Church Committee hearings next year provides an opportunity to revisit this precedent and work towards these goals.
https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/cia-destablizes-the-world
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