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Counterintelligence and Special Operations (1970)
ESTABLISHMENT OF INTELLIGENCE COVER ORGANIZATIONSSan AntonioTECHNICAL SERVICES
Detroit
Los Angeles
Baltimore
Cleveland
Philadelphia
San Francisco
St. Louis
Forged DocumentsINTERNATIONAL SPECIAL OPERATIONS
PhotographyCIA CHAOS Program
VIETNET
Revolutionary Union
Misc.ESTABLISHMENT OF INTELLIGENCE COVER ORGANIZATIONS Captioned title is used to coordinate and develop sophisticated intelligence and long-range counterintelligence operations. Through this control file suggestions for the development of new intelligence approaches and techniques are afforded serious consideration. (directing establishment of local intelligence cover organizations) Director to 9 Field Offices, April 17, 1970
San Antonio Enclosed for your consideration is one Xerox copy of Bulet 4/17/70 to New York and other offices relating to establishment of cover intelligence organizations. Any recommendations you may have for implementing an operation of this nature will be afforded careful consideration. Director to SAC, San Antonio, April 21, 1970
Re Bureau letter to San Antonio, 4/21/70, which enclosed a copy of Bureau letter to New York, 4/17/70, setting forth some background regarding cover intelligence organizations. Bureau requested San Antonio to submit any recommendations regarding this matter. In the near future, San Antonio will submit recommendations regarding a cover intelligence organization and is considering dovetailing its recommendation with the SECOMEX program. SAC, San Antonio to Director, April 24, 1970
ReSAlet 4/24/70. Although Latin American or Mexican-American projection was not indicated in prior communications regarding the establishment of a cover intelligence operation, these areas of racial or political orientation would definitely be considered. However, you should bear in mind to project a left-wing cover organization of Latin American orientation, it would be very important to have a source supported by intelligence coverage who could comment intelligently in a current fashion regarding such activities. Submit recommendations. Director to SAC, San Antonio, April 21, 1970
Detroit ReBulet, 4/17/70. Detroit concurs that it is desirable to organize and operate a cover organization intelligence operation in the Detroit Division, and suggests that such an organization (committee) in Detroit be set up to be portrayed as an anti-war, anti-capitalistic organization, sympathetic to the oppressed and exploited people, not only in the U.S., but in other non-Socialist countries. This image would appeal not only to the "New Left" and the militants, but also to "peace" groups. SAC, Detroit to Director, May 18, 1970
ReDElet 5/18/70 and Bulet 6/2/70, captioned as above, and DElet 5/20/70 captioned "Counterintelligence Program, Black Nationalist - Hate Groups." Bureau concurs the cover organization, proposed by DElet 5/18/70, may very likely be used for counterintelligence as well as intelligence-gathering purposes. When the cover organization has been established, the Bureau will consider the advisability of using [ ] to attack the organization if this action would serve to authenticate the cover. Also, consideration will be given to using [ ] Specific recommendations regarding counterintelligence use of the cover should be submitted at an appropriate time after the cover is established. Director to SAC, Detroit, June 2, 1970
On 6/23/70, [ ] was interviewed in accordance with Bulet. This informant immediately and enthusiastically endorsed this endeavor and stated that he would cooperate to the fullest extent. Based on further discussions with the informant, he suggested that the name of the organization be [ ] Detroit feels that this name would lend itself to development of an organization along the lines suggested in relets and recommends that the organization be so entitled.
REQUESTS OF BUREAU
Bureau authority to obtain two post office boxes in line with the above.
Authority to file with the County Clerk, Wayne County, application to conduct business under an assumed name, in line with the above.
Authorization to instruct informant to begin preparation of initial communication to be directed to selected target organizations.
Provide Detroit with list of suggested target organizations.
SAC, Detroit to Director, June 25, 1970Director to SAC, Detroit, June 2, 1970
Los Angeles ReBulet 4/17/70, which requested recipient offices to afford consideration to organizing within their respective field divisional territories a cover intelligence organization, to be projected as militant Negro, pro-Chicom, antiwar, peace, pro-Arab, or New Left oriented; which during its formulation would direct correspondence in its title to a large variety of domestic [ ] SAC, Los Angeles to Director, July 14, 1970
ReBulet 4/17/70 relating to the establishment of cover organizations, LAlet 7/13/70 advising you feel some type of cover might be established by [ ] In addition to Bulet 4/17/70, Bulet 11/17/67, LAlet 2/14/68, Bulet 2/28/68, and LAlet 7/31/68 all related to the use of cover organizations for intelligence gathering purposes, and the latter two Los Angeles communications indicated [ ] was under consideration for such an operation. [ ] a highly productive informant in the Los Angeles Office furnishing coverage of Left Wing, New Left, and extremist Negro activities. Los Angeles has been considering using her in connection with a cover intelligence organization operation since early 1968, but has not submitted specific recommendations, only indicating it is following the matter. Director to SAC, Los Angeles, July 24, 1970
SAC, Los Angeles to Director, March 30, 1970
Director to SAC, Los Angeles, April 10, 1970
Baltimore Re Bureau letter, 4/17/70. Baltimore has no specific plans designed for the consideration of a cover intelligence organization to project as militant Negro, Pro-Chicoms, anti-war, peace, pro-Arab or New Left oriented, at this time. The activity of any group or individuals on behalf of above type groups are so limited that no special emphasis can be directed toward them without arousing suspicion. The pro-Chicom and pro-Arab adherents have no following locally and established sources have been unable to identify a single member of any such group. The anti-war or peace groups have been confining their activities to assisting local pacifist and religious sects in their search for an end to war by disorganized protests and picketing of military installations. SAC, Baltimore to Director, July 13, 1970
Cleveland ReBulet 4-17-70, to NYO etal. The proposal to form a covert organization has substantial merit and would undoubtedly provide the means for obtaining very significant intelligence data. Cleveland has noted situations very similar to those mentioned in relet wherein a miniscule group has assumed the posture of a sizeable international apparatus with apparent acceptance by both national and international revolutionary groups. ... With the foregoing in mind, Cleveland will continue to analyze the local situation with the view of bringing to the Bureau's attention positive suggestions and recommendations for the establishment of a cover-type intelligence operation. SAC, Cleveland to DIrector, July 17, 1970
Philadelphia SAC, Philadelphia to Director, December 13, 1967
Relet dated 4/17/70 requested that recommendations be forwarded to the Bureau relating to the implementation of a local cover intelligence operation. It is recognized that a cover organization of this type could be of great value in the investigation of a wide range of organizations including the New Left, the pro-Arab groups and certain of the militant Negro groups. This is especially true because of the evidence of increasing rapport among such organizations as the Black Panther Party, some of the New Left groups and, in some matters, anti-war groups. As we see it, the establishment of this counterintelligence operation will undoubtedly require the full time of one SA who has the ability, experience and desire to administer it. Likewise, it will in due course require the diversion of at least one, and possibly more than one informant, perhaps full time, and will make the informant or informants less available for their present types of assignments which include coverage of Weathermen, the identification of militant communes and collectives, the destruction and theft of Selective Service records by anti-war individuals and organizations, and the collaboration of the New Left types with the militant Negro organizations and personalities. Philadelphia's proposal is accordingly as follows: [ ] SAC, Philadelphia to Director, Aug. 11, 1970
San Francisco Any contacts made with individuals affiliated with unions will necessarily have to be most cautious and discreet and it is vital that all individuals contacted are assured the Bureau's interests are in matters of a subversive nature and not in union-employee management relations. Providing no significant recent circumstances preclude such action, and you feel your proposal has merit if initially targeted against other groups than the RU, you are authorized to contact the [ ] for the identities of any International Typographical Union members who have been active in the recent strike against the "Independent Journal." You may obtain background data regarding candidates for use in your cover collective, make necessary local inquiries to develop further background, including information relating to their character and reputation, and thereafter submit to the Bureau your recommendations for their contact. Prior to contacting any union members looking towards their development as sources, you should submit their identities and your specific recommendations to the Bureau. Director to SAC, San Francisco, Aug. 12, 1970
SAC, San Francisco to Director, April 27, 1970
Director to SAC, San Francisco, May 7, 1970
Director to SAC, San Francisco, May 11, 1970
SAC, San Francisco to Director, May 20, 1970
Director to SAC, San Francisco, Nov. 24, 1970
Director to SAC, San Francisco, August 11, 1970
St. Louis The St. Louis Division is submitting for Bureau consideration the following outline for a proposed cover organization: St. Louis would utilize [ ] in the formation of an organization which would have as its purported objectives: (1) [ ] (2) [ ] current "movement literature" including extremist groups literature. SAC, St. Louis to Director, Oct. 12, 1970
SAC, St. Louis to Director, September 23, 1970
TECHNICAL SERVICES
Forged Documents Xerox copies of true documents, documents subtly incorporating false information, and entirely fabricated documents would be periodically anonymously mailed to the residence of a key Panther leader. These documents would be on the stationery and in the form used by the police department or by the FBI in disseminating information to the police. FBI documents, when used, would contain police routing or date received notations, clearly indicating they had been pilfered from police files. An attempt would be made to give the Panther recipient the impression the documents were stolen from police files by a disgruntled police employee sympathetic to the Panthers. Director to SAC, San Francisco, May 11, 1970
ReBulet 5/11/70, concerning a possible disruptive-disinformation operation to be targeted against the National Office of the Black Panther Party (BPP). At this time, San Francisco would hesitate to recommend the furnishing of any fabricated documents originating with the Oakland Police Department or any supposed LHMs from this office. During the last year the BPP was able to obtain what were alleged to have been detailed plans of the Berkeley Police Department for a possible raid on National Headquarters. These plans were published in "The Black Panther" to some embarrassment of the police department.
Attached is a partially completed FD-306. RAY "MASAI" HEWITT, Minister of Education, is based in Los Angeles but often visits National Headquarters. San Francisco proposed the preparation of a "dog eared" and crumpled FD-306 as attached and the placing of the FD-306 in a BPP car that has recently been used by HEWITT or was utilized to transport him. Through [ ] agents would know in advance of HEWITT's arrival at the San Francisco Airport for departure and they will attempt to obtain access to the car and leave the FD-306 in the interior where it might logically be decided that it had been dropped by HEWITT.
SAC, San Francisco to Director, June 17, 1970The Bureau concurs with your view that the BPP would rush to publicize any alleged police or FBI document it received, if such action served its propaganda purposes. However, if the "leaked" material were in itself embarrassing or discrediting to the BPP leadership, such as true exposures of immorality, egotistical or self-serving conduct, or misappropriation of funds, it is unlikely it would be publicized. As envisioned by the Bureau, material initially "leaked" would be of a low-key character consisting of brief items relating to the BPP organization. It would be in the form of crudely typed anonymous letters not identified with a law enforcement agency, but worded in a manner to lead the recipient to believe it was prepared by a sympathetic individual in a police agency. After low-key letters had been mailed over an extended period, portions of carefully selected alleged police documents or reports might be included. Hopefully, the BPP at this point would believe the material was authentic or at least of interest and that it originated with a sympathetic police source. Thus, as outlined in Bulet 5/11/70, a productive disinformation channel would be established whereby we could cause continuing disruption within the Panther national leadership. The Bureau believes the alternate proposal outlined in reSFlet has merit and could very likely be successful. However, as indicated in your letter, this technique cannot be approved because it could result in a Panther murder of one of their leaders. Director to SAC, San Francisco, June 26, 1970
SAC, Los Angeles to Director, July 29, 1970
Photography San Francisco believes that the enclosed surveillance photo of BERGMAN can be utilized to a great advantage in this operation. The photo of BERGMAN can be altered to include another man with whom BERGMAN can be made to appear walking and talking. One possible individual for this composite photo is [ ] who has recently been exposed through the media of the Press at Stanford University as one who is working RU matters for the FBI... Other possibilities of photos to place next to BERGMAN are [ ] A copy of the photo will not be given to FRANKLIN but only shown to FRANKLIN. SAC, San Francisco to Director, Dec. 7, 1970
SAC, New York to Director, September 3, 1970
SAC, San Francisco, September 2, 1970
SAC, Baltimore to Director, January 11, 1971
SAC, Pittsburgh to Director, September 30, 1970
SAC, Washington Field Office to Director, September 3, 1970
INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL OPERATIONS
CIA CHAOS Program With the objective of expanding the scope and depth of coverage provided by current racial and security informants, the Bureau is conducting a survey to identify informants in selected offices who may have two or more of the following characteristics:
1. Above average imagination and initiative.Recipients are requested to review their present complement of both security and racial informants and to identify by symbol number a minimum of four and up to six current informants who possess two or more of the specified characteristics ... Based upon the information provided, the Bureau will consider possible immediate or future use of the referred informants, where qualifications and other circumstances permit, in the following areas:
2. Definite leadership ability.
3. Above average intelligence.
4. Specialized or unique knowledge or ability.
5. A willingness to expand his current effort.1. Travel abroad of short or long duration to develop evidence of foreign contacts or influence of domestic subversive, black militant, or New Left movements and to attend international conferences or conclaves of such groups or their foreign counterparts. It is anticipated foreign travel of the nature contemplated will also enable selected informants to increase their stature, and thereby their coverage, within the domestic movement.
2. Use in a cover organization operation or in conjunction with other informants in a unified or coordinated intelligence endeavor.
Director to 15 Field Offices, July 16, 1970SAC, Philadelphia to Director, August 14, 1970
VIETNET [codeword] This is to secure authority to proceed to develop a unique operation whereby we place a South Vietnam national in clandestine contact with selected leaders of the New Left and militant black nationalist movement for the purpose of misdirecting the activities of these groups, gathering intelligence, and possibly disrupting the groups. R.D. Cotter to W.C. Sullivan, April 15, 1969
Revolutionary Union Director to SAC, San Francisco, April 2, 1969
SAC, San Francisco to Director, April 29, 1969
Director to SAC, San Francisco, April 30, 1969
Director to SAC, San Francisco, May 8, 1969
Director to SAC, San Francisco, Sept 10, 1969
Director to SAC, San Francisco, April 28, 1970
Director to Legat, Ottawa, August 25, 1970
SAC, San Francisco, September 3, 1970
Dirrector to SAC, San Francisco, September 28, 1970
SAC, San Francisco to Director, September 30, 1970
Director to SAC, St. Louis, October 8, 1970
Misc. ReSFlet 5/20/70 outlining a possible counterintelligence tactic to discourage the use and storage of explosives by extremists. Careful consideration has been given to this proposal and means by which it might be successfully effected. It would be extremely difficult to implant a believable rumor among extremist elements to the effect that law enforcement was using a newly developed device to detect and perhaps ignite concealed explosive caches. Director to SAC, San Francisco, June 2, 1970
SAC, San Antonio, February 25, 1970
Director to SAC, San Antonio, March 11, 1970
SAC, San Francisco to Director, June 13, 1969
SAC, San Francisco to Director, May 24, 1968
... you should furnish to the Bureau a summary of your progress in developing this cover news agency together with your recommendations for its further development. Director to SAC, San Francisco, July 9, 1968
R.D. Cotter to W.C. Sullivan, April 26, 1968
Director to Legat, Buenos Aires, May 8, 1969
Director to SAC, New York, May 9, 1969
SAC, Boston to Director, October 7, 1969
Copyright Paul Wolf, 2002-2004. No copyright to original government works.
