Under the Truman Administration in 1951 (4 April) there was the creation of the Psychological Strategy Board (see U.S. Dept of State, Office of the Historian, at Foreign Relations of the United States, 1951, National Security Affairs; Foreign Economic Policy, Volume I - Office of the Historian; see also CIA FOIA pages at PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD (PSB) | CIA FOIA (foia.cia.gov)).
This group to be made up of the U.S. Secretary of State, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Director of Cental Intelligence or a designated representative. The purpose was primarily propaganda and essentially vague in its particulars:
"It is the purpose of this directive to authorize and provide for the more effective planning, coordination and conduct, within the framework of approved national policies, of psychological operations.
There is hereby established a Psychological Strategy Board responsible, within the purposes and terms of this directive, for the formulation and promulgation, as guidance to the departments and agencies [Page 59] responsible for psychological operations, of over-all national psychological objectives, policies and programs, and for the coordination and evaluation of the national psychological effort."
What was precluded was "overt economic warfare" and "This directive does not authorize the Board nor the Director to perform any “psychological operations”."
The board did, apparently, have the ability to sub-contract with experts in a variety of fields.
It was finally abolished 3 September 1953 under Executive Order # 10483, due to concerns of a lack of oversight or control of what was being done in the group. This may have been merely a tug of war for control or a serious concern over rogue groups without clear cut goals, rules, and accountability. The group remained, under new name and some new guidelines, until it was again abolished by President Kennedy in 1961.
Also of note, is that this group was thought to be a response to both the Korean Conflict (1950-1953) and to the emergence of a new "Red Fear" in the form of McCarthy censorship and accusations of infiltration of communist sympathizers or spies into the fabric of American life. From 1947 there were some who believed that the "flying discs" being reported were tales shared to generate fear for political reasons. As early as July 6, 1947, stories were in the papers of "Russian atom saucers" and by 1949 senators were sharing stories of advanced Russian weaponry made to look like saucers. This was a ruse and a cover story because documents indicate that into 1948 the government, and the Air Force, did not know what the objects were and that the operation and form of the crafts seen had a startling consistency in descriptions.
The work of Project Blue Book was included in that larger pond of resources tapped by the PSB. In most official and public declarations of the goals of PBB there are usually only two purposes listed. In one period, however, there are more and that involves sending data to those involved in the field of psychological warfare. From the CIA FOIA documents Dulles solicited ideas and implementations of psychological activities from all agencies and he pointed out that only "overt economic warfare had been banned by presidential order." (see PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD (PSB) (cia.gov)) . Given the timing of the Robertston Panel in 1952-1953 it is clear that it dovetailed with the goals of the PSB.
The outright ridicule, claim of balloons, experimental aircraft, reflections, endless meteors, and misidentifications of known craft would ignore the serious questions some of the most repeated and most qualified witness accounts. The question of why they were being allowed to raise a hazard to civil airways by flying so close to commercial jets, of why radar was fallible were we still using it to safeguard our nation, and why had these things suddenly begun to be seen in the skies in such high numbers?
It has been theorized, and it may be that the archives of this group may prove, that some debunkers of the time related to the UFO phenomena might have been sub-contracted to work behind the scenes or even more publicly to discredit the topic and the witnesses.
The CIA was prominent in the board's leadership. It should be noted that the CIA was not organized until 1947 but it had functioned under another name since about 1946. Truman established the National Intelligence Authority in January 1946. Its operational extension was known as the Central Intelligence Group (CIG), which was the direct predecessor of the CIA. Numerous teletype communications in the files of Project Blue Book include notations for the "CIG." IN its creation the CIA was give carte blanche regarding federal funds use and could withhold all information on its own workings, staffing, and spending. Under the guise of National Security a group was being normalized that would, in truth, function outside the lines of normal authority to the representative of the people of the United States. As a management plan it was a disastrous move and out of step with founding national ideals. The move to create such an agency was ill-conceived and poorly planned. As an intelligence agency they lacked the ability to gather information and for a decade their performance was poor. As a central intelligence agency there was a distinct lack of cohesion to what they did. The military continued to collect its own intelligence and share only what it wanted. Politicians did the same. Although a dream of a central "intelligence" clearing house and analysis center might have been the nebulous idea it was implemented with out clear design, organization and guides.
The first directors of the CIA is an intriguing list:
Rear Adm. Sidney W. Souers, U.S. Naval Reserve (January 23, 1946–June 10, 1946), Since this is before the creation of the CIA in 1947, he would have been head of the CIG
Lieut. Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, U.S. Army (June 10, 1946–May 1, 1947). Since this is before the creation of the CIA in 1947, he would have been head of the CIG. Of note is the fact that early in the post- Arnold and Roswell Incident period, Vandenberg repeatedly makes statements
Rear Adm. Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter, U.S. Navy (May 1, 1947–October 7, 1950). The leader during the transition from CIG to CIA. Strangely, he would become one of the first board members and active participant in the creation of the first major civilian organization designed to research the topic of "flying saucers" or, as they were called "Unidentified Flying Objects" and "Unidentified Aerial Objects." Evidence is present that states the military - spurred on by several possible government groups and agencies - post the Roswell Incident implemented an intentional debunking program to clamp the lid on the sightings and their reporting in newspapers. It was one using ridicule as part of the arsenal (see militarydebunk (roswellproof.com)). By late July and through September air bases across the country were inviting the public for tours of the local installations with demonstrations of the "weather balloon." In later years he joined NICAP in 1956 and remained as a special board member until 1960. (see United Press International (February 28, 1960). "AIR FORGE ORDER ON 'SAUCERS' CITED; Pamphlet by the Inspector General Called Objects a 'Serious Business'" (Fee). The New York Times. p. 30. WASHINGTON, February 27 (UPI) – The Air Force has sent its commands a warning to treat sightings of unidentified flying objects as "serious business" directly related to the nation's defense, it was learned today."). His most well known quote, from an address to congress, was that while government was urging its people to view the subject seriously they were using ridicule t silence the public.
Gen. Walter Bedell Smith, U.S. Army (October 7, 1950–February 9, 1953). The leader who would have been active participant in the original Psychological Strategy Board group from 1951 until 1953.
Allen W. Dulles (February 26, 1953–November 29, 1961). The leader under the
No comments:
Post a Comment