Bribes, Desinformation and Fraud - CIA Proudly Confesses It Interferes in Elections Throughout the World
This Friday, an American channel NBC showed a big interview with Vladimir Putin. Of course, interviewer Megan Kelly could not avoid the topic of Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election, and the following sanctions against 13 Russians. In response, Putin asked to look at the documents.
Vladimir Putin: I must see what they did. Give us the data. You have to file an official request to the Russian General Prosecutor's Office. Give us the documents, file your official request.
Megan Kelly, interviewer: The last time you've already said that, I'll return to the topic later.
- You must use official channels instead of scolding us in the media and Congress.
Meanwhile, Americans quite self-critically recall the rich and scrupulously documented history of US intervention in foreign elections. Former CIA director James Woolsey, smiling cunningly during his recent interview with Laura Ingraham on Fox News, told the host how the US fought Communists.
Laura Ingraham, host: Have we ever tried to interfere with other countries' elections?
James Woolsey, former CIA Director: Oh, probably. But we did it to save the system and not let Communists win for example, in Europe in 1947, 1948, 1949 in Greece, in Italy, and so on.
- But we're not doing that now?
- Only for a very good cause. Only for a very good cause and the sake of democracy.
And here's what American intelligence veterans said to The New York Times.
Steven Hall, 30 years in the ranks of the CIA: “If you ask an intelligence officer, did the Russians break the rules or do something bizarre the answer is no, not at all. The United States "absolutely" has carried out such election influence operations historically and I hope we keep doing it."
Another American intelligence veteran.
Loch Johnson professor at the University of Georgia: "We’ve been doing this kind of thing since the CIA was created in 1947. We’ve used posters, pamphlets, mailers, banners — you name it. We’ve planted false information in foreign newspapers. We’ve used what the British call "King George’s cavalry": suitcases of cash".
CIA agent Mark Wyatt who masterminded the Italian campaign of 1948 recalled in his interview with CNN how they worked:
"We had bags of money that we delivered to selected politicians to defray their expenses".
There are plenty of fresh examples. Yugoslavia, Russia in the 90s, Georgia and Ukraine, Kirghizia, the Arab spring, without even mentioning the modern-day Ukraine.
The US is working in Russia as well. But we'll tell you about it later.