Conspiracy Theorists USED TO Be Accepted As Normal
Democracy and free market capitalism were founded on conspiracy theories.
The Magna Carta, the Constitution
and Declaration of Independence and other founding Western documents
were based on conspiracy theories. Greek democracy and free market
capitalism were also based on conspiracy theories.
But those were the bad old days …Things have now changed.
The CIA Coined the Term Conspiracy Theorist In 1967
The CIA Coined the Term Conspiracy Theorist In 1967
That all changed in the 1960s.
Specifically, in April 1967, the CIA wrote a
dispatch which coined the term “conspiracy theories” … and recommended
methods for discrediting such theories. The dispatch was marked “psych” –
short for “psychological operations” or disinformation – and “CS” for
the CIA’s “Clandestine Services” unit.
The dispatch was produced in responses to a Freedom of Information Act request by the New York Times in 1976.
The dispatch states:
2. This trend of opinion is a matter of concern to the U.S. government, including our organization.
***
The aim of this dispatch is to provide material
countering and discrediting the claims of the conspiracy theorists, so
as to inhibit the circulation of such claims in other countries.
Background information is supplied in a classified section and in a number of unclassified attachments.
3. Action. We do not recommend that discussion
of the [conspiracy] question be initiated where it is not already taking
place. Where discussion is active addresses are requested:
a. To discuss the publicity problem with and
friendly elite contacts (especially politicians and editors) , pointing
out that the [official investigation of the relevant event] made as
thorough an investigation as humanly possible, that the charges of the
critics are without serious foundation, and that further speculative
discussion only plays into the hands of the opposition. Point out also
that parts of the conspiracy talk appear to be deliberately generated by
… propagandists. Urge them to use their influence to discourage
unfounded and irresponsible speculation.
b. To employ propaganda assets to and refute the
attacks of the critics. Book reviews and feature articles are
particularly appropriate for this purpose. The unclassified attachments
to this guidance should provide useful background material for passing
to assets. Our ploy should point out, as applicable, that the critics
are (I) wedded to theories adopted before the evidence was in, (II)
politically interested, (III) financially interested, (IV) hasty and
inaccurate in their research, or (V) infatuated with their own theories.
***
4. In private to media discussions not directed
at any particular writer, or in attacking publications which may be yet
forthcoming, the following arguments should be useful:
a. No significant new evidence has emerged which the Commission did not consider.
***
b. Critics usually overvalue particular items
and ignore others. They tend to place more emphasis on the recollections
of individual witnesses (which are less reliable and more divergent–and
hence offer more hand-holds for criticism) …
***
c. Conspiracy on the large scale often suggested
would be impossible to conceal in the United States, esp. since
informants could expect to receive large royalties, etc.
***
d. Critics have often been enticed by a form of
intellectual pride: they light on some theory and fall in love with it;
they also scoff at the Commission because it did not always answer every
question with a flat decision one way or the other.
***
f. As to charges that the Commission’s report
was a rush job, it emerged three months after the deadline originally
set. But to the degree that the Commission tried to speed up its
reporting, this was largely due to the pressure of irresponsible
speculation already appearing, in some cases coming from the same
critics who, refusing to admit their errors, are now putting out new criticisms.
g. Such vague accusations as that “more than ten people have died mysteriously” can always be explained in some natural way ….
5. Where possible, counter speculation by
encouraging reference to the Commission’s Report itself. Open-minded
foreign readers should still be impressed by the care, thoroughness,
objectivity and speed with which the Commission worked. Reviewers of
other books might be encouraged to add to their account the idea that,
checking back with the report itself, they found it far superior to the
work of its critics.
much more:
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-02-23/1967-he-cia-created-phrase-conspiracy-theorists-and-ways-attack-anyone-who-challenge
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