While
Wikipedia is hardly the fountainhead of reliable sources, it is however, as good as
place as any to begin learning about the subject of MK. I had never heard of it until entering this thread, and have not yet read Memory Shock's
threads or links provided in his signature, but will do so later. It is interesting to note that the Wikipedia article makes the claim that:
Project MKULTRA was first brought to wide public attention in 1975 by the U.S. Congress, through investigations by the Church Committee, and by a
presidential commission known as the Rockefeller Commission. Investigative efforts were hampered by the fact that CIA Director Richard Helms ordered
all MKULTRA files destroyed in 1973; the Church Committee and Rockefeller Commission investigations relied on the sworn testimony of direct
participants and on the relatively small number of documents that survived Helms' destruction order.
Later in that same article, it provides this:
One 1955 MKULTRA document gives an indication of the size and range of the effort; this document refers to the study of an assortment of mind-altering
substances described as follows:
And follows with a list of 17 preferred substances and the consequence of using these substances. While this list makes no mention of what type of
substance produced the outcome, it did list the desired outcome. As Memory Shock has said, it merits discussion. Consider the first substance on
that list:
1.) Substances which will promote illogical thinking and impulsiveness to the point where the recipient would be discredited in public.
The first question that comes to mind when reading this is do most people actually need mind altering substances to promote illogical thinking and
impulsiveness to the point where the recipient would be discredited in public? An understanding of history suggests that many people throughout
history were illogical and impulsive to the point of being discredited in public. Further, the advent of the Age of Enlightenment, and the more
contained Age of Reason, suggests that epochs are primarily marked with a lack of enlightenment and reason, and that the epochs of Enlightenment and
Reason were an anomaly and not the norm.
Further, the DSM, (Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel), suggests that there are quite a few people out there who have problems with impulsiveness to
the point of where the recipient would be discredited in public. Ironically, too many psychiatrists and psychologists will make a diagnosis and the
prescribe some chemical substance to treat this "disorder". Even further, as the psychiatric bible, (DSM), grows, it is becoming increasingly more
dubious that all of these so called "disorders" are actually social problems, and more likely are indicative of greedy psuedoscientist's who are
attempting to expand their client base.
2.) Substances which increase the efficiency of mentation and perception.
How ironic that the second substance mentioned seeks to accomplish the polar opposite of the first:
"One pill makes you larger And one pill makes you small"
~White Rabbit--Jefferson Airplane~
What is even more ironic, or maybe tragic is the belief that chemical substances are the best route to take when attempting to increase the efficiency
of mentation and perception.
3.) Materials which will prevent or counteract the intoxicating effect of alcohol.
As far as covert operations go, one could see the value in such a drug, but for most people, they don't drink alcohol to avoid its intoxicating
effect.
4.) Materials which will promote the intoxicating effect of alcohol.
Again, as far as covert operations go, this could certainly be a useful drug working in a pleasant harmony with the other drug, assuming one is
attempting to appear drunk in front of another, or others who are quite drunk. Also, such a drug could be quite useful for those on a budget, and can
only afford a damn 40oz.
5.) Materials which will produce the signs and symptoms of recognized diseases in a reversible way so that they may be used for malingering,
etc.
A useful drug for both covert spies, and kids who just don't want to go to school, or do their chores, and of course, for any adults who feel the
same way.
6.) Materials which will render the induction of hypnosis easier or otherwise enhance its usefulness.
Useful to both spies and Vegas or Catskills type vaudeville acts.
7.) Substances which will enhance the ability of individuals to withstand privation, torture and coercion during interrogation and so-called
"brain-washing".
Useful again for spies, but could come in handy for the miserable spouse as well, I suppose.
8.) 8.) Materials and physical methods which will produce amnesia for events preceding and during their use.
Hmmmm, the Bourne Identity? Actually, my experience is that most people have horrible memories, and practice what appears to be a selective form of
amnesia, only remembering those events that support their own self image, and manage this without any substances or materials.
9.) Physical methods of producing shock and confusion over extended periods of time and capable of surreptitious use.
Perhaps a drug will do, but my ex-wife can accomplish the same quite naturally.
10.) Substances which produce physical disablement such as paralysis of the legs, acute anemia, etc.
But, can it get you high?
11.) Substances which will produce "pure" euphoria with no subsequent let-down.
Well, strychnine has got to go then, and ecstasy too. Again, it is tragic that there is a belief that chemical substances or some other external
force can cause "pure" euphoria, and there are quite natural ways of accomplishing this.
12.) Substances which alter personality structure in such a way that the tendency of the recipient to become dependent upon another person is
enhanced.
Now this is a drug, I suspect, that many psychiatrists would love to prescribe for their patients.
13.) A material which will cause mental confusion of such a type that the individual under its influence will find it difficult to maintain a
fabrication under questioning.
Oh the tangled webs we weave...most people, stone cold sober, have a difficult time maintaining their fabrications. Always tell the truth, it is the
easiest thing to remember.
14.) Substances which will lower the ambition and general working efficiency of men when administered in undetectable amounts.
Welfare checks work just as well.
15.) Substances which promote weakness or distortion of the eyesight or hearing faculties, preferably without permanent effects.
My son has this problem and doesn't take any drugs. He can never see the messes he leaves, and doesn't seem to hear me when I ask him to clean them
up.
16.) A knockout pill which can surreptitiously be administered in drinks, food, cigarettes, as an aerosol, etc., which will be safe to use,
provide a maximum of amnesia, and be suitable for use by agent types on an ad hoc basis.
Nyquil in an aerosol spray?
17.) A material which can be surreptitiously administered by the above routes and which in very small amounts will make it impossible for a person
to perform physical activity.
Nyquil comes damn close. In the short amount of space left, I find it compelling that this same Wikipedia article suggests that Theodore Kaszynski,
(The Unibomber), was a test subject of these sort of experiments conducted at Harvard University between 1959 and 1962. Ken Kesey, author of
One
Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and subject of Tom Wolfe's book
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test, volunteered for such a study while a
student at Stanford University, along with poet/lyricist Robert Hunter, mostly known of his association with The Grateful Dead's; Jerry Garcia.
Sirhan Sirhan's attorney Lawrence Teeter argued that Sirhan was a product of these mind control games, and of course, the infamous Jonestown
massacre, and its subsequent coining of the phrase "Kool-Aid drinker" is also speculated to be a test site for MKULTRA mind games.
One pill makes you larger
And one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you
Don't do anything at all
Go ask Alice When she's ten feet tall
And if you go chasing rabbits
And you know you're going to fall
Tell 'em a hookah smoking caterpillar
Has given you the call
Call Alice When she was just small
When men on the chessboard
Get up and tell you where to go
And you've just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving slow
Go ask Alice I think she'll know
When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen's "off with her head!"
Remember what the dormouse said;
"Keep YOUR HEAD _______________ Keep your head"
~White Rabbit--Jefferson Airplane~
[edit on 18-5-2010 by Jean Paul Zodeaux]