commit 2dffe9e0bbb8eab6f5637e7075d96eca1101ab72 Author: disinfo.zone Date: Tue Aug 5 00:33:58 2025 -0400 Fresh start from commit 85df488cc66fa4934e54d62f1eaeffd274743b7a diff --git a/00 - META/CHANGELOG.md b/00 - META/CHANGELOG.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bd1682d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/00 - META/CHANGELOG.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +- 2025-08-05T0009 · [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International]] +- 2025-08-05T0000 · [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan]] +- 2025-08-04T2349 · [[William von Raab]] +- 2025-08-04T2336 · [[Charles Saphos]] +- 2025-08-04T2333 · [[William Ryback]] +- 2025-08-04T2327 · [[Masihur Rahman]] +- 2025-08-04T2327 · [[Ghaith R. Pharaon]] +- 2025-08-04T2322 · [[David L. Paul]] +- 2025-08-04T2319 · [[Swaleh Naqvi]] +- 2025-08-04T2316 · [[Robert Mueller]] +- 2025-08-04T2311 · [[Robert Morgenthau]] +- 2025-08-04T2308 · [[Khalfan al-Mazrui]] +- 2025-08-04T2308 · [[Ghanim Fan's al-Mazrui]] +- 2025-08-04T2305 · [[Sami Masri]] +- 2025-08-04T2257 · [[Gerald Lewis]] +- 2025-08-04T2255 · [[Robin Leigh-Pemberton]] +- 2025-08-04T2250 · [[Bert Lance]] +- 2025-08-04T2245 · [[A. R. (Abdul Raouf) Khalil]] +- 2025-08-04T2244 · [[John Kerry]] +- 2025-08-04T2242 · [[Richard J. Kerr]] +- 2025-08-04T2239 · [[Zafar Iqbal]] +- 2025-08-04T2237 · [[Eugene Holley]] +- 2025-08-04T2234 · [[Fazle Haq]] +- 2025-08-04T2234 · [[Gokal brothers]] +- 2025-08-04T2225 · [[Eddie George]] diff --git a/00 - META/NARRATIVES/The Samson Option Narrative.md b/00 - META/NARRATIVES/The Samson Option Narrative.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..56264422 --- /dev/null +++ b/00 - META/NARRATIVES/The Samson Option Narrative.md @@ -0,0 +1,161 @@ +--- +title: The Samson Option Narrative +tags: + - NuclearWeapons + - Israel + - UnitedStates + - ColdWar + - MiddleEast + - Intelligence +--- +# The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal + +[[Israel]]'s nuclear program developed in secret, a fact often deliberately ignored by [[United States]] leadership since the [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] administration. This account, based on [[Seymour Hersh]]'s *The Samson Option*, details the agreements, individuals, and events that created [[Israel]]'s nuclear arsenal and its "Samson Option" doctrine. + +## A Secret Agreement + +In 1979, President [[Jimmy Carter]] authorized [[Israel]]'s access to imagery from the [[KH-11]] reconnaissance satellite, altering the strategic intelligence balance in the [[Middle East]]. The KH-11, launched on December 19, 1976, could relay real-time digital photographs of exceptional resolution, giving [[Israel]] a new capacity to monitor military activities within a hundred-mile radius of its borders with [[Lebanon]], [[Syria]], [[Egypt]], and [[Jordan]]. + +Officials at the [[National Security Agency (NSA)|NSA]] and [[Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)|CIA]] opposed the "unpopular decision," arguing it would disrupt the KH-11's orbital schedules and divert collection from American-prioritized targets. Some believed it was a political reward for Prime Minister [[Menachem Begin]] following the [[Camp David summit]] with Egyptian President [[Anwar Sadat]]. The Israelis, who considered the Carter administration "naïve and anti-Semitic" compared to the [[Richard Nixon]] and [[Gerald R. Ford]] administrations, viewed the access as inevitable. It was the twenty-eighth formal intelligence pact between the nations since the 1950s, many financed "off-the-books" through [[CIA]] contingency funds like [[KK MOUNTAIN]], which funneled millions in cash to [[Mossad]] for its operations as a U.S. surrogate in North Africa and the [[Soviet Union]]. The [[CIA]]'s "embarrassingly inept reporting" on the [[Iranian Revolution]] had already forced American leadership to rely more heavily on Israeli intelligence. + +The strategic value of this satellite access became clear with the [[Osirak bombing]] in June 1981. [[Israel]] used American-supplied F-16s to destroy [[Iraq]]'s nuclear reactor in a preemptive strike. While the [[United States]] State Department issued a formal condemnation, President [[Ronald Reagan]] was reported to have privately quipped, "Boys will be boys." The raid asserted [[Israel]]'s policy of preventing any regional rival from acquiring nuclear weapons, a doctrine rooted in the post-[[Holocaust]] principle of "Never again!" The attack was contentious within [[Israel]]; [[Mossad]] director [[Yitzhak Hofi]] and military intelligence chief [[Yehoshua Saguy]] opposed it for lack of evidence of an active Iraqi bomb program and fear of a negative U.S. reaction. [[Menachem Begin]], however, announced the operation and boasted of destroying a secret underground facility at Osirak, a description that actually matched a similar facility in [[Dimona]]. This revealed to U.S. intelligence that [[Israel]] sought KH-11 access not for defense, but for offensive targeting, including potential targets inside the [[Soviet Union]]. This led to a subsequent review of intelligence-sharing protocols, though the flow of imagery to [[Israel]] continued. + +## The Scientist + +The scientific director of [[Israel]]'s bomb project was [[Ernst David Bergmann]], an organic chemist who fled [[Nazi Germany]]. As chairman of [[Israel]]'s [[Atomic Energy Commission]] (AEC), established in 1952, Bergmann publicly advocated for peaceful nuclear research while covertly leading the weapons program. He worked directly with Prime Minister [[David Ben-Gurion]] and his protégé, [[Shimon Peres]], then director general of the [[Ministry of Defense]]. Their goal was an ultimate deterrent for [[Israel]]. To maintain secrecy, the project was financed largely through private contributions from American and European Jews, bypassing standard government appropriations. + +Early research at the [[Weizmann Institute of Science]], where Bergmann directed the chemistry division, developed methods for heavy water production and uranium extraction from the phosphate deposits of the [[Negev Desert]]. In November 1954, Bergmann publicly announced the AEC's establishment and its progress in peaceful research. [[Israel]] signed an "Atoms for Peace" agreement with the [[United States]] under President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], which provided a small research reactor at [[Nahal Soreq]] subject to American inspections. [[Ben-Gurion]]'s primary objective, however, remained an independent nuclear capability, driven by the fear of a "second [[Holocaust]]" initiated by Arab states, particularly [[Egypt]] under [[Gamal Abdel Nasser|Nasser]]. Bergmann's dual roles as scientific adviser and director of research for the defense ministry ensured that all scientific work served this strategic imperative. His early work for the [[Hagannah]] during the British Mandate and his connections to scientists like [[Herman F. Mark]] and [[Frederick A. Lindemann]] (Winston Churchill's science adviser) laid the project's foundation. As early as 1947, he told financier [[Abraham Feinberg]], "There's uranium in the desert." + +## The French Connection + +[[France]], seeking its own nuclear deterrent and mired in the Algerian War, became [[Israel]]'s essential partner in the nuclear program. [[Shimon Peres]] and [[Ernst David Bergmann]] leveraged Israeli intelligence on the [[Middle East]] and support for French actions in [[Algeria]] to secure a deal for a large nuclear reactor and a chemical reprocessing plant. + +Construction of the [[Dimona]] reactor, first designated EL 102, began in early 1958. Thousands of French engineers and technicians, alongside North African Jewish laborers, established a large, classified construction site in the [[Negev Desert]]. The project faced internal Israeli opposition due to its high cost and moral implications, but [[Ben-Gurion]]'s support was absolute. French firms, notably [[Saint-Gobain Techniques Nouvelles]] (SGN), were instrumental in constructing the underground reprocessing facility needed to extract weapons-grade plutonium. Financing was handled discreetly, relying on fundraising from Jewish philanthropists to avoid official oversight and international scrutiny. + +The [[Suez Crisis]] solidified the French-Israeli bond. After [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]]'s intervention, which [[Israel]] viewed as a betrayal, French Prime Minister Guy Mollet privately declared of the Israelis, "I owe the bomb to them." This commitment, though never publicized, advanced [[France]]'s own nuclear program and gave [[Israel]] the blueprint for its "[[Force de Frappe]]." + +## First Knowledge + +[[United States]] intelligence detected the construction at [[Dimona]]. The [[CIA]]'s Photographic Intelligence Division, led by [[Arthur C. Lundahl]] and [[Dino A. Brugioni]], began monitoring the site with [[U-2]] overflights in the late 1950s. Initially misidentified as an ammunition-testing range, the scale of the excavation and concrete work soon revealed the signature of a nuclear facility. Brugioni noted the construction was "thick and deep" with "huge or distinctive chimneys," consistent with a nuclear plant. + +President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] and his senior advisors were informed about [[Dimona]] but adopted a policy of deliberate ambiguity. This practice of "looking the other way" continued under subsequent administrations. Aware of the U-2 surveillance, the Israelis employed countermeasures, including using covered trucks for debris removal and planting trees to obscure the site, creating an "Alphonse and Gaston act." The architectural resemblance between [[Dimona]] and [[France]]'s [[Marcoule]] nuclear facility confirmed for American intelligence that [[Israel]] was building a chemical reprocessing plant for producing weapons-grade plutonium. Despite the evidence, the [[United States]] officially remained unable to confirm the reprocessing plant's existence, a result of a deliberate policy of self-censorship within the U.S. government regarding [[Israel]]'s nuclear activities. + +## Internal Wars + +[[Israel]]'s nuclear project faced significant internal opposition. The high cost and diversion of scientific and technical manpower from other sectors sparked fierce debate. Many government officials prioritized conventional military forces, viewing a doomsday weapon as an economic folly for a developing nation. Tensions at the [[Dimona]] site were high, fueled by the perceived arrogance of French engineers and instances of anti-Semitic behavior towards Israeli and North African Jewish laborers. The site's internal "caste system" included hiring North African Jews for 59-day contracts to avoid paying benefits. + +Despite these challenges, [[David Ben-Gurion]], [[Shimon Peres]], and [[Ernst David Bergmann]] forced the project forward. To maintain security, Peres established the Office of Special Tasks, later known by its Hebrew acronym [[LAKAM]]. Its director, [[Binyamin Blumberg]], managed security and recruitment, bypassing bureaucratic obstacles to hire essential scientists. By early 1960, Israeli nuclear physicists and technicians, many trained in [[France]], returned to staff the facility, receiving double pay and subsidized housing in Beersheba. The Israeli government maintained various cover stories for [[Dimona]], claiming it was a seawater desalinization plant or an agricultural research station. Foreign diplomats like Ian Smart accepted these explanations without challenge, allowing the clandestine work to proceed. + +## Going Public + +The secrecy around [[Dimona]] was broken in December 1960 by a leak to the New York Times. Washington correspondent [[John W. Finney]] received the tip from [[John A. McCone]], then chairman of the [[United States]] [[Atomic Energy Commission]] (AEC). McCone, reportedly "mad, sputtering mad" over Israeli deception ("They told us it was a textile plant"), intended to expose the French-built reactor. The orchestrated leak allowed the outgoing [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] administration to pressure [[Israel]] for an official acknowledgment without direct confrontation. + +In response, [[David Ben-Gurion]] addressed the Knesset on December 21, stating that the [[Dimona]] reactor was "dedicated entirely to peaceful purposes" and would be open to international scholars upon completion. This statement, a deliberate falsehood crafted by [[Shimon Peres]] and his aides, became [[Israel]]'s official public position. Although [[Ernst David Bergmann]]'s connection to a weapons program was widely known, the [[United States]] government formally accepted [[Israel]]'s assurances. A private State Department circular instructed American embassies to "still the atmosphere," institutionalizing the policy of ambiguity. + +## Dual Loyalty + +[[Israel]]'s clandestine nuclear program created a "dual loyalty" dilemma for American Jews in sensitive government roles. [[Lewis Strauss]], former chairman of the [[Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)]], publicly opposed nuclear proliferation while privately supporting [[Israel]]'s nuclear ambitions, a position rooted in his personal experiences with the [[Holocaust]]. Strauss, who insisted his name be pronounced "Straws" to sound assimilated, later used his influence to arrange a fellowship at Princeton for [[Ernst David Bergmann]] after Bergmann's forced resignation from the Israeli AEC. + +Concerns about dual loyalty led to discriminatory practices within U.S. intelligence. The [[CIA]] and [[National Security Agency (NSA)]] barred Jewish personnel from Hebrew language training or assignments related to [[Israel]], fearing "Israeli penetration of America." Despite evidence of financial and technical support for [[Dimona]] from American and European Jews, the [[United States]] government maintained a policy of deliberate ignorance. This self-censorship prevented rigorous scrutiny of the program. The case of [[Zalman Shapiro]], a nuclear fuel processor later investigated for the suspected diversion of enriched uranium to [[Israel]], intensified these concerns. + +## A Presidential Struggle + +The [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]] administration engaged in an intense but ultimately futile struggle with [[Israel]] over its nuclear program. President Kennedy, a committed nonproliferation advocate, was opposed by [[David Ben-Gurion]], who was determined to build a nuclear deterrent. [[Abraham Feinberg]], a major Democratic Party fund-raiser, used his political influence to obstruct American inspection efforts at [[Dimona]]. Feinberg advocated for [[Israel]]'s weapons program in direct appeals to senior officials like [[Robert S. McNamara]] and [[Paul H. Nitze]]. + +Despite Kennedy's pressure, including formal letters to [[Ben-Gurion]] and the dispatch of an inspection team led by nuclear reprocessing expert [[Floyd L. Culler, Jr.]], [[Israel]] successfully obstructed meaningful oversight. The Israelis constructed a "Potemkin Village" at [[Dimona]], with a false control room and staged language barriers, to mislead inspectors. Israeli technicians feigned ignorance of Hebrew to avoid answering questions. The American teams were denied full access to critical areas, such as the reactor core, "for safety reasons." This deception allowed [[Israel]]'s program to proceed. Kennedy's appointment of the staunch anti-proliferator [[John McCone]] as [[CIA]] director was a counter-move, but McCone's efforts to gather intelligence on [[Dimona]] also failed. + +## Years of Pressure + +Throughout 1962, President [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]] pressed [[David Ben-Gurion]] for nuclear inspections, but was met only with assurances of peaceful intent. Kennedy privately fumed about the "sons of bitches" who "lie to me constantly about their nuclear capability." He made political moves to undermine [[Ben-Gurion]], including a private meeting with Foreign Minister [[Golda Meir]], a critic of [[Ben-Gurion]]'s unilateral approach. In this meeting, Kennedy made an unprecedented private commitment that the [[United States]] would come to [[Israel]]'s aid in the event of an invasion, a guarantee not offered by [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]. + +[[Israel]]'s nuclear program advanced regardless. The [[Dimona]] reactor, which went critical in 1962, operated at over seventy megawatts—far exceeding the publicly stated twenty-four megawatts—thereby increasing its plutonium yield. Work on the chemical reprocessing plant resumed with the help of private French contractors, despite public disavowals from [[Charles de Gaulle]]. Development of the [[Jericho I]] missile, designed for a miniaturized nuclear warhead, also proceeded. [[Ben-Gurion]]'s unyielding position on [[Dimona]], combined with public scandals like the [[Lavon Affair]] and the controversy over West German scientists aiding [[Egypt]]'s missile program, contributed to his resignation in 1963. His successor, [[Levi Eshkol]], was more pragmatic but still faced the challenge of balancing the nuclear program with the country's conventional military needs. + +## The Samson Option + +The "Samson Option" is [[Israel]]'s strategic and psychological doctrine of last-resort nuclear retaliation. Based on the biblical tale of Samson, the doctrine establishes [[Israel]]'s willingness to use its nuclear arsenal if its existence is threatened, ensuring mutual destruction for its enemies. This became the foundation of [[Israel]]'s nuclear deterrent. + +By the mid-1960s, [[Dimona]] was producing weapons-grade plutonium. Israeli sources indicate that at least one low-yield or "zero yield" nuclear test was conducted in the [[Negev Desert]] during this time to validate the weapon assembly system. To deceive inspectors, elite Israeli military units camouflaged underground facilities with fresh sod before American visits. The administration of [[Lyndon B. Johnson|Johnson]] largely ignored these developments. This tacit acceptance, influenced by Cold War geopolitics, allowed [[Dimona]]'s work to continue. The program's cost, over 10% of [[Israel]]'s military budget, caused internal debate, but proponents like [[Shimon Peres]] and [[Moshe Dayan]] prevailed. + +## Playing the Game + +By the mid-1960s, the [[United States]] government established a fixed policy regarding [[Israel]]'s nuclear program. President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and his advisors maintained a public stance of nonproliferation while privately accommodating [[Israel]]'s nuclear development. Intelligence analysts understood that detailed reports on [[Israel]]'s capabilities were politically unwelcome. + +Despite intelligence on [[Israel]]'s [[Jericho I]] missile program, including [[CIA]]-developed scale models and warhead designs, official acknowledgment was suppressed. A CIA technical analyst recalled designing notional nuclear, chemical, and high-explosive warheads for the Jericho "as a game" to project [[Israel]]'s capabilities; his official reports were never published. Even [[James Jesus Angleton]], the [[CIA]]'s head of counterintelligence with close ties to [[Israel]], met resistance when he tried to formalize assessments of [[Israel]]'s nuclear status. His reports, though supported by [[U-2]] imagery, were often questioned by analysts who deemed his human intelligence sources unreliable. This systemic denial, driven by political expediency, produced official intelligence estimates that consistently understated the scale and sophistication of [[Israel]]'s nuclear arsenal. + +## The Ambassador + +From 1961 to 1973, [[Walworth Barbour]], the American ambassador to [[Israel]], executed the [[United States]]' policy of deliberate ignorance. A reclusive diplomat, Barbour received accurate intelligence from his embassy on [[Dimona]]'s progress but ensured this information did not trigger decisive action in Washington. He explained his mission to subordinates as keeping "the Jews off the President's back" by maintaining a stable relationship, even at the cost of strategic clarity. + +The [[CIA]]'s attempts to confirm the existence of [[Dimona]]'s underground reprocessing plant, including through the recruitment of American Jews in [[Israel]], were consistently obstructed. [[Israel]]'s security measures and the overarching U.S. political reluctance to force the issue meant that the full scope of the program remained officially unconfirmed. Barbour's adherence to this policy, including suppressing his own embassy's reports on Israeli warhead development, was central to enabling [[Israel]]'s nuclear secrecy. He rarely met with journalists, operating discreetly to ensure that "no bad news" reached the President. + +## An Israeli Decision + +Following the 1967 [[Six-Day War]], [[Israel]]'s nuclear program gained new momentum. In early December 1967, war hero [[Yigal Allon]] was given a private tour of a new nuclear missile field at Hirbat Zachariah in the Judean Mountains. The shelters, designed to house missiles imported disguised as pipeline sections, reportedly moved Allon to tears. This underscored [[Israel]]'s commitment to a credible deterrent, a need made urgent by [[Charles de Gaulle]]'s post-war arms embargo, which left [[Israel]] feeling isolated. + +Defense Minister [[Moshe Dayan]] became a key proponent of the bomb, arguing that [[Israel]] could not depend on the [[United States]] to deter a Soviet attack. He advocated for mass-producing nuclear weapons targeted at the [[Soviet Union]], similar to [[France]]'s force de frappe strategy. His position was strengthened by intelligence suggesting Soviet nuclear targeting of Israeli cities and by [[Henry Kissinger]]'s assessment that the U.S. would not intervene in a direct Soviet-Israeli conflict. Sometime in early 1968, without a formal cabinet vote, Dayan unilaterally ordered [[Dimona]] into full-scale production. This moment, reportedly celebrated by welding "NEVER AGAIN" onto the first warhead, marked [[Israel]]'s transition to a nuclear power. The acquisition of uranium ore for this phase involved covert operations like the "Plumbat Affair," in which [[Mossad]] agents arranged the secret acquisition of hundreds of tons of uranium from [[Belgium]]. + +## A Presidential Gift + +After the 1967 [[Six-Day War]], the [[Lyndon B. Johnson|Johnson]] administration enabled [[Israel]]'s nuclear program by agreeing to sell advanced F-4 jet fighters to [[Israel]]. Influenced by [[Israel]]'s strategic importance in the [[Cold War]] and lobbying from figures like [[Abraham Feinberg]], Johnson approved the sale over the objections of the [[Pentagon]] and [[State Department]] and without requiring [[Israel]] to sign the [[Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT)]]. This was a tacit acceptance of [[Israel]]'s nuclear program. + +By 1968, the [[CIA]] concluded that [[Israel]] possessed at least four nuclear warheads. This assessment was influenced by the analysis of [[Edward Teller]] and suspicions surrounding the alleged disappearance of enriched uranium from the NUMEC plant in [[Apollo, Pennsylvania]]. President Johnson, unwilling to deal with the political fallout of acknowledging [[Israel]]'s nuclear status, ordered this intelligence to be suppressed. This, combined with the F-4 sale, provided [[Israel]] with a delivery system for nuclear weapons. Johnson's decision, made after [[Richard Nixon]] had already won the 1968 election, was seen by some as a "farewell gift" and a repayment of Feinberg's loyalty. + +## The Tunnel + +At the core of [[Israel]]'s nuclear weapons production was "the Tunnel," a secret six-level underground chemical reprocessing plant at [[Dimona]] known as Machon 2. This facility, where [[Mordecai Vanunu]] later worked, was designed to extract weapons-grade plutonium from spent reactor fuel rods. Vanunu's disclosures in 1986, including photographs and detailed descriptions, provided the first hard evidence of [[Israel]]'s advanced nuclear capabilities, including its capacity to manufacture fusion (thermonuclear) weapons, such as low-yield neutron bombs. + +The construction of the Tunnel required advanced engineering, including remote-controlled robotics for handling highly radioactive materials and precision machining of plutonium hemispheres for boosted-fission weapons. The program benefited from related scientific work, such as [[Aharon Katzir]]'s robotics research at the [[Weizmann Institute of Science]], which was partially funded by the U.S. Air Force. Vanunu's revelations confirmed not only a fully operational reprocessing plant but a program far more sophisticated than Western intelligence had estimated. He detailed the various "Machons" (buildings) at the complex and described a weekly production of plutonium "buttons," which indicated a reactor operating at approximately five times its officially declared output. + +## Prelude to War + +By 1969, [[Israel]] was a de facto nuclear power, a reality accepted by the incoming administration of [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]] and [[Henry Kissinger|Kissinger]]. Both men were skeptical of the [[Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT)]] and considered nuclear weapons a necessary component of [[Israel]]'s security. This policy shift was made clear by the termination of [[Floyd L. Culler, Jr.]]'s annual inspections of [[Dimona]], giving [[Israel]] an implicit license to continue its program without U.S. oversight. + +The media largely adhered to the official policy of silence. A New York Times story in July 1970, based on a suppressed [[CIA]] estimate from [[Carl Duckett]], reported that the U.S. government had been operating on the assumption of an Israeli bomb for two years; the story received little public or congressional reaction. Despite concerns within the [[State Department]] and [[Pentagon]] about [[Israel]]'s acquisition of sensitive technologies like krytrons (electronic triggers for nuclear devices) and supercomputers (for nuclear simulations), the White House prioritized the strategic alliance. By 1973, [[Israel]]'s arsenal was estimated to include at least twenty warheads. Its delivery systems included missile launchers at Hirbat Zachariah and nuclear-capable F-4 fighters on 24-hour alert at Tel Nof air base. The acquisition of long-range artillery capable of firing miniaturized nuclear shells further diversified its options. + +## Nuclear Blackmail + +The [[Yom Kippur War]] in October 1973 created an existential crisis for [[Israel]]. Facing a devastating initial Arab offensive, [[Moshe Dayan]] and [[Golda Meir]]'s "kitchen cabinet" authorized the arming and targeting of [[Israel]]'s nuclear arsenal, activating the "Samson Option." This nuclear alert, involving operational missile launchers and specially marked F-4s, was intended to signal to the [[Soviet Union]] that [[Israel]] would not be defeated and to force the [[United States]] to begin an emergency airlift of conventional weapons. + +[[Henry Kissinger]], the newly appointed Secretary of State, was aware of the Israeli nuclear capability. His initial strategy to "let [[Israel]] come out ahead, but bleed" was abandoned in the face of nuclear escalation. In communications with Israeli Ambassador Simcha Dinitz, Kissinger received what he later termed "blackmail"—a clear indication that [[Israel]] was prepared to use nuclear weapons if not resupplied. U.S. intelligence, using [[KH-11]] satellite imagery and intercepted Soviet communications, obtained its first clear view of [[Israel]]'s operational missile launchers at Hirbat Zachariah. Despite this intelligence, the U.S. government maintained its policy of "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil," prioritizing crisis management over confronting [[Israel]]'s nuclear status. + +## Injustice + +The suspected diversion of over two hundred pounds of enriched uranium from the NUMEC plant in [[Apollo, Pennsylvania]] by its owner, [[Zalman Shapiro]], remained a key, though unproven, element in the [[CIA]]'s assessment of [[Israel]]'s nuclear program. Intensive investigations by the FBI and congressional committees never produced definitive evidence linking Shapiro to a diversion. Suspicions were fueled by his strong Jewish identity and support for [[Israel]], which fit a "dual loyalty" stereotype held by some in the U.S. intelligence community. + +Shapiro had performed legitimate, secret work for [[Israel]] on methods to protect its [[National Water Carrier]] from terrorist attacks, a project that was misconstrued during the investigation. The NUMEC case highlighted the challenges of nuclear material safeguards and the political biases that can affect intelligence assessments. Although much of the "material unaccounted for" (MUF) was later attributed to contamination within the plant's infrastructure—a common issue in nuclear processing—Shapiro's career was ruined. + +## The Carter Malaise + +The May 1977 victory of [[Menachem Begin]]'s Likud Party marked a shift in [[Israel]]'s public posture. Begin's government was more overtly committed to the "Samson Option" and the necessity of a nuclear arsenal. His administration intensified nuclear targeting plans against the [[Soviet Union]], which increased [[Israel]]'s demand for U.S. satellite intelligence. Despite [[Israel]]'s official denials, the [[United States]] government, under President [[Jimmy Carter]], maintained its policy of non-confrontation and focused on broader [[Middle East]] peace efforts. + +Nuclear cooperation between [[Israel]] and [[South Africa]], which had grown after the 1967 [[Six-Day War]], intensified. [[Israel]] provided nuclear expertise in exchange for South African uranium ore and strategic minerals. This collaboration led to a joint nuclear test in the South Indian Ocean on September 22, 1979, detected by a [[VELA satellite]]. Facing political pressure and seeking to protect its nonproliferation policy, the Carter administration downplayed the event. An official review panel attributed the satellite's detection of a flash to a "zoo event" rather than a nuclear explosion. This official obfuscation, while politically convenient, reinforced the policy of deliberate ignorance and created an "embarrassment" for the U.S. when confronted by countries like [[Pakistan]] about the apparent double standard. + +## An Israeli Test + +The flash detected by the [[VELA satellite]] on September 22, 1979, over the South Indian Ocean was a joint nuclear test by [[Israel]] and [[South Africa]]. According to Israeli sources cited by Hersh, this was the third such test, involving a low-yield nuclear artillery shell. The test was timed to coincide with a storm to avoid satellite detection, but a break in the weather allowed VELA to capture the characteristic double flash of a nuclear explosion and relay the data to U.S. intelligence. + +The discovery created a political dilemma for the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration. Public confirmation would have undermined Carter's nonproliferation agenda and caused significant political fallout. An external investigative body, the Ruina panel, was assembled. Its official conclusion was that the event was "probably not from a nuclear explosion," suggesting alternative causes like a "zoo event" or a meteoroid. This conclusion was disputed by nuclear weapons scientists at Los Alamos, whose internal assessments confirmed the event was nuclear. The incident exposed how political priorities can lead governments to manipulate information, even as the [[CIA]]'s own internal reports continued to affirm that a test had occurred. + +## Israel's Nuclear Spy + +[[Jonathan Jay Pollard]], a U.S. Navy intelligence analyst, was [[Israel]]'s first publicly exposed nuclear spy inside the [[United States]] intelligence community. Motivated by ideology and financial compensation, Pollard provided large volumes of highly classified U.S. intelligence. This included critical data on Soviet military targets and air defense systems, information essential for [[Israel]]'s long-range nuclear targeting plans. He was recruited and handled by [[Rafi Eitan]], the head of [[LAKAM]], demonstrating [[Israel]]'s willingness to conduct espionage against its primary ally to obtain intelligence it deemed vital. + +The Pollard affair revealed a significant penetration of U.S. intelligence and suggested that high-level Israeli officials, including Prime Minister [[Yitzhak Shamir]], were willing to sanitize and then trade sensitive American intelligence with the [[Soviet Union]]. This operation, driven by [[Israel]]'s strategic calculations and a distrust of American reliability, caused a major diplomatic crisis. Though initially presented by [[Israel]] as a "rogue operation," the scandal exposed the complex and often conflicting interests at play in international intelligence. + +## An Israeli Asset + +In October 1986, the revelations of [[Mordecai Vanunu]] provided an unprecedented view of the [[Dimona]] facility. His detailed testimony and photographs confirmed [[Israel]]'s advanced nuclear capabilities, including the ability to produce thermonuclear weapons. Despite the significance of his disclosures, the international press response was muted. This was partly due to an Israeli intelligence operation that successfully discredited Vanunu's story in the Sunday Mirror, with publisher [[Robert Maxwell]] playing a role in the effort. + +The "Samson Option" doctrine continues to evolve. [[Israel]] has reportedly developed low-yield neutron warheads and advanced missile delivery systems. The launch of [[Israel]]'s first satellite in 1988 increased its strategic independence by reducing its reliance on foreign intelligence for targeting. [[Israel]]'s unacknowledged nuclear arsenal remains a critical component of its national defense strategy and a key factor in the geopolitics of the [[Middle East]]. + +## Epilogue + +The dynamics of the Samson Option were demonstrated again during the 1991 [[Persian Gulf War]]. After [[Iraq]] launched Scud missiles at Israeli cities, the government of Prime Minister [[Yitzhak Shamir]] responded by moving nuclear-armed mobile missile launchers into exposed positions aimed at [[Iraq]]. This nuclear alert, detected by U.S. satellites, signaled [[Israel]]'s readiness to use its ultimate deterrent. The attacks were ultimately confirmed to be conventional, averting a nuclear response. The Bush administration, while publicly urging restraint, privately acknowledged that no outside power could prevent [[Israel]] from taking actions it deemed necessary for its survival. + +By the mid-1980s, technicians at [[Dimona]] had reportedly manufactured hundreds of low-yield neutron warheads, designed to maximize lethality against troops while minimizing infrastructure damage. This capability, combined with intercontinental ballistic missile technology demonstrated by [[Israel]]'s 1988 satellite launch, established it as a formidable nuclear power. The "Samson Option" was no longer its only nuclear choice; [[Israel]] had developed a diversified arsenal, including nuclear artillery shells and land mines, integrated into its battlefield doctrine. The primary targets of this arsenal were its Arab neighbors. The possibility of nuclear escalation in a future major conflict in the [[Middle East]] had shifted from a last resort to a distinct probability, a final guarantee of "Never again." + +--- + +_Footnotes_ + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/00 - META/THE INFO WEB.md b/00 - META/THE INFO WEB.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4363c355 --- /dev/null +++ b/00 - META/THE INFO WEB.md @@ -0,0 +1,26 @@ +--- +description: This is a living, growing research garden, tended to by disinfo.zone +tags: + - META +--- +Welcome to The Info Web, a living, growing research garden where the threads of esoteric phenomena, hidden government activities, and the unexplained converge. This is an open peek at a private wiki run by [disinfo.zone](https://disinfo.zone), a network graph of developing connections, and a meticulously documented record of events, laid bare for future scrutiny. + +**Are you ready to dive down the rabbit hole?** + +Our effort is to illuminate hidden connections and illegal activities, building an interconnected web of knowledge to better understand the forces shaping our world. We invite you to explore the depths of this vault. + +**Where to begin your journey:** + +- [[KEY INDIVIDUALS]] - Discover the pioneers, psychics, and power players who shaped these hidden histories. +- [[KEY ORGANIZATIONS]] - Uncover the government agencies, private entities, and shadowy groups involved in the pursuit of the unknown. +- [[KEY PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS]] - Delve into the secret initiatives, from psychic spying to mind control, that pushed the boundaries of human understanding. +- [[KEY EVENTS]] - Witness the pivotal moments, from Cold War experiments to modern incidents, that reveal the unfolding narrative. +- [[KEY CONCEPTS AND TECH]] - Grasp the scientific theories, esoteric ideas, and advanced technologies that underpin these extraordinary claims. + +For those with a more open perspective of our world and our place within it, try exploring [[THE PHENOMENON]] or [[STARGATE PROJECT]]. For the conspiracy-minded, you may find your starting point with [[SOFTWARE_PROJECTS/PROMIS|PROMIS]]. + +Or you can always check the [[CHANGELOG]] to see where research is happening. + +Have a lead? Reach out to void@disinfo.zone. + +A copy of the raw vault can be found at [git.disinfo.zone](https://git.disinfo.zone/disinfozone/The_Info_Web) (among other places). diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Abdelaziz Bouteflika.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Abdelaziz Bouteflika.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0ece9a7d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Abdelaziz Bouteflika.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Algeria +--- +[[Abdelaziz Bouteflika]] was an [[Algeria|Algerian]] Foreign Minister and a well-respected diplomat. He met with various [[Iran|Iranian]] leaders, including [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini]], in April 1980 to discuss the [[USA|American]] hostage crisis. However, he failed to broker an accord because he was unable to guarantee arms sales to [[Iran]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Abdul Salam Jalloud.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Abdul Salam Jalloud.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fe84ad23 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Abdul Salam Jalloud.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Libya +--- +Major [[Abdul Salam Jalloud]] was the right-hand man of [[Muammar Qaddafi|Col. Muammar Qaddafi]] of [[Libya]]. He visited [[Iran]] to present [[Muammar Qaddafi|Qaddafi's]] congratulations to the new regime after the [[Iranian Revolution]].[^1] + +During his visit, [[Abdul Salam Jalloud|Jalloud]] was questioned by his [[Iran|Iranian]] hosts about the fate of [[Sheikh Mussa Sadr]], a Shi'ite leader from southern [[Lebanon]], who had disappeared on a visit to [[Libya]] in 1978. The [[Libya|Libyans]] were believed to have killed [[Sheikh Mussa Sadr|Sadr]] for preaching Shi'ite [[Islam]]. [[Abdul Salam Jalloud|Jalloud]] was not allowed to leave [[Iran]] for three weeks until [[Muammar Qaddafi|Qaddafi]] personally intervened and spoke to [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini|Khomeini]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Abu Nidal.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Abu Nidal.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b0f5727c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Abu Nidal.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Terrorist + - Palestine +--- +[[Abu Nidal]] was a Palestinian terrorist. He was a target of [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence operations. Arms dealers like [[John Knight]] and [[Sidem International Limited]] acquired arms from [[Yugoslavia]] and sold them to [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah]], who in turn sold them to [[Abu Nidal|Nidal]] and other Palestinian groups. [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah|Radi]] was unaware of [[Anthony Pearson|Pearson's]] [[Israel|Israeli]] connection.[^1] + +[[Mohammed Radi Abdullah|Radi]] later presented his case to [[Abu Nidal|Nidal]] in [[Baghdad]], claiming he had been unwittingly used by [[Anthony Pearson|Pearson]]. [[Abu Nidal|Nidal]] believed his story and put out the word that [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah|Radi]] was "clean," placing the blame on [[Yasser Arafat|Yasser Arafat's]] group.[^1] + +[[Abu Nidal|Nidal]] was also involved in the [[Achille Lauro]] attack in 1985, which was an [[Israel|Israeli]] "black" propaganda operation. [[Rafi Eitan]] passed instructions to [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah|Radi]], who then relayed orders to [[Abul Abbas]] to carry out a cruel attack. [[Abul Abbas|Abbas]] was reportedly receiving millions from [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence officers posing as Sicilian dons.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Abul Abbas.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Abul Abbas.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9d8c1d3e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Abul Abbas.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Terrorist + - Palestine +--- +[[Abul Abbas]] was a Palestinian terrorist. He was involved in the 1985 [[Achille Lauro]] attack, which was an [[Israel|Israeli]] "black" propaganda operation designed to show the world the perceived brutality of Palestinians.[^1] + +[[Abul Abbas|Abbas]] received orders from [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah]], who was relaying instructions from [[Rafi Eitan]]. He was reportedly receiving millions from [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence officers posing as Sicilian dons. [[Abul Abbas|Abbas]] gathered a team to attack the cruise ship, with instructions to make the attack severe to highlight Palestinian demands.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Adel Mohammad Atamna.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Adel Mohammad Atamna.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6716b0c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Adel Mohammad Atamna.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Education + - Israel + - Palestine +--- +[[Adel Mohammad Atamna]] was a Palestinian from the Arab village of Kfar Kara'a, located within the pre-1967 [[Israel|Israeli]] border. He was a student at [[Bar Ilan University]] in 1972, where he became friends with [[Ari Ben-Menashe]].[^1] + +[[Adel Mohammad Atamna|Atamna]] invited [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] to teach English at his village high school. Their friendship deepened when [[Adel Mohammad Atamna|Atamna's]] Jewish landlady evicted him for being Arab, leading [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] to offer him his apartment. [[Adel Mohammad Atamna|Atamna]] referred to [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] as his brother.[^1] + +[[Adel Mohammad Atamna|Atamna]] was the individual [[SHABAK]] attempted to recruit [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] to spy on, an offer [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] refused.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Agha Hasan Abedi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Agha Hasan Abedi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6d03d36f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Agha Hasan Abedi.md @@ -0,0 +1,43 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Financier", "BCCI"] +--- +Agha Hasan Abedi was a Pakistani financier who founded the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] in 1972, with the intention of creating the Third World's first multinational bank. He is described as a diminutive man, the son of petty bureaucrats, who handcrafted BCCI into one of the most powerful private organizations globally by the early 1980s.[^1] Abedi was a visionary and a romantic, a Muslim who drifted into the secretive Sufi sect, which influenced his unique business style. He incorporated Islamic mysticism into the bank's driving force, emphasizing spiritual progress and a democratic theory of management, which eventually devolved into corruption. He was known for his ability to build relationships with ruling elites and for his philanthropic efforts in the Third World.[^2] + +BCCI's growth was fueled by petrodollars, particularly from [[OPEC]] nations, and Abedi was among the first to recognize the opportunity in these vast deposits.[^3] He cultivated relationships with powerful figures, including [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Sheikh Zayed]] of [[Abu Dhabi]], who became a key supporter and later owner of BCCI.[^4] Abedi's strategy involved using nominees and a complex offshore network, primarily in the [[Cayman Islands]], to conceal the bank's true ownership and illicit activities.[^5] + +He suffered a heart attack in February 1988, which ended his direct control of BCCI.[^6] He is said to have spent his later years in [[Pakistan]], living quietly in the affluent Defense Officers' Society section of [[Karachi]], entertaining occasional visitors and maintaining his innocence regarding the bank's unraveling. Despite the allegations of fraud and the bank's collapse, Abedi remained a towering figure to many Pakistanis, revered as a courageous Third World entrepreneur.[^7] + +### Early Life and Career + +Born in 1922 in Mahmudabad, [[India]], Abedi grew up in a culture steeped in the Moghul raj and the struggle against British conquest.[^8] His family served the rajahs of Mahmudabad as administrators and private secretaries. He began his banking career in [[Bombay]] at Habib Bank, an Islamic institution.[^9] In 1947, he migrated to Pakistan and in 1959, founded [[United Bank Limited]], which became the third-largest bank in Pakistan under his leadership.[^10] United Bank was known for its innovation, customer service, and lending to small farmers and businesses.[^11] + +### Relationship with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto + +Abedi's bank was nationalized by [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]] in 1972, leading to Abedi's temporary house arrest.[^12] This event spurred him to establish BCCI with international reach. Despite the political feud, Abedi later found ways to profit from Bhutto's socialist policies, with BCCI becoming a conduit for capital flight from Pakistan.[^13] + +### Strategic Alliances and Controversies + +Abedi's influence grew through strategic alliances, including with [[Zia ul-Haq|General Zia ul-Haq]], who became a trusted confidant.[^14] BCCI played a significant role in Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, brokering technology and financing.[^15] Abedi's network extended to high-level officials in various countries, often involving bribes, loans, and charitable contributions to gain influence. He cultivated relationships with figures like [[Jimmy Carter]] and [[James Callaghan]], using their prestige to further BCCI's image as a philanthropic institution.[^16] + +BCCI's operations were deeply intertwined with intelligence agencies, including the [[Central Intelligence Agency]], and were involved in arms dealing, drug trafficking, and money laundering on a global scale.[^17] Abedi's ability to operate with apparent immunity from law enforcement in the United States was attributed to these high-level connections and a probable cover-up by government officials.[^18] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 18. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 18. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 19. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, pp. 155, 163. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, pp. 141, 143. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 13. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, pp. 129-130. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 157. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 160. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, pp. 161-162. +[^11]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 162. +[^12]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 164. +[^13]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 320. +[^14]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 324. +[^15]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 329. +[^16]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, pp. 227-228. +[^17]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 16. +[^18]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 17. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ahmad Madani.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ahmad Madani.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7451e094 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ahmad Madani.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Politics + - Iran +--- +Admiral [[Ahmad Madani]] was a significant figure in the [[Iran|Iranian]] military and politics. In the 1960s, he was the youngest admiral in the [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Shah's]] navy. He was forced to resign in 1970 due to alleged corruption, though in fact, it was because he was becoming too outspoken in his criticism of the [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Shah's]] regime.[^1] + +After the [[Iranian Revolution]] in February 1979, [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini|Khomeini]] restored him to commander of the navy and appointed him defense minister. In April 1979, he left the post of defense minister to become the governor of the strategic [[Khuzistan]] province on the [[Iraq|Iraqi]] border. He remained a close adviser to [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini|Khomeini]] on all defense-related matters.[^1] + +[[Ahmad Madani|Madani]] was defeated by [[Abol Hassan Bani-Sadr]] in the election for the first president of [[Iran]] after the revolution.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Al Girard.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Al Girard.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a73b488e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Al Girard.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Al Girard +tags: + - Person + - Government Official +--- +Al Girard was the replacement for [[Dale Graff]] as the head of the [[Remote Viewing]] unit after Graff's retirement in June 1993. He took over leadership of the program during a period of significant turmoil and decline[^1]. + +Girard reportedly "thought the unit was totally out of control" and seemed to have inherited a situation "way beyond his comfort level." He was described as the kind of government official who wore a three-piece suit to work, suggesting a more conventional approach to his role[^1]. + +In the winter of 1994, Girard was involved in the court-martial proceedings against [[David Morehouse]], a former member of the remote-viewing unit. He asked [[Angela Dellafiora]] to accompany him to the [[Pentagon]] to meet with Morehouse's lawyer, and Dellafiora later testified as an expert witness on the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]]'s remote-viewing program during Morehouse's preliminary court-martial hearing[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Alan Bond.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Alan Bond.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..21ba7843 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Alan Bond.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - Australia +--- +[[Alan Bond]] was a wealthy [[Australia|Australian]] businessman. He was involved in joint ventures with [[Carlos Cardoen]] and had connections to the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s operations.[^1] + +In 1987, a contribution was made to the West Australian Labor Party from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], involving [[Richard Babayan]] and [[Earl Brian]] acting on behalf of [[Hadron]]. This money was passed on by one of [[Robert Maxwell|Maxwell's]] companies in [[Australia]] to be held by the [[Pergamon Press Trust Fund]] in [[Moscow]]. [[Richard Babayan|Babayan]] handed the check to [[Yosef Goldberg]], who in turn gave it to [[Alan Bond|Bond]] in his role as the guardian of the [[John Curtin Foundation]] funds.[^1] + +[[Alan Bond|Bond]] invested loans obtained from various [[Australia|Australian]] banks into [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen's]] construction company in [[Iraq]], which was building a vast "agricultural complex" outside [[Baghdad]]. He also purchased the Chilean phone company from [[Augusto Pinochet|President Pinochet]] for approximately $300 million, making promises of improvements that were not fulfilled.[^1] + +In late September 1988, an [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence officer briefed the head of [[Australian Security and Intelligence Services|ASIS]] about [[Alan Bond|Bond's]] activities in [[Chile]]. Following this, [[Alan Bond|Bond]] almost immediately pulled out of [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen Industries]] and later out of [[Chile]] altogether.[^1] + +[[Alan Bond|Bond]] was convicted of bank fraud in May 1992 and sentenced to two and a half years in prison. He later went bankrupt and became involved in African mining investments.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Alan Garcia.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Alan Garcia.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8af50d8c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Alan Garcia.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Peru +--- +[[Alan Garcia]] was the President of [[Peru]]. In 1980, he declared the department of [[Ayacucho]] under martial law due to the growing influence of the [[Shining Path]], a Maoist terrorist group led by [[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Alice Astor Bouverie.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Alice Astor Bouverie.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fc3684ed --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Alice Astor Bouverie.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Alice Astor Bouverie +tags: + - person + - philanthropist +description: Alice Astor Bouverie was an American heiress, philanthropist, and a key financial backer of Andrija Puharich's Round Table Foundation. +--- + +Alice Astor Bouverie was an American heiress, philanthropist, and the only daughter of John Jacob Astor IV, who died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. She was a significant financial supporter of [[Andrija Puharich]]'s paranormal research.[^1] + +In 1948, Bouverie became the first major benefactor of Puharich's [[Round Table Foundation]], providing an initial check of $106,000. She served as the organization's first vice president. Her interest in [[ESP]], particularly mental telepathy, stemmed from her father, who wrote science fiction novels about the subject.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Allan Boyak.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Allan Boyak.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6fa6121c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Allan Boyak.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +[[Allan Boyak]] is an attorney from [[Utah]] who represented [[Michael Riconosciuto]] in his drug case. Boyak had a background in the [[United States Army Special Forces|U.S. Army Special Forces]] and reportedly did some contract work for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] during the 1960s and early 1970s. He also worked briefly for the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] (or its antecedent agency) in [[California]] before leaving government service to attend law school.[^1] + +After law school, Boyak joined a Hollywood law firm and became involved in criminal defense work, representing a number of "well placed West Coast drug traffickers." He later moved to [[Utah]], maintaining a part-time law practice in [[California]].[^1] + +Boyak maintained contacts and performed legal work for former colleagues from his Green Beret and [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] days, including [[Art Suchesk]], who ran a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] proprietary company called Hoffman Electronics.[^1] + +### Involvement with Robert Booth Nichols + +Boyak became involved with [[Robert Booth Nichols]] when one of his clients, [[Cap Kressop]], a technical wizard, was approached by Nichols to manufacture a prototype laser site for a rifle. Kressop became suspicious when Nichols offered to pay him $200,000 in cash. Boyak contacted Nichols at his Marina Del Rey home/office, and their meeting was continuously interrupted by telephone calls and telex messages. Boyak became convinced that Nichols was involved in large-scale illegal drug operations.[^1] + +After consulting with [[Dexter Leitenen]], then an assistant [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]], Boyak went to the Los Angeles [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] office with his suspicions about Nichols' activities. However, an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] background check on Nichols, reportedly conducted by [[Ted Gunderson]], found him "squeaky clean." Boyak later discovered that [[Harold Okimoto]], whom Nichols referenced as a business associate and personal friend, was believed by some of Boyak's sources to be a top Japanese organized crime figure based in [[Hawaii]] and a top agent in the [[Yakuza]] overseas.[^1] + +Over the next two years, after the Los Angeles [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] dropped its interest in Nichols, Boyak's friend [[Art Suchesk]] repeatedly encountered Nichols in places like [[Singapore]], the [[Philippines]], and [[Taiwan]]. Boyak stated that information developed during this period indicated that Nichols was indeed a "bigtime drug dealer" who operated exclusively overseas and was well-insulated from U.S. law enforcement problems. Boyak described Nichols' rum importing business as a cover for large-scale heroin trafficking from the [[Golden Triangle]]. Nichols was also named as "Mr. Big" in the [[Medellin Cartel]] in drug prosecutions in [[Utah]] and [[Los Angeles]].[^1] + +### Connection to Michael Riconosciuto + +Boyak received a telephone call from [[Michael Riconosciuto]] who identified himself as a former employee of [[Robert Booth Nichols]] and referenced [[Ted Gunderson]] as a "mutual friend." In April 1991, Boyak received another call from Gunderson, informing him that [[Michael Riconosciuto]] was "in trouble" and "caught in a government frame-up."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Allan H. Frey.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Allan H. Frey.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5512423f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Allan H. Frey.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Allan H. Frey +tags: + - Person + - Biologist + - Scientist +--- +# Allan H. Frey + +Allan H. Frey is a biologist known for his research into the effects of microwave radiation on the human body. Since 1960, he has worked on both classified and unclassified [[Department of Defense]] contracts, including those with the [[Office of Naval Research]] and the [[U.S. Army]][^1]. + +In 1961, Frey discovered a radical new technology, later termed [[Synthetic Telepathy]], where a microwave input signal allowed the brain to perceive a message as a voice transmission, even though it was a microwave beam. He posited that living organisms are "complex electrochemical systems that evolved over billions of years in a world with a relatively simple weak magnetic field." His work focused on understanding the effects of [[Electromagnetic Energy|electromagnetic energy]] on biological systems, noting that the world now "glows with electromagnetic (em) energy emissions"[^1]. + +Frey criticized the "glib assumptions that government scientists had a complete understanding of the nervous system function," arguing that such assumptions were wrong and led to misunderstandings in the field[^1]. He also highlighted the issue of atrocious translations in Russian papers on this subject, which often led to their rejection as "uninterpretable"[^1]. + +His research added further resonance to the mysterious links between [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]], [[Psychokinesis|PK]], and [[Electromagnetic Weapons]], which were actively studied by the [[Soviet Union|Russians]]. In the late 1960s, Frey reported that he could speed up, slow down, or stop an excised frog heart by synchronizing the pulse rate of a microwave beam with the heart itself, an experiment that echoed what [[Ninel Kulagina]] was reported to have done with her mind[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Allen Dulles.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Allen Dulles.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fe4329c7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Allen Dulles.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - USA +--- +Allen Dulles served as the Director of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] from 1953 to 1961. He, along with his brother [[John Foster Dulles]], the Secretary of State, were infuriated by [[Israel]]'s attempt to mask the extent of its military buildup prior to the 1956 [[Suez Crisis]]. He was regularly present at White House briefings where intelligence from [[U-2 Spy Plane|U-2]] flights, including early information on [[Dimona]], was presented.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Alvin Ash.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Alvin Ash.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9674003d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Alvin Ash.md @@ -0,0 +1,36 @@ +--- +created: 2024-04-26 +updated: 2024-08-21 +title: Alvin Ash +tags: + - Military Service + - Vietnam War + - Retired Life +description: Alvin Wilson Ash, a retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel, served in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, earning commendations. Post-military, he worked in IT and raised a family, leaving a legacy of service and dedication. +--- +Alvin Wilson Ash, Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army Retired, 97, of Charlottesville, Virginia, died peacefully at sunrise on Sunday, July 7, 2019, at Westminster Canterbury of the Blue Ridge, Charlottesville, Va. + +Alvin Wilson Ash was born July 30, 1921, in New York, New York. He was the son of Mary Gladys Wilson Ash and Saul Ash and lived in the Bronx. In 1926, his family moved to Chicago, where Alvin attended elementary and Nicholas Senn HS. His accomplishments in high school included becoming an Eagle Scout and an ROTC Cadet Lt. Colonel. + +After graduating high school in 1939, he went to the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in the ROTC program. In July, 1940, Alvin enlisted in the [[U.S. Army]] and attended the Preparatory School at Fort Sheridan, Ill. hoping to receive an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. In 1941, he was assigned to the 12th Bombardment Group of the Army Air Corps at McChord Field, Wash. where he was first sergeant of a B17 Squadron. In June 1943, he received appointment to West Point. + +After graduation in 1946, Alvin was assigned to the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Okla. for anti-aircraft gun training. Shortly after, he was sent on his first tour of duty to Yokohama, Japan as a second lieutenant of artillery. Alvin grew to appreciate the culture and people of Japan and even came to know Prince and Princess Mikasa personally. While in Japan, Alvin decided to become a paratrooper and upon returning to the U.S. attended parachute jump school in Fort Benning, Ga., where he was assigned to the 11th Airborne Division. + +In 1951, Alvin jumped behind Communist Lines with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team as the Public Information Officer (PIO). His role was to manage embedded correspondents and control the messaging that was published.[^1] His unit was one of the first to jump into North Korea. + +After a year in Korea, Alvin returned to the United States and married his first wife, Kay Smith Sexton. Together they had two children, Scottie Karen Ash Nicholson and Robert Wilson Ash. + +Other military duties included serving for three years in the 504th Field Artillery Battalion in the Panama Canal Zone and assigned as an Asst. Professor of Military Science and Tactics at Louisiana State University. After completing Air Ground Operations School (Combat Operations) he and his family were stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C. where he received training at Special Warfare School. He also attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and Civil Affairs School, which prepared him for deployment to Vietnam in 1962. While in Saigon, Al was attached to the U.S. Embassy in the Special Warfare Branch. In Vietnam, he received a Medal of Commendation for Meritorious Service. + +After returning from Vietnam, Alvin was stationed at Ft. Belvoir, Va. and assigned to the [[Advanced Tactics Projects]] (Intelligence Division). In December of 1964, Al retired as a Lt. Colonel after serving 24 years in the military. Transitioning to civilian life involved working at Woodward and Lothrop and taking night classes at George Washington University. + +At GWU, he met Elfie Hornung Lucarelli, who eventually became his second wife. Alvin and Elfie married in 1967, and lived in Great Falls, Va. Together they raised a daughter, Nina Lucarelli Ash Donohoe. + +Other jobs as a civilian included working as a programmer and system analyst for [[Computer Usage Company]] and helped develop [[PROMIS]] for the [[U.S. Attorney's office]] DC. Al also worked for [[LEAA]] in the Dept. of Justice. In this role, Alvin sat on the advisory board for [[INSLAW]]. + +Alvin was a close personal friend of [[Bill Hamilton]]. + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Striking_Back/VkpyN7bViV0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=alvin%20ash \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Amin Gamayel.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Amin Gamayel.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c8b649de --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Amin Gamayel.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Amin Gamayel]] served as the president of [[Lebanon]], succeeding his brother [[Bashir Gemayel]] who was assassinated before taking office. His family, the Gamayels, were a powerful Christian family who sought outside forces for money, guns, and political support, notably turning to the international heroin trafficking network.[^1] + +Gamayel received a letter from [[George K. Pender]], President of [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]], dated July 12, 1983, discussing [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]'s interest in arranging financing for the redevelopment of [[Lebanon]]. The letter also mentioned Pender's previous visits to Beirut and meetings with figures like [[Maurice Ghanem]] and Mourad Baroudy. Pender's letter listed [[Robert Booth Nichols]]' telex number for responses.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Amjad Awan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Amjad Awan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..28c61f94 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Amjad Awan.md @@ -0,0 +1,28 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Banker", "BCCI"] +--- +Amjad Awan was a manager of [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] [[Panama]] and later the bank's marketing manager for Latin America and the Caribbean.[^1] He gained notoriety as [[Manuel Noriega]]'s personal banker, handling his accounts and facilitating illicit financial transactions.[^2] + +### Role in BCCI's Operations + +Awan was deeply involved in BCCI's efforts to hide illicit financial transactions and manage accounts for high-net-worth criminal clients.[^3] He facilitated the movement of money for drug cartels and maintained a close relationship with Noriega, who was looting his own country.[^4] Awan also told investigators that BCCI secretly owned and controlled [[First American Bank]] and other United States banks.[^5] + +In October 1988, Awan was arrested by American Customs agents in Tampa, Florida, as part of a sting operation targeting money laundering and narcotics trafficking.[^6] He was convicted of money laundering but never testified at his trial.[^7] Despite his conviction, Awan's testimony and cooperation with investigators were crucial in revealing the extent of BCCI's criminal enterprise. + +### Connections and Legal Proceedings + +Awan's connections extended to high-level figures within BCCI and beyond. He was in contact with [[Swaleh Naqvi]], BCCI's chief operating officer, and was advised by [[Clark Clifford]] and [[Robert Altman]], BCCI's chief American counsel, to shred documents and leave the United States.[^8] + +His case was part of a larger investigation into BCCI's money laundering activities, which eventually led to the bank pleading guilty in Tampa in 1990.[^9] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 8. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 8. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 27. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 27. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 28. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 13. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 32. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 41. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 13. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Amos Deshalit.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Amos Deshalit.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8fb9c23d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Amos Deshalit.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Physicist + - Israel +--- +Amos Deshalit was a prominent Israeli physicist who headed the physics division at the [[Weizmann Institute of Science]]. He was considered a quantum researcher in the same class as [[J. Robert Oppenheimer]] and [[Niels Bohr]].[^1] + +Deshalit was closely involved with [[Dimona]], [[Israel]]'s nuclear facility. He was one of the former commissioners of the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission who, despite initial departures due to funding issues, ended up being closely involved with the nuclear programs.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Andrew J. Goodpaster.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Andrew J. Goodpaster.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..94dd5541 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Andrew J. Goodpaster.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - USA +--- +Andrew J. Goodpaster was an American Army General who served as military aide to President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] and later to President [[Richard M. Nixon]]. He recalled that diplomatic exchanges between Eisenhower and [[David Ben-Gurion]] regarding [[Dimona]] were "very closely held" and not available even to close subordinates at the time. While there was presidential concern about "what they were doing at [[Dimona]]," Goodpaster could not remember any "specific exchange about a nuclear umbrella."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Angelo Commito.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Angelo Commito.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..454719b3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Angelo Commito.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Angelo Commito]] was an individual who was under investigation in 1987 for various suspected offenses, including extortion, insider trading (MCA/Universal), the purchase and sale of narcotics/controlled substances, and the allocation and use of the proceeds of its trafficking. His name appeared in [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretap affidavits related to the investigation of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] and its alleged ties to organized crime.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Anthony Eden.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Anthony Eden.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..94a8a024 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Anthony Eden.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - UK +--- +Anthony Eden was the Prime Minister of the [[United Kingdom]] from 1955 to 1957. He was involved in the secret planning for the [[Suez Crisis]] in 1956, alongside [[Israel]] and [[France]]. The battle plan called for [[Israel]] to initiate the attack, followed by demands from [[France]] and [[Britain]] for a halt to hostilities and withdrawal from the [[Suez Canal]]. When [[Egypt]] refused, [[France]] and [[England]] would launch assaults to occupy the canal.[^1] + +Eden, however, became anxious by the fast pace of the Israeli Army and the [[United Nations]] ceasefire call. He was the first to break ranks and ordered his troops to cease firing after the [[Soviet Union]] issued what was perceived in [[Israel]] to be a nuclear ultimatum. This decision, made under extreme pressure from the [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] administration and the opposition Labor Party at home, led to [[Britain]]'s withdrawal from the conflict.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Anthony Fratianno.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Anthony Fratianno.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6e1a9b7e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Anthony Fratianno.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Anthony Fratianno]] was an alleged mobster mentioned in a surveillance report from the Indio Police Department in August 1981. He was observed meeting with [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]], the Cabazon Administrator, and other [[La Cosa Nostra]] underworld figures. These meetings were believed to involve financial transactions.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Antonio Savasta.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Antonio Savasta.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b49e4588 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Antonio Savasta.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Antonio Savasta +tags: + - Person + - Terrorist + - Red Brigades +--- +Antonio Savasta was a member of the [[Red Brigades]], a Marxist-Leninist paramilitary group responsible for the kidnapping of Brigadier General [[James L. Dozier]] in Verona, [[Italy]], on December 17, 1981[^1]. + +Savasta was present in the apartment where Dozier was held captive. When Italian Special Forces stormed the apartment to rescue Dozier, Savasta was holding a gun to the General's head. However, before he could pull the trigger, a commando hit him from behind with the butt of a machine gun, knocking him to the floor. This action led to Dozier's successful rescue after 42 days in captivity[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Anwar Sadat.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Anwar Sadat.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b4624631 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Anwar Sadat.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Egypt +--- +[[Anwar Sadat]] was the President of [[Egypt]]. In 1978, he successfully concluded the [[Camp David Accords|Camp David summit]] with Israeli Prime Minister [[Menachem Begin]], a significant step towards peace in the [[Middle East]].[^2] + +He was informed by the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]] about [[Israel|Israel's]] attitude towards a comprehensive peace settlement in the [[Middle East]], following [[Golda Meir|Golda Meir's]] meeting with [[Leonid Brezhnev]] in 1972. This intelligence may have prompted [[Anwar Sadat|Sadat]] to launch a war against [[Israel]] in 1973 to force them to the peace table.[^1] + +[[Anwar Sadat|Sadat]] and [[Menachem Begin]] later developed a face-saving formula over the Palestinian issue, leading to the [[Camp David Accords]]. [[Anwar Sadat|Sadat]] was primarily interested in regaining the [[Sinai Desert|Sinai]] for [[Egypt]] and was not keen on the [[Gaza Strip]] due to its large Palestinian population.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ari Ben-Menashe.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ari Ben-Menashe.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1511208b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ari Ben-Menashe.md @@ -0,0 +1,66 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - Israel + - Iran + - ArmsTrade + - PROMIS +--- +[[Ari Ben-Menashe]] is a self-proclaimed [[Israel|Israeli]] military intelligence officer, born in Tehran, [[Iran]] in 1951 to affluent Iraqi Jewish parents. He is multilingual, speaking Arabic, English, French, Farsi, Hebrew, and Spanish. His father, Gourdji, was involved with [[LEHI]] (Stern Gang) and knew [[Yitzhak Shamir]]. + +Ben-Menashe moved to Israel in 1966 at age 14. In 1969, while on [[Kibbutz Mishmar Hasharon]], he was involved in the [[Michael Dennis Rohan]]/[[El Aqsa Mosque]] arson incident. He was recruited by [[SHABAK]] in 1972 but refused to spy on his friends. + +He was drafted into military service in 1974, assigned to [[Unit 8200]] (Signals Intelligence) on the Iranian desk, where he claims to have broken the Iranian diplomatic code. In 1976, he was involved in uncovering a [[Lockheed Aircraft Company|Lockheed]] bribe scandal involving [[Shimon Peres]]. He refused an assignment to the Rome listening station in 1977, was court-martialed, and subsequently released from military service. + +In August 1977, he joined the External Relations Department of the [[Israel Defense Forces]]/Military Intelligence (IDF/MI/ERD) as a civilian. He became a Middle East commuter, serving as a liaison with Iranian intelligence ([[SAVAK]]) and exchanging technical information, such as [[Chobham armor]]. + +In 1977, he met [[Mahmoud Amirian]] (Tudeh Party) and [[Sayeed Mehdi Kashani]] (Shi'ite opposition) at Tehran University, and warned Israeli intelligence of an impending Iranian Revolution in 1978. In March 1978, he undertook a mission to [[Nicaragua]] to establish communication with the [[Sandinista National Liberation Front|Sandinistas]], where he met [[Marie Fernanda]] (Freddie), who later became pregnant with their daughter, Herut. The [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] dismissed his warnings about Iran in April 1978. + +In December 1978, he was involved in a plan to assassinate [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini]] (with [[Rafi Eitan]] and Col. Assaf Heftez). [[Ruth Ben-David]] acted as an emissary between [[Menachem Begin]] and Ayatollah Khomeini in December 1978. The Shah left Iran in January 1979, and F-14 jets were flown out by Israeli aircrews. [[Mehdi Bazargan]] became Prime Minister of Iran, facing a power struggle with extremists. Ben-Menashe noted the growing Iraqi threat to Iran under [[Saddam Hussein]] and Israeli concerns. + +He attended an Israel-[[USA|U.S.]] intelligence exchange conference in September 1979, where he criticized the U.S. attitude (including [[Jack Varona]], [[Robert Gates]], and [[Stansfield Turner]]). Following the [[USA|U.S.]] Embassy hostage crisis in November 1979, he observed [[Jimmy Carter]]'s handling of the situation and the involvement of the [[Hashemi brothers]] in arms sales for hostages. + +[[Miles Copeland]]'s group of CIA-connected officers, along with [[William Casey]], [[Robert McFarlane]], and [[Earl Brian]], became involved in secret negotiations with the Iranians. [[David Kimche]] (Mossad Tevel) initiated a secret arms supply to Iran via [[South Africa]] in September 1979. [[Rafi Eitan]] established a network with Senator [[John Tower]], [[Robert McFarlane]], and [[Earl Brian]]. + +The first Madrid meeting (March 1980) involved [[Mehdi Karrubi]], [[Sayeed Mehdi Kashani]], [[Ahmed Omshei]], [[William Casey]], [[Robert McFarlane]], and [[Donald Gregg]]. [[Shimon Peres]] also secretly met with Karrubi. The sale of tires to Iran in April 1980 led to [[Jimmy Carter]]'s anger. The [[Operation Eagle Claw]] rescue mission failed in April 1980. + +A second Madrid meeting in May 1980 included [[Mehdi Karrubi]], [[Sayeed Mehdi Kashani]], [[Ahmed Omshei]], [[Khosro Fakhrieh]], [[William Casey]], [[Robert Gates]], [[Robert McFarlane]], and [[Earl Brian]], where Republicans were observed delaying hostage release for political gain. The [[KGB]] made inquiries about Israeli intelligence in 1980. The Israeli Cabinet issued a directive in August 1980 to cooperate with the Republican camp. + +An Amsterdam meeting in August 1980 involved [[Sayeed Mehdi Kashani]], Iranian officials, and [[Cyrus Husseinzadeh]] (SAVAMA), where an Iranian shopping list was presented. The Iraqi invasion of Iran occurred in September 1980. A fourth Madrid/Barcelona meeting involved [[George Bush]] and [[Mehdi Karrubi]]. + +A Paris meeting in October 1980 included [[George Bush]], [[William Casey]], [[Mehdi Karrubi]], [[Robert Gates]], [[George Cave]], [[Donald Gregg]], [[David Kimche]], [[Shmuel Morieh]], [[Uri Simchoni]], [[Rafi Eitan]], [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], and [[Simon Gabbay]], where the hostage release deal was sealed. + +Ben-Menashe received $56 million in [[Guatemala]] in December 1980 from a Saudi ambassador ([[Faissal Ghows]]), with $4 million designated for [[Earl Brian]] and $52 million for [[Sayeed Mehdi Kashani]], indicating money laundering. He met [[Robert Gates]] at Miami airport for the money transfer. Profits from tire and wheelbase sales ($956,000) were used to initiate a slush fund. The hostages were released on [[Ronald Reagan]]'s inauguration day, January 20, 1981. + +In the fall of 1980, the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]] was formed to supply arms to Iran, with initial members including [[David Kimche]], [[Shmuel Morieh]], [[Uri Simchoni]], [[Moshe Hebroni]], [[Rafi Eitan]], and [[Ari Ben-Menashe]]. + +In February 1981, at a Vienna arms supply conference, a $1 billion deal was struck for F-4 parts, artillery shells, mortars, AK-47s, air-to-surface missiles, Chieftain tank engines, and C-130s. Ben-Menashe made his first trip to post-revolutionary Tehran in February 1981 under the alias "William Grace," meeting Iranian Defense Ministry officials and the Air Force commander. Concerns about the Iraqi nuclear reactor ([[Tammuz 17]]) were raised, leading to Israeli intelligence gathering and a Mossad operation to plant a homing device. + +A meeting in southern France in March 1981 between [[Abol Hassan Bani-Sadr]] and [[Moshe Arens]] fixed June 7 for the reactor attack. The [[Israel Air Force]] attacked [[Tammuz 17]] on June 7, 1981, with pilots including Col. [[Yoram Eitan]] and [[Yair Shamir]]. Weapons flights from Ben-Gurion Airport to Tehran, via Argentinean charters, began in March 1981. A [[KGB]] inquiry about the flights led to a Soviet shootdown of a cargo plane in July 1981. Ben-Menashe's relationship with [[Marie Fernanda]] continued, and their daughter Herut was born. + +The [[Ora Group]] was formed as a flagship for the slush fund. A New York operation on John Street was established for electronic equipment, but it was compromised when a Swiss woman leaked information to [[Leslie M. Gelb]] of the New York Times. [[Rafi Eitan]] used South African intelligence to deal with the Swiss woman. + +A strategic [[USA|U.S.]]/Israeli agreement (involving [[Ariel Sharon]], [[Robert Gates]], and [[Robert McFarlane]]) allowed the resale of older [[USA|U.S.]] arms. Money from arms sales was routed through [[USA|U.S.]] banks (Chicago-Tokyo Bank, Chemical Bank, Bank One, Valley National Bank of Arizona). Smokescreen operations involved private arms brokers like [[John Hortrich]] (alias John de Laroque) and [[Bernard Velliot]]. [[Nicholas Davies]], foreign editor of the London Daily Mirror, was recruited by [[Mossad]]. + +A [[TOW missile]] deal in 1983 involved [[Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani]] and [[Sayeed Mehdi Kashani]], with a deception campaign involving [[Arieh Jacobson]] and [[Abraham Bar David]]. A T-80 tank was acquired from Iran in 1985. The slush fund financed the [[Likud Party]] (under [[Yitzhak Shamir]] and [[Ehud Ulmart]]) and "black" operations. + +[[Mohammed Radi Abdullah]], a former Jordanian Army Colonel, was involved in "black" operations, selling arms to Palestinian groups like [[Abu Nidal]] for intelligence. The [[Achille Lauro]] attack in 1985 is described as an Israeli "black" propaganda operation. Contributions were made to [[AIPAC]] and the Jewish Reform Movement (Conservative Party in Britain). The [[Mossad]] European headquarters moved to London in 1982. + +During the [[Falklands War]], Israel froze arms sales to [[Argentina]], and the [[United Kingdom|UK]] reimbursed Israel. [[Australia]] was used for "parking purposes" for C-130s from [[Vietnam]], artillery shells from [[North Korea]], [[TOW missile]]s, and [[Silkworm missile]]s from [[China]]. + +A contribution was made to the West Australian Labor Party in February 1987 from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] (involving [[Richard Babayan]], [[Earl Brian]], [[Hadron]], [[Yosef Goldberg]], [[Alan Bond]], [[John Curtin Foundation]], [[Robert Maxwell]], and the Pergamon Press Trust Fund). + +After [[Danny Casolaro]]'s death, Ben-Menashe called [[Bill Hamilton]], the president of [[INSLAW]] Company. Hamilton had been in daily contact with Casolaro until about a week prior to his death. Ben-Menashe claimed that two [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agents from Lexington, Kentucky, had been en route to Martinsburg to meet Casolaro as part of their investigation into the sale of the [[PROMIS]] software to [[Israel]] and other intelligence agencies. He told Hamilton that one of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agents, [[E.B. Cartinhour]], was disaffected because his superiors had refused to indict high [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] officials for their role in the [[October Surprise]]. Ben-Menashe claimed the agents were prepared to give Casolaro proof that the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] was illegally using [[PROMIS]] software.[^1] + +In two affidavits dated February 17, 1991, and March 21, 1991, submitted to the Bankruptcy Court, Ben-Menashe claimed to have personal knowledge of Brian's involvement in the international distribution of PROMIS. He alleged that Brian made a presentation in 1987 to the External Relations Department of the [[Israel Defense Forces]] to facilitate the use of PROMIS, stating that Brian owned the rights and had been allowing the [[Central Intelligence Agency]], [[NSA]], DOJ, and [[Mossad|Israeli intelligence]] communities to use it since 1982. He also claimed Brian sold PROMIS to the Israeli government in 1987 and that he was told in 1989 of a sale of PROMIS by Brian to Iraqi Military Intelligence. His second affidavit described a 1982 meeting where [[Rafael Eitan]] allegedly received PROMIS from Brian and [[Robert McFarlane]] for the Israeli Defense Force's Signals Intelligence unit. The House Committee Report also indicated Ben-Menashe described the 1987 sale of "Enhanced PROMIS" to the Israeli intelligence community and the [[Singapore]] Armed Forces, and claimed knowledge of a "public domain" version of PROMIS being sold by the Israeli government to the [[Soviet Union]], and an "enhanced version" to [[Canada]].[^2] + +However, the Special Counsel's investigation found Ben-Menashe's claims to be largely incredible. In meetings with the Special Counsel, Ben-Menashe told a different story, stating he had no knowledge of the transfer of Inslaw's proprietary software by Brian or DOJ. He claimed the "PROMIS" he referred to in his affidavits was not Inslaw's PROMIS, but rather a program developed and enhanced by the [[NSA]] called "[[Milon]]" (phonetic), which he stated was a computer program used to compile dictionaries. He insisted this "other PROMIS" was developed by NSA independently of [[INSLAW|Inslaw's]] program and years before Inslaw's formation. He admitted that he allowed the Hamiltons and others to "assume" he was referring to Inslaw's PROMIS to promote his book, *Profits of War: Inside the secret U.S. - Israel Arms Network* (1992).[^2] + +The Special Counsel's investigation, as well as two congressional investigations (the October Surprise Task Force and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations), extensively examined Ben-Menashe's credibility and found him to be "totally lacking in credibility," "fabricated," "demonstrably false from beginning to end," and "riddled with inconsistencies and factual misstatements." The October Surprise Task Force specifically found no evidence to substantiate his allegations regarding a trip to Iran by Robert McFarlane and Earl Brian. The NSA also confirmed that their PROMIS program (Product Related On-line Management Information System) was unrelated to Inslaw's PROMIS, written in a different language (M204 vs. COBOL), and served different purposes. The Special Counsel concluded that Ben-Menashe's testimony offered no support for the allegation that DOJ and Earl Brian conspired to steal and distribute Inslaw's software.[^2] + +--- +### Footnotes +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. +[^2]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") +[^3]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Arif Durrani.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Arif Durrani.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..533c37f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Arif Durrani.md @@ -0,0 +1,29 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Arms Dealer", "Pakistan", "BCCI"] +--- +Arif Durrani was a [[Pakistan|Pakistani]] arms dealer convicted of illegally providing HAWK antiaircraft missile parts to [[Iran]].[^1] He was the son of an army general.[^2] + +### Arms Dealing and BCCI Connections + +Durrani was described as a wealthy arms merchant who traveled the world in luxury.[^3] He admitted to supplying Iran with arms and stated that he was part of a joint operation conducted by the [[United States]] and [[Israel]] to release American hostages in the [[Middle East]].[^4] He met with a U.S. official named [[Oliver North]] to obtain HAWK parts.[^5] His arrest on October 3, 1986, occurred one month before the U.S. government's secret arms-for-hostages deal with Tehran was revealed.[^6] + +Durrani had close connections to the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]], knowing [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] personally and having his operations financed by the bank.[^7] He grew up in [[Karachi]] with many of the men who became BCCI executives and worked with them from the beginning of his career as an arms dealer.[^8] He stated that BCCI basically funded operations on instructions from the government of [[Pakistan]], including the construction of a Mirage factory.[^9] + +He outlined BCCI's and [[Asaf Ali]]'s weapons deals across the globe, from [[Bulgaria]] to [[Nigeria]].[^10] Durrani also stated that BCCI steered some of his business to [[First American Bank]] in [[New York]], considering BCCI and First American Bank interchangeable for financial transactions.[^11] + +Until his arrest, Durrani was the managing director of Merex, a California arms firm that supplied the Israelis.[^12] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 9. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 321. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 304. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 305. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 305. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 305. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 305. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 305. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 306. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 306. +[^11]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 306. +[^12]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 305. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Arigo.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Arigo.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..147bca79 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Arigo.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Arigo +tags: + - Person + - Psychic Healer +--- +# Arigo + +Arigo was a Brazilian psychic healer who gained widespread notoriety for reportedly performing major surgeries with a pocketknife, without anesthesia, stitches, or antibiotics, and without causing any pain. His extraordinary abilities attracted the attention of [[Andrija Puharich]], who became obsessed with documenting his work[^1]. + +In early 1963, [[Henry Belk]], a benefactor of Puharich's research, proposed that Puharich investigate Arigo in Brazil. Puharich, convinced of Arigo's authenticity, spent the next seven years shuttling between Ossining and Brazil, meticulously documenting Arigo's "surgeries" on 8mm film[^1]. + +Puharich attempted to interest his military clients in sponsoring his research on Arigo, outlining the potential for "psychic healing on the battlefield." However, no government sponsor took the bait[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Arnold Burns.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Arnold Burns.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c1e80b7e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Arnold Burns.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Arnold Burns]] was the Deputy [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] and [[Edwin Meese]]'s second in command. He, along with [[William F. Weld]], complained about [[Edwin Meese]] to [[Howard Baker]], then [[Ronald Reagan]]'s chief of staff. Burns and Weld were reportedly frustrated by being undermined and sidestepped in Meese's office regarding investigations of Meese's friends.[^1] + +Burns and Weld submitted their resignations to President [[Ronald Reagan]] on March 29, 1988, after meeting with [[Howard Baker]]. This was part of an unprecedented mass exodus from the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]], signaling a complete loss of faith in the department. [[Senator Robert Byrd]] called Meese "the crown jewel of Reagan's sleaze factor" and demanded his resignation.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Arthur Welmas.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Arthur Welmas.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4240822b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Arthur Welmas.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Arthur Welmas]] was the Tribal Chairman of the [[Cabazon Band of Mission Indians]]. He signed a letter on behalf of [[Jimmy Hughes]] to the Army Discharge Review Board, requesting Hughes' military record to obtain security clearances for his work in the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation|Cabazon]]/[[Wackenhut Corporation]] Joint Venture.[^1] + +[[Robert Chasen]], Executive Vice President of [[Wackenhut Corporation]], felt an affinity with Welmas due to his wife being part Cherokee. Chasen sympathized with the Cabazons' situation and expressed a desire to protect them, suggesting he may have done so by shutting down the [[Wackenhut Corporation]]'s biological virus and vaccine development proposal to the Army on the Cabazon reservation.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Asaf Ali.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Asaf Ali.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ccbfa700 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Asaf Ali.md @@ -0,0 +1,31 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Arms Dealer", "Pakistan", "BCCI"] +--- +Asaf Ali is a Pakistani multimillionaire and arms dealer, closely associated with [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] and the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]]. He is described as a key figure in the Middle Eastern arms business, often brokering deals that involved governments and intelligence agencies.[^1] + +Ali was known for his ability to make things happen in the arms trade, particularly when principals in a transaction preferred not to be seen doing business together. He was deeply involved in BCCI's operations, which facilitated arms sales, drug trafficking, and money laundering on a global scale.[^2] + +### Role in Arms Deals + +Ali was the agent for [[Dassault]], the French Mirage factory, and was instrumental in the sale of Mirage jets to [[Pakistan]], [[Abu Dhabi]], and [[Libya]].[^3] He also brokered the sale of forty-nine Mirage 2000s to [[India]] and arranged for a similar number of new and used Mirages for Pakistan.[^4] His involvement extended to other significant arms transactions, including the sale of OE-40 Mark 2 main battle tanks from Italian manufacturer [[Oto Melarato]] to Abu Dhabi, S-23 150mm artillery guns from [[North Korea]] for [[Dubai]], and ASTROS II battlefield multiple-rocket launchers from [[Brazil]] to both [[Iran]] and [[Iraq]].[^5] + +He was also involved in the sale of Argentine TAM battle tanks to Iran in 1989, and supplied Iraq with French-made Roland antiaircraft missile systems and G6 mobile artillery units from [[South Africa]].[^6] Ali brokered Chinese ballistic-missile sales to Pakistan, Iraq, and [[Saudi Arabia]], as well as Scud missiles from North Korea.[^7] + +### Connections and Influence + +Ali's connections were extensive, reaching high-level officials and intelligence agencies. He was a good friend of "Happy" [[Minwallah]], a close adviser to former Prime Minister [[Benazir Bhutto]], and was very close with the Pakistani air marshal.[^8] His ability to operate with apparent immunity was due to his deep ties within the Pakistani government and military.[^9] + +He was also involved in meetings with [[William Casey]], the former [[CIA]] Director, and accompanied [[Zia ul-Haq|General Zia]] on a trip to Washington where they met with Casey.[^10] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 8. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 309. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 306. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 308. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 296. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 296. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 296. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 296. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 355. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 347. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Barbara Durr.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Barbara Durr.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a7267fb7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Barbara Durr.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - UK + - Peru +--- +[[Barbara Durr]] was a stringer for the *Financial Times* of [[London]] in [[Peru]]. She was also a correspondent for [[CBS]] radio.[^1] + +[[Barbara Durr|Durr]] met [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] through [[Peter Jordan]], a photographer. She became involved in [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] mission to secure rare minerals from [[Peru]] for [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear program. [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] used her as a journalist to provide protection and to create public proof of [[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso|Guzmán's]] existence, as there were rumors of his death.[^1] + +[[Barbara Durr|Durr]] was suspected by [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] of tipping off the [[Cuba|Cubans]] about his contact with the [[Shining Path]]. She was later arrested by the [[Peru|Peruvian]] police, an event that [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] orchestrated to gain her gratitude and cooperation. She was also present during the [[Rafael Cordova|Cordova]] massacre of villagers and attempted to broadcast the plan to prevent it.[^1] + +[[Barbara Durr|Durr]] accompanied [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] to [[Cangallo]] to secure the release of [[Cynthia McNamara]]. She was also present during [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] tense meeting with [[Carlos Cardoen]] in [[Chile]], where she was used as a veiled threat against [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen]] due to her journalistic connections.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Barbara Locke.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Barbara Locke.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4b5febd9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Barbara Locke.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Barbara Locke]] was a friend of [[Shaula Brent]] and also worked at Fremont Hospital. She and Brent were suspicious about [[Roderick Sinclair]]'s hospital records after the "Queen's accident." They secretly took photostats of the records "before they were destroyed by the hospital."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bart Cox.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bart Cox.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bf333c50 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bart Cox.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Bart Cox +tags: + - person + - scientist + - researcher +description: Bart Cox was a division chief at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) who oversaw some of the early psi research, including experiments with Uri Geller. +--- + +[[Bart Cox]] was a division chief at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]]. He oversaw some of the early [[Parapsychology|psi]] research conducted by [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]], including experiments with [[Uri Geller]]. Cox was involved in selecting target sites for outbound remote viewing experiments, and on one occasion, he and Puthoff served as outbound experimenters for [[Pat Price]], who precognitively described their location at the Redwood City Marina.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Baruch Bar Lev.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Baruch Bar Lev.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7b0d10e0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Baruch Bar Lev.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Israel +--- +Colonel [[Baruch Bar Lev]] was a former [[Israel|Israeli]] military attaché in [[Uganda]]. He planned and led the military coup that installed [[Idi Amin]] as the self-proclaimed president of [[Uganda]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bashir Gemayel.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bashir Gemayel.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..eba48f95 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bashir Gemayel.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Bashir Gemayel]] was elected president of [[Lebanon]] after the 1982 Israeli invasion. He was reportedly on the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] payroll. Before he could take office, Gemayel was killed by an assassin's bomb. His brother, [[Amin Gamayel]], was subsequently installed as president.[^1] + +[[George K. Pender]], President of [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]], stated in a letter to [[Amin Gamayel]] that he was a good friend of Bashir and had been with him in Beirut in 1976 when the Syrian Army arrived. Pender also mentioned meeting Bashir in Framingham, Massachusetts, during a U.S. speaking tour.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ben Kalka.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ben Kalka.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e3d02490 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ben Kalka.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +[[Ben Kalka]] was a figure in the San Francisco drug world, initially a "bit player" who later became a major supplier of methamphetamine. He was arrested in 1982 with 900 pounds of methamphetamine in his possession and was serving time in a Pleasanton prison. Kalka's arrest was part of a federal sting operation, though he claimed the sting had ended by the time he began manufacturing the drug.[^1] + +### Methamphetamine Production and Government Involvement + +Kalka estimated he produced 8,000 pounds of drugs worth $10 million, using ingredients that federal agents had allegedly arranged for him to buy. He became involved in methamphetamine production after a chemist friend asked him to find phenyl acetic acid, a key precursor. Despite the chemical not being illegal, its purchase was scrutinized by the government. A contact, [[Paul Palmer]], who had become a government informant after being busted for selling precursors, arranged for Kalka to obtain a semi-truck load of the chemical.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] was introduced to Kalka by Palmer and helped Kalka find monomethylamine, the last ingredient needed for methamphetamine. Riconosciuto claimed he was working for the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] as part of the sting operation and was authorized to supply Kalka with the final ingredient. The plan to bust Kalka and his subordinates reportedly failed when Kalka diverted the truck carrying the chemicals away from federal agents. Kalka wondered why the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] did not track him down once the methamphetamine began hitting the streets, suggesting the agency stumbled upon his enterprise during another undercover operation.[^1] + +Kalka was released from prison in April 2000 after his lawyer, [[Chris Cannon]], struck a deal that overturned his sentence, contingent upon Kalka signing a letter stating he did not obtain his precursors from the [[United States Government|U.S. government]]. This letter was reportedly written by [[William Shockley]], a [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] in San Francisco, and found by Detective [[Sue Todd]] in the Di Giorgio Extradition File.[^1] + +### Connections and Allegations + +Kalka's business ties with [[Michael Riconosciuto]] at [[R & R Research]] and the laboratory facilities at Hercules, [[California]], were documented in [[David Mayer]]'s attorney/client files. [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]], administrator at the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation]], also met with Riconosciuto at the Hercules plant. Investigators uncovered evidence of a chemical or drug operation at the Hercules plant that contaminated the entire property.[^1] + +Kalka was close to [[Al Holbert]], a former [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence agent, and [[Paul Morasca]], who was murdered in San Francisco during the time these sting operations were underway. [[Sue Todd]] concluded that Kalka was an undercover operative and that the entire drug operation was sanctioned by the [[United States Government|U.S. government]], as Kalka had been arrested multiple times, but the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] always took possession of him away from the arresting officers.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that the precursors Kalka used were provided by the [[United States Government|U.S. government]] and that a chemical company was cooperating with the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] by reporting all chemicals Riconosciuto ordered for his companies, which he then provided to Kalka. The money from these operations was reportedly laundered through [[Liechtenstein]] and other countries.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ben Wagner.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ben Wagner.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..51e94cfd --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ben Wagner.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Ben Wagner]] was a lawyer from Jackson, [[California]]. He represented [[Dave Beavers]] and other deputies who were exposing corruption within the Mariposa Sheriff's Department. Wagner played a key role in forming [[D.I.G. (Decency in Government)]], an organization dedicated to exposing this corruption.[^1] + +Wagner filed two civil rights lawsuits with the [[United States District Court|U.S. District Court]] in Fresno, which were later described as the largest civil rights lawsuits in [[California]] history. He also filed a Writ of Mandamus against [[John Van de Kamp]], the State Attorney General; [[George Vinson]], regional director of the Fresno [[Federal Bureau Investigation|FBI]]; [[George Deukemejian]], then Governor of [[California]]; and [[David F. Levi]], [[United States Attorney|United States Attorney]], for their alleged refusal to investigate corruption in Mariposa County.[^1] + +Wagner was reportedly carrying a gun both inside and outside Mariposa for the first time in his life due to the nature of his work. He wrote letters to the Attorney General, the [[Federal Bureau Investigation|FBI]], and President [[Ronald Reagan]] seeking help. A special agent from the Fresno [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]], Division of Law Enforcement, informed Wagner that everything pertaining to Mariposa was being "trashed" at the Attorney General's office, and advised him to proceed with the lawsuit.[^1] + +Shortly before his first scheduled court appearance on behalf of D.I.G., Wagner received an obscure response from "Chuck" at the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] [[White House]]. The day after meeting with "Chuck," Wagner, along with [[Jerry Goldberg]], reportedly disappeared, unplugging his phone and leaving his law practice and home, never to be seen again.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bernard Baruch.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bernard Baruch.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ec15bbba --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bernard Baruch.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Financier + - USA +--- +Bernard Baruch was an American financier and statesman. In the late summer of 1939, he collaborated with [[Lewis L. Strauss]] on a proposal to convince the British government to cede a large tract of colonial [[Africa]] for resettlement by European refugees, both Jewish and non-Jewish. They believed that as much as $300 million could be raised for this purpose, but it was ultimately too late to prevent the impending Nazi blitzkrieg.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 7. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bertrand Goldschmidt.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bertrand Goldschmidt.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..71c8eba2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bertrand Goldschmidt.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - France +--- +Bertrand Goldschmidt was a French nuclear chemist who served during World War II with American nuclear researchers, becoming an expert in the chemistry of plutonium and plutonium extraction. He chose to return to [[France]] after the war and joined its [[Atomic Energy Commission]]. Goldschmidt was among the few outsiders permitted to visit the completed reactor at [[Dimona]] in the 1960s.[^1] + +Goldschmidt had strong emotional ties to [[Israel]], heightened by his marriage into the [[Rothschild]] banking family, known for their contributions to Israeli and Jewish causes. He and his wife visited [[Israel]] in the early 1950s and met [[David Ben-Gurion]] through [[Ernst David Bergmann]]. As director of chemistry for [[France]]'s Atomic Energy Commission, he later became a respected spokesman on nonproliferation issues.[^1] + +Goldschmidt vividly recalled a meeting of the French Atomic Energy Commission where [[Ernst David Bergmann]] and [[Shimon Peres]] requested to buy a heavy-water research reactor similar to the one [[Canada]] was building in [[India]]. He remained convinced that the basic decision to help [[Israel]] get the bomb was made during these meetings in mid-September, before the [[Suez Crisis]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bill Church.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bill Church.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f5a82423 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bill Church.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Bill Church +tags: + - person + - philanthropist + - scientist +description: Bill Church was a philanthropist and amateur scientist, known for being a part owner of Church's Fried Chicken and an early funder of Hal Puthoff's psi research. +--- + +[[Bill Church]] was a philanthropist and amateur scientist, known for being a part owner of [[Church's Fried Chicken]]. In the early 1970s, he provided [[Hal Puthoff]] with ten thousand dollars in initial funding to begin his [[Parapsychology|psi]] experiments at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]]. This private funding was crucial in the nascent stages of the remote viewing research program, preceding the involvement of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bill Clinton.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bill Clinton.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c891bcc0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bill Clinton.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Bill Clinton +tags: + - person + - president + - government +description: Bill Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. His administration saw the declassification and termination of the Stargate Project. +--- +William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. His administration oversaw the declassification and termination of the [[STARGATE PROJECT]] in 1995.[^1] + +While the *Remote Viewers* text does not detail Clinton's direct involvement with the project, it notes that [[William Perry]], who served as Clinton's Secretary of Defense, had previously been involved in funding decisions for the program during the Carter administration.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bill McCoy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bill McCoy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..354996f9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bill McCoy.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Bill McCoy]] was a retired Chief Warrant Officer from the [[United States Army Criminal Investigation Division|U.S. Army's Criminal Investigation Division]]. He became involved in the [[Danny Casolaro]] investigation of the [[PROMIS]] software. McCoy obtained [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretap affidavits from [[Peter Zokosky]] on January 17, 1991, and subsequently provided them to [[Danny Casolaro]]. McCoy died at home in 1997.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Binyamin Blumberg.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Binyamin Blumberg.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fb23ae55 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Binyamin Blumberg.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +Binyamin Blumberg was a former military intelligence officer handpicked by [[Shimon Peres]] to direct the Office of Special Tasks, a new intelligence agency created to provide security for [[Israel]]'s burgeoning nuclear operation at [[Dimona]]. This office, bureaucratically placed inside the defense ministry, would later become known as LAKAM (Science Liaison Bureau) and was responsible for one of [[Israel]]'s worst mistakes, the recruitment of [[Jonathan Pollard]].[^1] + +Blumberg's sole mission in the late 1950s was protecting [[Dimona]], and he was deeply involved in the details, even overturning bureaucratic rules to ensure the hiring of essential scientists. He and his colleagues in the Office of Special Tasks were constantly improving and embellishing the Israeli cover-up regarding [[Dimona]]'s true purpose, especially during the annual inspections by [[Floyd L. Culler, Jr.]] from the [[United States]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 5, 15, 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bo Gritz.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bo Gritz.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..09ce8b54 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bo Gritz.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Bo Gritz]] was a highly decorated Special Forces Green Beret soldier in [[Vietnam]]. He became known for his expeditions to [[Laos]] in search of missing POWs, during which he reportedly uncovered a "massive drug network in Southeast Asia" intertwined with American POWs.[^1] + +[[Danny Casolaro]] was investigating Gritz's expose of [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] drug trafficking in the [[Golden Triangle]]. Casolaro had requested to meet with a former police officer who had information on Laotian warlord [[Kuhn Sa]]'s Golden Triangle drug trade proposal to the [[United States]].[^1] + +Gritz was indicted in May 1987 for using a false passport in the name of Patrick Richard Clark from Vancouver, [[Canada]]. However, at his arraignment in Las Vegas, he claimed to have "proper authorization" for his travels and was subsequently acquitted of the charges.[^1] + +[[Patrick Moriarty]], the Red Devil fireworks magnate, was subpoenaed to testify on behalf of Gritz at his trial. Moriarty's lawyer, [[Jan Lawrence Handzlik]], stated that Moriarty had paid Gritz to make business trips to [[China]], [[Singapore]], and other parts of [[Asia]]. Gritz claimed his July 1989 trip to [[Asia]] was to negotiate an oil interest he and Moriarty had set up between the [[People's Republic of China]] and [[Indonesia]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bob Bickel.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bob Bickel.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e07af3a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bob Bickel.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Bob Bickel]] was a Texas oil engineer who once worked as an informant for the Customs Bureau. He was a friend and confidante of investigative journalist [[Danny Casolaro]].[^1] + +Bickel was a key source for Casolaro's "[[The Octopus]]" investigation. Casolaro obtained papers related to [[Iran-Contra Affair|Iran-Contra]] arms deals, including photocopies of checks drawn on [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] accounts for [[Adnan Khashoggi]] and [[Manucher Ghorbanifar]], from Bickel. Bickel, in turn, obtained these documents from [[October Surprise]] source [[Richard Brenneke]].[^1] + +In the last days before his death, Casolaro discussed [[Michael Abbell]], [[Robert Booth Nichols]], and the [[Cali Drug Cartel]] at length with Bickel. Bickel confirmed that Casolaro confronted Nichols about his relationship with Abbell. Bickel's confirmation of Casolaro's focus on [[Michael Abbell]] in the days leading up to his death suggested that Casolaro may have unknowingly stepped into a large narcotics trafficking and intelligence operation.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bobby Baker.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bobby Baker.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..122be557 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bobby Baker.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Bobby Baker]] was a key figure in a major scandal that emerged in the autumn of 1963. He was made secretary of the Senate Democrats in 1955 by then-Vice President [[Lyndon Johnson]], who referred to Baker as "my strong right arm, the last man I see at night, the first I see in the morning."[^1] + +On October 8, 1963, Baker was forced to resign as a Senate investigation into his outside business activities began to reveal numerous questionable deals. Baker's dealings were tightly interwoven with the [[Clint Murchison, Sr.|Murchison family]] and organized crime figures. The Senate investigation was initially prompted by a lawsuit against Baker in 1963 by his associates in a vending company, who alleged that he failed to uphold certain agreements. These associates were primarily Las Vegas gamblers, including [[Edward Levinson]], a lieutenant of Florida mobster [[Meyer Lansky]], whose Fremont Hotel in Vegas was financed through a [[Jimmy Hoffa|Hoffa]] loan.[^1] + +Baker conducted considerable business with the Mob in Las Vegas, Chicago, Louisiana, and the Caribbean. Through Baker, [[Edward Levinson]] also became acquainted with [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]]. [[Clint W. Murchison, Jr.]] attempted to persuade the Senate Rules Committee in 1964 that his real estate dealings with [[Jimmy Hoffa]] in Florida were " hardly relevant" to the Baker investigation.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bruce Eckerson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bruce Eckerson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..85343763 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bruce Eckerson.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Bruce Eckerson]] was the Mariposa County District Attorney. He was closely associated with [[Ed Hardy]], president of Curry Company, and County Assessor [[Steve Dunbar]], and Congressman [[Tony Coelho]]. These men were known for their annual camping trips together.[^1] + +Eckerson's disclosure statements on file at the Mariposa County Courthouse indicated that he owned stock in [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] Entertainment Corporation. He was appointed by [[John Van de Kamp]], the State Attorney General, to take charge of the investigation into the "[[Queen's accident]]" and submit a new report, after Van de Kamp allegedly told his assistant to "discard" the original report.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bud Duncan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bud Duncan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8f43c1b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Bud Duncan.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Bud Duncan +tags: + - person + - photointerpreter + - psychic +description: Bud Duncan was an Army civilian photo-interpreter and an early member of the Stargate Project's remote viewing unit. +--- + +[[Bud Duncan]] was an Army civilian photo-interpreter and an early member of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]] (later [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]]) remote viewing unit. He was one of the four Army civilians in the initial group of candidates selected by [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] and [[Murray Watt|Scotty Watt]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/C. Boyden Gray.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/C. Boyden Gray.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1adfd2d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/C. Boyden Gray.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[C. Boyden Gray]] was an individual whom [[Daniel Murphy]] asked to "become the [[John Adams]] of the [[INSLAW]] case" and represent [[INSLAW]] after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Murphy asked Gray to represent [[INSLAW]] "simply because it was the right thing to do."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/C. Madison Brewer.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/C. Madison Brewer.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..30f19955 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/C. Madison Brewer.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +--- +aliases: ["Brick Brewer"] +tags: + - Person +--- +C. Madison "Brick" Brewer was a [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] official who served as the Project Manager overseeing the installation of [[PROMIS]] software in United States Attorneys' offices, beginning in late January 1982. Prior to this role, Brewer had been the General Counsel for the Institute for Law and Social Research, the predecessor to [[Inslaw Corporation]]. + +## Role in the PROMIS Software Scandal + +Brewer became a central figure in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] due to allegations of bias against [[INSLAW]] and its president, [[Bill Hamilton]]. Inslaw claimed that Brewer's actions were motivated by a personal vendetta, stemming from his earlier departure from the Institute. This alleged bias, according to Inslaw, led to a series of engineered or exploited contract disputes between Inslaw and the DOJ. + +Bankruptcy Judge Bason, in his findings, concluded that Brewer was "consumed by hatred for and an intense desire for revenge against INSLAW," and that Brewer's actions were part of a strategy to ruin Inslaw. Judge Bason also found that Brewer's bias influenced other DOJ personnel responsible for the Inslaw contract. + +However, an investigation by Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua found no evidence to support the claim that Brewer's actions were driven by a desire for revenge. The investigation concluded that Brewer's concerns about Inslaw were based on his assessment of Inslaw's conduct in connection with the 1981 BJS contract and the 1982 EOUSA contract, and not due to his departure from the Institute. Brewer candidly stated that he believed Hamilton was dishonest and that Inslaw did not intend to fulfill some of its contractual obligations. + +## Key Events and Allegations: + +* **PROMIS Implementation Contract (1982):** Brewer began his duties at the EOUSA in January 1982, shortly before the PROMIS implementation contract with Inslaw was signed in March 1982. He attended some of the negotiating sessions for the contract. +* **Early Proprietary Rights Disputes:** In April 1982, Brewer strongly opposed Inslaw's claims of proprietary rights over its PROMIS software, particularly regarding "PROMIS 82." He viewed Inslaw's assertions as "scurrilous" and maintained that the five BJS enhancements were in the public domain, despite Inslaw's claims of private funding. +* **Advance Payments Dispute:** Brewer was reportedly "extremely angry" upon learning that Inslaw had obtained commercial financing after representing that it could not, which was a violation of the advance payments clause in their contract. He supported the termination of advance payments, believing Inslaw had been dishonest. +* **Alleged Conspiracy to Steal PROMIS:** Inslaw alleged that Brewer, along with others, conspired to steal PROMIS for the benefit of [[Earl Brian]]. The Special Counsel's investigation found no credible evidence to support this allegation, concluding that Brewer's actions were consistent with protecting the government's interests. +* **Inslaw Bankruptcy Conversion:** Inslaw alleged that Brewer was involved in a plot to convert Inslaw's Chapter 11 reorganization to a Chapter 7 liquidation. Bankruptcy Judge Bason found that Brewer originated this plan and enlisted [[Thomas Stanton]], Director of the Executive Office of U.S. Trustees (EOUST), in the effort. However, the Special Counsel's investigation found insufficient evidence to support this claim, noting that Brewer and Stanton denied any such discussions. + +## Sources: +* U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Calvin Robinson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Calvin Robinson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..924634d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Calvin Robinson.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Calvin Robinson]] was dubbed the "drug tug" captain by local media. He was represented by attorney [[David Mayer]] of Marin County, [[California]]. Robinson's tug was seized in the San Francisco Bay in the Spring of 1988, found hauling a barge containing 157 tons of hashish and marijuana.[^1] + +On December 12, 1991, Robinson filed a "Pro Per" affidavit in the [[United States District Court|U.S. District Court]], Northern District of [[California]], requesting that Judge [[John Paul Vukasin, Jr.]] be recused from his case. Robinson believed that Vukasin was a long-time associate and political ally of [[Edwin Meese III]] and that Vukasin was appointed to the district court bench as a "damage control agent" for Meese and the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]].[^1] + +Robinson's affidavit for recusal also stated that he obtained the assistance of attorney [[David Mayer]] to represent him at his 1989 trial, but Mayer died from a gun-shot wound the night before he was to appear in court to defend Robinson. Mayer's death was ruled a suicide, and a suicide tape was found.[^1] + +[[Sean McDade]] interviewed Robinson in prison. Robinson reportedly had some connection to a former [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs]] official and the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation]], but McDade's investigation was closed before he could prove the connection.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cap Kressop.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cap Kressop.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0d1e9fb1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cap Kressop.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Cap Kressop]] was a "technical wizard" and a Mormon. He was a client of attorney [[Allan Boyak]]. Kressop was approached by [[Robert Booth Nichols]] and asked to manufacture a prototype laser site for a rifle. He was offered a $200,000 contract for the job but became suspicious when Nichols wanted to pay him in cash.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Carl E. Duckett.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Carl E. Duckett.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2c7820e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Carl E. Duckett.md @@ -0,0 +1,33 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - CIA +--- +Carl E. Duckett was an American intelligence official who headed the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s Office of Science and Technology and later served as Deputy Director for Science and Technology. He was recruited to the Agency in 1963 from the Army's Missile Command headquarters and became a key figure in both nuclear intelligence and unconventional research programs.[^1][^2] + +### Nuclear Intelligence Operations + +Duckett became the recipient of intelligence on [[Israel]]'s nuclear program, which was routed to his office from sources like [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] and [[Los Alamos]] through the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s Office of Science and Technology. His work centered on assessing [[Israel]]'s nuclear capabilities and the potential for nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.[^1] + +### Israeli Nuclear Estimates + +Duckett's top-secret [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] estimate in 1968, which concluded that [[Israel]] had three or four nuclear bombs, was primarily based on his conviction that [[Zalman Mordecai Shapiro]] had smuggled over two hundred pounds of enriched uranium into [[Israel]]. This alleged smuggling was also a major factor in Duckett's 1974 estimate, which credited [[Israel]] with at least ten bombs. To Duckett and his colleagues, the case against Shapiro was unassailable, despite the lack of concrete proof of a chemical reprocessing plant in [[Israel]].[^2] + +### Public Disclosure and Media Impact + +Duckett's intelligence report on [[Israel]]'s nuclear arsenal, initially suppressed in 1968 by [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and later by [[Richard Helms]], finally made its way onto the front page of the _New York Times_ in July 1970. This report provided the American public with its first account of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s assessment of the Israeli nuclear arsenal, stating that the U.S. government had been operating on the assumption that [[Israel]] either possessed an atomic bomb or had component parts available for quick assembly.[^1] + +### Career-Ending Mistake + +In March 1976, Duckett made a career-ending mistake by openly discussing [[Israel]]'s nuclear weapons at an informal seminar, stating that [[Israel]] was estimated to have ten to twenty nuclear weapons "available for use." This disclosure forced [[George H.W. Bush]], the newly installed [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] director, to issue a public statement assuming "full responsibility" and led to Duckett's retirement. Duckett later acknowledged that the rumors of his heavy drinking led to his departure, but insisted the real issue was Bush's unwillingness to promote him. His 1974 estimate remained the official American intelligence estimate until the early 1980s, despite being based on speculation and lacking specific intelligence.[^2] + +### Psychic Research Programs + +Beyond nuclear intelligence, Duckett was a key figure in the agency's involvement with psychic research, including the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program. Duckett, along with [[John McMahon]], was briefed on the remote viewing research at [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) and suggested that the time was ripe for psychic spying on more sensitive targets overseas.[^3] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 11, 16. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 18. +[^3]: Schnabel, Jim. _Remote Viewers_. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Carlos Cardoen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Carlos Cardoen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..21911466 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Carlos Cardoen.md @@ -0,0 +1,31 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - ArmsDealer + - Chile +--- +[[Carlos Cardoen]] is a Chilean businessman and arms producer, owner of [[Cardoen Industries]]. He comes from an upper-class Chilean family of Italian descent. After attending university in the [[USA|U.S.]] and receiving a degree as a mining engineer, he returned to [[Santiago]], [[Chile]], after [[Augusto Pinochet|General Augusto Pinochet's]] 1973 coup d'état to work for the government-owned [[Chilean Mining Corporation]]. His job involved procuring explosives for mining, which became a lucrative business for him personally due to kickbacks.[^1] + +Cardoen later resigned and became a private contractor, securing a deal to supply all blasting equipment to the Chilean Mining Corporation. He then ventured into arms brokering, though initially without success. In 1979, he applied to [[SIBAT]], the Foreign Defense Sales Office of the [[Israel|Israeli]] Ministry of Defense, for a license to sell [[Israel|Israeli]] arms in [[South America]]. His request was denied due to his lack of experience and established political connections.[^1] + +After being rejected by [[Israel]], Cardoen obtained a brokering license from the [[South African Arms Corporation|ARMSCOR]] (South Africa's government weapons manufacturer) with the help of the Chilean ambassador to [[South Africa]]. He then secured loans from Chilean banks and began operating as an arms producer and broker.[^1] + +By 1985, Cardoen was selling arms to [[Iraq]], with the help of [[South African Arms Corporation|ARMSCOR]] and support from individuals connected to the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], such as [[Alan Sanders]] of [[ITICO]]. He received blueprints for cluster bombs from Sanders and, despite a [[United Nations]] arms embargo against [[Chile]], produced these bombs with a covert [[USA|U.S.]] license. [[Israel]] was interested in acquiring these bombs.[^1] + +In 1985, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] approached [[Alan Sanders]] to purchase cluster bombs for [[Israel]], and was informed that Cardoen would sell to anyone who paid him. A few weeks later, [[Israel]] received cluster bombs from [[Santiago]] via diplomatic crate.[^1] + +[[Robert Gates]], then [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] deputy director for intelligence, was approached by [[Nachum Admoni]] ([[Mossad]] director) regarding [[USA|U.S.]] support for Cardoen. Admoni expressed [[Israel|Israeli]] concerns about the support for [[Iraq]], especially through [[Chile]] and [[South Africa]]. By this time, Cardoen owned two chemical weapons plants in [[Santiago]], a cluster bomb factory in cooperation with [[Chile]]'s military, and a third chemical weapons plant in [[Paraguay]]. He was also building a chemical weapons plant outside [[Baghdad]].[^1] + +Cardoen's [[Santiago]]-produced chemical weapons and those from [[Paraguay]] used artillery cups from [[West Germany]], procured by [[Ihsan Barbouti]]. These materials were shipped to [[Baghdad]] by [[Iraqi Airways]] cargo planes. Cardoen used [[USA|U.S.]] banks, such as the [[Valley National Bank of Arizona]], to finance his sales and obtained raw materials for chemical manufacturing from a factory in [[Boca Raton]], [[Florida]]. The [[Gamma Corporation]], a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] cut-out, sold fuses for the cluster bombs to Cardoen.[^1] + +In late 1986, [[Israel]] expressed concern about arms shipments to [[Iraq]], with [[Yitzhak Shamir]] threatening to go to [[USA|Congress]]. [[Robert Gates]] called a meeting in [[Santiago]] to calm the [[Israel|Israelis]]. Attendees included Cardoen, Gates, Senator [[John Tower]], [[Pieter Van Der Westhuizen|Gen. Pieter Van Der Westhuizen]] (South African Military Intelligence), and [[Rodolfo Stange|Gen. Rodolfo Stange]] (Chilean Carabineros). At this meeting, [[USA|U.S.]] officials made it clear they intended to maintain the arms channel to [[Iraq]] to bring [[Iraq]] into their sphere of influence, assuring [[Israel]] it would not be harmed. Cardoen continued to supply chemical weapons and cluster bombs to [[Iraq]] despite [[Israel|Israeli]] concerns.[^1] + +In September 1988, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] was sent to [[Chile]] to confront Cardoen. Ben-Menashe offered Cardoen a deal: [[Israel]] would license him to produce [[Uzi]]s, [[Galil assault rifles]], artillery shells, and mortars, and exclusively sell these materials throughout [[South America]], in exchange for stopping his chemical trade with [[Iraq]]. Cardoen was given two weeks to consider the offer. During this visit, Cardoen introduced Ben-Menashe to [[Mark Thatcher]], implying Thatcher was involved in his business.[^1] + +Cardoen was furious about [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] visit to his plant in [[Paraguay]] and his attempts to stop the trade. He claimed to have the backing of the [[USA|Americans]] and the Chilean government, and threatened [[Israel]] if they interfered. He also revealed that [[Robert Gates|Gates]]'s office provided technology directly from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], and that [[Ihsan Barbouti]] was a key link in his operations. He mentioned [[Alan Bond]] and British investors as backers.[^1] + +In February 1989, [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen]]'s plant in [[Paraguay]] was not closed down, thanks to [[Andres Rodriguez|President Andres Rodriguez]], who continued to rule the country with [[USA|U.S.]] blessing. Charges were filed against Cardoen in [[Miami]] in April 1992 by the [[USA|U.S.]] Customs Service following newspaper exposés of his involvement with [[Iraq]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Charles Bohlen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Charles Bohlen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6b34cdb2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Charles Bohlen.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Charles Bohlen +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - Ambassador +--- +Charles Bohlen (1904–1974) was a distinguished American diplomat who served as the U.S. Ambassador to the [[Soviet Union]] from 1953 to 1957. He was one of the ambassadors who was subjected to the [[Moscow Signal]], a microwave beam aimed at the [[U.S. Embassy in Moscow]] by the Soviets[^1]. + +Bohlen died of pancreatic cancer on January 1, 1974, at the age of sixty-nine. His death, along with that of [[Llewellyn Thomas]] and later [[Walter Stoessel Jr.]], raised concerns about the potential health effects of prolonged exposure to the Moscow Signal[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Charles L. Bartlett.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Charles L. Bartlett.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d7a24036 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Charles L. Bartlett.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - USA +--- +Charles L. Bartlett was an American newspaper columnist and a close friend of [[John F. Kennedy]]. Kennedy recounted to Bartlett a much different version of his meeting with Jewish leaders at [[Abraham Feinberg]]'s apartment, expressing outrage at the suggestion of controlling U.S. Middle East policy in exchange for campaign funds. Bartlett also recalled Kennedy making cynical remarks about [[Myer Feldman]], his presidential point man for Jewish and Israeli affairs.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Charles de Gaulle.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Charles de Gaulle.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bc7fc75a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Charles de Gaulle.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - France +--- +Charles de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II and later founded the Fifth Republic, serving as its first President from 1959 to 1969. He was emphatically in favor of an independent nuclear deterrent for [[France]].[^1] + +De Gaulle won a seven-year term as president of [[France]]'s newly constituted Fifth Republic in December 1958 by promising to find an acceptable compromise for ending the war in [[Algeria]]. The war sharply divided the nation, and other issues, such as continued support for [[Israel]], seemed secondary.[^1] + +De Gaulle responded to the [[Six-Day War]] in 1967 by accusing [[Israel]] of being the aggressor and canceling all of [[France]]'s arms sales to [[Israel]], abrogating twelve years of close French support. He also delayed the pending shipment of fifty previously purchased Mirage III jet fighters. He even claimed to newsmen that he had not known of Dassault's contract with [[Israel]] until the first field test in 1967 of the Jericho I missile.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3, 13. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Charlie Frezeli.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Charlie Frezeli.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..86382c00 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Charlie Frezeli.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Charlie Frezeli]] was a Lebanese army officer and a member of the [[Middle East Collection 10]] (MC-10) cell in [[Cyprus]] and Beirut. He was shot dead at his home in east Beirut in November 1989.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Chou En-lai.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Chou En-lai.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1f3d2ef4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Chou En-lai.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - China +--- +Chou En-lai was the first Premier of the People's Republic of [[China]], serving from 1949 until his death in 1976. At the Bandung Conference of African and Asian nations in April 1955, he promised [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]] as many arms as [[Egypt]] could afford, marking a significant step in Nasser's efforts to secure military aid from the Communist world.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Chris Cannon.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Chris Cannon.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9ed42822 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Chris Cannon.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Chris Cannon]] was the San Francisco defense attorney for [[Ben Kalka]]. He explained that the chemical precursors necessary to make the amount of methamphetamine Kalka produced would require all the precursor sold in one year in the [[United States]] on the open market. Cannon struck a deal that resulted in Kalka's sentence being overturned, contingent upon Kalka signing a letter stating he did not obtain his precursors from the [[United States Government|U.S. government]].[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] told Cannon that he had records proving the precursors Kalka used were provided by the [[United States Government|U.S. government]]. Riconosciuto also described the role of federal agents and their authorization for him to sell Kalka the final ingredient needed to make methamphetamine.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Christopher O. Bird.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Christopher O. Bird.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ae1f486f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Christopher O. Bird.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Christopher O. Bird +tags: + - person + - author + - CIA +description: Christopher O. Bird was an American author and alleged CIA operative, known for co-authoring "The Secret Life of Plants." +--- + +[[Christopher O. Bird]] was an American author and alleged [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operative. He is known for co-authoring the 1973 bestselling book, *[[The Secret Life of Plants]]*, which popularized the controversial experiments of [[Cleve Backster]] on plant sentience.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cindy Hanin Bentov.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cindy Hanin Bentov.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c85e1e2e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cindy Hanin Bentov.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - Mossad +--- +Cindy Hanin Bentov (a pseudonym) was a [[Mossad]] agent. She enticed [[Mordecai Vanunu]] to leave [[London]] for [[Rome]] a few days before the publication of his story in the *London Sunday Times*. Once in [[Rome]], Vanunu was drugged and returned to [[Israel]] by ship to stand trial.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 15. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Clark Clifford.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Clark Clifford.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5b7f4fff --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Clark Clifford.md @@ -0,0 +1,38 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Lawyer", "Government Official", "BCCI"] +--- +Clark Clifford was a prominent American attorney and government official who advised Democratic presidents since [[Harry S. Truman|Truman]].[^1] He served as chairman of [[First American Bank]] and was chief U.S. counsel to [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]].[^2] + +### Political and Legal Career + +Clifford arrived in [[Washington, D.C.]] in 1945 as a naval aide at the White House.[^3] He was a principal architect of "Fair Deal" politics and a co-author of the [[National Security Act of 1947]], which established the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and the [[National Security Council]].[^4] He was a key figure in the creation of the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] and participated in the formulation of the [[Truman Doctrine]], a policy of Soviet containment.[^5] + +He advised [[John F. Kennedy]] after the [[Bay of Pigs Invasion]] and served as Secretary of Defense under [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], leading efforts to extricate the United States from [[Vietnam]].[^6] Clifford also counseled [[Jimmy Carter]] on the [[Panama Canal Treaty]] and acted as his special envoy to Greece, Turkey, and India.[^7] + +After leaving government service, Clifford maintained a private law practice, representing major corporations such as Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Time Incorporated, and General Electric.[^8] He was known for his ability to navigate political complexities and his influence in Washington.[^9] + +### Involvement with BCCI + +Clifford became involved with BCCI through his association with [[Bert Lance]], who introduced him to [[Agha Hasan Abedi]].[^10] Clifford and his law partner, [[Robert Altman]], were instrumental in BCCI's secret acquisition of [[Financial General Bankshares]], which later became First American Bank.[^11] They served as BCCI's lead counsel in the United States and were paid substantial legal fees for their work.[^12] + +Clifford and Altman were accused of lying to U.S. banking regulators about BCCI's secret ownership of First American Bank.[^13] In February 1988, they sold a large portion of their First American stock to a BCCI front man, making significant profits.[^14] This transaction occurred amidst growing scrutiny of BCCI's activities. + +In July 1992, Clifford and Altman were indicted by a New York grand jury on charges of bribery and fraud related to their involvement with BCCI.[^15] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 9. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 9. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 185. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 185. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 185. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 185. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 185. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 186. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 187. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 181. +[^11]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 194. +[^12]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 217. +[^13]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 30. +[^14]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 215. +[^15]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 14. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cleve Backster.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cleve Backster.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cfa55cbe --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cleve Backster.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Cleve Backster +tags: + - person + - CIA + - polygraph + - researcher +description: Cleve Backster was a former CIA polygraph expert known for his experiments on plant sentience and his theory of "primary perception." +--- + +[[Cleve Backster]] was a former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] polygraph expert and interrogation specialist. He is known for his controversial experiments on plant sentience and his theory of "primary perception," which suggested that plants have consciousness and can respond to human thoughts and intentions.[^1] + +In 1966, Backster conducted an experiment where he attached polygraph electrodes to a plant and observed its responses to his thoughts, including the intention to harm it. He claimed the plant showed a measurable reaction, leading him to believe in a form of [[ESP]] in plant life. He published his findings as "Evidence of a Primary Perception in Plant Life," which became the subject of the bestselling book *The Secret Life of Plants*.[^1] + +Backster's work, while widely criticized by mainstream scientists for lacking scientific rigor, caught the attention of [[Hal Puthoff]], who was interested in exploring the boundaries of [[Animate Physics]]. Backster also conducted experiments with [[Ingo Swann]], who later became a key figure in the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Clifford Alexander.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Clifford Alexander.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..04e86c6d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Clifford Alexander.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Clifford Alexander +tags: + - person + - government + - official +description: Clifford Alexander was the U.S. Secretary of the Army who supported the Stargate Project. +--- +[[Clifford Alexander]] was the U.S. Secretary of the [[U.S. Army|Army]] during the early years of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]]. He tacitly supported the program, along with [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]] commander [[William Rolya]] and Army Chief of Staff [[Edward Meyer]]. His support, though not always overt, contributed to the project's ability to continue operating despite its controversial nature and minimal budget.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cornelius Blackshear.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cornelius Blackshear.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2ba983e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cornelius Blackshear.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Cornelius Blackshear was a U.S. Trustee in the Southern District of New York who later became a U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge for the Southern District of New York. He became a key figure in the allegations surrounding the attempted conversion of [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]'s bankruptcy case and a subsequent alleged cover-up. + +Blackshear initially testified in a deposition on March 25, 1987, that [[Philip White]], the U.S. Trustee for the District of Columbia, had told him that [[Thomas Stanton]], Director of the Executive Office of U.S. Trustees (EOUST), had tried to pressure White to convert [[INSLAW]]'s Chapter 11 reorganization to a Chapter 7 liquidation and to have [[Harry Jones]] assigned to White to effect the conversion. Blackshear also stated that Stanton had never contacted him about detailing Jones, but he thought Stanton might have approached Jones directly. This testimony supported Inslaw's primary allegation of a plot to liquidate the company. However, after speaking with White, Blackshear realized he was mistaken and had confused Inslaw with the UPI case, about which White had told him the IRS had pressured him to join a motion to convert. Blackshear then prepared and signed an affidavit recanting his deposition testimony, stating that he had confused the cases. He also gave a second deposition repeating his new recollections. During the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) investigation, Blackshear essentially repeated his recanting statements, maintaining that White had not told him Stanton pressured him to convert Inslaw, and that he had confused Inslaw with UPI. He did, however, disagree with White regarding a conversation about the possible assignment of Harry Jones to Washington, believing White had told him Stanton planned to bring Jones to Washington, while White maintained Blackshear told this to White. Blackshear also denied discussing with [[Anthony Pasciuto]] at a social gathering that he was sorry for his conduct or had given false testimony in his recantation to avoid hurting people.[^1] + +Bankruptcy Judge Bason, in his findings, chose to believe Blackshear's original testimony and found his recantation to be the result of an "honest mistake." However, several years later, in January 1991, Bason filed a complaint against Blackshear with the Judicial Council of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, stating that he now believed Blackshear recanted not due to an honest mistake but because he made a conscious choice to testify falsely. The OPR, however, credited Blackshear's recantation, noting that he had no apparent motive to lie about the matter. The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) found Blackshear's recantation implausible, noting that he had stated on four occasions prior to his recantation that White told him about pressure from Stanton to convert the Inslaw case. The PSI also found no evidence to support Blackshear's explanation that he had confused Inslaw with the UPI case. The Special Counsel's investigation concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Blackshear lied when he recanted his deposition testimony. The report acknowledged the confusion arising from Blackshear's various statements but attributed it to poor memory rather than intentional misstatements. The Special Counsel found no reason why Blackshear, a sitting bankruptcy judge, would commit perjury and jeopardize his career.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cynthia McNamara.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cynthia McNamara.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..271aa4f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cynthia McNamara.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - USA + - Peru +--- +[[Cynthia McNamara]] was an [[USA|American]] citizen who was jailed in [[Lima]], [[Peru]], accused of taking part in a [[Shining Path]] attack. She was a former hippie in her early 40s who had visited [[Ecuador]] collecting [[India|Indian]] art pieces before traveling to [[Peru]]. In [[Ayacucho]], she fell in love with a doctor named Enrique and became friends with [[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso]], the leader of the [[Shining Path]].[^1] + +[[Cynthia McNamara|McNamara]] was rearrested on August 2, 1988, because a judge in [[Cangallo]], a [[Shining Path]]-controlled district, wanted her extradited. The charge against her was involvement in smuggling medical goods to the [[Shining Path]], and she was implicated in an incident where three people were shot dead during a truck inspection. [[Donna Hamilton]], the [[USA|U.S.]] consul general, sought [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] help in securing her release.[^1] + +[[Ari Ben-Menashe]] traveled to [[Cangallo]] and, after a series of events, secured [[Cynthia McNamara|McNamara's]] release from jail. She was released on August 22, 1988, and left [[Peru]] for [[Ireland]] the next day.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cyrus Hashemi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cyrus Hashemi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..31fb0e22 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Cyrus Hashemi.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - Iran + - USA +--- +[[Cyrus Hashemi]] was one of the [[Hashemi brothers]], an [[Iran|Iranian]] living in the [[USA|West]] who claimed connections to [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini|Khomeini's]] son, [[Ahmed Khomeini]]. He was involved in secret arms sales and negotiations concerning the [[USA|American]] hostages in [[Tehran]].[^1] + +[[Cyrus Hashemi|Hashemi]] and his brothers made money selling small quantities of military equipment to [[Iran]], supposedly to gain goodwill for hostage release. He was later indicted under the [[Arms Export Control Act]] for illegal arms sales to [[Iran]], but escaped the [[USA|U.S.]] before apprehension. He subsequently agreed to become an informant for [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs]] against the [[Iran|Iranian]] exile community.[^1] + +[[Cyrus Hashemi|Hashemi]] was used by [[Oliver North]] and [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs]] in a sting operation to entrap individuals connected with [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence arms sales to [[Iran]]. He was to act as bait, claiming to have $1 billion of [[Iran|Iranian]] money to spend on weapons. He allowed his phone to be tapped and himself to be wired for this operation.[^1] + +[[Cyrus Hashemi|Hashemi]] was found dead in his [[London]] apartment, with his death attributed to a sudden case of virulent leukemia. However, [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence suspected foul play, noting the presence of [[Joe King]], a [[United States Customs Service|Customs]] officer, at his apartment shortly before his death and needle punctures on his elbow joint. Tapes of his phone calls to the [[USA|U.S.]] Attorney's office indicated a falling out with his controllers.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dale Graff.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dale Graff.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..85bcabd0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dale Graff.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Dale Graff +tags: + - person + - scientist + - military + - intelligence +description: Dale Graff is a U.S. Air Force civilian scientist who played a significant role in the Stargate Project, serving as a project manager and later as the overall manager of the program. +--- + +[[Dale Graff]] is a [[U.S. Air Force]] civilian scientist who played a significant role in the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]]. He worked in the Foreign Technology Division at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]] in Ohio, where he was responsible for keeping the Air Force and [[Department of Defense|DoD]] planners aware of cutting-edge military research in the [[Soviet Union]] and [[China]].[^1] + +Graff's interest in [[Psi|psi]] phenomena stemmed from a personal experience in 1968, where he had a profound [[Out-of-Body Experience|out-of-body experience]] while caught in a rip current. This led him to research anomalous mental phenomena, and he later sought to integrate psychic abilities into military applications.[^1] + +He authored the 1977 report "[[Paraphysics R&D - Warsaw Pact]]," which highlighted Soviet research in electromagnetic fields, quantum physics, and [[Psychokinesis]]. This report, along with his advocacy, contributed to the DoD's decision to officially fund a psychic research program.[^1] + +Graff was instrumental in the establishment and management of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program. He collaborated with [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]] of [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] and oversaw the remote viewing unit at [[Fort Meade]]. He was involved in numerous operational taskings, including the successful remote viewing of a new Chinese nuclear device and the location of a lost Soviet bomber in Zaire.[^1] + +Graff later became the overall manager of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]] under the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]], where he sought to develop a general theory for psychic phenomena. He also played a role in the program's involvement in the Iran hostage crisis and the search for General Dozier.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Daniel Ellsberg.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Daniel Ellsberg.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c3452c4a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Daniel Ellsberg.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Activist + - Analyst + - USA +--- +Daniel Ellsberg was an American activist and former military analyst who famously leaked the Pentagon Papers to the *New York Times* in 1971. In 1963, he was involved in high-level nuclear weapons issues as a deputy in the [[Pentagon]]'s Office of International Strategic Affairs. He recalled seeing a "Top Secret, Eyes Only" memorandum from [[McGeorge Bundy]] to President [[John F. Kennedy]] summarizing a change in policy toward the French, indicating that the [[United States]] would cooperate with [[France]] and allow them to use the [[Nevada]] test site for underground testing. This memorandum was dated November 22, 1963, the day of Kennedy's assassination.[^1] + +Following [[China]]'s first nuclear bomb test in 1964, Ellsberg recalled similar talk at high levels in the [[Pentagon]] about taking out the Chinese nuclear capability, with the idea of using unmarked bombers to avoid identification. He noted that cooler heads prevailed, as the mission "just looked too big to be plausibly denied."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 9, 11. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Danny Casolaro.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Danny Casolaro.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..369ee768 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Danny Casolaro.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +Danny Casolaro was an American investigative journalist who probed a complex web of organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering, and pirated software, which he termed "[[The Octopus]]." His investigation focused on the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]], the [[Iran-Contra Affair]], the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] scandal, and [[PROMIS]] software, among other interconnected events.[^1] + +Casolaro was found dead on August 10, 1991, in a hotel room in Martinsburg, West Virginia, with his wrists slashed. His death was officially ruled a suicide by local authorities. The investigation into his death concluded that there was no evidence suggesting the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] influenced the local West Virginia authorities' investigation. Physical evidence in his hotel room, including no sign of forced entry, no evidence of struggle, a suicide note, undisturbed personal effects, and the absence of footprints other than his own, strongly supported the suicide conclusion. Subsequent tests, such as handwriting analysis of the suicide note and fingerprint analysis of the bathroom, corroborated this. The autopsy found the cause of death to be hemorrhage from multiple wrist wounds, with no evidence of unconsciousness or debilitation. Police interviews of those who knew Casolaro found no substantial evidence of foul play. The investigation also noted that Casolaro had ample reason to commit suicide, being unemployed for months, dependent on family for financial assistance, facing a balloon mortgage, and having a prospective publisher refuse to advance him money for his book about "The Octopus."[^1][^2] + +His notes and investigations suggested a connection between the "[[The Octopus]]" and a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] 'Old Boy' network involved in arms and drug trafficking since the 1950s. Casolaro's work also delved into the [[Wackenhut Corporation]], the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation]] joint venture, and the alleged modification and sale of the [[PROMIS Software Scandal|PROMIS]] software to foreign governments.[^1] + +Prior to his death, Casolaro had been in contact with key figures in his investigation, including [[Michael Riconosciuto]] and [[Robert Booth Nichols]]. He was reportedly investigating a connection between [[Michael Abbell]], a former Justice Department official, and the [[Cali Drug Cartel]].[^1] + +### Bibliography + +* **Behold, A Pale Horse** (Proposed book title - later changed to The Octopus) + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. +[^2]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dave Beavers.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dave Beavers.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..53b1268b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dave Beavers.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Dave Beavers]] was a deputy in the Mariposa Sheriff's Department and a friend of [[Ron Van Meter]]. He was part of the search party for Van Meter after his alleged boating accident on Lake McClure. Beavers was one of the deputies who believed Van Meter was murdered after uncovering drug trafficking within the sheriff's department.[^1] + +Beavers, a fifteen-year veteran of the sheriff's department, was ultimately forced out of the department and retired on stress leave. He later became involved with D.I.G. (Decency in Government), an organization formed by deputies and grand jurors to expose corruption in Mariposa County.[^1] + +He was present at the scene of the "Queen's accident" on March 5, 1983, when a Mariposa County Sheriff's vehicle collided head-on with a Secret Service car. Beavers was the first deputy to arrive and maintained that he was aware of [[Roderick Sinclair]]'s drugged condition at the time. However, when questioned by [[James White]], he was not asked about the drugs, as White had been ordered to drop the criminal investigation and avoid the drug aspect of the case.[^1] + +Beavers, along with [[Ben Wagner]] and others, stood in front of the Fresno [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] building while being interviewed by Channel 3 Sacramento News. On camera, Beavers recalled observing deputies carrying packages of drugs from the Gold Coin Saloon and placing them in their patrol car.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/David Baltimore.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/David Baltimore.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4206f178 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/David Baltimore.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: + - David Baltimore +tags: + - Person + - Biologist + - Nobel Laureate +--- +David Baltimore is a Nobel Prize-winning biologist. He was the mentor of [[Garry Nolan]], a leading research scientist at [[Stanford University]] specializing in genetics, immunology, and bioinformatics[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/David Ben-Gurion.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/David Ben-Gurion.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..311ad274 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/David Ben-Gurion.md @@ -0,0 +1,28 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Israel +--- +David Ben-Gurion, often referred to as the "Old Man," was a central figure in the establishment of [[Israel]] and served as its first Prime Minister and Defense Minister from 1948 to 1963, with one brief interlude. He was a strong advocate for [[Israel]]'s self-defense and self-reliance, driven by a private nightmare of a second Holocaust at the hands of the Arabs. He believed that [[Israel]]'s security would come through its own capabilities, repeatedly linking the nation's security to its progress in science.[^1] + +Ben-Gurion was a key proponent of [[Israel]] developing its own atomic reactor, utilizing indigenous natural uranium and locally manufactured heavy water. He publicly stated that nuclear energy would soon produce electricity and desalinated water to make the [[Negev]] desert bloom. However, his primary goal was the development of a nuclear bomb, with the public statements serving as a cover. He oversaw this effort with the aid of his protégé, [[Shimon Peres]], and [[Ernst David Bergmann]], who headed the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission under the direct jurisdiction of the defense ministry.[^1] + +Ben-Gurion, Peres, and Bergmann sought international allies and private financing from wealthy American and European Jews to fund the secret nuclear program, believing any other approach would compromise its secrecy.[^1] + +Despite publicly supporting the American position in the [[Korean War]], Ben-Gurion's attempts to secure a regional security pact or inclusion under the American nuclear umbrella were unsuccessful. He even offered to send Israeli troops to fight alongside [[United Nations]] forces in South Korea, an offer declined by President [[Harry S. Truman]] due to fears of backing into a security arrangement with [[Israel]]. Throughout [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]]'s presidency, [[United States|America]] maintained an embargo on arms sales to [[Israel]], further solidifying Ben-Gurion's conviction that [[Israel]] needed an independent nuclear arsenal.[^1] + +Ben-Gurion's vision for [[Israel]]'s nuclear program was not without internal opposition. Many senior members of the ruling [[Mapai Party]] viewed an Israeli bomb as suicidal, too expensive, and too reminiscent of the horrors of the Holocaust. However, Ben-Gurion held firm, especially regarding the French-Israeli nuclear cooperation. He believed that [[Israel]]'s needs coincided perfectly with [[France]]'s, particularly in the early 1950s when both nations lacked the technical capacity to build a bomb independently.[^1] + +In late 1953, a disillusioned Ben-Gurion retired to his desert kibbutz at Sdeh Boker, near the future site of [[Dimona]]. He believed he could revive the pioneering spirit of Israeli society by resettling in the desert. His political control over the [[Mapai Party]] remained absolute, and he decreed that his jointly held positions of prime minister and defense minister be separated and filled by his chosen successors, [[Moshe Sharett]] as the new prime minister and [[Pinhas Lavon]] as defense minister. Ben-Gurion also arranged for [[Moshe Dayan]] to become the new army chief of staff, ensuring that Sharett's dovish policies would not go unchallenged.[^2] + +Ben-Gurion's immediate public mission after returning to office in 1955 was to restore the army's morale and public confidence. He was more convinced than ever that a policy of military reprisal was essential. Six days after taking office, on February 28, 1955, he authorized a large-scale retaliation against an Egyptian military camp at [[Gaza]], led by [[Ariel Sharon]], in response to a cross-border attack by Palestinian guerrillas. This raid escalated tensions and ended secret contacts between Sharett and [[Gamal Abdel Nasser|Nasser]].[^2] + +In late 1955, Ben-Gurion once again served as both defense minister and prime minister. With no international protest over the Canadian reactor sale, he decided in mid-September to formally seek French help for the Israeli bomb. He had already picked a location for the Israeli reactor in the basement of an old deserted winery at Rishon LeZion. He sent [[Shimon Peres]] with [[Ernst David Bergmann]] to [[Paris]] to negotiate for a reactor.[^2] + +Ben-Gurion was pleased with [[Charles de Gaulle]]'s promises of continued military aid, but he was not willing to trade an Israeli bomb for French warplanes. He did nothing to change the status quo at [[Dimona]] after his meeting with de Gaulle, and privately owned French construction firms continued their vigorous presence at [[Dimona]] until 1966.[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/David Elazar.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/David Elazar.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6b34cbf0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/David Elazar.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Israel +--- +David Elazar, also known as Dado, was the Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army. He was among [[Golda Meir]]'s closest aides, part of her "kitchen cabinet." During the desperate early days of the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], on Monday, October 8, Elazar was present at a dramatic all-night meeting in Meir's office in [[Tel Aviv]]. Faced with the imminent collapse of Israeli forces, the leadership resolved to implement three critical decisions: rally its collapsing forces for a major counterattack; arm and target its nuclear arsenal in the event of total collapse and subsequent need for the [[Samson Option]]; and inform [[Washington D.C.]] of its unprecedented nuclear action to demand an emergency airlift of replacement arms and ammunition.[^1] + +Elazar's daily diary, published in Hebrew, blacked out the night of October 8, recording only the phrase: "Crucial meeting." He later told an aide that he was "scared to death" during this period, as he had a child on duty at the front.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/David F. Levi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/David F. Levi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a5318b40 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/David F. Levi.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[David F. Levi]] was a [[United States Attorney|United States Attorney]]. He was named in a Writ of Mandamus filed by [[Ben Wagner]] for refusing to investigate corruption in Mariposa County.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/David Mayer.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/David Mayer.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b65c06e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/David Mayer.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[David Mayer]] was an attorney from Marin County, [[California]]. He represented [[Calvin Robinson]], who was dubbed the "drug tug" captain by local media. Mayer obtained the assistance of attorney [[David Mayer]] to represent him at his 1989 trial. However, on February 6, 1989, the night before Mayer was to appear in court to defend Robinson, he died from a gun-shot wound. His death was ruled a suicide, and a suicide tape was found.[^1] + +Mayer's attorney/client files reportedly contained documentary evidence from his client, [[Ben Kalka]], regarding Kalka's business ties with [[Michael Riconosciuto]] at [[R & R Research]], at the laboratory facilities at Hercules, [[California]], and [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dick Wilson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dick Wilson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d89c7370 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dick Wilson.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Dick Wilson]] was associated with [[Wackenhut Corporation]]. [[Robert Chasen]], Executive Vice President of [[Wackenhut Corporation]], believed that Wilson and [[Robert Frye]] were "dazzled" with [[Robert Booth Nichols]], despite Chasen's own distrust of Nichols. [[George Wackenhut]] reportedly liked Frye and Wilson, but did not trust [[Michael Riconosciuto]] or Nichols.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dino A. Brugioni.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dino A. Brugioni.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f933b323 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dino A. Brugioni.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - USA +--- +Dino A. Brugioni was a World War II veteran who served as an aerial photographer and later joined the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] in 1948. He was enticed by [[Arthur C. Lundahl]] to join his staff in the Photographic Intelligence Division, where he played a key role in analyzing reconnaissance photos, particularly from the [[U-2 Spy Plane]].[^1] + +Brugioni recalled seeing the first signs of what would become the Israeli nuclear reactor at [[Dimona]]. He and other photo interpreters observed the fencing off of a large, barren area, the construction of a new road, and significant subterranean digging and concrete pouring. They immediately suspected something unusual was happening, given the scale of the construction in the middle of the desert.[^1] + +Despite his fascination with the construction at [[Dimona]], Brugioni noted that the White House never encouraged further briefings on the matter. He prepared presidential briefing materials for Lundahl and knew the intelligence on [[Israel]] was reaching the top, but he never understood whether the White House wanted [[Israel]] to have the bomb or not.[^1] + +By the end of 1959, Brugioni and Lundahl had no doubt that [[Israel]] was pursuing nuclear weapons, and that President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] and his advisers were determined to look the other way. Brugioni and his colleagues chose not to raise questions about [[Dimona]], understanding that the hierarchy had decided to "play it cool."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dodi Fayed.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dodi Fayed.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..aeedff03 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dodi Fayed.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Dodi Fayed]] was an Egyptian multi-millionaire film producer and the son of [[Samira Khashoggi Fayed]] and [[Mohammed Al-Fayed]]. He was romantically involved with [[Diana, Princess of Wales]]. The couple died in a car crash in a Paris underpass in the early hours of August 31, 1997.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Don Curtis.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Don Curtis.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0f44f545 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Don Curtis.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Don Curtis +tags: + - person + - physicist + - researcher +description: Don Curtis was a physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory who experienced unusual apparitions related to the Uri Geller phenomena. +--- + +[[Don Curtis]] was a physicist at [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]]. He was part of the group that investigated [[Uri Geller]]'s psychokinetic abilities. After the group ceased its research activities with Geller, Curtis and his wife experienced one of the last bizarre apparitions: a hovering, holographic, one-armed man in a gray suit with a hook for a hand. This unsettling experience prompted [[Richard Kennett]] to demand a meeting with [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]] to understand the phenomena.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Don Eyles.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Don Eyles.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..40bd5035 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Don Eyles.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Don Eyles +tags: + - Person + - Computer Scientist + - NASA +--- +Don Eyles was a computer scientist who designed the guidance system on the Antares lunar lander, part of the [[Apollo Program]]. In January 1971, during the [[Apollo 14]] mission, the Antares's computer guidance system malfunctioned, flashing an "Abort" signal[^1]. + +Eyles, then twenty-seven years old, was at the instrument laboratory at [[MIT]] when [[NASA]] called him to design a workaround. He had less than two hours to create a solution that would cause the spaceship's computer to override its own Abort signal. Eyles recalled, "We deceived the program by telling it an abort was already in progress." His solution was a sixty-one-keystroke sequence[^1]. + +[[Edgar Mitchell]] on Antares copied down these critical keystrokes and entered them into the computer, allowing the mission to proceed despite the malfunction[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Donald A. Bejcek.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Donald A. Bejcek.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0320e588 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Donald A. Bejcek.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Donald A. Bejcek]] was a Secret Service agent, aged 29, who was killed in a head-on collision on March 5, 1983 (this became known as the [[Queen's Accident]]). The collision involved a Mariposa County Sheriff's vehicle driven by [[Roderick Sinclair]] and occurred while scouting Queen Elizabeth II's motorcade route in the Yosemite National Park foothills. [[George P. LaBarge]] and [[Donald Robinson]] were also killed in the accident.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Donald Carr.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Donald Carr.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e3429d34 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Donald Carr.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Donald Carr]] was writing a biography of [[Elliot Richardson]]. He served with [[William Bradford Reynolds]] in the [[Edwin Meese]] and [[Richard Thornburgh]] [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Departments]] as a Republican political appointee. In 2005, Carr showed [[William Bradford Reynolds]] a document dated May 16, 1985, which Reynolds authenticated. This document advised that the [[PROMIS]] software was being provided to an Arab Sheik for resale and general distribution.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Donald Robinson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Donald Robinson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2b652397 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Donald Robinson.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Donald Robinson]] was a Secret Service agent, aged 38, who was killed in a head-on collision on March 5, 1983 (this became known as the [[Queen's Accident]]). The collision involved a Mariposa County Sheriff's vehicle driven by [[Roderick Sinclair]] and occurred while scouting Queen Elizabeth II's motorcade route in the Yosemite National Park foothills. [[George P. LaBarge]] and [[Donald A. Bejcek]] were also killed in the accident.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Donna Hamilton.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Donna Hamilton.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0ccc107c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Donna Hamilton.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - USA +--- +[[Donna Hamilton]] was the [[USA|U.S.]] consul general in [[Peru]]. She sought the help of [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] in securing the release of [[Cynthia McNamara]], an [[USA|American]] citizen who had been rearrested in [[Peru]] on charges of aiding the [[Shining Path]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dr. Arthur Dahlem.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dr. Arthur Dahlem.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..93a3a041 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dr. Arthur Dahlem.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Dr. Arthur Dahlem]] was the Mariposa doctor and close friend of [[Roderick Sinclair]]. He had been prescribing heavy sedatives to Sinclair for years. Assistant [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] [[James White]] in Fresno ordered Dahlem's files seized to prove Sinclair's alleged drug use in connection with the "[[Queen's accident]]."[^1] + +[[Shaula Brent]], a manager at B. Dalton Bookseller who had worked at Fremont Hospital when Sinclair was brought in, recounted that Sinclair had been receiving huge daily shots of Demerol, "enough to kill most men," by order of Dr. Arthur Dahlem. After the Queen's accident, all drugs were withdrawn from Sinclair, and employees could hear him suffering aloud for days from his hospital room.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dr. Harry Fair.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dr. Harry Fair.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ee813e6e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dr. Harry Fair.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Dr. Harry Fair]] was the Chief of Propulsion Technology, Applied Sciences Division, at [[ARRADCOM]] (U.S. Army Armament Research & Development Command, Large Caliber Weapons Systems Laboratory) at [[Picatinny Arsenal]] in Dover, [[New Jersey]]. He was involved in the Railgun Project.[^1] + +Fair met with [[Michael Riconosciuto]] and [[Robert Frye]] (Vice President of [[Wackenhut Corporation]]) in May 1981 at Picatinny Arsenal. Riconosciuto conducted an extensive and highly technical theoretical blackboard exercise on a Railgun for Army personnel. Fair commented that he was extremely impressed with Riconosciuto's scientific and technical knowledge and termed him a "potential national resource," despite being apprised by [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]] that Riconosciuto had been convicted and served time for stabbing a [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] agent.[^1] + +[[Dr. John Philip Nichols]] also addressed a letter to Dr. Harry Fair on January 20, 1983, on [[Wackenhut Corporation|Wackenhut]]/[[Cabazon Indian Reservation|Cabazon]] letterhead, stating that he would be forwarding a "unique list of agents and production techniques related to biological warfare." The letter mentioned that the [[Storemont Laboratories]] business plan Nichols mailed to Fair was to prepare him for what was to be sent in the area of biological warfare, noting that these products could be used in "small countries bordering [[Albania]] or large countries bordering the [[Soviet Union]]."[^1] + +[[Robert Booth Nichols]] also wrote a letter to [[Joseph F. Preloznik]] on April 13, 1983, recapitulating the same weapons proposal outlined by [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]] to Dr. Harry Fair. [[Robert Booth Nichols]] also mentioned Fair in a February 10, 1984, letter on [[Meridian Arms]] letterhead, referring to the [[Wackenhut Corporation]] visit to Picatinny Arsenal in May 1981 and Riconosciuto's demonstration of electrostatic heat transfer augmentation.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dr. John Philip Nichols.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dr. John Philip Nichols.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a2fca9b3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dr. John Philip Nichols.md @@ -0,0 +1,30 @@ +[[Dr. John Philip Nichols]] was the administrator of the [[Cabazon Band of Mission Indians|Cabazon Indian tribe]] and a former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] agent. He played a central role in the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation|Cabazon]]/[[Wackenhut Corporation]] Joint Venture and was deeply involved in various covert operations, arms dealing, and alleged criminal activities.[^1] + +### Cabazon/Wackenhut Joint Venture + +Nichols formalized a joint venture with [[Wackenhut Corporation]] on April 1, 1981, to establish "Cabazon Arms" on the reservation. This venture aimed to manufacture high-tech arms and explosives for export, leveraging the reservation's sovereign status to bypass federal regulations. Nichols obtained a [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] secret facility clearance for the reservation and proposed the manufacture of various weapons systems, including 120mm combustible cartridge cases, 9mm machine pistols, laser-sighted assault weapons, sniper rifles, and portable rocket systems. He also sought to develop biological weapons.[^1] + +Nichols introduced [[Michael Riconosciuto]] to [[Robert Frye]], Vice President of [[Wackenhut Corporation]], and Riconosciuto conducted a theoretical blackboard exercise on a Railgun for [[Dr. Harry Fair]] at Picatinny Arsenal. Nichols was aware of Riconosciuto's past conviction for stabbing a [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] agent but still sought his expertise.[^1] + +### Alleged Criminal Activities and Connections + +Nichols was arrested in January 1985 for hiring a man to solicit the murder of five people for drug-related reasons, though the murders were not carried out due to his arrest. He was convicted of felony murder solicitation and served 18 months in prison. His son, [[John Paul Nichols]], took over his position as acting administrator during his incarceration.[^1] + +Police reports indicate that Nichols previously did business in [[Saudi Arabia]], [[South Africa]], [[Panama]], [[Nicaragua]], [[Guatemala]], [[Mexico]], [[Chile]], [[Brazil]], the [[Netherlands]], [[England]], [[Canada]], [[France]], [[Spain]], [[Japan]], [[Korea]], and [[Taiwan]]. In 1960, he managed a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Sao Paolo, [[Brazil]], and later became a Pentecostal leader in the Chilean Pentecostal movement.[^1] + +Nichols wrote himself a 10-year contract with the Cabazon tribe in 1978, granting him 50 percent of the profits from any business he brought to the reservation. He embarked on international security and military ventures, including proposals to provide security for [[Crown Prince Fahd]]'s Saudi Arabia palace and to manufacture weapons on the reservation.[^1] + +Surveillance reports from the Indio Police Department in August 1981 observed Nichols meeting with various [[La Cosa Nostra]] underworld figures, including [[Tommy Marson]], a known [[Gambino Crime Family]] associate, [[Vincent Caci Bologna]], [[Anthony Fratianno]], and [[Daniel Magano]]. These meetings were believed to involve financial transactions, suggesting Nichols acted as an intermediary between the Cabazons and the Mob.[^1] + +### Role in Murders and Cover-ups + +Nichols was implicated in the [[Fred Alvarez]] triple murders. [[Peter Zokosky]]'s time-line indicated that Nichols was in [[Canada]] with Zokosky from June 22 to June 30, 1981, providing him with an alibi for the murders of [[Fred Alvarez]], [[Ralph Boger]], and [[Patricia Castro]] on June 29, 1981. However, [[John Belton]], a Canadian source, claimed that Nichols used people in [[Canada]] to ensure he had an alibi.[^1] + +[[Jimmy Hughes]], security director of the Cabazon casino, reported that he was instructed in Nichols' presence to take $5,000 as partial payment for the Alvarez killings. Hughes later alleged that Nichols was involved in criminal activities, including issuing contracts to commit murder, and that the gambling enterprises were fronts for U.S. government-sanctioned covert military activities and arms shipments.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that Nichols' office was broken into to retrieve [[Phyllis Riconosciuto]]'s diary, which contained passwords for [[Tyme Shares]] online financial clearing house, used for accessing bank accounts. Riconosciuto also stated that Nichols and [[Peter Zokosky]] claimed that Riconosciuto was responsible for the torture and murder of [[Paul Morasca]], and that Riconosciuto had discussed torture techniques with Nichols prior to Morasca's death.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Duane Elgin.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Duane Elgin.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d71101d8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Duane Elgin.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Duane Elgin +tags: + - person + - futurologist + - psychic +description: Duane Elgin was a futurologist at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) who demonstrated strong psychic abilities and experienced profound personal transformation through his involvement in psi research. +--- + +[[Duane Elgin]] was a futurologist at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]], known for his work as an economic and cultural trend watcher. He was considered creative and levelheaded, and his reports were respected by policy makers. In late 1973 and early 1974, [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]] focused their research on Elgin and three other individuals, exploring their psychic abilities.[^1] + +Elgin demonstrated strong psychic abilities, performing well in remote viewing tests and even trying his hand at psychokinesis. He claimed to have made a pendulum swing wildly just by concentrating on it. His interest in [[Parapsychology|psi]] phenomena intensified and began to profoundly change his life. He wrote a futurological report declaring that if psi were not taken more seriously by mainstream science, there might soon be a "civil war" between psychics and non-psychics.[^1] + +Elgin eventually left SRI and took up with a Tibetan guru. He remained sane and functional, later becoming a successful author. His psi experiences at SRI were deeply transformative for him, leading him to believe that "Once you discover that space doesn't matter, or that time can be travelled through at will so that time doesn't matter, and that matter can be moved by consciousness so that matter doesn't matter—well, you can't go home again."[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dwight D. Eisenhower.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dwight D. Eisenhower.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..59f49aa3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Dwight D. Eisenhower.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - President + - Military + - USA +--- +Dwight D. Eisenhower was the 34th President of the [[United States]], serving from 1953 to 1961. His reliance on aerial photography as Allied Commander in Chief in World War II was reaffirmed by postwar bombing surveys, which concluded that a significant portion of useful intelligence came from overhead reconnaissance. Upon becoming president, he was concerned about the lack of aerial intelligence on the [[Soviet Union]] and ordered the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] to address this.[^1] + +Eisenhower authorized a daring reconnaissance program, primarily targeting the [[Soviet Union]], and assigned the development of the revolutionary [[U-2 Spy Plane]] jointly to the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and the Air Force. The U-2 became operational in July 1956, providing crucial intelligence on Soviet military and nuclear programs.[^1] + +Eisenhower and his administration, including [[John Foster Dulles]] and [[Allen Dulles]], were angered by [[Israel]]'s attempt to mask its military buildup before the 1956 [[Suez Crisis]]. The U-2 continued to monitor sensitive areas, including the [[Middle East]], and by 1958, CIA photo interpreters observed significant activity at an Israeli Air Force practice bombing range south of [[Beersheba]], which turned out to be the early signs of the [[Dimona]] nuclear reactor.[^1] + +Despite being sympathetic to [[Israel]]'s precarious international position in 1958, Eisenhower secretly authorized the U.S. Air Force to provide fighter pilot training and courses in aerial reconnaissance and photo interpretation to the Israelis. However, when presented with clear evidence of the secret nuclear reactor at [[Dimona]] in late 1958 or early 1959, Eisenhower showed no interest in a follow-up investigation, a decision that puzzled intelligence officials like [[Arthur C. Lundahl]] and [[Dino A. Brugioni]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/E. Lawrence Barcella, Jr..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/E. Lawrence Barcella, Jr..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..aabc43c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/E. Lawrence Barcella, Jr..md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Legal + - USA +--- +[[E. Lawrence Barcella, Jr.]] was a former federal prosecutor who served as the chief counsel for the [[October Surprise Task Force]]. This task force was funded by the [[USA|U.S.]] [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] to investigate allegations related to the [[October Surprise]], including those made by [[Gary Sick]] and [[Ari Ben-Menashe]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/E.B. Cartinhour.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/E.B. Cartinhour.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d9b35d50 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/E.B. Cartinhour.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[E.B. Cartinhour]] was an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent from Lexington, Kentucky. According to [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], Cartinhour was one of two [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agents who had been en route to Martinsburg to meet [[Danny Casolaro]] as part of their investigation into the sale of the [[PROMIS]] software to [[Israel]] and other intelligence agencies. Ben-Menashe claimed that Cartinhour was disaffected because his superiors had refused to indict high [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] officials for their role in the [[October Surprise]]. Ben-Menashe further alleged that the agents were prepared to give Casolaro proof that the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] was illegally using [[PROMIS]] software.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Earl Brian.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Earl Brian.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..94a49797 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Earl Brian.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +[[Earl Brian]] was a businessman and an associate of [[Edwin Meese]]. He served in Governor [[Ronald Reagan]]'s cabinet in California. Brian became a central figure in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]], alleged to have played a key role in the pirating and distribution of the [[PROMIS]] software.[^1] + +### Role in PROMIS Software Scandal + +Brian was accused of spearheading a plan for the worldwide use of the modified [[PROMIS]] software. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that Brian made a copy of the [[PROMIS]] software available to him through [[Wackenhut Corporation]] after acquiring it from [[Peter Videnieks]], a [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] contracting official. Riconosciuto performed modifications to [[PROMIS]] for its global implementation in law enforcement and intelligence agencies, including specific adaptations for the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] and the [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service|CSIS]] in [[Canada]]. It was Riconosciuto's understanding that Brian had sold this modified version of [[PROMIS]] to the [[Canadian Government]].[^1] + +Brian was also alleged to have been involved in a scheme to raise off-the-books money for covert government operations through the sale of the stolen [[PROMIS]] software. The text states that $6 million worth of software stolen from [[Bill Hamilton]] and [[Nancy Hamilton]], co-owners of [[INSLAW]], was allegedly sold by the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] through Brian for this purpose.[^1] + +### October Surprise Allegations + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that he and [[Earl Brian]] traveled to [[Iran]] in 1980 and paid $40 million to Iranian officials to persuade them not to release the [[United States|U.S.]] hostages before [[Ronald Reagan]]'s presidential inauguration. This allegation linked the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] to the [[October Surprise]] affair, creating a "domino effect" in Washington D.C. and leading to numerous investigations and media attention.[^1] + +### Connections and Testimony + +Brian owned [[Hadron Company]] at the time of [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s trial. During the trial, [[Peter Videnieks]] testified that he did not know Brian, despite being questioned about his familiarity with Hadron Company and its ownership. Videnieks was evasive about his knowledge of Brian's connection to Hadron.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Earle Jones.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Earle Jones.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..14b455e8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Earle Jones.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Earle Jones +tags: + - person + - researcher +description: Earle Jones was a branch chief at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) involved in the early remote viewing experiments. +--- + +[[Earle Jones]] was a branch chief at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]]. He was involved in the early remote viewing experiments conducted by [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]]. Jones, along with Puthoff, served as an outbound experimenter for [[Pat Price]] in the first formal test of the "outbound" protocol, where Price accurately described their location at Hoover Tower on the Stanford University campus.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ed Dames.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ed Dames.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5162f32b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ed Dames.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Ed Dames +tags: + - person + - military + - remoteviewer + - analyst +description: Ed Dames was a U.S. Army officer, remote viewing session monitor and analyst within the Stargate Project, who later became a public figure in remote viewing circles. +--- + +[[Ed Dames]] was a [[U.S. Army]] officer who served as a [[Remote Viewing|remote viewing]] session monitor and analyst within the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]]. He later became a public figure in remote viewing circles, known for his predictions and teachings on the subject. Dames' public profile contributed to the popularization of remote viewing after the program's declassification, though his claims often generated controversy.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eddie George.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eddie George.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..90cf6ca3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eddie George.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Banker", "Government Official"] +--- +Eddie George was the Deputy Governor of the [[Bank of England]].[^1] + +### Role in BCCI Scandal + +George, along with Governor [[Robin Leigh-Pemberton]], was aware of the disastrous 1990 Price Waterhouse audit of [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]], which revealed that many of BCCI's transactions were "fraudulent and deceitful."[^2] Despite this knowledge, the Bank of England agreed to a plan in spring 1990 to allow BCCI to move its headquarters to [[Abu Dhabi]] and for [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Sheikh Zayed]] to take over the bank.[^3] This action effectively concealed BCCI's problems from its depositors and creditors.[^4] + +On June 28, 1991, George and Leigh-Pemberton decided to act, informing the [[Federal Reserve Bank]] of the impending seizure of BCCI in the [[United Kingdom]].[^5] This decision was influenced by the revelations in the Price Waterhouse audit and the certainty that [[Robert Morgenthau]] and the Fed would take action.[^6] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 9. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 135. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 135. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 135. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 146. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 136. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eddy Erdelatz.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eddy Erdelatz.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..84d6182b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eddy Erdelatz.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Eddy Erdelatz]] was a former San Francisco Police inspector. In 2000, he provided a valuable lead about an obscure file, the "Paul Morasca Homicide Investigation File – Case No. 82-1052505," which had not been computerized and was essentially inaccessible without direct knowledge of its existence. Erdelatz had investigated suspected drug trafficking and money laundering in 1981, and then investigated [[Paul Morasca]]'s homicide in January 1982, placing a comprehensive report within the file relative to [[Philip Arthur Thompson]]'s suspected connections to the murder.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Edmond M. Dewan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Edmond M. Dewan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c116baeb --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Edmond M. Dewan.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Edmond M. Dewan +tags: + - Person + - Physicist + - Scientist +--- +Edmond M. Dewan was a physicist at the [[Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories]] in Bedford, [[Massachusetts]]. In the early 1960s, he pioneered the work on [[Synthetic Telepathy]], a technology that allows the brain to receive a message that it perceives to be a voice transmission, but is actually a microwave beam[^1]. + +Motivated by a desire to gain philosophical insight into the nature of [[Consciousness]], Dewan trained himself and members of his research staff to modulate the brain's alpha rhythms. They practiced until they could control their own brain waves at will, and filmed the results of their experiments. After advanced training, Dewan was able to imagine individual letters of the alphabet in Morse code and then send these coded signals to machinery[^1]. + +Dewan's first Morse code message, "I can talk," took twenty-five seconds per letter to transmit and record. The authentication of this seminal laboratory experiment in 1964 led to a *Washington Post* article titled, "Man’s Brain Waves Can ‘Talk’ Overcoming Speech Barriers"[^1]. + +His work laid the foundation for modern [[Brain-Computer Interface]] technology, which aims to enable soldiers to communicate by thought alone[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Edward Sciandra.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Edward Sciandra.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..657bd0ca --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Edward Sciandra.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Edward Sciandra]], also known as The Conductor, was alleged in [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] files to be the Underboss of the [[Bufalino Crime Family|Russell Bufalino La Cosa Nostra (LCN) family]]. He was under investigation in 1987 for various suspected offenses, including extortion, insider trading ([[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]/Universal), the purchase and sale of narcotics/controlled substances, and the allocation and use of the proceeds of its trafficking.[^1] + +Sciandra was mentioned in [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretaps, which captured conversations between [[Eugene Giaquinto]] and [[Martin Bacow]]. Bacow indicated that Sciandra wanted to go to [[Lew Wasserman]] and [[Sidney Sheinberg]] (President of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]) and tell them who they were up against. Giaquinto replied that perhaps Sheinberg would "break a toe" and end up in the hospital, or "maybe he'll break a leg."[^1] + +The intercept narration suggested that this stemmed from problems with the Northstar Graphics contract, and the [[La Cosa Nostra|LCN]] believed Sciandra was being irrational and should be "retired." If Sciandra threatened [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] executives, it would cause trouble for his nephew, [[Eugene Giaquinto]], who worked for [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]. Sciandra was also reportedly trying to get a piece of Giaquinto's share of the [[Meyer Lansky|Lansky]] film.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eileen Garrett.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eileen Garrett.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..17400baa --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eileen Garrett.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Eileen Garrett +tags: + - person + - psychic + - medium +description: Eileen Garrett was an Irish medium who was tested at Andrija Puharich's Round Table Foundation. +--- + +Eileen Garrett was an Irish medium who was well-known in New York City parapsychology circles. She was one of the psychics tested by [[Andrija Puharich]] at his [[Round Table Foundation]] in Maine.[^1] + +Garrett's psychic abilities were tested in a [[Faraday cage]] using Zener cards. According to Puharich, her ESP scores were significantly higher inside the cage, which suggested that electronic shielding had a positive impact on psychic functioning.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eldon Byrd.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eldon Byrd.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e69de29b diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ephraim Evron.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ephraim Evron.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..10bd6630 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ephraim Evron.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - Israel +--- +Ephraim Evron, also known as Effy Evron, was an Israeli diplomat who served as the Israeli ambassador to [[Washington D.C.]]. He was a favorite of President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]. In early 1968, Evron was part of the Israeli delegation that attended the Johnson-Eshkol summit meeting in [[Texas]], where they argued against selling F-4s to [[Israel]]. Despite the arguments, Johnson privately assured Evron that [[Israel]] would get the F-4s, but that he would get something out of [[Levi Eshkol]] in return.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 14. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ernst David Bergmann.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ernst David Bergmann.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..003f117b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ernst David Bergmann.md @@ -0,0 +1,29 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Israel + - Nuclear +--- +Ernst David Bergmann was a German-born Israeli organic chemist, widely considered the scientific father of the Israeli nuclear bomb. A refugee from Nazi Germany, he became director of the chemistry division at the [[Weizmann Institute of Science]] after [[Israel]]'s War of Independence in 1948. He was also chairman of [[Israel]]'s Atomic Energy Commission, established in 1952, and publicly advocated for nuclear research for peaceful purposes.[^1] + +Bergmann's dream of nuclear power plants served as an effective cover for his drive to develop nuclear weapons. He worked closely with [[David Ben-Gurion]], then Prime Minister and Defense Minister, and [[Shimon Peres]], director general of the ministry of defense. Bergmann's Israeli Atomic Energy Commission was under the direct jurisdiction of Peres and the defense ministry, indicating its true purpose was not solely peaceful.[^1] + +In the early 1950s, Bergmann also held the portfolios of scientific adviser to the minister of defense and director of research and planning for the defense ministry. These roles positioned him as a key advocate for nuclear weapons, directly contributing to [[Israel]]'s status as a nuclear-weapons state by the end of the 1960s, in collaboration with the French.[^1] + +Bergmann's early exposure to atomic science came as a student at the Emil Fischer Institute of the University of Berlin in the 1920s. He was part of a circle of eminent scientists, including [[Herman F. Mark]], who were at the forefront of nuclear fission research. In 1933, due to Nazi decrees, [[Chaim Weizmann]] arranged for Bergmann to join the faculty at Manchester University in England. He later moved to Philadelphia and then Brooklyn, continuing his research and maintaining connections with scientists involved in nuclear fission.[^1] + +After the defeat of Hitler, Bergmann migrated to Palestine to help establish the [[Weizmann Institute of Science]]. At [[David Ben-Gurion]]'s request, after [[Israel]]'s Independence in 1948, he moved to the ministry of defense, where he established the nation's first institute for defense research under [[Shimon Peres]]. Peres later stated that Bergmann was constantly speaking about a missile capability for [[Israel]] even in 1948.[^1] + +According to [[Herman F. Mark]], Bergmann was central to the development of the Israeli bomb, completely understanding nuclear fission and explaining it to others. Mark, who served on planning boards for the [[Weizmann Institute]], shared Bergmann's view on the inevitability of Israeli nuclear weapons research, believing that nuclear energy, whether for desalination, power, or a bomb, still involved fission.[^1] + +Bergmann's role in developing [[Israel]]'s nuclear arsenal remains a state secret. After his death, he became a virtual nonperson due to stringent Israeli security and self-censorship. Despite this, [[Shimon Peres]] eulogized him as one of the seven founders of the State of [[Israel]] in a 1979 book, though without mentioning nuclear weapons.[^1] + +By mid-1960, when rumors of a possible French pullout from [[Dimona]] circulated, many Israelis, including Bergmann, were ready for the French to leave, believing they could complete the project themselves. Bergmann was a founding member of the Rafi party, and continued to influence [[David Ben-Gurion]] regarding the dangers of not initiating the production of a nuclear arsenal.[^2] + +By the spring of 1966, Bergmann resigned under pressure as director of the commissionerless Israeli Atomic Energy Commission, as well as from his two high-level defense science posts. Many in the [[Levi Eshkol]] cabinet viewed his departure as long overdue. A pouting Bergmann retreated, with the aid of [[Lewis L. Strauss]], to the Institute of Advanced Studies at Princeton University.[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 5. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eugene Giaquinto.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eugene Giaquinto.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..37287b36 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eugene Giaquinto.md @@ -0,0 +1,9 @@ +[[Eugene Giaquinto]] was the president of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] home entertainment division and a significant figure in the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]'s wiretap investigation into alleged organized crime penetration of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]. He was also a board member of [[Robert Booth Nichols]]' holding company, [[Meridian International Logistics|MIL]], which was under investigation as a source of funding for narcotics trafficking.[1] + +[[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretaps recorded communications between Giaquinto and [[Robert Booth Nichols]]. These interceptions, along with the beliefs of [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] [[Marvin Rudnick]], [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent [[Thomas Gates]], and Organized Crime Strike Force member [[Richard Stavin]], indicated that [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] had been infiltrated by organized crime, specifically linking to members of the [[Gambino Crime Family]] and [[Bufalino Crime Family]]. Giaquinto reportedly enjoyed a special relationship with [[John Gotti]].[1] + +Both Giaquinto and [[Robert Booth Nichols]] were noted to have a close working relationship with the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]], according to the wiretaps. Despite the evidence gathered, the wiretaps were subsequently sealed by the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]], and no prosecutions were pursued, leading to the disbandment of the Los Angeles Organized Crime Strike Force and the resignations of key investigators.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eugene M. Braderman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eugene M. Braderman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..aefd4414 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Eugene M. Braderman.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Eugene M. Braderman was a deputy assistant secretary of state for commercial affairs. In early 1967, he approached [[William N. Dale]], then deputy chief of mission at the American embassy in [[Tel Aviv]], looking "ashen." Braderman reported that one of the Israelis at a party had told him that his primary duty, as an American Jew, was to help the [[United States]] government accept Israeli nuclear weapons. Braderman, agitated, stated, "I'm an American first, not a Jew first," and told Dale to do whatever was right with the information. Dale, however, understood that Braderman's story had nowhere to go and did nothing with it.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 12. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Faissal Ghows.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Faissal Ghows.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..358b23f1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Faissal Ghows.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - SaudiArabia +--- +[[Faissal Ghows]] was an assistant to the chief of [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi]] Security and Intelligence. He was a former classmate of [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] at the American Community School in [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], where his father was the [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi]] ambassador.[^1] + +In December 1980, [[Faissal Ghows|Ghows]] delivered $56 million to [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] in [[Guatemala]]. This money was part of a deal arranged by the [[USA|Americans]] for the release of [[USA|American]] hostages in [[Iran]]. Of the total, $40 million was in bank checks drawn on [[Banque Worms]], and $16 million was in cash. [[Faissal Ghows|Ghows]] also provided withdrawal papers from [[Banque Worms]] to legitimize the transaction.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Fern Gauvin.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Fern Gauvin.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ca591565 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Fern Gauvin.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Fern Gauvin +tags: + - person + - psychic + - remoteviewer +description: Fernand "Fern" Gauvin was a civilian counterintelligence specialist and one of the original remote viewers in the Stargate Project, known for his long history of psychic experiences. +--- +Fernand "Fern" Gauvin was a civilian counterintelligence specialist working at Arlington Hall, a military/civilian intelligence complex. He was one of the original six soldier psychics selected for the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]] program in 1977.[^1] + +Gauvin, a dark-haired, handsome Rhode Islander in his late forties, had a long history of psychic experiences and transcendental yearnings dating back to his childhood. He practiced yoga and meditation, experimented with altered states, and read books about spirit-mediums and auras. In 1975, he had an unusual out-of-body experience, an encounter with a "benevolent, luminous, loving entity" that profoundly affected him.[^1] + +Gauvin was one of the six most promising members of the team selected to travel to [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) for further evaluation of their talents. He participated in the intense, round-the-clock remote viewing sessions during the Iran hostage crisis. Like [[Nancy Stern]], he was deeply affected by the failure of the rescue mission and subsequently left the unit, vowing never to remote-view again.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Fernand Gauvin.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Fernand Gauvin.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0ea2b68e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Fernand Gauvin.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Fernand Gauvin +tags: + - person + - counterintelligence + - psychic +description: Fernand Gauvin was a civilian counterintelligence specialist and an early member of the Stargate Project's remote viewing unit, known for his spiritual leanings and psychic experiences. +--- + +[[Fernand Gauvin]] was a civilian counterintelligence specialist from Rhode Island and an early member of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]] (later [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]]) remote viewing unit. He was among the initial group of ten or eleven candidates selected by [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] and [[Murray Watt|Scotty Watt]]. Gauvin had a long history of psychic experiences and transcendental yearnings, going back to his childhood. He practiced yoga and meditation, experimented with altered states, and read books about spirit-mediums and auras. In 1975, he had an unusual out-of-body-type experience, an encounter with a benevolent, luminous, loving entity.[^1] + +Gauvin worked at Arlington Hall, home to some of the more "James Bond-ish" elements of the U.S. espionage community. He was among the six most promising members sent to [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] for two weeks of outbound remote-viewing experiments. He was present during the intense and monotonous remote viewing taskings related to the Iran hostage crisis (1979-1981). After the failed hostage rescue mission in April 1980, he left the unit, vowing never to remote-view again, highlighting the psychological toll of the relentless remote viewing operations.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Fidel Castro.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Fidel Castro.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f3741c50 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Fidel Castro.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Fidel Castro]] was the leader of [[Cuba]]. In 1960, the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] initiated a series of assassination attempts against him. These operations involved [[Robert Maheu]] as a "cut-out," who contacted organized-crime leaders [[Sam Giancana]], [[Johnny Rosselli]], and [[Santos Trafficante, Jr.]]. These individuals, in turn, enlisted the direct assistance of Cuban exiles in the assassination plots.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Floyd Bankson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Floyd Bankson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..964fead8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Floyd Bankson.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Floyd Bankson was a system engineer in the Criminal Division of the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]], involved with the implementation of Project Eagle. He was previously a secretary at the LEAA in 1977, where he worked with [[Lois Battistoni]]. + +[[Lois Battistoni]] alleged that Bankson told her that the DOJ intended to "bury [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]." However, Bankson absolutely denied these allegations. He stated that he never heard [[Lowell Jensen]] say anything derogatory about Inslaw, nor that Jensen pressured him to select the DALITE system for the DOJ's case tracking needs. Bankson also denied saying that the DOJ intended to "bury Inslaw" and was unaware of any wrongdoing related to [[PROMIS]] that needed to be concealed. According to Bankson, Battistoni "constantly" called him to ask if he had read various news articles, and he believed she enjoyed the publicity from Inslaw's allegations. The Special Counsel's investigation found no corroboration for Battistoni's claims from Bankson.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Floyd L. Culler, Jr..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Floyd L. Culler, Jr..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b3a7b61b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Floyd L. Culler, Jr..md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Nuclear + - USA +--- +Floyd L. Culler, Jr. was a leading expert in the science of nuclear reprocessing. He served as deputy director of the Chemical Technology Division at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in [[Tennessee]], where the first uranium for American nuclear weapons had been enriched. Culler led the American inspection team sent to [[Dimona]] by the [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]] administration, following a pattern that would be repeated until the inspections ended in 1969.[^1] + +Culler's team spent days at [[Dimona]], climbing through various excavations, but found nothing suspicious, despite the elaborate Israeli deception, which included a false control room and practice sessions for Israeli technicians. Culler reported to the White House that the reactor he and his colleagues inspected was nothing more than a "standard reactor." He later expressed surprise, but not shock, upon learning that his team had been duped by a false control room, acknowledging that it is possible to make a system appear to be controlling something when it is not.[^1] + +Culler was more disturbed to learn that by 1960, the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s photo interpretation team had concluded that a site was being excavated at [[Dimona]] for a chemical reprocessing plant and had even attempted to measure the amount of dirt being scooped. This intelligence had not been provided to him, and he believed it should have been.[^1] + +Culler shrugged off the Israeli cheating as inevitable, but not necessary, viewing his inspection as "part of the game of wearing away, of finding ways to not reach the point of taking action" against [[Israel]]'s nuclear weapons program. He is not convinced today that [[Israel]] was wrong to develop its own independent deterrent, stating, "They were terrified that they'd be bombed." After the first inspection in 1962, he was asked by an Israeli to raise the question of an American nuclear umbrella upon his return to [[Washington D.C.]]. Culler dutifully included an account of the Israeli concern in his secret report, which was immediately debriefed by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] upon his arrival in Washington. There was no further talk of nuclear umbrellas on subsequent inspections.[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 15. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Frances T. Fox.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Frances T. Fox.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..edb660df --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Frances T. Fox.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Frances T. Fox]] was a Vice President and Director of [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]. His career included serving as the General Manager of L.A. International Airport and as the Director of Aviation for [[Howard Hughes]] Nevada operations, which later became [[Summa Corporation]]. He also held the position of City Manager of San Jose, California.[^1] + +His involvement with [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] placed him among a group of influential individuals with ties to government and intelligence, including [[Robert Maheu]], [[Michael A. McManus]], [[Robert Booth Nichols]], and [[George K. Pender]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Frank Barnaby.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Frank Barnaby.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1a5128cd --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Frank Barnaby.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Nuclear Physicist +--- +Frank Barnaby was a nuclear physicist and former employee of [[Britain]]'s nuclear weapons installation at Aldermaston. He spent two days with [[Mordecai Vanunu]] at the request of the *Sunday Times* to verify Vanunu's account of [[Israel]]'s nuclear program. Barnaby concluded that Vanunu's account was "totally convincing." After leaving government service, Barnaby became director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), an arms control study group funded by the Swedish government.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 15. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Frank Carlucci.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Frank Carlucci.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6d629fb1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Frank Carlucci.md @@ -0,0 +1,7 @@ +[[Frank Carlucci]] was a prominent American government official who held several high-level positions, including former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] deputy director and later [[United States Secretary of Defense|Defense Secretary]]. He was also a member of the board of directors for [[Wackenhut Corporation]].[1] + +Carlucci's connections extended into the intelligence community, with [[Harold Okimoto]] reportedly working under his auspices for years. Okimoto, a figure linked to the [[Yakuza]] and alleged to be a top Japanese organized crime figure, was also described as an intelligence person who performed services for the [[United States Government|U.S. government]] during [[World War II]].[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Frank Chevrier.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Frank Chevrier.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a96cbe6f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Frank Chevrier.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - USA +--- +[[Frank Chevrier]] was a French-Canadian who transformed [[FXC International]], a company that initially produced parachutes for civilian purposes. He started as a laborer at the company and eventually became its director and owner. Under his leadership, [[FXC International]] began manufacturing parachutes for military purposes with [[Israel|Israeli]] technology.[^1] + +After [[Frank Chevrier|Chevrier]]'s fortunes changed and [[FXC International]] became a significant company, the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] approached him with the idea of opening an aircraft division. This division would allow [[FXC International]] to broker secret sales of aircraft around the world on behalf of the [[USA|U.S.]] government.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Fred Alvarez.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Fred Alvarez.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2c28351e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Fred Alvarez.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Fred Alvarez]] was the former vice-chairman of the [[Cabazon Tribal Council]]. He was a victim of an execution-style triple homicide on June 29, 1981, in Rancho Mirage, [[California]], along with his friends [[Ralph Boger]] and [[Patricia Castro]]. His murder occurred just six months before the murder of [[Paul Morasca]].[^1] + +Alvarez had been chosen to manage the [[Cabazon Casino]] shortly before his murder. Reports related to the Alvarez triple-homicide, including those concerning "[[The Octopus]]", were later found in the "Paul Morasca Homicide Investigation File" in San Francisco, as the original Riverside files were missing.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Fred Ghanem.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Fred Ghanem.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1d55981f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Fred Ghanem.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Fred Ghanem]] was a figure with special knowledge of Lebanese communities in Detroit, Houston, and Los Angeles. His expertise led to a noticeable increase in [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]]-controlled deliveries of heroin into the [[United States]]. He was identified as a relative (either a brother or cousin) of [[Maurice Ghanem]], who was involved with [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] in [[Lebanon]], and was a senior [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] official working with [[Michael T. Hurley]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Frederick Atwater.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Frederick Atwater.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b4ecdcd8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Frederick Atwater.md @@ -0,0 +1,35 @@ + --- +created: 2025-03-05 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Frederick Atwater +tags: + - person + - military + - researcher +description: Frederick "Skip" Atwater was a U.S. Army officer who was instrumental in the creation of the Stargate Project. He later became the president of the Monroe Institute, an organization focused on the study of human consciousness. +--- + +Frederick Holmes “Skip” Atwater was born in Glendale, California, growing up in a house with land, dogs, cats, a goat, and a donkey. His father was a dentist, and his mother, a homemaker, held a strong belief in the paranormal. Atwater himself had out-of-body experiences as a teenager, sometimes using this ability to "float" to distant locations. He was intrigued by the possibilities of the paranormal and had heard rumors of Soviet and CIA psi research, including successful outcomes.[^1] + +He joined the [[U.S. Army]] and after officer candidate training and espionage school at [[Fort Huachuca]], Arizona, he arrived at [[Fort Meade]] in the summer of 1977. This was a period of significant reorganization within Army intelligence, with the formation of the [[Intelligence and Security Command]] (INSCOM). Atwater was assigned to an operations security (opsec) team that became part of the [[Systems Exploitation Detachment]] (SED).[^1] + +Atwater had a strong interest in psychic phenomena and, after discovering documents left by a predecessor, Colonel Kowalski, he began to argue that remote viewing represented a potential security threat that the Army's opsec teams should study. He proposed to the head of SED, Colonel [[Robert Keenan]], that a small remote-viewing team be assembled, screening Army intelligence personnel for psychic abilities. The proposal was approved by Major General [[Edmund Thompson]], the Army's assistant chief of staff for intelligence (ACSI), who had his own interest in psi and wanted a secret unit of experimental psychic spies.[^1] + +The project was initially codenamed [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]], and Atwater, along with his commanding officer, Major [[Murray Watt|Scotty Watt]], was tasked with selecting and training the first remote viewers. They recruited a team of six from the local population of Army intelligence personnel, including [[Mel Riley]], [[Joe McMoneagle]], and [[Ken Bell]]. Atwater and Watt visited [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) to understand how to select good remote viewers, learning that artistic talent, visual-spatial intelligence, and creativity were associated with high scores. They used a stealthier approach to recruitment, contacting INSCOM unit commanders and the National Photographic Interpretation Center (NPIC) to identify potential candidates, particularly photo-interpreters, and then conducting personal interviews focusing on paranormal beliefs and experiences.[^1] + +Atwater served as the unit's operations officer, shaping incoming taskings into remote-viewing strategies, deciding who would serve as monitor and viewer, and presenting the final product. He was a firm believer in the potential of remote viewing and was a staunch defender of the program. He often dealt with officials from other agencies, ensuring the remote viewers provided the necessary information. He emphasized a "blind" protocol for initial sessions, where the viewer knew only the target type, allowing for self-correction. He also discovered that certain viewers had unique talents, such as [[Ken Bell]]'s ability to connect with human targets, [[Mel Riley]]'s artistic skill, [[Hartleigh Trent]]'s ability to take directions, and [[Joe McMoneagle]]'s talent for picking up technological details and perceiving radioactive material as a green haze.[^1] + +Atwater experimented with various applications of remote viewing, including informal "associative remote viewing" (ARV) experiments to win the Maryland lottery and a treasure hunt in Virginia, though these were unsuccessful. He also came up with suggestions for psi countermeasures, such as placing gifts from Communist countries in innocuous locations and festooning sensitive sites with strange objects to confuse Soviet remote viewers, though these were largely dismissed by mainstream intelligence officials.[^1] + +When the program became operational and was renamed [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]], Atwater continued in his role as operations officer. He faced challenges, including the "giggle factor" from skeptical officials and the intense pressure during the Iran hostage crisis, which led to burnout among the remote viewers. He remained with the unit until his retirement from the Army in 1987 or 1988, managing to keep a nucleus of original members in place.[^1] + +After retiring from the Army, Atwater became the director of research for the [[Monroe Institute]] and then acting director following the death of [[Laurie Monroe]] and finally President in 2006 until his retirement in 2012. + +## Publications +Atwater published or contributed to numerous papers regarding [[Hemi-Sync]] for the [[Monroe Institute]]. +### Books +Atwater wrote a book of memoirs released 2001 entitled *Captain of My Ship, Master of My Soul: Living with Guidance* (ISBN-10 1571742476). +In 2024, he released *Project 8200: UFO/UAP Bases and Activities: The original Remote Viewing Transcripts* (ISBN-10 3911151047). +# Footnotes + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gary Estep.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gary Estep.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bb6499b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gary Estep.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Gary Estep]] was a deputy in the Mariposa Sheriff's Department and part of the search party for [[Ron Van Meter]] after his alleged boating accident on Lake McClure.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gatsha Buthelezi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gatsha Buthelezi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2c4b0caf --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gatsha Buthelezi.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - SouthAfrica +--- +Chief [[Gatsha Buthelezi]] was a figure in [[South Africa]] who led "black death squads" that were involved in violence against black revolutionary groups, including the [[African National Congress]]. This was part of an operation facilitated by the [[PROMIS]] software, which tracked dissidents and generated death lists. The term "Kushi kills Kushi" was used in [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence circles to describe these actions.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/General Daniel Lopez Carballo.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/General Daniel Lopez Carballo.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6672d47c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/General Daniel Lopez Carballo.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[General Daniel Lopez Carballo]] was a retired Honduran General and a member of FGBMFI ([[Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International]]). He was a keynote speaker at a FGBMFI dinner event in Fresno, [[California]], in February 2008, alongside [[Jimmy Hughes]].[^1] + +Lopez Carballo was identified in a Spanish publication, *Publico.es*, as the "designer of the military strategy of the coup d'etat" that ousted President [[Manuel Zelaya]] in [[Honduras]] on June 28, 2009. He, along with [[Romeo Vásquez Velásquez]], placed [[Roberto Micheletti]] in office as Zelaya's successor. Lopez Carballo justified the coup by stating that [[Venezuelan President]] [[Hugo Chávez]] would eventually be running [[Honduras]] by proxy if the military had not acted.[^1] + +Lopez Carballo had been trained at the [[School of the Americas]] (SOA/WHINSEC), attending at least twice, in 1976 and 1984. He was also mentioned as a friend of [[Jimmy Hughes]], who ministers to the military and trains military personnel in [[Honduras]].[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George A. Cowan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George A. Cowan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e3c97c08 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George A. Cowan.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Nuclear + - USA +--- +George A. Cowan was an American scientist who spent more than twenty years designing nuclear weapons at [[Los Alamos]]. He acknowledged that there was always a close association with Israeli physicists from the [[Weizmann Institute of Science]], who visited the labs. Cowan believed that the Israelis were smart enough to do their own research and that the need for secret information was largely promoted by spy novelists.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 15. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George Ball.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George Ball.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2b633c69 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George Ball.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +George Ball served as the Under Secretary of State during the [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]] administration. His office was responsible for rewriting [[William R. Crawford]]'s draft letter from President Kennedy to [[David Ben-Gurion]] regarding [[Israel]]'s nuclear program at [[Dimona]]. Ball's office held onto the letter for days, eventually provoking a complaint from the White House, and when his rewritten version emerged, it had the same message but in "JFK prose."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George Cave.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George Cave.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5242d6c8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George Cave.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - USA +--- +[[George Cave]] was a longtime [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] official and an [[Iran|Iranian]] expert, fluent in Farsi. He was officially purged from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] in 1977 but remained active until 1989. His career was somewhat parallel to [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]].[^1] + +[[George Cave|Cave]] was a member of what [[Israel]] called the "[[Iran Group]]," headed by [[Robert Gates]], which was created as a result of the October 1980 [[Paris meeting]]. Due to his expertise on [[Iran]], he participated with the [[Israel|Israelis]] in arms sales. He became well-known in [[Washington D.C.]] circles and was very close to [[Robert Gates|Gates]].[^1] + +[[George Cave|Cave]] was present at the October 1980 [[Paris meeting]], along with [[George Bush]], [[William Casey]], [[Robert McFarlane]], and [[Donald Gregg]]. He was also present at the [[Santiago]] meeting in late 1986, where [[USA|U.S.]] officials reaffirmed their intention to maintain arms channels to [[Iraq]].[^1] + +In February 1989, [[George Cave|Cave]] was spotted in [[Paraguay]] with [[Earl Brian]], visiting [[Andres Rodriguez|Gen. Andres Rodriguez]] prior to the coup against [[Alfredo Stroessner|President Stroessner]]. [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] confronted [[George Cave|Cave]] about his presence, and [[George Cave|Cave]] claimed to be there on personal business.[^1] + +[[George Cave|Cave]] was named as an enemy of the state by an [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence committee in March 1989, due to his involvement in supplying [[Iraq]] with chemical weapons and nuclear technology.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George Deukemejian.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George Deukemejian.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ad79b9f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George Deukemejian.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[George Deukemejian]] was the Governor of [[California]]. He was named in a Writ of Mandamus filed by [[Ben Wagner]] for refusing to investigate corruption in Mariposa County.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George Francis Bason, Jr..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George Francis Bason, Jr..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c9d6488e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George Francis Bason, Jr..md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +George Francis Bason, Jr. was a Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Columbia. He was appointed on February 8, 1984, to fill a vacancy, and his term was set to expire on February 8, 1988. His non-reappointment became a central point of contention in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]], with allegations that the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] improperly influenced the selection process in retaliation for his rulings in the [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] case. + +Judge Bason ruled orally on September 28, 1987, that the DOJ had stolen and converted Inslaw's [[PROMIS]] software. He subsequently issued a written opinion in favor of Inslaw, finding that the DOJ fraudulently converted [[INSLAW]]'s software and ordering damages of approximately $6.8 million. His judgment was affirmed by the district court but ultimately reversed on jurisdictional grounds by the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Judge Bason found that [[C. Madison Brewer]] was "consumed by hatred for and an intense desire for revenge against INSLAW," and that Brewer's actions were part of a strategy to ruin Inslaw. He also concluded that [[Lowell Jensen]]'s biased attitude contributed to the situation where Inslaw's complaints about Brewer went unheeded. Furthermore, Judge Bason found that the DOJ, through its employees, unlawfully and intentionally sought to convert Inslaw's Chapter 11 reorganization to a Chapter 7 liquidation, and that [[Thomas Stanton]] struck a bargain with Brewer to achieve this.[^1] + +After his non-reappointment, Judge Bason suggested that the DOJ must have improperly influenced the selection process. He sent a 14-page letter to Chief Judge [[Patricia Wald]] on January 12, 1988, alleging that the DOJ may have obstructed his reappointment. He identified [[Nelson Deckelbaum]], [[Marcie Docter]], and [[Nelson Kline]] as individuals who speculated that his Inslaw ruling was the cause of his non-reappointment. The DOJ subsequently moved to recuse Bason from further proceedings in the Inslaw case, citing his letter to Chief Judge Wald as a basis for perceived bias. Judge Bason denied the motion, and the District Court and Court of Appeals upheld his decision. On February 1, 1988, seven days before his term expired, Bason filed a lawsuit seeking to enjoin [[S. Martin Teel, Jr.]] from being sworn in, but this was unsuccessful. Just prior to his departure, he issued a written opinion in favor of Inslaw and awarded damages and attorneys' fees against the DOJ.[^1] + +The Special Counsel's investigation found no evidence that anyone tried to influence the selection process improperly. It concluded that Judge Bason's allegations were not supported by credible evidence and that his claims were based on speculation and uncorroborated information. The report noted that while Judge Bason was understandably disappointed by his non-reappointment, the evidence did not support his claims of DOJ obstruction.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George H.W. Bush.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George H.W. Bush.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f36844f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George H.W. Bush.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government + - Vice President +--- +George H.W. Bush served as the Vice President under President [[Ronald Reagan]]. He was present at a meeting of Reagan's high command following the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] in June 1981, where he agreed that some sanctions against [[Israel]] were essential.[^1] + +--- + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George P. LaBarge.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George P. LaBarge.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..79b6e13e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George P. LaBarge.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[George P. LaBarge]] was a Secret Service agent, aged 41, who was killed in a head-on collision on March 5, 1983 (this became known as the [[Queen's Accident]]). The collision involved a Mariposa County Sheriff's vehicle driven by [[Roderick Sinclair]] and occurred while scouting Queen Elizabeth II's motorcade route in the Yosemite National Park foothills. [[Donald Robinson]] and [[Donald A. Bejcek]] were also killed in the accident.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George Vinson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George Vinson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ba211afa --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/George Vinson.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[George Vinson]] was the regional director of the Fresno [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]. He was named in a Writ of Mandamus filed by [[Ben Wagner]] for refusing to investigate corruption in Mariposa County. [[Vivian L. Wagner]], Ben Wagner's wife, stated in a letter to President [[Ronald Reagan]] that her husband took two witnesses, [[Kay Ritter]] and [[Robert Ashmore]], to Vinson to present testimony, but Vinson failed to redress their grievances and did not return Ben Wagner's phone calls. It was understood through a reliable source that Vinson felt the complaints had "no substance."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gerald Bull.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gerald Bull.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..af261a03 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gerald Bull.md @@ -0,0 +1,34 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Engineer + - ArmsDealer +--- +[[Gerald Bull]] was a Canadian scientist and aeronautical engineer known for his work on long-range artillery, particularly the "supergun" project. He was involved in developing artillery that could shoot payloads over remarkable distances without the need for missiles.[^1] + +### Israeli Artillery Contracts + +[[Israel]] had contracted with Dr. Gerald Bull for the supply of specially configured artillery shells whose range was extended as much as 25 percent. American weapons experts understood that given the inaccuracy of an artillery shell fired at such long range, [[Israel]]'s real goal had to be the use of nuclear weapons. One American expert noted that if a shell is going forty-five miles and precision is three percent of range, it would hit nothing much with a high explosive shell, implying the need for a nuclear weapon. This information, including suggestions that [[Israel]] had targeted [[Damascus]] with these special cannons during the [[Yom Kippur War]], was reported to U.S. intelligence.[^2] + +### South African Connections + +In 1981, Bull approached [[Israel Military Industries]] in [[Israel]] hoping to sell his project, but they were more interested in missile technology. In 1983, [[Mark Thatcher]], son of British Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]], introduced Bull to [[Pieter Van Der Westhuizen|Gen. Pieter Van Der Westhuizen]], chief of [[South African Military Intelligence]], who in turn connected him with [[South African Arms Corporation|ARMSCOR]]. ARMSCOR contracted Bull for his artillery project.[^1] + +### Arrest and Relocation + +Bull was later arrested by the [[USA|U.S.]] Attorney for the Southern District of [[New York]] and the [[United States Customs Service]] for violating the Munitions Export Act by exporting military technology to [[South Africa]]. After plea bargaining, he spent about six months in a federal jail. Upon his release, he moved to [[Brussels]], [[Belgium]], and continued his work.[^1] + +### Iraqi Supergun Project + +He was commissioned to develop his supergun for [[Iraq]], with funding channeled through [[Carlos Cardoen|Carlos Cardoen's]] financial network. Bull believed his supergun would work and would bring peace by creating a balance of terror, arguing that [[Iraq]] only sought to defend itself against potential attacks from the [[USA|Americans]] and [[Israel|Israelis]].[^1] + +### Israeli Intervention and Assassination + +In late November 1988, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] met with Bull in his [[Brussels]] apartment to persuade him to stop his supergun project. Ben-Menashe offered Bull $5 million to scrap the project, but Bull refused. Ben-Menashe warned him about the "terrible accidents" happening to various people involved in similar activities.[^1] + +[[Gerald Bull]] was named as an enemy of the state by an [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence committee and was placed on an execution list, along with [[Ihsan Barbouti]] and 12 other scientists. He was killed in March 1990 in his [[Brussels]] apartment, an act attributed to [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. _Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network_. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") [^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 16. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gerald Feinberg.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gerald Feinberg.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3779a19a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gerald Feinberg.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Gerald Feinberg +tags: + - Person + - Physicist + - Professor +--- +Gerald Feinberg was a physics professor at [[Columbia University]]. He was working on hypotheses involving a subatomic particle called a [[Tachyon]], which is proposed to be superluminal, or faster-than-light[^1]. + +His work, along with that of [[Yakov Terletsky]], attracted the attention of [[Hal Puthoff]], who was interested in whether the tachyon flow could account for an "extra field" or force that physics couldn't yet see, potentially explaining [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and other anomalous mental phenomena[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gerardo Catena.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gerardo Catena.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..63c99646 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gerardo Catena.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Gerardo Catena]] was a chief lieutenant to the [[Genovese Crime Family]]. He owned almost 20 percent of the Murchison Oil Lease Company in Oklahoma.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ghanim Fan's al-Mazrui.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ghanim Fan's al-Mazrui.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1ca7d32a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ghanim Fan's al-Mazrui.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Government Official", "BCCI"] +--- +Ghanim Fan's al-Mazrui was the Head of [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Sheikh Zayed]]'s Private Department and a [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] board member.[^1] He was also the director general of His Highness's Private Department and a longtime director of BCCI, effectively running [[Abu Dhabi]] alongside Sheikh Zayed.[^2] + +### Role in BCCI Operations + +Al-Mazrui's involvement with BCCI was significant, particularly in the bank's relationship with the Abu Dhabi government. He was a key figure in the discussions surrounding the restructuring of BCCI, especially after the bank faced financial difficulties.[^3] + +He was also connected to [[William Casey]], the former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] Director, through the [[Bank of Oman]], which was a major affiliate of BCCI and channeled funds for the [[Afghanistan|Afghan]] freedom fighters.[^4] + +Al-Mazrui's involvement in the BCCI scandal was a matter of public knowledge, and his actions were closely scrutinized during the investigations into the bank's illicit activities.[^5] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 10. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 92. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 128. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 351. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 394. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Glenn R. Cella.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Glenn R. Cella.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f8b6c01a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Glenn R. Cella.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - USA +--- +Glenn R. Cella was a foreign service officer who, in the summer of 1971, was assigned to handle political-military affairs on the [[State Department]]'s Israeli desk. He also became the department's representative on the [[Middle East]] Task Force, an interagency group monitoring American arms transfer policies. Cella quickly learned about [[Carl E. Duckett]]'s suppressed [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] estimate on [[Israel]]'s nuclear arsenal and realized that any pressure on [[Israel]] to stop its nuclear weapons program would not come from the task force or the [[State Department]].[^1] + +Cella was dismayed that a study of the military balance in the region, ordered by the [[State Department]]'s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR), made no mention of Israeli nuclear capability. He believed the U.S. ought to "face up to the fact that they had it," but acknowledged that "nobody was allowed to talk about it."[^1] + +A few months later, Cella was notified that an Israeli request for the sale of krytrons had been routinely approved by his [[Pentagon]] counterpart on the task force. Cella, initially told they were for strobe lights, later learned that krytrons were essential electronic timing devices used to trigger nuclear bombs. He also noted that the U.S. budget later included funds for two supercomputers for the [[Weizmann Institute of Science]], whose function included nuclear simulation, and he did not fight it.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 16. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gokal brothers.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gokal brothers.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ecceedb8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gokal brothers.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Business", "Shipping", "BCCI"] +--- +The Gokal brothers, [[Abbas Gokal]], [[Murtaza Gokal]], and [[Mustafa Gokal]], were [[Pakistan|Pakistani]] businessmen who ran the [[Gulf Group]], a [[London]]-based shipping company.[^1] They were closely associated with [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] and the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]], and were believed to be BCCI's largest debtor.[^2] + +### Business Operations and BCCI Connections + +The Gokal brothers used BCCI money to build their shipping empire, chartering more ships in one year than [[China]] and [[India]] combined during their heyday.[^3] Their loans from BCCI topped out at $831 million in 1990 and were never repaid, contributing significantly to BCCI's financial problems.[^4] + +[[Mustafa Gokal]] was named Pakistan's minister for shipping, a position facilitated by Abedi, highlighting the intertwined relationship between BCCI and the Pakistani government.[^5] The Gokal brothers were also used by BCCI as a front for various transactions, including an attempt to acquire Chelsea National Bank in [[New York]] in 1975.[^6] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 9. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 9. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 139. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 140. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 315. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 11. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gourdji.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gourdji.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fe1fc7bd --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gourdji.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Family + - Business + - Politics + - Israel + - Iran +--- +[[Gourdji]] was the father of [[Ari Ben-Menashe]]. He received a French education at the Alliance School in [[Baghdad]]. Before settling in [[Iran]], he traveled extensively, including to [[India]], [[France]], [[Palestine]], and the [[Soviet Union]].[^1] + +In [[Palestine]] in 1940, [[Gourdji]] was involved with [[LEHI]] (Fighters for the Liberation of [[Israel]]), also known as the [[Stern Gang]], a Jewish terrorist group. He knew [[Yitzhak Shamir]], who was also part of the [[Stern Gang]].[^1] + +He established an import-export business in [[Iran]] with his brother and later acquired the [[Mercedes Benz]]/Bosch car and spare-parts franchise for [[Iran]] in the 1950s. Despite his business success, he yearned to move to [[Israel]] when the political climate allowed. [[Gourdji]] held socialist sympathies and an unusual philosophy for his affluent, capitalist, [[USA|American]]-oriented society, which led to him not being fully accepted by the Iraqi-Jewish community in [[Tehran]].[^1] + +He supported the [[Gahal]] (later the [[Likud Party]]), a merger of [[Menachem Begin|Menachem Begin's]] Herut Party and the [[Israel Liberal Party]], due to his view of the [[Labor Party]] as self-serving and intertwined with the [[USA|United States]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gunther Karl Russbacher.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gunther Karl Russbacher.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3c3ad548 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Gunther Karl Russbacher.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Gunther Karl Russbacher]] was a client of attorney [[Paul Wilcher]]. Wilcher believed Russbacher to be a political prisoner, persecuted because he allegedly flew former President [[George Bush]] to [[Paris]] to meet with leading Iranians to make a deal to supply [[Iran]] with weapons in exchange for that government keeping the 52 American hostages until after the November election, ensuring [[Ronald Reagan]]'s victory. The deal was that the hostages would be delivered to [[Ronald Reagan]] as soon as Reagan was inaugurated in 1981. This came to be known as the [[October Surprise]].[^1] + +Wilcher was working daily for Russbacher and wanted to ask [[Janet Reno]], the new [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]], to grant immunity from prosecution to Russbacher so that he might testify to the [[United States Government|government]] about activities inside the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Hans Bethe.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Hans Bethe.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..40eb6fca --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Hans Bethe.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Nuclear Physicist + - USA +--- +Hans Bethe was a German-American theoretical physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1967. He helped design the first American nuclear and thermonuclear weapons. Bethe recalled three visits to the [[Weizmann Institute of Science]] where his hosts would "take me anywhere and discuss anything with me." However, they never offered to take him to [[Dimona]], which Bethe found significant, as he was interested in nuclear power reactors.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 15. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Harold M. Agnew.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Harold M. Agnew.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8c8d26fc --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Harold M. Agnew.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Nuclear + - USA +--- +Harold M. Agnew was an American physicist and director of the [[Los Alamos]] laboratory from 1970 to 1979. He was a member of the Nuclear Intelligence Panel (NIP), a highly classified nuclear intelligence group in the U.S. government. Agnew and other NIP members were dismayed by the extent of White House interference in the investigation of the 1979 [[VELA Satellite]] sighting, which they concluded was a low-yield nuclear weapon detonation. Agnew famously stated, "If it looks like a duck, it's got to be a duck," in reference to the event, but noted that this was "not an answer [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] liked."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 20. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Henry Grunwald.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Henry Grunwald.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bb38a707 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Henry Grunwald.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Media + - USA +--- +[[Henry Grunwald]] was the editor-in-chief of *Time* magazine. He was responsible for vetoing the publication of [[Raji Samghabadi|Samghabadi's]] story detailing the [[Oliver North|North]]-[[Amiram Nir|Nir]] operation, which later became known as the [[Iran-Contra Affair]]. This decision was seen by some as an example of media control in the [[USA|U.S.]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Hermann F. Eilts.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Hermann F. Eilts.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bedf46e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Hermann F. Eilts.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - USA +--- +Hermann F. Eilts was the American ambassador to [[Egypt]]. He worked closely with [[Henry A. Kissinger]] during the intense [[Middle East]] shuttle diplomacy of the mid-1970s. Eilts was handpicked by Kissinger for the assignment to [[Cairo]] in October 1973, arriving at the end of the [[Yom Kippur War]].[^1] + +In a conversation with Kissinger in early November 1973, Eilts was told that the Israelis had "panicked" on the fourth day of the war (October 9), leading to the decision to assist them. However, Kissinger did not mention any nuclear arming at that time. It was only in a final meeting in late 1976, at the end of the [[Gerald R. Ford|Ford]] administration, that Kissinger casually mentioned a concern that the Israelis might go nuclear if they didn't receive military equipment quickly. Eilts was surprised that this information had not come out earlier and by Kissinger's casual attitude.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/I. M. Kogan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/I. M. Kogan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5edb12c7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/I. M. Kogan.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: I. M. Kogan +tags: + - person + - scientist + - engineer + - Soviet +description: I. M. Kogan was a Soviet electrical engineer and parapsychologist who researched psi phenomena from a communications perspective. +--- +I. M. Kogan was a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] electrical engineer and parapsychologist who approached psi research from a communications perspective. Unlike some other Soviet researchers, his work was considered relatively serious by Western intelligence agencies.[^1] + +Kogan, like many [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] researchers, hypothesized that psi was a low-frequency radio system built into human brains. He conducted experiments to characterize psi data transmission, concluding that it could transmit about 0.1 "bit" of information per second within a laboratory, decreasing to 0.005 bits per second over six hundred miles.[^1] + +His work gained further attention when it suddenly disappeared from public view around 1969, coinciding with reports that the [[Soviet Union|KGB]] had begun to fund and direct his laboratory at the Popov Society. This suggested a heightened interest from Soviet intelligence in the practical applications of psi.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Idi Amin.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Idi Amin.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..03e89b32 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Idi Amin.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Uganda +--- +[[Idi Amin]] was the self-proclaimed president of [[Uganda]]. He was installed in a military coup planned and led by former [[Israel|Israeli]] military attaché Col. Baruch Bar Lev. Relations between [[Israel]] and [[Idi Amin|Amin]] were at their lowest at the time of the 1976 [[Entebbe hijacking]].[^1] + +Relations between [[Israel]] and [[Uganda]] deteriorated after [[Muammar Qaddafi|Col. Muammar Qaddafi]] of [[Libya]] promised money to black [[Africa|African]] nations if they cut ties with [[Israel]]. Despite this, [[Idi Amin|Amin]] still wore the paratrooper's wings bestowed on him by the [[Israel|Israeli]] military during his training in [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ihsan Barbouti.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ihsan Barbouti.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f5d2a14b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ihsan Barbouti.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - Intelligence + - Egypt + - USA +--- +[[Ihsan Barbouti]] was an Egyptian national living in the [[USA|U.S.]]. He was involved in the procurement of materials for chemical weapons and had connections to various intelligence operations. + +Barbouti procured artillery cups for [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen's]] [[Santiago]]-produced chemical weapons from [[West Germany]]. He had previously provided equipment for chemical weapons to [[Libya]] and was known for arranging for former [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] scientists to work on missile technology in [[Egypt]] in the 1950s. He faked his death to escape [[Mossad]] and resurfaced in the [[USA|U.S.]] in the early 1980s. According to [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence, he later cut a deal with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and began working on its behalf with [[Arab countries]], basing himself in [[Texas]] and [[Florida]].[^1] + +He had an interest in [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen's]] "agricultural project" (chemical plant) in [[Paraguay]], which was a joint venture, sourcing materials from [[Florida]] and [[Texas]]. Barbouti was also involved in nuclear missile projects in [[Iraq]] through the [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen]] network. He was named as an enemy of the state by an [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence committee and was placed on an execution list, though [[Yitzhak Shamir]] intervened to put the executions on hold.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Irving Azoff.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Irving Azoff.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..96b12038 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Irving Azoff.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Irving Azoff]] was in charge of the record division of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]. He was mentioned in [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretaps, which captured conversations between [[Eugene Giaquinto]] and [[Martin Bacow]]. On June 30, 1987, Giaquinto told Bacow that Azoff was "planning to take over the whole thing."[^1] + +On July 24, phone conversations took place in which Azoff, [[Sal Pisello]], and the investigation of the record division of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] were discussed. Giaquinto said he was considering sending the [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] board of directors an incriminating letter prepared in 1985 on behalf of Pisello, sent to Azoff, which would conflict with Azoff's testimony at the trial.[^1] + +On July 12, Bacow asked Giaquinto if Azoff had something on [[Sidney Sheinberg]]. Giaquinto replied that it had been "bandied about" and he would know more when other documents came in. This was interpreted in the intercept as Giaquinto obtaining confidential government information from some government agency personnel in Washington D.C.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Itzhak Bentov.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Itzhak Bentov.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2dfe2c98 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Itzhak Bentov.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Itzhak Bentov +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Engineer +--- +# Itzhak Bentov + +Itzhak Bentov was an Israeli rocket scientist, biomedical engineer, and author known for his work on "the mechanics of consciousness." He designed [[Israel]]'s first rocket for the War of Independence and invented the steerable cardiac catheter, which paved the way for many biomedical engineering inventions[^1]. + +In the fall of 1970, Bentov attended a conference in Rye, New York, titled "Exploring the Energy Fields of Man," where he spoke of a twenty-three-year-old Israeli man with extraordinary powers of [[Psychokinesis|psychokinesis]] and [[Telepathy|mental telepathy]]. During a demonstration at Israel's University of Technology, this man, [[Uri Geller]], had reportedly stopped and started broken watches, moved the needle on a stationary compass, and bent metal by thought alone[^1]. + +Bentov's lecture intrigued [[Andrija Puharich]], who was also present at the conference. Puharich, seeking to find a psychic who could be tested under laboratory conditions to secure a government research contract, asked Bentov for more information about Geller. This introduction ultimately led to Puharich bringing Geller to the United States for testing by the [[CIA]] at [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI)[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jack Anderson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jack Anderson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0afbcf15 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jack Anderson.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Jack Anderson +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - Columnist +--- +Jack Anderson (1922–2005) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American investigative journalist and syndicated columnist for *The Washington Post*. He was known for his muckraking style and his ability to uncover classified government information[^1]. + +Anderson brought Lieutenant Colonel [[John B. Alexander]]'s article, "The New Mental Battlefield: Beam Me Up, Spock," to national attention by writing about it in his column under the heading "Voodoo Warriors of the Pentagon." In his column, Anderson surmised that the generals at the [[Pentagon]] were "dabbling in the dark arts," using Ouija boards and the evil eye, and studying programs "a Haitian witch doctor might try." The wire services picked up the story, and it went national, causing a stir within the military establishment[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jack Blum.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jack Blum.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ace931cf --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jack Blum.md @@ -0,0 +1,32 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Investigator", "Lawyer", "Government", "BCCI"] +--- +Jack Blum is a former Senate investigator and chief counsel to Senator [[John Kerry]]'s Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics, and International Operations. He is widely recognized for his tireless efforts in exposing the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] scandal.[^1] + +### Early Career and Government Service + +Blum arrived in [[Washington, D.C.]] in 1965, after graduating from Columbia Law School. He began his career as an investigator for Senator Phil Hart's antitrust subcommittee.[^2] His work caught the attention of Senator J. W. Fulbright, who moved him to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. By the mid-1970s, Blum had established himself as a permanent fixture in Washington, serving as counsel to Senator Frank Church's subcommittee on multinational corporations.[^3] + +His investigations into the Lockheed payoff scandals led to significant political repercussions, including the toppling of a Japanese government, the imprisonment of Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, and the abdication of the Queen of the Netherlands.[^4] He was a driving force behind the creation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Blum's questioning of former [[CIA]] Director [[Richard Helms]] in a closed-door session led to Helms's indictment for perjury.[^5] + +In 1976, Blum entered private practice, where he remained for ten years. He re-entered the public sector in 1986 as special counsel to Senator John Kerry's subcommittee, where he spearheaded probes into drug trafficking.[^6] + +### Role in the BCCI Investigation + +Blum became deeply involved in the BCCI investigation after learning that the bank was at the epicenter of [[Manuel Noriega]]'s financial dealings.[^7] He pushed for a serious investigation into BCCI, but his efforts were initially brushed aside, leading him to believe there was a high-level cover-up.[^8] + +He was a crucial source for journalists [[Jonathan Beaty]] and [[S. C. Gwynne]], providing them with critical information and insights into BCCI's global criminal empire. Blum revealed that BCCI secretly owned [[First American Bank]] and that [[Clark Clifford]] and [[Robert Altman]] had lied to U.S. banking regulators about this ownership.[^9] He also brought the BCCI case to the attention of Manhattan District Attorney [[Robert Morgenthau]], who then launched his own investigation.[^10] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 8. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 23. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 23. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 23. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 23. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 24. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 25. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 26. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 30. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 32. +[^11]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 21. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jacques Bergier.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jacques Bergier.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ae30fb32 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jacques Bergier.md @@ -0,0 +1,27 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Jacques Bergier +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - Spy + - Author +--- +# Jacques Bergier + +Jacques Bergier was a journalist, former French resistance spy, and author with strong ties to the intelligence community and an interest in the supernatural. He is known for bringing secret government [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] programs to public attention[^1]. + +In December 1959, Bergier published an article in the French magazine *Constellation* titled "Thought Transfer, Weapon of War." The article reported that ESP tests had been conducted aboard the [[USS Nautilus]], the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, in 1958. The purpose of the experiment was to determine if long-distance telepathic communication could be achieved through barriers like thousands of miles of seawater, thick polar ice, and the metal walls of a submarine[^1]. + +According to Bergier, the ESP experiment involved simple sender-receiver trials using [[Zener Cards]]. He identified [[William H. Bowers]], director of the Biological Department of the Air Force Research Institute, as the man overseeing the joint-service ESP experiment. Bergier's story claimed that the sender and receiver communicated telepathically over a sixteen-day period starting on July 25, 1958[^1]. + +An expanded version of his story, "The Secret of the Nautilus," was published in France's top science journal, *Science et Vie*, in February 1960. While no authors were identified, editor [[Gérald Messadié]] stated that multiple sources had confirmed the story. [[J. B. Rhine]] of the [[Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory]] was identified as the civilian scientist assigned to the project, with reports of "about 75% of the telepathic tries are said to have been successful"[^1]. + +Whether Bergier's story was true or fabricated remains a debate, but it had real-world consequences. The Soviets used the news story to their strategic advantage, with [[Leonid L. Vasilev]], Russia's leading ESP researcher, claiming that Soviet parapsychology research was stimulated by the *Nautilus* reports[^1]. + +## Publications +* "Thought Transfer, Weapon of War" (*Constellation*, 1959) +* *Morning of the Magicians* (co-authored with Louis Pauwels) + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James A. Baker III.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James A. Baker III.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bee21229 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James A. Baker III.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government + - Chief of Staff +--- +James A. Baker III served as the Chief of Staff under President [[Ronald Reagan]]. He was present at a meeting of Reagan's high command following the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] in June 1981, where he agreed that some sanctions against [[Israel]] were essential.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James Callaghan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James Callaghan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b49a1a0e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James Callaghan.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Politician", "BCCI"] +--- +James Callaghan, also known as Lord Callaghan, was a former [[Great Britain|British]] prime minister who served as a paid economic adviser to the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]].[^1] His association with BCCI was part of [[Agha Hasan Abedi]]'s strategy to cultivate relationships with influential figures and enhance the bank's image. + +### Political Career + +Callaghan had a distinguished political career in the [[United Kingdom]], culminating in his tenure as Prime Minister. His involvement with BCCI highlights the bank's reach into high-level political circles. + +### Role with BCCI + +Callaghan's role as an economic adviser to BCCI provided the bank with a veneer of legitimacy and access to political networks. He was part of Abedi's global public relations efforts, which included using prominent figures to promote BCCI's image as a philanthropic institution dedicated to the Third World.[^2] He accompanied Abedi on visits to countries like [[Zambia]], where they presented themselves as champions of development and charity.[^3] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 9. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 228. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 227. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James Clapper.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James Clapper.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ca64e142 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James Clapper.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: James Clapper +tags: + - person + - military + - intelligence + - director + - DIA +--- + +Lieutenant General [[James Clapper]] was a [[U.S. Air Force]] officer who later served as the Director of the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] and subsequently as the Director of National Intelligence. In the context of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], Clapper was involved with the program in the 1990s, serving as a project leader. His involvement highlights the continued, albeit evolving, interest in [[Psi|psychic]] phenomena within the U.S. intelligence community even in later stages of the program's existence[^1]. + +In 1991, after the *Associated Press* broke the story about [[PSI Tech]] and its involvement in finding [[Saddam Hussein]]'s weapon sites, Clapper, then Director of the DIA, faced intense scrutiny. He stated that he and his three predecessors had all tried to kill the program, finding it "too far out at the leading edge of technology to maintain very well as an ongoing intelligence activity"[^2]. + +Despite his efforts to terminate the program, Clapper noted that [[U.S. Congress|Congress]] mandated its sustenance through specific language in appropriations. He categorized the [[Department of Defense]]'s [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis|PK]] research as "leading edge technology," rather than parapsychology[^2]. + +In 2016, Clapper was asked to join a classified science advisory board for the Director of National Intelligence, indicating his continued influence in the intelligence community[^2]. + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. +[^2]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James Dougherty.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James Dougherty.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..92837230 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James Dougherty.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Lawyer", "Investigator", "BCCI"] +--- +James Dougherty was a Florida lawyer for [[Lloyd's of London]] who investigated [[Munther Ismael Bilheisi]] and the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]].[^1] He was known for his zealous pursuit of cases and his comprehensive database on BCCI activities. + +### Investigations and Discoveries + +Dougherty's investigation into Bilheisi's business activities began after Bilheisi made false claims against Lloyd's of London.[^2] He uncovered Bilheisi's formidable smuggling operation, which was facilitated by BCCI through financing and falsified documents.[^3] Dougherty also discovered BCCI's involvement in illegal arms deals, including a helicopter deal in Guatemala.[^4] + +He made repeated attempts to engage U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the Justice Department, in investigating BCCI's broader criminal activities, but faced resistance and lack of cooperation.[^5] Dougherty's efforts were instrumental in bringing to light the extent of BCCI's illicit operations and its connections to various individuals and entities. + +### Legal Proceedings + +Dougherty's work led to the indictment of Munther Bilheisi for tax evasion and corruption in Guatemala.[^6] He also provided information to journalists [[Jonathan Beaty]] and [[S. C. Gwynne]], contributing to their investigative reporting on the BCCI scandal.[^7] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 9. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 240. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 240. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 240. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 376. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 242. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 100. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James H. Critchfield.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James H. Critchfield.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f8dcd356 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James H. Critchfield.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[James H. Critchfield]] was a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] officer who developed contacts with [[Adnan Khashoggi]], an international arms merchant and factotum for the House of Saud.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James Jesus Angleton.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James Jesus Angleton.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9373e1b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James Jesus Angleton.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - CIA +--- +James Jesus Angleton was the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s director of counterintelligence and was also responsible for liaison with [[Israel]]. He was known for his insistence on secrecy and his paranoia about Soviet penetration of the Agency. Angleton's increasing inability to deal with the real world eventually led to his firing in late 1974. He had worked closely with members of the Jewish resistance in [[Italy]] at the end of World War II, during a period when thousands of Jewish refugees and concentration camp survivors were being illicitly funneled from [[Europe]] into [[Palestine]].[^1] + +Angleton's closest colleague was [[Meir Deshalit]], an Israeli intelligence official. Angleton shared Deshalit's view of the Soviet and Arab threat to [[Israel]], and his personal contacts and strong feelings made him the logical choice to handle liaison between the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and the Israeli government. His assignment was crucial in the 1950s and early 1960s due to the continuous flow of Soviet and Eastern European refugees into [[Israel]]. Angleton and his Israeli counterparts ran the "rat lines," as the Jewish refugee link became known, which provided the West with important insights into the Soviet bloc. Some of these programs were financed off the shelf by [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] contingency funds, as part of [[KK MOUNTAIN]].[^1] + +Despite his love for [[Israel]] and shared views on the Arab and Soviet question, Angleton investigated any Israeli or American Jew he suspected of trafficking in classified information, particularly nuclear technology. The [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] suspected that [[Israel]]'s quid pro quo for French help at [[Dimona]] included access to design information purloined from U.S. nuclear laboratories. While no evidence of such a link was found, investigators discovered Angleton's personal files revealing a long-running and questionable study of American Jews in the government, based on a "Jewishness index" that included synagogue attendance as a basis for suspicion.[^1] + +Angleton also sponsored a highly secret [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operation, through the [[CHAOS program]], involving the Agency's purchase of a [[Washington D.C.]] trash collection company. This firm had contracts to pick up garbage at various Third World embassies, including the Israeli embassy, and the trash was systematically sorted and analyzed for intelligence.[^1] + +Angleton's first intelligence report on [[Israel]]'s plans to build the bomb was filed routinely in the late 1950s. He continued to produce intelligence on [[Dimona]] based on information from his personal contacts, but never learned or reported the full extent of [[Israel]]'s deception regarding its nuclear weapons progress. His reports on [[Dimona]], even when buttressed by [[U-2 Spy Plane|U-2]] data, did not result in an official [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] estimate that [[Israel]] was going nuclear, as analysts in the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s Office of National Estimates (ONE) did not find his HUMINT sources reliable.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 11. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James L. Byrnes.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James L. Byrnes.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9669075d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James L. Byrnes.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +James L. Byrnes was employed by the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] during 1986 as an Associate Deputy Attorney General to then Deputy Attorney General [[Arnold Burns]]. In November 1987, Byrnes transferred to the Land and Natural Resources Division of the DOJ, explaining that he was interested in environmental law and wanted to practice in a line division. + +[[Bill Hamilton]]'s affidavit alleged that Byrnes, who had "close ties to [[Edwin Meese]]," spearheaded the award by the DOJ in October 1987 of a $40 million computer services contract for litigation support in that Division to a [[Hadron]] subsidiary. Byrnes denied any knowledge of the awarding of such a contract and stated he had no knowledge of, or contact with, Hadron, [[Simeon]], [[Accumenics]], or any Hadron subsidiary. He recognized the name [[Earl Brian]] but said he had never met him. Byrnes denied having or ever having "close ties" with former Attorney General Edwin Meese, though he was interviewed by Meese when initially seeking DOJ employment and often attended meetings where Meese was present. He stated he never discussed [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] or Earl Brian with Meese. The Special Counsel's investigation found no evidence to support Hamilton's allegations regarding Byrnes's involvement in a conspiracy.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James L. Dozier.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James L. Dozier.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..36e29c7d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James L. Dozier.md @@ -0,0 +1,26 @@ +--- +aliases: + - James L. Dozier + - General Dozier + - Brigadier General James L. Dozier +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Kidnapping Victim +--- +Brigadier General James L. Dozier was a senior [[U.S. Army]] official and deputy chief of staff in the [[NATO]] Southern Command. On December 17, 1981, he was kidnapped from his penthouse apartment in Verona, [[Italy]], by the [[Red Brigades]], a Marxist-Leninist paramilitary group[^1]. + +Dozier, a graduate of [[West Point]] and a [[Vietnam War]] veteran, was reading a letter when his doorbell rang. Two young men, posing as plumbers, gained entry to his apartment. Dozier was attacked, and he and his wife, Judy, were bound and gagged. Dozier was then forced into a steamer trunk and secreted away in the back of a blue Fiat van[^1]. + +His abduction triggered a massive international response. The [[FBI]] offered a $2 million reward for information, and a Joint Special Operations Command team was dispatched to Italy. In Washington, [[Dale Graff]] and the [[Grill Flame]] remote viewers at [[Fort Meade]] were tasked with providing intelligence to locate him[^1]. + +Remote viewers, including [[Joe McMoneagle]], [[Hartleigh Trent]], and [[Ken Bell]], provided information that Dozier was still alive and in the same place. However, the information was often vague and disparate, making it difficult to pinpoint his exact location[^1]. + +Graff himself experienced vivid dreams and impressions, believing Dozier was held "upstairs in a room above a grocery store" in Padua. This information, combined with intelligence from a U.S. signals intelligence team, led Italian police to the exact street address where Dozier was being held[^1]. + +After 42 days in captivity, Dozier was rescued on January 28, 1982, by ten men from Italy's Central Operative Security Nucleus who stormed the apartment. He was found alive and was flown home to a hero's welcome, including an invitation to the [[White House]] from [[Ronald Reagan]][^1]. + +Despite the remote viewers' involvement, Dozier later stated that he finally figured out where he was being held by listening to voices and realizing that groceries were being sold. He called psychic functioning "pure nonsense"[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James M. Etheridge.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James M. Etheridge.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1566eede --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James M. Etheridge.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is a placeholder and requires extensive additions. + +On the 1969 team that created [[PROMIS]] under [[Joan E. Jacoby]] and [[Charles R. Work]], project manager [[Bill Hamilton]] as assistant director for computer systems in the [[Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia]]. + +He wrote a paper entitled “Design and Development of a Criminal Justice Information and Analysis System in Washington, D.C.” about this process. It was published in Urban and Regional Information Systems Proceedings in 1969.[^1] + +In 1970 he was acting director of the [[Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia|Office of Crime Analysis]]. + +In 1974 James was the Deputy Director of the [[National Center for Prosecution Management]] dedicated to getting new statistical tools and techniques into the hands of prosecutors. + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: [Directory of data bases in the social and behavioral sciences : Sessions, Vivian S](https://archive.org/details/directoryofdatab0000sess/page/56/mode/2up) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James V. Desarno, Jr..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James V. Desarno, Jr..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7f973c51 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James V. Desarno, Jr..md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[James V. Desarno, Jr.]] was an Assistant Special Agent in Charge from the D.C. Metropolitan Office of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]. He was present at [[Paul Wilcher]]'s apartment after Wilcher's death. Desarno, along with [[Craig Olson]], was one of two [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agents present at the scene. Despite his presence, Desarno strongly denied that the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] was interested in or involved in the case, repeatedly stating, "We are not interested in this case."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James White.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James White.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..829c337b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/James White.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[James White]] was an Assistant [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] in Fresno. He ordered [[Dr. Arthur Dahlem]]'s files seized to prove [[Roderick Sinclair]]'s alleged drug use in connection with the "[[Queen's accident]]." However, [[United States District Court|U.S. District Court]] Judge [[Robert E. Coyle]] ordered White to "drop the criminal investigation," stating Sinclair's drug problem was not relevant and drug records could not be used in court.[^1] + +White revealed that the original [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]] report on the "[[Queen's accident]]" was sent to the State Attorney General's office ([[John Van de Kamp]]), who told his assistant to "discard" it. [[Bruce Eckerson]], the Mariposa County District Attorney, was then appointed to take charge of the investigation and submit a new report. White noted that all of the "crack M.A.I.T.S. team" [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]] officers involved in the original investigation either resigned or were transferred or fired. The [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]] Commander and Deputy Commander who supervised the M.A.I.T.S. investigation also resigned, as did White himself after the cover-up.[^1] + +Before his resignation, White quietly filed the transcripts of the trial and an affidavit listing the "hallucinatory" drugs Sinclair had used prior to the accident with [[Stephan LaPalm]] of the [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]]'s office in Sacramento.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jeannie Betters.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jeannie Betters.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1e654751 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jeannie Betters.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Jeannie Betters +tags: + - Person + - Secretary +--- +Jeannie Betters was the unit secretary for the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]]'s [[Remote Viewing]] program at [[Fort Meade]]. She took notes during remote viewing sessions, including those conducted by [[Angela Dellafiora]][^1]. + +In one notable session concerning the fugitive [[Charles Frank Jordan]], Betters recorded the exchange between [[Fern Gauvin]], the operations manager, and Dellafiora. When Dellafiora stated Jordan was in "Lowell, Wyoming," and Gauvin questioned if she meant Lowell, Massachusetts, Betters interjected, "She said Wyoming, Fern," confirming Dellafiora's specific location[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jerry Brown.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jerry Brown.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7aaed5c1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jerry Brown.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Jerry Brown]] was the [[California Attorney General]]. He is mentioned in the context of the dismissal of the murder charges against [[Jimmy Hughes]]. [[Rachel Begley]] questioned how Brown could support the release of Hughes and criticized [[Mike Murphy]]'s handling of the case, implying that Brown, as Attorney General, was ultimately responsible for the actions of his staff.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jerry Goldberg.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jerry Goldberg.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..775f2bd4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jerry Goldberg.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Jerry Goldberg]] was a reporter for *Capitol News Service* in Sacramento. He wrote a story on February 17, 1988, entitled, "Law & Order Failing on Hill County," which discussed the corruption in Mariposa County. Goldberg noted that *Capitol News Service* had discussions with several Attorney General staff members who "stonewalled questions" about any investigation or willingness to meet with [[D.I.G. (Decency in Government)|D.I.G.]].[^1] + +Goldberg's article mentioned the "[[Queen's Accident]]" and threats received by individuals who spoke out against the sheriff and district attorney. He also noted that a San Joaquin County official stated a key element to the problems in Mariposa County related to the fatal accident involving Queen Elizabeth's escort vehicle.[^1] + +Goldberg reportedly disappeared the day after [[Ben Wagner]]'s meeting with "Chuck" from the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] [[White House]], leaving his law practice and home, never to be seen again.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jimmy Carter.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jimmy Carter.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..15c3a9ce --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jimmy Carter.md @@ -0,0 +1,61 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-08-04 +title: Jimmy Carter +tags: + - person + - president + - government +description: Jimmy Carter was the 39th President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981. His presidency coincided with the early years of the Stargate Project. +--- +James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr. was the 39th President of the [[United States]], serving from 1977 to 1981. His presidency was marked by significant challenges in foreign policy, nuclear nonproliferation efforts, and involvement with unconventional intelligence programs. + +### Nuclear Nonproliferation and South African Tests + +Carter and [[Leonid Brezhnev]] worked together to lead an international campaign of protest against [[South Africa]]'s suspected nuclear test in the [[Kalahari]] in August 1977. The South African government backed down, and Carter publicly announced that [[South Africa]] did not intend to develop nuclear explosive devices. However, the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] later concluded that the strong international protests had only deflected [[South Africa]] "at least temporarily" from its planned test, and that Israeli military personnel were openly present at the Kalahari test site.[^1] + +### Israeli Satellite Intelligence Access + +In March 1979, President Carter made the decision to provide [[Israel]] with access to [[KH-11]] satellite photographs, a move that significantly impacted the satellite's carefully planned schedule. This agreement granted Israel access to satellite intelligence concerning troop movements or other potential threats up to one hundred miles inside the borders of neighboring [[Lebanon]], [[Syria]], [[Egypt]], and [[Jordan]]. This decision was seen by some American intelligence officials as a reward for Prime Minister [[Menachem Begin]]'s successful [[Camp David Accords|Camp David summit]] with Egyptian President [[Anwar Sadat]] the previous year.[^2] + +### VELA Satellite Incident + +On September 22, 1979, a [[VELA Satellite]] recorded two distinctive bright flashes of light over the South Indian Ocean, probable evidence of a nuclear explosion. This event, suspected to be a joint Israeli-South African nuclear test, created a horrible dilemma for President Carter, just months before the 1980 presidential campaign. Carter, who had emphasized nonproliferation, faced criticism for hypocrisy if he did not act, but political repercussions if he sought sanctions against [[Israel]] and [[South Africa]].[^3] + +### Psychic Research Programs + +His presidency coincided with the early years of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program, the U.S. government's secret psychic research effort. President Carter was reportedly aware of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program, with Congressman [[Charlie Rose]] even discussing it with him. However, his administration's stance on the program was complex. While some officials, like [[William Perry]], sought to cut its funding, the program managed to continue.[^4] + +### Iran Hostage Crisis + +The [[Iran Hostage Crisis]] (1979-1981) was a major challenge during his presidency. Remote viewers were extensively tasked by the [[United States Department of Defense|Pentagon]] and [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] to gather intelligence on the hostages' whereabouts and conditions, though the administration's handling of the crisis, including the failed rescue attempt, ultimately led to the hostages' release on the day Carter's presidency ended.[^5] + +### Latin American Policy + +During his presidency, Carter's human rights foreign policy in [[Latin America]] reportedly distanced the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] under [[Stansfield Turner]] from any death-squad interdiction. His administration was also reportedly reluctant to pursue certain figures involved in the drug trade, such as General Torrijos of [[Panama]], due to ongoing negotiations for the [[Panama Canal]] treaty.[^6] + +### Connections to BCCI + +Jimmy Carter accepted millions from [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] and [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] for charitable organizations.[^7] In August 1982, [[Bert Lance]] introduced Abedi to Carter.[^8] Abedi's National Bank of Georgia was the largest single lender to the Carter family's peanut farm in Plains, Georgia.[^9] + +In the early 1980s, Abedi donated $500,000 to help establish the [[Carter Center]] at Emory University in Atlanta and contributed millions to Carter's Global 2000 Foundation, founded in 1985 for Third World healthcare.[^10] BCCI provided $8.1 million to Carter during the 1980s, and Abedi arranged an additional $2.5 million from [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Sheikh Zayed]] through the [[Abu Dhabi Investment Authority]].[^11] Carter also utilized BCCI's jet for his travels and Global 2000 Foundation used office space at BCCI's London headquarters.[^12] + +Carter and his second wife, Rosalynn, became friends with Abedi and his wife, Rabia, and spent holidays together in Switzerland. Carter introduced Abedi to acquaintances like [[James Callaghan]].[^13] Abedi's joint appearances with Carter in various countries, including [[Kenya]], [[Ghana]], [[Pakistan]], [[Bangladesh]], [[China]], [[Thailand]], and the [[Soviet Union]], served as key targets for BCCI's business development.[^14] Carter continued to accept at least $1.5 million from BCCI even after the bank was indicted and convicted in Florida.[^15] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 20. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 1. +[^3]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 20. +[^4]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. +[^5]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. +[^6]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 9. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 12. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 228. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 228. +[^11]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 228. +[^12]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 228. +[^13]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 228. +[^14]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 229. +[^15]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 229. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John A. Beltori.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John A. Beltori.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0455acfe --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John A. Beltori.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +John A. Beltori was identified by [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] as a witness whose testimony provided circumstantial evidence of a conspiracy involving [[Earl Brian]] and [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] officials to steal the [[PROMIS]] software. The Special Counsel's investigation, however, found no credible evidence to support this claim.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John B. Alexander.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John B. Alexander.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bbd55fb1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John B. Alexander.md @@ -0,0 +1,27 @@ +--- +aliases: + - John B. Alexander + - Lieutenant Colonel John B. Alexander +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Scientist + - Author +--- +Lieutenant Colonel John B. Alexander is a former Green Beret and Special Forces commander in [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]] and [[Thailand]], earning the moniker Assassin Six. He holds a PhD in thanatology, the study of death. Alexander became a prominent figure in the [[U.S. Army]]'s exploration of anomalous mental phenomena and human potential[^1]. + +In December 1980, Alexander authored an article titled "The New Mental Battlefield: Beam Me Up, Spock," published in *Military Review*, an official U.S. Army publication. This article was the first time [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis|PK]] were discussed in an official Army publication, asserting that "there are weapons systems that operate on the power of the mind whose lethal capacity has already been demonstrated"[^1]. The article, based on personal experience and open-source information, gained national attention after *Washington Post* columnist [[Jack Anderson]] wrote about it under the heading "Voodoo Warriors of the Pentagon"[^1]. + +Alexander's esoteric interests caught the attention of Task Force Delta, a high-level Army organization. In 1981, [[Richard G. Stilwell]], the deputy undersecretary of defense, arranged for Alexander's transfer to [[Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]] under Major General [[Albert Stubblebine]]. Here, Alexander was put in charge of the Advanced Human Technology Office, interacting with Stubblebine's High Performance Task Force[^1]. + +Alexander's work at INSCOM focused on developing human technologies to enhance soldier performance and narrow the "human technology gap." He explored various new age and self-help programs, including sleep discipline, neurolinguistic programming, and Silva Mind Control[^1]. + +He also played a role in the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program, particularly after the [[James Randi]] hoax. Alexander suggested using magicians as consultants, and worked with [[Doug Henning]] and [[Jack Houck]] on psychokinesis research, observing spoon-bending parties to understand the phenomena[^1]. + +After retiring from the military, Alexander joined [[PSI Tech]]'s corporate board in 1990, though he later stated it was a mistake[^1]. + +## Publications +* "The New Mental Battlefield: Beam Me Up, Spock" (*Military Review*, 1980) + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Belton.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Belton.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f1de37f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Belton.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[John Belton]] was a Canadian banker who claimed he lost a great deal of money regarding the sale of [[PROMIS]] to [[Canada]]. He alleged that his bank financed the purchase of [[PROMIS]] from [[Earl Brian]]. Through Belton, who was a mutually shared Canadian source, [[Sean McDade]] and [[Sue Todd]] were brought together and ultimately joined forces in their respective investigations.[^1] + +Belton also made a statement regarding the trip to [[Canada]] by [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]] and [[Peter Zokosky]] in which they were involved in the purchase of [[Valleyfield Chemical Corporation]] in [[Canada]] in May 1981. Belton claimed that [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]] "used people in [[Canada]] to make sure he had an alibi when the Alvarez people were murdered on Bob Hope Drive."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Berberich.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Berberich.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5daa39c7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Berberich.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - John Berberich +tags: + - Person + - DIA + - Government Official +--- +John Berberich was a Division Chief at the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]]. In October 1990, he became the new DIA division chief and gave [[Dale Graff]] the position of branch chief at [[Fort Meade]], placing Graff in charge of the [[Remote Viewing]] program, which was then renamed [[STARGATE PROJECT|Star Gate]][^1]. + +Berberich's decision to appoint Graff to this leadership role indicated a shift in the program's management, aiming for a more operationally effective approach. In May 1991, Berberich, along with Graff and three remote viewers (including [[Angela Dellafiora]]), traveled to [[England]], [[Germany]], and [[Israel]] as part of an annual intelligence exchange, further highlighting his involvement in the program's international engagements[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Cohen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Cohen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..edd3395d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Cohen.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +[[John Cohen]] was a [[United States House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]] investigator involved in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] investigation. Prior to this role, he served as a Los Angeles police officer, where he worked on international narcotics conspiracies with the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] and [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], gaining knowledge of Southeast Asian heroin and the rise of Latin American cartels.[1] + +Cohen believed that the [[PROMIS]] software was stolen because it could be modified to track money laundering and could function as an active information-gathering and money-moving program within the international banking system, specifically mentioning [[CHIPS]] and [[SWIFT]] systems. He suspected a narcotics connection to this capability, noting the irritation among law enforcement professionals regarding the intelligence agency-drug dealer connection.[1] + +In early 1992, Cohen began communicating closely with [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent [[Thomas Gates]], who had been in contact with [[Danny Casolaro]] before Casolaro's death. In October 1992, Cohen and Gates learned about [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s statement to the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], which corroborated Cohen's suspicions about money laundering and the theft of PROMIS. Riconosciuto's statement implicated [[Robert Booth Nichols]], [[Glenn Shockley]], [[Jose Santacruz Londono|Jose Londono]], [[Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela|Gilberto Rodriguez]], and [[Michael Abbell]] in a network of illicit financial activities.[1] + +Cohen's investigation, like others into the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]], was reportedly shut down when it began to uncover high-level organized crime, drug, and money laundering connections.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Di Giorgio.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Di Giorgio.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0a2c3d40 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Di Giorgio.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[John Di Giorgio]] was a former Austrian citizen who was allegedly an undercover informant working against [[Ben Kalka]] for the [[California Department of Justice]]. His criminal indictment was filed under seal by the INS on October 26, 1989, and remained secret for nearly a decade. At a news conference on November 17, 1989, former [[California Attorney General's Office|California State Attorney General]] [[John Van de Kamp]] touted the case as the "biggest methamphetamine seizure in the world," displaying 1,022 pounds of methamphetamine and $1 million in cash.[^1] + +[[Pam MacLean]], a reporter for the *San Francisco Daily Journal*, spent thousands of dollars to get the Di Giorgio file unsealed. The unsealed documents revealed that the [[United States Government|U.S. government]] was looking for an alleged $13 million in laundered drug funds believed to be in [[Switzerland]], [[Germany]], and [[Israel]]. The methamphetamine precursors supplied to [[Ben Kalka]] were reportedly part of a "reverse sting" operation headed by [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent [[Robert Barnes]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Foster Dulles.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Foster Dulles.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..01266edb --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Foster Dulles.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Diplomat + - USA +--- +John Foster Dulles served as the Secretary of State under President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]. He, along with his brother [[Allen Dulles]], the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] director, were infuriated by [[Israel]]'s attempt to mask the extent of its military buildup prior to the 1956 [[Suez Crisis]]. He was regularly present at White House briefings where intelligence from [[U-2 Spy Plane|U-2]] flights, including early information on [[Dimona]], was presented.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Gotti.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Gotti.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..de74808e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Gotti.md @@ -0,0 +1,5 @@ +[[John Gotti]] was a prominent figure associated with the [[Gambino Crime Family]]. He reportedly enjoyed a special relationship with [[Eugene Giaquinto]], then president of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] home entertainment division, as indicated by [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretaps during the investigation into alleged organized crime penetration of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]].[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John L. Gizzarelli.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John L. Gizzarelli.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1ef90360 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John L. Gizzarelli.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ +--- +tags: + - promis + - inslaw +--- +John Laurence Gizzarelli, Jr., was born in Quincy, MA in 1938. He graduated from Quincy in High in '56, Boston University in '61. He married Ellen Grossman Gizzarelli who he met in college. They had two sons (Andrew J. Gissarelli, David A. Gizzarelli) and one daughter (Cara E. Downs) + +John joined the Navy (MOS 1615 - Information Warfare[^1]) in November 1961. In 1962 he was a LT SDO assigned to Cryptologic Warfare,[^1] and was stationed in Spain, Morocco, and Japan but eventually settled in Odenton, MD. He seems to have been assigned to Naval Research[^2] and was still active duty in 1970[^1] (and part of the Naval Reserve through at least 1977). + +John worked on the 1969 team that created [[PROMIS]] underneath [[Charles R. Work]], [[Joan E. Jacoby]], and project manager [[Bill Hamilton]]. + +Shortly after, he went to Georgetown University Law School and graduated in 1973. He worked as an assistant [[U.S. Attorney's office|U.S. Attorney]] for the District of Columbia, a federal prosecutor. + +In 1973 he was also general counsel at [[INSLAW]][^4]. + +John passed away at age 88 on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at Beth Israel Deaconess HospitalMilton.[^5] + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: [Letter from the Secretary of the Navy—Google Books](https://www.google.com/books/edition/Letter_from_the_Secretary_of_the_Navy_Tr/Hm0FbtVsGH8C?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Gizzarelli) +[^2]: [Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers—Google Books](https://www.google.com/books/edition/Register_of_Commissioned_and_Warrant_Off/LjOCQkVxXIQC?hl=en&gbpv=0) +[^4]: [Computerworld—Google Books](https://books.google.com/books?id=sWeKU3wFLREC&pg=PA18&dq=John+L.+Gizzarelli&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwie4-aXsuaFAxUiHjQIHSX9BeU4FBDoAXoECAUQAg#v=onepage&q=John%20L.%20Gizzarelli&f=false) +[^5]: [John Gizarelli Obituary](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/southofboston-ledger/name/john-gizzarelli-obituary?id=7198270) diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Paul Vukasin, Jr..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Paul Vukasin, Jr..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a1944c0b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/John Paul Vukasin, Jr..md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[John Paul Vukasin, Jr.]] was a [[United States District Court|U.S. District Court]] Judge. He was a long-time associate and political ally of [[Edwin Meese III]]. [[Calvin Robinson]] filed a "Pro Per" affidavit requesting that Judge Vukasin be recused from his case, believing that Vukasin was appointed to the district court bench as a "damage control agent" for Meese and the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jonathan Ben Cnaan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jonathan Ben Cnaan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..aa7e2fb9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Jonathan Ben Cnaan.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Jonathan Ben Cnaan was an account executive with [[53rd Street Ventures]], a New York City venture capital firm that held a small equity investment in [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]. [[Bill Hamilton]]'s affidavit claimed that in September 1983, Ben Cnaan described a meeting at 53rd Street Ventures with a "businessman with ties at the highest level of the Reagan Administration" who was eager to obtain the [[PROMIS]] software for federal government contract work. This businessman allegedly assured 53rd Street Ventures that Inslaw would never be able to resolve its contract disputes with the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] and was annoyed that Hamilton had previously rebuffed an attempt to buy Inslaw to obtain title to the PROMIS software. [[Earl Brian]] denied knowing Ben Cnaan and insisted he was not the unidentified businessman mentioned in Hamilton's affidavit.[^1] + +The Special Counsel's investigation attempted to locate Jonathan Ben Cnaan, but his phone number was disconnected, and his last known company, [[Axiom Capital]], was no longer at its listed address. It was believed he might have returned to [[Israel]]. The investigation concluded that even if the attribution to Ben Cnaan were correct, there was nothing to tie the claim to [[Hadron]] or Brian, as Brian denied it and Ben Cnaan himself did not refer to Brian in the affidavit. The report found no other evidence to support [[INSLAW|Inslaw]]'s allegation regarding a Brian-DOJ conspiracy.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joseph Coors.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joseph Coors.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b86453a3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joseph Coors.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Joseph Coors]] was a prominent right-wing activist and a member of FGBMFI (Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International). He was associated with the [[Heritage Foundation]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joseph Cuellar.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joseph Cuellar.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..708c4460 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joseph Cuellar.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Joseph Cuellar]] was a man who approached [[Danny Casolaro]] in a pub during the week prior to Casolaro's death. Cuellar claimed to be a Special Forces operative and offered to arrange a rendezvous between [[Peter Videnieks]] and Casolaro. Cuellar's connection to Videnieks allegedly came through Videnieks' wife, Barbara, who was the executive assistant to Senator [[Robert Byrd]].[^1] + +Casolaro confided to friends that he was unnerved by this supposedly chance meeting. He met with Cuellar at other times that week, but it is unknown whether he ever spoke with Videnieks. Sources later suggested that Cuellar was a [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] Major in an [[Army Intelligence Agency|Army intelligence]] unit who went to work for a company that was a [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] cutout. One [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent reported that Cuellar spoke Arabic fluently and had spent time in [[Iraq]].[^1] + +[[Bill Hamilton]], president of [[INSLAW]], stated that he had received an affidavit from [[Bill Turner]] on "highly classified computer printouts on off-shore accounts that he claimed Casolaro intended to use the night he died in a planned meeting with [[Peter Videnieks]] and [[Joseph Cuellar]] and others."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joseph Garofalo.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joseph Garofalo.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b5271b59 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joseph Garofalo.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Joseph Garofalo]] was an individual whose name appeared in an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretap affidavit in support of an application to intercept wire communications. He was among those to be intercepted in connection with the investigation into alleged organized crime influence in the entertainment industry, particularly involving [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joseph R. (Mike) Benitez.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joseph R. (Mike) Benitez.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6113db97 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joseph R. (Mike) Benitez.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Joseph R. (Mike) Benitez]] was the former [[Cabazon Tribal Council]] Chairman. On January 28, 1985, he wrote a two-page letter to President [[Ronald Reagan]], requesting an investigation of the [[Cabazon Casino]] and the [[Indio Bingo Palace]]. Benitez stated that "non-Indian investors" had not provided them with financial statements for four years and withheld information from the tribal members. He also noted that tribal members had been assessed taxes by the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]] on income of $270,000 each, but they never received any of this money.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joyce H. Deroy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joyce H. Deroy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0166382f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Joyce H. Deroy.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is in development. Ms. Deroy is difficult to research. + +Possibly married to Honorable Warren R. King. + +Worked on the team developing the original 1969 [[PROMIS]] under [[Joan E. Jacoby]], [[Charles R. Work]], and [[Bill Hamilton]]. + +She eventually joined [[INSLAW]] as a systems analyst where she engaged in programming and data analysis[^1]. + +In 1996 she was the acting executive directory of university computing at American University.[^2] + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: [Witness cooperation : with a handbook of witness management : Cannavale, Frank J](https://archive.org/details/witnesscooperati0000cann/page/n25/mode/2up?q=promis) +[^2]: https://archive.org/details/computerworld3037unse/page/98/mode/2up?q=%22Joyce+Deroy%22 \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Kamal Adham.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Kamal Adham.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a4f0b468 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Kamal Adham.md @@ -0,0 +1,38 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Intelligence", "Saudi Arabia", "BCCI"] +--- +Kamal Adham was the former head of [[Saudi Arabian intelligence]] and brother-in-law of the late [[King Faisal]]. He was a significant shareholder in [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] and [[First American Bank]]. Adham was a shrewd and jovial figure who straddled the worlds of Middle Eastern business and politics for decades. He was considered one of the true inside power players of the Middle East.[^1] + +Adham's influence stemmed from his royal connections, which he leveraged to facilitate business deals. He was the principal liaison between the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] and European intelligence agencies, operating under the code name "Tumbleweed."[^2] His role in Saudi intelligence involved assisting the royalists in [[Yemen]]'s civil war and later wielding wider influence through surveillance of Saudi citizens and political enemies of the king.[^3] + +He played a crucial role as a front man for [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] in BCCI's secret acquisitions, including the [[National Bank of Georgia]] and [[Financial General Bankshares]].[^4] Adham was instrumental in funneling money from [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Sheikh Zayed]] and the CIA to [[Anwar Sadat]] and is credited with pressuring Sadat to engage in the [[Camp David Accords]].[^5] + +Adham was indicted in the United States for his involvement in BCCI's frauds and bribery, eventually pleading guilty in New York and agreeing to cooperate with prosecutors. He paid a $105 million fine.[^6] + +### Early Life and Career + +Born in 1929, Kamal Adham was the son of Dr. Rashad Pharaon, physician to [[King Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud]], the founder of modern [[Saudi Arabia]]. His father's position within the royal inner circle provided Adham with significant access and influence from a young age.[^7] He received a good education, attending the best French schools.[^8] + +Adham launched his business career in 1951, at the age of twenty-two, by controlling the franchise for [[Carrier Corp]] air conditioners. He expanded his ventures to include a TUP bottling plant, and companies that built roads, airports, and imported elevators and computers. By the mid-1960s, his influence grew to the point where he represented multiple defense firms and became a principal broker for weapons purchased by Saudi Arabia on behalf of Egypt.[^9] + +### Relationship with Abedi and BCCI + +Abedi met Adham in the early 1970s through [[Sheikh Zayed]]. Adham became a key figure in Abedi's strategy to expand BCCI's influence in the United States. He was a nominal lead shareholder in [[First American Bank]] and was responsible for hiring [[Clark Clifford]] and [[Robert Altman]] to lead the bank.[^10] Adham's role was to provide a veneer of legitimacy and access for BCCI's clandestine operations. + +### Involvement in Nuclear Programs + +Adham publicly asserted that [[Pakistan]] possessed an atomic bomb and that Abedi and BCCI had financially supported its development. He viewed this as an achievement for the Third World, challenging Western powers' control over nuclear technology.[^11] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 197. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 199. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 199. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 200. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 200. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 14. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 203. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 203. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 198. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 197. +[^11]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 310. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Karl Krafft.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Karl Krafft.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8d4ea2fe --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Karl Krafft.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Karl Krafft +tags: + - Person + - Astrologer +--- +# Karl Krafft + +Karl Krafft was a Swiss astrologer known for his influence on high-ranking Nazi officials. He is particularly noted for constructing star charts that allegedly influenced [[Rudolf Hess]]'s decision to undertake his rogue flight to Scotland in May 1941. Hess, the Deputy Führer of [[Nazi Germany]], reportedly chose this date based on astrological advice, as the star chart allegedly indicated that the six planets were in Taurus and the moon would be full[^1]. + +Following Hess's flight, [[Adolf Hitler]] declared Hess legally insane and responded with "[[Special Action Hess]]", a mass arrest of more than 600 astrologers, fortune-tellers, clairvoyants, faith healers, and other German practitioners of the supernatural or occult. Krafft was among those ensnared in this crackdown[^1]. [[Wilhelm Wulff]], another astrologer who became [[Heinrich Himmler]]'s personal astrologer, noted that a decree was issued making it illegal to "predict future events, the divination of the present or the past, and all other forms of revelation not based on natural processes of perception"[^1]. + +Despite the official suppression, the Nazi head of foreign intelligence, [[Walter Schellenberg]], made an important point to [[Wilhelm Wulff]] about the power of mystical belief systems, stating they were "a suitable vehicle for the propagation of political concepts and for the political control of a nation"[^1]. This suggests that while publicly condemned, such practices were understood for their potential manipulative power, a manipulation also seen in the Allied use of [[10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Louis de Wohl]] during [[World War II]][^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ken Bell.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ken Bell.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f41790a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ken Bell.md @@ -0,0 +1,30 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Ken Bell +tags: + - person + - military + - psychic + - remoteviewer +description: Ken Bell was a U.S. Army captain and one of the original remote viewers in the Stargate Project. He was known for his ability to connect with human targets. +--- +Ken Bell was a U.S. Army captain and one of the original six remote viewers in the [[STARGATE PROJECT]]. He was recruited into the program, then codenamed [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]], in 1977 by [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] and [[Murray Watt|Scotty Watt]].[^1] + +Bell had a background in counterintelligence and was known for his interest in meditation. He was described as short, wiry, and somewhat intense. He believed that psi could never be used to make money, as psychics who tried to get rich often failed, suggesting a connection between psi and human morality. He was among the six most promising members sent to [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) for two weeks of outbound remote-viewing experiments, where SRI evaluated their talents and confirmed their suitability for operational remote viewing.[^1] + +As a remote viewer, he had an extraordinary ability to "connect" with human targets, especially those who were distressed or missing, determining their concerns, intents, and even injuries. He was also known for his ability to enter a deep, trancelike state during remote viewing sessions, often using a "slowly spinning golden orb" as a cool-down technique.[^1] + +One of his notable successes was locating a crashed U.S. Navy A-6 aircraft in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Bell picked up on the word "bald" several times during his session, which later correlated with the hill named "Bald Knob" where the aircraft was found. He also contributed to the remote viewing of a new Chinese nuclear device at Lop Nor.[^1] + +Bell was involved in the attempt to locate a downed U.S. helicopter in Peru. During this session, he became explosively sensitive to the emotions evoked by the target, sobbing uncontrollably as he perceived the broken and roasted bodies of the pilot and copilot. This experience deeply affected him, leading to the session being stopped.[^1] + +He was instrumental in the "telepathic interrogation" of a KGB agent in South Africa. By telepathically whispering about the agent's son and daughter, Bell was able to break through the agent's mental barriers, leading to the discovery of a hidden pocket calculator used for coding messages. This case was considered a significant success, helping to close an important counterintelligence operation.[^1] + +During the Iran hostage crisis (1979-1981), Bell, along with other remote viewers, was tasked hundreds of times to provide information on the hostages. He experienced the intense pressure and monotony of these taskings, which contributed to mental burnout among the remote viewing team. He was present during the debriefing after the failed hostage rescue mission, and remained with the unit during the subsequent period of uncertainty.[^1] + +Bell, along with [[Mel Riley]] and [[Joe McMoneagle]], became one of the three full-time remote viewers when the unit was officially designated the Special Action Branch and the program was codenamed [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]]. He arranged to stay with the unit initially but left within a year to rejoin the regular Army career track, eventually retiring in the late 1980s as a lieutenant colonel.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Kenneth A. Kress.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Kenneth A. Kress.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..093504bb --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Kenneth A. Kress.md @@ -0,0 +1,29 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Kenneth A. Kress + - Ken Kress +tags: + - Person + - CIA + - Analyst + - Physicist + - Engineer +--- +# Kenneth A. Kress + +Kenneth A. Kress was a physicist, engineer, and analyst with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. He is considered by some to be the "father of America's remote-viewing program" as he was responsible for giving [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] its first [[Psi]] research contract in 1972[^1]. Kress, then a young, dark-haired engineer, was instrumental in bringing [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Ingo Swann]] into the [[CIA]]'s orbit for psychic research[^1]. + +Kress was the lead analyst assigned to the operation involving [[Pat Price]]'s [[Remote Viewing]] of [[URDF-3]], a highly classified [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] research and development facility in [[Kazakhstan]][^1]. In July 1974, after Price remotely viewed URDF-3, Kress compared Price's descriptions to classified satellite imagery. He found that reconnaissance photographs confirmed the presence of rails for railroad cars and a huge crane, as described by Price. However, some details, like the spheres Price mentioned, were not locatable, which agitated the [[CIA]][^1]. + +Kress flew to [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] to brief [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]] on URDF-3 and to get additional information from Price. When Kress met Price in person, he tested him by asking if Price knew him. Price correctly identified Kress by name and stated his occupation as working for the [[CIA]], which was significant as Kress was a covert employee[^1]. Kress also questioned Price about details he missed, such as four derricks. Price responded that he didn't see them because "they are not there anymore," a statement that was later corroborated when rechecked reconnaissance data showed the derricks partially disassembled[^1]. + +Despite the accuracy of some of Price's information, Kress noted that Price also produced bad data. He also became concerned about the possibility of a [[KGB]] disinformation campaign, suggesting that Price could have been supplied data for disinformation purposes. This led Kress to question his own objectivity, as he observed that individuals who supported pro-paranormal data often had "conversion" experiences[^1]. + +Kress played a crucial role in the early stages of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program, particularly as a handler for [[Pat Price]]. He was involved in presenting Price with targets and evaluating his remote viewing data. Kress, along with [[Peter Maris]], was the [[CIA]] official who tasked Price with remote viewing the secret Soviet military research facility at Semipalatinsk (URDF-3), a session that yielded remarkably accurate details later confirmed by satellite photography. Kress and Maris initially didn't know what to make of Price's descriptions of a large crane and metal spheres, but later confirmed them with satellite photos, which became a key piece of evidence for the program's effectiveness[^1]. + +He also worked closely with [[Norm Everheart]], encouraging him to explore how remote viewing could assist Staff D operations. Kress was present during Price's three tests for Staff D, witnessing Price's accurate remote viewing of the Chinese Embassy in Africa and the Chinese consular building in Rome. He also served as a liaison for [[Uri Geller]]'s visits to [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]], and was the recipient of information from [[Hal Puthoff]] regarding Geller's activities and potential security concerns[^1]. + +At Kress's suggestion, the [[CIA]] contracted with an outside scientist to evaluate the psychic research program, who concluded that "a large body of reliable experimental evidence points to the inescapable conclusion that [[Extrasensory Perception|extrasensory perception]] does exist as a real phenomenon, albeit characterized by rarity and lack of reliability"[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Kit Green.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Kit Green.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..79adeb18 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Kit Green.md @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Kit Green +tags: + - person + - CIA + - scientist + - neurophysiologist +description: Christopher "Kit" Green was a CIA analyst and neurophysiologist who oversaw the medical and scientific aspects of the agency's psychic research programs. +--- + +Christopher "[[Kit Green]]" was a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] analyst and neurophysiologist in the Life Sciences Division. He played a crucial role in the CIA's oversight of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], particularly in overseeing the medical and scientific aspects of the program.[^1] + +Green was personally involved in the [[Uri Geller]] matter, serving as Geller's handler and overseeing his tests at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]]. He was responsible for administering medical tests on the psychics, including blood tests, brain scans, and personality assessments, with the aim of understanding the physiological correlates of psychic abilities.[^1] + +Green was also involved in the Sugar Grove incident, where [[Pat Price]] and [[Ingo Swann]] accurately remote-viewed a secret [[NSA]] facility. He later investigated the bizarre apparitions experienced by scientists at [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] after their involvement with Geller, concluding that they were likely the result of a high-technology psychological operation.[^1] + +Despite his scientific background, Green acknowledged the reality of psychic phenomena, stating that he had observed phenomena for which he had no scientific explanation. However, he was critical of the Army's approach to training soldiers as psychic spies, believing that only a select few individuals possessed genuine psychic abilities.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Leonid Brezhnev.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Leonid Brezhnev.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b9615bda --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Leonid Brezhnev.md @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - SovietUnion +--- +[[Leonid Brezhnev]] was a prominent political figure in the [[Soviet Union]] who played a significant role in Middle Eastern affairs during the 1970s, particularly in relation to [[Israel]] and the Arab states. + +### 1972 Meeting with Golda Meir + +In 1972, Brezhnev met with [[Golda Meir]], then Prime Minister of [[Israel]], in [[Finland]]. During this meeting, [[Golda Meir|Meir]] rejected his proposal for a comprehensive peace settlement in the [[Middle East]].[^1] + +### Intelligence Operations and War Implications + +This meeting, along with the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]] bugging [[Golda Meir|Meir's]] office (discovered by [[Reuben Yirador]] of [[Unit 8200]]), informed [[Anwar Sadat]] of [[Israel|Israel's]] attitude and may have prompted the 1973 war.[^1] + +### 1973 Yom Kippur War Threats + +During the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], as the continued encirclement of the Egyptian Third Army by Israeli forces escalated, Soviet party leader [[Leonid Brezhnev]] increased the alert status of his airborne divisions and warned the White House that unless [[Israel]] stopped violating the cease-fire, "we should be faced with the necessity urgently to consider the question of taking appropriate steps unilaterally." The implication was that Brezhnev would send troops as a blocking force behind the front lines in [[Egypt]] to prevent the Israelis from advancing on [[Cairo]].[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. _Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network_. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") [^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Lester Coleman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Lester Coleman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fa3d7a57 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Lester Coleman.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +[[Lester Coleman]] is a self-employed freelance writer, editor, and security consultant who also served as a [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] covert intelligence officer. He worked for six years with the secret unit [[Middle East Collection 10]] (MC-10) in [[Cyprus]], running a network of agents in Beirut with the mission to find American hostages held by extremists.[^1] + +Coleman was paid in travelers checks sent from the Luxembourg branch of the now-collapsed [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]]. Two senior MC-10 members, [[Matthew Kevin Gannon]] and Major [[Charles Dennis McKee]], were on [[Pan Am Flight 103]], having just returned from a mission in Beirut, when it exploded over Scotland.[^1] + +Coleman claimed that the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]], in collaboration with the Cypriot national police narcotics squad, the German BKA police, and British customs, ran a "drug sting operation" code-named "[[Khourah]]" through [[Cyprus]] and European airports, including Frankfurt. This operation involved delivering heroin from the Bekaa Valley in [[Lebanon]] to the [[United States]]. Coleman maintained that Pan Am Flight 103 was being used by the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] as a "controlled delivery" flight.[^1] + +After the explosion of Pan Am Flight 103, the Beirut end of MC-10 was reportedly "blown." [[Werner Tony Asmar]], a German Lebanese member of MC-10, was killed in a bomb explosion in Beirut in May 1988. Another MC-10 member, [[Charlie Frezeli]], a Lebanese army officer, was shot dead in Beirut in November 1989. Following Asmar's death, the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] ordered Coleman home.[^1] + +[[Danny Casolaro]] contacted Coleman in Sweden on August 3, 1991, seven days before Casolaro's death. They discussed the sale of the [[PROMIS]] software by the [[United States Government|U.S. Government]] to foreign governments, the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]], and the [[Iran-Contra Affair]]. After learning of Casolaro's death, Coleman provided [[INSLAW]] president [[Bill Hamilton]] with an affidavit in October 1991. In this affidavit, Coleman stated that he became aware that the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] was using its proprietary company, [[Euramae Trading Company]], to sell [[PROMIS]] software to drug abuse control agencies in various Middle Eastern countries, including [[Cyprus]], [[Pakistan]], [[Syria]], [[Kuwait]], and [[Turkey]].[^1] + +Coleman also stated that the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]]'s objective was to augment U.S. drug control resources by enabling the [[United States Government|U.S. Government]] to access sensitive drug control law enforcement and intelligence files of these Middle Eastern governments. He noted that third-party funds, including from the [[United Nations]] Fund for Drug Abuse Control in Vienna, [[Austria]], were generally made available for the purchase of these systems.[^1] + +Coleman found the reassignment of [[Michael T. Hurley]], the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] Country Attache for [[Cyprus]], to a [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] intelligence position in Washington State prior to [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s arrest suspicious. He believed Hurley's reassignment was intended to "manufacture a case" against Riconosciuto to prevent him from becoming a credible witness about the [[United States Government|U.S. Government]]'s covert sale of the [[PROMIS]] software to foreign governments.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Levi Eshkol.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Levi Eshkol.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1e1a5a24 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Levi Eshkol.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Israel +--- +Levi Eshkol was an Israeli politician who served as Prime Minister of [[Israel]] from 1963 to 1969. He had spent eleven years as finance minister, much of it in a struggle against funding for [[Dimona]], and was far less committed emotionally than [[David Ben-Gurion]] to the concept of spending hundreds of millions of dollars annually on nuclear activity. Eshkol prioritized better weapons and training for the army and air force, which he and his supporters saw as [[Israel]]'s most immediate need.[^1] + +Eshkol was more democratic in his politics and personality than Ben-Gurion, and the notion of compromise returned to the leadership of the government and the [[Mapai Party]] under his tenure. He moved quickly to lighten government control of the press and set up an independent broadcasting authority, reforms that Ben-Gurion had resisted.[^1] + +Eshkol's apprehension about committing [[Israel]] to the mass production of nuclear weapons did not impede the steady progress at [[Dimona]]. By mid-1964, the reactor had been in operation for almost two years, and the reprocessing plant was essentially completed and ready to begin producing weapons-grade plutonium.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 5, 9. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Lew Allen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Lew Allen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e1a57736 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Lew Allen.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Lew Allen + - General Lew Allen +tags: + - Person + - Military + - US Air Force + - Joint Chiefs of Staff +--- +# Lew Allen + +Lew Allen was a powerful [[U.S. Air Force]] chief of staff and a member of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]]. He played a significant role in the [[Pentagon]]'s strategic defense initiatives, including the [[MX Missile Basing System]], and had direct influence over the direction of psychic research programs within the military[^1]. + +In the late 1970s, Allen was a strong supporter of the MX missile basing system, which aimed to protect America's land-based, nuclear-tipped [[Intercontinental Ballistic Missile|ICBMs]] from a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] preemptive nuclear attack. He pushed the idea through [[U.S. Congress]], with estimated start-up costs in the tens of billions of dollars[^1]. + +Allen became furious when a study contracted by [[Dale Graff]] indicated that [[Remote Viewing]] could significantly increase the odds in determining the location of the real ICBMs within the MX system. He sent Graff a letter ordering him to immediately stop work on any programs that involved [[Extrasensory Perception|extrasensory perception]], [[Paraphysics|paraphysics]], or [[Parapsychology|parapsychology]][^1]. + +Despite Graff winning the prestigious CIA's Exceptional Intelligence Analyst award and a yearlong sabbatical, Allen intervened and declined the award on Graff's behalf. This demonstrated Allen's significant power and his stance against the military's involvement in psychic research[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Lincoln D. Faurer.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Lincoln D. Faurer.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e9f8dfd5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Lincoln D. Faurer.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Lincoln D. Faurer + - Lieutenant General Lincoln D. Faurer +tags: + - Person + - Military + - NSA +--- +Lincoln D. Faurer was a Lieutenant General and the Director of the [[National Security Agency]] (NSA). In the spring of 1982, he was given a briefing on the [[U.S. Army]]'s [[Remote Viewing]] program, and he saw [[Extrasensory Perception|extrasensory perception]] as a form of [[Signals Intelligence|signals intelligence]] with potential operational value[^1]. + +Faurer's interest led him to assign the remote-viewing unit at [[Fort Meade]] a dozen new tasks in April 1982. His support was crucial for the program's survival, as it provided the necessary operational requests from the military and intelligence services[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Lois Battistoni.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Lois Battistoni.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1a72527c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Lois Battistoni.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Lois Battistoni was a former administrative employee of the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] Criminal Division. She became a source of allegations for [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] regarding the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]]. + +[[Bill Hamilton]]'s affidavit attributed information to Battistoni, claiming that an employee of the Criminal Division disclosed to her in 1988 that the company chosen to take over [[INSLAW|Inslaw]]'s business with the DOJ was connected to one of the top DOJ officials through a California relationship, and that Hadron, Inc., fit this description because both [[Earl Brian]] and [[Edwin Meese]] served together in Governor Reagan's administration in California. Battistoni also allegedly learned from another Criminal Division employee in July 1989 that the DOJ intended "to bury INSLAW," meaning to cover up what it had done to Inslaw.[^1] + +The Special Counsel's investigation interviewed Battistoni, who admitted she had no first-hand information regarding Inslaw's allegations, and that virtually all the information she provided came from newspaper and journal articles she had saved. She claimed an unnamed DOJ attorney gave her the information about the Hadron connection. She did state that [[Floyd Bankson]], a system engineer in the Criminal Division, told her in 1989 that the DOJ intended to "bury Inslaw." She also indicated that [[Garnett Taylor]] and [[Charles Trombetta]] had information about the DOJ and Inslaw. The investigation found Battistoni's information to be "extremely suspect" due to her apparent manipulation and misstatement of evidence, and her strong bias against the DOJ. For example, she allegedly altered a letter from the Special Counsel's office to suggest it was being sent to the Attorney General and White House, then gave it to William Hamilton, presumably to undermine the investigation's credibility. She also accused the DOJ of numerous other wrongdoings unrelated to Inslaw, based purely on hearsay and speculation.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Louis Andre.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Louis Andre.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..557bdd83 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Louis Andre.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Louis Andre +tags: + - Person + - DIA + - Analyst +--- +Louis Andre was an analyst with the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] who worked on the case of [[William Richard Higgins]], a Marine Lieutenant Colonel abducted in [[Lebanon]] in 1988. Andre had never spoken to a reporter before, and noted that many aspects of the operation remained classified due to its sensitive nature[^1]. + +Andre was initially highly skeptical of [[Remote Viewing]], but he came to accept that the information provided by [[Angela Dellafiora]], one of the DIA's remote viewers, was valuable to the overall mission. Dellafiora identified where she thought Higgins was being held and perceived him to be alive. She also produced phonetically the name of one of the Amal Militia commanders involved in the Higgins case, providing accurate details about his role and family members[^1]. + +Andre found Dellafiora's ability to access such sensitive information astonishing. He observed that her talents continued to be applied throughout the 113 sessions dedicated to the search for Higgins[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Louis de Wohl.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Louis de Wohl.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6fa420a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Louis de Wohl.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Louis de Wohl +tags: + - person + - astrologer + - intelligence + - author +description: Louis de Wohl was a Hungarian-born British astrologer who worked for British intelligence during World War II. +--- + +Louis de Wohl was a Hungarian-born British astrologer who was used by [[British Intelligence]] as a key figure in a black propaganda campaign during World War II. His syndicated American column, "Stars Foretell," was used to spread disinformation and influence public opinion in favor of Britain.[^1] + +De Wohl's predictions, which often came true due to his access to inside information from British intelligence, convinced many of his supposed supernatural powers. His work was part of a larger effort to counter the Nazi's use of astrology and the occult, and to sway American public opinion towards joining the war.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Luis Elizondo.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Luis Elizondo.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6cf1683e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Luis Elizondo.md @@ -0,0 +1,35 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> Need additional time to complete research. This page is a placeholder as we sort Lue out. + +Luis “Lue” Elizondo is an important [[UAP]] personality most known for running the [[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program]] (AATIP) for the [[Department of Defense]]. Lue had a long distinguished military career leading to this appointment, but is now allegedly retired from the government and pursuing UAP disclosure. In August 2024, he published his insider story [[Imminent]]. + +## Early Life +Lue was born around XXXX in [placeholder], Texas to Cuban exile [[Luis Elizondo III]] and American [[Janise]]. The family moved to Sarasota around 1975 and opened an Italian restaurant called Michelangelo’s in 1978[^1]. His parents eventually divorced when Lue was 10. + +Luis Elizondo III, Lue’s father, was a revolutionary fighting first with Castro and then against him with the CIA and he tried to pass this knowledge on to his son. Lue was trained to drive cars, motorcycles, fly planes, assemble guns, build bombs, navigate wilderness, etc as a young boy. + +Lue went to Hebrew school at his mother’s urging. He writes that he was constantly bullied as a child and scared of his father’s temper. Lue struggled in school due to dyslexia and frequently got into fights until he was urged to join JROTC and found solace in the mixed company and structure the organization provided. + +He ultimately graduated high school and attended University of Miami studying premed with a focus on microbiology and immunology. + +During this period he met [[Jennifer]] whom he eventually married and would later have at least one child with. + +## Army Years +After college and craving the structure of JROTC, Lue joined the [[U.S. Army]] opting to join as an enlisted man instead of an officer so he could select his MOS. He was trained as a counterintelligence special agent (97-Bravo). + +The Army first assigned him to South Korea where he worked with the [[Korean CIA]] (KCIA) and [[Korean National Police]] (KNP) as well as with Special Projects surveillance team. + +Upon his return to the United States, he was reassigned to the [[902nd MI Group]] and stationed to Fort Huachuca, Arizona working on counter intelligence for Nevada, California, and Arizona to protect the major defense contractors working in the area ([[TRW]], [[Raytheon]], [[Boeing]], [[Lockheed]], etc). During this period he relates an interesting story about codename [[Lone Wolf on the Range]][^2]. + +### Remote Viewing +A year after his reassignment, Lue was approached by Lieutenant Colonel [[Michael Seage]] for an Army program called [[Great Skill Program|Great Skill]]. Through this he was introduced to [[Eugene Lessman]], a civilian intelligence officer employed by the Army. Gene helped train Lue to perform [[remote viewing]] but ultimately told him the program was cancelled (Editors Opinion, it was not cancelled, Lue just wasn’t an adept). + +## Army Civilian Intelligence Personnel + +Lue then was released from the Army and was reassigned to Panama as an intelligence operations officer[^3]. + +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: [Sarasota Herald-Tribune](https://books.google.com/books?id=RE80AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA56&dq=luis+elizondo+sarasota&article_id=4505,1165823&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwimmMz2w4aIAxVmNzQIHX65JEoQ6AF6BAgJEAI#v=onepage&q=luis%20elizondo%20sarasota&f=false) August 3, 1978 +[^2]: *Imminent* (2024), Lue Elizondo, p31 +[^3]: *Imminent* (2024), Lue Elizondo, p36 \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Lyn Buchanan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Lyn Buchanan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e85aa534 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Lyn Buchanan.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Lyn Buchanan +tags: + - Person + - Remote Viewer +--- +Lyn Buchanan was a remote viewer in the [[U.S. Army]]'s psychic research program. He was part of the unit at [[Fort Meade]] and is mentioned as one of the viewers who noticed [[David Morehouse]]'s odd behavior, specifically his moonlighting with a construction company[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Manucher Ghorbanifar.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Manucher Ghorbanifar.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b122593b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Manucher Ghorbanifar.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Manucher Ghorbanifar]] was an Iranian arms dealer and a middleman in the [[Iran-Contra Affair]]. He was involved in brokering the transaction of [[PROMIS]] software to an Arab Sheik for resale and general distribution. He was mentioned in a document dated May 16, 1985, along with [[Adnan Khashoggi]] and [[Richard Armitage]], as individuals who would broker this transaction. [[William Bradford Reynolds]] independently remembered Armitage, Khashoggi, and Ghorbanifar working together on [[PROMIS]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Mark W. Everson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Mark W. Everson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..70cff3d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Mark W. Everson.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is really more of a placeholder to remind me about a question + +Mark Whitty Everson was born September 10, 1954 in NYC, NY. He received a BA in history from Yale and a MS in accounting from NYU Stern. + +Served in the [[Reagan administration]] from 1982 until 1988 in the United States Information Agency as well as the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] as deputy commissioner of INS. + +He entered private industry as Group Vice President of Finance at SC International Services, Inc. (SkyChefs), a $2 billion food services company, and as Senior Vice President with the Pechiney Group, then one of France’s largest industrial groups and the largest packaging company in the world. + +In 2001 he joined the [[Bush administration]] as Deputy Director for Management at the [[OMB|Office of Management and Budget]] and chaired the President’s Management Council. In 2003 he was confirmed as [[IRS]] Commisioner and served until 2007. + +Mark was President and CEO of the American Red Cross from May-November 2007 before going to work in Indiana’s state government. + +Why does he have a restricted [[PROMIS]] related file in the National Archives[^1]? + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/3936205 \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Marlin Fitzwater.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Marlin Fitzwater.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d915dba9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Marlin Fitzwater.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Marlin Fitzwater +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - White House +--- +Marlin Fitzwater was the [[White House]] press secretary under President [[Ronald Reagan]]. In May 1988, he confirmed the revelation made by [[Donald T. Regan]], former White House chief of staff, that President Reagan had sought the advice of a private astrologer during his tenure[^1]. + +Fitzwater stated that "President Reagan and his wife, Nancy, are both deeply interested in astrology," thereby publicly acknowledging the role of [[Joan Quigley]], the San Francisco socialite and astrologer, in the President's decision-making process[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Martin Bacow.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Martin Bacow.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..893ff7c6 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Martin Bacow.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +[[Martin Bacow]] was a friend of [[Eugene Giaquinto]], then president of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] home entertainment division. He was a figure in the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretap investigation into alleged organized crime penetration of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]].[^1] + +Bacow was described in the wiretaps as "the back door liaison Teamsters connection to the movie industry." He was under investigation in 1987 for various suspected offenses, including extortion, insider trading (MCA/Universal), the purchase and sale of narcotics/controlled substances, and the allocation and use of the proceeds of its trafficking.[^1] + +Intercepted conversations revealed Bacow's discussions with Giaquinto about the internal situation at [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] and plans to produce a film about [[Meyer Lansky]]. The intercepts indicated that [[La Cosa Nostra]] from either [[Florida]] or [[New York]] was attempting to get involved in the Lansky film. Bacow also informed Giaquinto that his "guy downtown" (Detective [[John St. John]] at the [[Los Angeles Police Department|Los Angeles Police Department]]'s Organized Crime Intelligence Division) was tied up with [[John Gotti]] and could obtain intelligence reports on organized crime figures.[^1] + +Bacow boasted to Giaquinto about [[John St. John]]'s status within [[OCID]], which allowed him to obtain intelligence reports on organized crime figures across the nation, and Bacow could then pass that information along to Giaquinto. A grand jury investigation into the mob's involvement in the motion picture industry was in the process of being opened at that time, which would have included a close look at Giaquinto, Bacow, and others. St. John called Bacow and told him he would listen and not give up too much, and try to find out what the investigators were looking at and let Bacow know. Bacow then called Giaquinto and related what St. John had said. Giaquinto responded that he would call [[Edwin Meese]] and get the investigation shut down.[^1] + +[[Richard Stavin]] confirmed that the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretap revealed a conversation in which Giaquinto told Bacow that he would call [[Edwin Meese]] and have the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]'s investigation of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] stopped. No indictment was ever issued against Bacow for any criminal violations, with the prosecution of these suspects reportedly not going forward because no one at the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] in Washington D.C. wanted all the wiretap affidavits in the case to be released.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Martin Gardner.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Martin Gardner.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c9a2f908 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Martin Gardner.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Martin Gardner +tags: + - Person + - Author + - Skeptic +--- +Martin Gardner (1914–2010) was an American science writer and a key figure in jump-starting the modern scientific skepticism movement. His 1952 book, *Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science*, aimed to expose cranks, crackpots, and charlatans in the modern age[^1]. + +Gardner praised science, noting that after the atomic bomb, its prestige had "mushroomed like an atomic cloud." However, he lamented that the "less informed general public" was falling for pseudoscience, drawing a parallel to "German quasi science paralleled the rise of Hitler"[^1]. + +His book surveyed popular beliefs parading as science, including the Flat Earth Doctrine, the World Ice Theory, and Dianetics. He reintroduced the term "pseudoscience" to describe beliefs not based on the scientific method, emphasizing that if an experiment is not repeatable, the original hypothesis must be refined or rejected[^1]. + +Gardner devoted the last chapter of *Fads and Fallacies* to debunking [[J. B. Rhine]]'s work, concluding it was the product of "an enormous self-deception." He leveled three main criticisms against Rhine's and general [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] research: loose laboratory controls, skewing of data, and the premise that the attitude of the scientist could negatively influence the subject or psychic[^1]. Gardner argued that ESP and [[Psychokinesis|PK]] were only found when experiments were careless and supervised by believers, asserting, "This is not science... It is merely a scientist convincing himself of a deeply held, quasi-science belief"[^1]. + +Gardner, along with [[Carl Sagan]], [[Ray Hyman]], [[Paul Kurtz]], and [[James Randi]], co-founded the [[Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal]] (CSICOP). This organization aimed to promote scientific inquiry and combat pseudoscience, superstition, and irrational beliefs[^1]. + +Towards the end of his life, Gardner experienced a religious epiphany, openly discussing his belief in a supernatural being or God. He asserted that this belief was not pseudoscience because it could neither be confirmed nor disproved by science or reason, calling it "philosophical theism"[^1]. + +## Publications +* *Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science* (1952) + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Matthew Kevin Gannon.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Matthew Kevin Gannon.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..12e6e3e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Matthew Kevin Gannon.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Matthew Kevin Gannon]] was a senior member of the [[Middle East Collection 10]] (MC-10) cell in [[Cyprus]] and Beirut. He was on Pan Am Flight 103, along with Major [[Charles Dennis McKee]], when it exploded over Scotland. They had just returned from a mission in Beirut.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Maurice Bourges-Maunoury.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Maurice Bourges-Maunoury.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..38eaddb3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Maurice Bourges-Maunoury.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - France +--- +Maurice Bourges-Maunoury was a French politician who served as Prime Minister of [[France]] in 1957. His government replaced [[Guy Mollet]]'s, and it was during his administration that the formal authorization for the [[Dimona]] reactor was signed by [[Christian Pineau]], then Foreign Minister, just as the government was being voted out of office.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Max Ben.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Max Ben.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a1d71163 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Max Ben.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - USA +--- +Max Ben was a Princeton-trained pharmacologist who was helping the Israelis set up a pharmacology institute under [[United Nations]] auspices. He became a close friend and confidant of [[Ernst David Bergmann]] while in [[Israel]]. In 1966, Ben visited [[Dimona]] and was shown the nuclear facilities, leading him to believe that [[Israel]] was making nuclear warheads. He reported his findings to [[William N. Dale]], then deputy chief of mission at the American embassy, with the goal of informing [[Washington D.C.]] about [[Dimona]]'s accomplishments and seeing how the U.S. could assist [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 12. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/McGeorge Bundy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/McGeorge Bundy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0e262fad --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/McGeorge Bundy.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +McGeorge Bundy served as the National Security Advisor to President [[John F. Kennedy]]. He desperately sought to cut [[Myer Feldman]] out of the flow of [[Middle East]] paperwork due to Feldman's strong pro-Israel bias, which often resulted in bureaucratic chaos within the White House staff. Bundy was suspicious of Feldman and also anxious about other Jewish National Security Council staff members handling Israeli issues.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Mehdi Bazargan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Mehdi Bazargan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b861d5c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Mehdi Bazargan.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Iran +--- +[[Mehdi Bazargan]] was the first prime minister appointed by the revolutionary government of [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini]] in [[Iran]]. He was a member of the National Front and a supporter of [[Mohammed Mossadegh]], representing [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini|Khomeini's]] compromise between the fundamentalists and the middle class.[^1] + +[[Mehdi Bazargan|Bazargan]] believed that both the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]] and the [[USA|U.S.]] were evil, but preferred the [[USA|U.S.]] to the "godless communists." He sought to normalize relations with [[Washington D.C.]] and allowed the [[USA|U.S.]] Embassy in [[Tehran]] to operate, continuing to deal with the [[USA|Americans]].[^1] + +[[Mehdi Bazargan|Bazargan's]] faction was in a tense power struggle with extremist fundamentalist groups who opposed any relationship with the [[USA|U.S.]]. [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence, concerned about an imminent [[Iraq|Iraqi]] attack on [[Iran]], urged [[Jimmy Carter|President Carter]] to support [[Mehdi Bazargan|Bazargan's]] government, as he was willing to negotiate with the [[USA|Americans]] and accept help in reorganizing his military. However, the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration adopted a hands-off policy.[^1] + +[[Mehdi Bazargan|Bazargan]] desperately needed [[USA|American]] arms and help against the [[Iraq|Iraqi]] threat. He resigned on November 4, 1979, after radical "students" took over the [[USA|U.S.]] Embassy and held staff hostage, a desperate attempt to draw attention to themselves due to the lack of [[USA|American]] aid.[^1] + +[[Earl Brian]] and [[Robert McFarlane]] arranged a meeting with [[Mehdi Bazargan|Bazargan]] in late January 1980 in [[Tehran]] to discuss the hostage situation. [[Mehdi Bazargan|Bazargan]] was still thought to be very close to [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini|Khomeini]] and [[Mehdi Karrubi|Hojjat El-Islam Mehdi Karrubi]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Meir Amit.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Meir Amit.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7f0a2e87 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Meir Amit.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Meir Amit +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +Meir Amit was the former chief of the [[Mossad]], [[Israel]]'s national intelligence agency. He was one of the high-profile Israeli figures who met with [[Uri Geller]], with reports indicating that Geller bent a spoon for him[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Meir Deshalit.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Meir Deshalit.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..64a1083d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Meir Deshalit.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +Meir Deshalit, also known as Meme Deshalit, was an Israeli intelligence official and a close colleague of [[James Jesus Angleton]]. He had been posted to [[Washington D.C.]] in 1948. Deshalit was the older brother of [[Amos Deshalit]], the physicist who contributed significantly to [[Israel]]'s nuclear arsenal before his death in 1969. Angleton shared Meir Deshalit's view of the Soviet and Arab threat to [[Israel]], making him a logical choice to handle liaison between the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and the Israeli government.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 11. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Menachem Begin.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Menachem Begin.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..af61d10f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Menachem Begin.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Israel +--- +Menachem Begin was the 6th Prime Minister of [[Israel]], serving from 1977 to 1983. His surprising victory in the May 1977 national elections ended twenty-nine years of [[Mapai Party|Mapai]] and [[Labor Party]] domination of the political process in [[Israel]]. This brought to power a government even more committed than Labor to the [[Samson Option]] and the necessity of an Israeli nuclear arsenal. Begin and his political followers represented a populist-nationalist view of a greater [[Israel]] with a right to permanent control of the [[West Bank]].[^1] + +Begin's successful [[Camp David Accords|Camp David summit]] with Egyptian President [[Anwar Sadat]] in 1978 was seen by some American intelligence officials as a reason for [[Jimmy Carter]]'s decision to provide [[Israel]] with access to [[KH-11]] satellite photographs.[^1] + +Begin's decision to bomb the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] in June 1981 was a significant event. Despite opposition from some within the Israeli intelligence community, including [[Yitzhak Hofi]], the director of [[Mossad]], and Major General [[Yehoshua Saguy]], chief of military intelligence, Begin proceeded with the attack. He unilaterally announced the successful bombing, stunning his colleagues, and defended the operation by stating that another Holocaust would have occurred if the reactor had not been destroyed.[^1] + +Following the Osirak bombing, Begin made a controversial statement at a British diplomatic reception, claiming that the Israeli planes had also destroyed a secret facility buried forty meters below the reactor at Osirak, which was intended for the assembly of Iraqi nuclear bombs. Israeli officials knew this description was not of a facility in [[Iraq]], but rather of a secret underground facility in [[Israel]] at [[Dimona]]. They attempted to downplay his remarks by stating he had misspoken and that the facility was only four meters deep.[^1] + +In August 1981, the newly reelected Begin government appointed [[Ariel Sharon]] as defense minister. Begin and Sharon traveled to [[Washington D.C.]] in September to advocate for a U.S.-Israeli strategic cooperation against the [[Soviet Union]].[^1] + +Unlike many Israelis who had immigrated from Eastern Europe, Begin had a strong hatred of Communism and the [[Soviet Union]]. He and his family had fled to eastern [[Poland]] after the 1939 German blitzkrieg and, like many Zionists, were arrested by Soviet troops and expelled to a Siberian gulag, only to be released into a hastily assembled Polish contingent of the Red Army after the 1941 Nazi invasion of [[Russia]].[^1] + +By all accounts, Begin had never visited [[Dimona]] before becoming prime minister, nor was he especially well informed about it. His initial briefings on sensitive national security matters were provided by the outgoing prime minister, [[Yitzhak Rabin]]. [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], a former Israeli signals intelligence expert, recalled that Begin strongly endorsed [[Dimona]]'s plans for the nuclear targeting of the [[Soviet Union]]. Begin went a step further, according to Ben-Menashe, by giving orders to target more Soviet cities. This increased targeting created a heightened demand for American satellite intelligence.[^1] + +--- + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 19. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Michael Abbell.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Michael Abbell.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..af5f6acc --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Michael Abbell.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +[[Michael Abbell]] is a former official of the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]] who later became a central figure in investigations related to drug trafficking and money laundering, particularly involving the [[Cali Drug Cartel]].[1] + +### Career in the Justice Department + +Abbell served as a staff assistant to the Assistant U.S. Attorney General from 1973 to 1979. From 1979 to 1982, he held the position of Director of the Office of International Affairs of the Criminal Division of the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]].[1] + +### Post-DOJ Career and Allegations + +After leaving the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] in 1984, Abbell joined the law firm of [[Kaplan, Russin and Becchi]], which had offices in various international locations, including Bogota, Colombia. He was later associated with his own firm, [[Ristau and Abbell]], in Washington D.C., with [[Bruno Ristau]] as his partner.[1] + +Abbell was indicted in Miami on June 6, 1995, for laundering money for the [[Cali Drug Cartel]]. Surveillance reports indicated he made frequent visits to the home of [[Gilberto Rodriguez]], a leader of the Cali Cartel, in Bogota, Colombia. He was subsequently prosecuted and served a prison term.[1] + +### Connections to "The Octopus" Investigation + +Abbell's activities became a significant focus of investigative journalist [[Danny Casolaro]]'s "[[The Octopus]]" probe during the last week of Casolaro's life. Casolaro had discovered a connection between Abbell, the [[Cali Drug Cartel]], and [[Robert Booth Nichols]], an international intelligence operative.[1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that Abbell, [[Robert Booth Nichols]], and [[Gilberto Rodriguez]] were "all in bed together." Riconosciuto also alleged that Nichols provided Abbell with $50,000 in cash to handle an internal affairs investigation within the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] that would have led to the extradition of Cali Cartel leaders [[Gilberto Rodriguez]] and [[Jose Londono]], whom Nichols reportedly considered "intelligence people."[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Michael DeFeo.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Michael DeFeo.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..42864eb4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Michael DeFeo.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Michael DeFeo]] was the deputy to [[David Margolis]], chief of the Organized Crime Strike Force at the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. He, along with Margolis, reportedly called [[Marvin Rudnick]], a Los Angeles prosecutor, to Washington D.C. and instructed him to eliminate [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] from his investigation into [[Sal Pisello]].[^1] + +[[William Hundley]], retained by [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]], confirmed meeting with Margolis and DeFeo to convey [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]'s willingness to cooperate in any organized crime investigation. [[Marvin Rudnick]] accused DeFeo of having an agenda to obstruct justice in the [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] investigation. [[Richard Stavin]] confirmed that the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretap revealed a conversation in which [[Eugene Giaquinto]] told [[Martin Bacow]] that he would call [[Edwin Meese]] and have the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]'s investigation of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] stopped. This investigation was indeed shut down afterward by the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]].[^1] + +DeFeo reportedly threatened [[Richard Stavin]] about talking about the circumstances of the case, or "throwing dirt," when Stavin quit the Organized Crime Strike Force in May 1989.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Michael Del Gaizo.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Michael Del Gaizo.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9ad2a08e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Michael Del Gaizo.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Michael Del Gaizo]] operated Northstar Graphics in [[New Jersey]]. He was under investigation in 1987 for various suspected offenses, including extortion, insider trading (MCA/Universal), the purchase and sale of narcotics/controlled substances, and the allocation and use of the proceeds of its trafficking.[^1] + +[[Eugene Giaquinto]] had awarded a multi-million dollar contract to Northstar Graphics. [[Sidney Sheinberg]], President of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]/Universal, was critical of Giaquinto giving the contract to Northstar. Giaquinto expressed concern that Del Gaizo might carry out some type of threat or violence against Sheinberg to retain the contract.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Michael Edwards.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Michael Edwards.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..55d2624e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Michael Edwards.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Michael Edwards +tags: + - Person + - Magician +--- +Michael Edwards was one of two young magicians, along with [[Steven Shaw]], who participated in [[James Randi]]'s hoax against the McDonnell Laboratory for Psychical Research at Washington University in 1983. Edwards and Shaw pretended to be psychics capable of [[Psychokinesis|psychokinesis]], using sleight of hand to simulate feats like spoon bending[^1]. + +They spent a total of five weeks in the lab over a three-year period. The hoax was later exposed by Randi, generating significant negative press for the parapsychology community[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Milbourne Christopher.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Milbourne Christopher.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bbc11863 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Milbourne Christopher.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Milbourne Christopher +tags: + - person + - magician + - skeptic +description: Milbourne Christopher was a renowned American stage magician and author, known for his expertise in exposing fraudulent psychic claims. +--- +Milbourne Christopher was a renowned American stage magician and author. He was known for his expertise in exposing fraudulent psychic claims and was occasionally brought into the [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) laboratory during experiments with [[Uri Geller]].[^1] + +[[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]], wary of Geller's showman tendencies and potential use of sleight of hand, would sometimes disguise Christopher as a camera-wielding lab technician to observe Geller's performances. This was part of their effort to ensure the scientific rigor of their experiments and to guard against any trickery.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Miles Copeland.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Miles Copeland.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d2d58e02 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Miles Copeland.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - USA +--- +[[Miles Copeland]] was a well-known retired [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] officer. In December 1979, he gathered a group of [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]-connected officers and associates who were unhappy with the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration and the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] leadership.[^1] + +[[Miles Copeland|Copeland]] had previously helped [[Kermit Roosevelt]] and the [[Iran|Iranian]] military restore the [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Shah]] of [[Iran]] to power in 1953 after he had been overthrown by [[Mohammed Mossadegh]]. He was a friend of the late [[Gamal Abdel Nasser|Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser]] and was known for his anti-[[Israel|Israel]] stance. [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence believed him responsible for [[USA|U.S.]] pressure on [[Israel]], [[Britain]], and [[France]] to withdraw from the [[Suez Canal]] area in 1956, and for pushing [[Israel|Israelis]] to withdraw from the [[Sinai Desert|Sinai]].[^1] + +[[Miles Copeland|Copeland's]] group, along with the [[Israel|Israeli]] government, sought to prevent the [[Iran|Iranians]] from being defeated in [[Khuzistan]] if [[Iraq]] attacked, and to avoid a repeat of [[Jimmy Carter|President Carter's]] blunders. A meeting between [[Miles Copeland|Copeland]] and [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence officers, including [[David Kimche]], was held in [[Washington D.C.]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Mohammed Al-Fayed.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Mohammed Al-Fayed.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..83841ae0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Mohammed Al-Fayed.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Mohammed Al-Fayed]] was the father of [[Dodi Fayed]] and the husband of [[Samira Khashoggi Fayed]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Mohammed Radi Abdullah.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Mohammed Radi Abdullah.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b2eba913 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Mohammed Radi Abdullah.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Intelligence + - Jordan +--- +Colonel [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah]] was a former colonel in the [[Jordan|Jordanian]] Army. He was decorated by [[King Hussein of Jordan|King Hussein]] of [[Jordan]] for his bravery in the [[1967 War|1967 Middle East war]]. His family later emigrated to [[London]] after falling out with the king over the mass slaughter of [[Palestinians]] by the [[Jordan|Jordanian]] Army in 1970.[^1] + +[[Mohammed Radi Abdullah|Radi]] became known as a businessman who championed [[Arab]] and [[Palestinians|Palestinian]] causes in [[Europe]]. To recoup gambling and other losses, he began working for [[Anthony Pearson]], who supplied intelligence information to [[Israel]]. Unwittingly, [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah|Radi]] helped [[Anthony Pearson|Pearson]] acquire intelligence about Palestinian organizations in [[Europe]] by selling arms to them. This intelligence was then passed to [[Mossad]], leading to the elimination of 14 or 15 Palestinians over a two-month period.[^1] + +[[Mohammed Radi Abdullah|Radi]] was recruited by [[Rafi Eitan]] in 1978 to work for an antiterrorist group in [[Israel]], after [[Anthony Pearson|Pearson]] made it clear that the £200,000 loan he offered [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah|Radi]] came from an [[Israel|Israeli]] source.[^1] + +[[Mohammed Radi Abdullah|Radi]] was a key player in [[Israel|Israeli]] "black" operations, including the 1986 plot to bomb an [[El Al]] plane, which was designed to discredit [[Syria]]. He instructed his cousin, [[Nezar Hindawi]], in this plot. He was also involved in the [[Achille Lauro]] attack in 1985, which was an [[Israel|Israeli]] "black" propaganda operation to portray Palestinians as ruthless terrorists. [[Rafi Eitan]] passed instructions to [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah|Radi]], who then relayed orders to [[Abul Abbas]] to carry out a cruel attack.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Monzer Al-Kassar.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Monzer Al-Kassar.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..949ed3fe --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Monzer Al-Kassar.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Monzer Al-Kassar]] was a Syrian kingpin and arms dealer, often referred to as the world's biggest arms dealer. He was implicated by the private investigative firm [[Interfor]] as being behind the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. Interfor claimed he oversaw a heroin smuggling ring connected to the Syrian regime.[^1] + +Allegations suggest that the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] was protecting Al-Kassar's operation because he was cooperating with efforts to free U.S. hostages in [[Lebanon]]. It was further alleged that a suitcase intended for heroin was covertly substituted with explosives by the [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command|PFLP-GC]] and Al-Kassar, unbeknownst to others involved in the alleged drug smuggling operation.[^1] + +Al-Kassar was also alleged to have provided [[Oliver North]] with drug profits to purchase arms for the Nicaraguan [[Contras]]. The [[United States]] Tower Commission probe into Iran-gate revealed that Al-Kassar had been paid $1.2 million by [[Oliver North]]'s co-conspirator General [[Richard Secord]] to move weapons from [[Israel]] to the [[Contras]].[^1] + +[[Barbara Honegger]], in her book *October Surprise*, alleged that Al-Kassar's heroin smuggling network in [[Italy]] was used to launder [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|NATO]] arms stocks for diversion to [[Iran]] with the help of corrupt Italian intelligence officials linked to the secretive fascist Masonic lodge, [[P2]]. Al-Kassar was reported to hold large tracts of land in the Bekaa Valley in [[Lebanon]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Morse Allen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Morse Allen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0b8dbc50 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Morse Allen.md @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Morse Allen +tags: + - Person + - CIA + - Project Artichoke + - MKULTRA +--- +# Morse Allen + +Morse Allen was a [[CIA]] officer and a deception and polygraph expert who played a significant role in the agency's early programs investigating altered states of consciousness and truth serums. In 1952, he was promoted to serve as the director of [[Project Artichoke]], a classified program that was a precursor to [[Project MKUltra]][^1]. + +Allen's primary objective was to search the globe for potent drugs that the [[CIA]] could exploit for intelligence purposes. This quest was influenced by the [[Nazi Germany|Nazis]]' [[Das Ahnenerbe|Ahnenerbe Institute]]'s research, which had pushed human physiology to extremes in concentration camps to measure and monitor results[^1]. + +In October 1952, Allen learned about the Mexican field mushroom, *teonanáctl* (God's flesh), which, according to ancient Aztec legend, endowed certain "sensitive" or psychic individuals with supernatural abilities. He believed this mushroom could act as a truth serum or provide divinatory powers[^1]. In early 1953, the [[CIA]] dispatched a scientist to Mexico to gather samples, but the initial attempt was unsuccessful due to the mushroom's elusive nature[^1]. + +Allen then traveled to Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, the "mushroom capital of America," and secured a contract with a top mushroom grower, planning to mass-produce the hallucinogenic mushroom once located[^1]. The quest for *God's flesh* was later renamed [[Project MKUltra|MKULTRA Subproject 58]][^1]. + +In late summer 1954, Allen discovered that [[Henry Karel Puharich|Captain Henry Karel "Andrija" Puharich]] of the [[U.S. Army Chemical Center]], a [[Project MKUltra]] partner, was also searching for the hallucinogenic mushroom. Despite Puharich's extensive knowledge of mystical and supernatural research, the [[CIA]] ultimately bypassed him, approaching [[R. Gordon Wasson]] directly through their chemist, [[James Moore]], who posed as a professor[^1]. Allen's efforts to keep the drug a secret psychic weapon under military intelligence control were ultimately undermined when Wasson published a twelve-page account of his experience in *Life* magazine, highlighting the mushroom's alleged ability to enhance [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]][^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Moshe Dayan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Moshe Dayan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3a9fef08 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Moshe Dayan.md @@ -0,0 +1,59 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Moshe Dayan +tags: + - person + - military + - Israel + - Government Official +--- +[[Moshe Dayan]] (1915–1981) was a highly prominent [[Israel|Israeli]] military leader and politician, famous for his signature black eye-patch and his pivotal role in shaping [[Israel]]'s military doctrine and nuclear policy. Throughout his career, he served in various high-level positions including army chief of staff, Defense Minister, and Foreign Minister, while also developing an unusual passion for archaeological treasure hunting.[^1][^2][^3] + +### Early Military Leadership + +Dayan's rise to prominence began when [[David Ben-Gurion]] appointed him as the new army chief of staff in late 1953, with the strategic aim of ensuring that [[Moshe Sharett]]'s dovish views on the Arab question would not go unchallenged. In this role, Dayan maintained almost constant contact with Ben-Gurion at his kibbutz and actively sought to stifle Sharett's policies and his secret talks with the Egyptians.[^3] + +### Major Military Campaigns and Nuclear Policy + +As Defense Minister, [[Moshe Dayan|Dayan]] emerged as a hero of the 1956 [[Suez Crisis]] campaign, establishing his reputation as a formidable military strategist. His influence continued to grow, and in 1967, he became Defense Minister as part of the reconstituted coalition government under [[Levi Eshkol]]. In this capacity, he oversaw the capture of [[East Jerusalem]] during the 1967 [[Six-Day War]], cementing his status as one of [[Israel]]'s most celebrated military leaders.[^2] + +Dayan's involvement in [[Israel]]'s nuclear program was extensive and controversial. He was Defense Minister when [[Israel]] agreed to show the [[Dimona reactor]] to [[USA|American]] inspectors, and when [[Israel]] refused to sign a [[United Nations]] agreement not to test nuclear weapons. During the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], when [[Syria|Syrian]] forces penetrated the [[Golan Heights]], [[Moshe Dayan|Dayan]] made the dramatic decision to order the arming of all 13 [[Israel|Israeli]] nuclear bombs and put 24 [[B-52 bombers]] on standby, bringing the region perilously close to nuclear conflict.[^2] + +His tenure as Defense Minister also included oversight of controversial military actions, including when [[Israel]] bombed the [[USS Liberty]] in 1967. Additionally, he managed [[Israel|Israel's]] efforts to develop its nuclear capabilities with new international partners, particularly [[South Africa]], after [[France]] severed relations following the 1967 war.[^2] + +Dayan's drive for the bomb was heightened by his conviction that [[Israel]] could not depend on [[America]] to deter a Soviet attack. He believed that [[Moscow]] would be willing to come to the aid of the Arabs to protect its prestige and international interests, and that unless [[Israel]] armed itself fully, the superpowers would dictate events in the [[Middle East]]. In Dayan's view, [[Israel]]'s survival was dependent on its ability to mass-produce nuclear weapons and target them at the [[Soviet Union]], mirroring [[France]]'s *force de frappe*.[^4] + +Dayan's mission in late 1967 and early 1968 was to convince his fellow cabinet members that a credible Israeli nuclear threat would deter the Soviets from supporting an all-out Arab attack on [[Israel]] or supplying an Arab nation with nuclear weapons. He envisioned a scenario where Israeli intelligence agents would secretly inform their Soviet counterparts once [[Dimona]]'s assembly line went into full production, and when [[Israel]] developed its first bomb in a suitcase. For the rest of the world, including the [[United States]], there would still be studied ambiguity on the question of whether [[Israel]] had the bomb, thus giving birth to the argument for an Israeli "bomb in the basement."[^4] + +During the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], Dayan's panic on Monday, October 8, was widely known among Israelis. He assessed the situation as desperate, stating, "Everything is lost. We must withdraw." This led to a dramatic meeting in [[Golda Meir]]'s office, where the Israeli leadership resolved to implement three critical decisions: rally its collapsing forces for a major counterattack; arm and target its nuclear arsenal in the event of total collapse and subsequent need for the [[Samson Option]]; and inform [[Washington D.C.]] of its unprecedented nuclear action to demand an emergency airlift of replacement arms and ammunition.[^5] + +Dayan's standing among his peers in the military and the upper echelons of the Israeli government declined due to his incessant womanizing, financial dealings, and propensity to talk. He was considered a "loose cannon" at a time when [[Israel]] was in a precarious situation. While he lost no authority, it was eventually made clear to him that he was no longer welcome at [[Dimona]], as he no longer had a military need to know anything about the Israeli nuclear program, which was being managed out of the prime minister's office.[^5] + +His perspective on the Palestinian problem remained notably limited. Along with [[Golda Meir]], he believed the Palestinian issue would eventually resolve itself, a view that reflected the thinking of many [[Israel|Israeli]] leaders of his generation but would prove overly optimistic in the decades that followed.[^2] + +### Archaeological Pursuits and Psychic Collaborations + +Beyond his official duties, Dayan developed an illicit pastime of digging up archaeological treasures across [[Israel]] and the [[Sinai Desert|Sinai]] without a license or scientific oversight. His unconventional method for finding ancient sites often involved "visions" he experienced early in the morning. He would then drive to these sites, comb through the earth, and bring home relics for display in his home. The dangers of this unauthorized archaeological work became evident in 1968, when he was badly injured by a landslide while looting artifacts from a cave.[^1] + +In the summer of 1970, Dayan began an unusual collaboration with [[Uri Geller]], who was then becoming [[Israel|Israel's]] most famous psychic. Geller recalls spending hours over maps, using an ancient form of [[Clairvoyance|clairvoyance]] called [[Map Dowsing]] to help Dayan locate ancient artifacts and archaeological finds illegally. Reflecting on this period, Geller later stated, "I was young and naïve at the time. Here I was, talking to the Moshe Dayan."[^1] + +This controversial partnership came to an end in 1971 after a group of twenty [[Israel|Israeli]] archaeologists signed a petition urging Dayan to give up his "legally questionable hobby." While Dayan discussed his illegally acquired collection in his 1978 memoir, _Living with the Bible_, he notably did not mention using Geller as a map dowser, perhaps seeking to distance himself from the more eccentric aspects of his archaeological pursuits.[^1] + +### Diplomatic Career and Political Philosophy + +In his later political career, [[Moshe Dayan|Dayan]] transitioned to diplomatic roles, serving as Foreign Minister and becoming a key figure who urged [[Menachem Begin]] to sign the [[Camp David Accords]]. [[Menachem Begin|Begin]] reluctantly agreed to the accords under significant pressure from [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]], with Dayan's advocacy playing a crucial role in this historic peace agreement.[^2] + +Despite his military prowess and diplomatic involvement, Dayan's perspective on the Palestinian problem remained notably limited. Along with [[Golda Meir]], he believed the Palestinian issue would eventually resolve itself, a view that reflected the thinking of many [[Israel|Israeli]] leaders of his generatzion but would prove overly optimistic in the decades that followed.[^2] + +## Publications + +- _Living with the Bible_ (1978) + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. _Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis_. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. +[^2]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. _Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network_. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") +[^3]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. +[^4]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 13. +[^5]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Munther Ismael Bilheisi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Munther Ismael Bilheisi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..21824edb --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Munther Ismael Bilheisi.md @@ -0,0 +1,38 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Arms Dealer", "Smuggler", "BCCI"] +--- +Munther Ismael Bilheisi was an expatriate [[Jordan|Jordanian]] involved in coffee smuggling, arms dealing, customs violations, money laundering, and paying bribes and kickbacks.[^1] He maintained lavishly appointed residences in England, Spain, Jordan, and the United States.[^2] Bilheisi's activities were closely tied to the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]], which facilitated his illicit operations. + +### Business Operations + +Bilheisi ran a formidable smuggling operation out of Boca Raton from 1982 to 1986, with BCCI acting as a full partner in the fraud. The bank financed his purchases and helped falsify documents to deceive [[U.S. Customs Service]] officials.[^3] His business was so valuable to BCCI that the bank opened a Boca Raton branch in 1983 specifically to service his account.[^4] BCCI provided $105 million in financing and letters of credit to support his operations.[^5] + +He was involved in coffee smuggling, buying non-agreement coffee at cheap prices and selling it illegally to agreement countries like the United States, thereby pocketing a huge profit.[^6] BCCI provided services such as financing shipments and doctoring shipping documents for these operations.[^7] + +Bilheisi also engaged in illegal arms dealing. In 1974, he brokered British-made Centurion tanks and Tigercat missiles from Jordan to South Africa, defying British national policy.[^8] Other deals included retrofitting Jordanian tanks, selling small arms to Honduras and El Salvador, and selling U.S.-built F-86Safra jet fighters from Yugoslavia to Honduras.[^9] + +### Financial Manipulations and Legal Issues + +Bilheisi used BCCI's services to move and hide his wealth. When his wife petitioned for divorce in 1984, BCCI officers helped him transfer funds to secret numbered accounts in [[Nassau]] and [[Panama]] to conceal them from his wife and her attorneys.[^10] He also used phony Panamanian coffee companies to evade U.S. income tax.[^11] + +He made two false claims against [[Lloyd's of London]], one for alleged art theft and another for a coffee shipment. These claims led [[James Dougherty]] to investigate Bilheisi's business activities, uncovering his connections to BCCI and its illicit operations.[^12] + +In August 1991, Bilheisi was indicted in the United States for failure to pay $840,000 in taxes, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.[^13] He was also charged with corruption in Guatemala, with a warrant issued for his extradition and arrest.[^14] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 8. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 238. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 239. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 239. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 239. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 238. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 245. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 238. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 238. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 246. +[^11]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 247. +[^12]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 240. +[^13]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 242. +[^14]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 242. +[^15]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 243. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Nachum Admoni.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Nachum Admoni.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c05d200c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Nachum Admoni.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +[[Nachum Admoni]] was the acting Director of [[Mossad]] and later its full Director. He was the first [[Mossad]] chief to be appointed from the bureaucracy rather than the military. He was appointed after [[Yekutiel Adam]], who was in line for the position, was assassinated.[^1] + +[[Nachum Admoni|Admoni]] was involved in the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]], which was assigned the task of supplying [[Iran]] with arms in its war with [[Saddam Hussein|Saddam Hussein's]] [[Iraq]]. He had equal power with the Director of [[Israeli Military Intelligence]] on the subject of arms to [[Iran]].[^1] + +[[Nachum Admoni|Admoni]] was briefed by [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] on the [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence network's arms sales to [[Iran]] for [[George Bush|Vice President George Bush]] in July 1986. He also received a phone call from [[Robert Gates]] in early February 1989, expressing [[USA|U.S.]] unhappiness about [[Israel|Israeli]] activities in [[Chile]].[^1] + +[[Nachum Admoni|Admoni]] was involved in the decision to move [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] money, which was under [[Israel|Israeli]] control, to the [[East Bloc]] in 1989. He was one of the three signatories to the slush-fund accounts, along with [[Ari Ben-Menashe]].[^1] + +[[Nachum Admoni|Admoni]] left [[Mossad]] in 1989, but continued to advise [[Yitzhak Shamir]] on intelligence matters. He later became the chair of a public utility in [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Nathan Baca.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Nathan Baca.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..99238de1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Nathan Baca.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Nathan Baca]] is a reporter for KESQ-TV, News Channel 3. He won a regional Emmy for his 35-part series entitled "The Octopus Murders," which focused on the [[Fred Alvarez]] triple homicide case. At the podium, while accepting his Emmy Award, Baca stated, "I do this in memory of murder victims [[Ralph Boger]], [[Fred Alvarez]] and [[Patricia Castro]]. I hope and pray that justice, a justice that has been delayed for far too many years, will soon be had by the families of these victims."[^1] + +Baca interviewed [[Glen Heggstad]], who provided him with a book he had written, autographed with a note urging Baca to seek the truth and keep an open mind, as "just because a cop or prosecutor says something, doesn't make it true."[^1] + +Baca's news report on July 2, 2010, aired a segment of a 25-year-old interview in which [[Jimmy Hughes]] said that the [[Fred Alvarez]] triple homicide in 1981 was an "ordered assassination," and that he was only the bagman. Hughes told the reporter, [[Patrick Healy]], in the 1985 news clip that the hit was an "authorized, backed, government covert action."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Nick Clancy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Nick Clancy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..74c87391 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Nick Clancy.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Nick Clancy +tags: + - person + - CIA + - intelligence +description: Nick Clancy was a CIA officer who worked with Ken Kress on technical penetrations of embassies and was involved in the testing of Pat Price's remote viewing abilities. +--- +Nick Clancy was a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] officer whose job for several years had been to conduct technical penetrations of embassies in Africa, southern Europe, and the Middle East. He worked closely with [[Ken Kress]] and was involved in the testing of [[Pat Price]]'s remote viewing abilities.[^1] + +Clancy was present during Price's three preliminary tests for Staff D, designed to assess Price's suitability for a high-stakes operation involving a Chinese Embassy basement. He witnessed Price's remarkable accuracy in describing the layout of the Chinese Embassy in Africa, including details like a poorly lit hallway that Clancy himself had experienced during an operation. He was so shaken by Price's accuracy that he described the evening as an "eight-martini evening."[^1] + +However, Clancy also witnessed Price's temporal displacement during a remote viewing session of a North African embassy, where Price described the building as a dormitory or hospital from an earlier time period, complete with beds and injured people, and without a large iron gate that existed in the present. This incident highlighted the complexities and potential pitfalls of remote viewing across time.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Niels Bohr.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Niels Bohr.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3aade88c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Niels Bohr.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Physicist +--- +Niels Bohr was a Danish physicist who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum theory, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922. He was considered a quantum researcher in the same class as [[J. Robert Oppenheimer]] and [[Amos Deshalit]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Nikolai Bulganin.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Nikolai Bulganin.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ec18b5d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Nikolai Bulganin.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Soviet Union +--- +Nikolai Bulganin was a Soviet politician who served as the Premier of the [[Soviet Union]] from 1955 to 1958. During the [[Suez Crisis]] in 1956, he explicitly warned [[David Ben-Gurion]] that the [[Soviet Union]] was capable of attacking with "remote-controlled vehicles" and threatened to send troops as "volunteers" into the [[Middle East]]. This warning, perceived as a nuclear ultimatum, contributed to [[Britain]] and [[France]]'s decision to cease their military actions and forced [[Israel]] to agree to a cease-fire.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Norm Everheart 1.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Norm Everheart 1.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ea5a75e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Norm Everheart 1.md @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Norm Everheart +tags: + - person + - CIA + - intelligence + - technical +description: Norm Everheart was a CIA technical operations specialist who served as the chief coordinator for Grill Flame taskings from the CIA's Operations Directorate. +--- + +Norm Everheart was a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] technical operations specialist who served as the chief coordinator for [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] taskings from the CIA's Operations Directorate. In 1950, at the age of twenty, he was recruited by the fledgling intelligence agency as a television engineer, and was sent to Greece as a clandestine radio operator. Later, he worked for the Agency's Office of Communications and then the Technical Services Division (TSD), which later became the Office of Technical Service (OTS). His last posting before becoming a coordinator for Grill Flame was as the chief of OTS's regional "tech base" in Athens.[^1] + +Everheart was appointed liaison to "Staff D" (later the Office of SIGINT Operations), an office specializing in small-scale signals-intelligence collection. He was introduced to the remote viewing program by [[Ken Kress]], an OTS engineer who had given [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) its first psi research contract. Everheart, initially unfamiliar with remote viewing, was urged by Kress to consider how Staff D operations might benefit from remote viewers, particularly [[Pat Price]].[^1] + +Everheart became a strong proponent of remote viewing within the CIA, having been involved in psychic spying experiments since the early days of the CIA-sponsored work at SRI. He and his superior, [[John McMahon]], the CIA's deputy director for operations, were willing to give remote viewing a try in operational situations. He was known for his "oblique targeting method," where he would not reveal the specific information desired, allowing the remote viewers to provide it independently, which helped build confidence in their results.[^1] + +One of his notable successes involved a KGB "illegal" in South Africa. Everheart tasked [[Ken Bell]] and [[Mel Riley]] to remote-view the agent, leading to the discovery of a hidden pocket calculator used for coding messages. He also tasked [[Joe McMoneagle]] to remote-view a Soviet Embassy official with a fishing pole, which led to the discovery of a dead-drop site. Despite the "giggle factor" from skeptical colleagues like Staff D chief [[Ed Rogers]], Everheart continued to advocate for and utilize remote viewing in intelligence operations.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Norm Everheart.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Norm Everheart.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..47b14f34 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Norm Everheart.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Norm Everheart +tags: + - person + - CIA + - intelligence +description: Norm Everheart was a CIA technical operations specialist who became a chief coordinator for the agency's remote viewing taskings. +--- + +Norm Everheart was a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] technical operations specialist with nearly a quarter-century of service by the mid-1970s. He had a background as a clandestine radio operator and had worked in the Agency's Office of Communications and Technical Services Division (OTS).[^1] + +In late 1974 or early 1975, Everheart was appointed liaison to "Staff D," an office specializing in small-scale signals intelligence collection. It was in this role that he was introduced to the remote viewing program by [[Ken Kress]], who had initiated SRI's first psi research contract. Everheart, initially unfamiliar with remote viewing, was urged to consider how it might benefit Staff D operations, particularly through the abilities of [[Pat Price]].[^1] + +Everheart became a chief coordinator for [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] taskings from the CIA's Operations Directorate. He was a pragmatic and relatively open-minded individual in the often "cold and conniving" world of intelligence. He often employed an "oblique targeting method," where the remote viewer was given minimal information about the target, which helped to build confidence in the accuracy of the psychic data when it matched the unknown facts.[^1] + +He was involved in several notable remote viewing operations, including the tracking of a Soviet diplomat using a fishing pole for dead-drop operations, and the interrogation of a KGB agent in South Africa by [[Ken Bell]] using telepathic techniques. Everheart was a strong proponent of remote viewing, despite facing skepticism and the "giggle factor" from some within the Agency, such as Staff D chief Ed Rogers.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Oliver J. Caldwell.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Oliver J. Caldwell.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5824528e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Oliver J. Caldwell.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Oliver J. Caldwell +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence Officer +--- +# Oliver J. Caldwell + +Oliver J. Caldwell was a former [[Office of Strategic Services|OSS]] officer who was known to run operations for the [[Central Intelligence Agency]]. He is cited in [[John L. LaMothe]]'s 1972 report, *Controlled Offensive Behavior—USSR*, regarding the perceived [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] psychoenergetic threat[^1]. + +Caldwell expressed significant concern about the Soviet advancements in [[Parapsychology|parapsychology]] and psychic warfare. He told LaMothe, "I am really disturbed... because if the [[United States]] does not make a serious effort to move forward on this new frontier, in another ten years it may be too late"[^1]. His statement underscored the urgency felt by some within the U.S. intelligence community to counter perceived Soviet capabilities in [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis|PK]][^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Oscar Guerrero.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Oscar Guerrero.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..18ca96a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Oscar Guerrero.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - Colombia +--- +[[Oscar Guerrero]] was a freelance journalist from [[Colombia]]. He met [[Mordecai Vanunu]] in [[Sydney]], [[Australia]], where [[Mordecai Vanunu|Vanunu]] was sharing top-secret photographs of [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear facility.[^1] + +[[Oscar Guerrero|Guerrero]] saw the photographs and proposed publishing them for a fee. He first approached *The Sydney Morning Herald*, but the photographs were rejected. His approach was, however, passed on to the [[Australian Security Intelligence Organization|Australian Security Intelligence Organization]] (ASIO) and then to the [[Australian Security Intelligence Service|Australian Security Intelligence Service]] (ASIS), who informed [[Israel]].[[Oscar Guerrero|Guerrero]] then tried *The Age* newspaper in [[Melbourne]], and later the [[London]] papers.[^1] + +[[Nicholas Davies]], a London *Daily Mirror* foreign editor and [[Israel|Israeli]] agent, stalled [[Oscar Guerrero|Guerrero]] by telling him the newspaper needed an expert to check his claims. [[Oscar Guerrero|Guerrero]] had already struck a deal with *The Sunday Times* to publish [[Mordecai Vanunu|Vanunu's]] story and photographs, with [[Mordecai Vanunu|Vanunu]] receiving a £250,000 advance on a book and [[Oscar Guerrero|Guerrero]] receiving a 10% cut. [[Oscar Guerrero|Guerrero]] approached the *Mirror* because he believed he was being cut out of *The Sunday Times* deal.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/P. W. Botha.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/P. W. Botha.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..85047597 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/P. W. Botha.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - South Africa +--- +P. W. Botha was the Prime Minister of [[South Africa]]. On September 25, 1979, three days after a [[VELA Satellite]] recorded probable evidence of a nuclear explosion over the South Indian Ocean, Botha warned the Cape National Party congress that [[South Africa]] had and could produce sufficient arms to counter terrorism. He hinted that they might have military weapons that others did not know about, suggesting that [[South Africa]] and its Israeli partners had successfully conducted a secret nuclear test.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 20. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/P.W. Botha.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/P.W. Botha.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..252dab76 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/P.W. Botha.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - SouthAfrica +--- +[[P.W. Botha]] was the Prime Minister and later President of [[South Africa]]. He also served as Defense Minister. He played a key role in developing [[South Africa|South Africa's]] military and nuclear capabilities.[^1] + +In 1978, [[Menachem Begin|Prime Minister Begin]] dispatched [[Ezer Weizman]], then [[Israel|Israeli]] Defense Minister, to [[Pretoria]] to meet [[P.W. Botha|Botha]] to discuss [[Israel|Israeli]]-[[South Africa|South African]] relations. Despite [[Menachem Begin|Begin's]] intentions to downgrade the relationship, [[Ezer Weizman|Weizman]] agreed with [[P.W. Botha|Botha]] on a wartime alliance between the two governments as the price for continuing nuclear tests. This led to the creation of [[SIMWA]] (SADF-IDF Mutual Wartime Agreement).[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Pat Boone.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Pat Boone.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..899962dd --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Pat Boone.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Pat Boone]] was a member of FGBMFI ([[Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International]]). In 1970, he, along with [[Shirley Boone]], [[Harold Bredesen]], and [[George Otis]], prayed with then-California Governor [[Ronald Reagan]] at his home in Sacramento.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Patricia Castro.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Patricia Castro.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2fde83bb --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Patricia Castro.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Patricia Castro]] was a friend of [[Fred Alvarez]] and a victim of an execution-style triple homicide on June 29, 1981, in Rancho Mirage, [[California]]. She was murdered along with [[Fred Alvarez]] and [[Ralph Boger]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Patricia Cloherty.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Patricia Cloherty.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..458386df --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Patricia Cloherty.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Patricia Cloherty worked for [[Patricof and Company]] in New York from about 1970 until 1977, when she was appointed by President [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] to be Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA). After leaving the SBA around 1980, she worked at Tessler & Cloherty, Inc., an investment management company she ran with her husband, [[Daniel Tessler]]. In February 1988, Cloherty returned to Patricof and Company. + +Cloherty's involvement with [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] began in 1984 when she and her husband took over management of 53rd Street Ventures, which had a small investment in [[INSLAW|Inslaw]]. [[Bill Hamilton]]'s affidavit alleged that Cloherty told [[Richard D'Amore]] that she "knew all about" [[Earl Brian]]'s role in the Inslaw matter. However, Cloherty denied ever making such a statement to D'Amore or anyone else. She maintained that she knows nothing about Earl Brian's connection, if any, to Inslaw. She stated that she knows Earl Brian, having met him in the 1980s when they both served on the board of the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies. In 1990, Brian contacted Patricof and Company with a deal proposal regarding UPI, but Cloherty did not meet with him directly, and the firm decided not to pursue the deal. Cloherty stated she has never heard of and has had no involvement with Hadron or Simeon, and does not know [[Dominic Laiti]], [[Edwin Meese]], or [[Lowell Jensen]]. She denied discussing 53rd Street Ventures' investment in Inslaw with Brian, Jensen, Meese, Laiti, or any officials from the DOJ or the Reagan or Bush administrations. The Special Counsel's investigation found no credible evidence to support Hamilton's claims regarding Cloherty's knowledge of a conspiracy.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Paul Berkowitz.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Paul Berkowitz.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..37941dee --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Paul Berkowitz.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Paul Berkowitz]] was a park ranger who testified before the House Interior Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation about drug distribution by [[Curry Company]] officials in Yosemite National Park. This testimony was part of the broader investigation into drug trafficking that emerged from the Mariposa County Sheriff's Department and its connections to [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]'s subsidiary, Curry Company.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Paul Morasca.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Paul Morasca.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..692edfd9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Paul Morasca.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +[[Paul Morasca]] was a San Francisco entrepreneur who was found murdered in January 1982. His death, along with that of [[Mary Quick]], was traced to looted [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] money from the Sydney-based [[Nugan Hand Bank]]. Morasca was suspected of being a money launderer involved in a major Northern California drug ring.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]], Morasca's partner, claimed that Morasca was tortured by his murderer to obtain secret bank code cards containing account numbers where [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] monies, including funds from [[Nugan Hand Bank]], had been hidden. Riconosciuto also claimed that he and Morasca had transferred millions of dollars for [[Michael Hand]] when Hand fled [[Australia]].[^1] + +Morasca's death occurred just six months after the execution-style triple homicide of former Cabazon Tribal Council vice-chairman [[Fred Alvarez]] and his friends, [[Ralph Boger]] and [[Patricia Castro]], in Rancho Mirage, California. Morasca had been chosen to manage the Cabazon Casino shortly before his murder, which may explain why Cabazon-related investigative reports were inserted into his homicide file in San Francisco. The San Francisco Police Department's "Paul Morasca Homicide Investigation File" (Case No. 82-1052505) was not computerized and contained a comprehensive report on [[Philip Arthur Thompson]]'s suspected connections to the murder.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] stated that the "biggest loss" he received at the time of Morasca's death was a "big bag of bearer shares of original Tyme Shares stock," and he believed this was the main reason Morasca was killed. The computer cards that Morasca and [[Mary Quick]] allegedly died for belonged to the [[Tyme Shares]] on-line financial clearing house, used worldwide by banking institutions. Riconosciuto claimed he and Morasca had accessed bank accounts using these computer cards in conjunction with passwords derived from "pets" named in [[Phyllis Riconosciuto]]'s (Michael's ex-wife's) diary.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] also submitted a statement to the San Francisco Grand Jury in February 1984 regarding Morasca's death, which cryptically tied Morasca to [[Wackenhut Corporation]]. This statement, later typed by [[Ellen Nichols]], wife of [[Robert Booth Nichols]], after Riconosciuto met with [[Peter Zokosky]] and [[Robert Booth Nichols]], related to the sale of [[George Wackenhut]]'s yacht *Top Secret* and a methamphetamine operation. [[Peter Zokosky]] later commented that Morasca was killed because of a "narcotics deal" gone awry, and that he was involved in laundering large sums of money from drug profits.[^1] + +Morasca was involved in a government drug-sting operation, and was close to [[Ben Kalka]] and [[Al Holbert]], a former [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence agent. He was found murdered in San Francisco on January 14, 1982, during the time these sting operations were underway. [[Sue Todd]]'s notes indicated that the motive for Morasca's murder was that he was a trustee to several estates, including Riconosciuto's family, and had a computer disc identifying these estates and offshore banks/codes to access them. A copy of this disc was reportedly found at [[Cheri Seymour]]'s house.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Paul Palmer.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Paul Palmer.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b863262b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Paul Palmer.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Paul Palmer]] was an informant for the [[United States Government|government]]. He became an informant after being busted for selling chemical precursors. Palmer put [[Ben Kalka]] in touch with [[Michael Riconosciuto]] to obtain monomethylamine, a key ingredient for methamphetamine production, as part of a federal sting operation.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Pesach Ben-Or.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Pesach Ben-Or.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c56f0c86 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Pesach Ben-Or.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - ArmsDealer + - Israel +--- +[[Pesach Ben-Or]] was a representative for Eagle, an [[Israel|Israeli]] arms-dealing company. He was involved in helping the military regime in [[Guatemala]] set up a computer tracking system to fight the leftist insurgency. His operations in [[Guatemala]] were overseen by [[Ariel Sharon]] and his associate [[Mike Harari]] in [[Panama]].[^1] + +In 1984, [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence, with the backing of the [[USA|Americans]], agreed to continue selling weapons to the [[Guatemala|Guatemalan]] government through the [[Eagle]] company. This was part of a deal that allowed [[Guatemala]] to be used for storing weapons en route to [[Iran]] and for planes carrying arms from [[Poland]] to the [[Sandinista National Liberation Front|Sandinista]] government in [[Nicaragua]] to fly over [[Guatemala]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Peter Crane.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Peter Crane.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..db76ca56 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Peter Crane.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Peter Crane +tags: + - person + - scientist + - physicist +description: Peter Crane was a physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory who conducted experiments with Uri Geller and experienced unusual phenomena. +--- +Peter Crane was a physicist at [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] (LLNL). In late 1974, concerned about the potential security threat posed by psychic abilities, Crane, along with security officer [[Ron Robertson]] and others, began conducting their own experiments with [[Uri Geller]] outside of work hours.[^1] + +Crane and his group tested Geller's psychokinetic abilities, including metal-bending and attempts to deflect laser beams. While their tests concluded that Geller's abilities were not effective over long distances, Crane was one of the Livermore personnel who experienced a series of bizarre, hallucination-inducing phenomena after their involvement with Geller. These included visions of hovering, monochrome flying saucers and strange animals.[^1] + +Overwhelmed by these experiences, Crane contacted [[Richard Kennett]] of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] for help. Kennett investigated the situation, which included a strange metallic voice on an audiotape that pronounced the code name of a highly classified government project unknown to Crane or his colleagues. The apparitions eventually ceased after the Livermore group stopped their research activities with Geller.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Peter Zokosky.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Peter Zokosky.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..589c0b41 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Peter Zokosky.md @@ -0,0 +1,34 @@ +[[Peter Zokosky]] was an arms manufacturer and a key figure in various covert operations and business ventures, often associated with [[Robert Booth Nichols]] and [[Michael Riconosciuto]]. He was a former president of [[Armtec]], a company that produced combustible cartridge cases for the Army, and was under a non-compete agreement with them until August 1981. Zokosky also served as a consultant to the [[Great Britain|British Government]] on shell casings.[^1] + +### Involvement in Cabazon/Wackenhut Joint Venture + +Zokosky was a key participant in the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation|Cabazon]]/[[Wackenhut Corporation]] Joint Venture, which aimed to develop and manufacture arms on the reservation. He was considered crucial due to his expertise in the slurry process involved in combustible cartridge cases. He met with [[Michael Riconosciuto]], [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]], and [[Robert Frye]] at [[Picatinny Arsenal]] in May 1981, where Riconosciuto demonstrated his scientific and technical knowledge of weapons systems, particularly on a Railgun. Zokosky was also present at the September 10, 1981, Lake Cahuilla weapons demonstration in Indio, [[California]], where night-vision goggles and rifles were tested for [[Iran-Contra Affair|Contra]] leaders.[^1] + +### Biological Warfare Technology + +Zokosky was involved in the proposed development of biological warfare "viruses" at [[Stormont Laboratories]], allegedly developed in cow uteri. He, along with [[Robert Booth Nichols]], presented a proposal to develop biological warfare technology and anti-toxin kits to the Army ([[Dr. Harry Fair]] at Picatinny Arsenal) and to [[FMC Corporation]]. This technology was described as capable of selectively wiping out segments of humanity with appropriate genetic material. Zokosky also discussed incubating viruses in fish tanks at [[Hercules Research]], where [[Michael Riconosciuto]] allegedly worked on the same technology.[^1] + +### Connections to Robert Booth Nichols and Meridian International Logistics + +Zokosky was a board member of [[Meridian International Logistics|MIL]], a holding company headed by [[Robert Booth Nichols]]. He stated that [[Meridian International Logistics|MIL]] was a "front company" used to funnel money to its board of directors, with funds allegedly coming from the [[National Security Agency|NSA]], partly from drug profits. He believed that [[Robert Booth Nichols]] worked for the [[National Security Council|NSC]] and [[National Security Agency|NSA]], doing "contract work" for various government agencies, and that Nichols handled "corporate and government" transactions related to narcotics at a higher level.[^1] + +Zokosky and Nichols were involved in a proposed joint venture with FMC Corporation, where [[Michael Riconosciuto]] was Vice President of [[Meridian Arms]]. Zokosky also discussed [[Robert Booth Nichols]] and [[Michael Riconosciuto]] conducting business in [[Australia]], which he thought had something to do with the [[Nugan Hand Bank]].[^1] + +### Role in "The Octopus" Investigation + +[[Peter Zokosky]] was a key source for [[Cheri Seymour]]'s investigation into "[[The Octopus]]." He provided Seymour with a copy of the "Special Operations [Surveillance] Report" on the Lake Cahuilla meeting, which he had obtained from a friend in Washington D.C. He also provided an audio-taped conversation with [[Michael Riconosciuto]] narrating the murders of [[Paul Morasca]] and [[Mary Quick]], and their connection to drug operations. Zokosky stated that [[Paul Morasca]] was killed due to a "narcotics deal" gone awry and his involvement in laundering drug profits.[^1] + +Zokosky was initially defensive about [[Danny Casolaro]]'s death, stating he believed Casolaro committed suicide, though his wife, [[Regina Zokosky]], indicated he had previously said otherwise. He allowed [[Cheri Seymour]] and [[Kelly O'Meara]] to review a manuscript written by [[Robert Booth Nichols]] about [[Danny Casolaro]]'s death, titled "Danny Casolaro's Octopus."[^1] + +He also provided [[Cheri Seymour]] with a handwritten "Time Line" outlining a chronology of events from 1981 to 1985, which proved helpful in the investigation of the [[Fred Alvarez]] triple murders. Zokosky confirmed that [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]] had an alibi for the Alvarez murders, as he was in [[Canada]] with Zokosky at the time.[^1] + +### Other Connections + +Zokosky claimed to have served in ONI ([[Office of Naval Intelligence]]) in submarines during [[World War II]] and performed "[[remote viewing]]" for the military between the 1950s and 1970s at [[Hewlett Packard Corporation]]. He also identified himself as a psychic and a member of the [[Psychic Association of London]], using Tarot Cards for readings.[^1] + +He was an investor in the [[Cabazon Casino]] and a skeet range, though he stated that the Mob built the Casino for the Cabazons. He also testified on behalf of [[Patrick McGuire]] at the [[Montana Freeman trial]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Philip Arthur Thompson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Philip Arthur Thompson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cf49b342 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Philip Arthur Thompson.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +[[Philip Arthur Thompson]], also known as PAT or Jason Smith, was an individual involved in government drug-sting operations and had connections to [[Michael Riconosciuto]] and [[Patrick Moriarty]]. He worked as an undercover informant for [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent [[Robert Barnes]] at the San Francisco Bureau.[^1] + +Thompson was originally hired by [[Patrick Moriarty]] at $10,000 per month to bodyguard [[Michael Riconosciuto]]. Moriarty was unaware that Thompson was an undercover informant for [[Robert Barnes]]. Thompson was arrested on June 16, 1983, for an unrelated murder and is incarcerated for life in a [[California]] prison.[^1] + +### Involvement in Drug Operations and Murders + +Thompson was involved in a methamphetamine operation. [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s statement from February 16, 1984, detailed how [[John P. Nichols]] directed Riconosciuto to have PAT recover [[Ben Kalka]]'s assets, which included amphetamine production chemicals and acid. Thompson, along with [[Steve Finley]], drove vehicles containing these chemicals from the Oakland area.[^1] + +Thompson was suspected of involvement in the murder of [[Paul Morasca]]. Detective [[Eddy Erdelatz]] investigated Morasca's homicide and placed a comprehensive report within the "Paul Morasca Homicide Investigation File" relative to Thompson's suspected connections to the murder. [[Robert Booth Nichols]] and [[Peter Zokosky]] claimed that Thompson was not creative in his killing style, preferring to use a gun for quick kills, implying he was not responsible for Morasca's torture. However, they also stated that [[Michael Riconosciuto]] was responsible for Morasca's torture and death, and that Thompson worked for the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] under the code name "Jason."[^1] + +Thompson talked to Detective [[Sue Todd]] in prison about "kick-backs" to powerful people being handled by [[Michael Riconosciuto]] on his computer. He also told Todd that he had withheld one of [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s computer coded cards for himself, which were allegedly connected to the deaths of [[Paul Morasca]] and [[Mary Quick]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Phyllis Cole.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Phyllis Cole.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2ccd65d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Phyllis Cole.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Phyllis Cole +tags: + - person + - labtechnician + - psychic +description: Phyllis Cole was a lab technician at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) and one of the "ordinary people" who demonstrated strong psychic talents in early remote viewing tests. +--- + +[[Phyllis Cole]] was a lab technician at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] and one of the "ordinary people" who demonstrated strong psychic talents in early remote viewing tests conducted by [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]]. In late 1973 and early 1974, Puthoff and Targ focused their research on Cole and three other individuals, exploring their psychic abilities.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Pierre Gallois.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Pierre Gallois.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..698edc90 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Pierre Gallois.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Strategist + - France +--- +Pierre Gallois was a retired French general and the intellectual spokesman for the French nuclear program. His argument, as eventually published, was that when two nations are armed with nuclear weapons, even if unequally, the status quo is unavoidable. He believed that a nuclear-armed [[France]] would no longer need to wonder if the [[United States]] would come to its defense in a nuclear crisis.[^1] + +Gallois was taken very seriously by the Israelis, and [[France]]'s *force de frappe* became the role model for [[Israel]]'s strategic planning and its ultimate decision not to count on the American nuclear umbrella.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rachel Begley.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rachel Begley.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3519647d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rachel Begley.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +[[Rachel Begley]] is the daughter of [[Ralph Boger]], who was murdered in a triple homicide in Rancho Mirage, [[California]], in June 1981. She was 13 years old at the time of her father's death. For 28 years, Begley sought justice for the murders of her father, [[Fred Alvarez]], and [[Patricia Castro]], actively investigating the execution-style slaying and gathering documents and secretly taping interviews with suspects.[^1] + +Begley's efforts led to Detective [[John Powers]] at the Riverside Sheriff's Department being assigned to the cold-case file in 2007. She worked closely with Powers, providing him with information and documents, including a 77-page Matrix Link Analysis she had compiled and a 10-page outline of corporate structures and joint ventures related to the individuals in the Matrix. She also encouraged Powers to obtain copies of the "Paul Morasca Homicide Investigation File" and the "Di Giorgio Extradition File," which proved instrumental in the investigation.[^1] + +Begley confronted [[Jimmy Hughes]] at a FGBMFI dinner event on February 22, 2008, accusing him of being the "bagman" in her father's murder. She recorded his response, where he admitted to being a "Mafia hit-man" and killing people for the government. This recording was later made public on her website.[^1] + +Begley launched a desperate campaign with media, Internet websites, and political figures, including [[California Attorney General]] [[Jerry Brown]], to motivate the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] to issue an arrest warrant for [[Jimmy Hughes]]. Her efforts, along with prodding from [[John Powers]], led to Hughes' arrest on September 26, 2009, at Miami-Dade International Airport. She was officially present at the arrest scene to confirm Hughes' identity.[^1] + +Despite Hughes' arrest, the case was later dismissed on July 1, 2010, due to the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]'s decision to drop the charges. Begley expressed her disbelief and determination to continue fighting for justice, hiring attorney [[Robin Sax]] to represent her. She believes the evidence she found was more than sufficient and that the dismissal was an "unethical dismissal" and a "miscarriage of justice."[^1] + +Begley's extraordinary computer expertise and tracking skills were noted by [[John Powers]]. Her website, Desertfae.com, attracted observers from various government agencies, organized crime members, and other interested parties, who monitored her documents and videos. She also received threats from individuals close to Hughes after his arrest.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rafael Cordova.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rafael Cordova.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8de1b47b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rafael Cordova.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Peru +--- +Colonel [[Rafael Cordova]] was the head of military operations in [[Ayacucho]], [[Peru]]. He was a key figure in the [[Peru|Peruvian]] military's campaign against the [[Shining Path]].[^1] + +[[Rafael Cordova|Cordova]] met [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] on a flight to [[Ayacucho]] in 1988. [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] informed [[Rafael Cordova|Cordova]] that he was from [[Israel]] and wished to teach at the [[University of San Cristobal]] and write a paper about the [[Shining Path]]. [[Rafael Cordova|Cordova]] was initially suspicious but granted [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] a permit after [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] revealed knowledge of [[Rafael Cordova|Cordova's]] illegal sale of [[Stinger missiles]] to the [[Shining Path]].[^1] + +[[Rafael Cordova|Cordova]] was known for his brutal tactics against the [[Shining Path]]. After five of his officers were killed in a [[Shining Path]] ambush, he planned to massacre a village in retaliation. [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] attempted to prevent this by having [[Barbara Durr]] broadcast the plan, but the massacre proceeded, resulting in the deaths of dozens of innocent villagers. [[Rafael Cordova|Cordova]] was later implicated in the murder of a judge who was investigating the massacre, and two military helicopters were shot down by [[Stinger missiles]] that [[Rafael Cordova|Cordova]] had sold to the [[Shining Path]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rafael Eitan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rafael Eitan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2476ebaa --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rafael Eitan.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +Rafael Eitan, also known as "Rafi the stinker," was an ambitious Israeli clandestine operative and a crony of [[Ariel Sharon]]. He was appointed the new head of [[LAKAM]] (Science Liaison Bureau) and also served as [[Menachem Begin]]'s special assistant for counterterrorism. Eitan had participated in the 1960 kidnapping of [[Adolf Eichmann]] in [[Buenos Aires]] and was a veteran of many operations inside the Arab world. He had been forced to resign from [[Mossad]] years earlier and was bitter about his stunted career and the failure of [[Mossad]] and [[Israel]]'s other intelligence agencies to cooperate with his counterterrorism office.[^1] + +Eitan decided to change the rules after unproductive meetings with U.S. officials, agreeing with [[Ariel Sharon]] that the [[United States]] was holding back on intelligence essential to Israeli security, such as [[KH-11]] photography. He recruited [[Jonathan Pollard]] in October 1981, a move viewed by military intelligence as "the worst fucking thing Rafi could have done."[^1] + +Eitan's LAKAM operations in the [[United States]] produced a steady stream of routinely transferred scientific and technical documents. Illicitly obtained intelligence flew so voluminously from LAKAM into Israeli intelligence that a special code name, JUMBO, was added to the security markings on the documents. There were strict orders that anything marked JUMBO was not supposed to be discussed with American counterparts.[^1] + +[[Reuven Yerdor]], then in charge of [[Unit 8200]], had little respect for Eitan and worried about the long-range implications of Israeli intelligence activities in the [[United States]]. Yerdor was convinced Eitan was driven by personal ambition and a need to settle old scores with [[Yitzhak Hofi]], the head of [[Mossad]], and [[Avraham Shalom]], Shin Beth's director. Yerdor also believed that Eitan had recruited two or more Americans, and was dismayed by the fact that [[Jonathan Pollard]]'s material, marked JUMBO, was not supposed to be discussed with American counterparts.[^1] + +After the [[Sabra and Shatila massacres]], Eitan remained in [[Menachem Begin]]'s cabinet as a minister without portfolio. The Israeli officials most tarnished by the [[Jonathan Pollard|Pollard]] scandal were Eitan and [[Aviem Sella]]. However, Eitan did not suffer financially and was subsequently named to a high administrative position with the [[Israel Chemicals Company]], authorized by [[Ariel Sharon]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ralph Boger.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ralph Boger.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c7af76d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ralph Boger.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Ralph Boger]] was a friend of [[Fred Alvarez]] and a victim of an execution-style triple homicide on June 29, 1981, in Rancho Mirage, [[California]]. He was murdered along with [[Fred Alvarez]] and [[Patricia Castro]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Randy Buffam.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Randy Buffam.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..875c7297 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Randy Buffam.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Randy Buffam]] was a partner of [[Sean McDade]] in the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]]'s national security section. He was a Middle Eastern Terrorist Specialist in the [[Canada|Canadian]] intelligence services. Buffam, along with McDade, covertly entered the [[United States]] for nearly eight months to conduct a secret investigation into the alleged theft of [[PROMIS]] software and its role in suspected security breaches.[^1] + +Buffam was present during McDade's initial meeting with [[Cheri Seymour]] and [[Sue Todd]]. He assisted McDade in copying thousands of documents from [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s hidden files. Buffam also accompanied McDade and Todd to the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] headquarters in [[Los Angeles]] and to interview [[Gene Gilbert]] at the Riverside D.A.'s office.[^1] + +Buffam acknowledged that the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] had requested information on [[Robert Booth Nichols]] and received a significant report from the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]. He noted that Nichols was suspected of money laundering in connection with the Royal Bank of [[Canada]], which had originally funded Hercules Corporation. Buffam also discussed the role of CSEC (Communications Security Establishment) in [[Canada]], which he said is used by the [[National Security Agency|NSA]] to spy on American communications, with the [[United States Government|U.S. government]] reciprocating by spying on [[Canada|Canadian]] communications.[^1] + +After the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] probe was closed, Buffam mailed the Riconosciuto/PROMIS tapes back to the Hercules Police Department, according to [[Sue Todd]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Regina Zokosky.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Regina Zokosky.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7112779a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Regina Zokosky.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Regina Zokosky]] is the wife of [[Peter Zokosky]]. She was present during an interview with [[Cheri Seymour]] and [[Kelly O'Meara]] at their home in Southern [[California]]. During the interview, she frowned and stated that she thought her husband had previously said that [[Danny Casolaro]] did not commit suicide, contradicting [[Peter Zokosky]]'s assertion that he believed Casolaro had committed suicide.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard Allen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard Allen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..19fdd104 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard Allen.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - USA +--- +[[Richard Allen]] was a figure with connections to the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration. He was part of the [[USA|American]] delegation at the [[Washington meeting (October, 1980)|Washington meeting]] in October 1980, which included [[Robert McFarlane]] and [[Lawrence Silberman]]. [[Richard Allen|Allen]] had a deal with the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] camp that assured him the position of national security adviser for [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard Armitage.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard Armitage.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1f76e293 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard Armitage.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Richard Armitage]] was involved in brokering the transaction of [[PROMIS]] software to an Arab Sheik for resale and general distribution. He was mentioned in a document dated May 16, 1985, along with [[Manucher Ghorbanifar]] and [[Adnan Khashoggi]], as individuals who would broker this transaction. [[William Bradford Reynolds]] independently remembered Armitage, Khashoggi, and Ghorbanifar working together on [[PROMIS]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard Arnold.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard Arnold.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ac67cd19 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard Arnold.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +Dr. Richard Arnold serves as the Director, Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory ([[NAMRL]]) at Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton ([[NAMRU-D]]). + +His [[United States Navy|Navy]] research career began in 1999 when he was commissioned as a US Naval Aerospace Experimental Psychologist. After completing Officer Indoctrination School at Newport, RI and the aeromedical officer course and flight training at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola and NAS Whiting Field, FL he was assigned to Naval Aerospace Medical Institute (NAMI), Pensacola, FL, where among other duties he administered the Navy’s aviation personnel selection testing program. + +He was subsequently assigned to Naval Air Warfare Center, Training Systems Division (NAWC TSD), Orlando, FL, where he conducted research on simulation technologies and training effectiveness. From 2006 to 2008 Dr. Arnold ran a small consulting firm specializing in aeromedical and human factors research. + +In 2008 he returned to the Navy as a civilian staff scientist at Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory (NAMRL), NAS Pensacola, FL. He was promoted to Acting Scientific Director in 2009 and Scientific Director in 2010. His research at NAMRL included work in aviation personnel selection and fatigue countermeasures. + +As Scientific Director he was responsible for execution of NAMRL’s research mission, spanning a range of aeromedical and aviation human factors topics such as motion sickness countermeasures, spatial orientation, fatigue effects and countermeasures, altitude effects, vision sciences, personnel selection and aeromedical standards. + +In 2011 he relocated with the laboratory, as directed by the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005, to [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]], OH, since which time he has continued to direct the activities of the aeromedical lab at NAMRU-Dayton. + +Dr. Arnold is an active member of the Aerospace Medical Association and the [[Department of Defense]] (DoD) Human Factors Engineering Technical Advisory Group. He serves on numerous DoD and non-DoD boards and panels, including member (current) and chair (2015-2020) of the JPC-5 Aviation Mishap Prevention Working Group, NAMRU-Dayton representative to the Ohio Federal Research Network since 2016, and NAMRU-Dayton representative on the DoD/FAA Aeromedical Research, Alignment and Coordination (AMRAC) Working Group since 2014. He served as 2018 Chair of the DoD Human Factors Engineering Technical Advisory Group.[^1] +# Footnotes + +[^1]: [Director, Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory](https://www.med.navy.mil/Naval-Medical-Research-Command/R-D-Commands/Naval-Medical-Research-Unit-Dayton/Directorates/Naval-Aerospace-Medical-Research-Laboratory-NAMRL/Director-Naval-Aerospace-Medical-Research-Laboratory/) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard Brenneke.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard Brenneke.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b2701177 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard Brenneke.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Richard Brenneke]] was an [[October Surprise]] source. He provided documents to [[Bob Bickel]], which included papers related to [[Iran-Contra Affair|Iran-Contra]] arms deals, such as photocopies of checks drawn on [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] accounts for [[Adnan Khashoggi]] and [[Manucher Ghorbanifar]]. These documents were subsequently passed from Bickel to [[Danny Casolaro]] for his "[[The Octopus]]" investigation.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard D'Amore.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard D'Amore.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e7cccd48 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard D'Amore.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Richard D'Amore is a partner in [[Hambro International Equity Partners]] ("Hambro"), a venture capital company based in Boston, Massachusetts, that invests in existing businesses. In 1983, Hambro invested approximately $400,000 in [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]], and D'Amore was placed on Inslaw's Board of Directors as Hambro was the lead investor. + +[[Bill Hamilton]]'s affidavit attributed a statement to D'Amore, claiming that [[Patricia Cloherty]], [[Daniel Tessler]]'s wife and former business partner, had told D'Amore that she "knew all about" [[Earl Brian]]'s role in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal|Inslaw matter]]. However, D'Amore denied ever making such a statement to Hamilton or anyone else. He stated that he does not know of any role played by Brian, nor whether Cloherty knows of any such role. The Special Counsel's investigation found that D'Amore's denial, along with those of other individuals, contradicted Hamilton's claims and indicated no evidence of a conspiracy involving Brian or Hadron.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard DeLauer.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard DeLauer.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..205ac0ca --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard DeLauer.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Richard DeLauer +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - Military +--- +Richard DeLauer was the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. He was an alumnus of [[California Institute of Technology|Caltech]], the same institution where [[H. S. Tsien]] had studied and co-founded the Jet Propulsion Laboratory[^1]. + +DeLauer was aware of the power and influence wielded by Tsien, whom he called the "elder statesman" of Chinese scientific technology and development. After receiving [[Hal Puthoff]]'s sixty-page classified report, "Psychoenergetics Research in the People’s Republic of China (1982)," and a back-up briefing, DeLauer signed a memo allocating additional resources, Program Six funds, for the psychic research program [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] (later renamed [[STARGATE PROJECT|Star Gate]])[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard S. Cesaro.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard S. Cesaro.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c96b8744 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard S. Cesaro.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Richard S. Cesaro + - R. S. Cesaro +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Military + - ARPA +--- +# Richard S. Cesaro + +Richard S. Cesaro was a scientist at the [[Advanced Research Projects Agency]] (ARPA) and was in charge of [[Project Pandora]], a classified program initiated by the [[Pentagon]] to duplicate the effects of the [[Moscow Signal]]. The Moscow Signal was a series of microwave beams aimed at the [[U.S. Embassy in Moscow]] by the [[Soviet Union]], believed to be an [[Electromagnetic Weapons|electromagnetic weapon]] designed to adversely affect the behavior of embassy personnel[^1]. + +Under Cesaro's direction, scientists with [[Johns Hopkins University]]'s Applied Physics Laboratory constructed an elaborate facility inside the [[Walter Reed Army Institute of Research]]. There, in an anechoic chamber, primates were irradiated with microwave beams with a power density similar to that of the Moscow Signal[^1]. + +Within a few months of beaming the signal at the monkeys, Cesaro became convinced of its harmful nature, concluding that it adversely affected the internal organs of primates, including the brain. He later stated, "In our experiments we did some remarkable things. And there was no question in my mind that you can get into the brain with microwaves." It was later determined that the microwave beam produced [[Alzheimer's Disease]][^1]. + +Cesaro vehemently disagreed with those who insisted the Moscow Signal was harmless, such as [[Samuel Koslov]]. Based on the evidence that the electromagnetic beam could penetrate the human nervous system, Cesaro argued that it was necessary to determine exactly what kind of weapon this was and "whether the Soviets have special insight into the effects and use of athermal radiation on man"[^1]. + +In 1969, the [[Department of Defense]] quietly expanded ARPA's Project Pandora to include "the human," with highly classified studies code-named Big Boy and Project Bizarre projecting microwave beams at unwitting sailors stationed in the Philadelphia Naval Yard[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard V. Allen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard V. Allen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2a8a2037 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Richard V. Allen.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Richard V. Allen was the National Security Advisor to President [[Ronald Reagan]]. He was informed of the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] in June 1981. Allen immediately telephoned Reagan, who privately expressed delight at the attack. Allen was present at a meeting of Reagan's high command where [[Caspar Weinberger]] proposed canceling F-16 aircraft sales to [[Israel]], but Reagan had no intention of taking such a step.[^1] + +Allen personally relayed the message to [[Ariel Sharon]] in the fall of 1981 that the [[United States]] would no longer permit [[Israel]] to get [[KH-11]] imagery of the [[Soviet Union]] or any other country outside the hundred-mile limit, re-enforcing the initial 1979 restrictions. Allen was not intimidated by Sharon's bellowing about American aid being "Band-Aids and mustard plaster."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 1, 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rob Cowart.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rob Cowart.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..319d6c7b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rob Cowart.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Rob Cowart + - Captain Rob Cowart +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Remote Viewer +--- +# Rob Cowart + +Rob Cowart was a Captain in military intelligence and one of the two military intelligence officers personally trained by [[Ingo Swann]] in [[Coordinate Remote Viewing|CRV]] techniques. In 1982, he was read onto the classified [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program[^1]. + +The plan was for Cowart and [[Tom McNear]], the other trainee, to become the program's CRV trainers. However, McNear later noted that Cowart was medically retired due to cancer, which contributed to McNear's decision to leave the unit[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Altman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Altman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5abf31bc --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Altman.md @@ -0,0 +1,34 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Lawyer", "Banker", "BCCI"] +--- +Robert Altman was a prominent American lawyer and banker, known for his close association with [[Clark Clifford]] and his involvement in the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] scandal. He served as the former president of [[First American Bank]] and was Clifford's law partner and protégé. Altman, along with Clifford, acted as BCCI's chief American counsel from 1978 to 1990.[^1] + +Altman was a key figure in BCCI's secret acquisition of American banks, including [[Financial General Bankshares]] and the [[National Bank of Georgia]]. He and Clifford were instrumental in navigating regulatory hurdles and concealing BCCI's true ownership through a network of nominees.[^2] Their involvement in these transactions led to accusations of bribery and fraud. + +### Early Career and Relationship with Clifford + +Altman was considered a "whiz kid" at [[Clifford & Warnke]], known for his ambition and indefatigable work ethic. By 1977, at the age of thirty, Clifford brought him in to assist [[Bert Lance]] in his defense against Congress and assigned him to BCCI, one of the firm's most important new clients.[^3] Their professional relationship evolved into a formidable legal team, with Clifford playing the role of the elder statesman and Altman handling the more aggressive aspects.[^4] + +Altman's personal life was marked by a desire for material possessions, contrasting with Clifford's more ascetic lifestyle. He married actress and former Miss USA [[Lynda Carter]] in 1984, a wedding that commingled Hollywood glamour and Washington elites. [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] himself offered Altman's new wife a choice of cars as a wedding present.[^5] + +### Involvement in BCCI Scandal + +Altman and Clifford orchestrated the $20-million defense of BCCI in Tampa against money-laundering charges.[^6] When Senator [[John Kerry]]'s subcommittee began investigating BCCI, Altman was alleged to have advised [[Amjad Awan]], a BCCI banker, to flee the country.[^7] He and Clifford were accused of lying to U.S. banking regulators about BCCI's secret ownership of First American.[^8] + +In February 1988, Altman and Clifford sold a large portion of their stock in First American to a BCCI front man, making significant profits.[^9] This sale occurred around the time of [[Jose Blandon]]'s testimony linking BCCI to [[Manuel Noriega]]'s drug money and Abedi's heart attack, which ended his direct control of the bank.[^10] + +Altman was indicted by a New York grand jury in July 1992, along with Clark Clifford, on charges related to bribery and fraud for their role in helping BCCI influence First American Bank's affairs.[^11] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 8. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 194. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 189. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 189. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 189. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 218. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 218. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 30. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 215. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 215. +[^11]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 14. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Barnes.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Barnes.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c8d5e6ab --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Barnes.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Robert Barnes]] was an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent at the San Francisco Bureau. He worked with [[Philip Arthur Thompson]] (PAT), who served as an undercover informant for him. Barnes admitted to Detective [[Sue Todd]] in June 2000 that PAT had worked for him.[^1] + +Barnes was involved in a "reverse sting" operation where methamphetamine precursors were reportedly supplied to [[Ben Kalka]]. He was also the agent who cleared the laundering of millions of dollars through a principality in [[Liechtenstein]].[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that a chemical company was cooperating with the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] and reporting all the chemicals Riconosciuto ordered for his chemical companies in Washington State, which Riconosciuto then provided to [[Ben Kalka]]. Riconosciuto also stated that he was working for the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] when he connected with [[Ben Kalka]] and that the agency told him to find the monomethylamine for Kalka as part of the sting operation.[^1] + +Barnes received three of [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s computer coded cards from PAT, which he sent to Quantico. PAT, however, withheld one of the cards for himself. These cards were allegedly connected to the deaths of [[Paul Morasca]] and [[Mary Quick]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Beck.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Beck.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e69de29b diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Bratt.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Bratt.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dd5769b9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Bratt.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Robert Bratt was the Executive Officer for the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]'s Criminal Division. He was involved in the investigation of [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]'s allegations regarding the [[Office of Special Investigations|OSI]] and the Criminal Division Vendor List. + +Inslaw alleged that the Criminal Division Vendor List was actually a list of commercial organizations and individuals serving as "cutouts" for a secret DOJ intelligence agency, the [[Office of Special Investigations|OSI]]. The Special Counsel's investigation showed this list to Robert Bratt. Bratt confirmed that the list was exactly what it purported to be: a list of vendors used by the Criminal Division. He explained that the Criminal Division had been using an automated system called PROCURE for requesting goods and services since the beginning of the 1993 fiscal year, and that the list was simply a copy of the master list of Criminal Division vendors. The Special Counsel concluded that the vendor list was nothing other than what it claimed to be, and that the theory that large companies were fronts for OSI's covert operations was unsupported.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Byrd.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Byrd.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..89242f6e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Byrd.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Robert Byrd]] was a powerful West Virginia Democratic Senator. His executive assistant was Barbara Videnieks, wife of [[Peter Videnieks]]. Byrd played a major role in the effort to have the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] move some of its administrative offices to Charlestown, 20 miles from Martinsburg, on the Virginia border.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Chasen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Chasen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..26b404a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Chasen.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +[[Robert Chasen]] was a former [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent and Commissioner of [[United States Customs Service|Customs]] in Washington D.C. from 1969 to 1977. He later became Executive Vice President of [[Wackenhut Corporation]] from 1981 onwards, and a senior consultant at their Florida facility. He was also a member of the board of directors for [[Wackenhut Corporation]].[^1] + +### Involvement with Wackenhut and Controversies + +Chasen supervised the [[Wackenhut Corporation]]'s Indio facility from Coral Gables, Florida. He confirmed the "horrendous properties" of a "virus" he encountered at the Indio facility, stating that [[Wackenhut Corporation]] was "running amuck." He claimed that [[Robert Booth Nichols]] and [[Peter Zokosky]] attempted to sell biological warfare technology (developed in cow uteri) through [[Wackenhut Corporation]], using [[Robert Frye]] as a front man. Chasen alleged that Frye went behind his back in facilitating this project, and when Chasen learned of it, he shut it down. Due to the projects underway at the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation]], Chasen chose not to visit the property directly, instead meeting with Indio executives in Palm Springs.[^1] + +Chasen was evasive on the subject of [[PROMIS]], despite his background suggesting he would be knowledgeable about it. He had worked in the same department as [[Peter Videnieks]] at [[United States Customs Service|Customs]] for at least three years, yet claimed not to know him. He also stated that [[Wackenhut Corporation]] had "run a check" on [[Robert Booth Nichols]] and could not learn anything about his background, which bothered Chasen. He believed Nichols worked for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and was a "slippery guy," expressing surprise that Frye and [[Dick Wilson]] were "dazzled" by Nichols for so long.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] was introduced to Chasen as a "specialist engineer in weapons." Chasen acknowledged the biological technology introduced by Nichols and Zokosky, stating it was presented as something that could "create anything from chicken soup to long range missiles." He halted the project immediately upon learning its properties, describing it as "the kind of thing your mind erases."[^1] + +Chasen felt an affinity with [[Arthur Welmas]], Chairman of the [[Cabazon Band of Mission Indians]], due to his wife being part Cherokee. He sympathized with their situation and expressed a desire to protect them, suggesting he may have protected them by shutting down the [[Wackenhut Corporation]]'s biological virus and vaccine development proposal to the Army on the Cabazon reservation.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Corson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Corson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f6f0f36c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Corson.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Robert Corson]] was a business associate of [[Ian Stuart Spiro]] and was indicted in a savings and loan scam. He was found dead in an El Paso, Texas, motel room the week of the Spiro family's death. Officials stated he died of a heart attack. Corson was reportedly a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operative.[^1] + +Corson was reported to have carried money to South America in a deal to deliver covert weapons. He was also alleged to have associated with California investor [[Wayne Reeder]], who was seen at a [[Wackenhut Corporation]]/[[Contras|Contra]] meeting in Riverside County.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert E. Coyle.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert E. Coyle.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..18db7ec9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert E. Coyle.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Robert E. Coyle]] was a [[United States District Court|U.S. District Court]] Judge. In the federal probe concerning the "[[Queen's accident]]," he ordered Assistant [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] [[James White]] to "drop the criminal investigation" into [[Roderick Sinclair]]'s alleged drug use. Judge Coyle stated that Sinclair's drug problem was not relevant to the prosecution and that drug records could not be used in court because no blood tests had been taken on Sinclair at the Fremont Hospital on the day of the accident. However, the text notes that blood tests had been taken but later disappeared.[^1] + +In the civil trial that followed the "Queen's accident," Judge Coyle ruled that both [[Roderick Sinclair]] and the deceased Secret Service agents were at fault. Mariposa County was ordered to pay 70 percent of the claim filed by the widows, and the Secret Service to pay 30 percent.[^1] + +Retired [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent [[Tom Walsh]] provided information alleging that Judge Coyle was once the attorney of record for [[Curry Company]] (owned by [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]) in Yosemite National Park.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Frye.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Frye.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..66dc1514 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Frye.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Robert Frye]] was the Executive Vice President of [[Wackenhut Corporation]] in Indio, [[California]]. He was involved in the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation|Cabazon]]/[[Wackenhut Corporation]] Joint Venture, which aimed to develop and manufacture arms on the reservation.[^1] + +Frye met with [[Michael Riconosciuto]] and [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]] at Picatinny Arsenal in May 1981, where Riconosciuto conducted a theoretical blackboard exercise on a Railgun for [[Dr. Harry Fair]]. Frye was present when Dr. Fair commented on Riconosciuto's scientific and technical knowledge, terming him a "potential national resource."[^1] + +Frye suffered a heart attack in early April 1983 and was hospitalized. After this, he never traveled to [[California]] to meet with [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]] or the Cabazons again. [[Wackenhut Corporation]]'s involvement with the Cabazon Joint Venture virtually ceased, and it was formally terminated in October 1984.[^1] + +[[Robert Chasen]], Executive Vice President of [[Wackenhut Corporation]] in Coral Gables, stated that Frye went behind his back in facilitating the biological warfare technology project at the Indio facility. Chasen believed Frye and [[Dick Wilson]] were "dazzled" with [[Robert Booth Nichols]], despite Chasen's own distrust of Nichols.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Gates.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Gates.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e2f16319 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert Gates.md @@ -0,0 +1,26 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Robert Gates + - Bob Gates +tags: + - Person + - CIA + - Government Official + - Analyst +--- +Robert Gates is an American government official who served as the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) from 1991 to 1993. He was also an analyst on loan to the [[National Security Council|NSC]] from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] during the [[Cold War]][^1][^2]. + +Gates was known to be a vocal adversary of the [[Psychoenergetics|psychoenergetic phenomena]] programs within the [[Pentagon]]. He expressed skepticism about the [[Remote Viewing]] program, particularly after [[Joe McMoneagle]]'s remote viewing of the [[Typhoon Submarine|Typhoon]] class submarine, which Gates initially dismissed as defying logic[^2]. + +In 1986, Gates noted a significant buildup in advanced technology weapons facilities in both the [[United States]] and the [[Soviet Union]], particularly in areas like laser, particle beam, kinetic energy, and microwave technologies applicable to strategic weapons[^2]. + +Gates revealed details about the [[Moscow Signal]] in his 1997 memoir, *From the Shadows*. He described how the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] detected a new and more powerful set of Soviet microwave beams aimed at the [[U.S. Embassy in Moscow]] in 1973, code-named MUTS-2. He noted that these signals were regarded as posing a greater health hazard due to their duration and peculiar characteristics[^2]. + +On November 28, 1995, Gates appeared on *Nightline* with [[Ted Koppel]] to discuss the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate program]], where he downplayed the significance of the government's psychic research[^2]. + +## Publications +* *From the Shadows* (1997) + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. +[^2]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert H. Cain.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert H. Cain.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bfe661e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert H. Cain.md @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is in development. Mr. Cain is difficult to research. + +Worked on the original 1969 team to develop [[PROMIS]] under [[Joan E. Jacoby]], [[Charles R. Work]], and [[Bill Hamilton]]. Later employed by [[INSLAW]]. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert O. Becker.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert O. Becker.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9b572cf2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Robert O. Becker.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Robert O. Becker +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Physician +--- +# Robert O. Becker + +Robert O. Becker was a physician and researcher who worked on microwave weapons for the [[Department of Defense]]. He was a colleague of [[Samuel Koslov]] and [[Allan H. Frey]], and was twice nominated for the Nobel Prize[^1]. + +Becker's work convinced him that a microwave signal, such as the [[Moscow Signal]], "could affect the central nervous system, put people to sleep, interfere with decision making capacity and induce chronic stress"[^1]. He noted that the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]] had been "using embassy employees as test subjects for low-level [[Electromagnetic Radiation|EMR]] experiments"[^1]. + +Becker resigned from his government work in the early 1970s after working on a classified project that used microwaves to disorient people, reportedly because he considered such work immoral[^1]. He believed that it was technically feasible to produce heart attacks with an electromagnetic ray designed to penetrate the human chest, echoing the alleged abilities of [[Ninel Kulagina]] to stop an animal's heart with her mind[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rod Cusic.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rod Cusic.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..93cfc74d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rod Cusic.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Rod Cusic]] was a deputy in the Mariposa Sheriff's Department and a friend of [[Ron Van Meter]]. He was part of the search party for Van Meter after his alleged boating accident on Lake McClure. Cusic was one of the deputies who believed Van Meter was murdered after uncovering drug trafficking within the sheriff's department.[^1] + +Cusic, a seventeen-year veteran, was ultimately forced out of the department and retired on stress leave. He later became involved with [[D.I.G. (Decency in Government)]], an organization formed by deputies and grand jurors to expose corruption in Mariposa County.[^1] + +He was present at the scene of the "[[Queen's accident]]" on March 5, 1983, when a Mariposa County Sheriff's vehicle collided head-on with a Secret Service car. Cusic was privy to [[Roderick Sinclair]]'s drugged condition on the day of the accident. In January 1988, Cusic stated that he was "told by [[Roderick Sinclair]] to lie to a Grand Jury" about Sinclair's drug addiction and the resulting Queen's accident. He officially disclosed this to the Fresno [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] on April 26, 1984, and again on October 9, 1987. In 1987, Cusic also witnessed a booby-trapped incendiary device explode at [[Roderick Sinclair]]'s home.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rod McKean.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rod McKean.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6e8612b8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rod McKean.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Rod McKean]] was a Deputy in the Mariposa County Sheriff's Department. He was the partner of Sergeant [[Roderick Sinclair]] and was with him during the "[[Queen's accident]]" on March 5, 1983, when their vehicle collided with a Secret Service car.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Roderick Sinclair.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Roderick Sinclair.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2ee4c8d8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Roderick Sinclair.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +[[Roderick Sinclair]] was a Sergeant in the Mariposa County Sheriff's Department. He was involved in a head-on collision on March 5, 1983, with a Secret Service car while scouting Queen Elizabeth II's motorcade route in the Yosemite National Park foothills (this became known as the [[Queen's Accident]]). This became known as the [[Queen's Accident]]. Three Secret Service agents were killed in the accident: [[George P. LaBarge]], [[Donald Robinson]], and [[Donald A. Bejcek]]. Sinclair sustained broken ribs and a fractured knee.[^1] + +Nurses present when Sinclair was brought into Fremont Hospital confided that he had been drugged on the day of the accident, receiving huge daily shots of Demerol. Some former deputies corroborated this. Assistant [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] [[James White]] in Fresno ordered [[Dr. Arthur Dahlem]]'s files seized to prove Sinclair's alleged drug use, but [[United States District Court|U.S. District Court]] Judge [[Robert E. Coyle]] ordered White to drop the criminal investigation, stating Sinclair's drug problem was not relevant and drug records could not be used because no blood tests were taken at Fremont Hospital. However, the blood tests had been taken but later disappeared.[^1] + +In the civil trial that followed, Judge [[Robert E. Coyle]] ruled that both Sinclair and the deceased Secret Service agents were at fault, with Mariposa County ordered to pay 70 percent of the claim. Ironically, Sinclair was subsequently promoted to Commander of the Mariposa Sheriff's Department.[^1] + +[[James White]] revealed that the original [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]] report on the accident was sent to the State Attorney General's office ([[John Van de Kamp]]), who told his assistant to "discard" it. [[Bruce Eckerson]], the Mariposa County District Attorney who owned stock in [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] Entertainment Corporation, was then appointed to submit a new report. All of the [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]] officers involved in the original investigation either resigned or were transferred or fired. [[James White]] himself resigned after the cover-up.[^1] + +Deputy [[Rod Cusic]] stated that he was "told by [[Roderick Sinclair]] to lie to a Grand Jury" about Sinclair's drug addiction and the accident. Cusic officially disclosed this to the Fresno [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] on April 26, 1984, and again on October 9, 1987. Cusic also witnessed a booby-trapped incendiary device explode at Sinclair's home.[^1] + +[[Roderick Sinclair]]'s father was a military attaché to [[Douglas MacArthur]] during [[World War II]]. In [[Japan]], after the war, Colonel Sinclair (Sr.) supervised the training of selected Japanese in intelligence gathering operations. Rod Sinclair, Jr. attended school in [[Japan]] and later reportedly worked in the Army C.I.D. in a non-military or civilian capacity, allegedly receiving training at Fort Liggett in San Luis Obispo, a training center for military intelligence operations.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ron Williams.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ron Williams.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..61dfb8be --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ron Williams.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Ron Williams]] was a Secret Service agent who had ridden in the third car of Queen Elizabeth II's motorcade in 1983, during the "[[Queen's accident]]." His best friend was the driver of the car in which all three Secret Service agents were killed. Williams arrived in Mariposa to enlist [[Cheri Seymour]]'s help in putting the pieces of the puzzle together on the accident.[^1] + +Williams was the man who had tried to pull [[Roderick Sinclair]] out of the sheriff's vehicle on the day of the accident. There had been a scuffle, with [[Dave Beavers]] insisting that Sinclair go to the hospital with "his own people," and the Secret Service ultimately conceding. Williams sadly reflected that they did not know to ask the hospital for blood tests on Sinclair that day, nor did they know of his drug use. By the time the case went to court, the records at the hospital were gone.[^1] + +[[Don Thrasher]], a producer for ABC News 20/20, interviewed Williams, who corroborated the profile of [[Roderick Sinclair]]'s father as a military attaché to [[Douglas MacArthur]] during [[World War II]]. Williams also confirmed that Colonel Sinclair (Sr.) supervised the training of selected Japanese in intelligence gathering operations in [[Japan]] after the war, and that Rod Sinclair, Jr. attended school in [[Japan]] and later reportedly worked in the Army C.I.D.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ronald Caffrey.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ronald Caffrey.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..53a1f330 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ronald Caffrey.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Ronald Caffrey]] was the acting assistant administrator of the operational division of the [[United States Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]]. He provided an explanation for the "[[Khourah]]" operation, a drug protection program, in a [[United States Government|U.S. government]] submission dated March 20, 1991. Caffrey stated that the operation was a "controlled delivery," a technique where a law enforcement agency permits and monitors shipments of contraband, including drugs, to move from a source or transit location to its intended destination. This method is used to identify and arrest high-ranking members of trafficking organizations rather than just low-level couriers.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ross Perot.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ross Perot.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8235daf2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Ross Perot.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Ross Perot]] was an American businessman and politician. [[Peter Zokosky]] stated that [[Robert Booth Nichols]] was currently in [[Vietnam]], working for Ross Perot. When asked what Nichols was doing, Zokosky laughed and said, "What Ross Perot does best," presumably referring to making money.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Roy P. M. Carlson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Roy P. M. Carlson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c6b0b7ac --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Roy P. M. Carlson.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Banker", "BCCI"] +--- +Roy P. M. Carlson was a [[Bank of America]] executive who orchestrated Bank of America's original investment in [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]].[^1] He later became the head of [[National Bank of Georgia]] at the request of [[Ghaith Pharaon]].[^2] + +### Early Career and BCCI Involvement + +Carlson was a key figure in the early relationship between Bank of America and BCCI. He had entertained [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] when Abedi came to the United States to negotiate Bank of America's 30-percent share in the new bank in 1972, and the two became friends.[^3] Carlson later left Bank of America in 1975 to become president of [[Rahim Irvani]]'s Melli Group in [[Iran]].[^4] He was also a partner in former [[CIA]] Director [[Richard Helms]]'s consulting firm, Safeer.[^5] + +### Role at National Bank of Georgia + +Carlson was appointed head of the [[National Bank of Georgia]] by Abedi and Pharaon, who sought to reconfigure the bank along BCCI's lines.[^6] Under Carlson's guidance, the bank's assets quadrupled from $400 million to $1.6 billion. The National Bank of Georgia became a clearinghouse for BCCI funds in the United States, a destination for BCCI letters of credit, and a provider of loans and services to BCCI's international clientele.[^7] + +Carlson played a role in the acquisition of [[Financial General Bankshares]], negotiating the purchase for First American Bank.[^8] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 9. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 9. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 210. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 210. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 210. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 210. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 211. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 214. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rudolf Cordes.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rudolf Cordes.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9074a2af --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rudolf Cordes.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Rudolf Cordes +tags: + - Person + - Hostage +--- +Rudolf Cordes was a West German hostage who was released by terrorists in September 1988. During his captivity, he had seen Marine Lieutenant Colonel [[William Richard Higgins]] alive shortly after his capture in [[Lebanon]][^1]. + +In a debriefing with a U.S. official, Cordes confirmed that Higgins had been held captive in a specially constructed shed. He also confirmed that this small structure was "very likely near" the barren location that [[Angela Dellafiora]], a [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] remote viewer, had identified as Higgins's location shortly after his capture[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rudolph Giuliani.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rudolph Giuliani.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5a450299 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Rudolph Giuliani.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Legal + - Politics + - USA +--- +[[Rudolph Giuliani]] was the [[USA|U.S.]] Attorney for the Southern District of [[New York]]. He was involved in the [[Hashemi sting]] operation, which was designed to entrap individuals connected with [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence arms sales to [[Iran]].[^1] + +[[Rudolph Giuliani|Giuliani]], along with [[William von Raab]], the [[United States Customs Service|Customs]] Commissioner, gave joint TV interviews on April 22, 1986, announcing the arrest of a "huge ring of terrorists" and "Merchants of Death" who were supposedly about to sell arms worth a billion dollars to [[Iran]]. [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] claims that [[Rudolph Giuliani|Giuliani]] and his associates had created the crime themselves.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Sally Denton.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Sally Denton.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ac4d2ae6 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Sally Denton.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Sally Denton]] is the author of the book *The Blue Grass Conspiracy*. This book discussed at length the mysterious death of [[Andrew "Drew" Thornton]], a former narcotics officer and member of "The Company," who died while parachuting with 77 pounds of cocaine.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Sam Giancana.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Sam Giancana.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..88661f6b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Sam Giancana.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Sam Giancana]] was an organized-crime leader who was contacted by [[Robert Maheu]] in 1960 as part of [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operations to assassinate [[Fidel Castro]]. Giancana, along with [[Johnny Rosselli]] and [[Santos Trafficante, Jr.]], was enlisted to assist in these efforts, which involved Cuban exiles.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Samira Khashoggi Fayed.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Samira Khashoggi Fayed.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..83bf5606 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Samira Khashoggi Fayed.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Samira Khashoggi Fayed]] was the sister of [[Adnan Khashoggi]] and the mother of [[Dodi Fayed]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Samuel Goudsmit 1.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Samuel Goudsmit 1.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0c312d6e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Samuel Goudsmit 1.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Samuel Goudsmit +tags: + - Person + - Physicist + - Military +--- +Samuel Goudsmit was a Dutch-American nuclear physicist who served as the scientific head of [[Operation Alsos]], an elite U.S. scientific intelligence effort during [[World War II]]. The mission of Operation Alsos was to investigate the German nuclear energy project and to prevent German scientific and technological knowledge from falling into Soviet hands[^1]. + +In July 1945, after the defeat of [[Nazi Germany]], Goudsmit and his team sought to gain access to the former headquarters of [[Heinrich Himmler]]'s [[Das Ahnenerbe|Ahnenerbe Institute]] at 16 Pücklerstrasse in Dahlem, Berlin. Goudsmit was only vaguely familiar with the Ahnenerbe's research, which included human experiments conducted through a division called Applied War Research[^1]. He described finding "remnants of weird Teutonic symbols and rites" and "strange dummies which at first looked like bodies of victims" in the basement of the villa[^1]. + +Goudsmit emphasized the critical importance of preventing the Ahnenerbe's supernatural secrets from becoming part of the [[Cold War]] arms race. He ensured that the Ahnenerbe relics were crated up and sent to U.S. Army headquarters in Frankfurt[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Samuel Goudsmit.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Samuel Goudsmit.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..62f03d5a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Samuel Goudsmit.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Samuel Goudsmit +tags: + - Person + - Physicist + - Military +--- +# Samuel Goudsmit + +Samuel Goudsmit was a Dutch-American nuclear physicist who served as the scientific head of [[Operation Alsos]], an elite U.S. scientific intelligence effort during [[World War II]]. The mission of Operation Alsos was to investigate the German nuclear energy project and to prevent German scientific and technological knowledge from falling into Soviet hands[^1]. + +In July 1945, after the defeat of [[Nazi Germany]], Goudsmit and his team sought to gain access to the former headquarters of [[Heinrich Himmler]]'s [[Das Ahnenerbe|Ahnenerbe Institute]] at 16 Pücklerstrasse in Dahlem, Berlin. Goudsmit was only vaguely familiar with the Ahnenerbe's research, which included human experiments conducted through a division called Applied War Research[^1]. He described finding "remnants of weird Teutonic symbols and rites" and "strange dummies which at first looked like bodies of victims" in the basement of the villa[^1]. + +Goudsmit emphasized the critical importance of preventing the Ahnenerbe's supernatural secrets from becoming part of the [[Cold War]] arms race. He ensured that the Ahnenerbe relics were crated up and sent to U.S. Army headquarters in Frankfurt[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Sani Ahmed.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Sani Ahmed.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3e8224f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Sani Ahmed.md @@ -0,0 +1,32 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "BCCI", "Pakistan"] +--- +Sani Ahmed was a key figure in the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]], serving as the head of its protocol department in [[Pakistan]] before moving to [[Washington, D.C.]] to run BCCI's representative office.[^1] He was a confidant of [[Agha Hasan Abedi]], the founder of BCCI, and played a significant role in the bank's operations, particularly in cultivating relationships with wealthy clients and government officials. + +### Role in BCCI's Protocol Department + +Abedi established the protocol department in 1975 to cater to the needs of wealthy clients visiting Pakistan.[^2] By 1978, the department had grown to over one hundred staff members and operated with a budget of $1.5 million, exceeding the bank itself in size.[^3] Ahmed was responsible for managing the Pakistan palaces and homes of royal families, hiring staff, and acting as a tour guide for major depositors.[^4] The department maintained a fleet of over one hundred limousines for the use of important guests.[^5] + +Beyond these services, Ahmed's protocol department was also involved in less conventional activities, including arranging entertainment for Middle Eastern businessmen and sheikhs, which sometimes involved procuring young women.[^6] This practice was highly successful in attracting and retaining clients, with the bank spending up to $100,000 on such evenings.[^7] By 1988, the department had expanded to nearly five hundred employees, offering a range of exotic benefits.[^8] + +According to [[Sami Masri]], protocol officers under Ahmed were responsible for moving money for illicit operations and for luring businessmen, military officers, and politicians into Abedi's network.[^9] Ahmed worked with Abedi at [[United Bank]] before BCCI, despite having little technical banking knowledge.[^10] + +### Connections and Influence + +Ahmed's role extended to maintaining Pakistan's official diplomatic relations with [[Saudi Arabia]] and the [[Persian Gulf]] emirates, and expanding Pakistan's ties with [[China]].[^11] He was involved in communications with [[Robert Altman]] regarding BCCI matters.[^12] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 8. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 327. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 327. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 327. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 327. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 327. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 327. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 327. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 327. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 326. +[^11]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 315. +[^12]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 282. +[^13]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 394. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Scott Carmichael.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Scott Carmichael.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f0968d82 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Scott Carmichael.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Scott Carmichael +tags: + - Person + - DIA + - Analyst +--- +Scott Carmichael is a former analyst with the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]]. He worked with [[Angela Dellafiora]], one of the DIA's most valuable remote viewers, on various intelligence operations[^1]. + +Carmichael was involved in the investigation surrounding the abduction of Marine Lieutenant Colonel [[William Richard Higgins]] in [[Lebanon]]. He confirmed that the [[FBI]]'s examination of the videotape released by [[Hezbollah]] showed that Higgins's feet projected out with the ankles at right angles, not with toes pointed straight down, indicating that Higgins had died before he was hanged. This detail, which Dellafiora had perceived as a clue about Higgins's "feet," played into the investigation and proved he had already been killed[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Severin Dahlen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Severin Dahlen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..861b75ce --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Severin Dahlen.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Severin Dahlen +tags: + - Person + - Metallurgist +--- +Severin Dahlen was a metallurgist who collaborated with [[Jack Houck]], a Boeing Aerospace engineer, on research into [[Psychokinesis|psychokinesis]] (PK) and metal bending. They investigated whether the ability to bend metal with the mind had a connection to one's belief system and the concept of *[[Qi]]*[^1]. + +Dahlen participated in Houck's spoon-bending parties, where he analyzed the results from a metallurgist's point of view. His conclusion was that "Stainless flatware seems to be the easiest metal to [bend] with PK. This is because of [the]metallurgical characteristics of stainless steel. Stainless flatware is usually stamped out in large quantities. The process of cold stamping creates a large number of ‘dislocations’ along the grain boundaries in the metal. The PK energy is somehow dumped into the metal and these dislocations act as beacons for that energy. Once the PK energy lands at a dislocation, there is nowhere for it to go and it turns into heat, much as when neutrons and X-rays penetrate solid objects"[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Shahpour Bakhtiar.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Shahpour Bakhtiar.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..afe75cd8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Shahpour Bakhtiar.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Iran +--- +[[Shahpour Bakhtiar]] was the last prime minister appointed by [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|the Shah]] of [[Iran]], serving as a compromise with the opposition. He was a supporter of [[Mohammed Mossadegh]] and a member of the National Front.[^1] + +After [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|the Shah's]] departure from [[Iran]] in January 1979, [[Shahpour Bakhtiar|Bakhtiar]] proved unable to function effectively. Following [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini|Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's]] arrival in [[Iran]] on February 1, 1979, [[Shahpour Bakhtiar|Bakhtiar]] went into hiding ten days later and eventually found exile in [[Paris]], [[France]]. He was assassinated in [[Paris]] in 1991.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Shaula Brent.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Shaula Brent.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..07281f2c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Shaula Brent.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Shaula Brent]] was a manager at B. Dalton Bookseller. She had previously worked at Fremont Hospital when [[Roderick Sinclair]] was brought in after the "Queen's accident." Brent recounted that Sinclair was placed in a room with an armed guard and had been receiving huge daily shots of Demerol, ordered by [[Dr. Arthur Dahlem]], prior to the accident. She noted that the amount of Demerol would have killed most men. After the accident, all drugs were withdrawn from Sinclair, and employees could hear him suffering aloud for days.[^1] + +Brent and her friend, [[Barbara Locke]], who also worked at the hospital, were suspicious about Sinclair's hospital records. They secretly took photostats of the records "before they were destroyed by the hospital." Brent stated that blood had been drawn on Sinclair on the day of the "Queen's accident," and he had been under the influence. She provided the names of six nurses who witnessed Sinclair's condition.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Sidney Gottlieb.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Sidney Gottlieb.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..12fa2a52 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Sidney Gottlieb.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Sidney Gottlieb +tags: + - person + - CIA + - scientist +description: Sidney Gottlieb was a CIA chemist and spymaster known for his involvement in Project MKUltra and his testimony regarding President Nixon's unusual experiences. +--- +Sidney Gottlieb was a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] chemist and spymaster, notorious for his involvement in controversial programs like [[Project MKUltra]], which explored mind control and chemical interrogation. In 1977, Gottlieb testified at a congressional hearing, revealing a strange complaint made by President [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]].[^1] + +According to Gottlieb, Nixon claimed that he and several members of his staff, including his personal physician, Walter Tkach, had exhibited unusual behavior, including "inappropriate tears and crying," during a visit to an unnamed "potentially hostile country" in the early 1970s. Nixon visited both [[China]] and the [[Soviet Union]] in 1972. This incident, while not directly linked to psi research, contributed to the U.S. intelligence community's broader concerns about foreign influence and unconventional warfare.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Sidney H. Brounstein.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Sidney H. Brounstein.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f8b75f60 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Sidney H. Brounstein.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is in development. Mr. Brounstein is difficult to research. + +Sidney Brounstein was born in 1929. + +During 1967 he worked at the Public Administration Systems Department, Federal Systems Division, [[IBM]]. + +In 1969 he was on the team that created [[PROMIS]] working under [[Joan E. Jacoby]] and [[Charles R. Work]], project manager [[Bill Hamilton]]. He later became vice president of [[INSLAW]]. + +Brounstein did consulting for [[Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co]] (at least in 1972). + +He was a professor at Montgomery College. + +On June 7, 2017, Sidney passed away at the age of 88, after a short illness. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Simcha Dinitz.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Simcha Dinitz.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..84e7b428 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Simcha Dinitz.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - Israel +--- +Simcha Dinitz was the Israeli ambassador to [[Washington D.C.]] During the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], he made a series of urgent telephone calls to [[Henry A. Kissinger]], then Secretary of State, focusing on the need for resupply for the Israeli military. Dinitz's insistence on a one-on-one meeting with Kissinger, where he reportedly conveyed [[Golda Meir]]'s willingness to come to the [[United States]] personally to plead for arms aid, was described by Kissinger as potentially "hysteria or blackmail."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Stefan Kanfer.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Stefan Kanfer.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..135517e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Stefan Kanfer.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Stefan Kanfer +tags: + - Person + - Journalist +--- +# Stefan Kanfer + +Stefan Kanfer was a reporter for *Time* magazine. He was a vocal critic of the [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]]'s involvement in [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] research, particularly its work with [[Uri Geller]]. Kanfer targeted SRI for blame, stating, "SRI should be destroyed" for carrying out this kind of research, and that "That’s the way fascism began"[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Stephan LaPalm.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Stephan LaPalm.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..38ddf345 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Stephan LaPalm.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Stephan LaPalm]] was an individual in the [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]]'s office in Sacramento. [[James White]], an Assistant [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]], quietly filed the transcripts of the trial and an affidavit listing the "hallucinatory" drugs [[Roderick Sinclair]] had used prior to the "Queen's accident" with LaPalm before White resigned.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Steve Dunbar.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Steve Dunbar.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8fd1624b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Steve Dunbar.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Steve Dunbar]] was the County Assessor in Mariposa County. He was closely associated with [[Ed Hardy]], president of Curry Company, and Mariposa District Attorney [[Bruce Eckerson]], and Congressman [[Tony Coelho]]. These men were known for their annual camping trips together.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Thomas Gates.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Thomas Gates.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..02093d66 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Thomas Gates.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +[[Thomas Gates]] was an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent in Los Angeles who played a significant role in the investigation of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] for organized crime penetration and was a key contact for investigative journalist [[Danny Casolaro]].[1] + +Gates conducted a wiretap of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] under the supervision of [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] [[Marvin Rudnick]] and later [[Richard Stavin]]. He, along with Rudnick and Stavin, believed that [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] had been penetrated by organized crime, based on the wiretaps. These wiretaps recorded communications between [[Robert Booth Nichols]] and [[Eugene Giaquinto]], then president of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] home entertainment division, revealing connections to [[La Cosa Nostra]], including the [[Gambino Crime Family]] and [[Bufalino Crime Family]].[1] + +Gates had frequent conversations with [[Danny Casolaro]] until three days before Casolaro's death. Casolaro reportedly told Gates that [[Robert Booth Nichols]] had warned him to drop his investigation into "[[The Octopus]]." Gates was also involved in learning about [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s statement to the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] in October 1992, which implicated Nichols, [[Glenn Shockley]], [[Jose Santacruz Londono|Jose Londono]], [[Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela|Gilberto Rodriguez]], and [[Michael Abbell]] in illicit financial activities.[1] + +Despite the evidence gathered, the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] sealed the wiretaps, and no prosecutions were pursued in the [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] organized crime investigation. The Los Angeles Organized Crime Strike Force was disbanded, and Gates closed the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] investigation. He was one of the investigators who found themselves on a collision course with the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] when their inquiries led to high-level organized crime, drugs, and money laundering.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Théodore Flournoy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Théodore Flournoy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..24ac387f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Théodore Flournoy.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Théodore Flournoy +tags: + - person + - psychologist + - researcher +description: Théodore Flournoy was a Swiss psychology professor known for his study of mediums and his coining of the term "cryptomnesia." +--- + +[[Théodore Flournoy]] was a Swiss psychology professor at the University of Geneva. He is known for his extensive study of the medium Hélène Smith, documented in his 1899 book *From India to the Planet Mars*. In this work, he coined the term "[[Cryptomnesia]]," a phenomenon where forgotten memories reappear as seemingly original thoughts.[^1] + +Flournoy believed that the content produced by mediums during trances, including foreign languages and detailed historical accounts, originated from their "subliminal imagination" and forgotten sources, rather than from supernatural channeling. His work emphasized the astonishing capabilities of the human brain and contributed to the scientific understanding of memory and consciousness.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Tony Coelho.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Tony Coelho.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f4c6b38e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Tony Coelho.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Tony Coelho]] was a Congressman whose district encompassed Mariposa and Yosemite National Park. He was closely associated with [[Ed Hardy]], president of Curry Company, Mariposa District Attorney [[Bruce Eckerson]], and County Assessor [[Steve Dunbar]]. These men were known for their annual camping trips together. Coelho and Hardy were regular fixtures around town, seen at most social events, and Coelho even cooked and served spaghetti dinners for the whole town annually at the Mariposa Fair Grounds.[^1] + +Coelho purchased property in partnership with one member of the Mariposa Board of Supervisors. Mariposa was one of the first places Coelho bid farewell to after resigning from Congress to avoid an investigation of his finances.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Uri Geller.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Uri Geller.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e1b4dec3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Uri Geller.md @@ -0,0 +1,29 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Uri Geller +tags: + - person + - psychic + - entertainer +description: Uri Geller is an Israeli-British psychic, entertainer, and television personality, known for his spoon-bending and other psychokinetic abilities. +--- + +[[Uri Geller]] is a famous [[Israel|Israeli]]-British illusionist, mentalist, and spoon bender. He was born on the winter solstice of 1946, in Tel Aviv, to Hungarian emigré parents. According to the Geller legend, at the age of four, he was visited by a strange luminous apparition, after which he began to manifest paranormal talents. Unlike [[Ingo Swann]] and [[Pat Price]], he did not have out-of-body experiences or premonitions; instead, he claimed to be able to read minds, visualize hidden objects and drawings clairvoyantly, and bend small pieces of metal.[^1] + +When Geller was ten, his parents separated, and he moved with his mother to Cyprus. At seventeen, he returned to Israel, joined the paratroops, and was wounded during the Six-Day War in 1967. After recuperating, he worked as a model. Encouraged by a friend, [[Shippi Strang]], he began public performances of mind reading and metal-bending in 1969. His celebrity grew, and he performed for prestigious figures, including Prime Minister Golda Meir and General Moshe Dayan, who reportedly asked him, "Now, what can you do for Israel?"[^1] + +Allegedly, Geller worked with Israeli military intelligence chief [[Aharon Yariv]], [[Mossad]], and [[Shin Bet]], performing tasks such as clairvoyantly viewing intelligence targets in the Middle East, predicting troop deployments, and telepathically influencing Arab figures. However, he later chose to pursue a high-profile career as a stage performer rather than a psychic warrior.[^1] + +In 1972, Geller was brought to America by [[Andrija Puharich]], funded by a grant from the [[Institute of Noetic Science]], run by former astronaut [[Edgar Mitchell]]. Geller visited [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) in 1972 and 1973, where [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]] tested his abilities. He performed feats such as blindfolded driving, bending or breaking spoons and rings, remotely reducing the weight of objects on electronic scales, describing sketches in briefcases, and scrambling electronic equipment. While some tests showed genuine psi abilities, his hyperkinetic and chaotic style often led Puthoff and Targ to suspect sleight of hand. The CIA was interested in determining if Geller was genuine and his potential as an intelligence asset, or if he was part of a disinformation project.[^1] + +Despite the skepticism and his tricksterish demeanor, Geller produced remarkable results in some controlled tests, such as accurately reproducing a drawing of a bunch of grapes. However, his psychokinetic displays never occurred under fully controlled conditions, leading to suspicions of magician's tricks. Puthoff and Targ even brought in stage magician [[Milbourne Christopher]] to observe Geller. Geller's presence at SRI attracted significant attention and controversy, eventually leading Puthoff and Targ to conclude he was "not worth the trouble."[^1] + +After leaving SRI, Geller continued his career as an entertainer and reportedly performed psychic detective work for the FBI in New York. He also claimed to have worked for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s Mexico City station, spying on Soviet case officers and their dead-drop sites, and attempting to convince Mexican officials to reduce the KGB presence. He later settled in England, becoming a wealthy individual. He disavowed some of his earlier beliefs about extraterrestrial control, attributing them to regression hypnosis sessions by Puharich.[^1] + +In the winter of 1975, Geller was tested by a group of nuclear physicists and engineers from [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]]. The tests, which included attempts to interfere with laser beams and erase magnetic computer program cards, were conducted to assess the potential threat of psychokinesis to nuclear weapons systems. While the scientists concluded that Geller's abilities were not effective over long distances, they experienced a series of bizarre, hallucination-inducing phenomena after their involvement with him, which became known as the "[[Geller Effect]]."[^2] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. +[^2]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Vincent Caci Bologna.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Vincent Caci Bologna.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..668d86b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Vincent Caci Bologna.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Vincent Caci Bologna]] was an alleged mobster mentioned in a surveillance report from the Indio Police Department in August 1981. He was observed meeting with [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]], the Cabazon Administrator, and other [[La Cosa Nostra]] underworld figures. These meetings were believed to involve financial transactions.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Vivian L. Wagner.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Vivian L. Wagner.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e7c5af82 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Vivian L. Wagner.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Vivian L. Wagner]] is the wife of attorney [[Ben Wagner]] and a legal secretary. On February 19, 1988, she sent an emotionally gripping letter to President [[Ronald Reagan]] at the [[White House]], titled "Restoring Equal Rights to the Citizens of Mariposa County."[^1] + +Her letter detailed the alleged corruption within the Mariposa County local government, including unlawful and corrupt activities by officials and departments, and the failure of the State Attorney General [[John Van de Kamp]] and federal agencies to investigate these allegations. She stated that residents had placed their lives and families in jeopardy by coming forward. The letter listed numerous grievances, including violations of individual civil rights, abuse of discretion in criminal prosecutions, obstruction of justice, malicious prosecution, bribery, intimidation of Grand Jury members and witnesses, deprivation of property, illegal land transactions, failure to prosecute illegal drug sales (including by county employees), property rights violations, conspiracy to impede criminal investigations, homicide, attempted homicide, rape, battery, and perjury.[^1] + +Vivian Wagner highlighted that her husband, [[Ben Wagner]], had to travel with an armed escort and conduct interviews during "midnight hours" due to the dangerous situation. She questioned why officials were not bound by the laws of the country and expressed her repulsion at the "shattering illusion" of government representation. She affirmed their dedication to restoring the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] in Mariposa County and other foothill communities, vowing not to be discouraged until an answer was found, even if it meant presenting the problem to the President on the steps of the [[White House]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/W. Ross Adey.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/W. Ross Adey.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ba4592a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/W. Ross Adey.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: + - W. Ross Adey +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Physician +--- +W. Ross Adey was the chief of staff of the Research Division at Veterans Hospital in Loma Linda, California. He was a member of the new science panel for the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Sun Streak]] program, which was established on January 31, 1986[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Walworth Barbour.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Walworth Barbour.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0308ce81 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Walworth Barbour.md @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - USA +--- +Walworth Barbour was the American ambassador to [[Israel]] from 1961 to 1973, serving longer in one post than all but three other American ambassadors. He was a compelling presence, described as a tall, shy, hugely overweight diplomat with a gluttonous appetite and acute emphysema. He constantly sprayed his throat with a vaporizer, wore yellowing white suits with brown-and-white shoes, and walked with a shambling gait. Barbour spoke no Hebrew and rarely attended educational, cultural, or social events, yet he was beloved by [[Israel]]'s leadership.[^1] + +Barbour's long assignment was a testament to his understanding of when and when not to accept every Israeli assertion at face value, and his willingness to operate the American embassy as a subsidiary, if necessary, of the Israeli foreign ministry. He often reminded his questioning subordinates that he was a President's man with a personal mandate, not a servant of the [[State Department]].[^1] + +In his first six years as ambassador, Barbour rarely interfered with the job of those working in his embassy, and some of the most accurate reporting on [[Dimona]] was forwarded to [[Washington D.C.]]. However, these reports had no impact and disappeared into the bureaucratic maze. After the 1967 [[Six-Day War]], he ordered his staff to stop reporting on nuclear weapons in [[Israel]], over the objection of one key aide. His primary assignment was to insulate President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and his men from facts that would compel action regarding [[Israel]]'s nuclear program.[^1] + +Barbour's closest associates were senior officials of the Israeli government, including [[Golda Meir]] and Major General [[Aharon Yariv]]. He shared the taboo of not discussing nuclear weapons with outsiders. However, it was Barbour's men who reported before the June 1967 war that [[Israel]] had completed its basic weapons design and was capable of manufacturing warheads for deployment on missiles.[^1] + +In 1970, Barbour made a rare public appearance, sharing a podium with Prime Minister [[Golda Meir]] at the opening of an American school in [[Tel Aviv]]. After his retirement in 1973, he became a board member of the American branch of Bank Leumi, the Israeli state bank, a move that confounded and distressed many of his former colleagues in the Foreign Service who saw it as a conflict of interest.[^1] + +Upon the inauguration of President [[Richard M. Nixon]] in January 1969, Barbour became even less interested in [[Dimona]], effectively exorcising the issue. He famously told a senior American intelligence officer who briefed him on [[Israel]]'s nuclear weapons program, "Gentlemen, I don't believe a word of it," explaining that if he acknowledged it, he would have to go to the President, and the President did not want bad news.[^1] + +Barbour's support for [[Israel]] was profound and heartfelt. He remained on the board of Bank Leumi until his death, seemingly unconcerned with his peers' opinions.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 12. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Wernher von Braun.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Wernher von Braun.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c9f367e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Wernher von Braun.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Wernher von Braun +tags: + - person + - scientist + - aerospace + - Engineer + - NASA +--- + +Wernher von Braun (1912–1977) was a German-American aerospace engineer and space architect, widely regarded as one of the fathers of rocket technology and space science in both [[Nazi Germany]] and the [[United States]]. He was the former chief scientist of the [[Apollo Program]] Moon program[^1]. + +During [[World War II]], von Braun was a leading figure in Nazi Germany's rocket development program, responsible for the design and production of the V-2 rocket. After the war, he was secretly brought to the U.S. as part of [[Operation Paperclip]], where he became a pivotal figure in the American space program, eventually leading the development of the Saturn V rocket that propelled the Apollo missions to the Moon[^1]. + +In 1972, von Braun met with [[Uri Geller]], a meeting arranged by [[Andrija Puharich]]. During this meeting, Geller asked von Braun to hold his gold wedding band in his clenched palm. Geller concentrated, and when von Braun opened his palm, the ring had been bent into an oval shape. Von Braun reportedly stated, "Uri Geller has bent my ring in the palm of my hand without ever touching it. Personally, I have no scientific explanation for it"[^1]. + +In a second incident, von Braun presented Geller with a non-working electronic pocket calculator. Geller held the machine and concentrated, and witnesses confirmed that the electronic panel inexplicably lit up. These incidents caught the attention of the [[Pentagon]], leading to a briefing on "Paranormal Phenomena—Briefing on a Net Assessment Study." The briefing noted the potential utility of [[Psychokinesis|psychokinesis]] (if feasible) in disrupting electrical systems, such as those associated with an [[Intercontinental Ballistic Missile|ICBM]]'s guidance program, as displayed by Geller[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William B. Bader.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William B. Bader.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a7bbf2dd --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William B. Bader.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government +--- +William B. Bader served as the assistant deputy under secretary of defense for policy in 1979. He recalled his frustration at knowing that the Israelis were "edging deeper into the overhead" regarding [[KH-11]] satellite intelligence and not knowing how to stop it. He noted the difficulty in complaining about such access, as it might jeopardize one's own position.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Barr.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Barr.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6464c0f6 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Barr.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +William Barr served as the Attorney General of the United States. He is noted for his involvement in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] investigation. + +On November 7, 1991, Attorney General William Barr appointed [[Nicholas J. Bua]] to serve as a Special Counsel. Bua's mandate was to investigate all allegations of wrongdoing in connection with the Inslaw matter. Barr requested a complete and thorough investigation to determine if there had been any misconduct by individuals inside or outside the Department of Justice. He assured the Special Counsel that the investigation would be independent and that all Department of Justice employees would cooperate fully.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Bryant, Jr..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Bryant, Jr..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..278cbfb3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Bryant, Jr..md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[William Bryant, Jr.]] was a Senior [[United States District Court|U.S. District Court]] Judge. He affirmed the bankruptcy court's findings in November 1989, in a separate opinion of almost 50 pages, following a de novo trial in the [[INSLAW]] case. His ruling stated that "There was unending contention about payments under this contract and the rights of the respective parties – what is strikingly apparent from the testimony and depositions of key witnesses and many documents is that [[INSLAW]] performed its contract in a hostile environment that extended from the higher echelons of the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] to the officials who had the day-to-day responsibility for supervising its work."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Callaway.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Callaway.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a0ef4d13 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Callaway.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[William Callaway]] was a Cabazon member. He, along with [[Joseph R. (Mike) Benitez]], discovered the bodies of [[Fred Alvarez]], [[Ralph Boger]], and [[Patricia Castro]] on July 1, 1981. Callaway, Benitez, and Alvarez were scheduled to meet with attorney [[Steve Rios]] on July 1, 1981, to initiate an investigation of [[Cabazon Tribal Council|Cabazon]] tribal affairs.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Colby.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Colby.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a3f290e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Colby.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - William Colby +tags: + - Person + - CIA + - Government Official +--- +William Colby (1920–1996) was an American intelligence officer who served as the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) from 1973 to 1976. He was at the helm of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] during a period of significant scrutiny and controversy, including revelations about [[Project MKUltra]][^1]. + +In the context of the [[Moscow Signal]], Colby wrote to the U.S. ambassador, informing him that "The increased probability of health injuries to personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow [redacted] warrant our immediate attention." This communication came after the [[Soviet Union]] installed a second microwave transmitter aimed at the embassy, indicating the signal was becoming more potent[^1]. + +Colby's tenure was marked by his efforts to be more transparent with Congress and the public about past CIA activities, which led to the declassification of some documents related to controversial programs[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Cole.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Cole.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e42463f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Cole.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[William Cole]] was a Los Angeles-based attorney. He was hired to investigate possible links between the triple slayings of [[Fred Alvarez]], [[Ralph Boger]], and [[Patricia Castro]] and the [[Cabazon Casino]]. Cole stated that his office was coordinating efforts with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department in investigating the murders and expected officials to turn over confiscated papers from the Alvarez home to his office.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William E. Colby.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William E. Colby.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7e920932 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William E. Colby.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - CIA +--- +William E. Colby served as the Director of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] from 1973 to 1976. He shared the assumption that [[Israel]] had a few nuclear weapons and that if there was a collapse during the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], there was a possibility that [[Israel]] would use them. Colby believed that nuclear weapons would be used "only in an extreme situation."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William H. Bowers.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William H. Bowers.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0711715e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William H. Bowers.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +aliases: + - William H. Bowers +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Air Force +--- +# William H. Bowers + +William H. Bowers was a [[U.S. Air Force]] Colonel and the director of the Biological Department of the [[Air Force Research Institute]]. He was identified by journalist [[Jacques Bergier]] as the man overseeing a joint-service [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] experiment conducted aboard the [[USS Nautilus]] in 1958[^1]. + +According to Bergier's article, "Thought Transfer, Weapon of War," the experiment aimed to test long-distance telepathic communication through significant barriers. The experiment reportedly involved a sender onboard the *Nautilus* and a receiver on land, using [[Zener Cards]] for simple sender-receiver trials[^1]. + +However, the Navy's response to Bergier's story was that it was a hoax. In a nationally syndicated Sunday magazine supplement in September 1963, Colonel Bowers was quoted as saying, "The experiment in which I was alleged to have participated never took place"[^1]. Despite the denial, the story had real-world consequences, as the Soviets used it to stimulate their own parapsychology research[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William N. Dale.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William N. Dale.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c3576fff --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William N. Dale.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - USA +--- +William N. Dale served as the deputy chief of mission at the American embassy in [[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]], arriving in 1964. He was given wide latitude in the day-to-day management of the embassy and encouraged his staff to investigate [[Dimona]]. Dale, along with the embassy's scientific attaché [[Robert T. Webber]], drafted a highly classified dispatch to [[Washington D.C.]] summarizing their intelligence that [[Israel]] was getting ready to put warheads into missiles. This report, which Dale considered the embassy's most definitive on [[Dimona]], received no response from Washington.[^1] + +Dale objected to the policy change after the 1967 [[Six-Day War]], when [[Walworth Barbour]] ordered the embassy's military attachés to stop reporting on [[Dimona]] and to no longer undercut the Israelis by conducting operations with their British or Canadian counterparts. This disagreement soured their relationship, and Dale remained convinced that his stance on [[Dimona]] set back his career.[^1] + +In the fall of 1967, [[Henry A. Kissinger]], then a [[Harvard University]] professor and consultant on [[Vietnam]] to the [[Lyndon B. Johnson|Johnson]] administration, visited [[Tel Aviv]]. He sent an urgent, top-secret message to the White House through Dale, warning about [[Dimona]] and concluding that [[Israel]] was making nuclear warheads. Dale also recalled Kissinger's warning: "I'll have your ass if this gets out."[^1] + +After leaving [[Israel]], Dale attempted to raise questions about [[Dimona]] with senior government officials in [[Washington D.C.]] and later with the [[State Department]]'s Policy Planning Council, but his efforts were met with resistance and warnings not to discuss the issue publicly. His final paper on nonproliferation did not mention [[Dimona]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 12. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William R. Crawford.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William R. Crawford.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..86aa62a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William R. Crawford.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - USA +--- +William R. Crawford was a young foreign service officer appointed as director of Israeli affairs by the [[State Department]] shortly after [[John F. Kennedy]]'s inauguration. He was asked to draft a letter from the President to [[David Ben-Gurion]] emphasizing that [[America]]'s worldwide position on nonproliferation would be compromised if [[Israel]] pursued an independent course. The letter also demanded inspection of [[Dimona]] and the right to convey the results to [[Gamal Abdel Nasser|Nasser]] to prevent [[Egypt]] from beginning its own nuclear research.[^1] + +Crawford recalled that Ben-Gurion's reply was long, evasive, and did not agree to the [[International Atomic Energy Agency|IAEA]] inspection of [[Dimona]]. Crawford also noted that his draft of the letter was rewritten by [[George Ball]]'s office, which held onto it for days, eventually provoking a complaint from the White House.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Shockley.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Shockley.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..da6b58af --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/William Shockley.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[William Shockley]] was a [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] in San Francisco. He reportedly wrote the letter that [[Ben Kalka]] signed, stating that Kalka did not obtain his methamphetamine precursors from the [[United States Government|U.S. government]]. This letter was found by Detective [[Sue Todd]] in the Di Giorgio Extradition File.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Yasser Arafat.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Yasser Arafat.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..30b3b8d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Yasser Arafat.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Palestine +--- +[[Yasser Arafat]] was a prominent Palestinian leader. He was aligned with [[Syria]] at one point and attempted to negotiate with the [[Iran|Iranians]] to secure the release of [[USA|American]] hostages in April 1980, but was rebuffed as he could not guarantee arms sales to [[Iran]].[^1] + +[[Yasser Arafat|Arafat's]] group was blamed by [[Abu Nidal]] for certain Palestinian factions warring among themselves. [[Yasser Arafat|Arafat]] also had secret talks with [[Yitzhak Shamir]] and the [[Likud Party]] leadership in 1988 and 1989 regarding a peace plan that would create a Palestinian state in [[Jordan]].[^1] + +During the [[Gulf War]] in 1991, [[Yasser Arafat|Arafat]] publicly supported [[Saddam Hussein|Iraq]] against the [[USA|United States]], which led to him losing his standing and money sources from [[Saudi Arabia]] and other [[Persian Gulf|Gulf]] states. His credibility in the [[USA|West]] was nullified.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Yehuda Ben-Hanan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Yehuda Ben-Hanan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..eb9b6150 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Yehuda Ben-Hanan.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Technology + - Israel +--- +[[Yehuda Ben-Hanan]] was the owner of Software and Engineering Consultants, a small computer company based in Chatsworth, [[California]]. He was a childhood friend of [[Ari Ben-Menashe]]. + +[[Rafi Eitan]] selected Ben-Hanan to develop a "trap door" for the [[PROMIS]] software, which would allow external access to the computers of intelligence agencies using the program. Ben-Hanan was given blueprints and set about his work for a $5,000 fee, unaware of the true purpose of the project.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Yigal Allon.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Yigal Allon.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3384859b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Yigal Allon.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Israel +--- +Yigal Allon was a 1948 war hero and a close adviser to Prime Minister [[Levi Eshkol]]. He was an advocate of [[West Bank]] resettlement. Allon, along with [[Yitzhak Rabin]] and [[Ariel Sharon]], believed that [[Israel]]'s essential advantage over the Arabs was the quality and training of its military personnel, and viewed nuclear weapons as nothing more than a great equalizer.[^1] + +In early December 1967, Allon was given a private look at [[Israel]]'s early work on its first nuclear missile field, under construction at Hirbat Zachariah. This experience moved him to tears, as he saw it as a new kind of military security for the nation. He couldn't resist boasting about what he had seen, stunning his cabinet colleagues by warning [[Egypt]] in a public speech that [[Israel]] would reply in kind to any Egyptian attack on a population center using advanced weapons. His cryptic assertions were privately attacked by other government officials as a breach of security and publicly criticized in the press for creating panic.[^1] + +Allon was among those in the kitchen cabinet who assembled for an all-night session in [[Golda Meir]]'s office in [[Tel Aviv]] on Monday, October 8, 1973, during the [[Yom Kippur War]]. The Israeli leadership resolved to implement three critical decisions: rally its collapsing forces for a major counterattack; arm and target its nuclear arsenal in the event of total collapse and subsequent need for the [[Samson Option]]; and inform [[Washington D.C.]] of its unprecedented nuclear action to demand an emergency airlift of replacement arms and ammunition.[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 9, 13. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Yoel Ben-Porat.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Yoel Ben-Porat.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..09fd5ebd --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Yoel Ben-Porat.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +Colonel [[Yoel Ben-Porat]], known as Buffy, was the unit commander of [[Unit 8200]], an [[Israel|Israeli]] Signals Intelligence (Sigint) unit. He later became a brigadier general and was appointed official spokesman of the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Defense Forces]].[^1] + +[[Yoel Ben-Porat|Buffy]] was involved in the cover-up of the [[Lockheed Aircraft Company|Lockheed]] bribe scandal involving [[Shimon Peres]], after [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] intercepted a telegram detailing the bribe. He ordered the original telegram, translation, and log to be erased and transferred the young woman working with [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] to another unit.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Zbigniew Brzezinski.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Zbigniew Brzezinski.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4d280e34 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Zbigniew Brzezinski.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - USA +--- +[[Zbigniew Brzezinski]] was the [[USA|U.S.]] National Security Adviser during the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration, playing a key role in foreign policy decisions during a period of significant Middle Eastern upheaval. + +### Iran Policy + +Brzezinski dismissed suggestions from [[Menachem Begin|Prime Minister Begin]] that the [[USA|U.S.]] should support [[Mehdi Bazargan|Mehdi Bazargan's]] government in [[Iran]] against the growing [[Iraq|Iraqi]] threat. Instead, Brzezinski and the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration believed [[Iran]] should be allowed to disintegrate until a [[USA|U.S.]]-supported leader emerged.[^1] + +### VELA Satellite Nuclear Incident + +On September 22, 1979, a [[VELA Satellite]] recorded two distinctive bright flashes of light over the South Indian Ocean, probable evidence of a nuclear explosion. This event, suspected to be a joint Israeli-South African nuclear test, was reported to Brzezinski and President [[Jimmy Carter]]. [[Gerald G. Oplinger]], Brzezinski's aide for global issues, recalled that Brzezinski was present at an urgent meeting in the White House situation room where the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] stated that the odds were at least ninety percent that it had been a nuclear explosion. Brzezinski had little to say during this meeting.[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. _Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network_. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 20. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Abraham Feinberg.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Abraham Feinberg.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..47276091 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Abraham Feinberg.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Businessman + - Philanthropist + - USA +--- +Abraham Feinberg was a wealthy New York businessman and ardent advocate of statehood for [[Israel]]. By 1947, he played a major and discreet role in fundraising and White House lobbying for [[Israel]] and the Democratic Party. He would operate at the highest levels between [[Washington D.C.]] and [[Jerusalem]] for two decades.[^1] + +Feinberg was a close friend of [[Ernst David Bergmann]], and in the fall of 1947, Bergmann indiscreetly revealed to Feinberg that there was uranium in the [[Negev]] desert, implying a path for [[Israel]] to develop the atomic bomb. Feinberg was astonished by this talk and "shushed him up."[^1] + +Feinberg was recruited by [[David Ben-Gurion]] in 1945 to help raise money for guerrilla operations against the British mandatory power in [[Palestine]]. He recalled that the kibbutz's administrative building, constructed near a large British military base, was a "fraud," serving as a cover for a secret underground plant producing bullets for the Hagannah. The facility was "scooped out" in twenty-seven days, with workers alternating between farming and arms production to maintain the deception.[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 15. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Gerald R. Ford.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Gerald R. Ford.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..17fa09b9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Gerald R. Ford.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - President + - Government +--- +Gerald R. Ford was the 38th President of the [[United States]], serving from 1974 to 1977. His administration, along with that of [[Richard M. Nixon|Richard Nixon]], maintained a warm relationship with [[Israel]], a stark contrast to the later approach of the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration. Ford's precedent was to tightly restrict access to high-quality [[KH-11]] imagery, even to close allies like [[Great Britain]].[^1] + +In late 1976, at the end of his tenure as President, [[Henry A. Kissinger]] casually mentioned to [[Hermann F. Eilts]], the American ambassador to [[Egypt]], a concern that the Israelis might go nuclear if they didn't receive military equipment quickly. This occurred during a final meeting where Kissinger brought up the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]] again.[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 1. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Ghaith R. Pharaon.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Ghaith R. Pharaon.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b1ce8063 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Ghaith R. Pharaon.md @@ -0,0 +1,33 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Financier", "BCCI"] +--- +Ghaith R. Pharaon was a flamboyant [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] front man and a [[Saudia Arabia|Saudi]] financier.[^1] He acquired [[Georgia National Bank]] and [[Independence Bank of Encino]], and was a shareholder in [[Attock Oil]], BCCI, and [[CenTrust Savings Bank]].[^2] + +### Business Ventures and BCCI Involvement + +Pharaon launched himself into the construction business in [[Saudi Arabia]] in 1965, founding [[Saudi Arabian Research and Development Corporation]] (REDEC). REDEC grew to have revenues exceeding $1 billion and employed 17,000 people by 1979.[^3] Pharaon owned pharmaceutical companies, steel-fabricating plants, and water-bottling plants, and was involved in joint ventures with companies like South Korean [[Daelim]] and [[Ralph M. Parsons]] Company.[^4] + +Pharaon was recruited by [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] and used as a front for BCCI to acquire entities that were difficult for BCCI to obtain directly, including the National Bank of Georgia and Independence Bank.[^5] He was listed as BCCI's single largest shareholder by 1985, holding 16 percent of the company, though this was a sham achieved through Abedi's circular loan scheme.[^6] + +He was involved in the sham purchase of CenTrust debentures, acting as a front for BCCI, which allowed CenTrust to remain open longer, costing U.S. taxpayers an estimated $2 billion.[^7] Pharaon and Abedi also teamed up to purchase Hercules, Inc., a munitions manufacturer.[^8] + +### Political Connections and Legal Issues + +Pharaon had extensive political connections, including with [[Jimmy Carter]], to whose charitable organizations he made donations.[^9] He was involved in lobbying efforts to keep CenTrust afloat, meeting with figures like [[M. Danny Wall]], then the nation's top thrift regulator.[^10] + +Pharaon was indicted by the [[Justice Department]] in 1992 for his role in the bond-swap conspiracy related to CenTrust and the secret ownership of [[Independence Bank of Encino]].[^11] He is described as fleeing from several indictments in the United States and is under investigation in [[Argentina]].[^12] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 11. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 11. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 205. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 205. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 43. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 211. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 220. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 220. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 202. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 85. +[^11]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 221. +[^12]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 394. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/John W. Finney.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/John W. Finney.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bfeb4faf --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/John W. Finney.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - USA +--- +John W. Finney was a reporter for the *New York Times*, covering nuclear issues and the [[Atomic Energy Commission|AEC]]. In December 1960, he broke a major story revealing that [[Israel]], with French help, had secretly built a nuclear reactor in the [[Negev]] to produce plutonium. This information was leaked to him by [[John A. McCone]], then chairman of the AEC, who was angered by [[Israel]]'s and [[France]]'s secrecy.[^1] + +Finney's article, published on December 19, 1960, on the front page of the *Times*, informed the American public about what [[Arthur C. Lundahl]] and [[Dino A. Brugioni]] had been reporting to the White House for over two years. He was used by the [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] administration to publicly address the issue of [[Dimona]], which senior officials were apprehensive about doing themselves.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 6. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Leonard Garment.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Leonard Garment.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e762afa0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Leonard Garment.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Lawyer + - USA +--- +Leonard Garment was a prominent Washington attorney and former aide to [[Richard M. Nixon]]. He was hired by [[Israel]] in June 1986 to represent Colonel [[Aviem Sella]], the Israeli handler of [[Jonathan Pollard]], after Pollard gave up Sella's name. Garment's goal was to find common ground between [[Washington D.C.]] and the government of [[Israel]] and settle the matter before it led to more damaging press.[^1] + +Garment flew to [[Tel Aviv]] to interview Sella and speak with Israeli officials. The Israeli position, as outlined to Garment, was that Sella had done nothing more than meet socially with Pollard and that there wasn't the slightest indication of spying on his part. Garment, however, began stalling for time and refused to file the proffer as initially written, saying it needed more work. He returned to [[Washington D.C.]] to try to negotiate a diplomatic solution.[^1] + +During a meeting with a six-man Israeli delegation in August 1986, Garment was pressured to file the proffer. He eventually lost his temper and warned the Israelis that if they made a move in his direction, he would throw them in the pool. It was later agreed that Garment would withdraw from the case quietly. Garment informed U.S. Attorney [[Joseph E. diGenova]] and Deputy Assistant Attorney General [[Mark M. Richard]] that he was leaving the case because he was not sure whether his client was Aviem Sella or the Israeli government.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Mordecai Gur.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Mordecai Gur.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bd07e456 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Mordecai Gur.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Israel +--- +Mordecai Gur was the Israeli military attaché. He was present during a meeting between [[Henry A. Kissinger]] and [[Simcha Dinitz]], the Israeli ambassador, during the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], where Dinitz emphasized the desperate situation of the Israeli military and the need for more tanks and aircraft. Gur, who could be trusted with sensitive information, was dismissed from the meeting when Dinitz insisted on speaking with Kissinger alone.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Myer Feldman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Myer Feldman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fe7d433d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Myer Feldman.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Myer Feldman, also known as Mike Feldman, served as President [[John F. Kennedy]]'s presidential point man for Jewish and Israeli affairs. Kennedy viewed Feldman, whose strong support for [[Israel]] was widely known, as a necessary evil and a political debt that had to be paid. Feldman was authorized to monitor all [[State Department]] and White House cable traffic on the [[Middle East]], which created bureaucratic chaos due to his strong bias towards [[Israel]].[^1] + +Feldman had no illusions about the backbiting within the White House, but his obvious influence made it tolerable. He continued to operate as Kennedy's special envoy to the Israeli government on sensitive issues, including nuclear weapons. He was allowed to visit [[Dimona]] in 1962 and knew firsthand that [[Israel]] was intent on building the bomb.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Philip J. Farley.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Philip J. Farley.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..49cbdc39 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Philip J. Farley.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Philip J. Farley was an aide to [[Christian A. Herter]], serving as a special assistant to [[John Foster Dulles]] for arms control since 1956. When asked by Herter to approach the French about their involvement with [[Israel]]'s nuclear program, Farley knew that a direct approach would be "pointless." He quietly raised the issue with a deputy to the French ambassador and came away convinced that the fears about a French connection were warranted.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 6. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Raymond Fox.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Raymond Fox.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..08b6c336 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Raymond Fox.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Nuclear Physicist + - USA +--- +Raymond Fox was an American nuclear physicist who emigrated to [[Israel]] in 1957 from [[California]], where he had access to weapons design information at the [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]]. His secrets were considered potentially invaluable to the Israelis at [[Dimona]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 7. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Roswell L. Gilpatric.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Roswell L. Gilpatric.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7b736a02 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Roswell L. Gilpatric.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Roswell L. Gilpatric was an American government official who served as Deputy Secretary of Defense under President [[John F. Kennedy]]. He headed a special panel on nonproliferation convened by President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] after [[China]]'s first nuclear test in 1964. The panel's report, returned on January 21, 1965, amounted to an indictment of past and present policy, warning that the world was "fast approaching a point of no return" in controlling the spread of nuclear weapons. It urged the President to substantially increase efforts and advocated for nuclear-free zones in [[Latin America]], [[Africa]], and the [[Middle East]], including [[Israel]] and [[Egypt]].[^1] + +The report also suggested reconsidering a controversial American plan to create a multilateral force (MLF) that would give [[NATO]] members, including West Germans, a joint finger on the nuclear trigger. The report was deemed "as explosive as a nuclear weapon" by [[Dean Rusk]], then Secretary of State, and was kept highly classified. Despite its significance, the report went nowhere, and nonproliferation continued to be treated as a topic fit only for arms controllers.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 11. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Shalheveth Freier.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Shalheveth Freier.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..160574aa --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(F-G)/Shalheveth Freier.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Nuclear Physicist + - Israel +--- +Shalheveth Freier was an Israeli nuclear physicist with impeccable credentials. He served as scientific counselor to the Israeli embassy in [[Paris]] during the critical days of the 1950s, when the Israeli–French nuclear understanding was reached. Freier enjoyed high standing among international scientists and was particularly well known to American nuclear weapons designers.[^1] + +Freier was the replacement for [[Aharon Katzir]] as the innovative physicist in charge of [[Dimona]] after Katzir's death in May 1972. During the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], Freier provided a separate, preliminary briefing to [[Golda Meir]]'s "kitchen cabinet" on the nuclear weapons and targets available for immediate assembly.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 16, 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/A. R. (Abdul Raouf) Khalil.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/A. R. (Abdul Raouf) Khalil.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d9a99a51 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/A. R. (Abdul Raouf) Khalil.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Intelligence", "Saudi Arabia", "BCCI"] +--- +A. R. (Abdul Raouf) Khalil is a high-level officer in [[Saudi Arabian intelligence]] and a key [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] front man.[^1] He was a prominent figure in [[Agha Hasan Abedi]]'s network of wealthy Middle Eastern individuals who were shareholders in BCCI and its associated entities. + +### Role in BCCI Operations + +Khalil was one of the nominees used by Abedi to secretly purchase shares in [[Credit and Commerce American Holdings|CCAH]], the holding company that owned [[First American Bank]].[^2] He was also a recipient of large, fictitious loans from BCCI, such as $168 million, which were used to create the illusion of capital within the bank.[^3] + +His involvement in BCCI's operations highlights the bank's strategy of using influential figures to conceal its true ownership and illicit financial activities. Khalil, along with [[Kamal Adham]] and [[Ghaith Pharaon]], held significant shares in BCCI and its subsidiaries, often acquired through these fraudulent loans.[^4] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 10. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 193. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 142. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 140. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Adnan Khashoggi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Adnan Khashoggi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cfdf63fc --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Adnan Khashoggi.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +[[Adnan Khashoggi]] was an international arms merchant and a factotum for the House of Saud. He was considered the richest man in the world in the 1980s. Khashoggi covered his financial tracks by establishing front companies in [[Switzerland]] and [[Liechtenstein]] to handle his commissions. He also developed contacts with notable figures such as [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] officers [[James H. Critchfield]] and [[Kim Roosevelt]], and U.S. businessman [[Bebe Rebozo]], a close associate of former U.S. President [[Richard Nixon]].[^1] + +Khashoggi's sister, [[Samira Khashoggi Fayed]], was the mother of [[Dodi Fayed]], who was romantically involved with [[Diana, Princess of Wales]]. Khashoggi's yacht, *Nabila*, was the largest in the world at the time and was featured in the James Bond film *Never Say Never Again*.[^1] + +### Involvement in Iran-Contra Affair and PROMIS Scandal + +Khashoggi was implicated in the [[Iran-Contra Affair]] as a key middleman in the arms-for-hostages exchange, working alongside Iranian arms dealer [[Manucher Ghorbanifar]]. He was found to have borrowed money for these arms purchases from the now-bankrupt financial institution, the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]], with Saudi and U.S. backing.[^1] + +He was also involved in brokering the transaction of [[PROMIS]] software to an Arab Sheik for resale and general distribution. He was mentioned in a document dated May 16, 1985, along with [[Manucher Ghorbanifar]] and [[Richard Armitage]], as individuals who would broker this transaction. [[William Bradford Reynolds]] independently remembered Armitage, Khashoggi, and Ghorbanifar working together on [[PROMIS]].[^1] + +### Legal Troubles + +In 1988, Khashoggi was arrested in [[Switzerland]], accused of concealing funds. He was held for three months and then extradited to the [[United States]], where he was released on bail and subsequently acquitted. In 1990, a [[United States|U.S.]] federal jury in Manhattan acquitted Khashoggi and [[Imelda Marcos]], widow of the exiled Philippine President [[Ferdinand Marcos]], of racketeering and fraud.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Adolf Hitler.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Adolf Hitler.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..185c2f06 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Adolf Hitler.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Adolf Hitler +tags: + - person + - Nazi + - government +description: Adolf Hitler was the leader of the Nazi Party and the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1934 to 1945. +--- + +Adolf Hitler was the leader of the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi Party]] and the dictator of [[Nazi Germany]] from 1934 to 1945. He was the central figure in the rise of Nazism, the Holocaust, and World War II.[^1] + +While Hitler himself was reportedly dismissive of mysticism, his regime had a complex relationship with the occult. Figures like [[Heinrich Himmler]] were deeply invested in paranormal research, and the Nazi government's use of astrology and other forms of divination for propaganda purposes is well-documented. Hitler's reaction to [[Rudolf Hess]]'s flight to Scotland, which he attributed to the influence of astrologers, led to a crackdown on occult practices in Germany.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Aharon Katchalsky.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Aharon Katchalsky.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8acdc623 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Aharon Katchalsky.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Israel +--- +Aharon Katchalsky, later known as Aharon Katzir, was a specialist in the electrolytic properties of chain molecules and a pioneer researcher in the related field of muscle-powered robotics. He directed the inorganic chemistry department at the [[Weizmann Institute of Science]]. Like [[Ernst David Bergmann]], Katzir had a secret life and was one of the driving forces in the flourishing Israeli nuclear weapons program until his death in 1972.[^1] + +Katzir was world-renowned for his research into robotics at the [[Weizmann Institute of Science]], and his work was featured on the cover of the December 3, 1966, issue of the *Saturday Review*. His team at the Weizmann Institute also concentrated on the development of artificial muscle tissue for use in robots. His research was heavily funded by the U.S. Air Force's Office of Scientific Research, which was primarily interested in utilizing robotics in outer-space research. The Air Force was unaware that it was also helping to underwrite research for the Israeli nuclear arsenal, and that Katzir's main work was being done at [[Dimona]], not the Weizmann Institute.[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 15. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Alan Michael May.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Alan Michael May.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7824af05 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Alan Michael May.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Alan Michael May]] was a former Northern California field director in [[Richard Nixon]]'s presidential campaign and an attorney for Nixon's brothers, Donald and Edward. He was found dead in his San Francisco home on June 19, 1991, four days after a newspaper story in the *Napa Sentinel* outlined his alleged role in a plot by Republican Party officials to bribe Iranian officials to delay the release of U.S. hostages until after President [[Ronald Reagan]]'s inauguration.[^1] + +[[Raymond Lavas]], a former associate of [[Ted Gunderson]] and a former protégé of [[Robert Maheu]], expressed his professional opinion about May's death in a letter. He suggested that certain chemical assassination methods could have been used, which would evaporate from the body, making the cause of death appear natural. He noted that unless the body is immediately refrigerated, toxins quickly evaporate, leaving minimal traces that a trained forensic expert might not detect unless suspicious circumstances are already present.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Aldous Huxley.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Aldous Huxley.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fd66e300 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Aldous Huxley.md @@ -0,0 +1,26 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Aldous Huxley +tags: + - Person + - Author + - Philosopher +--- +# Aldous Huxley + +Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) was a renowned English writer and philosopher, best known for his dystopian novel *Brave New World*. He had a keen interest in the [[Consciousness|trance state]] and its potential as a means of gathering unseen information about the natural world, a fascination that led him to experiment with psychedelic substances and observe the work of [[Andrija Puharich]][^1]. + +Huxley's personal experiences with mescaline, the principal hallucinogenic agent in peyote, were documented in his 1954 book, *The Doors of Perception*. This work explored the expansion of consciousness through drug use and met with both controversy and widespread readership, influencing counterculture movements[^1]. + +In August 1955, Huxley visited [[Andrija Puharich]] at the [[Round Table Foundation]] in Maine. He was intrigued by the diverse group of individuals assembled by Puharich, including various psychics and researchers. Huxley noted the presence of [[Harry Stump]], the Dutch sculptor, who would go into trances in the [[Faraday Cage]] and produce automatic scripts in Egyptian hieroglyphics[^1]. + +Huxley was present when Puharich attempted to drug [[Harry Stump]] with the *teonanáctl* mushroom. He observed Stump's confused and intoxicated state and insisted that Puharich administer an antidote. Huxley expressed ethical concerns about drugging Stump without his knowledge[^1]. + +Huxley's interest in the sixth sense stemmed from a childhood eye infection that left him partially blind for nearly three years, making him keenly aware of perception beyond the five known senses[^1]. + +## Publications +* *Brave New World* (1932) +* *The Doors of Perception* (1954) + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Alexander M. Haig, Jr..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Alexander M. Haig, Jr..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ffb1500e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Alexander M. Haig, Jr..md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government + - Secretary of State +--- +Alexander M. Haig, Jr. served as the Secretary of State under President [[Ronald Reagan]]. He was present at a meeting of Reagan's high command following the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] in June 1981. While the [[State Department]] formally condemned the bombing, Haig was privately forbearing.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Amos Lapidot.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Amos Lapidot.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7355a337 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Amos Lapidot.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Israel +--- +Amos Lapidot was the chief of staff of the Israeli Air Force. He assured [[Aviem Sella]] that [[Jonathan Pollard]] was not a rogue and that clearance for Sella's new assignment as Pollard's handler had been obtained from [[Yitzhak Rabin]], the minister of defense.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ann Magori.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ann Magori.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..668464e3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ann Magori.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - USA +--- +[[Ann Magori]] was an [[USA|American]]-born Orthodox woman and a real estate agent. She developed a close relationship with [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] and his wife [[Ora Ben-Shalom|Ora]].[^1] + +After [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] arrest, [[Ann Magori|Magori]] was contacted by [[Leon Siff]] and traveled to [[Los Angeles]] to see [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] in jail. She expressed suspicion about [[Leon Siff|Siff]] and his friends' involvement with the [[USA|American]] government, warning [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] to be careful.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ann-Marie Murphy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ann-Marie Murphy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..43faa261 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ann-Marie Murphy.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Victim +--- +Ann-Marie Murphy was the Irish girlfriend of [[Nezar Hindawi]]. She was unwittingly used in a 1986 plot to bomb an [[El Al]] plane. Hindawi, acting on instructions from [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah]] as part of an [[Rafi Eitan|Israeli]] "black" operation, intended for her to board the plane with explosives in her bag, leading to her death and the deaths of all other passengers. + +The plot was foiled by [[Israel|Israeli]] security. Ann-Marie Murphy was interrogated by British security, where she revealed Hindawi's involvement. She later gave birth to their daughter in [[Ireland]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Anne Henderson-Pollard.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Anne Henderson-Pollard.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4b52c72d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Anne Henderson-Pollard.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Spy + - USA +--- +[[Anne Henderson-Pollard]] was the wife of [[Jonathan Pollard]], a junior civilian analyst with the [[USA|U.S.]] Navy who was a paid spy for [[Tel Aviv]]. She was also involved in her husband's espionage activities.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Anne Khale.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Anne Khale.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0c7618ee --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Anne Khale.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Anne Khale +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - NASA +--- +# Anne Khale + +Anne Khale was a [[NASA]] satellite imagery specialist who was hired by [[Stephan Schwartz]] to serve as an unbiased third-party observer for [[Project Deep Quest]]. Her role was to accompany the team and monitor all control elements for fraud during the psychic functioning experiments[^1]. + +Khale's involvement as an independent observer was crucial for ensuring the credibility of the project, which aimed to use [[Remote Viewing]] to locate a previously unknown shipwreck and to test long-distance remote viewing for the [[U.S. Air Force]][^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Annie Jacobsen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Annie Jacobsen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..821acd1f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Annie Jacobsen.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Annie M. Jacobsen +tags: + - Person + - Author +--- +# Annie Jacobsen + +Annie Jacobsen is an American investigative journalist and author, known for her non-fiction books focusing on government secrecy, national security, and warfare. She is a graduate of Princeton University. + +## Bibliography +* [[Phenomena - The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis]] (2017) +* [[The Pentagon's Brain]] +* [[Operation Paperclip]] +* [[Area 51]] + +## Affiliations +* Los Angeles Times Magazine (contributing editor) +* Princeton University (alumna) + +## Notes +* Her book "Phenomena" details the U.S. government's decades-long interest in anomalous mental phenomena, including extrasensory perception (ESP) and psychokinesis (PK). +* She conducted extensive interviews with scientists and psychics who worked on government programs for her book. +* Her work often involves declassified documents and in-depth research into sensitive topics. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur C. Lundahl.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur C. Lundahl.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c64f5eb1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur C. Lundahl.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - USA +--- +Arthur C. Lundahl was a key figure in U.S. aerial reconnaissance, directing the Photographic Intelligence Division of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. He had analyzed reconnaissance photos for the Navy during World War II and was tasked by President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] to address the lack of aerial intelligence on the [[Soviet Union]].[^1] + +Lundahl played a crucial role in the [[U-2 Spy Plane]] program, becoming the American government's most listened-to briefing officer. He was responsible for presenting intelligence gathered from U-2 flights, including early signs of what would become the Israeli nuclear reactor at [[Dimona]].[^1] + +In late 1958 or early 1959, Lundahl rushed early raw photographs of the [[Dimona]] construction to the White House. Despite the clear evidence of a secret nuclear reactor, President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] showed no interest in further details or follow-up, a decision that puzzled Lundahl. He also relayed his findings on [[Dimona]] to [[Lewis L. Strauss]], chairman of the [[Atomic Energy Commission]], and a few AEC aides.[^1] + +By December 1960, the [[U-2 Spy Plane|U-2]] program was in disarray following the [[U-2 Incident]] where [[Gary Francis Powers]] was shot down. Lundahl recalled those months as being "full of finger-pointing and turbulence." By the mid-1960s, Lundahl and [[Dino A. Brugioni]] had moved on to new assignments in photo interpretation and were no longer directly involved in Israeli nuclear matters. Much of the primary analysis of nuclear intelligence shifted from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] to the design and engineering laboratories for nuclear weapons at [[Los Alamos]] and [[Sandia]], and later [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]]. Any interesting intelligence on [[Israel]] was then routed through the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s Office of Science and Technology, headed by [[Carl E. Duckett]], to which Lundahl's [[National Photo Interpretation Center]] was reporting. Lundahl and Brugioni eventually realized that Duckett was no longer sharing all information about the Israeli bomb, marking the end of an era for their direct involvement.[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 5, 11. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur Hebard.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur Hebard.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..95909ca0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur Hebard.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Arthur Hebard +tags: + - person + - physicist + - researcher +description: Arthur Hebard is a physicist known for building an experimental magnetometer at Stanford University, which was used in early psi experiments with Ingo Swann. +--- + +[[Arthur Hebard]] is a physicist who, as a Stanford postdoctoral physics student, built a special experimental magnetometer in the basement of Varian Hall at [[Stanford University]]. This magnetometer, funded by the Office of Naval Research, was designed to measure extremely small magnetic field perturbations from passing quarks. Its high sensitivity and heavy shielding made it an ideal challenge for psychic experiments.[^1] + +In June 1972, [[Hal Puthoff]] brought [[Ingo Swann]] to Hebard's lab to test Swann's abilities. During this experiment, Swann appeared to affect the magnetometer's output, causing its steady reading to suddenly change. This event, though initially suspected by others as mundane noise, convinced Puthoff of the paranormal occurrence and spurred his further investigation into psi phenomena.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur Koestler.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur Koestler.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..16e3e276 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur Koestler.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Arthur Koestler +tags: + - person + - author + - philosopher +description: Arthur Koestler was a Hungarian-born British novelist, journalist, and critic, known for his writings on science, parapsychology, and political philosophy. +--- +Arthur Koestler was a Hungarian-born British novelist, journalist, and critic. He was known for his writings on science, parapsychology, and political philosophy. His 1972 book, *The Roots of Coincidence*, explored the concept of synchronicity and other parapsychological phenomena.[^1] + +Koestler's work, particularly *The Roots of Coincidence*, played a role in influencing key figures in the U.S. government's psychic research programs. Major General [[Ed Tompson]], the Army's assistant chief of staff for intelligence, developed a considerable enthusiasm for psychic spying after reading Koestler's pro-paranormal book. This personal interest contributed to Thompson's approval and support for the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]] program.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur Krock.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur Krock.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..48f95e26 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Arthur Krock.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - USA +--- +Arthur Krock was a prominent Washington columnist for the *New York Times*. In December 1960, he served as an intermediary, directing [[John W. Finney]] to [[John A. McCone]], then chairman of the [[Atomic Energy Commission]], to get a story about [[Israel]]'s secret nuclear reactor at [[Dimona]]. Krock's role indicated that the administration was looking to plant the story publicly.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 6. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Avraham Harman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Avraham Harman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fe8000c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Avraham Harman.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - Israel +--- +Avraham Harman was the Israeli ambassador to the [[United States]]. In December 1960, he was called in by [[Christian A. Herter]], then Secretary of State, for an explanation regarding [[Israel]]'s secret nuclear reactor at [[Dimona]]. Harman was forewarned by [[Shimon Peres]] and possibly [[Mossad]] about the impending public discussion of [[Dimona]], and began working on the cover story that would become [[David Ben-Gurion]]'s public stance on the issue.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 6. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Baldur K. Kleine.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Baldur K. Kleine.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4bd571f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Baldur K. Kleine.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - ArmsDealer + - USA +--- +[[Baldur K. Kleine]] was a business partner of [[Manfred Herrmann]] and the representative in Maitland, [[Florida]], for [[Ora Group|Ora]], an [[Israel|Israeli]] arms-running company. He coordinated [[Israel|Israeli]] activities in [[Central America]].[^1] + +[[Baldur K. Kleine|Kleine]] was tasked by [[Rafi Eitan]] to receive the [[PROMIS]] software, complete with its "trap door," from [[Earl Brian]] in Maitland. He then passed the program to [[Manfred Herrmann]] in [[Guatemala]], who, in conjunction with [[Robert Maxwell|Maxwell's]] [[Degem]], implemented it for intelligence purposes.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Barbara Honegger.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Barbara Honegger.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5c1bd502 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Barbara Honegger.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Barbara Honegger]] was a former [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] [[White House]] aide and author of the book *October Surprise*. In her book, she alleged that [[Monzer Al-Kassar]]'s heroin smuggling network in [[Italy]] was used to launder [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|NATO]] arms stocks for diversion to [[Iran]]. This was purportedly done with the help of corrupt Italian intelligence officials linked to the secretive fascist Masonic lodge, [[P2]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bep Hermans.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bep Hermans.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0b383ead --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bep Hermans.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Bep Hermans +tags: + - Person +--- +# Bep Hermans + +Bep Hermans was a Dutch au pair who came to work for [[Andrija Puharich]] in 1956, taking care of his three young children after his wife, Jinny, was sent for psychiatric treatment. Hermans later became Puharich's wife[^1]. + +She arrived at the Warrenton Estate, the home of the [[Round Table Foundation]], in late March 1956. Hermans observed the dynamics within the foundation, including the relationship between Puharich and [[Peter Hurkos]]. She recalled that Hurkos's presence gave [[Harry Stump]] a confidence he had not had before, and that despite their conflicting natures, Peter and Harry "got along famously and forged a great telepathic team"[^1]. Hermans also witnessed Hurkos's psychometric talents, noting that he could provide detailed information about a person by touching an object belonging to them[^1]. + +Hermans recalled Puharich's growing paranoia and anger when he learned that the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] had bypassed him and contacted [[R. Gordon Wasson]] directly regarding the *teonanáctl* mushroom. She stated that Puharich "felt the CIA was after his research"[^1]. + +Her relationship with Puharich was tumultuous. She recalled the dark turn things took at the [[Round Table Foundation]] as drugs began to take hold, and Puharich regularly dosing [[Peter Hurkos]] with hallucinogenic mushrooms. Hermans also described the chaotic period in Carmel, California, where Puharich's drug use escalated, including a "mushroom binge" involving a middle-aged couple copulating wildly[^1]. + +By 1961, pregnant with their second child, Hermans gave Puharich an ultimatum: he had three months to settle down or she would leave him and take their children back to Europe. She eventually left Puharich and returned to Europe with their children when he continued his unconventional pursuits, such as traveling to Brazil to study the psychic healer [[Arigo]][^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bert Lance.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bert Lance.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ea5271df --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bert Lance.md @@ -0,0 +1,27 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Politician", "Banker", "BCCI"] +--- +T. Bertram (Bert) Lance was President [[Jimmy Carter]]'s budget director and former chairman of [[National Bank of Georgia]].[^1] + +### Political and Banking Career + +Lance gained prominence as Jimmy Carter's budget director but later resigned due to a congressional investigation into financial improprieties.[^2] He became chief executive of the National Bank of Georgia, which was the largest lender to Jimmy Carter's peanut warehouse.[^3] He borrowed $2.6 million to finance his purchase of stock in the bank.[^4] + +### Involvement with BCCI + +[[Eugene Holley]] introduced Lance to [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] in October 1977.[^5] Abedi helped Lance finalize the acquisition of National Bank of Georgia from Lance in January 1978, and on the same day, Abedi paid off Lance's $3.5 million bank loan.[^6] Lance's financial difficulties were leveraged by Abedi to facilitate BCCI's entry into the U.S. market.[^7] + +Lance played a key role in the acquisition of [[Financial General Bankshares]], which later became [[First American Bank]].[^8] He recruited his friend and attorney [[Clark Clifford]] to represent Abedi, BCCI, and the front men in the Financial General suit.[^9] BCCI also hired Lance as a consultant at a salary of $100,000.[^10] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 10. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 178. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 179. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 179. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 11. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 12. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 179. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 181. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 183. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 182. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bill Hamilton.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bill Hamilton.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..260a61a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bill Hamilton.md @@ -0,0 +1,39 @@ +--- +created: 2024-04-26 +updated: 2024-04-30 +title: Bill Hamilton +tags: + - NSA + - PMMC + - PROMIS +description: William A. Hamilton worked as an NSA analyst and linguist, later joining PMMC. He led the creation of PROMIS software for prosecutors, funded by LEAA. In 1973, he and his wife founded INSLAW to manage PROMIS. +--- +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page needs to be further fleshed out but Bill's time at the NSA and PMMC is obviously murky. + +William A. Hamilton was born ~1940 and grew up in Laude where he was one of seven (or eight) brothers. He graduated from Notre Dame with an English degree in 1962 and married [[Nancy Hamilton]] in 1963.[^1] + +Bill worked as an analyst and Vietnamese linguist for the [[National Security Agency|NSA]] for seven years. In 1969, he left and became a management consultant at [[Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co]]. He then responded to a Request for Proposals and won the contract to create what would become [[PROMIS]] under the direction of [[Joan E. Jacoby]] and [[Charles R. Work]] with [[Law Enforcement Assistance Administration|LEAA]] funding through the [[Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia]]. Bill Mitchell was project manager for the program. The experimental software for prosecutors made its debut on January 1, 1971.[^1] + +Bill, along with his wife [[Nancy Hamilton]], founded [[INSLAW]] in 1973, which took over stewardship of [[PROMIS]]. The [[INSLAW]] company later became embroiled in a significant legal battle with the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] over the alleged theft and pirating of their [[PROMIS]] software.[2] + +Hamilton was a key figure in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]], alleging that a version of [[PROMIS]] was pirated and sold to foreign governments, including [[Canada]] and [[Israel]], with a modified "back-door" that allowed the U.S. to eavesdrop on intelligence secrets.[2] He and [[Nancy Hamilton]] sued the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] for non-payment on a version of [[PROMIS]] called Modification 12 and for the alleged modification and sale of the software.[2] + +[[Danny Casolaro]], the investigative journalist, began investigating the [[PROMIS]] affair in 1990 after being contacted by Bill Hamilton. Hamilton was in daily contact with Casolaro until about a week prior to Casolaro's death.[2] + +Hamilton received an affidavit from [[Michael Riconosciuto]] in March 1991, claiming Riconosciuto installed a "back door" in [[PROMIS]] to allow the U.S. to access foreign intelligence data. Riconosciuto later reached out to Hamilton and Casolaro in August 1991 to research [[Michael Abbell]]'s connection to the [[Cali Drug Cartel]], warning that the information might be dangerous. Hamilton, pressed for time, turned this investigation over to Casolaro.[2] + +Hamilton also received a document in November 2004 from a reliable U.S. intelligence source, dated May 16, 1985, indicating that the [[PROMIS]] software was being provided to an Arab Sheik for resale and distribution, brokered by [[Manucher Ghorbanifar]], [[Adnan Khashoggi]], and [[Richard Armitage]]. This document was authenticated by [[William Bradford Reynolds]], who had signed it. Hamilton considered this a very important letter, as all copies were supposed to have been destroyed.[2] + +Hamilton believed that the main role of the [[Wackenhut Corporation]]-[[Cabazon Indian Reservation]] Joint Venture was connected to government-sanctioned drug trafficking and money laundering by organized crime groups like the [[Gambino Crime Family]] and groups like the [[Contras]]. He speculated that [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s job was to help these groups use [[National Security Agency|NSA]]'s bank surveillance version of [[PROMIS]] to launder drug proceeds, with some funds contributing to covert intelligence operations not authorized by Congress.[2] + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/139683581/ +[^2]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/139683581/ \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bill Moyers.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bill Moyers.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b2d5758a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bill Moyers.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Bill Moyers is an American journalist and former government official. He served as a trusted aide and sometime speechwriter for President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]. In October 1964, Moyers was ordered by Johnson, along with [[Myer Feldman]], to clean out [[Walter W. Jenkins]]'s safe after Jenkins's arrest on homosexual solicitation charges. They discovered a private cache of money, including funds from [[Abraham Feinberg]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 14. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bourke B. Hickenlooper.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bourke B. Hickenlooper.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..67593eda --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Bourke B. Hickenlooper.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - USA +--- +Bourke B. Hickenlooper was a conservative Republican Senator from [[Iowa]]. He was also chairman of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy. In a closed session of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on January 6, 1961, he testily interrupted [[Christian A. Herter]], then Secretary of State, stating, "I think the Israelis have just lied to us like horse thieves on this thing." He accused [[Israel]] of consistently distorting, misrepresenting, and falsifying facts regarding their secret nuclear reactor facility at [[Dimona]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 6. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Brian D. Josephson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Brian D. Josephson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..55654f8a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Brian D. Josephson.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Brian D. Josephson + - Josephson +tags: + - Person + - Physicist + - Nobel Laureate +--- +Brian D. Josephson is a British theoretical physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1973 for his prediction of the Josephson effect. He is also a vocal proponent of [[Extrasensory Perception|extrasensory perception]] (ESP) and has shown interest in [[Parapsychology|parapsychology]][^1]. + +His work on the Josephson junction, a configuration of two layers of superconducting material sandwiching a thin layer of non-superconducting material, was part of the quark detector used in [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Ingo Swann]]'s [[Psychokinesis|psychokinesis]] experiment at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]]. The design of this device was never made public, making it impossible for anyone to have preexisting knowledge of its appearance[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Brian Leighton.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Brian Leighton.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f7c9ae1d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Brian Leighton.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Brian Leighton]] was a former Assistant [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] in Fresno, California. He was instrumental in prosecuting 29 members of a drug/arms organization known as "[[The Company]]."[^1] + +Leighton's efforts against "The Company" were significant, and he was described as the most effective person in formulating a strategy within the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] to pursue this group. He was involved in a joint effort with prosecutors in Lexington, Kentucky, and Miami, Florida, to dismantle "The Company."[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed to have provided Leighton with "valuable intelligence" on illegal drug activities and "The Company," stating that he had been instrumental in helping Leighton identify members of the organization and even led law enforcement officers to a marijuana cache belonging to its members. However, during Riconosciuto's trial, Leighton's testimony was evasive regarding their direct collaboration, and he stated he could not recall ever meeting Riconosciuto personally or speaking to him directly, only through a government agent.[^1] + +Leighton reportedly retired from the [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]]'s office shortly after the prosecutions against "The Company." [[Michael Riconosciuto]] speculated that Leighton was operating out of fear, noting that the prosecuting attorney in Florida involved in the case had been shot in the head. Riconosciuto also claimed that Leighton's prosecutions had only served to "vaccinate" "The Company" against further penetration, making them more resilient.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Carl Kaysen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Carl Kaysen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5783f19f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Carl Kaysen.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Academic + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Carl Kaysen is a distinguished political economist who served as deputy assistant to the President for national security affairs. He moved from the Harvard faculty to the [[National Security Council]] in 1961. Kaysen recalled that President [[John F. Kennedy]] was intellectually and emotionally committed to a halt in the spread of nuclear weapons, and that nonproliferation was a topic Kennedy would discuss for hours.[^1] + +In the fall of 1966, Kaysen became the newly appointed director of the prestigious Institute for Advanced Studies in Princeton. He learned that [[Lewis L. Strauss]] had used his influence to get [[Ernst David Bergmann]] a two-month appointment as a visiting fellow there. Kaysen was surprised to learn that Strauss, despite his public stance against nuclear proliferation, was privately in favor of a nuclear-armed [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 7, 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Charles Dennis McKee.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Charles Dennis McKee.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..be9f7d18 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Charles Dennis McKee.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Charles Dennis McKee]] was a Major and a senior member of the [[Middle East Collection 10]] (MC-10) cell in [[Cyprus]] and Beirut. He was on Pan Am Flight 103, along with [[Matthew Kevin Gannon]], when it exploded over Scotland. They had just returned from a mission in Beirut.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Charles Frank Jordan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Charles Frank Jordan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f0e477a4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Charles Frank Jordan.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Charles Frank Jordan + - Charles Jordan +tags: + - Person + - Fugitive + - Criminal +--- +Charles Frank Jordan was a former special agent for the [[U.S. Customs Service]] in South Florida. In 1986, he was accused of taking bribes from drug traffickers smuggling large quantities of cocaine into the [[United States]]. When he realized law enforcement was pursuing him, he became a fugitive, earning a place on the [[FBI]]'s Most Wanted Fugitives list for over two years[^1]. + +In 1989, the Customs Service requested that the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]]'s [[Remote Viewing]] unit target Jordan to locate him. All six viewers on the [[Fort Meade]] team were tasked with finding him, but their initial sessions produced conflicting information, placing Jordan in Mexico, Minnesota, and Florida[^1]. + +[[Angela Dellafiora]], however, provided a clear signal, stating that Jordan was in "Lowell, Wyoming." Although the town was actually Lovell, Wyoming, Dellafiora's phonetic perception proved accurate. She later sensed that Jordan was living "at or near a campground that had a large boulder at its entrance" and that "an old Indian burial ground is located nearby"[^1]. + +Customs agent William Green increased the local law enforcement effort, and a ranger at Yellowstone National Park spotted Jordan, leading to his capture. Jordan was found at a campground located on the border of an old Indian burial ground, roughly fifty miles from Lovell, Wyoming. [[FBI]] investigations later confirmed he had been in Lovell a few weeks prior[^1]. + +Jordan's capture, largely attributed to Dellafiora's remote viewing, became one of the most celebrated cases in the program's twenty-five-year history, demonstrating the practical application of psychic abilities in intelligence operations[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Charles Hayes.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Charles Hayes.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d2da49e6 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Charles Hayes.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Charles Hayes was a salvage dealer from Nancy, Kentucky, who became involved in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] through his contact with [[Bill Hamilton]]. + +Hayes is heavily relied upon by [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] for his statements regarding the alleged distribution of [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]'s enhanced [[PROMIS]] software. He claimed to have purchased word processing equipment that contained Enhanced PROMIS from a local U.S. Attorney's office. He also told [[Bill Hamilton]] and [[Nancy Hamilton]] that he met with [[Earl Brian]], [[Richard Secord]], and [[Oliver North]] in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in the mid-1980s, where those three individuals were allegedly purchasing weapons for the [[Iran-Contra Affair|Contras]] in Nicaragua, and Brian was marketing Inslaw's PROMIS software to the government of Brazil.[^1] + +The Special Counsel's investigation, however, found Hayes' claims to be unreliable. The House Committee, which also heard Hayes' accusations, noted that he failed to provide any documentation to corroborate his charges. Even Bill Hamilton reportedly regarded Hayes' claim about the local U.S. Attorney's office selling him surplus word processing equipment with enhanced PROMIS as "highly improbable." The Committee's examination of computer disks provided by Hayes, which he claimed contained enhanced PROMIS, revealed them to be nothing more than training programs for word processing equipment. Furthermore, Hayes' promises to provide information that would establish the use of enhanced PROMIS by the Canadian government were never fulfilled. The Special Counsel concluded that Hayes' allegations were not supported by credible evidence.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Charles Lucet.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Charles Lucet.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b1ca3fc1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Charles Lucet.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - France +--- +Charles Lucet was a senior French foreign ministry official who served as deputy ambassador in [[Washington D.C.]] in the late 1950s and later became ambassador in 1965. At a 1962 Washington dinner party, he was publicly reprimanded by [[John A. McCone]], then [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] director, for [[France]]'s role in the Israeli bomb. When McCone asked if [[France]] was building a reprocessing plant for the Israelis, Lucet replied with [[France]]'s public position: "No, we are building a reactor." McCone then turned his back on Lucet and did not speak to him for the rest of the evening, a pointed rebuff given [[France]]'s high standing with President [[John F. Kennedy]] and his wife.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 9. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Christian A. Herter.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Christian A. Herter.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1dd2e59b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Christian A. Herter.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Christian A. Herter served as the Secretary of State under President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] from 1959 to 1961. In early December 1960, he was reportedly upset upon being shown a photograph of [[Dimona]] taken from a highway, and called in [[Avraham Harman]], the Israeli ambassador, for an explanation. Herter also conducted his own independent checking, asking an aide to approach the French about their involvement with [[Israel]]'s nuclear program.[^1] + +Herter was instructed by the White House to give a formal diplomatic protest (demarche) to the French. He approached [[Maurice Couve de Murville]], the French foreign minister, who assured the [[State Department]] that the Israeli reactor was benign and any plutonium generated would be returned to [[France]] for safekeeping, a statement later revealed to be a lie.[^1] + +On January 6, 1961, Herter gave his farewell briefing as secretary of state to a closed session of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he discussed the "disturbing" new element in the [[Middle East]] related to [[Dimona]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 6. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Clint Murchison, Sr..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Clint Murchison, Sr..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..eb28df6d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Clint Murchison, Sr..md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Clint Murchison, Sr.]] was a powerful Texas oilman and a significant political figure, described as being cut from the same cloth as [[H.L. Hunt]]. He was the father of [[Clint W. Murchison, Jr.]], a director of [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]. Murchison, Sr. was a key organizer of pro-[[Douglas MacArthur|MacArthur]] forces in Texas and an ardent supporter of Senator [[Joseph McCarthy]]'s anti-communist crusade.[^1] + +Murchison, Sr. cultivated relationships with influential figures across the political spectrum, including [[J. Edgar Hoover]], [[Richard Nixon]], and [[Lyndon Johnson]]. The Murchison family's rise to power was closely tied to their connections in Texas oil. He was known for his hospitality, often hosting [[J. Edgar Hoover]] at his exclusive Hotel Del Charro in La Jolla, California, and covering Hoover's expenses, which amounted to approximately $19,000 in free vacations between 1953 and 1959.[^1] + +His business dealings also intersected with organized crime. Nearly 20 percent of the Murchison Oil Lease Company in Oklahoma was owned by [[Gerardo Catena]], a chief lieutenant to the [[Genovese Crime Family]]. Furthermore, the Murchison family's affairs were tightly interwoven with the scandal surrounding [[Bobby Baker]], a close associate of [[Lyndon Johnson]], which involved numerous questionable deals with organized crime figures in Las Vegas, Chicago, Louisiana, and the Caribbean.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Clint W. Murchison, Jr..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Clint W. Murchison, Jr..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8ecde765 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Clint W. Murchison, Jr..md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +[[Clint W. Murchison, Jr.]] was a Director of [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] and the owner of the Dallas Cowboys NFL football team. He was the son of [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]], a figure described as being cut from the same political cloth as [[H.L. Hunt]], both known for their significant influence and connections.[^1] + +His family cultivated relationships not only with powerful figures on the far right but also with individuals such as [[J. Edgar Hoover]], [[Richard Nixon]], organized crime figures, and [[Lyndon Johnson]]. The Murchison family's rise to power was closely tied to their connections in Texas oil.[^1] + +[[Clint W. Murchison, Jr.]]'s father, [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]], was an ardent supporter of Senator [[Joseph McCarthy]]'s anti-communist crusade. McCarthy, [[Richard Nixon]], and [[J. Edgar Hoover]] were frequent visitors to the exclusive Hotel Del Charro in La Jolla, California, which Murchison, Sr. opened in the early 1950s. [[J. Edgar Hoover]]'s vacations at the hotel were often covered by Murchison, Sr.[^1] + +The Murchison family's business dealings also intersected with organized crime. A significant portion of the Murchison Oil Lease Company in Oklahoma was owned by [[Gerardo Catena]], a chief lieutenant to the [[Genovese Crime Family]]. Furthermore, [[Clint W. Murchison, Jr.]] was involved in real estate dealings with [[Jimmy Hoffa]] in Florida, and his family's affairs were tightly interwoven with the scandal surrounding [[Bobby Baker]], a close associate of [[Lyndon Johnson]], which involved numerous questionable deals with organized crime figures in Las Vegas, Chicago, Louisiana, and the Caribbean.[^1] + +His involvement with [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] placed him among a group of influential individuals with ties to government and intelligence, including [[Robert Maheu]], [[Michael A. McManus]], [[Robert Booth Nichols]], and [[George K. Pender]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/D. Lowell Jensen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/D. Lowell Jensen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7a57746d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/D. Lowell Jensen.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +D. Lowell Jensen served as Deputy Attorney General of the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. He became a figure in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] due to allegations made by [[Inslaw Corporation]] and findings by Bankruptcy Judge Bason. + +Inslaw alleged that Jensen had a "previously developed negative attitude about PROMIS and INSLAW" and that he consciously ignored Inslaw's complaints about [[C. Madison Brewer]]. Inslaw further alleged that Jensen, through various subordinates, was induced by [[Earl Brian]]'s political influence to engineer disputes with Inslaw, eventually driving the company into bankruptcy. Bankruptcy Judge Bason, in his findings, concluded that Jensen's "biased attitude toward Inslaw contributed to the situation in which Inslaw's complaints about Brewer and the administration of the PROMIS implementation contract went unheeded."[^1] + +However, the investigation by Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua found no credible evidence to support these allegations. Judge Jensen, who later became a federal district judge, denied engineering any contract disputes with Inslaw or directing any DOJ action to harm Inslaw. He also denied any financial interest in companies controlled by Brian (such as Biotech, Hadron, Accumenics, and Simeon) or ever being promised stock in any computer-related company. He stated that he was sincerely interested in modernizing DOJ operations through computer technology, recalling "Project Eagle," a multi-million dollar project to automate DOJ's litigating divisions, but denied involvement in awarding contracts for it, noting that the Request For Proposals (RFP) for the project was issued in May 1986, and he was appointed to the bench the following June.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Dan Moldea.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Dan Moldea.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7b323284 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Dan Moldea.md @@ -0,0 +1,7 @@ +[[Dan Moldea]] is an American author known for his investigative work into organized crime and political corruption. He is the author of the 1986 book, *Dark Victory: Ronald Reagan, MCA, and the Mob*.[1] + +In *Dark Victory*, Moldea famously labeled [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] as "[[The Octopus]]" due to its extensive and often illicit connections. Investigative journalist [[Danny Casolaro]] likely derived his own term "[[The Octopus]]" for the complex network he was investigating from Moldea's earlier work. However, the text notes that even Moldea, at the time of his book's publication in 1986, could not have known the full extent of this "creature's" reach, specifically its tentacles within the [[National Security Council|NSC]].[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Daniel Magano.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Daniel Magano.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..683d3908 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Daniel Magano.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Daniel Magano]] was an alleged mobster mentioned in a surveillance report from the Indio Police Department in August 1981. He was observed meeting with [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]], the Cabazon Administrator, and other [[La Cosa Nostra]] underworld figures. These meetings were believed to involve financial transactions.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Daniel Murphy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Daniel Murphy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..73f7d9e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Daniel Murphy.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Daniel Murphy]] was a retired four-star Admiral who served as [[Elliot Richardson]]'s Military Advisor when Richardson was Secretary of Defense under [[Richard Nixon]]. He later held two of the top U.S. intelligence posts: Deputy Director of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] under [[Gerald Ford]] and Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence under [[Jimmy Carter]].[^1] + +In early 1991, [[INSLAW]] Counsel [[Elliot Richardson]] asked Murphy to review the plausibility of claims about the covert dissemination of [[PROMIS]] for intelligence-tracking applications and to give his opinion on whether the claimed intelligence uses could explain [[Richard Thornburgh]]'s inexplicable failure to enforce federal criminal laws in the [[INSLAW]] case. After reading the affidavits and the [[INSLAW]] lawsuit against Thornburgh, Murphy told Richardson and [[Bill Hamilton]] that there was nothing implausible about any of the claims, including [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s claim that he had modified [[PROMIS]] for U.S. intelligence on an Indian reservation in Southern [[California]]. He also stated that the available evidence made it look like an [[National Security Agency|NSA]] operation, and if it were, it would explain Thornburgh's behavior.[^1] + +In 2001, Murphy told [[Bill Hamilton]] that an [[INSLAW]] summary of evidence revealed that the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] began misappropriating [[PROMIS]] in 1982 for three separate intelligence projects: [[National Security Agency|NSA]]'s deployment of [[PROMIS]] to banks to track wire transfers, [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence's sale of a trap-door version of [[PROMIS]] to foreign governments, and the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s deployment of [[PROMIS]] throughout the [[United States Government|U.S. Government]] as standard database software for intelligence gathering. Murphy told Hamilton that the [[INSLAW]] summary eliminated any doubt about what had happened and that the [[INSLAW]] case needed to be settled. He warned Hamilton that government officials would "regard it as their patriotic duty to look [[INSLAW]]'s lawyer in the eyes and lie."[^1] + +In September 2001, Murphy, who had served as Chief of Staff to Vice President [[George Bush]] during the first term of the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] Administration when the [[PROMIS]] misappropriations began, told Hamilton that he had a "hunch" that there was still another use of [[PROMIS]] that [[INSLAW]] had not yet discovered, that it "involves something so seriously wrong that money alone cannot cure the problem," and that the government might never compensate [[INSLAW]] unless the company discovered that additional use of [[PROMIS]]. Admiral Murphy passed away suddenly on September 21, 2001, and Hamilton was never able to obtain clarification on his hunch.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/David E. Long.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/David E. Long.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..377905bc --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/David E. Long.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - USA +--- +David E. Long was a [[State Department]] [[Middle East]] expert. He explained that the Israeli nuclear issue was taboo within the bureaucracy, and that [[State Department]] and [[Pentagon]] staff officers who wanted to learn more about [[Israel]]'s nuclear weapons could not, because such intelligence carried the highest classification. Long recalled being informally questioned by diplomats from the [[Middle East]] about [[Israel]]'s nuclear arms, and his response was always that "we don't know anything and here is what the Israelis say." He refused a superior's request to put this response in writing, arguing that delivering a deliberately false impression went beyond subterfuge.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 16. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/David Lowenthal.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/David Lowenthal.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6df109a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/David Lowenthal.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Businessman + - USA +--- +David Lowenthal was one of the initial stockholders in the Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation (NUMEC). He had helped bring illegal immigrants into [[Israel]] before 1948. His involvement, along with [[Zalman Mordecai Shapiro]]'s ties to [[Israel]], fueled suspicions within the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] that NUMEC was part of a long-range Israeli intelligence scheme to divert uranium.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 18. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/David Margolis.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/David Margolis.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4aa76dbf --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/David Margolis.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +[[David Margolis]] is a long-serving official within the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]], described as its highest-ranking career official. He has served under 18 attorneys general and navigated sensitive cases throughout his tenure. His career history includes serving as Deputy Assistant Attorney General (1990-1993) and Senior official, Organized Crime Section, Criminal Division (1976-1990).[^1] + +### Involvement in MCA Investigation + +Margolis was the chief of the Organized Crime Strike Force at the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. He, along with his deputy [[Michael DeFeo]], reportedly called [[Marvin Rudnick]], a Los Angeles prosecutor, to Washington D.C. and instructed him to eliminate [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] from his investigation into [[Sal Pisello]]. Rudnick was told he could pursue a tax case against Pisello but could not call [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] executives as witnesses or determine the exact nature of Pisello's relationship with [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]].[^1] + +[[William Hundley]], retained by [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]], confirmed meeting with Margolis and DeFeo to convey [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]'s willingness to cooperate in any organized crime investigation. Margolis, along with DeFeo, was accused by [[Marvin Rudnick]] of having an agenda to obstruct justice in the [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] investigation. [[Richard Stavin]] confirmed that the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretap revealed a conversation in which [[Eugene Giaquinto]] told [[Martin Bacow]] that he would call [[Edwin Meese]] and have the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]'s investigation of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] stopped. This investigation was indeed shut down afterward by the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]].[^1] + +### Later Career and Controversies + +Margolis figured prominently in the Whitewater investigation during the [[Bill Clinton]] administration and the [[United States Attorney|U.S. attorney]] scandal under President [[George W. Bush]]. In 2010, he drew scrutiny for his decision to spare from punishment two Bush administration lawyers who authored memos justifying the use of enhanced interrogation methods on suspected terrorists. He was defended by 17 former top [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] officials, including attorneys general from both political parties.[^1] + +As Associate Deputy Attorney General, Margolis serves as a key adviser to the department's senior political appointees. He also oversees the interview process for potential [[United States Attorney|U.S. attorneys]], disciplines federal prosecutors, and vets [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] officials. He once described his "eclectic" role as being the department's "cleaner," cleaning up messes.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/David Morehouse.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/David Morehouse.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..184ee270 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/David Morehouse.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: David Morehouse +tags: + - person + - military + - remoteviewer + - author +description: David Morehouse was a U.S. Army officer and remote viewer involved in the Stargate Project, and later an author known for "Psychic Warrior." +--- + +[[David Morehouse]] was a [[U.S. Army]] officer and [[Remote Viewing|remote viewer]] involved in the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]]. He later became an author, known for his book *Psychic Warrior*, which details his experiences with remote viewing and the program. Morehouse's accounts contributed to the public understanding and controversy surrounding the Stargate Project after its declassification.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Dean C. Merrill.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Dean C. Merrill.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f5aa92e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Dean C. Merrill.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is a placeholder and requires extensive additions. + +Worked on the original 1969 team that created [[PROMIS]] under [[Joan E. Jacoby]], [[Charles R. Work]], and [[Bill Hamilton]]. Later became vice-president of [[INSLAW]]. + +He eventually joined [[INSLAW]] as a programmer[^1]. + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: [Witness cooperation : with a handbook of witness management : Cannavale, Frank J](https://archive.org/details/witnesscooperati0000cann/page/n25/mode/2up?q=promis) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Dexter Leitenen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Dexter Leitenen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c5f66f85 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Dexter Leitenen.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Dexter Leitenen]] was an assistant [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] and a close friend of [[Allan Boyak]] from his Green Beret days. He later became the Miami [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]]. Boyak consulted with Leitenen before going to the Los Angeles [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] office with his suspicions about [[Robert Booth Nichols]]' activities.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Dominic Laiti.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Dominic Laiti.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d33e431e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Dominic Laiti.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Dominic Laiti was the Chairman of [[Hadron]], Inc., a company that became central to [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]'s allegations of a conspiracy to steal its [[PROMIS]] software. + +[[Bill Hamilton]], president of Inslaw, claimed that on April 20, 1983, Laiti telephoned him, stating that Hadron needed the PROMIS software for federal government contracts it expected to receive due to its political contacts, including with [[Edwin Meese]]. Hamilton alleged that Laiti expressed Hadron's intention to become a leading vendor of law enforcement and court software, and that Hadron was seeking to purchase [[INSLAW|Inslaw]]. When Hamilton declined to meet, Laiti allegedly threatened, "We have ways of making you sell."[^1] + +Laiti was also involved in a 1983 Hadron fundraising trip to New York, which Hamilton claimed was for the purpose of raising capital to buy PROMIS. Laiti stated that the trip was to raise capital for [[Simeon]], a Hadron subsidiary manufacturing software products for public safety companies, and that the search for capital had nothing to do with acquiring Inslaw or PROMIS. He denied ever discussing the acquisition of PROMIS or Inslaw with [[Paul Wormeli]] or [[Earl Brian]], or mentioning PROMIS or Inslaw at any of the New York meetings. Laiti also denied making any threats to Hamilton about having "ways of making [Hamilton] sell."[^1] + +The Special Counsel's investigation found that Laiti denied making the statements attributed to him by Hamilton. The investigation concluded that Hamilton's affidavit, to the extent it speculated that Laiti traveled to New York to raise money related to Inslaw or PROMIS, was incorrect. There was no evidence from the interviewed individuals that Hadron or Simeon ever had any interest in obtaining Inslaw's software. The report found Laiti's denials convincing and concluded that there was no credible evidence that Hadron ever tried to acquire Inslaw or PROMIS, except for Hamilton's uncorroborated claims.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Don Keach.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Don Keach.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e84c3412 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Don Keach.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Don Keach +tags: + - Person + - Explorer + - Naval Officer +--- +# Don Keach + +Don Keach was a renowned deep-sea explorer and former naval officer. He is famous for his role as the submarine pilot who, in 1966, located a lost hydrogen bomb lying on the ocean floor off the coast of Palomares, Spain, after it was jettisoned from a B-52 bomber during a midair collision[^1]. + +In the fall of 1976, Keach, along with fellow deep-sea explorer [[Don Walsh]], was running the Institute for Marine and Coastal Studies at the [[University of Southern California]]. During a discussion with [[Stephan Schwartz]], a former naval officer interested in psychic research, Keach and Walsh found themselves in a position to assist Schwartz with an ambitious experiment[^1]. + +They were able to provide Schwartz with rare access to the *Taurus I*, a state-of-the-art, five-man submersible, for three days of sea trials. This opportunity was crucial for Schwartz's [[Project Deep Quest]], which aimed to use [[Remote Viewing]] to locate a previously unknown shipwreck on the seafloor. Keach's involvement facilitated the use of the submersible for this unique psychic functioning experiment[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Donald A. Myers.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Donald A. Myers.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5569ad08 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Donald A. Myers.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Donald A. Myers +tags: + - Person + - CIA + - Scientist +--- +Donald A. Myers was a specialist with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] on the biological and health effects of non-ionizing radiation. In July 1975, he was sent to [[Moscow]] to work in secret with [[State Department]] officials regarding the [[Moscow Signal]], a microwave beam aimed at the [[U.S. Embassy in Moscow]] by the [[Soviet Union]][^1]. + +Myers's deployment came two years after a new and more powerful set of Soviet microwave beams (MUTS-2) were picked up by the [[CIA]] in Moscow. His presence indicated the growing concern within the U.S. government about the potential health hazards posed by these signals to embassy personnel[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Donald C. Latham.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Donald C. Latham.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dd149fb5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Donald C. Latham.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Donald C. Latham +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - Military +--- +Donald C. Latham was the Assistant Secretary of Defense. He served as the chairman of the oversight panel for the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Sun Streak]] program, the new code name given to the U.S. government's psychic research program on January 31, 1986[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Donald M. Kerr.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Donald M. Kerr.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9caa625c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Donald M. Kerr.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Donald M. Kerr +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Government Official +--- +Donald M. Kerr was the director of [[Los Alamos National Laboratory]] in [[New Mexico]]. He was a member of the new science panel for the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Sun Streak]] program, which was established on January 31, 1986[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Doug Henning.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Doug Henning.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a17bbe95 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Doug Henning.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Doug Henning +tags: + - Person + - Magician +--- +Doug Henning (1947–2000) was a renowned Canadian magician and illusionist. In 1983, he was one of the most famous magicians in the world, with his *Doug Henning's World of Magic* show holding the record as the most-watched magic show in television history[^1]. + +Henning worked with [[John B. Alexander]] on [[Psychokinesis|psychokinesis]] research, particularly in the context of [[Jack Houck]]'s spoon-bending parties. Alexander invited Henning to attend these parties to provide an expert opinion on whether a group of guests could collectively cheat. Henning was reportedly amazed by the spontaneous bending of a spoon in his manager's hand, which indicated that no physical force was involved[^1]. + +In 1987, at the height of his popularity, Henning quit stage magic, stating he was leaving "illusion magic" for "real magic"—the kind that science could not yet explain. He thereafter focused on [[Transcendental Meditation]] (TM) and began spending much of his time with its founder, [[Maharishi Mahesh Yogi]]. Henning believed that "Magic is something that happens that appears to be impossible... What I call illusion magic uses laws of science and nature that are already known. Real magic uses laws that haven’t yet been discovered"[^1]. + +His death in 1999 from liver cancer led [[James Randi]] to blame the Maharishi, claiming Henning abandoned regular medical treatment for his diet of nuts and berries[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Douglas B. Hudson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Douglas B. Hudson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b7f198ad --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Douglas B. Hudson.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Douglas B. Hudson + - Lieutenant Colonel Douglas B. Hudson +tags: + - Person + - Military + - US Army +--- +Douglas B. Hudson was a Lieutenant Colonel and a commander at [[Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]] Headquarters. He provided a highly positive exit review for [[David Morehouse]], describing him as "Truly outstanding in every respect" and "A rare, talented officer with unbelievable abilities. A true work horse that you want on your team"[^1]. + +This commendation highlights the high regard in which Morehouse was held by his superiors, despite later controversies surrounding his conduct and the eventual downfall of the psychic research program[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Douglas MacArthur.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Douglas MacArthur.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6131a3af --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Douglas MacArthur.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Douglas MacArthur]] was a highly decorated American five-star general who played a prominent role in [[World War II]] and the Korean War. After being relieved of his Korean command by President [[Harry Truman]] in 1951, he embarked on a speaking tour, during which he was accompanied by [[H.L. Hunt]] and supported by [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]].[^1] + +MacArthur was the focus of a "MacArthur-for-president" campaign in 1952, organized by [[H.L. Hunt]] and [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]]. This campaign, though reluctant on MacArthur's part, saw Hunt spending a significant amount of his own money. The campaign eventually dissolved as MacArthur adopted a more strident right-wing rhetoric.[^1] + +Connections were forged during this period, with figures like [[Charles Willoughby]] being a regular part of the MacArthur-Hunt entourage, likely acquainted with [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]]. Research has noted that some of the men who served under General Douglas MacArthur during [[World War II]] later became part of the "[[The Octopus]]" network.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ed Hardy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ed Hardy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e1bdbdc1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ed Hardy.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Ed Hardy]] was the president of [[Curry Company]], the largest concessionaire in Yosemite National Park. He was closely associated with Mariposa County officials, including Mariposa District Attorney [[Bruce Eckerson]], County Assessor [[Steve Dunbar]], and Congressman [[Tony Coelho]]. Hardy and these officials were known for their annual camping trips together, and Hardy was a regular fixture at social events in Mariposa. The local townsfolk encouraged these connections, as much of Mariposa's tax base came from Curry Company.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edgar Mitchell.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edgar Mitchell.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8a7fb091 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edgar Mitchell.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Edgar Mitchell +tags: + - person + - astronaut + - scientist + - parapsychologist +description: Edgar Mitchell was an American astronaut, Apollo 14 lunar module pilot, and a prominent advocate for psychic research and consciousness studies. +--- +Edgar Mitchell was an American astronaut, best known as the lunar module pilot for Apollo 14, making him the sixth person to walk on the Moon. Following his NASA career, Mitchell became a prominent advocate for psychic research and consciousness studies, founding the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS).[^1] + +Mitchell was a strong believer in psi phenomena and was involved in the early stages of the U.S. government's psychic research programs. He was present during some of [[Uri Geller]]'s tests at [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI), even driving Geller while blindfolded in a demonstration of Geller's alleged abilities.[^1] + +He also funded [[Andrija Puharich]]'s efforts to bring Geller to the United States through a grant from his Institute of Noetic Sciences. Mitchell also suggested that [[Ingo Swann]] look for [[Patty Hearst]] using remote viewing, though Swann was ultimately unsuccessful.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edward Hurley.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edward Hurley.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fa96adb6 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edward Hurley.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Edward Hurley was a Vice President at [[Hadron]], Inc., in charge of its criminal justice systems work. + +[[Bill Hamilton]]'s affidavit alleged that in June 1985, Hurley told [[Theresa Bousquin]] that he did not believe [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] would survive a Chapter 11 bankruptcy and that Hadron wanted to acquire [[INSLAW|Inslaw]]'s "court software" to complement its law enforcement software. Hamilton also noted that Hurley resigned from Hadron in August 1985, the month after the U.S. Bankruptcy Court issued a confidentiality order sealing Inslaw's proprietary and customer information from the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]], and that Hadron divested itself of its law enforcement software in the fall of 1985.[^1] + +Theresa Bousquin, a current [as of the time of the report] Inslaw employee, confirmed that she interviewed with Hurley in 1985. She mentioned to Hurley that she was offered a position at Inslaw, and Hurley responded that he also doubted Inslaw could survive bankruptcy. According to Bousquin, Hurley told her that Inslaw was the only real vendor for court systems and had good technology. Bousquin stated that Hurley added words to the effect of "it would be nice to get one's hands on that software." However, Bousquin did not identify any statements Hurley made about any active effort by Hadron to acquire Inslaw, and it was her impression that his remark about the software was made in passing conversation.[^1] + +The Special Counsel's investigation concluded that Hamilton's affidavit proved inaccurate regarding Hurley's statements. The investigation found that nothing about Bousquin's statement suggested an effort by Hadron to acquire Inslaw or [[PROMIS]], and that Hurley's remarks were not indicative of a conspiracy.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edward Levinson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edward Levinson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b0717f51 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edward Levinson.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Edward Levinson]] was a Las Vegas gambler and a lieutenant of Florida mobster [[Meyer Lansky]]. His Fremont Hotel in Las Vegas was financed through a [[Jimmy Hoffa|Hoffa]] loan. Levinson was one of the associates who brought a lawsuit against [[Bobby Baker]] in 1963, alleging that Baker failed to live up to certain bargains. Through Baker, Levinson also became acquainted with [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edward Meyer.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edward Meyer.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d47e05a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edward Meyer.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Edward Meyer +tags: + - person + - military + - general +description: Edward C. "Shy" Meyer was the U.S. Army Chief of Staff who supported the Stargate Project. +--- + +[[Edward Meyer]] (Edward C. "Shy" Meyer) was the [[U.S. Army]] Chief of Staff during the early years of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]]. He tacitly supported the program, along with [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]] commander [[William Rolya]] and Secretary of the Army [[Clifford Alexander]]. His support, though not always overt, contributed to the project's ability to continue operating despite its controversial nature and minimal budget.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edwin May.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edwin May.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6ee8d86f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edwin May.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Edwin May +tags: + - person + - scientist + - parapsychologist + - researcher +description: Edwin May was a physicist and parapsychologist who served as the principal investigator and later gatekeeper of the Stargate Project in its later years. +--- + +[[Edwin May]] was a physicist and [[Parapsychology|parapsychologist]] who became a principal investigator and later the gatekeeper of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]] in its later years. He was involved when most of the contracting for the program was transferred to [[Science Applications International Corporation|SAIC]] in 1991. May played a significant role in the scientific direction and management of the remote viewing program during its final phase before declassification.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edwin Meese.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edwin Meese.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2f54919f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Edwin Meese.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Edwin Meese]] was an associate of [[Earl Brian]] and served as [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] during the [[Ronald Reagan]] administration. He is linked to the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] and the alleged efforts to sell stolen software for covert government operations.[^1] + +[[William Bradford Reynolds]], Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division, stated that [[Lowell Jensen]]'s secretary brought a letter to him for signature because Jensen was out of the building, the letter needed to be sent that day, and it needed to be signed by someone in Edwin Meese's inner circle. Reynolds signed the letter, which advised that the [[PROMIS]] software was being provided to an Arab Sheik for resale and general distribution. Reynolds also had a vague recollection that Meese recused himself on [[PROMIS]] when he became [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] in February 1985, and Jensen therefore had to handle [[PROMIS]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Eugene Holley.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Eugene Holley.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..944e9bf3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Eugene Holley.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Politician", "Criminal"] +--- +Eugene Holley was a former [[Georgia]] state senator who introduced [[Bert Lance]] to [[Agha Hasan Abedi]].[^1] He was the first person prosecuted under the [[Foreign Corrupt Practices Act]] for paying bribes in [[Qatar]].[^2] + +### Legal Issues and BCCI Connections + +Holley was convicted of bank fraud in 1980 and sentenced to ten years in jail.[^3] He had set up a [[Cayman Islands|Cayman]] oil company and accumulated a $17 million debt, from which Abedi bailed him out.[^4] + +In October 1977, Holley arranged a meeting between Bert Lance and [[BCCI]] chieftains Abedi and [[Swaleh Naqvi]] at [[New York]]'s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.[^5] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 9. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 179. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 179. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 179. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 180. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Eugene Lessman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Eugene Lessman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..58ead6fd --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Eugene Lessman.md @@ -0,0 +1,39 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Eugene Lessman + - Gene Lessman +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Operations Officer +--- + +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> Need additional time to complete research. This page is a placeholder as we sort Eugene out. + +Eugene “Gene” Alden Lessman was an important recruiter for “spooky” work for the [[U.S. Army]] according to [[Luis Elizondo]] in his 2024 book, *Imminent*. Lessman was also known as John James Kielty[^2] and passed away in 2019. He, like his father before him, spent much of his career in military intelligence. + +Gene served three tours in [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]] (Dec 1966 - 1973[^5]) and was part of the [[Special Operations Group]] (SOG) and a [[Green Beret]] partaking in ops such as [[Project Phoenix]].[^1] + +Following his tours in Vietnam for which he received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Air Medal with Valor, Gene was posted in Berlin where he ran counter intelligence operations[^3]. + +Eventually Gene retired after 20 years in the army and he then spent 20 years in civil service.[^4] + +Gene allegedly recruited Lue Elizondo to the [[Great Skill Program]] to practice [[Remote Viewing]]. Lue claims “Great Skill[s]” [sic] was also called “Grey Fox” according to Gene, but that seems to be a different program (and actually spelled [[GRAY FOX]]) within the [[United States Army Intelligence Support Activity]] (USAISA or ISA) under the [[Joint Special Operations Command]] (JSOC). + +Lue further claims that Gene was tasked with recruiting soldiers into [[STARGATE PROJECT]]. + +Starting in November 1986, Lessman took turns monitoring [[Angela Dellafiora]], one of the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]]'s most effective remote viewers. He attempted to curtail Dellafiora's "occult habits," such as her voice quivering and body shaking during sessions, by implementing a new protocol where he would command "refocus" to get her to regain control[^6]. + +In one notable session, Lessman tasked Dellafiora with remotely viewing the [[Stanford Dish]]. Despite his attempts to control her, Dellafiora quickly and accurately described the target, demonstrating her exceptional abilities. Lessman's official logs reveal his awe at her performance, noting her speed and the specificity of her details[^6]. +### Blog +Gene kept a blog entitled [A Boy from Dundrum](https://boyfromdundrum.blogspot.com/). + +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: *Imminent*, Lue Elizondo, 2024, p32 +[^2]: [Obituary](https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2019/12/16/news/patrick-kielty-travels-to-washington-dc-for-funeral-of-war-hero-uncle-1791584/) +[^3]: [Belfast Telegraph Obituary](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/patrick-kielty-bids-farewell-to-us-war-hero-uncle/38788315.html) +[^4]: [Some Things That Torgue My Converter](https://boyfromdundrum.blogspot.com/2011/03/some-things-that-torgue-my-converter.html) +[^5]: [As I Recall](https://boyfromdundrum.blogspot.com/2010/11/as-i-recall.html) +[^6]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Fawn Hall.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Fawn Hall.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6882b866 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Fawn Hall.md @@ -0,0 +1,9 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - USA +--- +[[Fawn Hall]] was the secretary to [[Oliver North]] during the [[Iran-Contra Affair]]. She is the daughter of [[Wilma Hall]], who was the secretary to [[Robert McFarlane]] at the [[National Security Council]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Fazle Haq.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Fazle Haq.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c229a5f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Fazle Haq.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Military", "Pakistan", "Drug Trafficking"] +--- +Fazle Haq was a Pakistani general who smuggled U.S. supplies through [[Pakistan]]'s North-West Frontier Province into [[Afghanistan]].[^1] He was appointed governor of Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province in 1978.[^2] + +### Role in Drug Trafficking and Afghan War + +Haq became more powerful after the arrival of the [[Khomeini]] regime in [[Iran]].[^3] Drugs smuggled from Afghanistan through Iran began to come through Pakistan, which increased Haq's power.[^4] The funds generated by narcotics trafficking were put into the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]].[^5] + +During the [[Zia ul-Haq|Zia]] presidency, the U.S. deep-sixed information about Haq because he was considered a key figure in the supply of arms for the Afghan rebels, with his district being a primary route for smuggling.[^6] The U.S. government was aware of Haq's involvement in the drug trade.[^7] + +When [[Benazir Bhutto]] ordered Haq's arrest, she aimed to demonstrate action against the drug problem.[^8] However, the charges against him disappeared after the generals removed Bhutto from power.[^9] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 9. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 71. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 71. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 71. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 71. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 75. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 71. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 75. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 75. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ferdinand Marcos.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ferdinand Marcos.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d0c0b351 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ferdinand Marcos.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Ferdinand Marcos]] was the exiled President of the [[Philippines]]. His widow, [[Imelda Marcos]], was acquitted of racketeering and fraud alongside [[Adnan Khashoggi]] in 1990.[^1] + +[[Robert Booth Nichols]] reportedly laundered between $50-200 million for Ferdinand Marcos.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Frank McCoy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Frank McCoy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b577649f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Frank McCoy.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Frank McCoy]] was a deputy appointed by Sheriff [[Ken Mattheys]] to handle the internal affairs aspect of the investigation into [[Ron Van Meter]]'s disappearance. McCoy was a former cop from the Southern [[California]] area.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Fred L. Lander III.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Fred L. Lander III.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a5b05b8e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Fred L. Lander III.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +Fred L. Lander III was born on April 19, 1927, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict before pursuing his education in law. In 1952, he earned his Juris Doctorate Degree from Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C. + +He worked as a classroom teacher, operated an independent real estate and insurance business, and held an administrative position with the Port of New York Authority. He also served as a Hearing Officer with the New York State Department of Labor. + +Lander dedicated 30 years of his career to the Federal Government, working at the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Power Commission, the National Archives and Records Service, and the Department of Justice's [[LEAA]]. + +Fred was part of the original 1969 team creating [[PROMIS]] with [[Joan E. Jacoby]], [[Charles R. Work]], and [[Bill Hamilton]] as part of the [[Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia]] where he was an Assistant Director. + +He later served with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission until his retirement on April 16, 1987. During this time, he also worked as a Crime Analyst and Executive Director of the Pilot District Police Community Relations Project for the District of Columbia and was appointed an Administrative Law Judge for the Civil Service Commission in Dallas, Texas. + +Lander was a member of numerous professional organizations, including the National Bar Association, the J.L. Turner Legal Association, the Dallas County Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, and the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice, holding life memberships in several of these organizations. + +Alongside his professional commitments, Lander was involved in community service. He held memberships and board positions including the Dallas Urban League, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), OMEGA PSI PHI Fraternity, Inc., Paul Drayton Lodge No. 9 of the Free and Accepted Masons, Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, Howard University Alumni Association, Progressive Voters League of Dallas, Regular Fellows Club, and Glen Oaks Homeowners Association. + +Lander's served on the boards of the Community Council of Greater Dallas, the North Texas Legal Services Foundation, the Dallas Office of the Opportunities Industrialization Center, the Park South YMCA, the Pylon Business Club, the Dallas Cable Board, and the Dallas Citizens Police Review Board. He was also a Charter Advisor and participant of the C.A.W. Clark Legal Clinic. + +He was a 50-year member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and received their Man of the Year Award in 1977. The J.L. Turner Legal Association honored him with the President's Award for Outstanding Service in 1983 and the C.B. Bunkley Legal Service Award in 1989. The Dallas Urban League also recognized his contributions with the Board Service Award in 1993 and the Whitney Young Award in 1995. + +Lander was certified to practice law before all Courts in the State of Texas, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. + +Fred L. Lander III passed away in 2001. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Frederick A. Lindemann.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Frederick A. Lindemann.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3cfb56da --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Frederick A. Lindemann.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - UK +--- +Frederick A. Lindemann, later Lord Cherwell, was a German-born Oxford scientist who became [[Winston Churchill]]'s chief science adviser in the years before World War II. He came to know [[Ernst David Bergmann]] and [[Chaim Weizmann]] during this period.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/George Lawrence.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/George Lawrence.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..507ee07f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/George Lawrence.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - George Lawrence +tags: + - Person + - Military + - ARPA +--- +George Lawrence was an [[ARPA]] project manager who, along with two civilian psychologists, [[Robert Van de Castle]] and [[Ray Hyman]], traveled to [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] to test [[Uri Geller]]'s purported psychic abilities. Their conclusion, later reported in *Time* magazine, was that anyone who believed in Geller's powers was falling for the "ridiculous"[^1]. + +Lawrence expressed concern that [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]]'s "own experimental bias in favor of successful outcomes is undermining their objectivity in properly controlled experimental procedures." He opined that Puthoff and Targ were guilty of the same three claims [[Martin Gardner]] had leveled against [[J. B. Rhine]]'s research: loose laboratory controls, skewing of data, and the premise that the attitude of the scientists could negatively influence the subject[^1]. + +Lawrence told *Time* editor [[Leon Jaroff]] that Geller was a "charlatan" and encouraged the magazine to write an exposé. This unauthorized communication with a reporter was a violation of his security clearance, leading to an investigation by the [[CIA]]. Despite Lawrence's denial of having talked to *Time*, Jaroff insisted otherwise[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Gerald Lewis.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Gerald Lewis.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5928070c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Gerald Lewis.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Government Official", "BCCI"] +--- +Gerald Lewis was the [[Florida]] state comptroller who refused to renew [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]]'s license to operate in the state after the 1990 Tampa money-laundering conviction.[^1] +### Role in BCCI Regulation + +Lewis's decision to shut down BCCI's operations in Florida was a direct response to the bank's money-laundering conviction. He received letters from [[Charles Saphos]], Chief of the Criminal Division Narcotics section of the [[U.S. Department of Justice]], requesting that BCCI be allowed to remain open.[^2] Lewis, however, maintained that the bank had to comply with all legal requirements, including those related to felony convictions.[^3] + +Lewis's actions ultimately led to the closure of BCCI's branches in Florida.[^4] +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 10. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 88. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 375. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 374. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Gerard Messadié.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Gerard Messadié.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..50a9b007 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Gerard Messadié.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Gérald Messadié +tags: + - person + - author + - journalist + - Editor +--- + +Gérald Messadié was the editor of *Science et Vie*, a top French science journal. In February 1960, his journal published an expanded version of [[Jacques Bergier]]'s story about a secret government [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] program, titled "The Secret of the Nautilus"[^1]. + +Messadié stated in an interview that his information for the article came from Bergier and "other sources," who confirmed the story on condition of anonymity. The article identified [[J. B. Rhine]] of the [[Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory]] as the civilian scientist assigned to the project, reporting a high success rate for telepathic communication[^1]. + +Despite the [[U.S. Navy]]'s denial of the story as a hoax, Messadié's publication contributed to the widespread attention given to the alleged ESP experiments aboard the [[USS Nautilus]]. This, in turn, had significant real-world consequences, as the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]] used the news to stimulate their own [[Parapsychology|parapsychology]] research. [[Leonid L. Vasilev]], Russia's leading ESP researcher, claimed that Soviet parapsychology research was stimulated by the *Nautilus* reports[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Glen Heggstad.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Glen Heggstad.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7dfc636d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Glen Heggstad.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Glen Heggstad]] is a local businessman who founded Coachella Valley Judo and Jiu-Jitsu in Palm Desert. He is also a self-proclaimed former [[Hells Angels]] biker. Heggstad was accused by the [[California Attorney General's Office|California Attorney General's Office]] of conspiring to murder [[Fred Alvarez]], the Cabazon Indian vice chairman.[^1] + +According to the State Attorney General's office, [[Jimmy Hughes]] offered to hire Heggstad to murder Alvarez, who was going to "blow the whistle" on illegal weapons manufacturing deals signed off by Cabazon tribal leadership. Heggstad claimed he cooperated with detectives, telling them Hughes told him that he had murdered Alvarez, but Heggstad denied any involvement in the plot to kill three people.[^1] + +Heggstad is also known as an adventure rider and author of the book *Two Wheels Through Terror*, which chronicles his experience of being captured and tortured by Colombian Rebels during a cross-continent motorcycle ride. He was featured in a *National Geographic Channel* segment about his 2001 escape from [[Colombia]].[^1] + +After being accused of murder conspiracy, Heggstad provided [[Nathan Baca]] with a book he had written, autographed with a note urging Baca to seek the truth and keep an open mind, as "just because a cop or prosecutor says something, doesn't make it true."[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Golda Meir.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Golda Meir.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..47f8a339 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Golda Meir.md @@ -0,0 +1,39 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Israel +--- +[[Golda Meir]] was a prominent [[Israel|Israeli]] politician who served as Foreign Minister and later as Prime Minister, playing crucial roles in [[Israel]]'s diplomatic relations, nuclear policy decisions, and regional strategic calculations during some of the most critical periods in the nation's history. + +### Rise to Foreign Minister and Nuclear Policy + +In 1956, [[Golda Meir]] replaced [[Moshe Sharett]] as Foreign Minister, bringing her distinctive approach to [[Israel]]'s international relations. She endorsed [[David Ben-Gurion]]'s argument for preventive war, aligning herself with the more hawkish elements within the government. However, despite her official position as Foreign Minister, her ministry was repeatedly bypassed by Ben-Gurion, [[Shimon Peres]], [[Moshe Dayan]], and [[Ernst David Bergmann]] as [[Israel]] broadened its involvement with [[France]] in nuclear matters. This pattern of exclusion from the most sensitive nuclear discussions reflected the tight circle of decision-makers who controlled [[Israel]]'s most classified programs.[^2] + +### Diplomatic Initiatives and International Relations + +As Foreign Minister, [[Golda Meir|Meir]] was instrumental in expanding [[Israel]]'s diplomatic footprint during a crucial period of nation-building. She pushed for the exchange of diplomatic relations between [[Israel]] and [[Germany]] in the late 1950s, a politically sensitive initiative given the recent history of the Holocaust. Additionally, she worked to open relations with [[Paraguay]], demonstrating [[Israel]]'s efforts to build ties beyond its immediate region and traditional allies.[^1] + +### Jordan Relations and Palestinian Policy + +Meir's approach to regional politics was shaped by her personal relationships and strategic calculations. In 1948, she formed a friendship with [[King Abdullah of Jordan|King Abdullah]] of [[Jordan]], and both leaders believed the Palestinian problem would eventually resolve itself—a view that would prove overly optimistic in subsequent decades.[^1] + +This perspective influenced a critical decision during her later tenure. Her choice to mobilize the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] against the [[Syria|Syrians]] in 1970, during a crisis with the [[PLO]] in [[Jordan]], had far-reaching consequences. While this action prevented the establishment of a Palestinian state in [[Jordan]] and kept [[King Hussein of Jordan|King Hussein]] in power, it also represented a complex strategic calculation. The intervention pleased the [[USA|Americans]] by preventing a threat to [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi]] oilfields, but was seen by some as a major setback for [[Israel|Israel's]] long-term strategic interest in a Palestinian state.[^1] + +### Prime Ministerial Challenges and Intelligence Vulnerabilities + +During her tenure as Prime Minister, Meir faced significant intelligence challenges that would have lasting implications for [[Israel]]'s security. In 1972, her office was bugged by the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]], a serious security breach discovered by [[Reuben Yirador]] of [[Unit 8200]]. This bugging operation, combined with her meeting with [[Leonid Brezhnev]] in [[Finland]] and her rejection of his peace proposal, provided [[Anwar Sadat]] with crucial intelligence about [[Israel|Israel's]] attitude toward potential negotiations. This intelligence may have contributed to Sadat's decision to launch the 1973 war, as he gained insight into [[Israel]]'s diplomatic positions and strategic thinking.[^1] + +### The Yom Kippur War and Nuclear Alert + +During the desperate early days of the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], on Monday, October 8, [[Golda Meir]] convened her closest aides, the "kitchen cabinet," in her office in [[Tel Aviv]]. Faced with the imminent collapse of Israeli forces, the leadership resolved to implement three critical decisions: rally its collapsing forces for a major counterattack; arm and target its nuclear arsenal in the event of total collapse and subsequent need for the [[Samson Option]]; and inform [[Washington D.C.]] of its unprecedented nuclear action to demand an emergency airlift of replacement arms and ammunition. Meir, who chain-smoked and slept very little during the early stages of the war, was reportedly confused and concerned by [[Moshe Dayan]]'s report of imminent collapse. The decision to arm the weapons of last resort, code-named the "Temple" weapons, was reached easily, though there were more complicated discussions about the number of warheads to arm and their targeting. An Israeli assumption was that the Soviets, who would learn of the nuclear arming, would then be compelled to urge their allies in [[Egypt]] and [[Syria]] to limit their offensive. This drastic step also aimed to force the [[United States]] to begin an immediate and massive resupply of the Israeli military.[^3] + +### Political Controversies + +Meir's leadership style and decisions also generated internal criticism within [[Israel]]'s military establishment. She was publicly criticized by [[Ariel Sharon]] in a _Playboy_ magazine interview, a breach of military protocol that had serious consequences. This public criticism led to Sharon being thrown out of the military in 1970, demonstrating the strict standards for military discipline and public discourse that Meir enforced during her tenure.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. _Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network_. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. +[^3]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Guy Mollet.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Guy Mollet.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..29c2215b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Guy Mollet.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - France +--- +Guy Mollet was a French politician who served as Prime Minister of [[France]] from 1956 to 1957. His socialist government took a harder line on the war in [[Algeria]] and against Arab leaders like [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]] who supported the revolutionaries. [[Israel]], which was intensively waging guerrilla war against [[Egypt]], was seen as one of [[France]]'s most dependable allies during his tenure.[^1] + +Mollet agreed in 1955 to begin secretly selling high-performance French bombers to [[Israel]], with sales arranged by [[Shimon Peres]] directly between defense ministries, bypassing diplomatic channels. Arms continued to flow from [[France]] to [[Israel]] for the next twelve years.[^1] + +Mollet was deeply involved in the secret planning for the [[Suez Crisis]] in 1956, alongside [[Israel]] and [[Britain]]. After the British and French ceased fire under pressure from the [[United States]] and the [[Soviet Union]], Mollet felt a sense of guilt and shame for [[France]]'s failure to uphold its commitments to [[Israel]]. This led him to agree to help [[Israel]] build a nuclear reactor and chemical reprocessing plant, a deal he reportedly felt he "owed" to them. He also formally cleared the way for the French nuclear weapons program by establishing a committee on the military use of atomic energy.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/H.L. Hunt.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/H.L. Hunt.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5e009d1b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/H.L. Hunt.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[H.L. Hunt]] was a prominent Texas oilman, described as being cut from the same political cloth as [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]]. He was a key organizer of the pro-[[Douglas MacArthur|MacArthur]] forces in Texas. Hunt accompanied [[Douglas MacArthur|MacArthur]] on a flight to Texas for a speaking tour after MacArthur was relieved of his Korean command by President [[Harry Truman]] in 1951.[^1] + +Hunt and [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]] were the chief organizers of the pro-[[Douglas MacArthur|MacArthur]] movement in Texas. Hunt went on to establish a MacArthur-for-president headquarters in Chicago, spending $150,000 of his own money on the general's reluctant 1952 presidential campaign. This campaign eventually faltered as MacArthur adopted the strident rhetoric of the right wing.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hans Mayers.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hans Mayers.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..05acc5bb --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hans Mayers.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - Scientist + - Germany +--- +[[Hans Mayers]] was a German national who served as the director of [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen Industries]]' chemical plant in [[Paraguay]]. He presented the facility as an "agricultural project" producing insecticide, despite its true nature as a chemical weapons plant.[^1] + +In September 1988, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] visited the plant and met [[Hans Mayers|Mayers]], who attempted to conceal the true purpose of the facility. [[Hans Mayers|Mayers]] stated that the product was sent to [[Chile]] and then to [[Iraq]] for agricultural projects, and confirmed [[Ihsan Barbouti|Barbouti's]] involvement as a joint venture partner, with materials sourced from [[Florida]] and [[Texas]].[^1] + +[[Hans Mayers|Mayers]] was later identified as one of the 19 individuals eliminated in late 1988 by [[Mossad]] hit squads, composed of unsuspecting Palestinians, as part of an [[Israel|Israeli]] operation to stop the flow of chemical weapons technology to [[Iraq]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Harold Bredesen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Harold Bredesen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..902e3d69 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Harold Bredesen.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Harold Bredesen]] was a member of FGBMFI ([[Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International]]). In 1970, he, along with [[Pat Boone]], [[Shirley Boone]], and [[George Otis]], prayed with then-California Governor [[Ronald Reagan]] at his home in Sacramento.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Harold Okimoto.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Harold Okimoto.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5012b475 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Harold Okimoto.md @@ -0,0 +1,9 @@ +[[Harold Okimoto]] is a figure linked to [[Robert Booth Nichols]] and alleged organized crime activities, particularly the [[Yakuza]]. He is described as a 67-year-old car dealer in Hawaii and believed by some sources to be a top Japanese organized crime figure based in Hawaii, acting as a top agent in the [[Yakuza]] overseas.[1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that [[Robert Booth Nichols]] was under Okimoto's influence and referred to Nichols as Okimoto's "god-son." Okimoto was also represented as an intelligence person who had worked under [[Frank Carlucci]] for years, and reportedly performed services for the [[United States Government|U.S. government]] during [[World War II]], for which he was rewarded.[1] + +Okimoto's company, [[Island Tobacco]], was said to sell cigarettes at the Casino du Liban, which was controlled by the [[Syria|Syrian]] mob and used as a front by narcotics people.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Harry Jones.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Harry Jones.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..16609357 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Harry Jones.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Harry Jones was an Assistant U.S. Trustee in the Southern District of New York. He became involved in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] allegations concerning the attempted conversion of [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]'s bankruptcy case. + +[[Anthony Pasciuto]] alleged that [[Thomas Stanton]], Director of the Executive Office of U.S. Trustees (EOUST), tried to detail Jones to [[Philip White]]'s office in Washington D.C. to work on converting the Inslaw case from Chapter 11 reorganization to Chapter 7 liquidation. [[Cornelius Blackshear]] initially testified that White had told him of Stanton's pressure to have Jones assigned to the case. Bankruptcy Judge Bason, in his findings, concluded that Stanton sought to have Jones detailed to accomplish the conversion when White resisted Stanton's pressure. The Special Counsel's investigation found that Stanton did consider transferring Jones to assist in the Inslaw matter, but denied that Jones was to be assigned to effect a conversion. Stanton testified he wanted Jones to set up the creditors' committee and conduct the first meeting of creditors due to the matter's likely publicity, and that Blackshear had told him his office was too busy to spare Jones. Jones himself testified that he was never requested by anyone, including Stanton, to go to Washington to work on the [[INSLAW]] case. The Special Counsel's investigation found no evidence to the contrary and concluded that the inference that Jones was to be used to file a baseless motion to convert was unreasonable, given Jones's reputation for integrity and expertise in bankruptcy matters.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hashemi brothers.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hashemi brothers.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..03f8bfc0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hashemi brothers.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +tags: + - Group + - Business + - Iran + - USA +--- +The [[Hashemi brothers]] were a trio of [[Iran|Iranian]] brothers living in the [[USA|West]] who claimed to have connections in [[Iran]] with [[Ahmed Khomeini]], the son of [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini]]. They offered their services to the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration to help secure the release of the [[USA|American]] hostages held in [[Tehran]].[^1] + +The brothers, [[Cyrus Hashemi]], [[Jamshid Hashemi]], and [[Reza Hashemi]], also claimed to be cousins of the influential [[Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani|Hojjat El-Islam Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani]]. They made a significant amount of money in arms sales, using their influence with the [[White House]] to sell small quantities of military equipment to the [[Iran|Iranians]], supposedly to gain goodwill for the release of the hostages.[^1] + +Their [[Tehran]] contact, [[Iran Najd Rankuni]], was connected with the [[Iranian Revolutionary Guards]] but did not have direct access to the Supreme Council, which made it impossible for them to set up a serious dialogue between the [[USA|Americans]] and the [[Iran|Iranians]] for the hostages' release. The [[Hashemi brothers]] could not promise major arms sales through the [[Israel|Israelis]], which limited their effectiveness.[^1] + +After the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] administration took office in 1981 and the hostages were released, the [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs]] began investigating the [[Hashemi brothers]]. In 1984, they were indicted under the [[Arms Export Control Act]] for the illegal sale of weapons to [[Iran]]. [[Cyrus Hashemi|Cyrus]] and [[Jamshid Hashemi|Jamshid]] were tipped off and escaped the [[USA|U.S.]], but [[Reza Hashemi|Reza]] was arrested and became a hostage himself. His elder brothers then negotiated with [[United States Customs Service|Customs]] to become informants against the [[Iran|Iranian]] exile community in [[Europe]] and the [[USA|United States]].[^1] + +[[Cyrus Hashemi|Cyrus]] was later used by [[Oliver North]] and [[USA|U.S.]] Customs in a sting operation to entrap individuals connected with [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence arms sales to [[Iran]]. [[Cyrus Hashemi|Cyrus]] was found dead in his [[London]] apartment, with his death attributed to a sudden case of virulent leukemia, though [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence suspected foul play.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Heinrich Himmler.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Heinrich Himmler.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7096a0ba --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Heinrich Himmler.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Heinrich Himmler +tags: + - person + - Nazi + - government +description: Heinrich Himmler was a leading member of the Nazi Party of Germany and a main architect of the Holocaust. +--- + +[[Heinrich Himmler]] was a leading member of the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi Party]] of Germany and a main architect of the Holocaust. As Reichsführer-SS, he was one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany.[^1] + +Himmler had a deep and abiding interest in the occult and the supernatural. He founded the [[Ahnenerbe]], a research institute dedicated to proving the superiority of the Aryan race through archaeological and cultural research, as well as the study of paranormal phenomena. Himmler's belief in the power of the occult led him to support research into areas like [[ESP]], astrology, and dowsing, with the aim of using these abilities for military and political advantage. His activities in this area are considered a key factor in the post-war interest in psychic phenomena by both the [[United States]] and the [[Soviet Union]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hella Hammid.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hella Hammid.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2b997ae8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hella Hammid.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Hella Hammid +tags: + - Person + - Psychic + - Photographer +--- +# Hella Hammid + +Hella Hammid was a professional photographer and psychic who participated in [[Project Deep Quest]], a unique psychic functioning experiment conducted in the summer of 1977. She joined the [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] team, including [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Dale Graff]], and worked alongside [[Ingo Swann]] and [[Stephan Schwartz]][^1]. + +Hammid, along with Swann, was tasked with locating a previously unidentified shipwreck on the seafloor near Catalina Island using [[Map Dowsing]]. She would "sort of look at the map not as much with my eyes as sort of get the feeling of it," and mark locations where she sensed a wreck. Her marks, along with Swann's, were used to pinpoint a single target for the *Taurus I* submersible[^1]. + +For the classified [[U.S. Air Force]] project within Deep Quest, Hammid was placed inside the submerged *Taurus I*, 500 feet underwater and 375 miles away. She quickly identified which photograph, from a set of six sealed envelopes, was correct, indicating the location of Puthoff and Graff who were acting as a beacon on land. This demonstrated her ability to perform long-distance [[Remote Viewing]] in a challenging environment[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Henry Belk.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Henry Belk.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f5462b5a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Henry Belk.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Henry Belk +tags: + - Person + - Benefactor + - Businessman +--- +# Henry Belk + +Henry Belk was a department store tycoon and a wealthy benefactor of [[Andrija Puharich]]'s research into [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and other anomalous mental phenomena. He was part of the elite circle of individuals who supported the [[Round Table Foundation]] in Maine[^1]. + +Belk was one of the wealthy individuals who joined the [[Round Table Foundation]], flying to Maine in his private jet for foundation meetings. His financial contributions helped keep the foundation afloat, particularly after it gained prestige from its affiliation with [[Samuel Rosen]]'s groundbreaking surgical procedure[^1]. + +In the spring of 1956, Belk happened upon a *Paris Match* magazine article profiling [[Peter Hurkos]], a Dutch psychic who was gaining fame in Europe. Belk's idea was to bring Hurkos to the [[Round Table Foundation]] to be tested in the lab, which he did in the fall of 1956[^1]. + +In early 1963, Belk arrived at Puharich's Ossining estate with an enticing research proposition centered on [[Arigo]], a psychic healer in the jungles of Brazil who reportedly performed major surgeries with a pocketknife without anesthesia or pain. Puharich, eager to pursue this, left for Brazil with Belk, a decision that led to [[Bep Hermans]] and their children leaving him[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Henry K. Beecher.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Henry K. Beecher.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f2a14048 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Henry K. Beecher.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Henry K. Beecher +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Physician +--- +Henry K. Beecher (1904–1976) was a controversial anesthesiologist who, for the [[CIA]] in the 1950s, studied the [[Placebo Effect]]. The placebo effect is a remarkable phenomenon whereby a harmless pill or simulated treatment produces real-world physiological effects in humans[^1]. + +Beecher's work contributed to the understanding of how perception of an event or a situation—real or imagined, rational or irrational—can cause consequential actions to occur. This concept is also related to the [[Thomas Theorem]], which states that "if men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences"[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Henry R. Myers.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Henry R. Myers.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..abd1d855 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Henry R. Myers.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Investigator + - USA +--- +Henry R. Myers was a specialist on energy issues for the House Subcommittee on Energy. He, along with [[Peter D. Stockton]], spent nearly fifteen years relaying the suspicions of [[Carl E. Duckett]] and [[John L. Hadden]] to journalists as the views of knowledgeable intelligence sources, leading many reporters to publish these beliefs as "facts." Myers believed that [[Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation|NUMEC]] had been set up solely for the diversion of uranium, and alleged reports of a secure telephone or teletype between NUMEC and the Israeli embassy. He also claimed that [[Richard M. Helms]] believed [[Zalman Mordecai Shapiro]] was the head of a group collecting information for [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 18. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Herbert Alwyn Smith.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Herbert Alwyn Smith.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6d77578e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Herbert Alwyn Smith.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - ArmsDealer + - UK +--- +[[Herbert Alwyn Smith]] was a convicted British arms dealer. He contacted [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] through an informant in early 1991, while [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] was in [[Lexington]], [[Kentucky]].[^1] + +[[Herbert Alwyn Smith|Smith]], acting on behalf of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], offered [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] a deal: $2 million and [[USA|U.S.]] citizenship in exchange for his silence and a signed statement that he had no legal claims or allegations against the [[USA|U.S.]] government. [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] received a letter of credit for the amount but did not accept the deal.[^1] + +[[Herbert Alwyn Smith|Smith]] visited [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] in [[Australia]] five times over the next year. He also arranged for [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] to meet with [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] officials in [[Ireland]] in August 1991 and with [[Robert Maxwell]] in the [[Soviet Union]] the same month. The purpose of these meetings was to try to get [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] to hand over control of part of the slush fund to the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]].[^1] + +[[Herbert Alwyn Smith|Smith]] died in March 1992, purportedly of a heart attack, ten days after leaving [[Sydney]], [[Australia]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Herman F. Mark.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Herman F. Mark.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3b1a306c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Herman F. Mark.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Chemist +--- +Herman F. Mark was an Austrian chemist who became an eminent figure in polymer science. He was a colleague of [[Ernst David Bergmann]] at the Emil Fischer Institute of the University of Berlin in the early 1920s, where they worked together and published joint papers on the chemical structure of rubber, paint, and adhesives.[^1] + +Mark was driven out of Europe in 1938 by the Nazis and eventually became dean of faculty at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, turning it into a haven for Jewish refugees, including [[Chaim Weizmann]]. He remained a close friend and colleague of [[Ernst David Bergmann]], sharing Bergmann's view on the inevitability of Israeli nuclear weapons research. Mark believed that whether it was for desalination, power, or a bomb, nuclear energy still involved fission, and that [[Israel]] needed to be fully cognizant of nuclear physics.[^1] + +Mark became a constant commuter between Brooklyn and [[Israel]] after World War II, serving on planning boards and as a scientific adviser to the fledgling [[Weizmann Institute of Science]]. He insisted that without Bergmann, there would have been no Israeli bomb, stating that Bergmann was in charge of every kind of nuclear activity in [[Israel]] and completely understood nuclear fission.[^1] + +His son, [[Hans M. Mark]], served as secretary of the Air Force in the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration and was head of the executive committee of the [[National Reconnaissance Office]] (NRO), responsible for the development, procurement, and targeting of America's intelligence satellites. Hans Mark also worked at the [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]], a main U.S. nuclear weapons facility.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Howard Baker.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Howard Baker.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c337c19a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Howard Baker.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Howard Baker]] was a former [[United States Senator|U.S. Senator]] and a member of the Board of Directors of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] Corporation. He later served as [[Ronald Reagan]]'s chief of staff.[^1] + +Baker was on the [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] board from January 4, 1985, to March 2, 1987, when he resigned to accept the position of chief of staff to President [[Ronald Reagan]]. He returned to [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]'s board of directors in March 1989, just months after the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretaps on [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] had been shut down (Fall 1988).[^1] + +[[Edwin Meese]], [[William F. Weld]], and [[Arnold Burns]] complained to Baker about Meese's conduct. Weld stated that his superiors often asked if he could not close pending investigations of Meese's friends. Baker urged Weld and Burns to remain on staff, but they, along with four top aides, resigned from the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] on March 30, 1988, in an unprecedented mass exit.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hugh Crane.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hugh Crane.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..227bdff0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hugh Crane.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Hugh Crane +tags: + - person + - researcher +description: Hugh Crane was an official at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) involved in the early remote viewing experiments. +--- + +[[Hugh Crane]] was an official at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] involved in the early remote viewing experiments conducted by [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]]. He was present during some of [[Pat Price]]'s psychokinetic demonstrations and remote viewing sessions. In one notable instance, he was with Price in a Faraday cage when Price precognitively described the Redwood City Marina, where Puthoff and [[Bart Cox]] later ended up.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hugo Chávez.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hugo Chávez.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d1a671ae --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hugo Chávez.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Hugo Chávez]] was the [[Venezuelan President]]. He was a close ally of [[Manuel Zelaya]], the ousted president of [[Honduras]], and a "nemesis" of the [[United States]]. Chávez stated he would consider it an "act of war" if there were hostilities against his diplomats and put the armed forces of [[Venezuela]] on alert.[^1] + +[[General Daniel Lopez Carballo]] justified the coup against Zelaya by stating that Chávez would eventually be running [[Honduras]] by proxy if the military had not acted. Zelaya had been in the process of forming a friendship or alliance with Chávez, which could have led to the [[United States]] losing its airbase in [[Honduras]] (Soto Cano Air Base). Chávez reportedly had close ties to [[Iran]] and offered military support to [[Iran]] in the event of a war with the [[United States]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hunt brothers.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hunt brothers.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e1a2ea83 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hunt brothers.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Group + - Business + - USA +--- +The [[Hunt brothers]] were a wealthy family from [[Texas]]. They were involved in a fraudulent scheme where they purchased the rights to a solar energy system from [[Yaacov Meridor]] and a Romanian expatriate for $2 million. The scheme was later exposed as a fraud, leading to [[Joe Peeples]] being jailed.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hushang Lavi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hushang Lavi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2670d150 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Hushang Lavi.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - ArmsDealer + - Iran + - Israel +--- +[[Hushang Lavi]] was an [[Iran|Iranian]] Jew living in the [[USA|U.S.]]. He was a known arms dealer and worked for [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence. He left [[Iran]] under the [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Shah]] to live in the [[USA|United States]]. From the [[USA|U.S.]], he frequently visited [[Israel]] and was recruited by [[Mossad]] in the late 1970s as an intelligence asset to further [[Israel|Israel's]] arms-sales policies.[^1] + +[[Hushang Lavi|Lavi]] coordinated the details of the October 1980 [[Washington meeting (October, 1980)|Washington meeting]] between [[USA|American]] and [[Iran|Iranian]] officials, where [[Ahmed Omshei]] outlined the [[Israel|Israeli]] plan for hostage release. His work for the [[Israel|Israeli]] government ended in 1983 because he refused to heed warnings about his unauthorized moonlighting in arms with the [[Hashemi brothers]], among others.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Imad Mughniyah.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Imad Mughniyah.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2f7300a3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Imad Mughniyah.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Imad Mughniyah +tags: + - Person + - Terrorist + - Hezbollah +--- +Imad Mughniyah (1962–2008) was a prominent leader of [[Hezbollah]]'s terrorist operations. He was believed to have carefully orchestrated the abduction of Marine Lieutenant Colonel [[William Richard Higgins]] in [[Lebanon]] in 1988[^1]. + +Mughniyah had a history of involvement in significant terrorist attacks against U.S. interests. He oversaw the 1983 suicide bombing of the [[U.S. Embassy in Beirut]], which killed sixty-three people, mostly [[CIA]] and embassy staff. Six months later, he also oversaw the Beirut Marine barracks suicide bombing, a terrorist attack that resulted in the deaths of 241 U.S. service personnel, including 220 Marines[^1]. + +In the 1980s, Mughniyah was considered one of the leading terrorist masterminds in the world. The [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] feared he was holding Higgins captive and that he would torture Higgins to extract classified information[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Imelda Marcos.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Imelda Marcos.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cb88ed98 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Imelda Marcos.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Imelda Marcos]] was the widow of the exiled Philippine President [[Ferdinand Marcos]]. In 1990, a [[United States|U.S.]] federal jury in Manhattan acquitted her and [[Adnan Khashoggi]] of racketeering and fraud.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Iran Najd Rankuni.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Iran Najd Rankuni.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..869601fb --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Iran Najd Rankuni.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Iran +--- +[[Iran Najd Rankuni]] was the [[Tehran]] contact for the [[Hashemi brothers]]. He was the head of the Dervish movement and a son-in-law of [[Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani|Hojjat El-Islam Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani]], who was to become president of [[Iran]].[^1] + +[[Iran Najd Rankuni|Rankuni]] was connected with the [[Iranian Revolutionary Guards]]. However, he did not have direct access to the Supreme Council, which actually called the shots in [[Iran]], and therefore could not set up a serious dialogue between the [[USA|Americans]] and the [[Iran|Iranians]] for the release of the hostages.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Iris.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Iris.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..aa776b4d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Iris.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +[[Iris]] was a representative of [[LAKAM]] in [[Washington D.C.]]. She served as a conduit for intelligence reports between [[Robert McFarlane]] and [[Jonathan Pollard]] in the [[USA|U.S.]], and [[Rafi Eitan]] in [[Israel]].[^1] + +[[Iris]] would receive requests for computer access codes for certain intelligence items from [[Rafi Eitan|Eitan]]. She would then pass these requests to [[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]], who would provide her with the specified access codes. [[Iris]] would then give these codes to [[Jonathan Pollard|Pollard]], who would retrieve the information, photocopy it, and return the copies to [[Iris]]. This process was designed to distance [[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] from [[Jonathan Pollard|Pollard]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/J. Edgar Hoover.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/J. Edgar Hoover.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a3db3413 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/J. Edgar Hoover.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +[[J. Edgar Hoover]] served as the first Director of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] (and its predecessor, the Bureau of Investigation) for 48 years, from 1924 until his death in 1972. His long tenure was marked by both his law enforcement activities and his connections to influential political and business figures. + +### Hotel Del Charro Connections + +Hoover was a frequent visitor to the Hotel Del Charro in La Jolla, California, an exclusive hotel opened by [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]] in the early 1950s. Hoover visited the hotel every summer between 1953 and 1959. During these visits, [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]] covered Hoover's tab, which amounted to approximately $19,000 in free vacations over those years. [[Richard Nixon]] and Senator [[Joseph McCarthy]] were also often seen at Murchison's Hotel Del Charro.[^1] + +### NUMEC Investigation and CIA Conflicts + +In October 1965, the [[Atomic Energy Commission|AEC]] referred the [[Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation|NUMEC]] losses to the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]. However, [[J. Edgar Hoover]] saw no basis for an investigation, concluding that the situation was an administrative matter. He was in the midst of a bitter dispute with [[James Jesus Angleton]]'s counterintelligence shop over the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s handling of defectors and illegal spying inside the [[United States]]. Hoover chose to spar with [[Richard M. Helms|Helms]] over the [[Zalman Mordecai Shapiro|Shapiro]] issue, telling the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] to go to [[Israel]] and get inside [[Dimona]] to find evidence of the alleged uranium diversion.[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. _The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal_. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 18. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/J.H..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/J.H..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8f48ddf8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/J.H..md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[J.H.]] was a retired [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent in Fresno, California, who served as a contact for [[Cheri Seymour]] and [[Michael Riconosciuto]]. He was previously identified as "R.J." in the Internet version of *The Last Circle*.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] frequently communicated with J.H., attempting to negotiate entry into the Federal Witness Protection Program in exchange for information on high-level corruption, drug trafficking, and money laundering. Riconosciuto provided J.H. with details about "The Company," a drug/arms organization, and its activities, including the alleged involvement of [[Robert Booth Nichols]], [[Michael Abbell]], [[Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela|Gilbert Rodriguez]], and [[Jose Santacruz Londono|Jose Londono]] in illicit financial transactions.[^1] + +J.H. verified some of [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s information, including Riconosciuto's presence in [[Lebanon]], but could not verify the details of the drug operation. He also confirmed that [[Brian Leighton]] recalled [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s help with "[[The Company]]" case, including leading law enforcement to a marijuana cache. However, J.H. ultimately did not facilitate Riconosciuto's entry into witness protection, and his responses to Riconosciuto's information became increasingly limited.[^1] + +J.H. was also contacted by [[Cheri Seymour]] regarding [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s request to connect with someone trustworthy at [[Financial Crimes Enforcement Network|FinCen]]. Riconosciuto advised that J.H. should have someone "totally uncoupled" from him make inquiries into Riconosciuto's files to avoid exposing an audit trail, as Riconosciuto claimed to know [[PROMIS]] and [[FOIMS]] (Field Office Information Management System) "inside out" and helped develop their internal tracking audit trail.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jack Houck.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jack Houck.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..03bddc62 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jack Houck.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Jack Houck +tags: + - Person + - Engineer + - Psychic Researcher +--- +# Jack Houck + +Jack Houck was a systems engineer for Boeing Aerospace who became interested in [[Psychokinesis|psychokinesis]] (PK), particularly the phenomenon of metal bending. He observed that people often felt energy coming from their hands during the process and noted that martial arts practitioners spoke of an internal energy, or *[[Qi]]*, that could be summoned with the mind and felt as heat in their hands[^1]. + +Houck, along with metallurgist [[Severin Dahlen]], wondered if the ability to bend metal had something to do with one's belief system, proposing that PK might be an ability to harness the *qi* energy latent in all people. As an experiment, Houck began hosting spoon-bending parties at his Manhattan Beach home in January 1981[^1]. + +He developed a three-step protocol for guests: "1). Make a mental connection to what you want to affect [bend]. 2). Command what you want it to do by shouting ‘Bend! Bend! Bend!’ 3). Let go." Houck found that in these high-energy environments, a significant percentage of spoons and forks would bend, with results almost always showing that "Roughly eighty-five percent of the spoons bent"[^1]. + +Dahlen's metallurgical analysis of the bent spoons suggested that stainless flatware was easiest to bend due to its metallurgical characteristics, and that PK energy somehow converted into heat at dislocations within the metal[^1]. + +Houck's conclusion was that "everyone seems to be able to do PK." He noted that metal often continued to bend for up to three days, correlating with the *qi* energy discussed in martial arts disciplines. His work attracted the attention of the [[U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command|U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command]] due to its military implications[^1]. + +In 1983, [[John B. Alexander]] worked with Houck on psychokinesis research, inviting [[Doug Henning]] to attend Houck's spoon-bending parties to provide an expert opinion on whether a group could collectively cheat. Henning was reportedly amazed by the spontaneous bending of a spoon in his manager's hand, indicating no physical force was involved[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jackie Keith.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jackie Keith.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2f255c88 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jackie Keith.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Jackie Keith +tags: + - person + - intelligence + - specialops +description: Jackie Keith was an INSCOM civilian involved in special operations and an early member of the Stargate Project's remote viewing unit. +--- + +[[Jackie Keith]] was an [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]] civilian who worked in special operations at Arlington Hall, home to some of the more "James Bond-ish" elements of the U.S. espionage community. He was selected for the original [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]] team. Keith was known for being involved in numerous "cloak-and-dagger schemes."[^1] + +Keith dropped out of the original Gondola Wish team not long after being selected, but he continued to task the remote viewers with targets related to his own operations. He was involved in the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration's plans for a second hostage rescue mission in Iran, working with the remote viewers to locate the dispersed hostages. In 1980, while in the control room during a remote viewing session, Keith suffered a fatal heart attack. His death was a tragedy for the unit, as he was only in his late thirties, recently married, and his young widow was pregnant with his first child.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/James E. Lovett.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/James E. Lovett.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0623c676 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/James E. Lovett.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - USA +--- +James E. Lovett was a senior [[Atomic Energy Commission|AEC]] scientist. He was hired by [[Zalman Mordecai Shapiro]] in a desperate effort to save his company, [[Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation|NUMEC]], by taking over nuclear materials accountability. Lovett insisted that the concrete floor of the old plant be protected with stainless steel, as concrete absorbed far more uranium than suspected. He realized that Shapiro and other company officials were deluding themselves about recovering most of the missing uranium from NUMEC's waste pits, as much of it was embedded in the concrete floor, clinging to ventilation ducts, or flushed into local waterways.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 18. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/James Johnston.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/James Johnston.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b2522b70 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/James Johnston.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +James Johnston was the Director of Contract Administration in the Justice Management Division of the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. He was implicated in allegations surrounding the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]]. + +According to a source of [[Ronald LeGrand]], Johnston was one of three senior DOJ officials, along with [[Miles Matthews]] and [[James Knapp]], whom [[Lowell Jensen]] allegedly relied upon to engineer [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]'s problems. The source claimed that Jensen wanted to get Inslaw "out of the way and give the business to friends."[^1] + +However, when interviewed by the Special Counsel, James Johnston stated that he did not believe he had ever met James Knapp, who was alleged to have conspired with him to implement Jensen's scheme. Johnston also told the Special Counsel that he never discussed Inslaw or [[PROMIS]] with Lowell Jensen, and that he never received any directions from any superior at the DOJ regarding [[INSLAW]]. The Special Counsel's investigation found no credible evidence to support the allegations against Johnston or any connection between him and a conspiracy related to Inslaw or PROMIS.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/James Knapp.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/James Knapp.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..58dab992 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/James Knapp.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +James Knapp was a non-career Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division of the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. He was implicated in allegations surrounding the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]]. + +According to a source of [[Ronald LeGrand]], Knapp was one of three senior DOJ officials, along with [[Miles Matthews]] and [[James Johnston]], whom [[Lowell Jensen]] allegedly relied upon to engineer [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]'s problems. The source claimed that Jensen wanted to get Inslaw "out of the way and give the business to friends."[^1] + +However, when interviewed by the Special Counsel, James Knapp stated that he was unaware of any negative feelings toward Inslaw by Jensen. He denied any knowledge of, or participation in, a scheme to cause problems for [[INSLAW]] or to give Inslaw's contracts to friends of Jensen or [[Edwin Meese]]. Knapp also stated that he did not even know James Johnston, who was alleged to have conspired with him to implement Jensen's scheme. The Special Counsel's investigation found no credible evidence to support the allegations against Knapp or any connection between him and a conspiracy related to Inslaw or [[PROMIS]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/James Moore.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/James Moore.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..875c2e89 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/James Moore.md @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +--- +aliases: + - James Moore +tags: + - Person + - Chemist + - CIA + - MKULTRA +--- +# James Moore + +James Moore was a chemist who worked for the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] on [[Project MKUltra|MKULTRA Subproject 58]], a classified effort to locate and mass-produce the hallucinogenic mushroom *teonanáctl* (God's flesh) for intelligence use[^1]. + +Moore was assigned the task of infiltrating East Coast mycology groups, posing as a deep-pocketed professor backed by funding from the Geschickter Fund for Medical Research, a principal funding source for the CIA's brain warfare program. His cover story was that he was interested in natural-product chemistry and wanted to fund private mushroom-hunting expeditions[^1]. + +In 1956, after two years of unsuccessful efforts, Moore finally persuaded [[R. Gordon Wasson]] to take him along on a mushroom-hunting expedition to Mexico. An official [[Project MKUltra|MKULTRA Subproject 58]] invoice indicated payment "in support of an expedition... for the purpose of studying and collecting hallucinogenic species of mushrooms of interest"[^1]. + +The mission proved traumatic for Moore, who reportedly got sick and disliked the experience. At one point, he was left roadside in Mexico in the care of local Indians when the group's small airplane had to lighten its load. Despite the difficulties, Moore fulfilled his CIA mandate, returning with *teonanáctl* mushrooms for the Agency to analyze[^1]. + +However, the CIA's desire to keep the drug a secret psychic weapon was undermined when Wasson published a twelve-page account of his experience in *Life* magazine, highlighting the mushroom's alleged ability to access and enhance [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]]. This article caused a sensation and led to pleasure seekers flocking to Mexico to consume *God's flesh*[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jamshid Hashemi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jamshid Hashemi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4e85632a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jamshid Hashemi.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - Iran + - USA +--- +[[Jamshid Hashemi]] was one of the [[Hashemi brothers]], an [[Iran|Iranian]] living in the [[USA|West]]. He was involved in secret arms sales and negotiations concerning the [[USA|American]] hostages in [[Tehran]].[^1] + +[[Jamshid Hashemi|Hashemi]] and his brothers made money selling small quantities of military equipment to [[Iran]]. He was later indicted under the [[Arms Export Control Act]] for illegal arms sales to [[Iran]], but escaped the [[USA|U.S.]] before apprehension. He subsequently agreed to become an informant for [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs]] against the [[Iran|Iranian]] exile community.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jan Lawrence Handzlik.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jan Lawrence Handzlik.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..35e03e58 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jan Lawrence Handzlik.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Jan Lawrence Handzlik]] was the lawyer for [[Patrick Moriarty]], the Red Devil fireworks magnate. Handzlik stated that Moriarty had paid [[Bo Gritz]] to make business trips to [[China]], [[Singapore]], and other parts of [[Asia]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Janet Mitchell.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Janet Mitchell.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5de79a83 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Janet Mitchell.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Janet Mitchell +tags: + - Person + - Researcher +--- +Janet Mitchell was an assistant to [[Karlis Osis]], the director of research at the [[American Society for Psychical Research]] (ASPR). She worked with Osis on a series of experiments involving [[Ingo Swann]] and purported [[Out-of-Body Experience|out-of-body experiences]] (OBEs), also known as traveling [[Clairvoyance|clairvoyance]][^1]. + +In these experiments, Swann was wired to a Beckman Dynograph and instructed to "practice floating up out-of-the-body to the ceiling and utilize my out-of-body ‘eyes’ to spy down on the targets hidden on the suspended trays." Mitchell would enter the room with a box containing a hidden object, place it on the tray, and then indicate to Swann that the experiment had begun[^1]. + +Mitchell and Osis were reportedly thrilled with the results, particularly when Swann, instead of trying to articulate what he saw, drew it. They planned to repeat these experiments under tightly controlled laboratory conditions and submit the results to the Psychology Board of America for review[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Janet Reno.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Janet Reno.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f18a62b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Janet Reno.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Janet Reno]] served as the [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] of the [[United States]]. She is included here in connection with the death of [[Paul Wilcher]], a Washington D.C. attorney who had been investigating the [[October Surprise]] incident and the [[INSLAW]] case. Wilcher hand-delivered a 100-page letter to Reno on May 21, 1993, claiming that holdover [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] employees from the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]]-[[George Bush|Bush]] era were responsible for government cover-ups.[^1] + +Wilcher was interviewed by [[Carl Stern]], Reno's public relations man, regarding the contents of the letter. After Wilcher's death, [[Sarah McClendon]] and [[Garby Leon]] wrote letters to Reno, urging her to investigate Wilcher's death due to its disturbing parallels with [[Danny Casolaro]]'s death and the implications for individual investigation and criticism of government activities.[^1] + +[[Bill Hamilton]] also mentioned that a [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] report commissioned by [[Janet Reno]] confirmed that a system called [[PROMIS]] was being used by [[Canada|Canadian]] agencies, but claimed it was totally different from [[INSLAW]]'s [[PROMIS]] software.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Janise.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Janise.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e69de29b diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jens C. Hauge.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jens C. Hauge.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..31aed3d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jens C. Hauge.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - Norway +--- +Jens C. Hauge was a Norwegian official who spent two weeks in April 1961 conducting [[Norway]]'s first—and only—inspection of the heavy water that had been sold to [[Israel]]. His inspection, closely monitored by [[Ernst David Bergmann]], found the water safely stored near the Nahal Soreq research reactor, as [[Dimona]] was not yet in operation. Hauge's report to the Norwegian foreign ministry was astonishing in its uncritical acceptance of all of Bergmann's assertions, including that the heavy water would be used to power a twenty-four-megawatt "research reactor" that would be a model for a planned much larger power reactor.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jim Morris.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jim Morris.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a9d86e77 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jim Morris.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Jim Morris +tags: + - person + - CIA + - intelligence +description: Jim Morris was a CIA counterintelligence officer who sought assistance from the Grill Flame psychics for a case involving a KGB illegal. +--- + +[[Jim Morris]] was a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] counterintelligence officer. He sought assistance from the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] psychics for a case involving a [[KGB]] "illegal" (a deep-cover officer) who had been arrested in South Africa. The KGB agent was not cooperating with interrogations, and Morris hoped the remote viewers could provide information on how the agent was decoding his messages.[^1] + +Morris worked with [[Norm Everheart]], who tasked [[Ken Bell]] and [[Mel Riley]] to remote-view the KGB agent. Bell's "telepathic interrogation" revealed details about the agent's family and a hidden pocket calculator, which was later confirmed to have been used for coding messages. Morris confirmed the accuracy of the remote viewers' descriptions, including the agent's upstairs room, gray clothes, and the presence of two interrogators. This successful operation helped close the case.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jimmy Hoffa.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jimmy Hoffa.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9968136e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jimmy Hoffa.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Jimmy Hoffa]] was a prominent American labor union leader. A lot in Beverly Hills sold by [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]] to [[Richard Nixon]] was financed through a Hoffa loan. [[Meyer Lansky]]'s Fremont Hotel in Las Vegas was also financed through a Hoffa loan.[^1] + +[[Clint W. Murchison, Jr.]] attempted to persuade the Senate Rules Committee in 1964 that his real estate dealings with Hoffa in Florida were "hardly relevant" to the [[Bobby Baker]] investigation.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jimmy Hughes.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jimmy Hughes.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..17b57f1a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jimmy Hughes.md @@ -0,0 +1,26 @@ +[[Jimmy Hughes]] was a self-described "Mafia hit-man" and a former [[U.S. Army|Army]] Ranger. He was a key figure in the investigation of the 1981 triple homicide of [[Fred Alvarez]], [[Ralph Boger]], and [[Patricia Castro]] in Rancho Mirage, [[California]]. Hughes was arrested on September 26, 2009, at Miami-Dade International Airport on a fugitive warrant from the [[California Department of Justice|California DOJ]] for three counts of murder and conspiracy to commit a crime.[^1] + +### Criminal Activities and Government Connections + +Hughes admitted to a bloody past, stating he became a professional hit man for the Mafia after a six-year military career. He claimed to have killed numerous people, including half a dozen at a party when he was paid to kill only one man. He also stated that he worked for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] in covert missions outside the [[United States]] and that the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] protected him in exchange for information, placing him in a Witness Protection Program.[^1] + +Hughes was the security director of the [[Cabazon Casino]] and Bingo operations for four years until early 1984. He reported that he was instructed in [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]]' presence to take $5,000 as partial payment for the [[Fred Alvarez|Alvarez]] killings. He later alleged that [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]] was involved in criminal activities, including issuing contracts to commit murder, and that the gambling enterprises were fronts for U.S. government-sanctioned covert military activities and arms shipments to Central and [[South America]].[^1] + +Hughes outlined his military training, including Rangers and Delta Force, which transformed him into an "elite soldier." He claimed to have specialized in plastic explosives and as a sniper. He also stated that he was trained to defend his country and fight enemies of democracy and freedom, but later sold his "talent for gifts or money" to the Mafia, murdering individuals for sums ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.[^1] + +### Arrest and Legal Proceedings + +[[John Powers]], a Detective at the Riverside Sheriff's Department, was officially present at Hughes' arrest to confirm his identity. Powers obtained a Governor's Warrant to bring Hughes back to [[California]]. The [[California State Attorney General]] is prosecuting the case because the current Riverside County district attorney, [[Rod Pacheco]], is a second cousin of Hughes.[^1] + +Hughes waived extradition in court on December 3, 2009, and was brought back to [[California]]. However, the case was later dismissed on July 1, 2010, by Deputy Attorney General [[Mike Murphy]], who stated that new information had been developed that was not known to law enforcement when the charges were filed. Hughes was set free, despite [[John Powers]]' belief in his guilt and [[Rachel Begley]]'s strong opposition.[^1] + +### Religious and Political Connections + +Hughes joined FGBMFI ([[Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International]]) in 1987 and subsequently founded Jimmy Hughes Ministries – Free the Oppressed in [[Honduras]]. He openly admitted his past as a Mafia hit-man on the FGBMFI website. He was a high-standing member of FGBMFI and a keynote speaker at a dinner event in Fresno, [[California]], in February 2008, alongside General [[Daniel Lopez Carballo]] of [[Honduras]].[^1] + +Hughes' ministries operate in Zambrano, [[Honduras]], where he ministers to the military and trains military personnel. He was allegedly involved in the planning of the [[Honduras coup]] in June 2009, which ousted President [[Manuel Zelaya]]. The interim de-facto president of [[Honduras]], [[Roberto Micheletti]], was placed in office by coup leaders General [[Romeo Vásquez Velásquez]] and General [[Daniel Lopez Carballo]], both friends of Hughes and members of FGBMFI.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Joan E. Jacoby.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Joan E. Jacoby.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a3593d28 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Joan E. Jacoby.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is a placeholder. Ms. Jacoby is extensively published but difficult to find information about. + +Joan E. Jacoby received a B.A. in sociology at Boston University and an M.A. in statistics from The American University. She is a published criminologist with several books and countless articles. + +Joan co-headed the 1969 team to create [[PROMIS]] (along with [[Charles R. Work]] with project manager [[Bill Hamilton]]) while director of the [[Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia]] as part of an [[LEAA]] grant program for the [[U.S. Attorney's office]] DC. + +This was not the only information system Jacoby was involved with. In 1970 she wrote a paper called “Project TRACE—A System for the Tracking, Retrieval and Analysis of Criminal Events” for the Nov 12, 1970, Urban and Regional Information Systems Proceedings[^2]. [[Project TRACE]], or Tracking Retrieval and Analysis of Criminal Events[^1], was a competitor of PROMIS. + +After her time at the Office of Crime Analysis she served as executive director of the [[National Center for Prosecution Management]], a nonprofit corporation set up by the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] with [[LEAA funding]] that provided management and technical assistance to prosecutors nationwide and conducted research on the prosecution role and function. + +In 1975, Joan became a research associate at the Bureau of Social Science Research where she directed national programs of research in prosecution and criminal justice. + +She went on to become the Executive Director of the Jefferson Institute, Washington, DC. + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: [PROJECT TRACE (TRACKING, RETRIEVAL AND ANALYSIS OF CRIMINAL EVENTS) - FINAL REPORT | Office of Justice Programs](https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/project-trace-tracking-retrieval-and-analysis-criminal-events-final) +[^2]: [Directory of data bases in the social and behavioral sciences : Sessions, Vivian S](https://archive.org/details/directoryofdatab0000sess/page/56/mode/2up) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Joe King.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Joe King.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..55c89678 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Joe King.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - LawEnforcement + - USA +--- +[[Joe King]] was a [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs Service]] agent working out of the strategic unit based in the [[World Trade Center]] in [[Manhattan]]. He was involved in the [[Hashemi sting]] operation, which was designed to entrap individuals connected with [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence arms sales to [[Iran]].[^1] + +[[Joe King|King]] and his partner, Romeo, contacted [[Cyrus Hashemi]] and contrived an illegal frame-up. [[Cyrus Hashemi|Hashemi]] was to be the bait and the trap, allowing his phone to be tapped and himself to be wired. [[Joe King|King]] was also present at [[Cyrus Hashemi|Hashemi's]] [[London]] apartment shortly before [[Cyrus Hashemi|Hashemi]] was found dead, a death attributed to a sudden case of virulent leukemia, though [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence suspected foul play.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Joe McMoneagle.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Joe McMoneagle.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..75b4ff7b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Joe McMoneagle.md @@ -0,0 +1,33 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Joe McMoneagle +tags: + - person + - military + - psychic + - remoteviewer +description: Joe McMoneagle was a U.S. Army warrant officer and one of the most gifted remote viewers in the Stargate Project. He was known for his ability to perceive technical details and his accuracy in remote viewing sessions. +--- +--- +Joe McMoneagle was a U.S. Army warrant officer and one of the original six remote viewers in the [[STARGATE PROJECT]]. He was recruited into the program, then codenamed [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]], in 1977 by [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] and [[Murray Watt|Scotty Watt]].[^1] + +McMoneagle had a background in signals intelligence and had served in Vietnam. He had a number of psychic experiences throughout his life, including a [[Near Death Experience]] that he believed enhanced his abilities. As a child, at age eleven in 1957, while camping in an orange grove in Florida, he experienced a vision of a ghostly woman who foretold his future, including his military service in a far-off war that he would survive. This experience, which he initially dismissed as a dream, later gained significance as his life unfolded.[^1] + +Eight years later, he enlisted in the Army and entered the Army Security Agency, training in special radio direction finding (RDF) techniques. One of his first posts was on Eleuthera island in the Bahamas, where his unit electronically spied on Soviet and Cuban ships and submarines. In October 1965, he witnessed a large, intensely bright disk-shaped UFO, which left him and a friend feeling sick with sunburned skin and flu-like symptoms for several days. He loved the Bahamas, but in 1966, he was sent to Vietnam.[^1] + +In Vietnam, McMoneagle had a recurring nightmare of a white light signifying death. However, upon arriving at Bien Hoa air base, he had a vision of himself leaving the war alive and intact, specifically in a canary yellow plane. He spent much of the war in the Vietnamese central highlands, stationed at various "firebase" outposts. He developed a reputation for anticipating enemy attacks, often heading to his bunker just before mortar rounds would strike. His fellow soldiers began to mimic his actions, believing he had a sixth sense. Despite a helicopter accident that left him with chronic back problems, he survived the war, eventually leaving Vietnam on a canary yellow plane, just as he had foreseen.[^1] + +In 1970, while stationed in southern Germany with an electronic-intercept detachment, McMoneagle suffered a cardiac arrest during lunch in an Austrian village. He experienced a classic near-death experience (NDE), finding himself in an out-of-body state, observing his physical body, and later moving through a tunnel towards a white light, which he identified as God. This light, which had appeared in his recurring nightmares, was not death but a source of unconditional love. God instructed him to return to his physical reality. This NDE profoundly changed his worldview, leading him towards mystical and spiritual beliefs, and he increasingly experienced a collision of reality and imagination, with spontaneous out-of-body experiences and vivid visions. He believed this experience significantly enhanced his psychic abilities, leading to more frequent and vivid psychic episodes.[^1] + +As a remote viewer, McMoneagle was considered one of the best in the unit, often referred to as a "one-in-a-million psi savant" or "shaman in Army boots." He was particularly adept at perceiving technical details of targets, and his remote-viewing visions were noted for their realism and narrative consistency. He was instrumental in the successful remote viewing of a new Chinese nuclear device at Lop Nor, where he drew a detailed diagram of the device, including an hourglass-shaped object that Mel Riley had also described. He also contributed to the tracking of a Soviet T-72 tank purchased by the U.S., even telepathically interrogating the ship's captain during a staged hijacking. His ability to pick up and sketch technological details was exceptional, as demonstrated by his detailed engineer-style drawing of an experimental XM-1 tank, including its laser-targeting system and special high-tech armor, without prior knowledge of its design.[^1] + +McMoneagle had unique psychic signatures, such as perceiving a green haze around radioactive or fissionable material and an orange flame around radio frequency radiation. He was known for his ability to enter a deep, dreamlike state during remote viewing sessions, often snoring during his cool-down period and reporting impressions in sleepy murmurs. He was also able to perceive alphanumeric data, such as words and numbers, which was a rare ability among remote viewers.[^1] + +He was involved in several high-profile operations, including predicting the crash zone of Skylab in the South Pacific, near Australia and Indonesia, which proved accurate. He also played a key role in identifying a Soviet surveillance bug in a U.S. consulate in the Mediterranean and locating the Soviet listening post across the street. In another instance, he helped the FBI break a case by remote-viewing a KGB officer using a fishing pole to retrieve a dead-drop package from a military installation wall. His most sensational series of sessions, for the National Security Council, involved the remote viewing of a new Soviet Typhoon-class submarine under construction at the port of Severodvinsk. He accurately described its massive size, double hull, canted missile tubes, and the unique welding techniques used in its construction, even predicting the Soviets would dynamite a channel to launch it. This information was later confirmed by satellite imagery, sparking debate within the NSC about the value of remote viewing.[^1] + +McMoneagle, along with [[Mel Riley]] and [[Ken Bell]], became one of the three full-time remote viewers when the unit was officially designated the Special Action Branch and the program was codenamed [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]]. He was known as "Viewer 518" to the National Security Council. He was allowed to remain with the unit beyond his typical tour of duty, nearing twenty years of service, due to his invaluable contributions.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John A. McCone.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John A. McCone.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e1a90604 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John A. McCone.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +John A. McCone was a wealthy Republican businessman from [[California]] who served as chairman of the [[Atomic Energy Commission]] (AEC) and later as Director of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. In December 1960, he leaked information to *New York Times* reporter [[John W. Finney]] about [[Israel]]'s secret nuclear reactor at [[Dimona]], expressing anger that [[Israel]] and [[France]] had "lied to us" about its purpose.[^1] + +McCone's leak was his parting shot as AEC commissioner, as he announced his resignation shortly after. He was committed to nuclear nonproliferation and was aware that the [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] administration was nearing its end, making it an opportune time to act. He was also frustrated by the constant Israeli lying about [[Dimona]].[^1] + +McCone was regularly briefed on the Israeli nuclear program after replacing [[Lewis L. Strauss]] as AEC commissioner in July 1958. As AEC chairman, he was a member of the U.S. Intelligence Advisory Committee, the top-level group at the time. He was labeled by some as anti-Semitic due to his actions, but there was no known basis for such allegations; he was simply dead set against any nuclear proliferation and offended by the Israeli and French deception.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 6, 7. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Carrette.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Carrette.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a6fab5fd --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Carrette.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[John Carrette]] was a Full Gospel businessman and a former [[U.S. Army]] Ranger in [[Vietnam]]. He aided and supported [[General Ríos Montt]], who became president of [[Guatemala]] in an army coup in March 1982. According to Carrette, the then-presidents of [[Guatemala]], [[El Salvador]], and [[Honduras]] were all Full Gospel.[^1] + +Carrette later became the Executive Vice President of FGBMFI ([[Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International]]) and helped set up [[Jimmy Hughes]] in [[Honduras]]. Hughes stated that Carrette "god-fathered" him into the Fellowship and that he had been in the Fellowship ever since.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Keeney.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Keeney.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..45c3c1fa --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Keeney.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +John Keeney was a career Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division of the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. He was implicated in allegations surrounding the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]]. + +According to a source of [[Ronald LeGrand]], Keeney, along with [[Mark Richards]] and [[Philip White]], knew "all about" [[Lowell Jensen]]'s alleged malfeasance in the Inslaw matter. The source believed that while Richards and White were "pretty upset" about it, they would not disclose what they knew except under subpoena and oath, and that they would not commit perjury.[^1] + +However, when interviewed by the Special Counsel, John Keeney stated that he had no knowledge of any wrongdoing by Lowell Jensen generally, or of the type of wrongdoing described in the Hamilton affidavit specifically. The Special Counsel's investigation found no credible evidence to support the allegations against Keeney or any connection between him and a conspiracy related to [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] or [[PROMIS]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Knight.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Knight.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..574bf09d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Knight.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - ArmsDealer + - UK +--- +[[John Knight]] was an arms dealer who ran a company called [[Dynavest Limited]] in [[London]]. He was involved in acquiring arms from [[Yugoslavia]] and selling them to [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah]], who in turn sold them to Palestinian groups like [[Abu Nidal]].[^1] + +[[John Knight|Knight]] was familiar to [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] and his associates, having worked with the [[Anthony Pearson|Tony Pearson]]-[[Nicholas Davies|Nick Davies]] group since the late 1970s. He was also mentioned as a supplier of equipment to [[Iraq]] directly from [[Britain]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John L. Hadden.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John L. Hadden.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1fbbb34d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John L. Hadden.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - CIA +--- +John L. Hadden served as the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] station chief in [[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]], in the mid-1960s. He viewed Ambassador [[Walworth Barbour]] as a professional and encouraged his staff to find out what they could about [[Dimona]]. Hadden worked closely with [[Robert T. Webber]], the embassy's scientific attaché, in clear violation of a [[State Department]] decree forbidding scientific attachés from engaging in intelligence work.[^1] + +Hadden sent [[Colonel Carmelo V. Alba]] to [[Beersheba]] to conduct a census of French names on mailboxes in the city's apartment complexes, as part of an ongoing effort to determine who was working at [[Dimona]]. Hadden also inadvertently got into trouble with the Israeli foreign office when his American license plates were put on a jeep used by Alba for a weekend trip to the [[Negev]], leading to a stiff protest from the Israelis who suspected the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] station chief was sneaking around.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 12. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John L. LaMothe.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John L. LaMothe.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f1f89f90 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John L. LaMothe.md @@ -0,0 +1,34 @@ +--- +aliases: + - John LaMothe + - Captain John LaMothe +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Author + - Intelligence +--- +# John L. LaMothe + +Captain John L. LaMothe was an author and military intelligence officer with the Medical Intelligence Office of the [[U.S. Army]], Office of the Surgeon General. He was tasked with conducting a joint intelligence assessment of the "Soviet psychoenergetic threat," a term coined by the [[Pentagon]] to include all matters related to Soviet anomalous mental phenomena research and [[Electromagnetic Weapons|electromagnetic weapons]] programs[^1]. + +His two-year effort resulted in a 174-page classified report titled *Controlled Offensive Behavior—USSR*, published in 1972. The report aimed to aid in the development of countermeasures for the protection of U.S. or allied personnel, concluding that the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]] were rapidly developing "methods of controlling or manipulating human behavior through subtle, non-identifiable means," including psychopharmacology, subliminal messaging, and electromagnetic weapons[^1]. + +LaMothe's report highlighted the "unusual, disproportionate interest" of Communist state authorities, the military, and the [[KGB]] in [[Parapsychology|parapsychology]], confirming military involvement in [[Psi]] research. He broke down the danger into four categories of existential threat posed by Soviet agents with psychoenergetic abilities[^1]: + +1. "Disable, at a distance, US military equipment of all types, including space craft." +2. "Know the contents of top secret US documents, the movements of our troops and ships and the location and nature of our military installations." +3. "Mold the thoughts of key US military and civilian leaders, at a distance." +4. "Cause the instant death of any US official, at a distance." + +In essence, LaMothe argued that a Soviet agent could disrupt military technology, access state secrets, influence national leaders, and assassinate U.S. officials through targeted [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis|PK]][^1]. + +Citing scientists and experts like [[Oliver J. Caldwell]] and [[Sybil Leek]], LaMothe saw an immediate need for the U.S. to create a program to mirror the Soviets' psychic warfare undertakings. However, the alarmist nature of his text limited its distribution, and those in the know considered LaMothe's sources biased in favor of ESP research programs[^1]. + +Despite the controversy, LaMothe's report circulated through the military and intelligence communities, prompting the [[CIA]] to take action and escalate its own psychic research programs[^1]. + +## Publications +* *Controlled Offensive Behavior—USSR* (1972) + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John LaMothe.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John LaMothe.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e8bb78aa --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John LaMothe.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: John LaMothe +tags: + - person + - military + - author + - intelligence +description: John LaMothe was a U.S. Army Captain and author of the 1972 Defense Intelligence Agency report, Controlled Offensive Behavior - USSR. +--- + +[[John LaMothe]] was a [[U.S. Army]] Captain and the author of the 1972 [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] report, "[[Controlled Offensive Behavior - USSR]]." This 174-page classified report reviewed and evaluated Soviet research in the field of "revolutionary methods of influencing behavior," with a particular focus on [[Parapsychology|psi]] phenomena and its potential military applications.[^1] + +LaMothe's report highlighted the perceived threat of Soviet [[ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis]] capabilities, suggesting they could be used to disable U.S. military equipment, access top-secret documents, influence leaders, and even cause instant death. While some of his sources were considered biased in favor of psi research, the report contributed significantly to the U.S. intelligence community's concern about a "[[Psi Gap|psi gap]]" and spurred further U.S. investment in psychic research programs.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Lisica.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Lisica.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0bb1fccf --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Lisica.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - LawEnforcement + - USA +--- +[[John Lisica]] was an undercover [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs Service]] agent. He operated under the alias "Lettner" and was involved in a sting operation targeting [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] and others connected to [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence arms sales to [[Iran]].[^1] + +[[John Lisica|Lisica]] met with [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] at [[Kennedy Airport]] as part of this operation, attempting to entice him into agreeing to an illegal sale of C-130 aircraft to [[Iran]]. The conversations were taped, and these tapes later became a central piece of evidence in [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] trial.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John M. Middleton.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John M. Middleton.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2e1b1609 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John M. Middleton.md @@ -0,0 +1,28 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is a placeholder and requires extensive additions. Difficulties have arisen from how common the name John Middleton is. + +Worked on the team developing the original 1969 [[PROMIS]] under [[Joan E. Jacoby]], [[Charles R. Work]], and [[Bill Hamilton]]. +### Possible John M. Middletons + +John M. Middleton is a relatively common name. Even with sparse records from the 1960’s through 1980’s, there are several John M. Middletons working with or adjacent to the government or in STEM fields. + +One appears to have worked for the DOE on nuclear projects[^1] in 1959 as part of Division 2543 (unclear what this is). This John was living in Nevada at the time and working at Sandia. + +Another worked for the state department (ACTION(R-4)IO) as an International Operations Adviser[^2] (seemingly in the International Organization Affairs Section) in 1972. There was a state dept cable[^5] presumably referring to the same Middelton who was vetted to consult for UNESCO Program 40333. + +Another was a LT in the navy as of 1964[^3] (this could be either of the previously mentioned Middleton’s as well). + +One had a patent in 1962[^4]. There may also have been an agricultural engineer Middleton (perhaps with the patent), but the documentation is poor. + +There was a John Middleton with a ham radio license living in Virginia in 1990 - call sign KC4LHC. Now living in Bethesda[^6]. Seems to be born in 1947[^7]. This seems like the best bet. + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: [Pfeiffer Nuclear Weapon And National Security Archive](https://archive.org/details/PfeifferNuclearWeaponAndNationalSecurityArchive/Sandia%20Nuclear%20Weapon%20Laboratory%20Newsletters%201951-1997/Sandia%20Nuclear%20Weapon%20Laboratory%20Newsletters%201951%20to%201984/C226_Lab_News_06-26-59/page/n1/mode/2up?q=%22John+M.+Middleton%22) +[^2]: [List of Officers of the Department of State, Including the List of Ministers, Consuls, and Other Diplomatic and Commercial Agents of the United States in Foreign Countries](https://www.google.com/books/edition/List_of_Officers_of_the_Department_of_St/onbYHAZiIpUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22John+M.+Middleton%22&pg=RA7-PA71&printsec=frontcover) +[^3]: [Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America](https://www.google.com/books/edition/Journal_of_the_Executive_Proceedings_of/lvgkHGJ2HzIC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22John+M.+Middleton%22&pg=PA111&printsec=frontcover) +[^4]: [Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office](https://www.google.com/books/edition/Official_Gazette_of_the_United_States_Pa/SmEbAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22John+M.+Middleton%22&pg=PA12&printsec=frontcover) +[^5]: [State Department Cable 1977-32753](https://archive.org/details/StateDeptcable1977-32753/mode/2up?q=%22John+M.+Middleton%22) +[^6]: [FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses in Bethesda, Maryland - Ham Radio](https://www.city-data.com/aradio/lic-Bethesda-Maryland.html) +[^7]: [KC4LHC, HamCall World-Wide Callsign Database](https://hamcall.net/call/KC4LHC) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Marsh.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Marsh.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..90024f0c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Marsh.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +aliases: + - John Marsh + - Secretary of the Army John Marsh +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - US Army +--- +John Marsh was the Secretary of the [[U.S. Army]]. On August 24, 1984, he authorized negotiations for the transfer of the [[Psychoenergetics|psychoenergetics]] program (which included [[Remote Viewing]]) to the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]]. This decision came after a period of uncertainty and bureaucratic maneuvering following the early retirement of [[Albert Stubblebine]] and the temporary cancellation of the program[^1]. + +Marsh's authorization was a crucial step in ensuring the continuation of the U.S. government's psychic research efforts, despite the ongoing debates and controversies surrounding them[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John McMahon.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John McMahon.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e799fdc2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John McMahon.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: John McMahon +tags: + - person + - CIA + - intelligence +description: John McMahon was the Deputy Director for Operations at the CIA, and head of the Office of Technical Service (OTS). +--- + +[[John McMahon]] was the Deputy Director for Operations at the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. He also served as the head of the [[Office of Technical Service|Office of Technical Service]] (OTS), indicating his significant role in technical and covert operations, including those involving psychic intelligence.[^1] + +McMahon, along with [[Norm Everheart]], had been involved in psychic spying experiments since the early days of the CIA-sponsored work at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]]. They were willing to give remote viewing a try in operational situations. McMahon was the superior of [[Norm Everheart]], who served as the chief coordinator for [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] taskings from the CIA's Operations Directorate.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Van de Kamp.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Van de Kamp.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a0907175 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/John Van de Kamp.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[John Van de Kamp]] was the State Attorney General of [[California]]. He is mentioned in connection with the "Queen's accident" investigation and the broader corruption in Mariposa County.[^1] + +[[James White]], an Assistant [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]], revealed that the original [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]] report on the "Queen's accident" was sent to Van de Kamp's office in Sacramento. Van de Kamp reportedly told his assistant, [[Arnold Overoye]], to "discard" or "trash" the report. He then appointed [[Bruce Eckerson]], the Mariposa County District Attorney, to take charge of the investigation and submit a new report.[^1] + +Three consecutive grand jury foremen and [[Ben Wagner]], an attorney representing deputies exposing corruption, sought help from Van de Kamp's office, but to no avail. Wagner learned that everything pertaining to Mariposa was automatically "trashed" when it crossed the Attorney General's desk. Wagner later filed a Writ of Mandamus against Van de Kamp for refusing to investigate corruption in Mariposa County.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jonathan Kwitny.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jonathan Kwitny.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7286c112 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Jonathan Kwitny.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Jonathan Kwitny]] was the author of the book *The Crimes of Patriots*. In his book, Kwitny reported that [[Michael Hand]] reportedly fled [[Australia]] under a false identity on June 14, 1980, on a flight to [[Fiji]]. He also identified an American code-named "Charlie" as a former member of the [[United States Army Special Forces|U.S. Special Forces]] and ex-[[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operative who allegedly helped Hand escape.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Joseph McCarthy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Joseph McCarthy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b3e83c3b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Joseph McCarthy.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Joseph McCarthy]] was a [[United States Senator|U.S. Senator]] known for his anti-communist crusade in the 1950s. [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]] was an ardent supporter of McCarthy. McCarthy was a frequent visitor to the exclusive Hotel Del Charro in La Jolla, California, which Murchison, Sr. opened in the early 1950s. He was often seen there alongside [[Richard Nixon]] and [[J. Edgar Hoover]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Julian Leek.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Julian Leek.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..61da1836 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Julian Leek.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Julian Leek +tags: + - Person +--- +Julian Leek is the son of [[Sybil Leek]], a prominent British witch and astrologer. He maintains his mother's archive and confirmed that his mother maintained silence about her involvement in the [[Rudolf Hess]] affair throughout her life, and that the details remained officially classified[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Karen Jansen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Karen Jansen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..766d4abd --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Karen Jansen.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Karen Jansen + - Major Karen Jansen +tags: + - Person + - Military + - UN +--- +# Karen Jansen + +Karen Jansen was a [[United Nations]] inspector and a [[U.S. Army]] major. She was involved in the effort to find [[Saddam Hussein]]'s weapon sites in [[Iraq]] and reportedly worked with [[PSI Tech]], a private firm specializing in [[Remote Viewing]][^1]. + +According to an Associated Press story by [[Ruth Sinai]], Jansen carried sketches of two sites where the Iraqi leader had supposedly stashed biological weapons. These sketches were provided by PSI Tech president [[Ed Dames]], who claimed they were generated through remote viewing[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ken Mattheys.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ken Mattheys.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dfd7fe2a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ken Mattheys.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Ken Mattheys]] was the newly elected Sheriff of Mariposa County who responded to [[Leslie Van Meter]]'s Citizen's Complaint by re-opening the investigation into her husband [[Ron Van Meter]]'s disappearance. He appointed deputies [[Frank McCoy]] and [[Lonnie Hammond]] to handle the internal affairs aspect.[^1] + +In October 1984, Mattheys recruited private investigator [[Raymond Jenkins]] and retired [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent [[Tom Walsh]] from Merced to investigate Van Meter's disappearance and help him clean up the Sheriff's Department. These investigators subsequently concluded that [[Ron Van Meter]] was murdered after obtaining evidence of drug trafficking within the department.[^1] + +Shortly after a meeting with [[Leslie Van Meter]] at Lake McClure, Mattheys mysteriously resigned from his position. He later revealed to reporter Anthony Pirushki that he had been ordered by two county supervisors and the county's attorney "to stay away from the Van Meter investigation." While still in office, Mattheys and his internal affairs investigators learned that [[Ron Van Meter]] had reported drug dealing and corruption within the Mariposa Sheriff's Department to the [[California Attorney General's Office|Attorney General's office]] in Sacramento shortly before his death.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Khatoun.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Khatoun.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e639575a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Khatoun.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Family + - Israel + - Iran +--- +[[Khatoun]] is the mother of [[Ari Ben-Menashe]]. She was an affluent Iraqi Jew who married [[Gourdji]] in [[Baghdad]] in 1945 and settled in [[Tehran]], [[Iran]]. In late 1950 and early 1951, she visited [[Israel]] with her husband to explore the possibility of moving there.[^1] + +In July 1966, [[Khatoun]] took [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ari]] and his sisters, Claris, Evon, and Stella, to [[Israel]], where Stella and [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ari]] were enrolled at the American International School in Kfar Smaryahu. Five years later, [[Khatoun]] and her husband moved from [[Tehran]] to [[Israel]].[^1] + +During [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ari's]] imprisonment, [[Khatoun]] was the only family member who did not abandon him, despite being hassled and threatened by the [[Israel|Israeli]] government.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Leon Jaroff.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Leon Jaroff.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..400a9d7f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Leon Jaroff.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Leon Jaroff +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - Editor +--- +Leon Jaroff was a senior editor at *Time* magazine. He is known for his article, "The Magician and the Think Tank," published on March 12, 1973, which reported on [[Uri Geller]]'s testing at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] and the controversy surrounding it[^1]. + +Jaroff's article was influenced by [[George Lawrence]], an [[ARPA]] project manager, who told Jaroff that Geller was a "charlatan" and encouraged the magazine to write an exposé. Lawrence's unauthorized communication with a reporter was a violation of his security clearance, leading to an investigation by the [[CIA]][^1]. + +Jaroff's reporting contributed to the public debate and skepticism surrounding Geller's abilities and the government's involvement in [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] research[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Leonard Joy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Leonard Joy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9f5d4351 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Leonard Joy.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Legal + - USA +--- +[[Leonard Joy]] was a lawyer from the [[Legal Aid Society of New York]]. He visited [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] in jail after a bail hearing and offered his services "on the house" to plead [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] guilty and get him a deal to return to [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Lonnie Hammond.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Lonnie Hammond.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..43bf72dc --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Lonnie Hammond.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Lonnie Hammond]] was a deputy appointed by Sheriff [[Ken Mattheys]] to handle the internal affairs aspect of the investigation into [[Ron Van Meter]]'s disappearance. Hammond was a former cop from the Southern [[California]] area.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Lowell Jensen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Lowell Jensen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d32abfbe --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Lowell Jensen.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +D. Lowell Jensen served as Deputy Attorney General of the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. He became a figure in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] due to allegations made by [[Inslaw Corporation]] and findings by Bankruptcy Judge Bason. Further, his secretary brought a letter to [[William Bradford Reynolds]] for signature because Jensen was out of the building, the letter needed to be sent that day, and it needed to be signed by someone in [[Edwin Meese]]'s inner circle. This letter advised that the [[PROMIS]] software was being provided to an Arab Sheik for resale and general distribution.[^1] + +[[Edwin Meese]] reportedly recused himself on [[PROMIS]] when he became [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] in February 1985, and Jensen therefore had to handle [[PROMIS]].[^1] + +Inslaw alleged that Jensen had a "previously developed negative attitude about [[PROMIS]] and [[INSLAW]]" and that he consciously ignored Inslaw's complaints about [[C. Madison Brewer]]. Inslaw further alleged that Jensen, through various subordinates, was induced by [[Earl Brian]]'s political influence to engineer disputes with Inslaw, eventually driving the company into bankruptcy. Bankruptcy Judge Bason, in his findings, concluded that Jensen's "biased attitude toward Inslaw contributed to the situation in which Inslaw's complaints about Brewer and the administration of the PROMIS implementation contract went unheeded."[^2] + +However, the investigation by Special Counsel [[Nicholas J. Bua]] found no credible evidence to support these allegations. Judge Jensen, who later became a federal district judge, denied engineering any contract disputes with Inslaw or directing any DOJ action to harm Inslaw. He also denied any financial interest in companies controlled by Brian (such as [[Biotech]], [[Hadron]], [[Accumenics]], and [[Simeon]]) or ever being promised stock in any computer-related company. He stated that he was sincerely interested in modernizing DOJ operations through computer technology, recalling "[[Project Eagle]]," a multi-million dollar project to automate DOJ's litigating divisions, but denied involvement in awarding contracts for it, noting that the Request For Proposals (RFP) for the project was issued in May 1986, and he was appointed to the bench the following June.[^2] +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. +[^2]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Lucky Jordan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Lucky Jordan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ca422e8e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Lucky Jordan.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Lucky Jordan]] was a reserve deputy who, on the same day [[Ron Van Meter]] reported corruption to the [[California Attorney General's Office|Attorney General's office]], drove to the Fresno office of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] to report similar information. According to Jordan, they had split up and reported to separate agencies in case "something" happened to one of them.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Lyndon B. Johnson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Lyndon B. Johnson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4024eb83 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Lyndon B. Johnson.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - President + - USA +--- +Lyndon B. Johnson was the 36th President of the [[United States]], serving from 1963 to 1969. He was initially left in the dark on sensitive national security issues by President [[John F. Kennedy]] and his top aides, and reportedly went "berserk" upon being briefed in by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] after Kennedy's assassination.[^1] + +Johnson's ties to [[Israel]] were strong, influenced by his close advisers like [[Abe Fortas]] and [[Edwin L. Weisl, Sr.]], and his knowledge of [[Abraham Feinberg]]'s fundraising skills. A deeper link stemmed from his visit to the Nazi concentration camp at [[Dachau]] at the end of World War II, which left him profoundly shaken. His sensitivity to the plight of European Jews began even before the war, when as a young congressman, he helped German refugees gain asylum in [[America]], circumventing red tape and preventing deportations.[^1] + +Johnson's strong emotional ties to [[Israel]] and his belief that Soviet arms were altering the balance of power in the [[Middle East]] drove him to become the first American President to supply [[Israel]] with offensive weapons and the first publicly to commit [[America]] to its defense. In the early years of his presidency, he echoed Kennedy's policy by urging [[Israel]] to submit [[Dimona]] to [[International Atomic Energy Agency|IAEA]] inspection, motivated by his belief that a nuclear [[Israel]] could lead to a nuclear [[Egypt]], increased Soviet involvement, and potentially war.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 9. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Lyndon Johnson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Lyndon Johnson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dd72561d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Lyndon Johnson.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Lyndon B. Johnson]] served as the 36th President of the [[United States]]. His rise to power emanated directly from his friends in Texas oil, including the [[Clint Murchison, Sr.|Murchison family]].[^1] + +As Senate Majority Leader, Johnson made [[Bobby Baker]] his secretary of the Senate Democrats in 1955, referring to Baker as "my strong right arm, the last man I see at night, the first I see in the morning." A major scandal brewed around Baker in the autumn of 1963, involving numerous questionable deals that were tightly interwoven with the [[Clint Murchison, Sr.|Murchison family]] and organized crime figures.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/M. L. Juncosa.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/M. L. Juncosa.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c9790bda --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/M. L. Juncosa.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +aliases: + - M. L. Juncosa +tags: + - Person + - Author +--- +M. L. Juncosa was a co-author of the Pentagon briefing, "Paranormal Phenomena—Briefing on a Net Assessment Study," published in January 1973. This report, co-authored with [[P. T. Van Dyke]], discussed the potential military utility of [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis|PK]], particularly in the context of [[Uri Geller]]'s alleged abilities[^1]. + +The study noted that it would not be conceptually difficult to imagine the utility of psychokinesis in disrupting electrical systems, such as those associated with an [[Intercontinental Ballistic Missile|ICBM]]'s guidance program, as displayed by Geller. The report emphasized a serious need for detailed analytical studies of these phenomena by specialists in various scientific disciplines[^1]. + +Juncosa and Van Dyke also highlighted the challenge facing anyone working on such studies, noting that the subject matter "tends to be polarized into uncritical acceptance or total rejection" of fact. They lamented that little progress was likely to be made as long as the research field remained a "childish battle between 'true believers' and 'the incredulous [who] dismiss the matter out of hand'"[^1]. + +## Publications +* "Paranormal Phenomena—Briefing on a Net Assessment Study" (1973, co-authored with P. T. Van Dyke) + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Manfred Herrmann.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Manfred Herrmann.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6682d90d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Manfred Herrmann.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - ArmsDealer + - Germany +--- +[[Manfred Herrmann]] was a German expatriate in his 60s who owned an automobile spare-parts company in [[Guatemala City]] known as [[Sedra]]. He was involved in [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence operations in [[Guatemala]].[^1] + +Herrmann was recruited to represent [[Ora Group|Ora]], an [[Israel|Israeli]] arms-running company, in [[Guatemala]]. His partner, [[Baldur K. Kleine]], was the representative in Maitland, [[Florida]], coordinating activities in [[Central America]]. After [[Robert Maxwell]] took over [[Degem]], [[Rafi Eitan]] asked [[Earl Brian]] to provide [[Baldur K. Kleine|Kleine]] with the [[PROMIS]] software, complete with its "trap door." [[Baldur K. Kleine|Kleine]] then passed the program to Herrmann, who also received the [[Israel|Israeli]] version of [[PROMIS]].[^1] + +Herrmann's Sedra company, in conjunction with [[Robert Maxwell|Maxwell's]] [[Degem]], played a key role in implementing [[PROMIS]] in [[Guatemala]]. This involved setting up terminals in offices, railway stations, airports, and even remote roadblocks, as part of a system to track suspected dissidents. This venture was a major success from an intelligence perspective, enabling the tracking of individuals even under false names.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Marcella Miller du Pont.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Marcella Miller du Pont.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..da08863f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Marcella Miller du Pont.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Marcella Miller du Pont +tags: + - person + - philanthropist +description: Marcella Miller du Pont was an heiress to the du Pont chemical and weapons production conglomerate and a key financial backer of Andrija Puharich's Round Table Foundation. +--- +Marcella Miller du Pont was an heiress to the [[du Pont]] chemical and weapons production conglomerate and a passionate supporter of [[ESP]] research. She was a key financial backer of [[Andrija Puharich]]'s [[Round Table Foundation]] and held the honorary title of "mother of magic" within the organization.[^1] + +According to documents from the Library of Congress, it was du Pont who first brought the Round Table Foundation to the attention of top-tier government officials, including Admiral John E. Gingrich, the director of security and intelligence for the Atomic Energy Commission.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Margaret Mead.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Margaret Mead.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3bf96f8d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Margaret Mead.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Margaret Mead +tags: + - person + - anthropologist +description: Margaret Mead was a renowned American cultural anthropologist who played a role in the recognition of parapsychology as a scientific discipline. +--- + +Margaret Mead was a renowned American cultural anthropologist. In 1969, she delivered a rousing conference speech that contributed to the American Association for the Advancement of Science's decision to admit the [[Parapsychological Association]] to its ranks of approved disciplines. Her support helped lend a degree of legitimacy to the field of parapsychology, which had long struggled for scientific acceptance.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Marilyn Jacobs.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Marilyn Jacobs.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1e4dc97b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Marilyn Jacobs.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Marilyn Jacobs was the secretary to [[Lowell Jensen]] at the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. She continued to work for Judge Jensen after he moved to San Francisco in 1986 following his appointment to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. + +[[Bill Hamilton]]'s affidavit alleged that Jacobs told an anonymous informant that Judge Jensen "was the main person behind the [[Inslaw Corporation|INSLAW]] problem" and that "his style was to operate using his subordinates." However, Jacobs stated that the information contained in Hamilton's affidavit was false. She denied ever telling anyone anything about [[INSLAW]] while she was at the Department, or that Jensen was the main person behind the Inslaw problem, or anything to that effect. She also denied ever telling anyone that Jensen's style was to operate using his subordinates. To her knowledge, Judge Jensen was not involved in any wrongdoing with regard to Inslaw. The Special Counsel's investigation acknowledged that Jacobs' credibility might be viewed in light of her continued employment with Judge Jensen, but given the failure of Hamilton's supposed source to come forward and the lack of other evidence linking Judge Jensen to any Inslaw-related conspiracy, her denial was found credible.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mark Kesselman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mark Kesselman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..50b6f642 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mark Kesselman.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Mark Kesselman was formerly associated with [[Allen and Company]] in New York City, a Wall Street Investment Bank. He resigned from the firm in February 1984. + +In late 1983, Kesselman was asked by [[Charles Allen]] to assist Allen's nephew, [[Nathaniel Kramer]], in an analysis of a company in Northern Virginia. Kesselman did not recall the name of the company, but remembered that [[Dominic Laiti]], [[Paul Wormeli]], and [[Robert Burke]] were executives of this company, and that it was developing computer software for police patrol cars. Kesselman spent one day in Northern Virginia reviewing this company and did not recall any additional involvement with it thereafter. The Special Counsel's investigation found that Kesselman's testimony did not support [[Bill Hamilton]]'s claim that the 1983 New York trip was to raise money related to [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] or [[PROMIS]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mark Nichols.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mark Nichols.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2030a181 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mark Nichols.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Mark Nichols]] inherited the position of administrator of the [[Cabazon Tribal Council|Cabazon tribe]] from his brother, [[John Paul Nichols]], in 1989.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Marshall Pease.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Marshall Pease.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c4567f8f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Marshall Pease.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Marshall Pease +tags: + - person + - mathematician + - psychic +description: Marshall Pease was a mathematician at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) and one of the "ordinary people" who demonstrated strong psychic talents in early remote viewing tests. +--- + +[[Marshall Pease]] was a mathematician at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] and one of the "ordinary people" who demonstrated strong psychic talents in early remote viewing tests conducted by [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]]. In late 1973 and early 1974, Puthoff and Targ focused their research on Pease and three other individuals, exploring their psychic abilities.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Marvin Rudnick.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Marvin Rudnick.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ecb6f5a4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Marvin Rudnick.md @@ -0,0 +1,9 @@ +[[Marvin Rudnick]] was a [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] who supervised the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretap investigation of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]. He, along with [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent [[Thomas Gates]] and [[Richard Stavin]] of the Organized Crime Strike Force, believed that [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] had been penetrated by organized crime, based on the wiretaps.[1] + +Rudnick subsequently lost his job when he refused to drop the investigation into [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]. The wiretaps were later sealed by the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]], and no prosecutions were pursued. The Los Angeles Organized Crime Strike Force was disbanded, and Rudnick's efforts to expose the alleged organized crime penetration of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] were thwarted.[1] + +After losing his job, Rudnick eventually had part of his story told in the 1993 book, *Stiffed: A True Story of MCA, The Music Business, and the Mafia* by William Knoedelseder.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mary Quick.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mary Quick.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c899b3e0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mary Quick.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Mary Quick]] was a 63-year-old school teacher and president of the Woman's Auxiliary at Fresno's American Legion Post 509. She was shot in the face and her purse stolen on January 14, 1982. Her death, along with that of [[Paul Morasca]], was traced to looted [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] money from the Sydney-based [[Nugan Hand Bank]].[^1] + +Her nephew, [[Brian Weiss]], who had been living at her house in Fresno, was a business associate of [[Michael Riconosciuto]]. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] had told [[Paul Morasca]] that he had given Mary Quick a card containing secret bank account code numbers, believing she could be trusted due to her lack of connection to any of the principals. She was instructed to give the code numbers over the phone only to [[Paul Morasca]] or [[Michael Riconosciuto]].[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] later admitted that he had not, in fact, given any cards to Mary Quick, but had kept them hidden. However, Morasca believed, and under torture revealed, that one of the cards was being held by Mary Quick and the rest were stored in a safe deposit box. Mary Quick died three days later. The computer cards that Morasca and Mary Quick allegedly died for belonged to the Tyme Shares on-line financial clearing house.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mason O. Lidell Jr..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mason O. Lidell Jr..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6f1efa61 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mason O. Lidell Jr..md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Mason O. Lidell Jr.]] was the superintendent of [[Paul Wilcher]]'s building. He provided information regarding the scene after Wilcher's death. Lidell stated that a Lieutenant and a Sergeant from the DC Police, with the help of firemen, entered Wilcher's apartment. They found Wilcher's computer turned on and, after reading what was on the screen, summoned the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]].[^1] + +After entering the apartment and getting a brief glance at the body and the apartment, Lidell was ordered to leave. The apartment was sealed off for the rest of the day, except for official personnel. The body was removed around 12:30 p.m., though Lidell did not witness this. He noted that when he re-entered the apartment later, there was blood on the floor and commode that was not present earlier, which he was told was due to measures taken to move the body.[^1] + +Lidell stated that [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] Agents arrived around 4:30 p.m., and at least three [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] Agents entered the apartment between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. He also claimed that one man appeared and identified himself as [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] (without offering identification) and joined the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agents in the apartment during that time. Lidell also noted that an NBC camera crew was prevented from entering the apartment.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Matthew Livelsberger.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Matthew Livelsberger.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6413b317 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Matthew Livelsberger.md @@ -0,0 +1,31 @@ +Matthew Alan Livelsberger was born July 22, 1987 in Arizona. He was raised in Bucyrus, Ohio where he attended Bucyrus High school and graduated in 2005. + +He attended Norwich University from 2016-2019 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis (Summa Cum Laude). +## Army Service +In January 2006, he joined the [[U.S. Army]] where he served actively until March 2011. He then joined the [[National Guard]] from March 2011 to July 2012. During this period he briefly worked for [[General Dynamics]] (July 2011-May 2012) as a hyperspectral Imaging Integrator on the “Lightguard Minotaur system.”[^7] This was followed by rejoining the [[Army Reserve]] from July 2012 to December 2012. He then reenlisted into active duty in the [[U.S. Army]] as part of the [[Special Operations Group|Special Operations]] where he served in active duty until his death January 1, 2025 in the [[Cybertruck Trump Hotel Bombing]] as a potential [[act of terrorism]].[^5] + +He served in Afghanistan (2017-2019), Ukraine (2016), the Republic of Congo (2014), Tajikistan (2016), and Georgia as a [[Green Beret]].[^1] He was awarded two Bronze stars and an Army Commendation Medal. In Dec 2016 he received the Department of State Meritorious Honor Award (DMSHA) for work in Central Asian States. At one point he was stationed at [[Fort Bragg]], but most of his career he was stationed at [[Fort Carson]][^3]. His last assignment as a Master Sargent was to the 10th group in Germany as a "systems manager” and involved building drones. He was on leave in the days preceding the bombing and his death. + +There were social media posts made that suggested he was helping to connect soldiers to recruiters for Ukraine. +## Personal Life +Livelsberger was married twice (first divorced in 2018) and had a young daughter from his most recent merger. His latest wife allegedly broke up with him in the days preceding the explosion over Matthew’s adultery.[^2] + +On the drive to Las Vegas, he was texting [[Alicia Arritt]], an old girlfriend, about the cyber truck. +> “I rented a Tesla Cybertruck. It’s the shit” +> "I feel like Batman or halo” +> “I'm building drones in my new position”[^3] + +He was on a history channel reality show at one point.[^6] +## Medical History +Matthew had back surgery twice from his time as a paratrooper[^3]. In 2019, following his service in Afghanistan, he suffered a traumatic brain injury causing behavior change. He did not seek treatment. +## Politics +Livelsberger was allegedly a supporter of Donald Trump and voted for him in Novemeber 2024. +## Manifesto +The day prior to his death, Livelsberger allegedly sent a manifesto ([[Cybertruck Trump Hotel Bombing#^5630d3|manifesto text]]) to [[Sam Shoemate]] (@samosaur) on December 31, 2024[^4] alleging, among other things, that the [[New Jersey Drones|NJ Drones]] are Chinese [[anti-gravitic]] devices, that the United States also possesses this technology, that he is aware of war crimes committed in 2019 by the United States, and that he has TSSCI with [[UAP]] [[Special Access Programs|USAP]] access. He indicated that these craft were controlled from a building at Groom Lake. +# Footnotes +[^1]: [Man who rented Cybertruck that exploded in Las Vegas a Green Beret, official says](https://archive.is/RKsXC) +[^2]: [Cybertruck bomber Matthew Livelsberger’s wife broke up with him days before explosion outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas: sources](https://archive.is/V3mds) +[^3]: [ What Matthew Livelsberger texted ex days before Cybertruck explosion at Trump hotel in Las Vegas](https://archive.is/L0NjZ) +[^5]: [US Army statement](https://archive.is/Sebb4) +[^6]: [History channel show](https://x.com/InsideEdition/status/1875312049443758517) ([archive](https://archive.is/T0L86)) +[^7]: [Livelsberger LinkedIn Page Archive](https://archive.is/ylhFG) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Maurice Ghanem.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Maurice Ghanem.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..46e5c780 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Maurice Ghanem.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Maurice Ghanem]] was a figure involved in meetings concerning [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]'s participation in the redevelopment of [[Lebanon]]. He participated in meetings held in Beirut in February and May 1983, alongside the Chamouns and Mourad Baroudy, to discuss [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]'s role.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed to have worked directly under Maurice Ghanem and [[George K. Pender]] in [[Lebanon]]. Riconosciuto also stated that Maurice had a relative, either a brother or a cousin, who was a senior [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] official with [[Michael T. Hurley]]. This relative was later identified as [[Fred Ghanem]], who had special knowledge of Lebanese communities in Detroit, Houston, and Los Angeles, and whose knowledge led to an increase in [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]]-controlled deliveries of heroin into the [[United States]].[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] also stated that Maurice Ghanem was "agency," meaning [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], in [[Lebanon]], and that he, Maurice, and [[George K. Pender]] worked together.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Meir Meir.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Meir Meir.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c5ea436c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Meir Meir.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +Colonel [[Meir Meir]] was the chief of the External Relations Department (ERD) of the [[Israel Defense Forces]]/Military Intelligence. He interviewed [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] for a civilian position in the ERD in 1977, believing they could utilize [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] [[Iran|Iranian]] expertise.[^1] + +[[Meir Meir|Col. Meir]] was contacted by [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] during his mission to [[Nicaragua]] in 1978, when [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] was detained by [[Nicaragua|Nicaraguan]] state security. [[Meir Meir|Col. Meir]] confirmed [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] identity to the [[Nicaragua|Nicaraguan]] ambassador.[^1] + +He also sent [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] to [[Washington D.C.]] with [[David Kimche]] on the [[Mossad]] budget, as [[David Kimche|Kimche]] needed an [[Iran|Iranian]] affairs briefer for a secret operation to supply [[Iran]] with small arms and spare parts.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Meyer Lansky.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Meyer Lansky.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d16def79 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Meyer Lansky.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Meyer Lansky]] was a prominent Florida mobster. His Fremont Hotel in Las Vegas was financed through a [[Jimmy Hoffa|Hoffa]] loan. [[Edward Levinson]], a Las Vegas gambler, was a lieutenant of Lansky. Through [[Bobby Baker]], Levinson became acquainted with [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Michael A. McManus.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Michael A. McManus.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8e6650e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Michael A. McManus.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Michael A. McManus]] served as Assistant to President [[Ronald Reagan]] at the [[White House]] in Washington D.C. He was also a Director, Vice President, and General Counsel to [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]. [^1] + +McManus played a role in [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]'s activities in [[Lebanon]]. A letter dated June 29, 1983, from McManus to [[George K. Pender]] of [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]], written on [[White House]] letterhead, acknowledged an update on [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]'s efforts in the rebuilding of [[Lebanon]] and expressed the [[United States Government|U.S. government]]'s interest in the success of these efforts. This correspondence highlights his involvement in the company's operations and its connections to high-level government interests.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Michael Hand.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Michael Hand.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6dac2718 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Michael Hand.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +[[Michael Hand]] was a highly decorated Special Forces Green Beret soldier in [[Vietnam]]. He later co-founded [[Nugan Hand Bank]] in [[Australia]] with [[Frank Nugan]] and officials of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]-owned [[Air America]]. Hand had special knowledge of intelligence operations in the [[Golden Triangle]].[^1] + +After his first tour in [[Vietnam]], Hand moved to the clandestine [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] war in [[Laos]], according to [[Ted Shackley]], a former station chief in Indo-China.[^1] + +[[Nugan Hand Bank]], a primary [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operation in the Pacific area, reportedly laundered profits from drug trafficking in the [[Golden Triangle]]. These laundered profits, in turn, financed subversive paramilitary activities in Southeast [[Asia]]. The bank collapsed in 1980, $5 billion in debt, and Michael Hand disappeared.[^1] + +According to the book *The Crimes of Patriots* by [[Jonathan Kwitny]], Michael Hand reportedly fled [[Australia]] under a false identity on June 14, 1980, on a flight to [[Fiji]]. He was allegedly helped to escape by an American code-named "[[Codename Charlie|Charlie]]," identified by Kwitny as a former member of the [[United States Army Special Forces|U.S. Special Forces]] and ex-[[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operative.[^1] + +In 1991, Australian journalist [[Brian Toohey]] reported in his *The Eye* magazine that Michael Hand had a postal drop at a suite in NE Bellevue, Washington State, and his wife was reportedly living with him there. [[Michael Riconosciuto]], who was living near Tacoma, Washington State, when he was arrested in 1991, claimed to have been in direct communication with Michael Hand before and after Hand's disappearance, and that he had handled money transfers for Hand when he fled [[Australia]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Michael Milken.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Michael Milken.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..20246c17 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Michael Milken.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Finance + - USA +--- +[[Michael Milken]] was a prominent stockbroker known for building his junk-bond fortune at the brokerage house [[Drexel Burnham]]. His activities intersected with the financial operations of the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]]'s slush fund. + +Large amounts of money from the arms sales to [[Iran]] were funneled through [[USA|American]] banks and held at [[Drexel Burnham]], contributing to Milken's firm's stature and its ability to underwrite huge quantities of junk bonds. These deposits were managed on behalf of [[Israel|Israeli]] front companies.[^1] + +In 1987, the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]] decided to withdraw its funds from Drexel, a decision that contributed to Milken's growing troubles and ultimately to the fall of Drexel Burnham.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Michael T. Hurley.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Michael T. Hurley.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a18301de --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Michael T. Hurley.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Michael T. Hurley]] was a [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] Country Attache in Nicosia, [[Cyprus]]. He had overall responsibility for [[Euramae Trading Company]], Ltd., and its initiative to sell [[PROMIS]] software to Middle Eastern countries for drug abuse control. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] initially believed Hurley worked for the State Department, but later identified him as the in-country attache for the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] in Nicosia, [[Cyprus]].[^1] + +Hurley was involved in a [[National Security Council|NSC]]-sanctioned drug/sting operation in [[Lebanon]] through Euramae Trading Company. This operation involved the flow of heroin to maintain the credibility of intelligence operations. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that the operation became "perverted" at the U.S. end, with controlled heroin shipments being doubled or tripled, and only a third of the heroin being returned to the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]].[^1] + +[[Werner Tony Asmar]], a [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] intelligence agent, became aware of what was happening with Hurley and the "non-controlled" loads of heroin being shipped back to the [[United States]]. Asmar was later killed in a bomb blast, with his cover reportedly "deliberately blown."[^1] + +In 1990, the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] reassigned Hurley to a [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] intelligence position in Washington State. [[Lester Coleman]] found this reassignment suspicious, believing it was done to "manufacture a case" against [[Michael Riconosciuto]] and prevent Riconosciuto from becoming a credible witness about the [[United States Government|U.S. government]]'s covert sale of the [[PROMIS]] software to foreign governments.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Michele Gaudet.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Michele Gaudet.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a7d0ce5b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Michele Gaudet.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Michele Gaudet]] was the spokesman for the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]]. She told *Insight* magazine that the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] investigation into the [[PROMIS]] software was ongoing and very much about the [[PROMIS]] software, which "may or may not involve back-door entrance into the most secret computer systems in the Western world."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mike Murphy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mike Murphy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d68c03c1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mike Murphy.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Mike Murphy]] was the Deputy Attorney General for the [[California Department of Justice]], San Diego office. He was prosecuting the case against [[Jimmy Hughes]]. Murphy advised [[John Powers]] that the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] would approve the arrest warrant for [[Jimmy Hughes]], but they wanted Powers to arrest "all the suspects simultaneously."[^1] + +On July 1, 2010, Murphy requested that the case against [[Jimmy Hughes]] be dismissed under Penal Code 1385. He told the court that the [[California Attorney General's Office|Attorney General's office]] had developed new information not known to law enforcement when the charges were filed, leading them to reassess and drop the case. He also cited a problem with the "procedural history" of the case, though he did not define it. Murphy stated, "We have lost confidence in our ability to proceed with the prosecution of this case."[^1] + +[[Rachel Begley]] expressed her disbelief in Murphy's claim of new information, stating that the evidence she found was more than sufficient. She also questioned how [[California Attorney General]] [[Jerry Brown]] could support the release of Hughes and criticized Murphy's handling of the case as "prosecutorial misconduct and a miscarriage of justice."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Miles Matthews.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Miles Matthews.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..79d76e25 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Miles Matthews.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Miles Matthews was the Executive Officer of the Criminal Division within the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. He was implicated in allegations surrounding the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]]. + +According to a source of [[Ronald LeGrand]], Matthews was one of three senior DOJ officials, along with [[James Knapp]] and [[James Johnston]], whom [[Lowell Jensen]] allegedly relied upon to engineer [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]'s problems. LeGrand's source claimed that Matthews stated in his presence that "Lowell [Jensen] wants to get [[INSLAW]] out of the way and give the business to friends."[^1] + +However, when interviewed by the Special Counsel, Miles Matthews denied ever making such a statement or believing that Lowell Jensen wanted to harm Inslaw or favor certain businesses. He also denied ever hearing of procurement documents regarding Project Eagle being improperly shredded. Matthews stated he had never met or had any contact with [[Earl Brian]], [[Hadron]], [[Dominic Laiti]], [[Simeon]], or [[Accumenics]]. The Special Counsel's investigation found no credible evidence to support the allegations against Matthews or any connection between him and a conspiracy related to Inslaw or PROMIS.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mir Hossein Mousavi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mir Hossein Mousavi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d7fb15d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mir Hossein Mousavi.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Iran +--- +[[Mir Hossein Mousavi]] was the Prime Minister of [[Iran]]. He had close ties with [[Manuchehr Ghorbanifar]], an [[Iran|Iranian]] businessman and [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] agent. [[Mir Hossein Mousavi|Mousavi]] was aligned with [[Mohsen Rafiqdoost]], the minister for the [[Iranian Revolutionary Guards]], and tried to open the second channel for arms sales to [[Iran]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mohammed Jalali.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mohammed Jalali.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3c473bbb --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mohammed Jalali.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Politics + - Iran +--- +Colonel [[Mohammed Jalali]] was the Defense Minister of [[Iran]]. He was a key figure in the [[Iran|Iranian]] government's arms procurement during the [[Iran-Iraq War]] and had direct dealings with [[Israel|Israeli]] and [[USA|U.S.]] officials.[^1] + +[[Mohammed Jalali|Jalali]] worked with the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee|Israeli Joint Committee]] and was involved in negotiations for arms sales to [[Iran]]. In July 1987, he met with [[Robert Gates]] in [[Kansas City]] to seek assurances that arms supplies to [[Iran]] would continue despite the [[Iran-Contra Affair]] scandal. He also expressed concern about the [[USA|U.S.]] supporting the supply of chemical weapons to [[Iraq]].[^1] + +In late 1985, [[Mohammed Jalali|Jalali]] was part of a faction within the [[Iran|Iranian]] Supreme Council that was loyal to [[Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani|Hojjat El-Islam Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani]]. He opposed the [[Oliver North|North]]-[[Amiram Nir|Nir]] second channel for arms sales to [[Iran]], and [[Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani|Rafsanjani]] assured [[Israel|Israel]] that there would be no sales through these new people.[^1] + +[[Mohammed Jalali|Jalali]] was involved in the deal concerning the three [[C-130]] aircraft. He requested these planes in exchange for the release of three [[Israel|Israeli]] soldiers held in [[Lebanon]]. He also pushed for the payment to [[Chile]] for [[F-5E Tiger-2|F-5E]] aircraft and was in favor of leaking to the press that [[Iran]] was in business with [[Santiago]].[^1] + +[[Mohammed Jalali|Jalali]] is mentioned as being retired and living in [[Iran]] with a second home in [[London]] as of 1992.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mohammed Mossadegh.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mohammed Mossadegh.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..64008ef8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mohammed Mossadegh.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Iran +--- +[[Mohammed Mossadegh]] was the Prime Minister of [[Iran]]. In late 1950 and early 1951, the Majlis (Parliament) passed an act nationalizing oil, leading to the withdrawal of the British [[Anglo-Iranian Oil Company]]. This resulted in [[Mohammed Mossadegh|Mossadegh]] being in charge of a nation in uproar, with fierce internal conflicts and street riots.[^1] + +[[Mohammed Mossadegh|Mossadegh]] was overthrown in 1953, and [[Kermit Roosevelt]] and [[Miles Copeland]] of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] helped restore the [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Shah]] to power. [[Mehdi Bazargan]], the first prime minister appointed by [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini|Khomeini's]] revolutionary government, was a supporter of [[Mohammed Mossadegh|Mossadegh]] and a member of the National Front.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mohsen Rafiqdoost.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mohsen Rafiqdoost.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..15c9e1c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mohsen Rafiqdoost.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Iran +--- +[[Mohsen Rafiqdoost]] was the minister for the [[Iranian Revolutionary Guards]] in [[Iran]]. He was aligned with [[Mir Hossein Mousavi]], the Prime Minister of [[Iran]], and tried to open the second channel for arms sales to [[Iran]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mordecai Hod.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mordecai Hod.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7a4f4078 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Mordecai Hod.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Israel +--- +Mordecai Hod was the chief of staff of the Israeli Air Force. He, along with [[Yitzhak Rabin]], went to see [[Abraham Feinberg]] to express their agitation that [[Clark Clifford]] was insisting on [[Israel]] signing the [[Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty|NPT]] as a condition for receiving F-4 fighter jets. Feinberg then intervened to ensure the F-4 sale proceeded without this condition.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 14. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Morton H. Halperin.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Morton H. Halperin.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e90f8b97 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Morton H. Halperin.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Morton H. Halperin was a close aide to [[Henry A. Kissinger]] on the [[National Security Council]] staff. He recalled that Kissinger believed it was good to spread nuclear weapons around the world and that if he were the Israelis, he would get nuclear weapons. Kissinger did not believe that the [[United States]] should try to talk them out of it. Halperin also noted that Kissinger believed [[Japan]], as well as [[Israel]], would be better off with the bomb than without it, viewing nuclear weapons as essential to their national security.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 16. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Moshe Hebroni.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Moshe Hebroni.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..604569d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Moshe Hebroni.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +Major [[Moshe Hebroni]] was the chief of staff for the director of [[Israeli Military Intelligence]], [[Yehoshua Sagi]]. He was a member of the initial [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]].[^1] + +[[Moshe Hebroni|Hebroni]] was involved in expediting the export license for tires sold to [[Iran]] in April 1980. He also received a call from [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] regarding [[Sayeed Mehdi Kashani|Kashani's]] request for military aid from [[Israel]], and instructed [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] to bring [[Sayeed Mehdi Kashani|Kashani]] directly to the general headquarters of [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]]/MI.[^1] + +[[Moshe Hebroni|Hebroni]] was the duty officer who received the letter from [[Pierre Gemayel]] to [[Ariel Sharon]] warning of the impending [[Sabra and Shatila massacres]]. He made copies of the letter and informed [[Yehoshua Sagi|Sagi]]. After the massacres, [[Moshe Hebroni|Hebroni]] was allowed to spend three months as head of branch in the External Relations Department, a period during which he could remove any documentation that might implicate him and [[Yehoshua Sagi|Sagi]] in the massacres.[^1] + +[[Moshe Hebroni|Hebroni]] later worked for the [[Jewish Agency]] and was an unofficial adviser to [[Yitzhak Shamir]] after leaving [[Mossad]] in 1989. He confirmed [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] access to highly sensitive intelligence material.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Myron B. Kratzer.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Myron B. Kratzer.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f9658bc2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Myron B. Kratzer.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Myron B. Kratzer was the director of international affairs for the [[Atomic Energy Commission|AEC]] in December 1960. He recalled being telephoned a few hours before [[John A. McCone]]'s farewell appearance on *Meet the Press* by a [[State Department]] colleague, who urged him to ask McCone to downplay the Israeli nuclear issue. McCone, however, refused, stating he would not "tell anything less than the truth."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 6. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Nancy Hamilton.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Nancy Hamilton.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7c32df23 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Nancy Hamilton.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is in development. Mrs. Hamilton's contributions are difficult to separate. + +Nancy Burke Hamilton was raised in St. Louis Hills and went to Maryville College[^1]. She married [[Bill Hamilton]] in 1963 and together founded [[INSLAW]] that developed [[PROMIS]] software. + +--- +#### Footnotes +[^1]: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/139683581/ \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Nezar Hindawi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Nezar Hindawi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..17e30e91 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Nezar Hindawi.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Terrorism + - UK + - Syria +--- +[[Nezar Hindawi]] is a Syrian national who was involved in a 1986 plot to bomb an [[El Al]] plane. He was recruited by his cousin, [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah]], as part of an [[Rafi Eitan|Israeli]] "black" operation designed to discredit [[Syria]]. + +Hindawi was instructed to ensure his pregnant Irish girlfriend, Ann-Marie Murphy, boarded an [[El Al]] flight with explosives in her bag. He was led to believe the money for this operation came from "Syrian brothers on behalf of the Palestinians." He arranged for her to receive the bomb package in the [[Heathrow Airport|El Al]] departure lounge after passing through security, expecting her to die in the explosion along with other passengers. + +The plot was foiled by [[Israel|Israeli]] security, who were aware of the operation. Hindawi was arrested and subsequently jailed for 45 years. His actions led to [[Margaret Thatcher|Margaret Thatcher's]] government closing down the [[Syrian Embassy in London|Syrian Embassy]] in London. + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Oscar Mejia Victores.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Oscar Mejia Victores.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cba3bcce --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Oscar Mejia Victores.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Oscar Mejia Victores]] was a General who seized power in [[Guatemala]] in a coup in August 1983, ousting [[General Ríos Montt]].[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Pam MacLean.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Pam MacLean.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..94c9e2fa --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Pam MacLean.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Pam MacLean]] was a reporter for the *San Francisco Daily Journal*. She spent thousands of dollars to get the [[John Di Giorgio]] file unsealed. The unsealed documents revealed that the [[United States Government|U.S. government]] was looking for an alleged $13 million in laundered drug funds believed to be in [[Switzerland]], [[Germany]], and [[Israel]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Patrick McGuire.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Patrick McGuire.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b10aefbd --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Patrick McGuire.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Patrick McGuire]] worked for [[Wayne Reeder]] and subsequently joined the [[Montana Freeman]] in Jordan, Montana. He was arrested during the [[Montana Freeman siege]]. [[Peter Zokosky]] reportedly testified on McGuire's behalf as a character witness at the Freeman trial.[^1] + +McGuire also provided a Declaration on behalf of [[Jimmy Hughes]]. In this Declaration, McGuire noted that he had spoken with Reeder's lawyer, [[Clay Weed]], who stated that it was not in Reeder's interest to address the Nichols's or their illegal activities at the Bingo operation, as it would jeopardize Reeder's investment.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Patrick Moriarty.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Patrick Moriarty.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f69726ed --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Patrick Moriarty.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +[[Patrick Moriarty]] was a "fireworks magnate" and a long-time business partner (40 years) of [[Marshall Riconosciuto]]. Together, they owned several California businesses, including [[Hercules Research Corporation]] and [[Pyrotronics Corporation]].[^1] + +In 1981, Moriarty and [[Marshall Riconosciuto]] had funded 15 years of research, investing approximately $1 million of their own money, into developing a small electronic power supply for a METC (Modular Energy Transfer Catalyzer) unit, which could significantly reduce heating and cooling times in food processing and other industries.[^1] + +By 1983, Moriarty faced legal troubles. The *Los Angeles Times* reported that he, his business, and associates spent nearly half a million dollars to influence government decisions across California. He was closely associated with the notorious [[Robert Ferrante]], head of Consolidated Savings and Loan, which failed in 1985. Moriarty was also described as the manufacturer of Red Devil fireworks and the founder of the Bank of Irvine, which failed in 1984 due to fraud and mismanagement.[^1] + +In 1985, Moriarty pleaded guilty to mail fraud in what became the biggest political scandal in California in 30 years, leading to the indictment of over 10 prominent politicians for taking bribes from him.[^1] + +Moriarty was subpoenaed to testify on behalf of [[Bo Gritz]] at his trial in Las Vegas. Moriarty's lawyer, [[Jan Lawrence Handzlik]], stated that Moriarty had paid Gritz to make business trips to [[China]], [[Singapore]], and other parts of [[Asia]]. Gritz claimed his July 1989 trip to [[Asia]] was to negotiate an oil interest he and Moriarty had set up between the [[People's Republic of China]] and [[Indonesia]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Patty Hearst.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Patty Hearst.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..de2c974f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Patty Hearst.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Patty Hearst +tags: + - person + - victim + - heiress +description: Patty Hearst is an American newspaper heiress who was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) in 1974. +--- + +Patricia Campbell Hearst is an American newspaper heiress who was kidnapped in 1974 by the [[Symbionese Liberation Army]] (SLA), a radical left-wing organization.[^1] + +Her kidnapping became a major news story, and the Berkeley police requested the assistance of [[Pat Price]], a psychic at [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI), in the investigation. Price attempted to locate Hearst using remote viewing, but was unsuccessful.[^1] + +Hearst was eventually arrested with other SLA members in 1975. She claimed to have been brainwashed by the group and was later pardoned by President Jimmy Carter.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Pesah Melowany.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Pesah Melowany.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dabf72c1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Pesah Melowany.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Israel +--- +Colonel [[Pesah Melowany]] was an officer in the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Defense Forces]]' External Relations Department. He provided a letter of recommendation for [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], confirming Ben-Menashe's service in key positions within the department. The letter highlighted Ben-Menashe's involvement in "complex and sensitive assignments" that demanded "exceptional analytical and executive capabilities," and praised his "proficiency and devotion" and efficient and reliable fulfillment of assignments.[^1] + +This letter was later introduced as evidence during [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] trial to counter the [[Israel|Israeli]] government's claim that he was merely a low-level translator.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Peter Hurkos.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Peter Hurkos.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0340bce4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Peter Hurkos.md @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Peter Hurkos +tags: + - Person + - Psychic +--- +# Peter Hurkos + +Peter Hurkos was a Dutch psychic who gained international fame for his purported abilities, particularly psychometry—the act of divining information from an object through touch. A former house painter and [[World War II]] concentration camp survivor, Hurkos claimed his psychic powers manifested after he suffered a traumatic brain injury from a fall in 1941[^1]. + +In the fall of 1956, Hurkos was brought to the [[Round Table Foundation]] in Maine by [[Henry Belk]], a department store tycoon and one of [[Andrija Puharich]]'s investors. Hurkos's arrival boosted morale at the foundation, and he formed a close bond with [[Harry Stump]], another psychic working there[^1]. + +Puharich began regularly dosing Hurkos with hallucinogenic mushrooms, specifically *teonanáctl*, using himself as a control. Under the influence, Hurkos became fixated on outer space, claiming to see a flying saucer and extraterrestrials on Owl's Head beach. He also reported seeing ghosts and experiencing premonitions, including a poltergeist incident that coincided with the unexpected death of [[Alice Astor Bouverie]], a key financial supporter of the foundation[^1]. + +Hurkos's psychometric talents were observed by [[Bep Hermans]], Puharich's au pair and later wife. Hermans recalled that Hurkos, while blindfolded, could provide detailed information about the owner of an object simply by touching it[^1]. + +After the death of [[Alice Astor Bouverie]], Puharich and Hurkos traveled to Mexico in search of more *God's flesh* mushrooms. Despite the turmoil, the [[Round Table Foundation]] continued its activities, with Hurkos participating in experiments involving [[Telepathy]], [[Map Dowsing]], palmistry, and [[Eyeless Sight]][^1]. + +In the 1960s, Puharich and Hurkos traveled to the Sixth Naval District Personnel Conference in Charleston, South Carolina, to demonstrate [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and psychometry to submariners[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Peter Maris.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Peter Maris.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8f3bee94 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Peter Maris.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Peter Maris +tags: + - person + - CIA + - intelligence + - physicist +description: Peter Maris was a CIA physicist who, along with Ken Kress, tasked Pat Price with remote viewing the Soviet military research facility at Semipalatinsk. +--- + +Peter Maris was a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] physicist who, along with [[Ken Kress]], an engineer from the Office of Technical Service (OTS), tasked [[Pat Price]] with remote viewing the mysterious Soviet military research facility at Semipalatinsk (URDF-3). Maris and Kress were the CIA officials who brought in the coordinates for the site, which was also known as P-NUTS (probable nuclear underground test site) by Air Force intelligence. They knew little about the facility, only that it was a "research facility."[^1] + +Maris was present during Price's remote viewing sessions of Semipalatinsk, where Price described a large gantry crane, the construction of large metal spheres, and unique welding techniques. Initially, Maris and Kress were unsure what to make of Price's descriptions, but they later confirmed the existence of the crane and the spheres through satellite photography. The accuracy of Price's remote viewing, particularly his description of the crane, was so impressive that it helped secure funding for SRI's psi research for several years.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Phillip Hawes.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Phillip Hawes.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5a465af1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Phillip Hawes.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Phillip Hawes]] was the Indio City Manager. He confirmed to *Indio Daily News* staff writer [[Paul Zalis]] that [[William Cole]], a Los Angeles-based attorney, had been hired to investigate possible links between the triple slayings of [[Fred Alvarez]], [[Ralph Boger]], and [[Patricia Castro]] and the [[Cabazon Casino]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Pierre Mendès-France.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Pierre Mendès-France.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ac0779dd --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Pierre Mendès-France.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - France +--- +Pierre Mendès-France was a French politician who served as Prime Minister of [[France]] from 1954 to 1955. In late 1954, his coalition government granted authority for a nuclear weapons planning group to be formed inside the French Atomic Energy Commission, bringing senior officials of the ministry of defense into nuclear planning for the first time.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Pinhas Lavon.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Pinhas Lavon.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f791c8cf --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Pinhas Lavon.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Israel +--- +Pinhas Lavon was an Israeli politician who served as Defense Minister. He was a more hard-line figure than [[Moshe Sharett]] on the Arab question. The [[Lavon Affair]] in mid-1954, involving an Israeli spy ring bombing American, British, and Egyptian targets, led to Lavon's resignation, which was accepted by Sharett, who had not known of the operation.[^1] + +Lavon later became head of the Histadrut, the powerful federation of labor unions in [[Israel]]. He was a central figure in a scandal that resurfaced in the early 1960s, where he charged that [[David Ben-Gurion]], [[Shimon Peres]], and [[Moshe Dayan]] had undermined civilian authority over the military. These allegations were leaked to the press, breaking two cardinal rules of Israeli politics: discussing defense matters publicly and failing to keep party disputes private. Although a cabinet-level committee cleared Lavon of authorizing the failed operation in [[Egypt]], [[David Ben-Gurion]] refused to exonerate him, leading to further political turmoil.[^1] + +Lavon, along with [[Levi Eshkol]], was among the senior government officials hostile to nuclear development who refused to allocate research funds for the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission, leading to the departure of several commissioners.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3, 6, 9. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/R. S. Hawke.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/R. S. Hawke.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..53c4388b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/R. S. Hawke.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +aliases: + - R. S. Hawke +tags: + - Person + - Scientist +--- +R. S. Hawke was one of the scientists at [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] who conducted classified [[Psychokinesis|psychokinesis]] tests with [[Uri Geller]] in the winter of 1975. These tests aimed to determine if Geller could interfere with high-quality lasers and affect magnetic computer program cards[^1]. + +Hawke documented the results of one of these tests, stating that "The magnetic pattern stored in the iron oxide layer of a magnetic program card was erased." He concluded that "Further experiments are warranted," indicating a measurable effect from Geller's alleged abilities[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ray Hyman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ray Hyman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bb7768b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ray Hyman.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Ray Hyman +tags: + - Person + - Psychologist + - Skeptic +--- +Ray Hyman is a psychologist and a prominent figure in the scientific skepticism movement. He was contracted by [[ARPA]] in 1973 to evaluate [[Uri Geller]]'s purported psychic abilities at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]]. Along with [[George Lawrence]] and [[Robert Van de Castle]], Hyman concluded that anyone who believed in Geller's powers was falling for the "ridiculous"[^1]. + +Hyman, along with [[Martin Gardner]], joined forces in an anti-Geller crusade. He was critical of [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]]'s methodology, echoing Gardner's criticisms of [[J. B. Rhine]]'s research, citing loose laboratory controls, skewing of data, and the influence of experimenter bias[^1]. + +In 1983, Hyman weighed in on the [[James Randi]] hoax against the McDonnell Laboratory for Psychical Research, stating that Randi was "very upset by Geller’s using trickery to deceive scientists. He thought it was very immoral. And he felt that it was a prostitution of his beloved magic"[^1]. + +In 1995, Hyman was one of the team leaders for the [[American Institutes for Research]]'s evaluation of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Star Gate program]], which ultimately recommended its cancellation. However, this evaluation was criticized for its limited scope and the researchers' pre-existing skeptical biases[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Raymond Jenkins.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Raymond Jenkins.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2db66ae5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Raymond Jenkins.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Raymond Jenkins]] was a private investigator and former Merced College Police Chief. He was recruited by Sheriff [[Ken Mattheys]] in October 1984 to investigate [[Ron Van Meter]]'s disappearance and help clean up the Mariposa Sheriff's Department. Jenkins, along with retired [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent [[Tom Walsh]], concluded that [[Ron Van Meter]] was murdered after obtaining evidence of drug trafficking within the sheriff's department.[^1] + +Jenkins' investigation also led him to [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] (Music Corporation of America), parent company to Curry Company, where a major drug network had surfaced in Yosemite National Park. He later joined forces with [[Cheri Seymour]] in the investigation of Van Meter's death and the broader corruption in Mariposa County. Jenkins followed the drug trail from Yosemite National Park back to the Mariposa airport, where sheriff's deputies were observed loading and unloading packages from planes.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Raymond Lavas.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Raymond Lavas.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8a7df4e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Raymond Lavas.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Raymond Lavas]] was a former associate of [[Ted Gunderson]] and, according to [[Michael Riconosciuto]], a former protégé of [[Robert Maheu]]. He is noted for expressing his professional opinion about the death of [[Alan Michael May]] in a letter. In this letter, Lavas suggested that certain chemical assassination methods could have been employed, which would cause toxins to evaporate from the body, making the death appear natural. He emphasized that unless a body is immediately refrigerated, such toxins quickly evaporate, leaving minimal traces that would be difficult for a forensic expert to detect without prior suspicion.[^1] + +Lavas also turned some of [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s disks over to the Jack Brooks investigative committee (House Judiciary Committee on [[INSLAW]]). Riconosciuto claimed there was no data on these disks, as they contained a sub-set of VAX VMS routines modified to activate a one-time pad encryption scheme, requiring specific hardware and instructions to unravel.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Richard Hanna.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Richard Hanna.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..51987cfd --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Richard Hanna.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Richard Hanna]] was the Assistant Chief of the [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]]. He reported that the collision involving a Mariposa County Sheriff's vehicle and a Secret Service car occurred at 10:50 a.m. on March 5, 1983, between Coulterville and La Grange on Highway 132, about 25 minutes ahead of Queen Elizabeth II's motorcade.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Richard Helms.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Richard Helms.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9a220b6c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Richard Helms.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Richard Helms +tags: + - person + - CIA + - director +description: Richard Helms was the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) from 1966 to 1973, and played a key role in the CIA's early involvement in psychic research. +--- + +[[Richard Helms]] was the [[Director of Central Intelligence|Director of Central Intelligence]] (DCI) from 1966 to 1973. He played a key role in the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s early involvement in psychic research, including the decision to test [[Uri Geller]] at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]].[^1] + +Helms personally approved the continuation and expansion of the CIA's psychic research program, initially known as the Biofield Measurements Program and later as the Paranormal Perception Research Project. His decision was based on the belief that there was value in exploring these phenomena, particularly in response to perceived Soviet advancements in the field.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Richard Kennett.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Richard Kennett.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..05a7702a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Richard Kennett.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Richard Kennett +tags: + - person + - CIA + - intelligence + - scientist +description: Richard Kennett was a CIA analyst with a background in neurophysiology, who served as a key liaison and evaluator for the agency's psychic research programs. +--- +Richard Kennett was a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] analyst in the Office of Scientific Intelligence in the early 1970s. In his early thirties, with a wife and two young sons, he held a Ph.D. in neurophysiology and was pursuing an M.D., making him uniquely qualified to evaluate the scientific aspects of psychic research. Kennett was a man of eclectic interests, drawn to the wild extremes of human behavior and fascinated by religion and mysticism. He spent some of his CIA time monitoring the fringes of medicine and psychology, looking for unconventional approaches that might be useful in the Cold War. By the time of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, Kennett was slated to become the assistant national intelligence officer for chemical and biological warfare issues, indicating his rising prominence within the intelligence community.[^1] + +In May 1973, [[Hal Puthoff]] contacted Kennett regarding [[Ingo Swann]]'s coordinate-based clairvoyance scheme. Initially skeptical of the concept of using geographical coordinates for psychic targeting, Kennett challenged Puthoff to remote-view a location unknown even to Kennett himself. This led to the famous Sugar Grove incident, where Swann and [[Pat Price]] accurately described a secret [[NSA]] facility in West Virginia, despite being given coordinates for Kennett's friend's cabin. This incident, while causing a security investigation, ultimately impressed Kennett and the NSA with the accuracy of remote viewing.[^1] + +Kennett became a key figure in the CIA's oversight of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program, monitoring the work at [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) and later at [[Fort Meade]]. He was involved in tasking remote viewers with sensitive intelligence problems and evaluating their results. He was also the recipient of unusual psychic phenomena himself, including a precognitive experience related to [[Uri Geller]] that involved a shattered glass globe and a white bulldog, and a strange encounter with a one-armed man in a gray suit.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Richard M. Helms.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Richard M. Helms.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..00b4d46b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Richard M. Helms.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - CIA +--- +Richard M. Helms served as the Director of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] from 1966 to 1973. He was known for his bureaucratic approach and his willingness to suppress intelligence that might displease his superiors. Helms obeyed President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s order to bury a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] estimate concluding that [[Israel]] had manufactured at least four nuclear warheads. Johnson did not want to know this information, as it would compel him to act on it, and he had no intention of stopping the Israeli bomb.[^1] + +Helms also came to a personal conclusion that [[Israel]] was funneling American satellite information to the [[Soviet Union]], repeatedly telling his deputies and aides that he was convinced [[Israel]] was an "open pipeline for pumping intelligence to [[Moscow]]."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 14, 16. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert A. McConnell.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert A. McConnell.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..efc249ba --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert A. McConnell.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Robert A. McConnell +tags: + - Person + - Physicist +--- +Robert A. McConnell was a physicist who authored the paper "ESP—Fact or Fancy?" His work was discussed by Nobel Laureate [[Wolfgang Pauli]] and psychiatrist [[Carl Jung]], who had a lively conversation about [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis|PK]] in the early 1950s[^1]. + +Jung remarked on how some age-old mysteries never change, and that attempts to explain away seemingly miraculous results often fail against the facts. McConnell's paper contributed to the ongoing debate about the reality and nature of anomalous mental phenomena[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Keenan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Keenan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..88233944 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Keenan.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +Colonel Robert Keenan was the commanding officer of the [[Systems Exploitation Detachment]] (SED) under the command of [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command]] (INSCOM). In this role (July 1978 - May 1980[^1]), he was responsible for overseeing the activities and personnel within the detachment. When [[Frederick Atwater]] proposed the idea of forming a remote viewing team within the Army, it was Keenan who had the authority to approve or reject the proposal. + +Keenan ultimately approved Atwater's proposal, which led to the establishment of the remote viewing program in 1977. This decision marked a significant step in the Army's exploration of paranormal phenomena for intelligence gathering purposes. +# Footnotes + +[^1]: [Annual Historical Review, U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM), FY 1980]([https://www.governmentattic.org/30docs/USAINSCOMhistoryFY_1980.pdf) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Lucky.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Lucky.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..29baa8c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Lucky.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Robert Lucky +tags: + - person + - scientist + - engineer + - editor +description: Robert Lucky was a Bell Labs scientist and editor of the Proceedings of the IEEE, who became convinced of the reality of remote viewing. +--- + +[[Robert Lucky]] was a [[Bell Labs]] scientist and the editor of the prestigious *Proceedings of the IEEE* electrical engineering society journal. He initially hesitated to publish [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]]'s paper on remote viewing in 1976. However, after Puthoff and Targ visited Bell Labs to answer questions from skeptical scientists, Lucky was impressed.[^1] + +He eventually conducted some of his own informal remote viewing experiments and became convinced of its reality, stating, "Psychic stuff is really not much more far-fetched than some of the physics behind the laser." His decision to publish the paper in a respected scientific journal contributed to the growing, albeit controversial, recognition of remote viewing within the scientific community.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Maheu.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Maheu.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..04f1e8be --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Maheu.md @@ -0,0 +1,9 @@ +[[Robert Maheu]] was a former [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent who became a prominent figure in the business and intelligence worlds, notably serving as the CEO of [[Howard Hughes]] operations in Las Vegas. He was also a Senior Vice President and Director of [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]].[^1] + +Maheu's connections extended to organized crime figures, as he was involved in [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operations to assassinate [[Fidel Castro]] in 1960. In this capacity, he acted as a "cut-out," contacting organized-crime leaders such as [[Sam Giancana]], [[Johnny Rosselli]], and [[Santos Trafficante, Jr.]], who in turn enlisted the direct assistance of Cuban exiles.[^1] + +His involvement with [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] placed him among a group of powerful individuals, including [[Michael A. McManus]], [[Robert Booth Nichols]], and [[Clint W. Murchison, Jr.]], who were described as intelligence people working for the [[National Security Council|NSC]]. [^1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Maxwell.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Maxwell.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dd76c633 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Maxwell.md @@ -0,0 +1,27 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person + - Media + - Intelligence + - Finance +--- +[[Robert Maxwell]] was a British media proprietor and Member of Parliament. He formed ties with [[Israel]] in the early 1960s through a meeting arranged with [[Yitzhak Shamir]], then in [[Mossad]] operations in Europe. This connection was facilitated by [[Aviezer Ya’ari]] of the [[Mapam]] (United Workers) Party, aiming to establish links with the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]], with whom Maxwell had intelligence connections since [[World War II]]. Maxwell and Shamir shared an antipathy for the [[USA|Americans]] and became close friends.[^1] + +Maxwell is connected to the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] via allegations of his involvement in the international distribution of the [[PROMIS]] software. [[Rafi Eitan]] suggested Maxwell was a front for selling PROMIS due to his long association with Shamir and Israel. In 1984, Senator [[John Tower]], a friend of Maxwell and close to [[George Bush]], approached Maxwell on behalf of the [[Robert Gates|CIA]] group to market PROMIS. Maxwell's Berlitz language schools and his company [[Degem]] (an [[Israel|Israeli]]-controlled computer business with operations in [[Israel]], [[Guatemala]], and [[Transkei]]) were used to distance him from the spy project.[^1] + +[[INSLAW]] alleged that the late British publisher Robert Maxwell assisted [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence agents in the dissemination of PROMIS to intelligence and law enforcement agencies of other governments and to international commercial banks. This theory suggests that Israeli intelligence agents colluded with [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] officials to prevent Inslaw from fully litigating its claims against the U.S. government. It was also alleged that an Israeli agent provided $600,000 from a slush fund, jointly controlled by U.S. and Israeli intelligence, to get Inslaw's lead counsel fired, thereby preventing Inslaw from prosecuting its PROMIS proprietary rights and license fee claims against the U.S. Justice Department.[^2] + +Maxwell agreed to market PROMIS for the [[USA|Americans]] and [[Israel|Israelis]], using his network of companies. He was aware of the general uses of PROMIS for intelligence gathering, though it is unclear if he knew about the hidden trap door. He received a flat fee of $8 million and two percent of the gross whenever his companies were involved in transferring arms money, earning him millions.[^1] + +Through Degem, Maxwell sold PROMIS to the [[East Bloc]] and other countries, including [[Brazil]], [[Chile]], [[Colombia]], and [[Nicaragua]]. An abridged version was also sold to [[Credit Suisse]] in 1985, allowing the [[Likud Party]] to track Israeli accounts. He even sold PROMIS to the [[Soviet Union]] in the late 1980s, with [[Robert Gates]] lifting export barriers for IBM computers to the Soviets, which were then fitted with the trap-doored PROMIS by Degem technicians.[^1] + +Maxwell also played a role in the financial operations of the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]]. He helped open doors for [[Israel]] to conduct business deals with [[Poland]], even speaking to the Polish defense minister, [[Wojciech Jaruzelski]]. He was a conduit for moving money from the slush fund to the [[East Bloc]], with $450 million transferred from [[Credit Suisse]] to the [[Bank of Budapest]] in [[Hungary]]. His companies were used to funnel money to the East Bloc, and to bring money out for [[Likud Party]] purposes, depositing it in bank accounts in [[Luxembourg]] and [[Geneva]].[^1] + +In 1987, a contribution was made to the West Australian Labor Party from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], involving [[Richard Babayan]] and [[Earl Brian]] acting on behalf of [[Hadron]]. This money was passed on by one of [[Robert Maxwell|Maxwell's]] companies in [[Australia]] to be held by the Pergamon Press Trust Fund in [[Moscow]].[^1] + +During government investigations regarding the [[INSLAW]] case, the Special Counsel's investigation found no credible evidence to support the allegation that the DOJ or individuals involved with the DOJ improperly distributed PROMIS software to foreign governments or entities. The investigation found no evidence to support these claims, stating that only public domain versions of PROMIS (Old PROMIS and the Pilot Project version) had been distributed internationally. The report concluded that the allegation of international distribution of enhanced PROMIS by the DOJ was pure speculation, lacking evidentiary support.[^2] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") +[^2]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert McFarlane.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert McFarlane.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..aab4e3f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert McFarlane.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Politics + - USA +--- +[[Robert McFarlane]] was a former [[USA|U.S.]] Marine colonel who served in [[Vietnam]] and later became a key figure in [[USA|U.S.]] foreign policy and the [[Iran-Contra Affair]]. He was an aide to Senator [[John Tower]] and had connections to [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] circles through [[Robert Gates]].[^1] + +[[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] was part of a group of [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]-connected officers gathered by [[Miles Copeland]] who were unhappy with the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration. This group, along with [[William Casey]], decided that the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration was incapable of dealing with the [[Iran]] issue.[^1] + +[[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] was involved in secret negotiations with [[Iran]] concerning the [[USA|American]] hostages. He, along with [[Earl Brian]], arranged a meeting with [[Mehdi Bazargan]] in [[Tehran]] in January 1980. He also attended the Madrid meetings in March and May 1980, where he accompanied [[William Casey]] and [[Robert Gates]], discussing future [[USA|U.S.]]-[[Iran|Iranian]] relations and arms supplies.[^1] + +[[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] had a special relationship with [[Rafi Eitan]], then counterterrorism adviser to [[Menachem Begin 1]]. [[Rafi Eitan|Eitan]] built a network within the [[USA|United States]] to obtain information about Palestinian terrorists, and [[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] introduced [[Rafi Eitan|Eitan]] to his friends, including [[Earl Brian]], who had significant intelligence connections. Much information reaching the Senate Armed Services Committee found its way to [[Rafi Eitan|Eitan's]] desk.[^1] + +[[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] was a key player in the [[Oliver North|North]]-[[Amiram Nir|Nir]] second channel arms operation. He, along with [[Oliver North|North]] and [[John Poindexter]], agreed to run this second channel, despite the existing [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee|Israeli channel]]. [[Amiram Nir|Nir]] met with [[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] in [[Washington D.C.]] and threatened him with exposure if he did not cooperate with the new channel.[^1] + +[[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] was involved in the leaking of the [[Jonathan Pollard]] story to the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] to discredit the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee|original channel]]. He was referred to as "Mr. X" in the subsequent hearings and was accused of providing computer access codes of intelligence reports to [[Rafi Eitan]] in [[Israel]].[^1] + +In May 1986, [[Oliver North|North]], [[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]], and [[Amiram Nir|Nir]] traveled to [[Tehran]] disguised as Irish technicians, carrying [[TOW missile]]s and [[Hawk missile]] spare parts. They were detained, and the military equipment was confiscated.[^1] + +[[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] was forced to resign from the [[National Security Council]] at the end of 1985 after [[William Odom|Gen. William Odom]] proved to [[George Bush|Vice President Bush]] that [[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] was an [[Israel|Israeli]] mole working for [[Rafi Eitan]]. He later attempted suicide during the congressional hearings into the [[Iran-Contra Affair]], possibly fearing his role with the [[Israel|Israelis]] would surface. He was convicted of lying to [[USA|Congress]], but his conviction was later thrown out.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Monroe.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Monroe.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ef57e700 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Monroe.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Robert Monroe +tags: + - person + - consciousness + - researcher +description: Robert Monroe was an American businessman and explorer of human consciousness, known for his out-of-body experiences and the founding of The Monroe Institute. +--- + +[[Robert Monroe]] was an American businessman and explorer of human consciousness. He is known for his extensive personal experiences with out-of-body experiences (OBEs) and for founding [[Monroe Institute|The Monroe Institute]], a non-profit organization dedicated to the exploration of human consciousness through various techniques, including Hemi-Sync audio technology. While not directly involved in the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], his work and institute became a post-military career path for figures like [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]], who became president of the Institute.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Morgenthau.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Morgenthau.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c9eb295d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Morgenthau.md @@ -0,0 +1,37 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Lawyer", "Government Official", "BCCI"] +--- +Robert Morgenthau was the Manhattan district attorney known for his integrity and persistence in exposing government and business corruption.[^1] + +### Role in BCCI Investigation + +Morgenthau became involved in the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] investigation after [[Jack Blum]] brought the case to his attention in March 1989.[^2] Blum described BCCI as the "biggest bank fraud in the history of the world."[^3] Morgenthau decided to pursue the case, stating that if [[New York]] was the banking center where money was laundered, then it was within his jurisdiction.[^4] + +His office, particularly through his chief of investigations [[Michael Cherkasky]] and top investigator [[John Moscow]], spearheaded a comprehensive investigation into BCCI's activities.[^5] Morgenthau's efforts were met with resistance from federal authorities, including the [[Justice Department]], who he accused of hindering his investigation.[^6] + +In July 1991, Morgenthau announced indictments against BCCI and its former top officers, [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] and [[Swaleh Naqvi]], describing the case as "the largest bank fraud in world financial history."[^7] He also indicted [[Clark Clifford]] and [[Robert Altman]] in July 1992 on charges of bribery and fraud related to their involvement with BCCI.[^8] + +Morgenthau's investigation also targeted [[Kamal Adham]], who eventually pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.[^9] + +### Background and Reputation + +Morgenthau, at seventy years old during the BCCI investigation, was described as a lean figure with silver hair and a patrician manner.[^10] He was soft-spoken and considered one of the most important men in New York.[^11] His family had been part of the political establishment since 1886, with his great-grandfather immigrating from Bavaria and his father serving as [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Franklin Roosevelt]]'s secretary of the Treasury.[^12] + +Morgenthau's reputation as a crusader was built during his time as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, a position he held after being appointed by [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]] in 1960.[^13] He was known for his independence and his willingness to pursue cases against powerful figures.[^14] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 48. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 48. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 48. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 51. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 51. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 377. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 152. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 390. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 391. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 48. +[^11]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 48. +[^12]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 49. +[^13]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 49. +[^14]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 49. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Mueller.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Mueller.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fdcebbeb --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert Mueller.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Government Official", "Justice Department"] +--- +Robert Mueller was the head of the [[Justice Department]]'s criminal division.[^1] + +### Role in BCCI Scandal + +Mueller appeared on ABC's Nightline to refute *Time* magazine's charges regarding the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] scandal.[^2] He stated that the Justice Department had won a victory in the Tampa money-laundering case and disputed claims of insufficient investigation.[^3] He denied the existence of missing tapes from [[Jack Blum]]'s interviews with former BCCI bankers who discussed political payoffs and BCCI's secret ownership of [[First American Bank]].[^4] + +Mueller asserted that the Justice Department had provided information leading to the shutdown of BCCI's offices in [[Florida]].[^5] He maintained that all allegations or evidence provided to the Justice Department were being pursued.[^6] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 10. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 150. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 150. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 150. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 150. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 152. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert S. McNamara.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert S. McNamara.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1a47a56e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robert S. McNamara.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Robert S. McNamara served as the Secretary of Defense under President [[John F. Kennedy]] and later under President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]. He was involved in discussions regarding [[Israel]]'s nuclear program and the sale of advanced U.S. fighter aircraft to [[Israel]]. [[Abraham Feinberg]] directly intervened with McNamara, insisting that the [[United States]] should not interfere with [[Israel]]'s nuclear activities. McNamara cryptically acknowledged the basic problem of [[Israel]]'s existence as a question mark in history, which he understood as a reason for [[Israel]]'s desire for a nuclear bomb.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Roberto Micheletti.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Roberto Micheletti.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bcf6386d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Roberto Micheletti.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Roberto Micheletti]] was a congressional leader in [[Honduras]] who was named as the successor to President [[Manuel Zelaya]] after Zelaya was ousted in a coup in June 2009. Micheletti was placed in office by coup leaders [[General Daniel Lopez Carballo]] and [[Romeo Vásquez Velásquez]], both friends of [[Jimmy Hughes]] and members of FGBMFI ([[Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International]]).[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robin Leigh-Pemberton.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robin Leigh-Pemberton.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8cb8307b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Robin Leigh-Pemberton.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Banker", "Government Official"] +--- +Robin Leigh-Pemberton served as the Governor of the [[Bank of England]].[^1] + +### Role in BCCI Scandal + +Leigh-Pemberton, along with Deputy Governor [[Eddie George]], was aware of the disastrous 1990 Price Waterhouse audit of [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]], which revealed that many of BCCI's transactions were "fraudulent and deceitful."[^2] Despite this knowledge, the [[Bank of England]] agreed to a plan in spring 1990 to allow BCCI to move its headquarters to [[Abu Dhabi]] and for [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Sheikh Zayed]] to take over the bank.[^3] This action effectively concealed BCCI's problems from its depositors and creditors.[^4] + +On June 28, 1991, Leigh-Pemberton and George decided to act, informing the [[Federal Reserve Bank]] of the impending seizure of BCCI in the [[United Kingdom]].[^5] The Bank of England had been reluctant to shut down BCCI, despite knowing of its insolvency, and had been trying to persuade [[Sheikh Zayed]] to inject more money.[^6] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 10. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 135. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 135. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 135. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 146. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 55. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ronald LeGrand.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ronald LeGrand.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b1498760 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ronald LeGrand.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +Ronald LeGrand was the Chief Investigator for the Senate Judiciary Committee. In late April 1988, he telephoned [[Bill Hamilton]], president of [[INSLAW]], to request a full briefing on the disputes between Inslaw and the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. Hamilton and his [[Nancy Hamilton|wife]] subsequently briefed LeGrand at Inslaw on the morning of May 11. Two days later, LeGrand telephoned Hamilton with information from a trusted senior [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] career official. This source, who had been in the Criminal Division of the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] since the [[Watergate scandal]] under President [[Richard Nixon]], told LeGrand to convey to the Hamiltons that "What you think happened, did happen. You are not crazy. But you do not know squat about how dirty the [[INSLAW]] case really is. If you ever learn even half of it, you will be sickened. [[INSLAW]] is a lot dirtier for the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]], in its breadth and depth, than [[Watergate]]. The [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] has been compromised at every level on the [[INSLAW]] case."[^1] + +The source also stated that [[Lowell Jensen]] engineered Inslaw's problems and relied on [[Miles Matthews]], [[James Knapp]], and [[James Johnston]]. Miles Matthews allegedly stated in the presence of LeGrand's source that "Lowell [Jensen] wants to get INSLAW out of the way and give the business to friends." The source further indicated that [[John Keeney]], [[Mark Richards]], and [[Philip White]] knew "all about" Jensen's malfeasance, and that while Richards and White were "pretty upset," they would not disclose what they knew except under subpoena and oath. The source also believed that documents related to Project Eagle were shredded inside the DOJ, but suggested Inslaw should subpoena paperwork prepared by a Jensen subordinate regarding the purchase of large quantities of computer hardware for which senior DOJ career staff saw no justification.[^2] + +The source also informed [[INSLAW]] through LeGrand that the Criminal Division had served as the nerve center for the scheme to drive [[INSLAW]] out of business by engineering sham contract disputes. LeGrand's communication was a significant turning point for the Hamiltons, as it provided internal corroboration of their suspicions regarding the theft of the [[PROMIS]] software.[^1] However, the Special Counsel's investigation found that LeGrand provided little corroboration of Hamilton's allegations during a sworn statement to House investigators. + +LeGrand informed House investigators and the Special Counsel that, as far as he knew, none of the information provided to him by his source was obtained first-hand. The Special Counsel interviewed LeGrand's source, a long-time career employee of the Department of Justice, who stated that he had no first-hand knowledge of any misconduct by anyone in relation to PROMIS or Inslaw, and had not heard any credible rumors about such misconduct. This source indicated that the subject of Inslaw came up during a friendly conversation with LeGrand in 1987 or 1988. He suggested contacting Miles Matthews because Matthews was responsible for procurement in the Criminal Division and the source disliked or distrusted him. The source denied ever mentioning Jensen, Richards, White, Johnston, or Knapp to LeGrand, and did not believe any of these individuals would be involved in any type of cover-up. Furthermore, the source denied that any statements attributed to him in Hamilton's affidavit were accurate, and he never said or believed any of the comments attributed to him, never had reason to believe that identified DOJ officials were involved in wrongdoing, or that Project Eagle documents were improperly shredded. The Special Counsel's investigation ultimately found no credible evidence of a conspiracy involving Jensen or other senior DOJ officials.[^2] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. +[^2]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Rudolf Hess.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Rudolf Hess.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3761c5a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Rudolf Hess.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Rudolf Hess +tags: + - person + - Nazi + - government +description: Rudolf Hess was a prominent figure in Nazi Germany, serving as Adolf Hitler's deputy. +--- + +Rudolf Hess was a prominent figure in [[Nazi Germany]], serving as Adolf Hitler's deputy. He is known for his mysterious solo flight to Scotland in 1941, an event that has been linked to the use of astrology and the occult in psychological warfare.[^1] + +Hess's flight was allegedly influenced by a phony horoscope created by [[Sybil Leek]], a British astrologer working for [[British Intelligence]]. This act of deception was part of a larger effort to exploit the Nazi belief in the supernatural. After his capture, Hess was declared insane by Hitler, and his actions led to the mass arrest of astrologers and other practitioners of the occult in Germany.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ruth Hefer.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ruth Hefer.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a214e12c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ruth Hefer.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Ruth Hefer +tags: + - Person + - Journalist +--- +# Ruth Hefer + +Ruth Hefer was a journalist who reported on [[Uri Geller]]'s purported psychic abilities. In the fall of 1970, while Geller was giving a [[Telepathy|telepathy]] demonstration at the Tzavta Theater in Tel Aviv, he became physically ill and claimed that [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]], the president of [[Egypt]], "had just died or is about to die"[^1]. + +Hefer, who was in the audience, immediately went to a pay phone to call her contact at Israel Radio International. She learned there was no news about Nasser. When she returned to the theater, Geller was still looking ill. Twenty minutes later, someone ran into the room shouting that Radio Cairo had just announced President Nasser's death from a heart attack at 6:00 that evening[^1]. + +This event significantly boosted Geller's reputation, with Prime Minister [[Golda Meir]] reportedly quipping, "Don’t ask me... Ask Uri Geller" when asked about [[Israel|Israel's]] future[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Samuel Halpern.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Samuel Halpern.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dd302b63 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Samuel Halpern.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - CIA +--- +Samuel Halpern was a Jewish American who served for years as executive assistant to the director of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s clandestine services. His position, the highest reached by any Jew in the clandestine service, gave him access to the name and background of every foreigner recruited by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. Halpern was under constant investigation by [[James Jesus Angleton]], who suspected him of trafficking in classified information due to his Jewish background and family ties to Zionism.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 11. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Samuel Koslov.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Samuel Koslov.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0a34f209 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Samuel Koslov.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Samuel Koslov +tags: + - person + - scientist + - military + - government +--- + +Samuel Koslov was a top scientist for the [[U.S. Navy]] and the scientific assistant to the Secretary of the Navy. He became a central figure in the debate surrounding the [[Moscow Signal]] and its potential health effects, often publicly downplaying its dangers despite his involvement in classified research related to it[^1]. + +Koslov led the charge of those who insisted that the Moscow Signal was harmless, arguing that any reported issues were psychological trauma rather than physical effects. He stated, "The actual physical results were nonexistent, but the real psychological trauma (in this case in a group of well-educated and dedicated people) was sad and startling"[^1]. This view was in direct opposition to [[Richard S. Cesaro]] of [[Advanced Research Projects Agency|ARPA]], who believed the beams were harmful and could penetrate the human nervous system[^1]. + +As a lead scientist on [[Project Pandora]], a classified, multiservice effort to duplicate the electromagnetic weapon of the Moscow Signal, Koslov was deeply engaged in research involving microwave beams. This project involved exposing primates and later unwitting sailors to microwave radiation[^1]. + +In 1977, when a *Washington Post* article by [[John L. Wilhelm]] exposed the [[U.S. Navy]]'s involvement in [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] research, Koslov publicly expressed outrage. He claimed he had demanded the [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] project stop at once and had canceled Navy funds for remote viewing work. He publicly stated, "If you ask me, ‘Do you think it’s a pile of crap?’ I do, and you can quote me," and assured Wilhelm that the Navy "is simply out of this business. I don’t believe it’s the function of the military to support [[Parapsychology|parapsychology]] research"[^1]. His public stance was seen by some as a semantic maneuver to conceal the truth and distance the Navy from controversial parapsychology research, especially given his direct involvement in related classified programs[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Samuel W. Lewis.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Samuel W. Lewis.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d9f70635 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Samuel W. Lewis.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - USA +--- +Samuel W. Lewis was the U.S. ambassador to [[Israel]], assigned in 1977. He was present at a meeting in the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] White House in September 1981 where [[Menachem Begin]] and [[Ariel Sharon]] presented a far-reaching agenda for U.S.–Israeli strategic cooperation. Lewis recounted that Begin suggested a formal alliance, and Reagan agreed, shocking others present. Sharon then outlined a plan that included joint use of airfields and Navy ports, and shared intelligence, including formal Israeli access to the [[KH-11]] satellite for its nuclear targeting of the [[Soviet Union]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Sean McDade.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Sean McDade.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d7019848 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Sean McDade.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +[[Sean McDade]] was a national security investigator with the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] who secretly entered the [[United States]] in February 2000 to investigate evidence that the [[Canadian Government]] was using a computer software program called [[PROMIS]], which allegedly allowed the [[United States Government|U.S.]] to eavesdrop on [[Canada|Canadian]] intelligence secrets through a modified "back-door." His investigation was code-named [[Project Abbreviation]], and his email handle, "simorp," was [[PROMIS]] spelled backward.[1] + +McDade's probe was authorized at the highest level of the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] and was well-funded. He was deeply committed to ascertaining whether the [[Canadian Government]]'s computer system had been compromised. He learned that a meeting had been held in December 1999 at the [[Los Alamos National Laboratory|Los Alamos facility]] in [[New Mexico]], attended by the heads of intelligence divisions from the [[United States|U.S.]] ([[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]), [[United Kingdom|Britain]] ([[MI6]]), [[Israel]] ([[Mossad]]), and [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service|CSIS]], concerning Y2K computer problems. A source suggested that all four allied countries shared the same computer system, possibly [[PROMIS]], due to its mutual integration capabilities. McDade was also informed by another source that the [[Mossad]] may have modified the [[PROMIS]] software to create a "two-way" backdoor, potentially allowing [[Israel]] access to top [[United States|U.S.]] weapons secrets at [[Los Alamos National Laboratory|Los Alamos]] and other installations.[1] + +During his investigation, McDade met with [[Cheri Seymour]], the author of *The Last Circle*, in Southern California on February 19, 2000. He explained that high-ranking [[Canadian Government|Canadian]] officials might have unlawfully purchased the [[PROMIS]] software from officials in the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]]-[[George Bush|Bush]] administration, and the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] had reportedly traced banking transactions supporting this claim. He believed a successful investigation "could cause the entire [[United States Republican Party|U.S. Republican Party]] to be dismantled and more than one presidential administration would be exposed for their knowledge of the [[PROMIS]] software transaction." [[Sue Todd]], a Police Detective from Hercules, California, accompanied McDade to this meeting, as they had discovered they shared the same source and Todd's investigation into a double homicide was connected to the [[PROMIS]] case.[1] + +McDade spent three days photocopying thousands of supporting documents to *The Last Circle* before returning to [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] headquarters in [[Ottawa]] to set up a "war room." His probe evolved into an eight-month saga of interviews with former investigators, witnesses, undercover informants, and law enforcement personnel across the [[United States]]. He learned that [[United States|U.S.]] predecessors in the [[PROMIS]] investigation had faced obstruction from the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]], with some investigators being fired, suspended, or quitting when directed to cease their inquiries into drugs and money laundering.[1] + +McDade also described [[Scott Lawrence]]'s deep-cover drug investigation, code-named [[THE INDO-CHINA PROJECT]], on the Maine/Canadian border. Lawrence's investigation was abruptly shut down after he and his supervisor, [[John (Tim) Kelly]], requested to impanel grand juries to depose [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] officials.[1] + +McDade found himself a target of [[ECHELON]] technology during his investigation in the [[United States]], forcing him to take extraordinary measures to communicate with [[Sue Todd]] and [[Cheri Seymour]]. He stated that the [[National Security Agency|NSA]] was spying on [[Canada|Canadian]] citizens while [[Canada]] spied on [[United States|American]] citizens, both using [[ECHELON]] and trading data. Although he reportedly left the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] after his investigation was exposed in the *Toronto Star* in August 2000, [[Sue Todd]] indicated he ultimately returned to police work in his hometown.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Seymour Hersh.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Seymour Hersh.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..77b9fa0c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Seymour Hersh.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - Author + - USA +--- +[[Seymour Hersh]] is an [[USA|American]] investigative journalist and author. His book, *The [[Samson Option]]: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*, published in 1991, details how [[Israel]] secretly became a nuclear power and how this secret was largely ignored or sanctioned by top U.S. officials since the [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] years.[^1][^2] + +Hersh conducted extensive research for *The Samson Option*, interviewing many senior American officials, most of whom spoke for the first time about their knowledge of [[Israel]]'s nuclear arsenal. He chose not to conduct research in [[Israel]] due to the country's censorship laws, which require journalists to submit all material to military censors who can make changes or deletions if they perceive a threat to national security.[^2] + +Hersh's book, along with [[Gary Sick|Gary Sick's]] *October Surprise*, quoted [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] as a prominent source. This led to an intense and prolonged barrage of media attacks seeking to discredit [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]].[^1] + +[[Robert Maxwell|Maxwell]] and the [[Mirror Newspaper Group]] sued [[Seymour Hersh|Hersh]] and his publishers over the allegations in *The [[Samson Option]]*. However, some of the critical denials in the *Mirror* articles were shown to be false, and [[Seymour Hersh|Hersh]] and his publishers filed a countersuit against [[Robert Maxwell|Maxwell]], [[Nicholas Davies]], and the [[Mirror Newspaper Group]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Shamsud-Din Jabbar.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Shamsud-Din Jabbar.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..38c436f6 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Shamsud-Din Jabbar.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +Shamsud-Din Jabbar ([[act of terrorism|terrorist]]) was 42 when he died while performing the [[New Orleans Truck Attack]]. He was born in Beaumont, Texas[^2] and raised Muslim, but strayed and only recently returned. His last address was in Houston.[^1] + +Jabbar was a [[U.S. Army]] veteran (joined in 2007) and worked in human resources and IT. He deployed to [[Afghanistan War|Afghanistan]] from February 2009 to January 2010 (possibly 2015) and was stationed at [[Fort Bragg]] at one point. In 2015 he was discharged and attended [[Georgia State University]] where he graduated in 2017 with a degree in computer information systems. Prior to GSU, he attended Central Texas College from 2008-2010 and received an associate degree in Information technology. + +In 2021 Jabbar was hired by [[Deloitte]] where he worked as a data engineer, then cloud data architect, and finally in business development. He’s also reported to have worked for [[Ernst & Young]] at some point. He held a real estate license that expired in 2023 and was Team Lead for the Midas Group and Property Manager at Blue Meadow Properties (his phone number at the time was 832-774-9718)[^2]. + +He held a number of LLC’s in Texas and Georgia including Blue Meadow Properties LLC (2017 Fresno, TX), Digital Drip, LLC (Jun 13 2019-Oct 22 2020, dissolved, founded with [[Ishak Yusuf]][^6] in Clarkston, GA), Gens Enterprises, LLC (Dec 10 2015-Sep 7 2018 Clarkston, GA), and Jabbar Real Estate Holdings LLC (2020 Fresno, TX)[^5] + +Jabbar was married three times and had children from two relationships. His first marriage ended in 2012, the second was from 2013-2016, the third was 2017-2022[^4]. The most recent divorce suggested financial difficulties with monthly childhood support exceeding his income. A restraining order was filed against him by his third wife. + +He had a minor criminal record including traffic offences (DWI)[^3] and theft. + +The FBI seized three mobile phones and two laptops. Jabbar uploaded a number of videos to Facebook in the hours preceding the attack. The videos allegedly claim he joined IS earlier in the year and contained a will and testament. +# Footnotes + +[^1]: [What we know about the New Orleans attacker](https://archive.is/0FGjl) +[^2]: [ Personal Introduction by Shamsud-Din Jabbar](https://archive.org/details/youtube-K-dqDlgQei0) +[^3]: [State of Texas vs Shamsud-Din Jabbar](https://archive.is/W8Jrm) +[^4]: [In The Matter Of The Marriage Of Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar And Shaneen Chantil Jabbar And In The Interest Of Minor Child(Ren) Court Records](https://trellis.law/case/48157/21-dcv-285463/in-matter-marriage-shamsud-din-bahar-jabbar-shaneen-chantil-jabbar-in-interest-minor-child-ren) +[^5]: [Shamsud-Din Jabbar business holdings](https://www.bizapedia.com/people/shamsud-din-jabbar.html) +[^6]: [Ishak Yusuf business holdings](https://www.bizapedia.com/people/ishak-yusuf.html) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Shulamit Ingerman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Shulamit Ingerman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..98ef1755 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Shulamit Ingerman.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +[[Shulamit Ingerman]] was a civilian cryptographer and head of the [[Iran|Iranian]] desk in [[Unit 8200]], an [[Israel|Israeli]] Signals Intelligence (Sigint) unit. She was recognized as one of [[Israel|Israel's]] best cryptographers, having won the highest award for contributions to [[Israel|Israel's]] security twice.[^1] + +[[Shulamit Ingerman|Ingerman]] introduced [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] to the [[Iran|Iranian]] team of six within [[Unit 8200]]. She was called by [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] when he successfully broke the [[Iran|Iranian]] diplomatic code. She later intervened to obtain a pardon for [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] after he was court-martialed for insubordination by [[Sasson Yishaek|Lt. Col. Sasson Yishaek]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Soo Lee.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Soo Lee.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..84d93b8c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Soo Lee.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is still actively being researched. Soo Lee is a very common name and it is difficult to find relevant information. + +Soo Lee was on the original team developing what became [[PROMIS]] for the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] under the direction of [[Joan E. Jacoby]], [[Charles R. Work]], and project manager [[Bill Hamilton]]. + +In 1974 they were a management analyst for the Office of Criminal Justice Plans and Analysis ([[OCJPA]])[^1] of the DC government. + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: [Directory of Data Bases in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (1974) | p57](https://archive.org/details/directoryofdatab0000sess/page/56/mode/2up) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Steve Hanson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Steve Hanson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ef80c8f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Steve Hanson.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Steve Hanson +tags: + - person + - photointerpreter + - psychic +description: Steve Hanson was an Army civilian photo-interpreter and an early member of the Stargate Project's remote viewing unit. +--- + +[[Steve Hanson]] was an Army civilian photo-interpreter and an early member of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]] (later [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]]) remote viewing unit. He was a devout Christian and one of the four Army civilians in the initial group of candidates selected by [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] and [[Murray Watt|Scotty Watt]].[^1] + +Hanson was known to "cool down" before a remote viewing session by reading Bible verses. However, he eventually faded from the remote viewing scene, as he had problems relaxing into the groove of remote viewing itself, often yanking himself out of the "zone" with worries about whether he was doing it correctly.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Steve Holloway.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Steve Holloway.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..29b13f89 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Steve Holloway.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Steve Holloway +tags: + - person + - photointerpreter + - psychic +description: Steve Holloway was an Army civilian photo-interpreter and an early member of the Stargate Project's remote viewing unit. +--- + +[[Steve Holloway]] was an Army civilian photo-interpreter and an early member of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]] (later [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]]) remote viewing unit. He was one of the four Army civilians in the initial group of candidates selected by [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] and [[Murray Watt|Scotty Watt]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Sybil Leek.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Sybil Leek.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ffd756dc --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Sybil Leek.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Sybil Leek +tags: + - person + - psychic + - intelligence + - author + - Astrologer +--- +Sybil Leek, known as "Britain's most famous witch," was an astrologer and author who was reportedly recruited by [[British Intelligence]] during [[World War II]]. She was involved in a black propaganda effort, where she provided phony horoscopes for the Germans who believed in astrology[^1]. Her work allegedly included writing a chart that convinced [[Rudolf Hess]], the Deputy Führer of [[Nazi Germany]], to fly to England, leading to his capture[^1]. Her son, Julian Leek, confirmed that the details of her involvement in the Hess affair remained officially classified[^1]. + +After the war, Leek moved to America in 1962. She was later quoted in a classified [[Department of Defense]] monograph on [[Extrasensory Perception]] (ESP), which suggested she became an American intelligence asset[^1]. + +In the 1970s, [[John LaMothe]]'s report, *Controlled Offensive Behavior—USSR*, identified Sybil Leek as a "noted astrologer and author." She warned that "there is a great danger that within the next ten years the Soviets will be able to steal our top secrets by using out-of-the-body spies"[^1]. Leek also advised the [[CIA]] on witchcraft and the supernatural[^1]. While her sources were sometimes considered biased in favor of ESP research programs, her insights were noted within the intelligence community[^1]. + +--- + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ted Koppel.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ted Koppel.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..922703d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Ted Koppel.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Ted Koppel +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - Television Host +--- +#Ted Koppel is an American broadcast journalist, best known as the anchor and managing editor of *Nightline* from 1980 to 2005. On November 28, 1995, Koppel hosted a *Nightline* exposé that made the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Star Gate program]] public[^1]. + +During the broadcast, Koppel interviewed [[Dale Graff]] of the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] and [[Robert Gates]] of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. Graff defended the integrity of the programs, while Gates downplayed their significance. Koppel also interviewed [[William Green]], a customs agent, who confirmed the story of how [[Angela Dellafiora]], a DIA psychic, had located [[Charles Frank Jordan]], an [[FBI]] Most Wanted Fugitive[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Terry D. Miller.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Terry D. Miller.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d150b4b0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Terry D. Miller.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Terry D. Miller was the President of Government Sales Consultants, Inc. He became involved in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] when he alleged that the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]'s Field Office Information Management System ([[FOIMS]]) was a pirated version of [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]'s [[PROMIS]] software. + +In January 1991, Miller sent a letter to FBI Director [[William Sessions]], stating his belief that FOIMS was stolen. He urged the Director to investigate. [[INSLAW]] used this letter to support its motion to reopen discovery in the Bankruptcy Court, arguing that the FBI's response (which did not outright reject the charge) implied an admission that FOIMS was stolen and was, in fact, PROMIS. However, Miller later stated that he did not know whether FOIMS contained stolen software and acknowledged that he based his allegations on claims made by others. The Special Counsel's investigation found no credible evidence to support Miller's allegations, concluding that FOIMS was developed independently by the FBI and was not derived from PROMIS.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Tom McNear.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Tom McNear.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ad482ddd --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Tom McNear.md @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Tom McNear + - Captain Tom McNear +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Remote Viewer +--- +# Tom McNear + +Tom McNear was a Captain in military intelligence and one of the two original [[Ingo Swann]] trainees in [[Coordinate Remote Viewing|CRV]], starting in 1981. He immediately showed considerable talent in remote viewing, though his training progressed slowly[^1]. + +It took McNear two and a half years to reach Stage Six of CRV, the level where viewers learn to remote view a target and then create a three-dimensional model of it out of clay. His clay models were so accurate in both concept and scale that photographs of them, alongside pictures of the target, were used in [[National Security Council]] briefings[^1]. + +By the end of his training, which included all seven stages, McNear had become so proficient at identifying training targets that Ingo Swann confided in colleagues that McNear was "better than me"[^1]. + +Despite his proficiency, McNear did not want to remain part of the viewer unit at [[Fort Meade]]. He cited the program's inconsistent funding and the deaths of two members from cancer, as well as the medical retirement of his fellow trainee and friend, [[Rob Cowart]], due to cancer. He also noted that he had become very withdrawn and introverted. McNear requested a transfer, which the [[U.S. Army]] granted, and he went on to build a successful career in Army intelligence[^1]. + +In 1985, the [[Department of Defense]] published a forty-one-page how-to manual, "Coordinate Remote Viewing, Stages I–VI and Beyond." The author of this manual, declassified in 2000, was Tom McNear[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Uri Lubrani.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Uri Lubrani.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d4712f0d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Uri Lubrani.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - Israel +--- +Uri Lubrani was a former Israeli ambassador to [[Iran]]. In 1978, he provided a trenchant analysis to the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] predicting that the Shah of Iran would not survive the popular uprising. The [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] had rejected his view, despite their own embarrassingly inept reporting on [[Iran]]. Lubrani was attached to the Israeli delegation that negotiated the March 1979 [[KH-11]] agreement in [[Washington D.C.]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Walter Levy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Walter Levy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..33e6db7a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Walter Levy.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Walter Levy +tags: + - Person + - Researcher +--- +Walter Levy was an assistant to [[J. B. Rhine]] at the [[Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory]]. In 1974, he was caught cheating in an experiment involving rats. The experiment was designed to test whether rats could use [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] to increase the number of pleasurable brain stimulations delivered by an apparatus[^1]. + +Levy's research assistants discovered him tampering with the lab equipment and recorded him on videotape. When confronted with the evidence, Levy confessed and resigned. This scandal became fodder for skeptics of Rhine and his [[Parapsychology|parapsychology]] research[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Walter W. Jenkins.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Walter W. Jenkins.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..50018d2c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Walter W. Jenkins.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Walter W. Jenkins was President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]'s most trusted personal aide. He was involved in handling cash supplied by [[Abraham Feinberg]] for political purposes. In October 1964, Jenkins was arrested on homosexual solicitation charges, which became public three weeks before the 1964 presidential election. This incident led Johnson to order [[Myer Feldman]] and [[Bill Moyers]] to clean out Jenkins's safe, where they found a private cache of money, including funds from Feinberg.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 14. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/William Hundley.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/William Hundley.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bd150a41 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/William Hundley.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[William Hundley]] was a former Chief of the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]]'s Organized Crime and Racketeering Section. He was retained by [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] to plead its case to top [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] officials after [[Marvin Rudnick]] "opened fire" on [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] with a press release detailing payments to [[Sal Pisello]]'s company, Consultants for World Records, which was shared with [[New York]] organized crime figures.[^1] + +Hundley had recently joined Strauss's firm, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. He confirmed that he met with [[David Margolis]], the strike force's chief, and [[Michael DeFeo]], his deputy, to tell them that [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] was willing to cooperate in any organized crime investigation. He also discussed the Pisello case with [[John Newcomer]], the new head of the strike force in Los Angeles, and inquired about [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]'s status in the investigation.[^1] + +[[Marvin Rudnick]] pointed out that Hundley's picture was on the wall, along with [[Ronald Reagan]] and [[Edwin Meese]]'s, in Margolis's office, which Margolis pointed to when he threatened Rudnick.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/William Richard Higgins.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/William Richard Higgins.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..69fa7f08 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/William Richard Higgins.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ +--- +aliases: + - William Richard Higgins + - Colonel Higgins + - Rich Higgins +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Hostage +--- +William Richard Higgins was a [[U.S. Marine Corps|Marine]] Lieutenant Colonel who served as chief of the [[United Nations Military Observer Group Lebanon]]. On February 17, 1988, he was abducted in [[Lebanon]] after meeting with the [[Amal Militia]] in the coastal city of Tyre[^1]. + +Higgins's abduction became an international incident, generating a crisis at the [[Pentagon]]. Prior to joining the UN team, he had served as a military aide to Secretary of Defense [[Caspar W. Weinberger]], giving him in-depth knowledge of classified military matters and making him a high-value hostage[^1]. + +It was feared that Higgins would be tortured to death by [[Hezbollah]] terrorists in their effort to extract classified information. The [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] believed his abduction had been carefully orchestrated by [[Imad Mughniyah]], the leader of Hezbollah's terrorist operations[^1]. + +The [[STARGATE PROJECT|Project 8808]] remote viewers, including [[Angela Dellafiora]], [[Paul Smith]], and [[Ed Dames]], were tasked with helping to determine if Higgins was alive and to locate him. Dellafiora perceived him to be alive and held in a "small structure" on a hill near a major road, a location later corroborated by a released hostage, [[Rudolf Cordes]], who confirmed he had been held in a specially constructed shed near the area Dellafiora identified[^1]. + +Despite initial perceptions, Higgins was likely killed between four and six weeks after his capture. His body was kept on ice by the terrorists. In the summer of 1989, after [[Israel Defense Forces]] captured Hezbollah leader [[Sheik Obeid]], Hezbollah released a video of Higgins's dead body with a noose around his neck, demanding Obeid's return. An [[FBI]] forensics team determined Higgins had died before he was hanged, based on the position of his feet[^1]. + +Higgins's body was not recovered for another two and a half years, when his mummified remains were found in a bag left in a school parking lot in southern Beirut[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Wilma Hall.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Wilma Hall.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ffe3a6f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Wilma Hall.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - USA +--- +[[Wilma Hall]] was the secretary to [[Robert McFarlane]] at the [[National Security Council]]. She is also the mother of [[Fawn Hall]], who was [[Oliver North|Oliver North's]] secretary.[^1] + +[[Wilma Hall|Hall]] assisted [[William Odom|Gen. William Odom]] in proving that [[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] was an [[Israel|Israeli]] mole working for [[Rafi Eitan]]. She did this by taping a phone conversation between [[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] and [[Rafi Eitan|Eitan]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Yaacov Meridor.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Yaacov Meridor.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6bac1264 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Yaacov Meridor.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Business + - Israel +--- +[[Yaacov Meridor]] was a long-time friend of [[Menachem Begin 1]], who served as a minister without portfolio in Begin's government. He was involved in various businesses with [[South Africa]] through [[Transkei]], raking in commissions from countries that sought to bypass the boycott on [[South Africa]] by dealing through Transkei. Everything had to go through Meridor or a company he owned, including [[Degem]], which was actually controlled by [[Israel|Israel]]'s military intelligence and provided computer services to the [[South Africa|South Africans]] and to [[Guatemala]].[^1] + +Meridor became embroiled in a scandal when he, along with [[Joe Peeples]] and a Romanian expatriate, attempted to sell a theoretically feasible but practically impossible solar energy system to the [[Hunt brothers]] of [[Texas]] for $2 million. He also sought a huge loan from the [[Israel|Israeli]] Treasury for this project, publicly announcing it on TV. However, a scientist from the [[Weizmann Institute]] exposed the scheme as a fraud, leading to Meridor losing his job as a cabinet minister and his credibility. His [[Transkei]] operations were also affected, which opened the door for [[Robert Maxwell]] to take over [[Degem]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Yitzhak Hofi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Yitzhak Hofi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e5577d59 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Yitzhak Hofi.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +Yitzhak Hofi was the director of [[Mossad]], [[Israel]]'s primary foreign intelligence service. He opposed the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] in June 1981, primarily because there was no evidence that [[Iraq]] was yet capable of building a bomb. He was joined in this futile dissent by [[Yehoshua Saguy]], chief of military intelligence, and [[Yigael Yadin]], the deputy prime minister.[^1] + +Two weeks after the Osirak bombing, Hofi gave an unprecedented newspaper interview, criticizing politicians who were compromising secret intelligence. This was widely understood within the Israeli intelligence community as a criticism of Prime Minister [[Menachem Begin]]'s public remarks about a secret underground facility.[^1] + +[[Rafael Eitan]] had a need to settle old scores with [[Yitzhak Hofi]], the head of [[Mossad]], and [[Avraham Shalom]], Shin Beth's director. This personal ambition and need for revenge drove Eitan's actions, including the recruitment of [[Jonathan Pollard]].[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 1. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Yitzhak Kahan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Yitzhak Kahan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3b648671 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Yitzhak Kahan.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Legal + - Israel +--- +[[Yitzhak Kahan]] was a Supreme Court Justice in [[Israel]] who headed the commission of inquiry into the [[Sabra and Shatila massacres]] in September 1982. The commission found that while the [[Israel|Israeli]] government was not directly involved in the massacres, it was warned in advance that such a tragedy could occur and took no action to prevent it. The report also indicated that [[Ariel Sharon]] had seen a warning letter prior to the events.[^1] + +As a result of the commission's findings, [[Yehoshua Sagi|Maj. Gen. Sagi]] was removed from office, and [[Ariel Sharon]] was forced to resign as Defense Minister.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Zafar Iqbal.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Zafar Iqbal.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a90b0631 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(H-M)/Zafar Iqbal.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Banker", "BCCI"] +--- +Zafar Iqbal took over as head of [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] in late 1990, after the firing of [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] and [[Swaleh Naqvi]].[^1] He was also responsible for inspecting the "dancing girls" for clients.[^2] + +### Role at BCCI + +As head of BCCI, Iqbal was the bank's president when [[William Ryback]] of the [[Federal Reserve]] demanded to see the audit reports.[^3] He was forced by Ryback to agree that the audit would not be brought back to the United States, nor would the [[Bank of England]] allow a copy to be taken.[^4] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 9. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 174. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 132. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 133. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 393. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Alexei N. Kosygin.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Alexei N. Kosygin.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c0408929 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Alexei N. Kosygin.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Soviet Union +--- +Alexei N. Kosygin was the Premier of the [[Soviet Union]] from 1964 to 1980. In mid-October 1973, during the [[Yom Kippur War]], Kosygin flew to [[Cairo]] and persuaded [[Anwar Sadat]] to call for a cease-fire. This occurred after the Israeli military had successfully counterattacked in the [[Golan Heights]] and the [[Sinai]], ending any immediate threat and the necessity for the nuclear alert.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Donald M. Kerr, Jr..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Donald M. Kerr, Jr..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..db2b2086 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Donald M. Kerr, Jr..md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - Nuclear + - USA +--- +Donald M. Kerr, Jr. served in the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration as acting director of the defense programs at the [[Department of Energy]], making him responsible for [[America]]'s nuclear bombs. He directed the secret Nuclear Intelligence Panel (NIP) study into the 1979 [[VELA Satellite]] sighting. Kerr stated that the NIP had no doubt it was a nuclear bomb and believed the [[Jack P. Ruina|Ruina]] panel's mandate was driven by politics "to find a different explanation."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 20. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Henry A. Kissinger.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Henry A. Kissinger.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dfcb6610 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Henry A. Kissinger.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - Politician + - USA +--- +Henry A. Kissinger was an American diplomat and political scientist who served as the United States Secretary of State and National Security Advisor under Presidents [[Richard Nixon]] and [[Gerald R. Ford]]. In the fall of 1967, while a [[Harvard University]] professor and consultant on [[Vietnam]] to the [[Lyndon B. Johnson|Johnson]] administration, Kissinger visited [[Tel Aviv]] to teach for a week at the Israeli Defense College. At the end of his course, he went to [[William N. Dale]]'s office in the embassy and sent an urgent, top-secret message to the White House, warning about [[Dimona]] and concluding that [[Israel]] was making nuclear warheads.[^1] + +Kissinger approached inauguration day on January 20, 1969, convinced that [[Israel]]'s nuclear ambitions were justified and understandable. Once in office, he and [[Richard M. Nixon|Nixon]] endorsed [[Israel]]'s nuclear ambitions and shared a contempt for the 1968 [[Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty|Nonproliferation Treaty]]. Kissinger told his staff in the first months of 1969 that [[Japan]], as well as [[Israel]], would be better off with the bomb than without it, believing that nuclear weapons were essential to the national security of both nations. His view was pragmatic: most major powers would eventually obtain nuclear weapons, and the [[United States]] could benefit most by helping them do so rather than engaging in futile exercises in morality.[^2] + +Kissinger's support for [[Israel]]'s nuclear weapons program was widely known to the Israeli leadership. This was overtly signaled by the decision in 1969 to end the [[Floyd L. Culler, Jr.|Floyd Culler]] inspections of [[Dimona]], a move that became American policy for the next two decades, signifying that [[Israel]] had gone nuclear and the [[United States]] would not intervene.[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 12. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 16. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Jeruham Kafkafi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Jeruham Kafkafi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d8b03917 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Jeruham Kafkafi.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Israel +--- +Jeruham Kafkafi was an Israeli scientific attaché. He had a highly suspicious meeting at the airport in [[Pittsburgh]] with [[Zalman Mordecai Shapiro]]. The [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] reported that Kafkafi flew from [[Washington D.C.]] to Pittsburgh for the meeting and returned immediately to Washington. Shapiro later told congressional investigators that the meeting was arranged at his request because he had not been paid for antiterrorist equipment his company had shipped to [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 18. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/John F. Kennedy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/John F. Kennedy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..02264703 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/John F. Kennedy.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - President + - Government + - USA +--- +John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the [[United States]], serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. He was intellectually and emotionally committed to a halt in the spread of nuclear weapons, with nonproliferation being a topic he would discuss for hours.[^1] + +Kennedy's presidency was marked by a struggle with [[Israel]] over its nuclear ambitions, particularly concerning the [[Dimona]] reactor. He established himself as firmly opposed to the Israeli bomb, and his administration insisted on American inspection teams being permitted full and unfettered access to [[Dimona]]. This stance was met with resistance from [[David Ben-Gurion]] and [[Shimon Peres]], who sought to protect the secret.[^1] + +Kennedy continued to pressure [[David Ben-Gurion]] throughout 1962 about international inspection, receiving bland and irritating assurances that [[Israel]] had no intention of becoming an atomic power. He angrily told his friend [[Charles L. Bartlett]] that the Israelis "lie to me constantly about their nuclear capability." In what amounted to a direct move against Ben-Gurion's leadership, Kennedy invited Foreign Minister [[Golda Meir]], one of Ben-Gurion's leading critics, to his Palm Beach, Florida, home for a private talk in late December 1962. During this meeting, Kennedy made an extraordinary private commitment to [[Israel]]'s defense, stating that in case of an invasion, the [[United States]] would come to [[Israel]]'s support.[^2] + +Despite his tough stance, Kennedy's political needs, particularly the significant Jewish vote that contributed to his narrow victory in 1960, complicated his approach to Israeli issues. He appointed [[Myer Feldman]] as his presidential point man for Jewish and Israeli affairs, a position that created bureaucratic chaos due to Feldman's strong pro-Israel bias.[^1] + +Kennedy's relationship with [[David Ben-Gurion]] became increasingly strained due to the ongoing correspondence about [[Israel]]'s bomb program. Ben-Gurion's responses were often perceived as evasive and even rude by Kennedy. The President's apprehension about the Israeli bomb was a factor in his surprising appointment of [[John A. McCone]] as [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] director, who shared Kennedy's strong views on nonproliferation.[^1] + +In mid-1962, Kennedy's administration authorized the sale of Hawk surface-to-air missiles to [[Israel]], a major departure from past policy of selling no weaponry to [[Israel]]. This decision was linked to [[Israel]]'s agreement to permit American inspection teams into [[Dimona]], though these inspections were largely a whitewash, with [[Israel]] controlling the visits and concealing the true nature of the facility.[^1] + +Kennedy's persistent pressure on [[Israel]] stemmed from his belief that [[Israel]] had not yet developed any nuclear weapons and was not yet a proliferator. There is evidence that once [[Israel]] actually began manufacturing bombs, Kennedy was prepared to be pragmatic. While he remained resolutely opposed to a nuclear [[Israel]] to the end, he did change his mind about [[Charles de Gaulle|de Gaulle]]'s bombs. A memorandum from [[McGeorge Bundy]] to the President, dated November 22, 1963, the day of Kennedy's assassination, indicated a change in policy toward the French, suggesting cooperation and allowing them to use the [[Nevada]] test site for underground testing.[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 9. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/John Kerry.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/John Kerry.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a885da29 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/John Kerry.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Politician", "Senator", "BCCI"] +--- +John Kerry is a former Democratic Senator from [[Massachusetts]] and was chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics, and International Operations.[^1] + +### Role in BCCI Investigation + +Kerry's subcommittee spearheaded probes of drug trafficking and money laundering, which veered into [[Manuel Noriega]]'s financial dealings.[^2] He proposed a serious investigation of [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]], but his efforts were initially brushed aside, leading him to believe there was a high-level cover-up.[^3] + +He was a key figure in pushing for investigations into BCCI's activities, despite resistance from government agencies. Kerry's subcommittee issued subpoenas for BCCI records and investigated the bank's secret ownership of [[First American Bank]].[^4] He also questioned [[Richard J. Kerr]], Acting [[CIA]] Director, about the agency's knowledge of BCCI's operations.[^5] + +Kerry received money from [[Clark Clifford]] and [[Robert Altman]], members of their law firm, during the same month that [[Jack Blum]]'s contract with his subcommittee was terminated.[^6] He introduced a bill that would allow the government to revoke the license of any bank whose officials had been convicted of money laundering, known as the "death penalty bill," which was opposed by BCCI's lawyers.[^7] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 9. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 26. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 26. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 30. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 89. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 65. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 370. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Khalfan al-Mazrui.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Khalfan al-Mazrui.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cc57d4f5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Khalfan al-Mazrui.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Government Official", "BCCI"] +--- +Khalfan al-Mazrui was the Head of the [[Karachi]] office of [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Sheikh Zayed]]'s Private Department.[^1] He was also the brother-in-law of [[Sami Masri]].[^2] + +### Role in BCCI Operations + +Al-Mazrui was involved in the restructuring efforts of [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] after its financial difficulties.[^3] He was part of the group of BCCI bankers around Crown Prince Khalifa who believed they could maintain control of the imploding bank.[^4] + +He was responsible for cleaning up the missing hundreds of millions of dollars that were drained off by employees in Karachi, and was sent in to manage the Private Department's Karachi section.[^5] + +### Connections and Interactions + +Al-Mazrui was in communication with [[Jonathan Beaty]] regarding Sami Masri and the BCCI investigation.[^6] He was cautious and wary, especially about discussing sensitive information over the phone.[^7] He was also involved in meetings with BCCI heads in [[London]].[^8] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 10. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 92. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 128. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 82. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 128. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 280. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 96. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 95. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Richard J. Kerr.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Richard J. Kerr.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..da5c1259 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Richard J. Kerr.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Government Official", "CIA", "BCCI"] +--- +Richard J. Kerr served as Acting [[Central Intelligence Agency]] Director. In 1991, he confirmed that the agency had used [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] to move money around the world.[^1] + +### Role in BCCI Affair + +Kerr appeared before Senator [[John Kerry]]'s Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics, and International Operations on October 25, 1992, to discuss the CIA's knowledge of BCCI's activities.[^2] He stated that the CIA had not been involved with a BCCI "black network" of thugs and assassins, nor had it used BCCI for arms sales to [[Iran]] or diversion of funds for the [[Nicaraguan Contras]].[^3] He also denied that the CIA had a relationship with [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] or had placed him on a watch list.[^4] + +Despite these denials, Kerr admitted that the CIA did maintain accounts with BCCI, describing them as normal operational accounts.[^5] The Kerry subcommittee's report suggested that [[William Casey]]'s actions, including any role in the [[Iran-Contra Affair]], were undertaken in his position as an adviser to the President, rather than as Director of the CIA, allowing them to be undocumented and deniable.[^6] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 9. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 89. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 348. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 348. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 149. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 348. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Robert Kennedy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Robert Kennedy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cfe689f9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Robert Kennedy.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - USA +--- +Robert Kennedy was an American politician who served as Attorney General during his brother [[John F. Kennedy]]'s presidency. In an interview published in 1988 by the [[John F. Kennedy Library]], he expressed a cynical view of [[Myer Feldman]], noting that while his older brother valued Feldman's work, Feldman's major interest was [[Israel]] rather than the [[United States]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Robert W. Komer.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Robert W. Komer.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..61451005 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Robert W. Komer.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Robert W. Komer was a staff member of the [[National Security Council]] during the [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]] administration. He recalled the tension within the White House staff regarding [[Myer Feldman]]'s involvement in Israeli issues, stating that [[McGeorge Bundy]] had a standing rule not to send anything to Feldman because Feldman was getting involved in issues where he had no business. Komer noted that it was hard to tell the difference between what Feldman said and what the Israeli ambassador said.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Spurgeon M. Keeny, Jr..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Spurgeon M. Keeny, Jr..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..82ec5524 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(K-M)/Spurgeon M. Keeny, Jr..md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Spurgeon M. Keeny, Jr. was the deputy director of the [[Arms Control and Disarmament Agency|ACDA]]. He was a senior bureaucrat involved in high-level scientific issues since the [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] administration. Keeny realized that he and his colleagues needed to "buy some time" after a [[VELA Satellite]] recorded probable evidence of a nuclear explosion on September 22, 1979. He was troubled by the intelligence community's assurance that its assessment was 90 percent accurate, believing that middle-level bureaucrats could not know all the facts. Keeny claimed it was his idea to set up an outside panel to study the VELA data and ensure the satellite had not made an error with enormous political consequences.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 20. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Abdul Majeed Shoman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Abdul Majeed Shoman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4ff90569 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Abdul Majeed Shoman.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Abdul Majeed Shoman]] was the Chairman and General Manager of [[Arab Bank Limited]] in Amman, [[Jordan]]. He wrote a letter to [[George K. Pender]] of [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] on November 23, 1983, stating that Arab Bank, along with a group of other banks, would be glad to cooperate concerning a fund to reconstruct [[Lebanon]]. Shoman confirmed that there would be "no problem to take care of" a financial transaction amounting to "US$ three billion or more," provided the condition in [[Lebanon]] was clear and subject to the approval and counter guarantees of the Lebanese Authority.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Abimael Guzmán Reynoso.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Abimael Guzmán Reynoso.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..04698b41 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Abimael Guzmán Reynoso.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Peru +--- +[[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso]] was the founder and leader of the [[Shining Path]] (El Sendero Luminoso), a Maoist terrorist group in [[Peru]]. He was formerly a professor of philosophy at the [[University of San Cristobal]] at [[Ayacucho]], where he was considered a legendary figure by his followers, who saw him as the "fourth sword of Marxism" after [[Karl Marx|Marx]], [[Vladimir Lenin|Lenin]], and [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]].[^1] + +In 1980, [[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso|Guzmán]] proclaimed the armed struggle against the capitalist government in [[Lima]], and the [[Shining Path]] grew into a powerful force, leading to the declaration of martial law in the department of [[Ayacucho]] by [[Alan Garcia|Peruvian President Alan Garcia]].[^1] + +In 1988, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] traveled to [[Peru]] on a secret mission for [[Yitzhak Shamir]] to secure the purchase of rare minerals for [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear program. [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] met [[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso|Guzmán]] at a farmhouse in [[Shining Path]]-controlled territory. [[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso|Guzmán]] was initially suspicious of [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]], but was impressed by his directness. He revealed his own Jewish heritage and discussed his philosophy, which blended Inca and kibbutz ideology, and his views on equality and family.[^1] + +[[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso|Guzmán]] agreed to sell the minerals to [[Israel]] for $10 million, to be deposited in a [[Switzerland|Swiss]] bank account. He also requested that [[Israel]] purchase a chain of five small newspapers, the [[Ocho Group]], on the movement's behalf, and provide medical equipment to be brought on the [[Cessna]]s transporting the minerals.[^1] + +[[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso|Guzmán]] was rumored to have died of cancer in 1990, but he continued to lead the [[Shining Path]]. He was captured in 1992 and was imprisoned.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Abraham Sourassi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Abraham Sourassi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3a030b0f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Abraham Sourassi.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Engineer + - Israel +--- +Abraham Sourassi was a senior Israeli engineer at [[Dimona]], responsible for building the reprocessing plant. He endeared himself to his countrymen by declaring, "Good riddance," upon hearing of [[Charles de Gaulle]]'s disenchantment with [[Dimona]], reflecting the typical Israeli attitude of self-reliance.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 5. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Alan Sanders.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Alan Sanders.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ce06dfc1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Alan Sanders.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - Intelligence + - USA +--- +[[Alan Sanders]] was a businessman with links to the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. His cover was [[ITICO]] (Integrated Technologies International Co.). He was involved in supplying technology for cluster bombs to [[Carlos Cardoen]], specifically in the form of blueprints. This was done with a covert [[USA|U.S.]] license, despite a [[United Nations]] arms embargo against [[Chile]].[^1] + +In late 1985, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] approached Sanders to purchase cluster bombs for [[Israel]]. Sanders made it clear that the sale of cluster bombs to [[Israel]] was prohibited by the [[USA|U.S.]]. However, he introduced Ben-Menashe to [[Richard Babayan]], a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] contract agent with close contacts with [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen]], indicating that Cardoen would sell the bombs to [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Albert Speer.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Albert Speer.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..828b4844 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Albert Speer.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Albert Speer +tags: + - Person + - Nazi Germany + - Government Official +--- +Albert Speer (1905–1981) was a German architect who served as the Reich's Minister of Armaments and War Production for [[Nazi Germany]] during [[World War II]]. He was a close confidant of [[Adolf Hitler]][^1]. + +While serving a life sentence in Spandau prison, Speer recounted [[Rudolf Hess]]'s motivation for his rogue flight to Scotland in May 1941. Speer wrote in *Inside the Third Reich* that "Hess assured me in all seriousness that the idea had been inspired in him in a dream by supernatural forces"[^1]. + +Speer also noted [[Adolf Hitler]]'s reaction to [[Heinrich Himmler]]'s interest in the occult, quoting Hitler as saying, "What nonsense! Here we have at last reached an age that has left all mysticism behind it, and now he [Himmler] wants to start that all over again. We might just as well have stayed with the church"[^1]. + +## Publications +* *Inside the Third Reich* + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Albert Stubblebine.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Albert Stubblebine.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..83e9bc7d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Albert Stubblebine.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Albert Stubblebine +tags: + - person + - military + - general + - intelligence +description: Major General Albert Stubblebine was a U.S. Army general and a strong supporter of psychic research, particularly within the Stargate Project. +--- + +Major General [[Albert Stubblebine]] was a [[U.S. Army]] general and a strong supporter of [[Psi|psychic]] research, particularly within the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]]. He served as the [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]] commander. Stubblebine was known for his unconventional interests and his belief in the potential of psychic abilities for military applications. He reportedly attempted to walk through walls and other feats.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Alfredo Stroessner.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Alfredo Stroessner.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..22637bf7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Alfredo Stroessner.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Paraguay +--- +[[Alfredo Stroessner]] was the President of [[Paraguay]], having been put in power in 1954 by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. His regime was known for protecting [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] intelligence officers and German scientists with whom the [[USA|U.S.]] government had made deals after [[World War II]]. Stroessner, with his German background and connections to the [[Nazi Party]] during the war, was considered an excellent candidate for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] to install, indirectly serving [[USA|U.S.]] interests.[^1] + +[[Israel|Israel]]'s connection with [[Paraguay]] under Stroessner dates back to [[Golda Meir]]'s time as foreign minister, who was instrumental in opening diplomatic relations. Stroessner agreed to open [[Paraguay|Paraguay's]] embassy in [[Jerusalem]], even when the [[USA|U.S.]] did not recognize [[Jerusalem]] as the capital of [[Israel]]. This relationship, however, was not always consistent, with [[Mossad]] agents continuing to track [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] groups in [[Paraguay]]. Stroessner attempted to improve his reputation by promising full cooperation with [[Israel]], though he did little to address the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] issue.[^1] + +[[Paraguay]] became a conduit for illegal arms shipments to [[Israel]] and for smuggling matériel from [[South Africa]] for the [[Dimona reactor]]. [[Paraguay Airlines]] maintained a monthly flight to [[Tel Aviv]], with aircraft undergoing maintenance by [[Israel Aircraft Industries]] in [[Israel]].[^1] + +In September 1988, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] met with [[Alfredo Stroessner|Stroessner]] to persuade him to close down [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen Industries]]' chemical plant in [[Paraguay]], which was producing chemical weapons for [[Iraq]]. [[Alfredo Stroessner|Stroessner]] initially agreed to close the plant by the end of February 1989 in exchange for a $30 million aid package in military equipment and training for a special antiterrorist unit for his Presidential Guard. He also revealed that [[Andres Rodriguez|Gen. Andres Rodriguez]] had an interest in [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen Industries]].[^1] + +[[Alfredo Stroessner|Stroessner]] was aware of a plotted coup against him by [[Andres Rodriguez|Gen. Andres Rodriguez]], supported by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. Despite his efforts to neutralize Rodriguez, the coup took place on February 2, 1989, leading to Stroessner's overthrow. He had promised [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] that the [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen]] plant would be closed, and had received small arms from [[Israel]] as part of the agreement.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Amiram Nir.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Amiram Nir.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..649cd729 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Amiram Nir.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +[[Amiram Nir]] was a former [[Israel|Israeli]] TV newsman and a counterterrorism adviser to [[Shimon Peres]]. He was originally a military officer in the tank corps and lost an eye in a training accident. He married [[Judy Moses]], the daughter of the owner of [[Yediot Ahronot]], a major [[Israel|Israeli]] newspaper chain.[^1] + +Nir resigned from his TV job to work as a public relations adviser for [[Shimon Peres|Peres]] during the 1981 elections. After [[Shimon Peres|Peres]] became prime minister in 1984, he appointed Nir as his counterterrorism adviser. Nir found documents related to [[Rafi Eitan|Eitan's]] [[USA|U.S.]] spy network and the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee|Joint Committee's]] arms sales to [[Iran]].[^1] + +[[Shimon Peres|Peres]] and Nir faced challenges from the [[Likud Party]]-controlled intelligence community and the lack of financial power within the [[Labor Party]]. [[Shimon Peres|Peres]] decided to open a competing arms channel, run by Nir, to gain control over the profitable [[Iran]] arms sales and to undermine the existing intelligence-community channel. Nir, despite his lack of experience in intelligence or business, sought support from individuals like [[Al Schwimmer]] and [[Yaacov Nimrodi]].[^1] + +Nir met with [[Robert McFarlane]] in [[Washington D.C.]] and threatened him with exposure if he did not cooperate with the new channel. This led to [[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] connecting Nir with [[Oliver North]] and [[John Poindexter]] of the [[National Security Council]]. Nir, [[Oliver North|North]], and [[John Poindexter|Poindexter]] gained the support of [[William Casey]], then head of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], and [[George Bush]] tacitly ignored the operation.[^1] + +Nir's operation, however, struggled to make significant inroads into the arms trade. In April 1986, [[Oliver North|North]] initiated a sting operation, the [[Hashemi sting]], to discredit the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee|original channel]] and its members. Nir was also involved in the leaking of the [[Jonathan Pollard]] story to the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] to further undermine the [[Likud Party]]'s credibility.[^1] + +In May 1986, [[Oliver North|North]], [[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]], and Nir traveled to [[Tehran]] disguised as Irish technicians, carrying [[TOW missile]]s and [[Hawk missile]] spare parts. They were detained, and the military equipment was confiscated. This incident, along with the delivery of outdated [[Hawk missile]]s with [[Israel|Israeli]] markings, effectively killed off the [[Iran]] end of the second channel.[^1] + +[[Amiram Nir|Nir]] also faced problems with his plans for supplying the [[Contras]], as [[Yitzhak Rabin]] refused to cooperate. A mysterious $10 million contribution from the [[Sultan of Brunei]] to [[Oliver North|North's]] group, wired through [[Bruce Rappaport]], was leaked by the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee|Joint Committee]], further exposing the second channel.[^1] + +[[Amiram Nir|Nir]] was due to be a major witness in [[Oliver North|North's]] trial and knew a great deal about [[Ihsan Barbouti|Barbouti's]] chemical operation in [[Miami]]. He was killed in a plane crash in [[Mexico]] in November 1988, an event that [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence believed was a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operation to prevent his testimony from embarrassing [[Shimon Peres|Peres]], [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]], or [[George Bush|Bush]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Amnon Rubinstein.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Amnon Rubinstein.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e9aae3c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Amnon Rubinstein.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Amnon Rubinstein +tags: + - Person + - Legal Scholar + - Politician + - Israel +--- +# Amnon Rubinstein + +Amnon Rubinstein was a prominent [[Israel|Israeli]] legal scholar, politician, and television talk show host. Known as the founding father of Israeli constitutional law, he served in various ministerial roles, including Minister of Communications, Minister of Science and Technology and Space, and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure[^1]. + +Rubinstein became a notable supporter of [[Uri Geller]]'s [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis|PK]] abilities since 1969. He first encountered Geller at a party, where Geller allegedly demonstrated a remarkable ability to influence Rubinstein's thoughts, making him choose a specific number that Geller had already written down. Rubinstein, initially skeptical, was astonished by this demonstration[^1]. + +He conducted numerous informal tests with Geller in his own home, where Geller consistently demonstrated the ability to "plant a thought right in our mind," such as writing down a number or a capital city that Rubinstein or his family would then choose. Rubinstein considered this ability far more significant than spoon bending, stating, "This is a single phenomenon that casts doubt on many of the foundations of our rational world." He remained a staunch defender of Geller's powers against critics[^1]. + +Rubinstein advised Geller to go to America to be tested at a serious research institute like [[Stanford Research Institute|Stanford]], which ultimately led to Geller's testing by the CIA[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Andrea Stocco.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Andrea Stocco.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..210f5cc3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Andrea Stocco.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Andrea Stocco + - Dr. Andrea Stocco +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Researcher +--- +Andrea Stocco is a co-director at the [[Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences]] (I-LABS) at the [[University of Washington]] in [[Seattle]]. He is involved in research on [[Synthetic Telepathy]], specifically focusing on direct brain-to-brain communication[^1]. + +Stocco explains that while evolution has found ways for humans to communicate information from their brains, it requires translation. His work aims to reverse this process, taking signals from the brain and, with minimal translation, putting them back into another person's brain[^1]. + +In collaboration with computational neuroscientist [[Rajesh Rao]], Stocco's laboratory conducted experiments on August 12, 2013, demonstrating [[Synthetic Telepathy]] between two human test subjects for the first time in human history[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Andres Rodriguez.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Andres Rodriguez.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c64ec1d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Andres Rodriguez.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Politics + - Paraguay +--- +[[Andres Rodriguez]] was a General in [[Paraguay]] and the head of the military school. He was a powerful figure in the country, considered by some to be the second most powerful man after [[Alfredo Stroessner|President Stroessner]]. He was believed to be a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] agent and had an exclusive on importing [[USA|American]] cigarettes to [[Paraguay]].[^1] + +[[Andres Rodriguez|Rodriguez]] had close connections with [[Rodolfo Stange|Gen. Rodolfo Stange]] of [[Chile]] and was believed to receive a retainer from [[Carlos Cardoen]]. He had presidential aspirations and was involved in a power struggle with [[Alfredo Stroessner|President Stroessner]]. His daughter, Marta, was married to Stroessner's second son, who was a cocaine addict, leading to strife over the presidential candidacy.[^1] + +[[Andres Rodriguez|Rodriguez]] orchestrated a coup d'état against [[Alfredo Stroessner|President Stroessner]] in February 1989, with the support of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. [[Earl Brian]] and [[Clair George]] visited [[Paraguay]] and met with [[Andres Rodriguez|Rodriguez]] prior to the coup. The closing of [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen's]] chemical plant in [[Paraguay]] was one of the issues that brought the power struggle to a head.[^1] + +After the coup, [[Andres Rodriguez|Rodriguez]] became the President of [[Paraguay]] and continued to rule the country with the blessing of the [[USA|U.S.]] government. He stepped down in August 1993 and died in 1997.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Andrija Puharich.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Andrija Puharich.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..854a0aa3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Andrija Puharich.md @@ -0,0 +1,48 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Andrija Puharich +tags: + - person + - researcher + - parapsychologist + - Physician + - Scientist + - CIA + - Military +--- + +Henry Karel “Andrija” Puharich (1918–1995) was a prominent American physician, research scientist, and parapsychologist who became a central figure in the U.S. government's investigations into [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis|PK]] during the [[Cold War]]. His lifelong quest to understand the nature of consciousness and anomalous mental phenomena led him to explore the intersection of science, mysticism, and the supernatural[^1]. + +Born in Chicago on February 19, 1918, to poor Yugoslavian immigrants, Puharich had an early experience that shaped his future. As a milk delivery boy, he claimed to have calmed a vicious dog by sending "feelings of calmness and peace," leading him to believe in [[Telepathy|mind-to-mind telepathy]] and inspiring him to pursue medicine to understand the biological basis of such phenomena[^1]. He excelled academically, attending Northwestern University for philosophy and premedical studies before entering medical school. During his studies, he deeply contemplated the nature of the mind and consciousness, stating, "Understanding the nature of man’s consciousness... is my lifelong quest"[^1]. + +After completing his medical degree in 1947, Puharich worked with leading physicians, including his mentor, Dr. Andrew C. Ivy. During his residency at the Permanente Research Foundation, he formulated the **Puharich Theory**, which posited an unknown energy force linking the brain and nervous system to cells, with instructions flowing between them as "dynamics." He believed this energy radiated on the [[Electromagnetic Spectrum|electromagnetic spectrum]] but was beyond current measurement technology. His theory gained traction when [[Lloyd H. Beck]] and [[Walter S. Miles]] of Yale University reported that the olfactory nerve of a bee radiated energy in the infrared spectrum[^1]. + +Inspired by microbiologist [[Paul De Kruif]], who warned him to "Beware the Establishment!"[^1], Puharich began lecturing on his ideas, merging philosophy, mysticism, and science. This attracted wealthy benefactors, notably [[Joyce Borden Balokovic]] and [[Zlatko Balokovic]], and later [[Alice Astor Bouverie]] and [[Marcella Miller du Pont]]. With their financial backing, Puharich established the [[Round Table Foundation]] in Glen Cove, Maine, in 1949. The foundation, named in homage to King Arthur, aimed to conduct experiments on [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and related phenomena[^1]. + +The Warrenton Estate, Puharich's home and laboratory, became the center of his research. Here, he conducted experiments on audio waves and human hearing, collaborating with ear surgeon [[Samuel Rosen]], whose accidental discovery of the "Rosen stapes" operation brought prestige and grants to the foundation[^1]. Puharich's mystical beliefs deepened through his mentorship with [[John Hays Hammond Jr.]], a wealthy inventor and ESP advocate. Hammond, influenced by [[Nikola Tesla]], believed scientific inspiration could come from an unknown energy force in dreams. Together, they built a [[Faraday Cage]] to test ESP on [[Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Waves|ELF waves]]. Their "Project I" involved psychics like [[Eileen Garrett]], whose ESP abilities reportedly increased inside the cage[^1]. + +Puharich also investigated audio aberrations, collaborating with [[Warren S. McCulloch]], a cybernetics founder and [[Central Intelligence Agency]] asset. They discovered that a machinist hearing voices was actually picking up radio signals due to carborundum dust on his dental fillings, a finding that garnered attention from *The New York Times* and the [[U.S. Navy]][^1]. + +Puharich's work caught the attention of the [[Pentagon]]. In 1952, Lieutenant Colonel [[John B. Stanley]] of the [[U.S. Army]]'s Office of the Chief of Psychological Warfare, who also served as an Army liaison to the CIA, met with Puharich. This led to Puharich delivering classified briefings and being recalled to military service in March 1953, where he worked at the [[U.S. Army Chemical Center]] in Edgewood, Maryland[^1]. His task was to find a drug that could enhance ESP, mirroring the [[CIA]]'s quest for a truth serum[^1]. + +During this period, Puharich became obsessed with the hallucinogenic mushroom *teonanáctl* (God's flesh), after [[Alice Astor Bouverie]] informed him of [[Harry Stump]]'s channeling of an "Egyptian persona" that spoke of such a drug. Puharich learned of [[R. Gordon Wasson]]'s expeditions to Mexico in search of the mushroom and briefed his Army superiors on it[^1]. However, the CIA, through [[James Moore]], bypassed Puharich and approached Wasson directly, leading to Puharich being sidelined from the [[Project MKUltra|MKULTRA Subproject 58]][^1]. + +Puharich's personal life suffered during his Army service. His wife, Jinny, battled severe depression and underwent insulin shock therapy. After their divorce, Jinny died by suicide in 1959[^1]. Puharich later married Bep Hermans. + +Upon his return to civilian life in 1955, Puharich continued his research at the [[Round Table Foundation]]. He experimented with *teonanáctl* on himself and others, including [[Harry Stump]], with [[Aldous Huxley]] as a witness. While the experiments did not yield the divinatory powers Puharich hoped for in Stump, they highlighted the ethical complexities of his research[^1]. + +After the death of [[Alice Astor Bouverie]], a key financial supporter, and growing paranoia about CIA interest in his research, Puharich and [[Peter Hurkos]] traveled to Mexico in search of more mushrooms. The [[Round Table Foundation]] eventually closed in 1957[^1]. + +Puharich continued to work on secret government contracts, including for [[NASA]] and the [[Air Force Systems Command]], exploring concepts like "skin reading"—the idea that the skin could function as an organ of sensory communication beyond touch. He demonstrated this with deaf individuals, convincing [[Paul S. Henshaw]] of the [[Atomic Energy Commission]] of its legitimacy[^1]. + +His interests also extended to psychic healing, leading him to Brazil to study [[Arigo]], a healer who reportedly performed surgeries with a pocketknife. Puharich documented Arigo's work, hoping to secure military interest in "psychic healing on the battlefield," though without success[^1]. + +In 1970, Puharich met [[Itzhak Bentov]], who introduced him to [[Uri Geller]], an Israeli with extraordinary psychokinetic and telepathic abilities. Puharich became obsessed with Geller, believing he could secure a government research contract if he could test him under laboratory conditions. His efforts led to Geller being tested by the [[CIA]] at [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI), though the CIA viewed Puharich as a "potential liability"[^1]. Puharich acted as Geller's official manager, often involving the press, which complicated the CIA's desire for secrecy[^1]. + +Throughout his life, Puharich maintained a theory that extraterrestrials were trying to send messages to humans through psychic people, and that [[Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Waves|ELF waves]] were responsible for the sicknesses of the age[^1]. + +Andrija Puharich died tragically in 1995, alone and impoverished, under threat of eviction from the estate of his last benefactor, [[R. J. Reynolds]]. He was 76 and suffering from dementia, kidney failure, and gangrene[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Anthony Pasciuto.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Anthony Pasciuto.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4aa3fe5f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Anthony Pasciuto.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Anthony Pasciuto was the Deputy Director of the Executive Office of U.S. Trustees (EOUST) within the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. He became a central figure in [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]'s allegations of a plot to convert its bankruptcy to a liquidation and a subsequent cover-up. + +Inslaw's primary allegation stemmed from a private conversation [[Bill Hamilton]] and [[Nancy Hamilton]] had with Pasciuto in March 1987. According to Nancy Hamilton's later testimony, Pasciuto told them that the Director of EOUST, [[Thomas Stanton]], had pressured the U.S. Trustee assigned to the [[INSLAW]] case, [[Philip White]], to convert the case to Chapter 7. Pasciuto also allegedly told the Hamiltons that Stanton had tried to detail a talented attorney from the U.S. Trustee's Office in the Southern District of New York, [[Harry Jones]], to Washington D.C., to work on converting the Inslaw case. This allegation was initially supported by the deposition testimony of [[Cornelius Blackshear]], then a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, who swore that White had told him Stanton wanted the Inslaw case converted and a particular attorney from Blackshear's office assigned to handle it.[^1] + +However, Pasciuto's testimony and statements were found to be highly unreliable by the Special Counsel's investigation. Pasciuto himself testified during the Independent Handling hearing that no one had ever told him Stanton pressured White to convert the case, and he had no personal knowledge of the subject. He admitted that if he did tell the Hamiltons of such pressure, it was because he was very upset and would have done anything, including exaggerating and making things up, to hurt Stanton, his boss, with whom he was having problems. Pasciuto later changed his story, claiming that his initial statements to the Hamiltons were true and that his trial testimony was influenced by pressure from the DOJ and the lack of corroboration from Blackshear and White.[^1] + +The Special Counsel's investigation concluded that Pasciuto's statements were unreliable because he never claimed first-hand knowledge, he contradicted his own prior sworn testimony, and his later statements were often vague impressions without corroboration. The investigation also noted that Pasciuto's later claims were made after the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) recommended his termination for admitting he made false statements to the Hamiltons to harm Stanton. OPR concluded that Pasciuto's conduct, in providing false information to harm his superior, did not qualify him as a whistleblower, and his termination was appropriate. The Special Counsel found insufficient evidence to support the allegations that the DOJ planned or attempted to convert Inslaw's bankruptcy case or engaged in any cover-up.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Anthony Pearson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Anthony Pearson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..100878e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Anthony Pearson.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Intelligence + - UK +--- +[[Anthony Pearson]] was a former British Special Airborne Service ([[SAS]]) officer who ran a company called [[Strategic Intelligence Services]], located in [[London]]. His firm provided espionage services to [[Israel]], among others.[^1] + +[[Anthony Pearson|Pearson]] was known for recruiting mercenaries from [[Lafayette]], [[Louisiana]], and sending them to various parts of the world. His men were involved in helping the Muslim government's troops in southern [[Sudan]] fight against Christian-Animist revolutionaries in the early 1970s. In November 1981, some of his men participated in an unsuccessful coup in the [[Seychelles]], where they were arrested for bringing in AK-47s in golf bags.[^1] + +According to [[Mossad]] files, [[Anthony Pearson|Pearson]] could also arrange assassinations for $50,000, splitting the fee with a hit man recruited in [[Louisiana]].[^1] + +[[Anthony Pearson|Pearson]] recruited [[Nicholas Davies]], the London *Daily Mirror* foreign editor, for [[Mossad]] in the 1970s. He also worked with [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah]], a former colonel in the [[Jordan|Jordanian]] Army. [[Anthony Pearson|Pearson]] used [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah|Radi's]] unwitting help to acquire intelligence about Palestinian organizations in [[Europe]] by selling arms to them. This allowed [[Anthony Pearson|Pearson]] to pass intelligence to [[Mossad]] about the groups' movements and weapons. Based on [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah|Radi's]] tips, 14 or 15 Palestinians were eliminated over a two-month period.[^1] + +In 1978, [[Anthony Pearson|Pearson]] offered [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah|Radi]] a £200,000 loan, making it clear the money came from an [[Israel|Israeli]] source, and recruited him to work for an antiterrorist group in [[Israel]] run by [[Rafi Eitan]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Arieh Shur.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Arieh Shur.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8a9299c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Arieh Shur.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Israel +--- +Colonel [[Arieh Shur]] was an officer in the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Defense Forces]]' External Relations Department. He provided a letter of recommendation for [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], confirming Ben-Menashe's service in a task that demanded "considerable analytical and executive skills." The letter noted Ben-Menashe's ability to carry out his task with "understanding, skill, and determination," and to adapt to changing situations.[^1] + +This letter was later introduced as evidence during [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] trial to counter the [[Israel|Israeli]] government's claim that he was merely a low-level translator.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ariel Sharon.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ariel Sharon.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..acf283e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ariel Sharon.md @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Ariel Sharon + - General Ariel Sharon +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Israel +--- +# Ariel Sharon + +Ariel Sharon was an Israeli General. In the summer of 1970, he was photographed at a function speaking with [[Uri Geller]] (Jacobsen, Chapter Six). This occurred during a period when Geller's popularity was rising in [[Israel]], and he was also seen having lunch with [[Moshe Dayan]] at the White Elephant Restaurant in Zahala (Jacobsen, Chapter Six).[^1] + +In August 1981, [[Ariel Sharon]] was named defense minister by the newly reelected [[Menachem Begin 1]] government. In September of the same year, he was in [[Washington D.C.]] with Begin to lobby the White House in support of a far-reaching Israeli plan for [[United States]]-Israeli strategic cooperation against the [[Soviet Union]]. Sharon pushed for a downlink for [[KH-11]] satellite imagery to be located in [[Tel Aviv]], insisting it be "dedicated" so that only [[Israel]] could read the encoded signals. This suggestion was deemed preposterous by [[Richard V. Allen]], then National Security Advisor, who privately told Sharon so.[^2] + +The bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] in June 1981, which [[Ariel Sharon]] had supported, led him to conclude that the [[United States]] was not a reliable strategic ally. Following this, he turned to a clandestine Israeli intelligence agency under his defense ministry, which then intercepted intelligence on the [[Middle East]] and [[Soviet Union]] from sensitive American agencies. This included intelligence that [[Israel]] had been told it would no longer receive. An American Jew working in the U.S. intelligence community had volunteered his services to this agency years prior and would soon be tasked with spying on his country for [[Israel]].[^2] + +--- + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Arnold Overoye.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Arnold Overoye.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cc8d24e3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Arnold Overoye.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Arnold Overoye]] was an individual in the [[California Attorney General's Office|State Attorney General's Office]] in Sacramento. He initially agreed with Assistant [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] [[James White]] that [[Roderick Sinclair]] should be prosecuted in connection with the "Queen's accident." However, when the original [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]] report crossed [[John Van de Kamp]]'s desk, Van de Kamp told Overoye and his assistant to "discard" or "trash" it.[^1] + +Overoye's "procedure" of referring complaints directly back to local agencies was noted as a consistent practice, leading to threats, intimidation, and fear for complaining individuals in Mariposa County. This practice, along with the inaction of [[John Van de Kamp]] and federal agencies, reportedly extended to a number of foothill counties experiencing similar local corruption.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Art Suchesk.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Art Suchesk.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3a3a4a66 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Art Suchesk.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Art Suchesk]] was a friend of [[Allan Boyak]] from his Green Beret days. He ran a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] proprietary company called [[Hoffman Electronics]]. Suchesk repeatedly encountered [[Robert Booth Nichols]] in places like [[Singapore]], the [[Philippines]], and [[Taiwan]] over a two-year period after the Los Angeles [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] dropped its interest in Nichols. Suchesk was based out of Zurich, [[Switzerland]], during this time, reportedly continuing his "front man work" for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Avi Pazner.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Avi Pazner.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2380892b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Avi Pazner.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Israel +--- +[[Avi Pazner]] was the spokesman and unofficial national security adviser to [[Yitzhak Shamir]], the Prime Minister of [[Israel]]. He later became [[Israel|Israel's]] ambassador to [[Italy]].[^1] + +[[Avi Pazner|Pazner]] was involved in various covert operations and political dealings on behalf of [[Yitzhak Shamir|Shamir]]. He was the head of a task force of intelligence officers appointed by [[Yitzhak Shamir|Shamir]] to halt the supply of chemical weapons and nuclear technology to [[Iraq]] from the [[USA|West]], particularly [[Chile]].[^1] + +[[Avi Pazner|Pazner]] was briefed by [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] on the arrangements with [[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso|Guzmán]] in [[Peru]] for the purchase of rare minerals for [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear program. He also played a role in the negotiations for the sale of C-130 aircraft to [[Iran]] in exchange for the release of [[Israel|Israeli]] soldiers held in [[Lebanon]].[^1] + +[[Avi Pazner|Pazner]] was involved in the secret agreement between [[Israel]] and the [[USA|U.S.]] not to supply [[Iran]] with arms after the [[Iran-Iraq War]] ceasefire, and to try to stop chemical weapons going to [[Iraq]]. He also confirmed that [[Robert Gates]] had given the nod for [[GeoMiliTech|GMT]] to deal with [[Israel]].[^1] + +[[Avi Pazner|Pazner]] was hounded by the press about the [[Israel|Israeli]] government's lies regarding [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] employment. He was also involved in the decision to transfer [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] money, which was under [[Israel|Israeli]] control, to the [[East Bloc]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Aviem Sella.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Aviem Sella.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fdc9fe4b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Aviem Sella.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Israel +--- +Colonel [[Aviem Sella]] was an [[Israel|Israeli]] Air Force officer and a nuclear targeting expert who was implicated in the [[Jonathan Pollard]] espionage case, where he worked with [[Jonathan Pollard|Pollard]] to obtain intelligence from the [[USA|U.S.]] Navy.[^1] + +### Nuclear Targeting Expertise + +Sella was one of the Israeli Air Force's leading nuclear bombing and targeting experts. He was specifically assigned to serve as [[Jonathan Pollard]]'s handler. Pollard insisted that his spying did not begin until July 1984, after a social meeting with Sella. Sella's mission was to help Pollard gather and evaluate essential intelligence, including advanced American intelligence on weather patterns, communication protocols, and data on emergency and alert procedures, as well as knowledge of the electromagnetic fields between [[Israel]] and its main targets in the [[Soviet Union]].[^2] + +### Operational Shortcomings + +Sella's superb skill and knowledge of nuclear targeting blinded [[Rafael Eitan]] and the Israeli intelligence community to the fact that Sella was a pilot who knew nothing about running a covert operation. When Pollard got into trouble in late 1985, Sella's main concern was fleeing the [[United States]] as quickly as possible before he, too, was arrested.[^2] + +### Legal Consequences and Aftermath + +Sella, who retired from the air force in disillusionment and disappointment, remained in [[Israel]], as of mid-1991 a fugitive from American justice. He has given friends and colleagues an account of his involvement that is more credible, but still far short of the whole story. He claimed he was recruited to try to control Pollard, who was drowning the Israeli intelligence bureaucracy in documents. By 1984, when Sella was approached, he had almost completed his requirement for a Ph.D. in computer science at [[New York University]], and the obvious thought was that his technical training would be an asset in evaluating and perhaps winnowing down Pollard's materials. Sella knew that Pollard had been recruited long before 1984, but he was eager for the assignment, believing that running a spy as important as Pollard would make his own climb to the top inevitable. Before taking the assignment, he checked with his superior, Major General [[Amos Lapidot]], the air force chief of staff, who assured him that Pollard was not a rogue and that clearance for his new assignment had been obtained from [[Yitzhak Rabin]], the minister of defense. Once involved, Sella complained to a friend that Pollard "was running crazy" and "was giving him things he didn't want and didn't need."[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. _Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network_. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Avraham Shalom.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Avraham Shalom.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0068eb47 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Avraham Shalom.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +Avraham Shalom was the director of [[Shin Bet]], [[Israel]]'s internal security agency. He was forced to resign his post in late June 1984 due to cover-up charges in connection with the Shin Bet killing in 1984 of two Palestinian hijackers while in custody. Shalom was part of a six-man Israeli delegation that arrived in [[Washington D.C.]] in August 1986 to resolve the [[Jonathan Pollard]] affair. He, along with [[Ram Caspi]] and [[Hanan Bar-on]], had been appointed by [[Shimon Peres]] immediately after Pollard's arrest to conduct an internal investigation. They reported within a week that Pollard was part of a rogue intelligence-gathering unit that operated without any government awareness.[^1] + +[[Rafael Eitan]] had a need to settle old scores with [[Yitzhak Hofi]], the head of [[Mossad]], and [[Avraham Shalom]], Shin Beth's director. This personal ambition and need for revenge drove Eitan's actions, including the recruitment of [[Jonathan Pollard]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Bill O'Donnell.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Bill O'Donnell.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6dbec822 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Bill O'Donnell.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Bill O'Donnell +tags: + - person + - CIA + - intelligence +description: Bill O'Donnell was a CIA officer who inadvertently provided the coordinates for a secret NSA facility, leading to the Sugar Grove incident in early remote viewing research. +--- + +[[Bill O'Donnell]] was a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] officer. In May 1973, he inadvertently provided the coordinates for a secret [[NSA]] facility near Sugar Grove, West Virginia, to [[Richard Kennett]]. Kennett had asked O'Donnell for coordinates of a place on the East Coast that, if a drawing or photograph were shown later, O'Donnell would be able to confirm. O'Donnell, unaware of the true purpose, provided the precise coordinates of his summer cabin, which happened to be near the highly classified NSA site.[^1] + +This incident, where [[Ingo Swann]] and [[Pat Price]] accurately described the NSA facility despite being given coordinates for O'Donnell's cabin, became known as the Sugar Grove incident. It led to a hostile security investigation, as the psychics' remote viewing data was accurate enough to suggest a massive leakage of top-secret information. O'Donnell initially dismissed the psychics' descriptions as "bullshit" because they didn't match his cabin, but later realized the true implications when Kennett discovered the secret military installation nearby.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Bill Ray.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Bill Ray.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..09759fe0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Bill Ray.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Bill Ray +tags: + - Person + - Remote Viewer +--- +Bill Ray was one of the five remote viewers from [[Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]] who remained in the program when the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] took over the [[Psychoenergetics|psychoenergetics]] program. He was sent to New York City to be trained in the six stages of [[Coordinate Remote Viewing|CRV]] with [[Ingo Swann]][^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Bob Schilly.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Bob Schilly.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..20e6cd10 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Bob Schilly.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Bob Schilly]] was a Sergeant in the [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]]. He reported that Mariposa County Sheriff's Sergeant [[Roderick Sinclair]], who was driving with his partner, Deputy [[Rod McKean]], crossed the center line and hit the second of three Secret Service cars, causing it to tumble down a 10-foot embankment. This occurred during the "Queen's accident" on March 5, 1983.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Bobby Riconosciuto.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Bobby Riconosciuto.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..525c74f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Bobby Riconosciuto.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Bobby Riconosciuto]] is the wife of [[Michael Riconosciuto]]. She lived with him at the time of his arrest in Washington State. Immediately after his arrest, she fled to California with their four children, including their youngest daughter, Elizabeth, fathered by Michael.[^1] + +Patrick Moriarty, [[Marshall Riconosciuto]]'s business partner, paid for Bobby's stay in an exclusive suite at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Orange County, California. While there, she had access to office equipment and other amenities. Bobby was instrumental in retrieving [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s sensitive files and computer equipment from his hidden trailer in Trona, California, near Death Valley. She was instructed by Michael to keep away from the trailer in case she was being surveilled, as these files were considered Michael's "last ace in the hole."[^1] + +Frustrated by the slow progress of Michael's court defense and the lack of response to his requests for Witness Protection, Bobby decided to turn the documents over to [[Cheri Seymour]] for copying. She later intended to store the original documents at [[Marshall Riconosciuto]]'s business in Southern California, and Michael Riconosciuto later claimed Marshall shipped them to [[Ian Stuart Spiro]] for safekeeping.[^1] + +In January 1992, Bobby Riconosciuto disclosed that she had been present when [[Robert Booth Nichols]] met with [[Michael Abbell]] in Washington D.C. to discuss "crow-barring" the extradition of [[Cali Drug Cartel]] leaders [[Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela|Gilberto Rodriguez]], [[Jose Santacruz Londono|Jose Londono]], and [[Jose Santacruz Londono|Miguel Rodriguez]], whom they considered "intelligence people."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Brad Kenneth Spafford.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Brad Kenneth Spafford.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1055af38 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Brad Kenneth Spafford.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +Brad Kenneth Spafford was born in 1988. He is married to Jacqueline Spafford (born March 1989) and has two daughters. + +He attended Isle of Wight academy where he was on honor roll[^5] and won an award for craft arts in 2005.[^4] + +He worked at [Collins Machine Works](https://collinsmachine.com/), a naval focused machine shop. Spafford was a licensed private pilot.[^3] + +On July 4, 2021, Spafford disfigured his hand "while working on a homemade explosive" (the confidential human source [CHS] who reported Spafford to the FBI knew him before and after the accident). The CHS was concerned Spafford was interested in committing [[act of terrorism|acts of terrorism]]. + +On Oct 2, 2024, Spafford bought a 20 acre property at [14151 Foursquare Rd, Smithfield, VA 23430](https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/14151-Foursquare-Rd-Smithfield-VA-23430/79136117_zpid/) for $645,000[^2]. + +On December 11, 2024, Spafford registered Wandering Woods Ranch LLC[^1]. + +Spafford was arrested by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] on December 17, 2024 for possession of a short barrel rifled and was later found to have 150 pipe bombs, explosives, a homemade mortar, and other related material on his property. +# Footnotes + +[^1]: [Wandering Woods Ranch LLC](https://www.bizapedia.com/va/wandering-woods-ranch-llc.html) +[^2]: [14151 Foursquare Rd](https://www.redfin.com/VA/Smithfield/14151-Foursquare-Rd-23430/home/49170416) +[^3]: [Suffolk County Pilots](https://www.city-data.com/pilots/suffolk-city-virginia.html) +[^4]: [Isle of Wight Newspaper](https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=TSMT20051005.1.28&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN--------) +[^5]: [Isle of Wight Newspaper June 2005](https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=TSMT20050622.1.24&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN--------) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Bruno Ristau.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Bruno Ristau.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0d796099 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Bruno Ristau.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Bruno Ristau]] was a partner with [[Michael Abbell]] in the law firm [[Ristau and Abbell]] in Washington D.C. He was also formerly with the law firm of [[Kaplan, Russin and Becchi]], where [[Michael Abbell]] worked after leaving the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]].[^1] + +Ristau had a long career with the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]], serving in the Internal Security Division and Civil Division from 1958 to 1963, and as Director of the Office of Foreign Litigation from 1963 to 1981. He was described as a "heavyweight in the field of international law," speaking German, Polish, Spanish, and French. He was Chairman of the Division of International Law of the Washington D.C. Bar from 1971 to 1973, and Chairman of the Committee of Private International Law Practice in the American Bar Association from 1981 to 1984. He is also a member of the American Society of International Law.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Carl Sagan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Carl Sagan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2dc46243 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Carl Sagan.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Carl Sagan +tags: + - Person + - Cosmologist + - Skeptic + - Author +--- +Carl Sagan (1934–1996) was a renowned American cosmologist, astronomer, planetary scientist, and author. He was a prominent figure in the scientific skepticism movement and a vocal critic of paranormal claims, including those made by [[Uri Geller]][^1]. + +Sagan, along with [[Martin Gardner]], [[Ray Hyman]], [[Paul Kurtz]], and [[James Randi]], co-founded the [[Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal]] (CSICOP). This organization aimed to promote scientific inquiry and combat pseudoscience, which they believed included the sudden explosion of interest in paranormal phenomena[^1]. + +Sagan expressed concern about the public's acceptance of Geller, writing, "The more serious-minded among us are starting to ask, what is going on? Why the sudden explosion of interest, even among some otherwise sensible people, in all sorts of paranormal ‘happenings’? Are we in retreat from the scientific ideas of rationality, dispassionate examination of evidence and sober experimentation that have made modern civilization what it is?"[^1]. He argued that belief in occultism could provide a climate for the rise of a demagogue, drawing parallels to Nazi Germany before the rise of Adolf Hitler[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Carl Stern.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Carl Stern.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..266c3c1a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Carl Stern.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Carl Stern]] was a public relations man for [[Janet Reno]], the [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]]. He interviewed [[Paul Wilcher]] on or about June 11, 1993, regarding the contents of a 100-page letter Wilcher had hand-delivered to Reno, which claimed that holdover [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] employees from the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]]-[[George Bush|Bush]] era were responsible for government cover-ups.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Chapman Pincher.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Chapman Pincher.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..35b7b6e8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Chapman Pincher.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - UK +--- +Chapman Pincher was a British journalist known for his close ties to the British intelligence and nuclear communities. In December 1960, he published a major story in the *London Daily Express* stating that "British and American intelligence authorities believe that the Israelis are well on the way to building their first experimental nuclear bomb." Pincher had received a tip from a senior figure in British atomic weapons research and verified the story with a contact in [[Mossad]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 6. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Charlene Cavanaugh Shufelt.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Charlene Cavanaugh Shufelt.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7ed27f0c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Charlene Cavanaugh Shufelt.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Charlene Cavanaugh Shufelt +tags: + - Person + - Remote Viewer +--- +Charlene Cavanaugh Shufelt was one of the five remote viewers from [[Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]] who remained in the program when the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] took over the [[Psychoenergetics|psychoenergetics]] program. She was sent to [[New York City]] to be trained in the six stages of [[Coordinate Remote Viewing|CRV]] with [[Ingo Swann]][^1]. + +She also worked as a personnel specialist and processed paperwork for those who wanted to attend the [[RAPT]] seminar at the [[Monroe Institute]][^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Charles Saphos.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Charles Saphos.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f3ed2f69 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Charles Saphos.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Government Official", "Justice Department"] +--- +Charles Saphos was the Chief of the Criminal Division Narcotics section of the [[Justice Department]].[^1] + +### Role in BCCI Scandal + +Saphos wrote to [[Florida]] regulators after [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]]'s Tampa conviction, requesting that the bank be allowed to remain open.[^2] His letter was worded to indicate that the Justice Department might wish to monitor certain accounts at the bank.[^2] [[Gerald Lewis]], the Florida state comptroller, refused to renew BCCI's license, citing that a felony had been committed and the bank must comply with legal requirements.[^3] + +Saphos clarified that the Justice Department was not requesting BCCI to be licensed, but rather that if it remained open, there might be occasions where the Justice Department would request banking relationships with customers under criminal investigation.[^3] He sent identical letters to banking commissioners in [[New York]] and Florida after meeting with former Justice Department attorneys for BCCI.[^3] Copies of these letters were sent to the attorneys but not to the U.S. attorney in Tampa, and the clarifying letter was not sent to New York or California commissioners.[^3] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 11. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 88. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 375. + diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Charlie Rose.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Charlie Rose.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..563c6ef2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Charlie Rose.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Charlie Rose +tags: + - person + - politician + - government +description: Charlie Rose was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina who chaired the House Intelligence Committee's Evaluation Subcommittee and was a staunch supporter of the Grill Flame program. +--- +Charlie Rose was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina and a Democrat who chaired the House Intelligence Committee's Evaluation Subcommittee. He became a staunch supporter of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program after being briefed on it in the late 1970s by General [[Edmund Thompson]] and [[Jack Vorona]], the head of the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]]'s Scientific and Technical Intelligence Directorate.[^1] + +Rose toured the remote viewing facilities at both [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) and [[Fort Meade]], chatting with remote viewers and witnessing practice sessions. He even discussed the program with President [[Jimmy Carter]]. Despite the fact that his constituents were in the Bible Belt, where dabbling in the paranormal was often viewed with suspicion, Rose publicly advocated for the program, believing it to be a "hell of a cheap radar system."[^1] + +In a revealing interview for *Omni* magazine in 1979, Rose condemned skeptics and "publicity-shy" intelligence officials, making a strong pitch for the program and citing remote viewing data he had seen on an unnamed Soviet target, stating, "What these people 'saw,' was confirmed by aerial photography. There's no way it could have been faked."[^1] + +In a revealing interview for *Omni* magazine in 1979, Rose condemned skeptics and "publicity-shy" intelligence officials, making a strong pitch for the program and citing remote viewing data he had seen on an unnamed Soviet target, stating, "What these people 'saw,' was confirmed by aerial photography. There's no way it could have been faked."[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Cheri Seymour.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Cheri Seymour.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e0483c27 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Cheri Seymour.md @@ -0,0 +1,9 @@ +Cheri Seymour is an investigative journalist and author. She is the author of "The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal." Seymour was a reporter for a small newspaper in a remote community near Yosemite Valley. Her work on "The Last Circle" involved extensive investigation into organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering, and pirated software, following the trail of Danny Casolaro's investigation into what he termed "The Octopus."[1] + +## Bibliography + +* **The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal** (First Edition) - ISBN-13: 978-1-9362960-0-2 (Print) + +## Footnotes + +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Christian Pineau.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Christian Pineau.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f89ff20e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Christian Pineau.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - France +--- +Christian Pineau was a French politician who served as Foreign Minister. He expressed last-minute qualms about the Israeli reactor, but [[Shimon Peres]] later claimed to have overcome Pineau's doubts by insisting that the reactor, already understood by engineers and officials throughout the French nuclear bureaucracy to be for a bomb, would be utilized only for "research and development." Pineau's signed authorization for the reactor came in late September 1957, precisely when his government was being voted out of office, meaning the formal authorization for [[Dimona]] was signed by an official who was already out of office.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Claiborne Pell.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Claiborne Pell.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..aac364c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Claiborne Pell.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Claiborne Pell + - Senator Claiborne Pell +tags: + - Person + - Politician + - US Senate +--- +Claiborne Pell (1918–2009) was a powerful Democratic Senator from Rhode Island and a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. A former [[Foreign Service]] officer who had worked behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied Hungary, Pell was a firm supporter and proponent of [[Extrasensory Perception|extrasensory perception]] and the [[Remote Viewing]] program[^1]. + +Pell actively lobbied for the program's survival, reaching out personally to [[Dale Graff]] to offer his support. His interest stemmed from a belief in the potential operational value of psychic abilities for military intelligence[^1]. + +In 1987, Pell asked [[Uri Geller]] to come to Washington for a classified meeting on Capitol Hill. The meeting, which took place in the Capitol building's Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, involved Geller demonstrating his abilities, including [[Telepathy|telepathy]] and spoon bending, to senators and other officials[^1]. + +Pell also played a role in the 1987 Geneva disarmament talks. He was present at a reception where Geller was instructed to try and influence [[Yuli M. Vorontsov]], Russia's first deputy foreign minister and lead Soviet arms negotiator, to sign the [[Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty|INF treaty]]. Seven days later, [[Ronald Reagan]] announced that the Soviet Union had offered to move ahead with an agreement to cut longer-range INF missiles[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Craig Olson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Craig Olson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fbb67254 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Craig Olson.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Craig Olson]] was an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent from the D.C. Metropolitan Office. He was one of two [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agents present at [[Paul Wilcher]]'s apartment after Wilcher's death, along with [[James V. Desarno, Jr.]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/David L. Paul.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/David L. Paul.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..40b22953 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/David L. Paul.md @@ -0,0 +1,29 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Real Estate Developer", "Banker"] +--- +David L. Paul was a real estate developer and owner of [[CenTrust Savings Bank]] of [[Miami]].[^1] + +### Business and Financial Activities + +Paul put CenTrust on a significant growth curve using brokered deposits, which he funneled into high-risk real estate loans, junk bonds, and offbeat investments.[^2] He built a gleaming postmodernist skyscraper for CenTrust, which cost $180 million and featured marble, gold-plated bathroom fixtures, and a $13 million Peter Paul Rubens painting.[^3] He also spent $7 million on a ninety-five-foot yacht with a marble fireplace.[^4] + +Paul, along with [[Ghaith Pharaon]] and [[Agha Hasan Abedi]], engineered a sham purchase of CenTrust debentures. Pharaon, acting as a front for [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]], bought $24,668,750 of CenTrust's bonds in 1987. Paul secretly repurchased these bonds less than a year later, and Pharaon received a commission.[^5] This transaction allowed CenTrust to satisfy regulators and remain open for an additional year, costing U.S. taxpayers an estimated $2 billion when it was finally closed.[^6] + +### Political Connections and Legal Issues + +Paul had extensive political contacts, giving $300,000 to Democratic politicians and raising more.[^7] He was appointed financial chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in 1987 by Senator [[John Kerry]].[^8] His personal calendar showed frequent meetings with numerous senators and other key political figures.[^9] + +In 1992, Paul and Pharaon were indicted together by the [[Justice Department]] in Miami for the bond-swap conspiracy.[^10] His business practices and connections were scrutinized during the BCCI scandal, highlighting the intertwined nature of finance and politics. + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 10. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 218. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 218. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 218. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 220. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 85. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 218. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 218. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 221. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 221. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/David Stern.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/David Stern.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..94a0a431 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/David Stern.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Leader + - Israel + - Terrorism +--- +[[David Stern]] was the leader of [[LEHI]] (Lohamei Herut Israel), also known as the [[Stern Gang]], a Jewish terrorist group. He was known for his virulently anti-British stance.[^1] + +His successor in leadership was [[Yitzhak Shamir]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Don Porter.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Don Porter.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..68d7682d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Don Porter.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Don Porter +tags: + - person + - INSCOM + - intelligence +description: Don Porter was an INSCOM official who tasked the Stargate Project remote viewers with precognitive missions, including predicting the outcome of talks between North and South Korea. +--- +Don Porter was an official with [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]] at Arlington Hall. He tasked the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] remote viewers with precognitive missions, seeking to gain intelligence on future events.[^1] + +In one notable instance, Porter asked [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] to have his remote viewers predict the outcome of secret talks between military and civilian officials from North and South Korea, to be held in a farmhouse in the demilitarized zone. Porter wanted to know the North Korean delegates' negotiating strategies and how far they could be pushed.[^1] + +Despite [[Joe McMoneagle]]'s theory that the random responses from the remote viewers indicated something was wrong with the target, and that the meeting might not occur, Porter proceeded with his scheduled flight to Korea. Shortly after his arrival, he was informed that the North Koreans had indeed canceled the meeting, confirming the remote viewers' collective, albeit indirect, precognition.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Donald T. Regan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Donald T. Regan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ad7f0bb5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Donald T. Regan.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Donald T. Regan +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - White House +--- +Donald T. Regan (1918–2003) was an American government official who served as the [[White House]] Chief of Staff under President [[Ronald Reagan]]. In May 1988, Regan revealed in his memoir that President Reagan had sought the advice of a private astrologer during his tenure at the White House[^1]. + +Regan stated that "Virtually every major move and decision the Reagans made during my time as White House chief of staff was cleared by a woman in San Francisco who drew up horoscopes to make certain that the planets were in favorable alignment for the enterprise." This revelation was confirmed by White House press secretary [[Marlin Fitzwater]], who stated that President Reagan and his wife, Nancy, were both deeply interested in astrology[^1]. + +The astrologer in question was [[Joan Quigley]]. Regan's disclosure brought the association of divination with national security into the news, sparking public interest and debate[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ed Rogers.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ed Rogers.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ea282ba1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ed Rogers.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Ed Rogers +tags: + - person + - CIA + - intelligence +description: Ed Rogers was the chief of Staff D at the CIA, an office specializing in small-scale signals intelligence collection. He was skeptical of psychic intelligence, citing the "giggle factor." +--- +Ed Rogers was the chief of Staff D (later known as the Office of SIGINT Operations) at the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], an office specializing in small-scale signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection. He was a key figure in the internal debates within the CIA regarding the use of psychic intelligence, or [[PSI-INT]].[^1] + +Rogers was highly skeptical of incorporating psychic data into high-stakes operations, primarily due to what he termed the "giggle factor"—the fear of ridicule and operational compromise if it became widely known that his office was consulting psychics. This skepticism was evident when [[Norm Everheart]] proposed using [[Pat Price]]'s remote viewing abilities to confirm the layout of a Chinese Embassy basement.[^1] + +Despite Price's impressive performance in three preliminary tests, accurately describing details of the Chinese Embassy in Africa and a consular building in Rome, Rogers ultimately decided against using psychic intelligence for the operation. He famously stated, "It may be the only opportunity we ever have to find something at ground level... I'm not going to screw it up by reading tea leaves." In the end, Rogers approved a risky operation using conventional technical means to check the targeted embassy's basement, which concluded it was only a wine cellar, not a communications office.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Eduard Naumov.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Eduard Naumov.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5eeccf5a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Eduard Naumov.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Eduard Naumov +tags: + - person + - parapsychologist + - SovietUnion +description: Eduard Naumov was a Soviet parapsychologist known for his claims regarding the replication of the Nautilus experiment and the development of methods for telepathically tapping into psychic communications. +--- + +[[Eduard Naumov]] was a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] parapsychologist. At a conference in Moscow in 1968, Naumov announced to Western researchers that the Red Navy had successfully replicated the entire [[The Nautilus (Telepathy Project)|Nautilus experiment]] using one of its own submarines. He further claimed that Soviet military researchers had developed a method for telepathically tapping into other people's psychic communications.[^1] + +Naumov's claims, along with other "wild stories" from Soviet psi research, were later featured in the 1970 book *Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain* by [[Sheila Ostrander]] and [[Lynn Schroeder]]. While some of his assertions were met with skepticism, his work contributed to the growing concern within the U.S. intelligence community about a potential "psi gap" between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. Naumov was also interested in "Kirlian photography" of human "biofields" and believed in the influence of sunspots on destiny, which led some at the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] to view his work as influenced by mystical beliefs.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Elad Peled.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Elad Peled.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..79e34209 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Elad Peled.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Israel +--- +Elad Peled was an Israeli Major General and director of [[Israel]]'s Defense College. In February 1968, [[Henry A. Kissinger]] met privately with a group of Israeli scholars at Peled's [[Jerusalem]] home, where Kissinger had taught the year before. Kissinger's message was that the [[United States]] would not "lift a finger for [[Israel]]" if the Soviets chose to directly intervene.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 13. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Elliot Richardson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Elliot Richardson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..993976c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Elliot Richardson.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Elliot Richardson]] was a respected former [[United States Attorney General|U.S. Attorney General]]. He served as the Hamiltons' attorney in the [[INSLAW]] case. Richardson subsequently sent [[Michael Riconosciuto]] an affidavit to sign, to be filed by [[INSLAW]] in federal court in connection with [[INSLAW]]'s pending Motion for Limited Discovery. This affidavit, dated March 21, 1991, was entered into court records and resulted in Riconosciuto's arrest within eight days.[^1] + +Richardson called for the appointment of a special counsel to look into the death of [[Danny Casolaro]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ernesto Samper Pizano.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ernesto Samper Pizano.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c089bc1e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ernesto Samper Pizano.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Ernesto Samper Pizano]] was the newly elected president of [[Colombia]]. He was accused of taking $3.7 million in campaign funds from [[Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela|Gilberto Rodriguez]], a leader of the [[Cali Drug Cartel]]. This accusation effectively aligned Samper with [[Colombia]]'s drug lords.[^1] + +Three audio tapes of conversations between Rodriguez and Samper's campaign manager, Santiago Medina, were handed over to [[United States Department of State|U.S. State Department]] officials before the election, but no action was taken. [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] officials were reportedly furious, stating that the [[United States Department of State|State Department]] allowed this "travesty to take place" and that "Everybody, including the U.S. government, is participating in this cover-up." The [[United States Department of State|State Department]] responded by saying, "We can't interfere with elections."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ernst Schulte-Strathaus.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ernst Schulte-Strathaus.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0c694bc3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ernst Schulte-Strathaus.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Ernst Schulte-Strathaus +tags: + - Person + - Astrologer +--- +# Ernst Schulte-Strathaus + +Ernst Schulte-Strathaus was a German astrologer who, alongside [[Karl Krafft]], was reported to have constructed star charts that influenced [[Rudolf Hess]]'s decision to undertake his rogue flight to Scotland in May 1941. Hess, the Deputy Führer of [[Nazi Germany]], reportedly chose this date based on astrological advice, believing it to be cosmically suited for his secret mission[^1]. + +Like other practitioners of the occult, Schulte-Strathaus would have been affected by "[[Special Action Hess]]" (Sonderaktion Heß), the mass arrest of astrologers and other occultists initiated by [[Adolf Hitler]] following Hess's flight[^1]. This crackdown aimed to suppress belief systems outside the official Nazi ideology, despite some high-ranking officials like [[Heinrich Himmler]] maintaining private interests in such fields[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Frank Nugan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Frank Nugan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bb6eb5cd --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Frank Nugan.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Frank Nugan]] was a co-founder of [[Nugan Hand Bank]] in [[Australia]], along with [[Michael Hand]] and officials of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]-owned [[Air America]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Frank Press.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Frank Press.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dd4f2421 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Frank Press.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Frank Press was the presidential science adviser during the [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration. He was a seismologist who had worked for years on classified nuclear detection issues and knew the [[VELA Satellite]] program well. After a VELA satellite recorded probable evidence of a nuclear explosion on September 22, 1979, Press suggested convening an unbiased outside study to determine if it was a test. He was concerned about the political implications if it leaked that the administration had concluded there had been a nuclear explosion.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 20. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Frank Sinatra.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Frank Sinatra.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..58010713 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Frank Sinatra.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Frank Sinatra]] was a renowned American singer and actor. His daughter, [[Tina Sinatra]], was interested in producing a *The Last Circle* (a novel about [[The Octopus]]) film with [[Joel Silver Productions]]. She showed the text to her father and the project "fell into a very deep hole."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gamal Abdel Nasser.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gamal Abdel Nasser.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..163951f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gamal Abdel Nasser.md @@ -0,0 +1,37 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Gamal Abdel Nasser +tags: + - Person + - Head of State + - Egypt +--- +[[Gamal Abdel Nasser]] (1918–1970) was the second President of [[Egypt]], serving from 1956 until his death in 1970. He was a prominent figure in Arab nationalism and a key leader in the non-aligned movement during the [[Cold War]].[^1] + +**Rise to Power and Pan-Arab Vision** + +Nasser emerged as premier in 1954 after the overthrow of [[King Farouk]] in 1952. His ambitious talk of Pan-Arabism rattled the Israelis, who instinctively turned to the [[United States]] for support in response to this growing regional challenge.[^2] + +**Shift Toward Soviet Alliance** + +The trajectory of Nasser's foreign policy took a decisive turn following escalating tensions with [[Israel]]. After the Israeli attack on an Egyptian military camp at [[Gaza]] in February 1955, Nasser responded by turning to the Communist world for military aid. His efforts to secure alternative sources of support proved fruitful when he received a promise from [[Chou En-lai]], the Chinese premier, for arms at the Bandung Conference of African and Asian nations in April 1955.[^2] + +This initial outreach to the Communist bloc soon expanded dramatically. In July 1955, Soviet delegations arrived in [[Cairo]] to offer military aid, and by September, Nasser announced that [[Egypt]] would receive a staggering total of 200 modern Soviet bombers, 230 tanks, 200 troop carriers, and over 500 artillery pieces, along with Soviet advisers. This massive arms deal fundamentally altered the military balance in the Middle East.[^2] + +**The Suez Crisis** + +Building on his growing confidence and Soviet backing, Nasser made his most audacious move in July 1956 when he nationalized the [[Suez Canal]]. This bold action brought the British government into secret planning for war with [[Israel]] and [[France]], setting the stage for the 1956 Suez Crisis that would define his presidency and cement his status as a leader of the developing world.[^2] + +**American Intelligence Connections** + +Throughout these tumultuous events, Nasser maintained complex relationships with Western intelligence figures. [[Miles Copeland]], a retired [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] officer, was a good friend of [[Gamal Abdel Nasser|Nasser]]. [[Miles Copeland|Copeland]] was believed by [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence to be responsible for [[USA|U.S.]] pressure on [[Israel]], [[Britain]], and [[France]] to withdraw from the [[Suez Canal]] area in 1956, and for pushing [[Israel|Israelis]] to withdraw from the [[Sinai Desert|Sinai]].[^2] + +**Death and Unusual Predictions** + +Nasser's political career came to an abrupt end when he purportedly collapsed with a stroke while giving a speech, leading to his death on September 28, 1970.[^2] Remarkably, [[Gamal Abdel Nasser|Nasser's]] death was notably predicted by [[Uri Geller|Israeli psychic Uri Geller]] during a [[Telepathy|telepathy]] demonstration in [[Tel Aviv]]. Geller, who became physically ill during the performance, proclaimed that [[Gamal Abdel Nasser|Nasser]] "had just died or is about to die." Twenty minutes later, [[Radio Cairo]] announced [[Gamal Abdel Nasser|Nasser's]] death from a heart attack.[^1] + +This extraordinary event significantly boosted [[Uri Geller|Geller's]] reputation in [[Israel]], with [[Golda Meir|Prime Minister Golda Meir]] reportedly quipping, "Don't ask me... Ask [[Uri Geller]]" when asked about [[Israel|Israel's]] future. Nasser's successor was [[Anwar Sadat]], who would chart a dramatically different course for Egyptian foreign policy.[^1][^2] +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. _Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis_. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2, 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Garrison Rapmund.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Garrison Rapmund.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a03b3cb6 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Garrison Rapmund.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Garrison Rapmund + - Major General Garrison Rapmund +tags: + - Person + - Military + - US Army +--- +Garrison Rapmund was a Major General and the Assistant Surgeon General of the [[U.S. Army]]. In July 1984, after [[Albert Stubblebine]] was forced into early retirement and the [[Remote Viewing]] program was up for grabs, Rapmund engaged in discussions to move the program under his command within the [[Army Medical Research and Development Command]] at [[Fort Detrick]], Maryland[^1]. + +His intention was to emphasize testing the physiology of the viewers. However, after several rounds of negotiations, the Office of the Surgeon General ultimately declined to take over the program[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Garry Nolan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Garry Nolan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2777b2f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Garry Nolan.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Garry Nolan +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Researcher + - Geneticist +--- +Garry Nolan is a leading research scientist at [[Stanford University]], specializing in genetics, immunology, and bioinformatics. He trained under Nobel Prize-winning biologist [[David Baltimore]] and has published over 200 research papers and holds twenty biotechnology patents[^1]. + +Nolan is collaborating with [[Kit Green]] on a research project to study individuals who have experienced enigmatic injuries, such as burns, skin lesions, and cancers, and who have also had face-to-face encounters with [[Unidentified Aerial Phenomena|UAPs]]. Nolan has met and worked with many of Green's patients and confirmed that they were injured, observing physiological consequences of the harm they endured[^1]. + +Nolan and Green believe that in many cases, the injuries appear to be caused by an electromagnetic field. They are working on both the genetic and epigenetic components of these injuries, using advanced mapping technology to analyze the patients' [[DNA]] and immune systems. Their goal is to find patterns among the patients and create an integrated theory, suggesting a potential genetic determinant for these experiences[^1]. + +Nolan's lab is known for pioneering advances in large-scale mapping of cellular features and human cells. He believes that the immune system records every event that happens to a person, creating a biological database of their physiological life. This technology could eventually allow doctors to read a person's historical physiological record from a blood sample[^1]. + +Nolan speculates that some people may repeatedly attract these phenomena or experiences, acting like an "antenna" or "lighthouses in the dark." He and Green are essentially searching for a gene for paranormality, or what Green prefers to call "the genomics of supernormality"[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gary Francis Powers.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gary Francis Powers.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a5fa0d47 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gary Francis Powers.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Pilot + - USA +--- +Gary Francis Powers was an American pilot whose [[U-2 Spy Plane]] was shot down over the [[Soviet Union]] on May 1, 1960, leading to a major international incident. Powers and his colleagues continued intermittently to overfly the [[Middle East]], and were steadily back at work in the area in 1958, when the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s photo interpreters began seeing significant activity at an Israeli Air Force practice bombing range south of [[Beersheba]], which turned out to be the early signs of the [[Dimona]] nuclear reactor.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gary Sick.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gary Sick.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..050e5507 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gary Sick.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Author + - Politics + - USA +--- +[[Gary Sick]] is a former [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration adviser on [[Iran]]. He is the author of *October Surprise*, a book that systematically examines the evidence suggesting a secret deal between the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] campaign and [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini|Khomeini]] to delay the release of [[USA|American]] hostages in [[Iran]] until after the 1980 presidential election.[^1] + +[[Gary Sick|Sick's]] allegations, along with those of [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], were investigated by the [[October Surprise Task Force]] and the [[Senate Foreign Relations Committee]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Genady Sergeyev.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Genady Sergeyev.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f7ec420d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Genady Sergeyev.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Genady Sergeyev +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Military + - Soviet Union +--- +# Genady Sergeyev + +Genady Sergeyev was a Soviet military doctor who oversaw experiments with the renowned psychic [[Ninel Kulagina]]. He is prominently featured in a classified film from March 10, 1970, at the Ukhtomskii Military Institute in Leningrad, which depicted Kulagina allegedly stopping a frog's heart with her mind[^1]. + +During the experiment, Sergeyev monitored Kulagina's physiological responses, which included a heart rate of 240 and elevated blood pressure, as she concentrated on stopping the frog's heart. According to declassified documents, the heart activity ceased after approximately 7 minutes in the first experiment and 22 minutes in a second. She was also reportedly able to "reactivate" the heart[^1]. + +Sergeyev also oversaw an experiment where Kulagina attempted to increase the heart rate of a skeptical physician, which reportedly reached dangerous levels. While some U.S. analysts suspected these demonstrations were part of a Soviet disinformation campaign, others in the U.S. military, particularly the Medical Intelligence Office of the [[U.S. Army]], considered the potential military applications of such abilities to be highly significant[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/General Ríos Montt.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/General Ríos Montt.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d8f9953f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/General Ríos Montt.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[General Ríos Montt]] was a Pentecostal "true believer" who became president of [[Guatemala]] in an army coup in March 1982. He was supported by the [[Ronald Reagan]] administration and aided by Full Gospel businessman [[John Carrette]], a former Army Ranger in [[Vietnam]].[^1] + +Montt's military regime (1982–1983) was involved in some of the worst atrocities of [[Guatemala]]'s 36-year civil war. Despite this, the [[Ronald Reagan]] administration continued to support him, with [[Ronald Reagan]] declaring in December 1982 that Montt was "a man of great personal integrity and commitment" who wanted to improve the quality of life for Guatemalans and promote social justice. In January 1983, Reagan agreed to sell [[Guatemala]] millions of dollars worth of helicopter spare parts, a decision that did not require Congressional approval.[^1] + +Montt's extreme version of Christian fundamentalism eventually led to his ousting in another coup in August 1983 by General [[Oscar Mejia Victores]]. In 1984, Montt spoke at an [[Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International|FGBMFI]] world convention, and [[Ronald Reagan]] succeeded in pressuring Congress to approve $300,000 in military training for the Guatemalan army.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/George K. Pender.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/George K. Pender.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..de8307da --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/George K. Pender.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[George K. Pender]] was a Director of [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] and a former Director of the Pacific Ocean area for Burns & Roe, Inc., an international engineering and construction corporation. He also served as a Senior Engineer Consultant to Burns & Roe, Inc.[^1] + +Pender played a significant role in [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]'s activities in [[Lebanon]]. A letter dated July 12, 1983, from Pender to [[Amin Gamayel]], the president of [[Lebanon]], indicated [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]'s interest in arranging financing for the redevelopment of [[Lebanon]], specifically mentioning the rebuilding of Damour and Alkhyam. This letter also noted that Pender had previously visited Beirut in February and May 1983 to discuss [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]'s participation, with meetings held with the Chamouns, [[Maurice Ghanem]], and Mourad Baroudy.[^1] + +Pender's letter to President Gamayel also notably listed [[Robert Booth Nichols]]' telex number (652483 RBN ASSOCS LSA) for responses, indicating a close operational link between Pender and Nichols. The Arab Bank Limited in Amman, [[Jordan]], responded positively to a potential financial transaction of "US$ three billion or more" for the reconstruction of [[Lebanon]], though the text suggests it is unlikely such reconstruction fully materialized.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed to have worked directly under [[Maurice Ghanem]] and [[George K. Pender]] in [[Lebanon]], further linking Pender to the alleged drug/intelligence operations in the region. Riconosciuto also stated that [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] had a companion company called Euramae Trading, which operated throughout the Middle East and was involved in the drug trade, allegedly as a [[National Security Council|NSC]]-directed operation.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/George Otis.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/George Otis.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a188dc69 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/George Otis.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +[[George Otis]] (April 20, 1917 – July 22, 2007) was a former Lear executive and a member of [[Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International|FGBMFI]]. He was a significant figure in Christian broadcasting and evangelism, particularly in the Middle East, and had notable connections within political circles.[^1][^2] + +In 1970, Otis, along with [[Pat Boone]], [[Shirley Boone]], and [[Harold Bredesen]], prayed with then-California Governor [[Ronald Reagan]] at his home in Sacramento. Otis was reportedly "overcome with the Spirit" and began to speak in the voice of God, comparing Reagan to a king and prophesying that Reagan would "reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue" if he continued to walk in God's way. Reagan reportedly took the prophecy very seriously. A Reagan Aide who later worked on [[Pat Robertson]]'s presidential campaign invited [[Nita Scoggan]], the wife of an FGBMFI member, to form a prayer group in the [[White House]]. [[Oliver North]] reportedly attended these prayer meetings.[^1][^2] + +Otis founded [[High Adventure Ministries]], a Christian organization known for operating what was probably the first radio station in the Middle East (first located in [[Lebanon]] then moving to [[Israel]] after being attacked by terrorists) to preach the Gospel and play country music. The station was established in 1979 on a battlefield in southern [[Lebanon]] under the "Voice of Hope" banner. This evangelical radio ministry later expanded globally via shortwave radio. Otis also founded [[Middle East Television]] (METV), which was later passed on to CBN. In 2000, METV relocated to [[Cyprus]]. High Adventure also ran a program called [[Lebanon Aid]].[^2] + +Otis authored or co-authored a dozen books, including his autobiography, "High Adventure," and "The Guns of God," a manual on spiritual warfare.[^2] + +Otis was born in Payne, Ohio, and was an adventure-seeker from a young age. He took business classes at Earlham College and founded several electronics-related companies and later was general chairman of [[LearJet]]. + +Otis was deeply involved in the Charismatic revival in the [[United States]], and he and [[Harold Bredesen]] were considered "Holy Spirit fathers" by [[Pat Boone]].[^2] +### Footnotes + + [^1]: Seymour, Cheri. The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. + [^2]: "George K. Otis, Sr. Another Christian General Goes Home." Obituary. The Last Circle (provided text).I have updated the page for George Otis. I + will now check for an existing page for "Nita Scoggan". \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gerald G. Oplinger.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gerald G. Oplinger.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4d3a58b5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gerald G. Oplinger.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Gerald G. Oplinger was an aide to [[Zbigniew Brzezinski]] for global issues. He had retired from the Foreign Service and worked at the [[Nuclear Regulatory Commission|NRC]] before joining Brzezinski's staff. Oplinger was summoned back to an urgent meeting in the White House situation room after a [[VELA Satellite]] recorded two distinctive bright flashes of light over the South Indian Ocean on September 22, 1979, probable evidence of a nuclear explosion. He recalled that [[Zbigniew Brzezinski|Brzezinski]] was present at the meeting, where the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] stated that the odds were at least ninety percent that it had been a nuclear explosion. Oplinger personally had no doubt that it was a nuclear event.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 20. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gertrude Schmeidler.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gertrude Schmeidler.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6ce9a445 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gertrude Schmeidler.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Gertrude Schmeidler + - Dr. Gertrude Schmeidler +tags: + - Person + - Psychologist + - Parapsychologist +--- +Gertrude Schmeidler was an experimental psychologist with a PhD from [[Harvard University]]. In 1942, she conducted an experiment on anomalous mental phenomena with psychology students at [[City University of New York]]. Her analysis of the data led her to coin the terms "sheep" and "goats" to categorize individuals based on their beliefs about [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis|PK]][^1]. + +"Sheep" referred to individuals who were confident about the possible reality of ESP and PK, while "goats" referred to those who doubted the existence of any so-called anomalous mental phenomena. This explicit difference between believers and disbelievers has existed in the upper echelons of the U.S. military and intelligence communities since [[World War II]][^1]. + +Schmeidler's work is referenced by skeptics like [[Martin Gardner]], who noted that psychic researchers often claimed that psychics were negatively impacted by the presence of "goats" (nonbelievers). [[J. B. Rhine]], for example, stated that "The subtlest influences seem to disturb the operation of these [psychic] abilities... If the scientist is a disbeliever it will upset the delicate operation of the subject’s [psychic] abilities"[^1]. + +[[Ingo Swann]] also conducted [[Psychokinesis|psychokinesis]] experiments for Gertrude Schmeidler at the [[City College of New York]], which he referenced when communicating with [[Hal Puthoff]] about investigating the boundary between the physics of the animate and inanimate[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e64af8e1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +[[Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela]] was a prominent leader of the [[Cali Drug Cartel]], a powerful Colombian drug trafficking organization that, by 1994, was estimated to control 80% of the world's cocaine trade. He was often referred to simply as "Gilberto" in the context of investigations into the cartel's activities.[1] + +Rodriguez Orejuela's influence extended beyond drug trafficking into financial and political spheres. He reportedly owned the Northside Bank of Miami, which was used to launder the cartel's substantial profits. His political reach was highlighted by allegations that [[Ernesto Samper Pizano]], the newly elected president of [[Colombia]], accepted $3.7 million in campaign funds from Rodriguez, effectively aligning the president with the drug lords.[1] + +He was a significant target of a major [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] Centac investigation, which led to his indictment in Los Angeles and New York in 1978. However, these cases reportedly did not progress beyond the indictment phase, and the Centac 21 task force was dismantled during the [[Ronald Reagan]] and [[George Bush]] administrations. This lack of sustained prosecution led to suspicions among disgruntled [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] agents of a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] connection.[1] + +Rodriguez Orejuela's name was also linked to a "cocaine summit conference" in Panama City in the early 1980s, where he appeared as a delegation leader. Despite his prominent role, his name was later removed from [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] reports under the Reagan administration.[1] + +His activities became a critical focus of investigative journalist [[Danny Casolaro]]'s "[[The Octopus]]" probe. Casolaro had uncovered a connection between Rodriguez Orejuela, [[Michael Abbell]] (a former [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] official), and [[Robert Booth Nichols]] (an international intelligence operative) shortly before his death. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that Nichols paid Abbell to "crowbar" the extradition of Rodriguez Orejuela and [[Jose Santacruz Londono|Jose Londono]], as they were considered "intelligence people."[1] + +Rodriguez Orejuela was prosecuted and served a prison term following an indictment unsealed in Miami on June 6, 1995, for laundering money for the Cali Cartel. Surveillance reports indicated his frequent visits to his home in Bogota, Colombia.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Glen R. Shockley.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Glen R. Shockley.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0780864d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Glen R. Shockley.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Glen R. Shockley]] was a Director of [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] and a consultant to Fortune 500 Companies in business management, internationally known as a financial consultant in funding. He was also a corporate partner in [[Meridian International Logistics|MIL]], a holding company headed by [[Robert Booth Nichols]].[^1] + +Shockley's name appeared in [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s statement to the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], where Riconosciuto claimed that [[Robert Booth Nichols]] "runs [[Glen R. Shockley]]. [[Glen R. Shockley]] runs [[Jose Santacruz Londono|Jose Londono]]" and that Nichols, [[Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela|Gilbert Rodriguez]], and [[Michael Abbell]] were "all in bed together." Riconosciuto further alleged that Nichols handed Abbell $50,000 cash to handle an internal affairs investigation by the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] that would have led to the extradition of [[Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela|Gilbert]] and [[Jose Santacruz Londono|Miguel Rodriguez]] and [[Jose Santacruz Londono|Jose Londono]], because they were "intelligence people."[^1] + +His involvement with [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] and [[Meridian International Logistics|MIL]] places him within the complex network investigated by [[Danny Casolaro]] as "[[The Octopus]]."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Grigori Rasputin.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Grigori Rasputin.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..711edc5c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Grigori Rasputin.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Grigori Rasputin +tags: + - person + - historical + - mystic + - Russia +--- + +Grigori Rasputin was a Russian mystic and self-proclaimed holy man who exerted significant influence over the late Russian Imperial family. In the context of [[Soviet Union|Soviet Russia]], his story served as a cautionary tale, framing all twentieth-century forays into the mystical, magical, or supernatural[^1]. + +In 1910, [[Czar Nicholas II]] brought Rasputin into his court after Rasputin allegedly stopped the bleeding in the czar's hemophiliac son. From that point, Rasputin began advising the czar on matters of state, including battle plans during [[World War I]]. His ability to survive multiple assassination attempts contributed to his mythical status, but he was eventually killed by a group of conspirators who poisoned, shot, and drowned him in the icy Neva River[^1]. + +After the [[Communist Revolution of 1917]], healers and sorcerers were outlawed by the new ruling party, and research into [[Extrasensory Perception|extrasensory perception]] went underground. Marxist doctrine considered mysticism, like religion, an "opiate of the masses," favoring science and technology as productive forces[^1]. This historical context of suppressing mystical beliefs, exemplified by Rasputin's story, is important for understanding the later Soviet approach to [[Parapsychology]] research, which sought to frame it within a scientific and technological framework[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Hal Puthoff.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Hal Puthoff.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b7a32caa --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Hal Puthoff.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Hal Puthoff +tags: + - person + - scientist + - physicist +description: Hal Puthoff is a physicist who led the remote viewing research program at SRI. He was a key figure in the scientific investigation of psychic phenomena. +--- +Harold E. "Hal" Puthoff is an American engineer and parapsychologist. In the early 1950s, as a junior high school student in Miami, he was a shy and quiet kid who loved tinkering with electronics, building gadgets, and operating a ham radio. He played the electric steel Hawaiian guitar in a band and dreamed of becoming a radio deejay. His father had passed away, and he lived with his mother and aunt, with limited financial resources. He attended a vocational high school.[^1] + +Two decades later, Puthoff earned a Ph.D. from Stanford University and became a lecturer in its electrical engineering department. He held a patent for a tunable infrared laser and co-authored an influential textbook, *Fundamentals of Quantum Electronics*. By his early thirties, he was a recognized figure in laser physics and engineering. Despite his technical prowess, he had a creative and energetic reputation, but also a quiet concern for deeper meanings, having explored Gestalt psychology and visited the Esalen Institute. He became bored with academia and his first marriage was failing. In 1969, Puthoff left Stanford and joined [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI), a scientific think tank with close ties to Stanford and significant government contracts. Initially working on laser-related projects, he soon developed an interest in conducting psi experiments to explore quantum theory. He secured initial funding of ten thousand dollars from philanthropist Bill Church, co-owner of Church's Fried Chicken.[^1] + +Puthoff's involvement in psi research escalated after he was contacted by artist [[Ingo Swann]], who claimed various psychic feats. In June 1972, Puthoff tested Swann at Stanford University's Varian Hall, where Swann appeared to affect the output of a highly sensitive experimental magnetometer designed to detect quarks. This event, though initially met with skepticism by others, convinced Puthoff that something paranormal had occurred. He circulated a report on the incident, which led to the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) approaching him to fund further research. In October 1972, with CIA funding, Puthoff began formal psi research at SRI, focusing on clairvoyance. He and his newly hired assistant, [[Russell Targ]], worked with Swann on various experiments, including those involving locked boxes and radioactive sources. Swann's suggestion to use geographical coordinates for remote viewing, initially met with skepticism from Puthoff and Targ, proved to be a breakthrough. This method, which Swann called "Scanate" (later known as Coordinate Remote Viewing or CRV), allowed psychics to describe distant locations given only their latitude and longitude, without prior knowledge of the target. This innovation significantly advanced the practical application of remote viewing for intelligence gathering.[^1] + +Puthoff became a central figure in the U.S. government's psychic spying program, which eventually became known as [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]]. He and Targ published their findings in reputable scientific journals like *Nature* and *Proceedings of the IEEE*, despite significant controversy and skepticism from the scientific community. They also developed new terminology, such as "remote viewing," to describe the phenomena they were studying, aiming for a more scientific and sober approach. Puthoff was known for his calm demeanor, which helped him navigate the controversial field of parapsychology. He also conducted experiments with other psychics, including [[Pat Price]] and [[Uri Geller]], and explored various psi phenomena such as psychokinesis and telepathy. He was instrumental in developing and refining remote viewing protocols, including "outbound remote viewing" and "coordinate remote viewing" (CRV).[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Harry H. Schwartz.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Harry H. Schwartz.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..09939903 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Harry H. Schwartz.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Harry H. Schwartz was an aide to [[Paul C. Warnke]], the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. He was present at a meeting where Warnke directly questioned [[Yitzhak Rabin]], then [[Israel]]'s ambassador to [[Washington D.C.]], about [[Israel]]'s nuclear capabilities. Schwartz recalled Warnke stating, "Mr. Ambassador, we are shocked at the manner in which you are dealing with us.… You, our close ally, are building nuclear bombs in [[Israel]] behind our back."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 14. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Harry Soyster.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Harry Soyster.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bbdbb661 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Harry Soyster.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Harry Soyster +tags: + - person + - military + - general + - intelligence +description: Major General Harry Soyster was the INSCOM commander who ended the U.S. Army's participation in the Stargate Project. +--- + +Major General [[Harry Soyster]] was the [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]] commander who ultimately ended the [[U.S. Army]]'s participation in the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]]. His decision marked a significant turning point for the program, leading to its eventual transfer and later declassification.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Harry Stump.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Harry Stump.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3b0e0f0c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Harry Stump.md @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Harry Stump +tags: + - Person + - Channeler + - Psychic + - Artist +--- +# Harry Stump + +Harry Stump was a Dutch sculptor and channeler who gained the attention of [[Andrija Puharich]] and his wealthy benefactors due to his purported psychic abilities, particularly his capacity to enter trance states and produce automatic writings and drawings[^1]. + +Stump was a [[World War II]] resistance fighter in his native Holland, honored by the Dutch government for his work against the [[Nazi Germany|Nazis]]. He was captured, beaten, and tortured by the [[Gestapo]] during the war[^1]. + +Puharich met Stump at a dinner party hosted by [[Alice Astor Bouverie]]. In June 1954, Bouverie contacted Puharich about an incident where Stump, after handling a 3,400-year-old scarab-shaped necklace, entered a trance state and began drawing Egyptian hieroglyphs and speaking in a guttural voice, seemingly channeling an entity from ancient Egypt. During this trance, Stump spoke of "a drug that would stimulate one's psychic faculties" and drew a picture of a mushroom, which Puharich later identified as *Amanita muscaria*[^1]. This event was significant as it provided the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] with a key lead in their year-long, unsuccessful quest to locate the *teonanáctl* mushroom for [[Project MKUltra|MKULTRA Subproject 58]][^1]. + +Puharich became obsessed with Stump's channeling abilities and the hallucinogenic mushroom. He brought Stump to the [[Round Table Foundation]] and, in August 1955, attempted to drug him with *teonanáctl* to test its divinatory powers, with [[Aldous Huxley]] as a witness. The experiment did not yield the desired results, with Stump appearing drunk and confused[^1]. + +Stump's psychic powers began to wane, and the "Egyptian persona" rarely appeared. He became depressed as his trance powers vanished, and his traditional sculpture and painting work suffered[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Hedrick Smith.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Hedrick Smith.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f12e1f9a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Hedrick Smith.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - USA +--- +Hedrick Smith was a Washington correspondent for the *New York Times*. In July 1970, he wrote a front-page story that provided the American public with its first account of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s assessment of the Israeli nuclear arsenal. The article stated that the U.S. government had been conducting its [[Middle East]] policy on the assumption that [[Israel]] either possessed an atomic bomb or had component parts available for quick assembly. Smith's story also described [[Israel]]'s progress in developing its [[Jericho I]] missile system and revealed a manufacturing plant near [[Tel Aviv]] for solid propellants and engines.[^1] + +Smith had tried for two years to get the article published, and succeeded after [[Stuart Symington]] acknowledged on a Sunday television interview show that there was "no question that [[Israel]] is doing its best to develop nuclear weapons." Despite the significance of the article, it attracted little attention from other media or Congress, which astonished Smith.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 16. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Herbert Pollack.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Herbert Pollack.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..967d25c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Herbert Pollack.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Herbert Pollack + - Dr. Herbert Pollack +tags: + - Person + - Physician + - Government Official + - Scientist +--- +Herbert Pollack was a medical consultant for the [[State Department]]. He advocated on behalf of the victims of the [[Moscow Signal]] in a Senate subcommittee investigation. The Moscow Signal was a microwave beam aimed at the [[U.S. Embassy in Moscow]] by the [[Soviet Union]], which was believed to have caused adverse health effects in embassy personnel[^1]. + +Pollack stated that every lawsuit filed by U.S. embassy employees against the government for exposure to the Moscow Signal was eventually withdrawn, "without a penny being paid." This occurred despite concerns raised by some scientists, like [[Robert O. Becker]] and [[Allan H. Frey]], about the potential lethality of the microwave signals[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Howard Rosenberg.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Howard Rosenberg.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1e1d7e11 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Howard Rosenberg.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Howard Rosenberg +tags: + - Person + - Journalist +--- +Howard Rosenberg was a staff member for *60 Minutes*, a prominent American television newsmagazine. He interviewed [[David Morehouse]] at [[Walter Reed Army Medical Center]] in Washington, D.C., in June 1994[^1]. + +Morehouse, a former member of the [[Remote Viewing]] unit, was preparing to do an interview with *60 Minutes* in which he would claim that the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]]'s remote-viewing program at [[Fort Meade]] had made him crazy. Rosenberg's interview was part of the newsmagazine's investigation into the program[^1]. + +However, *60 Minutes* ultimately decided not to air the show because the [[STARGATE PROJECT|DIA]] remote-viewing program was still classified, and Rosenberg could not find other sources to corroborate that the program even existed. Rosenberg later recalled that "No one would talk about it on the record... and the principal promoter of the story [David Morehouse], and of the program, was of questionable credibility and seemed to me to have multiple agendas"[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Hélène Smith.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Hélène Smith.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2dc93929 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Hélène Smith.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Hélène Smith +tags: + - person + - medium + - historical +description: Hélène Smith was a famous French medium studied by Théodore Flournoy, known for her claims of automatic writing and psychic travel to Mars. +--- + +[[Hélène Smith]] was a famous French medium, whose real name was Catherine-Elise Müller. She was extensively studied by the Swiss psychology professor [[Théodore Flournoy]] from 1894 to 1898. Smith was known for her claims of automatic writing, where she would produce texts in various languages, and for her alleged psychic travel to Mars, whose landscapes she painted and whose language she claimed to speak and write.[^1] + +Flournoy attributed her abilities to [[Cryptomnesia]] and [[Glossolalia]], arguing that the content she produced originated from forgotten memories and unconscious processes rather than genuine psychic phenomena. Despite this, her case was highly influential in the early study of psychical research.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/I. I. Rabi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/I. I. Rabi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2c0fdc32 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/I. I. Rabi.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Physicist + - USA +--- +I. I. Rabi was an American physicist and Nobel laureate. He, along with [[Eugene Wigner]], was asked by the Israelis to visit the still-incomplete reactor at [[Dimona]] sometime early in 1961. They reported seeing no evidence of a weapons facility, and President [[John F. Kennedy]] expressed satisfaction with their conviction that the reactor was designed for peaceful purposes.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ian Smart.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ian Smart.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9ade7dc8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ian Smart.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - UK +--- +Ian Smart was a young British diplomat who served as third secretary of the British embassy in [[Tel Aviv]] in the late 1950s. He later became an international expert in nonproliferation. During his time in [[Israel]], he became curious and suspicious about the activities at [[Dimona]]. By the end of 1960, he was reporting his "suspicion" that the site looked like a nuclear reactor, prompted by its visible progress and the palpable French presence in [[Beersheba]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 5. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ian Stuart Spiro.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ian Stuart Spiro.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f84b619c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ian Stuart Spiro.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Ian Stuart Spiro]] was a figure whose death was linked to a spy network and the [[Iran-Contra Affair]]. He was found dead of cyanide poisoning in the Anza-Borrego desert on November 8, 1992, one week after his wife and children were found shot to death in their Rancho Santa Fe home. His death was officially ruled a suicide, and the San Diego Sheriff's Department reportedly destroyed his files when the case was closed, stating he had no connection to the [[PROMIS]] software.[^1] + +However, news reports, specifically from the *Oceanside Blade-Citizen*, noted that documents and [[United States Government|U.S.]] intelligence sources implicated Spiro in the [[Iran-Contra Affair]] and an alleged [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] conspiracy to pirate software from a private company and sell it to foreign intelligence agencies. Spiro's name also appeared in [[Oliver North]]'s personal notebooks documenting the [[Iran-Contra Affair]], according to the [[National Security Archives]] in Washington D.C.[^1] + +Former hostage [[David Jacobsen]] stated that Spiro helped negotiate the release of hostages in the Middle East. Spiro lived in Beirut, [[Lebanon]], during the 1970s and 1980s, where he made contacts with Lebanese religious leaders and the Islamic Jihad. His brother-in-law, [[Greg Quarton]], confirmed that Spiro maintained communication with Lebanese business associates until his death.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that [[Marshall Riconosciuto]] (Michael's father) shipped documents to [[Ian Stuart Spiro]] for safekeeping. The week of the Spiro family's death, [[Robert Corson]], a business associate of Spiro's indicted in a savings and loan scam and reportedly a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operative, was found dead in an El Paso, Texas, motel room, with officials stating he died of a heart attack. Corson was also alleged to have associated with California investor [[Wayne Reeder]], who was seen at a [[Wackenhut Corporation]]/[[Contras|Contra]] meeting in Riverside County.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ignacio Paz.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ignacio Paz.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b0761f0d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ignacio Paz.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Ignacio Paz]] was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence in the Philippine government. [[Robert Booth Nichols]] assisted Paz in removing large sums of money from the [[Philippines]] by investing with Nichols, who placed the money in Swiss bank accounts.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ingo Swann.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ingo Swann.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e403baf2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ingo Swann.md @@ -0,0 +1,28 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Ingo Swann +tags: + - person + - psychic + - artist + - author +description: Ingo Swann was a psychic, artist, and author who was instrumental in the development of remote viewing protocols at SRI. He is credited with coining the term "remote viewing." +--- +Ingo Douglas Swann—born with just one N—was not far from the stereotypical image of the psychic. Growing up in Telluride, Colorado, he claimed to have out-of-body experiences and premonitions, to see people's auras, and to encounter supernatural beings. He was left-handed, intuitive, artistic, emotionally sensitive, curious about the unusual, and bored by the usual. He was considered odd and had few friends at school, later describing himself as "doubly, triply, quadruply freaky."[^1] + +After college, he joined the Army, serving in Korea and later at a Nike missile base outside Boston. After leaving the Army, Swann, then using the name "Douglas Swan," moved to Greenwich Village, New York City, to pursue a career as an artist. He worked for the UN for several years and wrote pulp fiction. By 1971, he had adopted his first name, Ingo, added a second 'n' to his surname on the advice of a numerologist, and discovered his unusual psychic talents. He began earning a living as a subject in parapsychology laboratories, including the City College of New York and the [[American Society for Psychical Research]].[^1] + +He contacted [[Hal Puthoff]] at [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) in 1972, claiming to have the ability to remotely alter the temperature of objects and to have out-of-body experiences.[^1] + +Puthoff flew Swann out to SRI, where he was subjected to a number of experiments. One of the most notable was an attempt to affect a heavily shielded magnetometer at Stanford University. The magnetometer's output showed significant disturbances that correlated with Swann's efforts. However, his initial psi abilities at SRI seemed feeble, leading to depression and disagreements with Puthoff and [[Russell Targ]]. He disliked Targ's ESP teaching machine, viewing it as a remnant of old-time parapsychology.[^1] + +Swann was a key figure in the development of the remote viewing protocols at SRI. He was the one who proposed using geographic coordinates to target remote viewing sessions, a technique that became known as "coordinate remote viewing" (CRV) or "Scanate." This breakthrough, which came to him as an intuition, allowed psychics to describe distant locations given only their latitude and longitude, without prior knowledge of the target. He also coined the term "remote viewing" itself. He was a creative and insightful theorist of the psychic experience, and he was constantly pushing the boundaries of what was thought possible, even attempting to remote-view Mars, Jupiter, and Mercury in advance of space probes.[^1] + +Swann was a complex and sometimes difficult personality. He was known for his artistic temperament and his strong opinions. He clashed with [[Russell Targ]] over the use of an ESP teaching machine and often threatened to leave the program. He also had a rivalry with [[Pat Price]], another gifted psychic at SRI. Swann was a proud and sensitive man, and he was not afraid to speak his mind, even if it meant alienating his colleagues. He believed his ego was more fragile and his demeanor more pedantic compared to Price. He often left SRI for short periods to pursue other projects or to signal his annoyance.[^1] + +Despite the personality conflicts, Swann's contributions to the remote viewing program were undeniable. He was a gifted psychic who was able to produce remarkable results in controlled experiments. He was also a creative thinker who helped to shape the development of remote viewing into a practical intelligence-gathering tool. He was a true pioneer in the field of psychic research, and his work helped to lay the foundation for all that would follow. His contract at SRI ended in mid-August 1973, and he vowed never to return, feeling that he had been overshadowed by Pat Price despite his significant contributions.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/J. B. Rhine.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/J. B. Rhine.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9fe4cdf7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/J. B. Rhine.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: J. B. Rhine +tags: + - person + - parapsychologist + - researcher + - Scientist +--- +Joseph Banks Rhine, known as J. B. Rhine (1895–1980), was an American botanist who founded the parapsychology lab at [[Duke University]]. He is considered one of the fathers of modern [[Parapsychology|parapsychology]][^1]. + +Rhine sought to bring scientific rigor to the study of psychic phenomena, moving away from the theatricality of séance mediums and focusing on controlled experiments with quantifiable results. His work at the [[Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory]] in the 1930s and 1940s, which involved card-guessing and dice-throwing tests, helped to establish parapsychology as an academic discipline[^1]. He first popularized [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] in the 1920s, and his work became so fashionable that by the 1940s, it was included in the Psychology 101 course at [[Harvard University]][^1]. + +However, Rhine's research faced significant criticism from skeptics like [[Martin Gardner]], who, in his 1952 book *Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science*, dedicated a chapter to debunking Rhine's work, concluding it was the product of "an enormous self-deception"[^1]. Gardner criticized Rhine's research for loose laboratory controls, skewing of data, and the premise that the attitude of the scientist could negatively influence the subject or psychic. Rhine himself stated that "The subtlest influences seem to disturb the operation of these [psychic] abilities... If the scientist is a disbeliever it will upset the delicate operation of the subject’s [psychic] abilities"[^1]. + +Despite public skepticism, Rhine was involved in numerous classified ESP research programs with the [[Department of Defense]]. In 1952, the [[U.S. Army]] initiated a secret program with Rhine's laboratory involving ESP and animals, exploring whether dogs could locate land mines underwater and studying the homing phenomenon in pigeons. He also conducted experiments to determine if humans could communicate telepathically with cats[^1]. + +In 1974, one of Rhine's assistants, [[Walter Levy]], was caught cheating in an experiment involving rats, which became a scandal and fodder for skeptics[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/J. Robert Oppenheimer.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/J. Robert Oppenheimer.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b455f4d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/J. Robert Oppenheimer.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Nuclear + - USA +--- +J. Robert Oppenheimer was a prominent American theoretical physicist, widely known as the "father of the atomic bomb" for his role as the scientific director of the [[Manhattan Project]] during World War II. He and his colleagues, including [[John von Neumann]], were actively courted by [[Chaim Weizmann]] as early as 1947 to spend time doing research in [[Israel]].[^1] + +Oppenheimer's personal papers indicate he visited [[Israel]] in May 1958 to participate in ceremonies marking the opening of the Institute of Nuclear Science in [[Rehovot]]. He also took a military flight with [[Ernst David Bergmann]] and [[Shimon Peres]] to visit the port city of [[Eilat]] at the southern reach of the [[Negev]] desert. However, Israeli officials who worked at [[Dimona]] in 1958, then in its early stages of construction, do not recall any visit by Oppenheimer to that site.[^1] + +Oppenheimer sparked controversy in the early 1950s by advocating that the [[United States]] abate the arms race by forgoing the hydrogen bomb. In 1954, [[Lewis Strauss]] led a successful effort to strip Oppenheimer of his security clearance, with hearings focusing on Oppenheimer's loyalty and integrity.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2, 7. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jack P. Ruina.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jack P. Ruina.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2492b36b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jack P. Ruina.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Academic + - USA +--- +Jack P. Ruina was a professor of electrical engineering at the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]] and a longtime consultant to the [[Pentagon]] on military and scientific issues. He was chosen by [[Frank Press]] to direct an outside panel to study the [[VELA Satellite]] data after a probable nuclear explosion was detected on September 22, 1979. Ruina held many sensitive clearances and was known for his discretion.[^1] + +His panel's assignment was carefully weighted towards investigating the possibility that the VELA sighting had been a false alarm. The panel concluded that the VELA sighting "contains sufficient internal inconsistency to cast serious doubt whether that signal originated from a nuclear explosion or in fact from any light sources in the proximity of the VELA satellite." They also found no collateral signs of a nuclear event. The panel eventually reported in July 1980 that the flash was "probably not from a nuclear explosion," suggesting it might have been a "zoo event" (a signal of unknown cause), possibly a meteoroid impact.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 20. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jack Rugh.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jack Rugh.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dd0347d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jack Rugh.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Jack Rugh was a figure in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]], primarily involved in the administration of the [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] contract with the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. He served as [[C. Madison Brewer]]'s deputy and as the contracting officer's Technical Representative, working closely with [[Peter Videnieks]]. + +Rugh played a role in the DOJ's response to Inslaw's proposed methodology for identifying proprietary enhancements in the [[PROMIS]] software. He considered Inslaw's methodology inadequate, particularly objecting to the part that would count privately funded hours first, believing the issue was whether actual hours were billed to a private client. He also thought [[INSLAW]] did not keep sufficient records to prove private funding. Rugh, along with Videnieks, chose neither to accept Inslaw's methodology nor to propose revisions or an acceptable alternative, and did not inform Inslaw why its methodology was unacceptable. The Special Counsel's investigation concluded that Rugh's actions were driven by a desire to protect the government's interests and not by an intent to cheat Inslaw, attributing his conduct to the atmosphere of distrust surrounding the contract's administration.[^1] + +Rugh was also involved in the allegations surrounding the attempted conversion of Inslaw's bankruptcy to a liquidation. In February 1985, shortly after Inslaw filed for bankruptcy, Rugh had a telephone conversation with Peter Videnieks, during which Videnieks made a note that read: "2/20/85 JR called re/•our computer.' Brick talked to Stanton . •no way• 11 will be '7.' Need home for computer." Rugh testified that he did not remember the conversation but that the note accurately reflected his pessimistic view of Inslaw's prospects, believing it would end up in liquidation. He might have told [[Gregory McKain]], an Inslaw employee, that the DOJ had talked to the "Trustees" who said Inslaw would not survive Chapter 11 and would likely be in Chapter 7 within 30 to 60 days. However, Rugh claimed this was his personal opinion and not based on any statement from the Trustee's Office. The Special Counsel's investigation found that the interpretation of Videnieks' notes by Rugh and Videnieks was reasonable and consistent with other evidence, suggesting Rugh was expressing his own opinion rather than relaying a confirmed plan for conversion. The investigation found insufficient evidence to support a finding that the DOJ planned or attempted to convert Inslaw's bankruptcy case or engaged in any cover-up.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jake Stewart.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jake Stewart.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..beef098c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jake Stewart.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Jake Stewart +tags: + - person + - military + - intelligence +description: Jake Stewart was a Navy lieutenant commander on the National Security Council staff and an enthusiastic supporter of the Grill Flame program. +--- + +[[Jake Stewart]] was a Navy lieutenant commander on the [[National Security Council|National Security Council]] staff during the [[Jimmy Carter]] administration. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program and played a key role in tasking remote viewers with sensitive intelligence problems.[^1] + +In September 1979, Stewart brought [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] satellite photographs of a large industrial facility at the port of Severodvinsk in northern [[Soviet Union|Russia]]. He tasked the remote viewers, particularly [[Joe McMoneagle]], to determine what was happening inside Building 402, a massive structure at the facility. McMoneagle's remote viewing sessions accurately described a very large submarine under construction, including its unique features and even the method of its launch. This information, later confirmed by satellite photos, sparked a lively debate within the NSC about the value of remote viewing, with Stewart being a strong believer in its utility as a national asset.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/James R. Schlesinger.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/James R. Schlesinger.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ff744135 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/James R. Schlesinger.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +James R. Schlesinger served as the Secretary of Defense under President [[Richard M. Nixon]] and later President [[Gerald R. Ford]]. During the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], [[Henry A. Kissinger]] told Schlesinger that his goal was to "let [[Israel]] come out ahead, but bleed." Schlesinger noted that [[Israel]]'s ammunition consumption rate was gauged for a seven-day war, reflecting [[Washington D.C.]]'s confidence in the Israeli military. However, Kissinger's sudden and massive push for resupply led Schlesinger to conclude that Israeli use of a nuclear weapon was not out of the question, and that there was an assumption that [[Israel]] had a few nukes and might use them if there was a collapse.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/James Randi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/James Randi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e95cb59f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/James Randi.md @@ -0,0 +1,26 @@ +--- +aliases: + - James Randi + - The Amazing Randi +tags: + - Person + - Magician + - Skeptic +--- +James Randi (1928–2020), known as "The Amazing Randi," was a Canadian-American stage magician, escape artist, and a prominent scientific skeptic. He dedicated much of his life to investigating and debunking paranormal and pseudoscientific claims, often challenging individuals who claimed to possess supernatural abilities[^1]. + +Randi became a vocal critic of [[Uri Geller]], stating, "Geller brings disgrace to the craft I practice... Worse than that, he warps the thinking of a young generation of forming minds. And that is unforgivable." He spent two years writing a 308-page exposé of Geller, arguing that Geller's actions had "done more to destroy what authority [[Andrija Puharich]] once held in the scientific community"[^1]. Randi speculated that Geller's assistant, [[Shimshon Shtrang]], helped him cheat, leading the [[CIA]] to deny Shtrang access to Geller during experiments[^1]. + +Along with [[Martin Gardner]] and [[Ray Hyman]], Randi helped found the [[Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal]] (CSICOP) to promote scientific inquiry and combat pseudoscience[^1]. + +In January 1983, Randi orchestrated a hoax against the McDonnell Laboratory for Psychical Research at Washington University, sending two young magicians, Steven Shaw and Michael Edwards, to pretend to be psychics. They used sleight of hand to simulate [[Psychokinesis|psychokinetic]] feats like spoon bending. Randi later held a press conference to expose the hoax, generating significant negative press for the parapsychology community[^1]. + +Randi's actions, while aimed at exposing fraud, sometimes led to controversy. He was involved in libel cases brought by Uri Geller, and his campaign against Geller ultimately cost him his position on CSICOP[^1]. + +In 2011, Randi was involved in a scandal when it was revealed that his Carlos-the-channeler hoax, which involved a young man named Jose Alvarez (Deyvi Orangel Peña Arteaga) pretending to be a channeler, constituted a federal crime due to identity theft and false statements on a passport application. Despite this, Randi continued to maintain his stance against the paranormal[^1]. + +## Publications +* *The Magic of Uri Geller* (1975) + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Janice Rand.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Janice Rand.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..49d57b23 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Janice Rand.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Janice Rand +tags: + - person + - military + - psychic +description: Janice Rand was an Army captain who worked in one of the INSCOM offices at Fort Meade and was an early member of the Stargate Project's remote viewing unit. +--- + +[[Janice Rand]] was an Army captain who worked in one of the [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]] offices at [[Fort Meade]]. She was among the initial group of ten or eleven candidates selected by [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] and [[Murray Watt|Scotty Watt]] for the experimental [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]] (later [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]]) remote viewing unit.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Janis Sposato.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Janis Sposato.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..56233b22 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Janis Sposato.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Janis Sposato was an Administrative Officer at the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] inferred from an alleged statement by Sposato that "My management upstairs is unwilling to allow me to make any more concessions" regarding a computer time-sharing billing dispute in 1985, that she was referring to [[Lowell Jensen]] and that he was conspiring to ruin Inslaw and steal [[PROMIS]] software. This inference was based on the floor plan of the main Justice Department building, where Sposato's office was on the first floor, making nearly all senior management "upstairs" from her location. Inslaw believed that Sposato was alluding to Deputy Attorney General Lowell Jensen's unwillingness to permit a resolution on the merits of the Fiscal Year 1983 computer time-sharing issue, seeing it as DOJ's main "fig leaf" for wrongfully withholding payments under the contract.[^1] + +However, when interviewed by the Special Counsel, Ms. Sposato stated that she does not recall ever making the statement [[INSLAW]] attributed to her and that it does not sound like something she would say. She further stated that she never received any direct instruction on the negotiations from Judge Jensen. She occasionally dealt with Associate Deputy Attorney General Jay Stephens, and it was her impression that every time Mr. Stephens contacted her regarding Inslaw, it was in response to a request from Inslaw. She believed that [[Bill Hamilton]] would get frustrated and ask his attorney, former Attorney General [[Elliot Richardson]], to contact Judge Jensen, and Mr. Stephens would then inform her of such contacts. Ms. Sposato stated that neither Mr. Stephens nor Judge Jensen ever tried to directly influence the negotiations; rather, it was her impression that they were trying to stay away from the discussions. The Special Counsel's investigation found no credible evidence to support Inslaw's inferences regarding Sposato's statement or Jensen's involvement in a conspiracy.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jeffrey Steinberg.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jeffrey Steinberg.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a3db1a06 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jeffrey Steinberg.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Jeffrey Steinberg]] was a writer for *Executive Intelligence Review*. He conducted an interview with [[Allan Boyak]], an attorney representing [[Michael Riconosciuto]], and documented the conversation in a "Memorandum for the File" dated June 25, 1991. This memorandum detailed Boyak's personal background, his work for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]], and his insights into [[Robert Booth Nichols]]' alleged involvement in large-scale illegal drug operations and money laundering.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jim Nichols.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jim Nichols.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..39d079d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jim Nichols.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Jim Nichols]] was a classmate of [[Allan Boyak]] in law school. He told Boyak that he had a brother, [[Robert Booth Nichols]], who was heavily involved in organized crime and had been disowned by his family. Information about [[Robert Booth Nichols]]' background profile was reportedly provided by his estranged brother, Jim Nichols.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jim Salyer.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jim Salyer.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2a1c545b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jim Salyer.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Jim Salyer +tags: + - Person + - DIA + - Analyst +--- +Jim Salyer was a deputy to [[Dale Graff]] at the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]]. He raised significant concerns about the operational structure and effectiveness of the [[Remote Viewing]] unit at [[Fort Meade]], particularly regarding the lack of scientific understanding and experience within the Army group[^1]. + +In his "Secret Working Papers," Salyer outlined "existing problems" at Fort Meade, stating that "Whereas the [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] group is managed by scientists with extensive experience in understanding and researching [[Psi]] phenomena, the Army group has no one associated with it who has any understanding of psi phenomena or experience in researching or utilizing remote viewing." He criticized the unit as being composed of "amateurs, led by another amateur, and being trained by yet another amateur," which he believed explained the lack of astounding results[^1]. + +Salyer's damning assessment led to a critical review of the program and eventually resulted in the DIA gaining control of the Fort Meade personnel. He also believed that his concerns about the lack of scientific rigor allowed problems such as [[Ed Dames]]'s anomaly targeting to exist[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Joan Quigley.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Joan Quigley.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f0706cb0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Joan Quigley.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Joan Quigley +tags: + - Person + - Astrologer +--- +Joan Quigley was a San Francisco socialite and astrologer who advised President [[Ronald Reagan]] during his tenure at the [[White House]]. Her role was revealed in May 1988 by [[Donald T. Regan]], former White House chief of staff, and confirmed by press secretary [[Marlin Fitzwater]][^1]. + +Regan stated that "Virtually every major move and decision the Reagans made during my time as White House chief of staff was cleared by a woman in San Francisco who drew up horoscopes to make certain that the planets were in favorable alignment for the enterprise." Quigley became the subject of considerable public interest following this revelation[^1]. + +In her memoir, *What Does Joan Say?*, Quigley wrote, "Not since the days of the Roman emperors—and never in the history of the [[United States]] Presidency—has an astrologer played such a significant role in the nation’s affairs of State"[^1]. + +## Publications +* *What Does Joan Say?* (1990) + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jody Powell.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jody Powell.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9e70107c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jody Powell.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Jody Powell was President [[Jimmy Carter]]'s press secretary. In October 1977, he publicly announced that "four years of continuing investigation" by the [[Atomic Energy Commission|AEC]], [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], and General Accounting Office had "failed to reveal" a diversion of uranium to [[Israel]] from [[Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation|NUMEC]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 18. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Joe Peeples.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Joe Peeples.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6ace2851 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Joe Peeples.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - Fraud +--- +[[Joe Peeples]] was a Texan businessman who, along with [[Yaacov Meridor]] and a Romanian expatriate, devised a scheme to sell a theoretically feasible but practically impossible solar energy system to the [[Hunt brothers]] of [[Texas]] for $2 million. Peeples was unable to return the $2 million to the Hunts and was subsequently jailed for fraud.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John Newcomer.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John Newcomer.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7641b21d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John Newcomer.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[John Newcomer]] was the new head of the Organized Crime Strike Force in Los Angeles. He advised [[Marvin Rudnick]] that Rudnick was under investigation by the Office of Professional Responsibility for including [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] in his investigation of [[Sal Pisello]].[^1] + +[[William Hundley]], retained by [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]], discussed the Pisello case with Newcomer and inquired about [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]'s status in the investigation. Newcomer responded to [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] that the allegations against Rudnick were a cause of great concern and that steps were being taken to ensure only factually accurate statements appeared in pleadings and oral arguments. He concluded by stating that neither [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] nor its executives or employees were targets of that case and its attendant investigation.[^1] + +[[Marvin Rudnick]] believed that Newcomer came into the Strike Force with an agenda to obstruct justice. The first draft of [[Richard Stavin]]'s prosecution memorandum was given to Newcomer, and Stavin's investigation was unofficially shut down around January 1989. No indictment was ever issued against [[John St. John]], [[Eugene Giaquinto]], or [[Martin Bacow]] for obstruction of justice, with the prosecution reportedly not going forward because no one at the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] in Washington D.C. wanted all the wiretap affidavits in the case to be released.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John Otto.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John Otto.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ff7907f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John Otto.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +John Otto was the former Acting Director of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]. He was mentioned in the context of the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] due to [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]'s allegations regarding the FBI's Field Office Information Management System ([[FOIMS]]). + +Inslaw claimed that an unnamed "senior career Justice Department official" told Inslaw that John Otto had admitted to him that FOIMS was actually [[PROMIS]]. However, Otto denied making such a statement, telling investigators that he was "computer illiterate" and had insufficient technical knowledge to discuss such a subject. The Special Counsel's investigation found no credible evidence to support Inslaw's allegation, concluding that FOIMS was not PROMIS or any derivative of PROMIS and was developed independently by the FBI. The unnamed source who allegedly heard Otto make the admission never came forward despite repeated requests from the Special Counsel's office.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John Paul Nichols.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John Paul Nichols.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cc67c3e5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John Paul Nichols.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[John Paul Nichols]] was the son of [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]]. He took over his father's position as acting administrator of the [[Cabazon Band of Mission Indians|Cabazon tribe]] when [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]] was incarcerated. In 1989, [[Mark Nichols]] inherited the position of administrator from John Paul Nichols.[^1] + +John Paul Nichols was the "Project Manager" for the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation|Cabazon]]/[[Wackenhut Corporation]] Joint Venture, also known as Cabazon Arms. On April 4, 1983, he wrote a letter to the Army Discharge Review Board asking for [[Jimmy Hughes]]' military record, as Hughes required security clearances to work in the Joint Venture. He stated that Hughes had been instrumental in developing their reservation security force and providing training, and was becoming involved in matters requiring security clearances for government contracts.[^1] + +John Paul Nichols was also involved in the [[Cabazon Casino]] and [[Indio Bingo Palace]]. He made a $30,000 withdrawal from the Bingo Palace's account by check payable to cash. He also wrote a letter to [[Wayne Reeder]] and his attorney, reminding Reeder of an agreement to "get rid" of [[Jimmy Hughes]] so Hughes couldn't expose [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]]' illegal activities.[^1] + +[[Tommy Marson]], a known [[Gambino Crime Family]] associate, reportedly lent [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]] $50,000 to start the Cabazon Casino, according to John Paul Nichols.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John Powers.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John Powers.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4a2ad0f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John Powers.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +[[John Powers]] is a Detective at the Riverside Sheriff's Department in [[California]], specifically in the Central Homicide Unit – Cold Case Division. He was assigned to the cold-case file of the [[Fred Alvarez]] triple-homicide in 2007, working with [[Rachel Begley]], the daughter of one of the victims.[^1] + +Powers' investigation into the 1981 murders of [[Fred Alvarez]], [[Ralph Boger]], and [[Patricia Castro]] uncovered a complex web of connections involving clandestine government agents and organized crime figures. He examined thousands of old documents, resurrected police reports from forgotten archives, and interviewed dozens of hostile witnesses who had feared coming forward earlier.[^1] + +Powers obtained copies of the "Paul Morasca Homicide Investigation File" from the San Francisco Police Department, which contained police reports from various agencies related to the Alvarez murders that were missing from the original Riverside files. He also obtained an audio tape from [[Peter Zokosky]] that contained a recorded conversation between [[Patrick Kenneally]] and [[Robert Booth Nichols]], which revealed that Kenneally had no idea he was being tape-recorded by Nichols.[^1] + +Powers sought an arrest warrant for [[Jimmy Hughes]] from the [[California Department of Justice|California DOJ]]. The [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] advised that they would approve the warrant but wanted Powers to arrest "all the suspects simultaneously." Powers was officially present at the arrest scene of [[Jimmy Hughes]] at Miami-Dade International Airport on September 26, 2009, to confirm Hughes' identity. He was not the arresting officer due to jurisdiction, but he was the only one who could identify Hughes on site.[^1] + +Powers was forced to obtain a Governor's Warrant to bring [[Jimmy Hughes]] back to [[California]]. The [[California State Attorney General]] is prosecuting the case because the current Riverside County district attorney, [[Rod Pacheco]], is a second cousin of the defendant. Powers still believes Hughes is guilty and hopes to someday resubmit the case with new evidence, despite the case being dismissed on July 1, 2010.[^1] + +Powers believes the motive for the triple-homicide was that [[Fred Alvarez]] was preparing to bring a case against the Nichols for embezzlement and/or mismanagement of funds, which would have been financially devastating to them. He stated that the Mafia was directly connected to the start-up capital in the [[Cabazon Casino]], and that [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]] and his [[La Cosa Nostra|LCN]] friends were involved in financial transactions. Powers also noted that the [[Lake Cahuilla]] Incident, a weapons demonstration attended by [[Wackenhut Corporation]], Cabazons, and [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] officials with [[Iran-Contra Affair|Contra]] leaders, was completely legal at the time and not a motive for the murders.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John Schoolmeister.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John Schoolmeister.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8723d6f6 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John Schoolmeister.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +John Schoolmeister was employed by the [[U.S. Customs Service]] during the late 1970s, working as the Branch Chief of Engineering Services, where his main task was to support field patrol offices with high technology equipment. Schoolmeister knew [[Peter Videnieks]] from their time at Customs, describing him as a "by-the-book" contracting officer who later moved to the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. Schoolmeister stated that Videnieks had some dealings with [[Hadron]], Inc., while at Customs, handling two of Hadron's contracts, though he could not recall which specific ones. He believed that [[Dominic Laiti]], president of Hadron, would almost certainly have met Videnieks, as Laiti "met everyone in government." Schoolmeister could not recall any specific significant event occurring between Hadron and Videnieks. The Special Counsel's investigation found that while Videnieks did supervise contracting officers who administered Hadron contracts, his direct involvement was tenuous and he had no recollection of these contracts or meeting Hadron management. The investigation concluded that there was no evidence to support the claim that Videnieks' connection with Hadron was part of a conspiracy to obtain [[PROMIS]], and that Schoolmeister's statement, at most, suggested a possible meeting between Videnieks and Laiti, which was insufficient evidence of a conspiracy.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John St. John.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John St. John.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f21a54aa --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John St. John.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[John St. John]] was a Detective with the [[Los Angeles Police Department|LAPD]]'s Organized Crime Intelligence Division ([[OCID]]). He was implicated in the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretap investigation into alleged organized crime penetration of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]].[^1] + +[[Martin Bacow]] boasted to [[Eugene Giaquinto]] that St. John's status within OCID allowed him to obtain intelligence reports on organized crime figures across the nation, which Bacow could then pass along to Giaquinto. St. John was allegedly Bacow's direct contact at LAPD-OCID.[^1] + +During the process of opening a grand jury investigation into the mob's involvement in the motion picture industry, St. John called Bacow and told him he would listen, not give up too much, and try to find out what the investigators were looking at to inform Bacow. Bacow then called Giaquinto, who responded that he would call [[Edwin Meese]] and get the investigation shut down.[^1] + +Despite the wiretap information and related investigation reportedly gathering enough evidence to justify seeking an indictment against St. John, Giaquinto, and Bacow for obstruction of justice, no indictment was ever issued. The prosecution reportedly did not go forward because no one at the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] in Washington D.C. wanted all the wiretap affidavits in the case to be released.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John von Neumann.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John von Neumann.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e3f1a6b5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/John von Neumann.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Mathematician + - USA +--- +John von Neumann was a Hungarian-American mathematician and physicist who made significant contributions to quantum physics, functional analysis, set theory, economics, computer science, and nuclear physics. He was a key figure in the [[Manhattan Project]], working alongside [[J. Robert Oppenheimer]]. As early as 1947, he was courted by [[Chaim Weizmann]] to spend time doing research in [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Johnny Rosselli.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Johnny Rosselli.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ed24e8e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Johnny Rosselli.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Johnny Rosselli]] was an organized-crime leader who was contacted by [[Robert Maheu]] in 1960 as part of [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operations to assassinate [[Fidel Castro]]. Rosselli, along with [[Sam Giancana]] and [[Santos Trafficante, Jr.]], was enlisted to assist in these efforts, which involved Cuban exiles.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jonathan Pollard.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jonathan Pollard.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7b09dd00 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jonathan Pollard.md @@ -0,0 +1,48 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Spy + - USA + - Israel +--- +[[Jonathan Pollard]] was a junior civilian analyst with the [[USA|U.S.]] Navy who became a paid spy for [[Israel]]. He began working in 1979 as a civilian employee of U.S. Navy intelligence and was recruited as an operative in the fall of 1981, three years earlier than he and the Israeli government have admitted. He was then working as an intelligence specialist with the Navy's Field Operations Intelligence Office.[^2] + +### Early Life and Motivation + +Pollard was an unhappy child in [[South Bend]], [[Indiana]], tormented and beaten in grade school for being Jewish. He told an interviewer that the "turning point" of his life came as a result of the [[Six-Day War]], when he was thirteen. [[Israel]]'s victory was "emotionally intoxicating" and triggered his lifelong obsession with Israeli security, and his fantasies of being part of it. He told fellow undergraduates at [[Stanford University]] that he had dual citizenship and was a colonel in the Israeli Army. Bragging and fanciful claims marked his years at Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at [[Tufts University]] in [[Boston]], where he enrolled in 1977. He failed to earn his degree, and also failed in an attempt to join the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. In early 1981, Pollard sought a job as a defense analyst with the [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee|AIPAC]], but AIPAC officials found his bragging about access to top-secret information inappropriate and "weird," and "got rid of him." There was a feeling that Pollard was part of a "sting" operation attempting to set up AIPAC, and he was clearly seen as trouble.[^2] + +### Recruitment and Scope of Espionage + +Pollard offered his services to [[Israel]] in 1980 and 1981, but no serious Israeli intelligence official would consider recruiting an openly pro-Israel American Jew who worked for the American intelligence community, due to an unwritten law prohibiting the recruitment of any American Jew. However, [[Rafael Eitan]], the aggressive new director of [[LAKAM]], decided to change the rules after unproductive meetings with U.S. officials. He agreed with [[Ariel Sharon]] that the [[United States]] was holding back on intelligence essential to Israeli security, such as [[KH-11]] photography, and recruited Pollard in October 1981. Pollard's recruitment was viewed by military intelligence as "the worst fucking thing Rafi could have done."[^2] + +At the height of his activity, in 1984 and 1985, one of his main assignments was the gathering of American intelligence relevant to [[Israel]]'s nuclear targeting of the oil fields and Soviet military installations in southern [[Russia]]. This fact was hidden from [[Justice Department]] investigators and prosecutors by Israeli officials. Pollard insisted in all of his Justice Department interrogations that his spying did not begin until July 1984, after a social meeting with Israeli Air Force Colonel [[Aviem Sella]], who was one of his handlers.[^2] + +Pollard also gave the Israelis American intelligence on Soviet air defenses, especially the feared SA-5 surface-to-air missile system. He eventually turned over a copy of the U.S. intelligence community's annual review of the Soviet strategic arms system, known as the 11–38, which is considered one of the most sensitive documents in the U.S. government. Pollard also provided [[Israel]] with the codes for American diplomatic communications, enabling [[Israel]]'s signals intelligence agency to intercept cables and backchannel messages. In all, according to federal prosecutors, Pollard provided [[Israel]] with eighteen hundred documents—an estimated 500,000 pages—before his arrest.[^2] + +### Operational Methods and Wife's Involvement + +[[Jonathan Pollard|Pollard's]] wife, [[Anne Henderson-Pollard]], was also working with him. [[Jonathan Pollard|Pollard]] received computer access codes of intelligence reports from [[Robert McFarlane]] (referred to as "Mr. X") through [[Iris]], a [[LAKAM]] representative in [[Washington D.C.]]. He would print the information, photocopy it, and give the copies to [[Iris]], who would then return the originals to the office. This allowed [[Israel]] to receive over a million pieces of paper, including reconnaissance satellite data, [[USA|U.S.]] and [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] aircraft information, and spare parts listed in secret catalogs.[^1] + +To facilitate the transfer of documents, Pollard's handlers in the [[United States]], who included [[Aviem Sella]] by mid-1984, even arranged for the Israeli government to provide, via its embassy in [[Washington D.C.]], the most sophisticated photocopying machines for the reproduction of top-secret documents, including [[KH-11]] satellite photographs. These machines arrived with special metal shielding to prevent the interception of electronic emanations.[^2] + +### KGB Connection and Arrest + +Some of the intelligence gathered by [[Jonathan Pollard|Pollard]] was passed to the [[KGB]] by [[Israel]], with the authorization of [[Yitzhak Shamir]]. The exposure of [[Jonathan Pollard|Pollard]] led to his arrest and conviction for espionage. He was later identified as the spy with the arrest of [[Shabtai Kalmanowitch]] in late 1987.[^1] + +### Israeli Government Response and Cover-up + +After Pollard's arrest, the top Israeli leadership denied having any knowledge of his activities, and two internal commissions cleared them of direct knowledge. However, Pollard himself argued that his Israeli handlers told him that "[[Israel]]'s dependence upon a ‘special source’" had been mentioned at Israeli cabinet meetings. He also stated that he was routinely provided with lists of intelligence items wanted, coordinated and prioritized by the heads of all the various military intelligence services. Much of the material he supplied, such as satellite photographs and communication intercepts, was clearly not being transferred through official channels.[^2] + +The Israeli officials most tarnished by the scandal were [[Rafael Eitan]] and [[Aviem Sella]]. However, Eitan did not suffer financially and was subsequently named to a high administrative position with the [[Israel Chemicals Company]], authorized by [[Ariel Sharon]]. Sella was promoted to brigadier general after his return from the [[United States]] and assigned as commander of [[Tel Nof]], the site of [[Israel]]'s nuclear-ready air force squadron. After American protests, Sella was instead named head of the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Defense Force]] staff college, and later retired from the air force in disillusionment.[^2] + +### Aftermath and Sella's Account + +Pollard refused to cooperate with the U.S. Attorney's Office in [[Washington D.C.]] for six months before finally giving up Sella's name as part of a plea bargain. It is not known whether prosecutors realized at the time that Sella's mission was linked to nuclear intelligence. The Israeli government refused U.S. demands for Sella's extradition, and he was indicted in absentia in March 1987, and declared a fugitive from justice in June 1990.[^2] + +Sella has given friends and colleagues an account of his involvement that is more credible, but still far short of the whole story. He claimed he was recruited to try to control Pollard, who was drowning the Israeli intelligence bureaucracy in documents. Sella, who had almost completed his Ph.D. in computer science at [[New York University]], believed his technical training would be an asset in evaluating and perhaps winnowing down Pollard's materials. He knew that Pollard had been recruited long before 1984, but was eager for the assignment, believing it would advance his career. He checked with his superior, Major General [[Amos Lapidot]], who assured him that Pollard was not a rogue and that clearance for his new assignment had been obtained from [[Yitzhak Rabin]], the minister of defense. Once involved, Sella complained that Pollard "was running crazy" and "was giving him things he didn't want and didn't need."[^2] + +[[Leonard Garment]], hired by [[Israel]] to represent Sella, attempted to resolve the affair. He was pressured by a six-man Israeli delegation, including [[Chaim Joseph Zadok]], [[Meir Rosenne]], [[Elyakim Rubinstein]], [[Ram Caspi]], [[Avraham Shalom]], and [[Hanan Bar-on]], to file a factual proffer that downplayed Sella's involvement. Garment eventually withdrew from the case, stating he was unsure whether his client was Sella or the Israeli government. With his withdrawal, the Israeli government ended its attempt to protect Sella, effectively ending Sella's career.[^2] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 21, 22. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jose Rodriguez.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jose Rodriguez.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7608ef53 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jose Rodriguez.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Paraguay +--- +Colonel [[Jose Rodriguez]] was a pilot in [[Paraguay]], serving as the pilot for [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] during his inspection of [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen Industries]]' chemical plant. He is noted as having no relation to [[Andres Rodriguez|General Andres Rodriguez]].[^1] + +[[Jose Rodriguez|Colonel Rodriguez]] flew [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] to the plant in a two-man [[Bell helicopter]], and was instructed to allow Ben-Menashe to go wherever he wished. He claimed to only know what he was told about the plant's operations, stating it produced insecticides, despite the strong sulfur smell. He remained silent when questioned about the true nature of the manufactured product.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jose Santacruz Londono.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jose Santacruz Londono.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a8906cbc --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jose Santacruz Londono.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +[[Jose Santacruz Londono]] was a key figure in the [[Cali Drug Cartel]], a powerful Colombian drug trafficking organization that, by 1994, controlled a significant portion of the world's cocaine trade. He was often mentioned alongside [[Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela|Gilberto Rodriguez]] as a leader of the cartel.[1] + +Londono was a target of a major [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] Centac investigation, which led to his indictment in Los Angeles and New York in 1978. However, these cases reportedly did not progress beyond the indictment phase, and the Centac 21 task force was dismantled during the [[Ronald Reagan]] and [[George Bush]] administrations, leading to suspicions among disgruntled [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] agents of a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] connection.[1] + +His name surfaced in connection with [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s claims that [[Robert Booth Nichols]] paid [[Michael Abbell]] to "crowbar" the extradition of Londono and [[Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela|Gilberto Rodriguez]], as they were considered "intelligence people."[1] + +Londono's activities were also part of the broader "[[The Octopus]]" investigation conducted by [[Danny Casolaro]], which sought to expose the interconnectedness of organized crime, drug trafficking, and intelligence operations.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Joseph F. Preloznik.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Joseph F. Preloznik.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..53f79f9d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Joseph F. Preloznik.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Joseph F. Preloznik]] was an individual in Madison, Wisconsin, to whom [[Robert Booth Nichols]] wrote a letter on April 13, 1983. This letter outlined proposed arms projects, including the construction of a two-story building of approximately 7500 square feet with concrete walls and floors to house an "R & D position." This facility was referenced in a 1981 [[Wackenhut Corporation|Wackenhut]] Inter-office memorandum as a companion facility to [[Wackenhut Corporation]] to be constructed on the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation]] for the assembly of shell casings, propellants, war heads, fuses, combustible cartridge cases, and other weapons systems.[^1] + +Nichols stated to Preloznik, "Should there be any questions with regard to my credibility, verification can be made through [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|F.I.D.C.O.]]. I have enclosed a copy of that appointment."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Joseph O'Toole.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Joseph O'Toole.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..914419c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Joseph O'Toole.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Business + - USA +--- +[[Joseph O'Toole]] was a former [[USA|U.S.]] Air Force colonel whose last job was in procurement, including liaison with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. After his retirement in 1978, he became managing director of the aircraft sales division of [[FXC International]] in Santa Ana, [[California]].[^1] + +[[FXC International]] was approached by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] to open an aircraft division to broker secret sales of aircraft worldwide on behalf of the [[USA|U.S.]] government. Since [[Israel]] already had relations with [[FXC International]], it was used to "paper" [[USA|American]] equipment in what might have been perceived as illegal sales, allowing the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] to monitor these transactions.[^1] + +[[Joseph O'Toole|O'Toole]] was involved in negotiations to sell [[Chile|Chilean]] F-5Es to [[Iran]] through [[Singapore]], believing at the time that this sale had [[USA|U.S.]] government authorization, specifically from [[Robert Gates]]. He was asked to act as a broker and buy the planes from [[Chile]] on behalf of [[Israel]], which would put an [[USA|American]] stamp of approval on the deal.[^1] + +In April 1989, [[Joseph O'Toole|O'Toole]] was involved in a deal to sell three C-130s to [[Iran|Tehran]], working with [[Richard St. Francis]] of [[TransCapital]] and [[Mike Timpani]]. This deal was intended to be a go-between for [[Israel]] and [[Iran]], but it was ultimately cut out. [[Joseph O'Toole|O'Toole]] was later indicted for conspiracy to sell C-130s to [[Iran]] in violation of the [[USA|U.S.]] Arms Export Control Act, though his case was severed from [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] at their request, as he had cooperated with the government in setting up [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jules Stein.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jules Stein.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0dd104f9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Jules Stein.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Jules Stein]] was the founder of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]. He was a long-time political supporter of [[Ronald Reagan]]. Stein, along with [[Lew Wasserman]], negotiated the sale of Reagan's [[California]] properties at hugely inflated prices, which helped make Reagan a millionaire.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Karlis Osis.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Karlis Osis.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..66432f27 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Karlis Osis.md @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Karlis Osis +tags: + - person + - parapsychologist + - researcher + - Scientist +--- +Karlis Osis was a Latvian-born parapsychologist with a PhD, known for his research into deathbed visions and his work with the U.S. government on [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] experiments with animals[^1][^2]. + +In the 1940s, Osis conducted a four-year study on deathbed visions, interviewing thousands of doctors and nurses in America and northern [[India]]. He hypothesized that Indian patients, whose belief system allows for reincarnation, were far more likely to experience visions before death than American patients[^2]. + +He later worked at [[J. B. Rhine]]'s [[Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory]], where he conducted classified ESP tests with cats for the [[Department of Defense]] in the early 1950s. This study was designed to determine whether man could communicate telepathically with a cat[^2]. + +Later, as the director of research at the [[American Society for Psychical Research]] (ASPR) in [[New York City]], Osis worked with [[Ingo Swann]] on a series of experiments purported to involve [[Out-of-Body Experience|out-of-body experiences]] (OBEs), also known as traveling [[Clairvoyance|clairvoyance]]. In these experiments, Swann was wired to a Beckman Dynograph and asked to "float up out-of-the-body" to spy on objects hidden on suspended trays. Osis and his assistant, [[Janet Mitchell]], were reportedly thrilled with the results, particularly when Swann drew what he saw instead of trying to articulate it[^2]. + +Osis also conducted a [[Psychokinesis|psychokinesis]] experiment with [[Pat Price]], where Price, from a distance, appeared to affect an infrared sensor in a sealed copper box[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. +[^2]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kay Ritter.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kay Ritter.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..64d77c9c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kay Ritter.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Kay Ritter]] was a former Mariposa Grand Jury Forewoman. She was a key figure in [[D.I.G. (Decency in Government)]], an organization formed to expose corruption in Mariposa County. Ritter, along with [[Robert Ashmore]], an ex-deputy, presented testimony to [[George Vinson]], the Regional Director of the Fresno [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], regarding the corruption. However, Vinson reportedly felt the complaints had "no substance."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kelly O'Meara.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kelly O'Meara.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dfb31152 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kelly O'Meara.md @@ -0,0 +1,5 @@ +O'Meara co-authored a four-part investigative series for *Insight* magazine with [[Paul Rodriguez]] titled "Nothing is Secret" (January 29, 2001), "The Plot Thickens in PROMIS Affair" (February 5, 2001), "PROMIS Trail Leads to Justice" (February 12, 2001), and "PROMIS Spins Web of Intrigue" (February 19, 2001). These articles detailed the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]].[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kenneth A. Roe.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kenneth A. Roe.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bda66f2f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kenneth A. Roe.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Kenneth A. Roe]] was a Director of [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] and served as the Chairman and President of[[Burns & Roe, Inc]]., an international engineering and construction corporation. Burns & Roe, Inc. was a family corporation owned by Kenneth Roe and his family.[^1] + +Under Roe's leadership, Burns & Roe, Inc. was involved in major projects, including the engineering design and construction of the U.S.A. [[Fast Breeder Nuclear Reactor Plant]] in conjunction with [[Westinghouse Electric Corporation]], which was responsible for the nuclear system supply of steam. At the time, the construction value of Burns & Roe, Inc.'s business backlog exceeded six billion U.S. dollars.[^1] + +His involvement with [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] placed him among a group of influential individuals with ties to government and intelligence, including [[Robert Maheu]], [[Michael A. McManus]], [[Robert Booth Nichols]], and [[George K. Pender]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kermit Roosevelt.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kermit Roosevelt.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..456282dc --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kermit Roosevelt.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - USA +--- +[[Kermit Roosevelt]] was a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] officer who, along with [[Miles Copeland]], helped the [[Iran|Iranian]] military restore the [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Shah]] of [[Iran]] to power in 1953. This occurred after the [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Shah]] had been overthrown by [[Mohammed Mossadegh]] during the turmoil that followed the nationalization of [[Iran|Iranian]] oil.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kim Roosevelt.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kim Roosevelt.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4947039e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kim Roosevelt.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Kim Roosevelt]] was a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] officer who developed contacts with [[Adnan Khashoggi]], an international arms merchant and factotum for the House of Saud.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kuhn Sa.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kuhn Sa.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..126f7296 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Kuhn Sa.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Kuhn Sa]] was a [[Laos|Laotian]] warlord associated with the [[Golden Triangle]] drug trade. [[Danny Casolaro]] was investigating [[Bo Gritz]]'s expose of [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] drug trafficking in the Golden Triangle and had requested to meet with a former police officer who had information on Kuhn Sa's Golden Triangle drug trade proposal to the [[United States]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Leon Siff.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Leon Siff.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e7b328bc --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Leon Siff.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Activist + - USA +--- +[[Leon Siff]] was a retired probation officer from [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], who became involved in charitable work. He was the chief organizer of "One Universe," a non-profit alliance that included "National Food Relief," "Homes for the Homeless," and "Counseling Without Walls." His organization, also known as "Friends of the Universe," aimed to help the homeless living in and around [[Venice Beach]], [[Los Angeles]].[^1] + +[[Leon Siff|Siff]] was a Jewish man with a son who became a Buddhist monk in [[Sri Lanka]]. He met [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] in [[Colombo]], [[Sri Lanka]], in July 1989, where he was observed dancing alone in a hotel lobby. [[Leon Siff|Siff]] later invited [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] to visit his operations in [[Los Angeles]].[^1] + +In October 1989, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] visited [[Leon Siff|Siff]] in [[Los Angeles]]. [[Leon Siff|Siff]] insisted [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] stay at his home and arranged a party in his honor. During this visit, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] realized that [[Leon Siff|Siff]] was acquainted with [[Joseph O'Toole]], an individual involved in arms brokering, raising [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] suspicions.[^1] + +[[Leon Siff|Siff]] was later implicated in [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] arrest. On November 3, 1989, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] was arrested in [[Leon Siff|Siff's]] bathroom by [[USA|U.S.]] Customs Service agents. [[Leon Siff|Siff]] did not protest the arrest and later refused to admit any part in it, claiming he was looking for a lawyer for [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Lewis L. Strauss.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Lewis L. Strauss.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2c8405ae --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Lewis L. Strauss.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - Nuclear + - USA +--- +Lewis L. Strauss was an American businessman, public official, and naval officer who served as the chairman of the [[Atomic Energy Commission]] (AEC) from 1953 to 1958. He was a staunch Cold Warrior and adamantly opposed to the spread of nuclear weapons. Strauss was well-informed about [[Dimona]] and [[Israel]]'s nuclear program by the time he left the AEC, but there is no evidence he raised questions about it while in government or discussed it after leaving office.[^1] + +Strauss chose not to talk about the Israeli nuclear program because, as a Jew with deep feelings about the Holocaust, he privately approved of it. His strong private feelings about [[Israel]] and its need for security contrasted with his public image as a thoroughly assimilated Jew. He viewed [[America]]'s nuclear arsenal as essential to survival against the [[Soviet Union]] and championed the [[Atoms for Peace]] program, which aimed to promote the peaceful use of atomic energy by providing nuclear technology to allies under international safeguards.[^1] + +Strauss quickly emerged as the strongman of the [[Atomic Energy Commission|AEC]]. He supported loyalty oaths for citizens with access to nuclear information, insisted on continued nuclear testing, and publicly opposed claims that fallout from tests was dangerous. He also fought against attempts by the [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] administration to negotiate a nuclear test ban treaty or any other nuclear arms agreement with the [[Soviet Union]]. Strauss sided with those who sought to prevent the passing of weapons information to European allies, fearing Soviet bloc access.[^1] + +Strauss is also known for his strong dislike of [[J. Robert Oppenheimer]], leading a bitter and successful fight in 1954 to strip Oppenheimer of his security clearance. He was also insistent on continued nuclear testing and fought against attempts to negotiate a nuclear test ban treaty with the [[Soviet Union]].[^1] + +At some point in his AEC career, Strauss met and befriended his Israeli counterpart, [[Ernst David Bergmann]]. This friendship provides strong evidence of Strauss's sympathy for the Israeli nuclear weapons program. In the fall of 1966, Strauss used his influence to get Bergmann a two-month appointment as a visiting fellow at the prestigious Institute for Advanced Studies in Princeton.[^1] + +Strauss remained undaunted in his hostility to the [[Soviet Union]] after leaving public life, telling a congressional panel in 1964 that he was "not sure that the reduction of [U.S.-USSR] tension is necessarily a good thing." He also continued to advocate the use of atomic energy, and in 1964 made a visit to [[Israel]] to consult with the government on a proposed nuclear-powered water desalinization plant.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4, 7. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Louis H. Roddis, Jr..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Louis H. Roddis, Jr..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..07998ec4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Louis H. Roddis, Jr..md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Nuclear + - USA +--- +Louis H. Roddis, Jr. played a major role in [[America]]'s postwar nuclear weapons development. He was a member of the Nuclear Intelligence Panel (NIP). Roddis concluded that the 1979 [[South Africa]]n-Israeli nuclear test had taken place on a barge or on one of the islands in the South Indian Ocean archipelago. He expressed anger at [[Frank Press]] and the White House for what he saw as a deliberate effort to downplay and manipulate the facts surrounding the event.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 20. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Lynn Schroeder.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Lynn Schroeder.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..94343c36 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Lynn Schroeder.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Lynn Schroeder +tags: + - person + - author + - parapsychology +description: Lynn Schroeder is an American author known for co-authoring "Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain," a book that popularized Soviet and Eastern European psi research in the West. +--- + +[[Lynn Schroeder]] is an American author who, along with [[Sheila Ostrander]], co-authored the 1970 book *Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain*. This book played a significant role in popularizing Soviet and Eastern European [[Parapsychology|psi]] research in the West. The book portrayed a "veritable frenzy of psychic research" going on in the [[Soviet Union|USSR]], with investigators uncovering powerful natural clairvoyants, psychokinetic prodigies, and dowsers whose talents could potentially be employed against the West.[^1] + +Schroeder and Ostrander's work, which included accounts from figures like [[Eduard Naumov]], contributed to the growing awareness and concern within the U.S. intelligence community about a potential "psi gap" with the Soviet Union, ultimately influencing the decision to fund and initiate programs like the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Major Stone.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Major Stone.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9a401e15 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Major Stone.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Major Stone +tags: + - person + - military + - aide +description: Major Stone was an aide to Major General Edmund Thompson, the U.S. Army Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, and served as an outbound experimenter in early remote viewing sessions. +--- + +Major Stone was an aide to Major General [[Edmund Thompson]], the [[U.S. Army]] Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (ACSI). He played a role in the early days of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]] by serving as an "outbound experimenter" or "beacon" for remote viewing sessions.[^1] + +In one notable instance, Stone was the target for [[Edmund Thompson]]'s own remote viewing attempt. Although Thompson initially misidentified Stone's location, he later realized he had accurately perceived a nearby Masonic Temple, which was more prominent than Stone's actual location at the Alexandria train station. Stone also brought taskings from the Pentagon to the remote viewing unit, including the urgent request to find a lost [[U.S. Navy]] A-6 attack aircraft.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Mark Richards.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Mark Richards.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dcddab3f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Mark Richards.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Mark Richards was a career Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division of the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. He was implicated in allegations surrounding the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]]. + +According to a source of [[Ronald LeGrand]], Richards, along with [[John Keeney]] and [[Philip White]], knew "all about" [[Lowell Jensen]]'s alleged malfeasance in the Inslaw matter. The source believed that while Richards and White were "pretty upset" about it, they would not disclose what they knew except under subpoena and oath, and that they would not commit perjury.[^1] + +However, when interviewed by the Special Counsel, Mark Richards stated that he had no knowledge of any wrongdoing by Lowell Jensen generally, or of the type of wrongdoing described in the Hamilton affidavit specifically. The Special Counsel's investigation found no credible evidence to support the allegations against Richards or any connection between him and a conspiracy related to [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] or [[PROMIS]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Marshall Riconosciuto.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Marshall Riconosciuto.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4592a865 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Marshall Riconosciuto.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Marshall Riconosciuto]] was the father of [[Michael Riconosciuto]] and a business partner of [[Patrick Moriarty]] for 40 years. Together, they owned several California businesses, including [[Hercules Research Corporation]] and [[Pyrotronics Corporation]].[^1] + +In 1981, Hercules Research Corporation developed a small electronic power supply designed to feed 30,000 volts of electricity to a METC (Modular Energy Transfer Catalyzer) unit, which could significantly reduce heating and cooling times in various industrial processes. Marshall Riconosciuto and [[Patrick Moriarty]] had funded research for 15 years, investing approximately $1 million of their own money into the project.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that Marshall shipped documents to [[Ian Stuart Spiro]] for safekeeping. At the time [[Bobby Riconosciuto]] intended to store Michael's original documents at Marshall's business in Southern California, Marshall was reportedly very ill.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Marta Stroessner.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Marta Stroessner.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a9386b70 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Marta Stroessner.md @@ -0,0 +1,9 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Paraguay +--- +[[Marta Stroessner]] is the daughter of [[Andres Rodriguez|General Andres Rodriguez]] and was married to the second son of [[Alfredo Stroessner|President Alfredo Stroessner]] of [[Paraguay]]. She was having an affair with the second son of [[Anastasio Somoza Debayle|Anastasio Somoza]], the overthrown president of [[Nicaragua]], who was living in [[Asuncion]] at the time.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Masihur Rahman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Masihur Rahman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0e7e9895 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Masihur Rahman.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Banker", "BCCI"] +--- +Masihur Rahman was the former chief financial officer of [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]].[^1] He explained the financial legerdemain that resulted in the disappearance of billions of dollars.[^2] Rahman later testified before a Senate subcommittee.[^3] + +### Role at BCCI + +Rahman was brought into United Bank by [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] and [[Swaleh Naqvi]] in 1966, and moved with them when Abedi created BCCI.[^4] He brought with him the original handwritten ledgers of the bank's first year of operation in [[Abu Dhabi]].[^5] + +After BCCI pleaded guilty to money laundering in January 1990, Rahman was placed in charge of an internal audit committee to verify the Price Waterhouse figures.[^6] His findings showed that the bank's books were in a shambles, with hundreds of millions of dollars loaned or transferred without paperwork, and hundreds of millions more simply disappeared.[^7] + +Rahman was very nervous about discussing BCCI's affairs with the press due to threats to his family.[^8] He described a secret bank within the bank, International Credit and Investment Company Holdings (ICIC) in the [[Cayman Islands]], into which billions of dollars in deposits were improperly diverted.[^9] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 5. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 5. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 5. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 81. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 81. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 81. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 83. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 80. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 82. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Mel Riley.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Mel Riley.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..459efd70 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Mel Riley.md @@ -0,0 +1,32 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Mel Riley +tags: + - person + - military + - psychic + - remoteviewer +description: Mel Riley was a U.S. Army staff sergeant and one of the first remote viewers in the Stargate Project. He was known for his artistic ability and his accuracy in remote viewing sessions. +--- +Mel Riley was a U.S. Army staff sergeant and one of the original six remote viewers in the [[STARGATE PROJECT]]. He was recruited into the program, then codenamed [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]], in 1977 by [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] and [[Murray Watt|Scotty Watt]].[^1] + +Riley was five feet eight, slim and fit, with wavy blond hair and an Irish, vaguely leprechaunish face. He had tattoos of an eagle, a rabbit, and a large winged dragon across his chest. His eyes were often described as wide and intense, as if he were staring inward. He was a morning person, enjoying the quiet calm of the predawn hours.[^1] + +He grew up in Racine, Wisconsin, and had a shy, solitary streak, with a special love for the outdoors. As a teenager, he camped in the snow, hunted deer, and canoed. He also had a "mild spaciness, a proneness to the zone." One summer day in preadolescence, in an empty field where he often found Native American artifacts, he experienced a vivid vision of an Indian village, complete with tepees, dogs, and people, with one tall Indian appearing to wave at him. This experience, among others, hinted at his latent psychic abilities.[^1] + +He was drafted into the Army on July 7, 1969, and was trained as a photo-interpreter.[^1] + +At boot camp in Kentucky, Riley was recruited into Army intelligence and trained as a photo-interpreter at Fort Holabird, Maryland. He was then sent to Germany, serving with the 7405th Operations Squadron at Rhein-Main Air Force Base in Wiesbaden. His unit conducted covert reconnaissance missions through East Germany, using disguised planes equipped with special cameras and electronic-intercept gear. Riley served as an aerial observer, guiding intelligence equipment, and as a photo analyst. He gained a reputation for his "sixth sense," accurately identifying hidden details in reconnaissance images, such as a new Soviet artillery piece concealed under a canvas canopy, which was later confirmed by satellite photographs. He earned several medals for his work.[^1] + +In 1976, Riley was posted to Fort Meade, Maryland, assigned to the Operations Security Group (Opsec). His unit's task was to spy on U.S. military facilities to identify and correct security vulnerabilities. He analyzed photographic intelligence from satellites, aircraft, and close-range cameras. He learned about the Army's interest in psychic phenomena from a friend in the [[Systems Exploitation Detachment]] (SED) and was eager to get involved, especially after hearing about the possibility of the U.S. employing its own psychic spies.[^1] + +As a remote viewer, Riley was known for his artistic skill in rendering his psychic impressions. He participated in many of the early, successful remote viewing sessions. In late summer 1979, he remote-viewed a new Chinese nuclear device at Lop Nor, describing an "hourglass on its side" shape, which was later confirmed to be a critical design element. He also contributed to the tracking of a Soviet T-72 tank purchased by the U.S., accurately perceiving its movement on a rail car and later on a ship. One of his most notable successes was in an opsec tasking where he remote-viewed a "strange batlike flying-wing shape" with a "bulbous cockpit" and fiber-optic control mechanisms, which was later identified as the then-secret B-2 Stealth bomber. He was also known for his ability to enter a deep, trancelike state during remote viewing sessions.[^1] + +During the Iran hostage crisis (1979-1981), Riley and other remote viewers were tasked hundreds of times to provide information on the hostages. Despite the gratification of contributing to a key intelligence effort, Riley found the relentless and monotonous taskings led to mental burnout, as remote viewers needed variety to maintain clarity. He experienced aftereffects of remote viewing, describing them as similar to a "natural high" or the adrenaline rush after a parachute jump, with heightened sensory perception. However, he also noted that intense, daily remote viewing could lead to mental fatigue, emotional fragility, and a "vacant stare."[^1] + +Riley, along with [[Joe McMoneagle]] and [[Ken Bell]], became one of the three full-time remote viewers when the unit was officially designated the Special Action Branch and the program was codenamed [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]]. He left the unit in 1981 for a posting in Germany, with the understanding that he could return to the program in the future, as the unit was on "relatively firm ground" with an increasing budget and new recruits.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Menachem Schneerson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Menachem Schneerson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4986e5b0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Menachem Schneerson.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - ReligiousLeader + - Finance + - Israel +--- +[[Menachem Schneerson]], also known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe, was a prominent orthodox Jewish leader based in Brooklyn, [[New York]]. His financial institutions were enlisted by the [[Likud Party]]-controlled [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]] to funnel money for housing projects in the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip]] for Jewish settlers, drawing from the slush fund generated by arms sales to [[Iran]].[^1] + +Large amounts of money were funneled through his institutions to [[Drexel Burnham]], a brokerage house where [[Michael Milken]] built his junk-bond fortune. Until 1987, some of the profits from the slush fund were used to finance the Lubavitcher yeshivahs (colleges).[^1] + +In 1987, the committee and Schneerson parted ways. This was partly due to questions regarding his allegiance to the [[Likud Party]] and the emergence of the orthodox [[Shas Party]], which was at odds with the Rebbe. Funds previously directed to the Lubavitcher yeshivahs were redirected to the Shas yeshivahs. The committee also decided to withdraw funds from Drexel and from Schneerson's control due to concerns that the funds might be frozen if relations between [[Israel]] and the [[USA|U.S.]] deteriorated, contributing to Drexel's eventual downfall.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Michael Dennis Rohan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Michael Dennis Rohan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dabbca4b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Michael Dennis Rohan.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Religion + - Crime + - Australia +--- +[[Michael Dennis Rohan]] was an [[Australia|Australian]] member of the Church of God. In 1969, he was a volunteer at [[Kibbutz Mishmar Hasharon]] in [[Israel]], where he shared a room with [[Ari Ben-Menashe]]. [[Michael Dennis Rohan|Rohan]] believed he was destined to be the king of [[Israel]] and prepare the way for the return of Christ.[^1] + +[[Michael Dennis Rohan|Rohan]] was responsible for an arson attack on the [[El Aqsa Mosque]] in [[Jerusalem]] in August 1969. He believed that destroying the mosque was necessary for the rebuilding of the Third Temple and the return of Jesus. He was reportedly involved with the [[Jewish Defense League]] (JDL) in this act. [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] played a role in his apprehension, reporting him to the [[Israel|Israeli]] police.[^1] + +[[Michael Dennis Rohan|Rohan]] pleaded guilty at a public hearing, was declared mentally ill, and committed to a psychiatric hospital. He later escaped but turned himself in after speaking with [[Ari Ben-Menashe]]. He was eventually deported to [[Australia]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Michael Riconosciuto.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Michael Riconosciuto.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..00205167 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Michael Riconosciuto.md @@ -0,0 +1,44 @@ +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] is a computer scientist and self-proclaimed former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] asset, known for his involvement in various clandestine operations and his claims regarding the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]]. He was described as a child prodigy, wiring his parents' neighborhood with a private telephone system at age 10 and winning science fairs with laser technology, leading to a summer research assistantship at Stanford's Cooper Vaper Laser Laboratory.[^1] + +### Involvement with Wackenhut and Cabazon Joint Venture + +From 1981 to 1984, Riconosciuto served as the Director of Research for a joint venture between [[Wackenhut Corporation]] and the [[Cabazon Band of Mission Indians|Cabazon Indian tribe]] near Indio, California. This venture, known as "[[Cabazon Arms]]," aimed to develop and manufacture military and national security materials, including night vision goggles, machine guns, fuel-air explosives, and biological and chemical warfare weapons. The sovereign status of the reservation was utilized to bypass stringent federal controls on such developments.[^1] + +During this period, Riconosciuto claimed to have modified the proprietary [[PROMIS]] computer software. He stated that [[Earl Brian]] made the software available to him through Wackenhut, after acquiring it from [[Peter Videnieks]], a [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] contracting official. Riconosciuto's modifications were intended to facilitate the worldwide implementation of PROMIS in law enforcement and intelligence agencies, including specific adaptations for the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] and the [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service|CSIS]] in [[Canada]]. This alleged modification and sale of pirated PROMIS software became a central element of the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]].[^1] + +However, the Special Counsel's investigation found significant inconsistencies in Riconosciuto's various accounts of his role in the alleged theft of PROMIS. He was inconsistent regarding from whom he received the software and when and where he altered it. For instance, in his affidavit, he claimed to have received a single copy of the software from Earl Brian, while at his trial, he claimed to have received three versions from [[John Philip Nichols]]. His timeline for altering the software also varied, with his affidavit stating 1983-1984, but his trial testimony indicating late 1981 to early 1983. The investigation noted that it would have been physically impossible for anyone from the DOJ to provide an enhanced version of PROMIS in late 1981, as Inslaw did not even enter into the implementation contract until March 1982, and the enhanced version was not delivered until April 1983.[^2] + +Both Earl Brian and Peter Videnieks categorically denied Riconosciuto's allegations, stating they had never met him or each other, and had never been to Indio, California. The investigation found both Brian and Videnieks to be credible witnesses. Furthermore, the investigation found no evidence to corroborate Riconosciuto's claims of computer equipment or software modification activities at the Cabazon reservation. Witnesses, including the Tribal Chairman Art Welmas and Indio Police Chief Sam Cross, stated they never saw large computers or computer facilities on the reservation during that period. The investigation concluded that Riconosciuto was a "totally unreliable witness" and that his story was a "tale of total fiction woven against the background of accurate historical facts."[^2] + +### The PROMIS Affidavit and Arrest + +In March 1991, Riconosciuto provided an affidavit to [[Bill Hamilton]] and [[Nancy Hamilton]], owners of [[INSLAW]], detailing his role in modifying PROMIS and alleging that [[Peter Videnieks]] attempted to dissuade him from cooperating with a [[United States House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]] investigation into the software's theft. Eight days after signing this affidavit, Riconosciuto was arrested for allegedly operating a methamphetamine lab in Tacoma, Washington. He claimed this arrest was a deliberate attempt to discredit his testimony. The Special Counsel's investigation, however, found no connection between Riconosciuto's prosecution and his allegations in the Inslaw matter, concluding that the drug case began as a local investigation and the evidence against him was overwhelming.[^1][^2] + +### Connections and Allegations + +Riconosciuto's network of connections and the scope of his alleged activities are extensive. He was closely associated with [[Robert Booth Nichols]], a key figure in [[Danny Casolaro]]'s "[[The Octopus]]" investigation. They were partners in Meridian Arms, a subsidiary of Meridian International Logistics (MIL), and Riconosciuto was a technical advisor for [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]], where Nichols was on the Board of Directors. Riconosciuto claimed Nichols was involved in large-scale illegal drug operations and money laundering, and that Nichols attempted to pressure him into illegal activities.[^1] + +Riconosciuto claimed to have provided valuable intelligence to former Assistant U.S. Attorney [[Brian Leighton]] regarding a drug/arms organization known as "[[The Company]]," which consisted of former military, law enforcement, and intelligence personnel involved in drug trafficking, gunrunning, and mercenary operations.[^1] + +He also claimed participation in a [[National Security Council|NSC]]-sanctioned drug/sting operation in Lebanon through Euramae Trading Company in Nicosia, Cyprus, another alleged NSC cutout. He described a network involving [[Michael T. Hurley]] (DEA Country Attache), [[Maurice Ghanem]], and [[George Pender]], where heroin shipments were allegedly used to fund intelligence operations and were sometimes diverted for profit.[^1] + +Riconosciuto claimed to have handled gold transfers, money laundering, "virtual dead drops," and altered ACH daily reconciliations for various underworld figures, including [[Robert Booth Nichols]], [[Gilbert Rodriguez]], and [[Jose Londono]] of the [[Cali Drug Cartel]]. He sought to provide this information to the [[Financial Crimes Enforcement Network|FinCen]] in exchange for witness protection.[^1] + +Regarding the [[October Surprise]], Riconosciuto claimed that he and [[Earl Brian]] traveled to [[Iran]] in 1980 and paid $40 million to Iranian officials to delay the release of U.S. hostages until after [[Ronald Reagan]]'s presidential inauguration, linking the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] to the [[October Surprise]] affair.[^1] However, the Special Counsel's investigation found no credible evidence to support this claim, and evidence suggested Brian was in New York at the time of the alleged Iran trip.[^2] + +Riconosciuto claimed to have been in direct communication with [[Michael Hand]], co-founder of [[Nugan Hand Bank]], before and after Hand's disappearance, and handled money transfers for Hand when he fled [[Australia]].[^1] + +Beyond PROMIS, Riconosciuto was involved in advanced technological projects, including theoretical work on railguns for the U.S. Army, and research into "energy transfer phenomena" with [[William Frash]] and [[Patrick Moriarty]] (his father's business partner), aiming to develop technology that would "supercede all existing world patents in the field."[^1] + +### Legal Troubles and Witness Protection Attempts + +Following his arrest, Riconosciuto attempted multiple times to trade information with federal authorities, including the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] and [[Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives|BATF]], in exchange for entry into a Witness Protection Program. He offered to expose high-level corruption, drug trafficking, and money laundering operations, including those involving [[Robert Booth Nichols]], [[Michael Abbell]], and the [[Cali Drug Cartel]]. However, these attempts were largely unsuccessful, with authorities often expressing skepticism or facing internal resistance to his claims.[^1] + +### Relationship with Danny Casolaro + +[[Danny Casolaro]] began interviewing Riconosciuto prior to his arrest in March 1991. Riconosciuto became a key source for Casolaro's "[[The Octopus]]" investigation, providing insights into the alleged criminal network. Riconosciuto claimed that Casolaro's death occurred shortly after he began investigating [[Michael Abbell]]'s connection to the [[Cali Drug Cartel]], a lead Riconosciuto had provided. He also stated that [[Robert Booth Nichols]] had warned Casolaro to stay away from Riconosciuto.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. +[^2]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Mike Russo.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Mike Russo.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fdee2e73 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Mike Russo.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Mike Russo +tags: + - person + - scientist + - physicist +description: Mike Russo was a physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory who experienced bizarre apparitions after involvement with Uri Geller. +--- + +Mike Russo was a physicist at [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] (LLNL) who, along with other Livermore personnel, experienced a series of bizarre, hallucination-inducing phenomena after their involvement with [[Uri Geller]]. These apparitions included hovering, monochrome flying saucers and strange animals, such as large raven-like birds.[^1] + +Russo and others began to seriously question their sanity due to these experiences. He was part of the group that met with [[Richard Kennett]] of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] to discuss the unsettling events. Russo also complained about a telephone call from a strange metallic voice that demanded the Livermore group cease its research activities with Geller, after which the apparitions faded away.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Milan Ryzl.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Milan Ryzl.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6d05eb3d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Milan Ryzl.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Milan Ryzl +tags: + - person + - researcher + - parapsychologist + - Czech +description: Milan Ryzl was a Czech parapsychologist who conducted experiments on telepathy, notably confirming I. M. Kogan's communications-oriented approach to psi. +--- +Milan Ryzl was a [[Czech]] parapsychologist active in psi research in the mid-1960s. He conducted an experiment that seemed to confirm [[I. M. Kogan]]'s communications-oriented approach to psi phenomena.[^1] + +Ryzl's experiment involved a psychic, Pavel Stepanek, repeatedly guessing bits in a randomly generated 50-bit target sequence. By using a majority-vote error-correcting protocol, similar to techniques used in telecommunications, Ryzl was able to confidently determine that Stepanek had correctly identified the entire sequence after several days and twenty thousand guesses. While the effective bit rate was very low (one word per day), it was considered an impressive proof-of-concept experiment, suggesting the potential for telepathic communication.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bee6ce2e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Iran +--- +[[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]], also known as the Shah of [[Iran]], ruled for nearly 40 years. His departure from [[Iran]] on January 16, 1979, marked a tumultuous upheaval in the [[Middle East]] and led to a new threat to [[Israel|Israel's]] existence.[^1] + +Under the [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Shah]], [[Iran]] maintained good relations with "moderate pro-[[USA|American]] Arab countries" such as [[Egypt]], [[Jordan]], and the [[Emirates]]. However, by 1978, his rule was threatened by widespread discontent due to extreme corruption, skyrocketing prices, and the failure of his White Revolution to address food production issues. The infrastructure of [[Tehran]] was also unable to handle the traffic, leading to public frustration.[^1] + +[[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence, particularly [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], warned of an impending revolution and the [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Shah's]] imminent overthrow as early as 1978. These warnings were dismissed by [[USA|U.S.]] analysts, who misread the threat to his rule. In December 1978, the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and [[SAVAK]] (Iranian secret police) enlisted [[Israel|Israeli]] aid in a plan to assassinate [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini]], but the [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Shah]] rejected it, fearing further bloodshed.[^1] + +After his departure, the [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Shah]]'s Regency and Supreme Military Councils were unable to function, and [[Shahpour Bakhtiar]], his last prime minister, proved helpless. [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini|Khomeini]] arrived in [[Iran]] on February 1, 1979, and declared [[Iran]] an Islamic republic on April 1. The [[Israel|Israeli]] Embassy in [[Tehran]] was subsequently handed over to the [[Palestine Liberation Organization|PLO]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Moshe Sharett.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Moshe Sharett.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..591f1d39 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Moshe Sharett.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Israel +--- +Moshe Sharett was the second Prime Minister of [[Israel]], serving from 1954 to 1955. He differed significantly from [[David Ben-Gurion]] in his approach to the Arab question, believing that peace with the Arab world was possible through military restraint and potential [[United Nations]] intervention. As prime minister, he initiated secret peace negotiations with [[Gamal Abdel Nasser|Nasser]].[^1] + +Sharett's voluminous personal diaries indicate his ambition for [[Israel]]'s nuclear program, referred to as the "Enterprise," though he lacked confidence in [[Ernst David Bergmann]]'s administrative skills. He believed Bergmann's shortcomings would "limit and disrupt the horizons of the ‘Enterprise’ and sabotage its development."[^1] + +His tenure was marked by tension with [[Moshe Dayan]] and [[Shimon Peres]], who, in constant contact with [[David Ben-Gurion]], sought to stifle Sharett's dovish policies. The [[Lavon Affair]] in mid-1954, where an Israeli spy ring bombed American, British, and Egyptian targets, led to Sharett accepting [[Pinhas Lavon]]'s resignation. Sharett, unaware of the operation, viewed the subsequent increase in Gaza Strip border clashes as an "inevitable consequence" of the retaliatory raid authorized by Ben-Gurion.[^1] + +Sharett quietly resigned as foreign minister in the summer of 1956, after attempting to hold an open debate on [[Israel]]'s foreign policy. His personal diaries, published in 1980, revealed the deep divisions within the Israeli government at the time.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Muammar Qaddafi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Muammar Qaddafi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..aa8fff3e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Muammar Qaddafi.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Libya +--- +[[Muammar Qaddafi]] was the leader of [[Libya]]. He played a role in [[Africa|African]] politics, promising money to black [[Africa|African]] nations if they cut ties with [[Israel]]. This led to a deterioration of relations between [[Israel]] and [[Uganda]] under [[Idi Amin]].[^1] + +[[Muammar Qaddafi|Col. Qaddafi's]] right-hand man, [[Abdul Salam Jalloud|Maj. Abdul Salam Jalloud]], visited [[Iran]] to congratulate the new regime after the [[Iranian Revolution]]. During his visit, [[Iran|Iranian]] hosts questioned him about the disappearance of [[Sheikh Mussa Sadr]], a Shi'ite leader from southern [[Lebanon]], who was believed to have been killed by the [[Libya|Libyans]]. [[Abdul Salam Jalloud|Jalloud]] was detained for three weeks until [[Muammar Qaddafi|Qaddafi]] personally intervened and spoke to [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini|Khomeini]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Nancy Stern.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Nancy Stern.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..258f2880 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Nancy Stern.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Nancy Stern +tags: + - person + - photointerpreter + - psychic +description: Nancy Stern was an Army civilian photo-interpreter and one of the original members of the Stargate Project's remote viewing unit. +--- + +[[Nancy Stern]] was an Army civilian photo-interpreter and one of the original members of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]] (later [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]]) remote viewing unit. She was among the initial group of ten or eleven candidates selected by [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] and [[Murray Watt|Scotty Watt]] for the experimental program, with a heavy emphasis on photo-interpreters due to their visual skills.[^1] + +Stern was present during the intense and monotonous remote viewing taskings related to the Iran hostage crisis (1979-1981). After the failed hostage rescue mission in April 1980, she became emotionally distraught, crying and expressing anger at the debacle, and subsequently left the unit. Her departure, along with that of [[Fern Gauvin]], highlighted the psychological toll of the relentless remote viewing operations.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Nicholas J. Bua.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Nicholas J. Bua.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cefc6f6c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Nicholas J. Bua.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Nicholas J. Bua was appointed Special Counsel by Attorney General [[William Barr]] on November 7, 1991, to investigate all allegations of wrongdoing in connection with the [[PROMIS Software Scandal|Inslaw matter]]. His mandate was to conduct a complete and thorough investigation to determine if there had been any misconduct by individuals inside or outside the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. Bua was assured of complete independence and full cooperation from all DOJ employees. He selected six Assistant United States Attorneys and two FBI agents to assist him, all of whom reported solely to him to maintain the investigation's independence. The investigation devoted considerable resources to the myriad allegations, which ranged from murder and international espionage to simple incompetence. Bua's report, submitted in March 1993 to newly appointed Attorney General [[Janet Reno]], concluded that there was no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing by any past or present DOJ employee.[^1] + +Bua's report concluded that there was no credible evidence to support the allegation of a conspiracy between DOJ members and [[Earl Brian]] to obtain or distribute [[PROMIS]] software, stating that the overwhelming evidence showed no connection between Brian and anything related to [[INSLAW]] or PROMIS. The report also found insufficient evidence to support the allegation that the DOJ obtained an enhanced version of PROMIS through fraud, trickery, and deceit, or that it wrongfully distributed PROMIS. Instead, it concluded that DOJ employees acted in what they genuinely believed were the best legitimate interests of the government. Furthermore, the report found no credible evidence that DOJ employees improperly influenced the selection process that resulted in Bankruptcy Judge Bason's non-reappointment, nor that DOJ employees attempted to improperly influence the U.S. Trustee to convert the Inslaw bankruptcy case or committed perjury to hide such obstruction. Finally, the report found no evidence that DOJ employees destroyed any documents related to Inslaw or otherwise acted improperly to obstruct Congressional investigations.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ninel Kulagina.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ninel Kulagina.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ec101d45 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ninel Kulagina.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Ninel Kulagina + - Nina Kulagina +tags: + - Person + - Psychic + - Soviet Union +--- +# Ninel Kulagina + +Ninel Kulagina (1926–1990), also known as Nina Kulagina, was a celebrated Soviet psychic and a decorated [[World War II]] hero, having served as a front-line soldier and tank radio operator for the [[Red Army]]. She gained international attention for her purported [[Psychokinesis|psychokinetic]] abilities, particularly her capacity to move matter with her mind[^1]. + +Kulagina's abilities reportedly manifested in childhood, with objects spontaneously moving when she became angry. Starting in the mid-1960s, her psychokinetic feats became the subject of state-run television programs in the [[Soviet Union]], such as *Science Films* produced by Leningrad Studios. She was filmed moving objects sealed inside a glass aquarium, including metal salt shakers, matchsticks, and cigar canisters[^1]. + +In the [[United States]], skeptics often dismissed her demonstrations as fraud. However, the [[CIA]] and the [[Department of Defense]] were not as dismissive, especially after a classified film from March 10, 1970, at the Ukhtomskii Military Institute in Leningrad, showed Kulagina allegedly stopping a frog's heart with her mind. This film caused significant alarm within the American defense community[^1]. + +The experiment, overseen by Soviet military doctor [[Genady Sergeyev]], involved Kulagina concentrating for about twenty minutes to stop a surgically removed frog's heart, which was still beating in Ringer's solution. Her physiological responses, including a heart rate of 240 and elevated blood pressure, were monitored. According to declassified documents, the heart activity ceased after approximately 7 minutes in the first experiment and 22 minutes in a second. She was also reportedly able to "reactivate" the heart[^1]. + +Another experiment involved Kulagina attempting to increase the heart rate of a skeptical physician, which reportedly reached dangerous levels within minutes. While some U.S. analysts suspected a Soviet disinformation campaign, others, particularly from the Medical Intelligence Office of the [[U.S. Army]], considered the military applications of such abilities to be extremely important[^1]. + +Kulagina's alleged abilities contributed to the [[Pentagon]]'s decision to launch a joint intelligence assessment of the "Soviet psychoenergetic threat," a term coined to encompass Soviet research into anomalous mental phenomena and [[Electromagnetic Weapons|electromagnetic weapons]] programs[^1]. Her work, along with that of [[H. S. Tsien]] in [[China]], highlighted the perceived need for the U.S. to invest in its own psychic research programs. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Nita Scoggan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Nita Scoggan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..982083f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Nita Scoggan.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Nita Scoggan]] was the wife of an FGBMFI (Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International) member. She was invited by a [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] Aide, who later worked on [[Pat Robertson]]'s presidential campaign, to form a prayer group in the [[White House]]. [[Oliver North]] reportedly attended these prayer meetings.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Norma H. Johnson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Norma H. Johnson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7386cfe1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Norma H. Johnson.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Norma H. Johnson was a District Judge who chaired the Merit Selection Panel responsible for reviewing candidates for the bankruptcy judge position in the District of Columbia. This panel was formed in 1987, prior to the expiration of [[George Francis Bason, Jr.|Judge Bason]]'s term. + +Judge Johnson became a central figure in the allegations surrounding Judge Bason's non-reappointment. She solicited her colleagues' views of Judge Bason and it was during this process that Judge Bason ruled orally that the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] had stolen and converted [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]'s software. Judge Johnson initially recalled that a district judge recommended she obtain a copy of the transcript of Judge Bason's oral ruling in Inslaw. She later clarified that it was District Court Judge [[Royce Lambreth]] who directed her to Bason's ruling. Although Lambreth did not comment on the ruling, Judge Johnson understood from his tone that he viewed the ruling unfavorably. She circulated copies of Judge Bason's oral ruling to the Panel members, the only judicial opinion circulated. While the Panel discussed the ruling, they reportedly found nothing untoward about it and agreed it should not influence their evaluation of Judge Bason.[^1] + +The Special Counsel's investigation found no evidence that anyone tried to influence the selection process improperly. It concluded that [[Royce Lambreth]]'s communication with Judge Johnson was proper, as he had a legitimate interest in the matter as a prospective judicial officer. The report noted that Judge Johnson was fiercely independent and that any attempts to influence her had little effect. She considered the [[INSLAW]] ruling along with all other information the Panel received. The Special Counsel's report concluded that the great weight of the evidence clearly supports the conclusion that there was no attempt by the DOJ to obstruct Judge Bason's reappointment.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Olaf Johnson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Olaf Johnson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1c6bb244 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Olaf Johnson.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Olaf Johnson +tags: + - person + - psychic +description: Olaf Johnson was a Swedish-born psychic who participated in Edgar Mitchell's secret mind-to-mind telepathy experiment during the Apollo 14 mission. +--- + +[[Olaf Johnson]] was a Swedish-born psychic who participated in [[Edgar Mitchell]]'s secret [[Mind-to-Mind Telepathy|mind-to-mind telepathy]] experiment during the Apollo 14 mission. Johnson served as the receiver on Earth, attempting to perceive the Zener cards that Mitchell was concentrating on from space.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Oliver North.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Oliver North.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fd4865d5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Oliver North.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Oliver North]] was a Lieutenant Colonel in the [[United States Marine Corps]] and a central figure in the [[Iran-Contra Affair]]. He was implicated in various covert operations, including arms dealing and alleged drug profits.[^1] + +North was alleged to have received drug profits from [[Monzer Al-Kassar]], a Syrian kingpin and arms dealer, to purchase arms for the Nicaraguan [[Contras]]. The [[United States]] Tower Commission probe into Iran-gate revealed that Al-Kassar had been paid $1.2 million by North's co-conspirator General [[Richard Secord]] to move weapons from [[Israel]] to the [[Contras]].[^1] + +[[Bill Turner]], a friend and confidante of [[Danny Casolaro]], claimed to have seen papers from Casolaro that connected North and the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]]. North's personal notebooks documenting the [[Iran-Contra Affair]] also contained [[Ian Stuart Spiro]]'s name.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Olof Palme.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Olof Palme.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fd63556a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Olof Palme.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Sweden +--- +[[Olof Palme]] was the Prime Minister of [[Sweden]]. His government was involved in the sale of military equipment to [[Iran]] through [[Israel]]. However, [[Olof Palme|Palme]] eventually refused to continue these sales.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ora Ben-Shalom.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ora Ben-Shalom.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..681c64b5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ora Ben-Shalom.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +[[Ora Ben-Shalom]] is the wife of [[Ari Ben-Menashe]]. She was born in the [[USA|United States]] to a [[Canada|Canadian]] Jewish mother and an [[Austria|Austrian]] Jewish father. Her family moved to [[Israel]] when she was 12, and they changed their family name from Friedman to Ben-Shalom. The family was religiously observant and ultra-rightwing politically.[^1] + +[[Ora Ben-Shalom|Ora]] joined the External Relations Department (ERD) of the [[Israel Defense Forces]]/Military Intelligence as a first lieutenant in 1979, where she met [[Ari Ben-Menashe]]. She was fluent in English, Spanish, and Hebrew. She later left the ERD in 1980 to work for [[Mossad]] and was appointed to a prestigious position in public relations at the [[Hilton International]] in [[Jerusalem]], while remaining a [[Mossad]] "operative."[^1] + +After the deaths of [[Marie Fernanda|Freddie]] and Herut (Ari Ben-Menashe's daughter), [[Ora Ben-Shalom|Ora]] and [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] began a relationship in late 1986, eventually living together in [[Jerusalem]]. She traveled with him on various business trips to [[Europe]].[^1] + +In August 1987, [[Ora Ben-Shalom|Ora]] was put under surveillance and interrogated by [[SHABAK]] (Israel's internal security agency) after she was discovered meeting with [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] people in [[Tel Aviv]]. She admitted to talking to the [[USA|Americans]] about [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] and his knowledge of the [[Iran-Contra Affair]]. Her ties with [[Mossad]] were terminated, but [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] intervened to prevent her prosecution, claiming she was pregnant and they planned to marry. Their daughter, Shira, was born on July 22, 1988.[^1] + +In October 1989, [[Ora Ben-Shalom|Ora]] and [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] planned a vacation to [[Sydney]], [[Australia]]. However, [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] was arrested in [[Los Angeles]] before they could depart. [[Ora Ben-Shalom|Ora]] later divorced [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] in [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Pat Price.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Pat Price.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e6865d46 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Pat Price.md @@ -0,0 +1,27 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Pat Price +tags: + - person + - psychic + - policecommissioner +description: Pat Price was a retired police commissioner and one of the most gifted psychics in the SRI remote viewing program. +--- +Pat Price was a retired police commissioner from Burbank, California, who joined the [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) remote viewing program in 1973. He was a graying, semi-retired, somewhat grizzled-looking fellow in his fifties who lived at Lake Tahoe. He had a small building-contractor business and also raised Christmas trees to sell in the Bay Area. He met [[Hal Puthoff]] at a lecture and later while selling Christmas trees in Mountain View. Price considered himself a psychic, claiming to have developed important leads on difficult cases during his time as a police commissioner in Burbank, thanks to spontaneously received information. He would even sit in the police dispatcher's office, trying to get psychic impressions of criminals' hiding places.[^1] + +Price had a long history of psychic experiences, including using his abilities to help solve difficult cases when he was a police commissioner. He claimed to have psychic impressions about people and distant events almost every day. He also claimed the ancient shamanic power of being able to change the weather, creating or evaporating clouds at will, and believed he could make traffic lights change through psychokinesis. He also believed that his soul had once belonged to the American colonial orator Patrick Henry. He also believed that an alien civilization flew its silvery saucers into bases on the moon and Mars, and also here on Earth, under the oceans and beneath great mountains, including one under Mount Hayes in Alaska.[^1] + +Price was considered by many to be the most gifted psychic in the SRI program. He was extraordinarily accurate and consistent, and he was particularly good at picking up technical details of target sites. He was also able to pick up alphanumeric data, a feat that was considered nearly impossible by other remote viewers, who believed that attempting to recognize numbers or letters would short-circuit the psi process. Price, however, could often read numbers or words on pieces of paper or names on uniforms, even if not always perfectly.[^1] + +One of his most famous successes was the remote viewing of a secret Soviet military research facility at Semipalatinsk (URDF-3). He described a large gantry crane on rails, the construction of large metal spheres (estimated at 60 feet in diameter), and the use of a new "flux-welding" technique to assemble them. These details were later confirmed by satellite photography, making it a highly impressive demonstration of psychic spying. He also successfully remote-viewed a secret [[National Security Agency|NSA]] facility in Sugar Grove, West Virginia, a U.S. Navy communications base with subterranean facilities. His detailed descriptions of the site, including its underground areas and the presence of NSA cryptographers, were so accurate that they sparked a hostile security investigation, as the information was highly classified.[^1] + +Price also demonstrated precognitive abilities. In one instance, he accurately described the Redwood City Marina and the boats there five minutes *before* Puthoff and Cox arrived at the location, suggesting he had perceived the future. In another case, he described a water-treatment plant with two large elevated water tanks at Rinconada Park in Palo Alto, which was later confirmed to have existed at that site in 1913, twenty-one and a half years before his viewing, indicating a perception across time. He also accurately predicted the ceasefire date of the Yom Kippur War and seemed to detect President Nixon's Oval Office tape recorder, which he described as a device that would make Nixon suffer.[^1] + +Price was a cheerful and emotionally resilient man who charmed almost everyone he met. He had a friendly rivalry with [[Ingo Swann]], the other star psychic at SRI. He was involved in the [[Patty Hearst]] kidnapping case in 1974, where he accurately perceived that the kidnapping was a political, terroristic act rather than for money, and identified three members of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) from mug shots, including William Wolfe, whose nickname was "Willie the Wolf." He also accurately described Wolfe's unusual dental surgery without anesthesia. Despite his efforts, he was unable to pinpoint Hearst's exact location, though he could vividly see her locked in a closet. He continued to work on the case, even after Hearst publicly aligned with the SLA, until the SLA members were cornered and killed in Los Angeles.[^1] + +In the autumn of 1974, Price left SRI to work for a coal company in Huntington, West Virginia, with the intention of using his psychic abilities to find rich veins of coal. He also began to work directly for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], becoming involved in operations such as attempting to confirm the location of a Chinese Embassy communications office in a foreign capital. He successfully passed three tests for the CIA, demonstrating his ability to accurately describe embassy layouts and even a mural on a ceiling, though his ability to perceive across time sometimes led him to describe past states of a location. Despite his accuracy, the "giggle factor" prevented the CIA from fully relying on his psychic insights for high-stakes operations.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Patrick J. Parker.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Patrick J. Parker.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5ee84839 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Patrick J. Parker.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Patrick J. Parker served as the deputy assistant secretary of defense for intelligence. He recalled a consensus among senior intelligence officials in the [[Pentagon]] that the Soviets were "understandably frightened of the situation and eager to contain it" during the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], specifically regarding the alleged Soviet warhead shipment to [[Egypt]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Paul Kurtz.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Paul Kurtz.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f16d44cb --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Paul Kurtz.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Paul Kurtz +tags: + - Person + - Philosopher + - Skeptic +--- +Paul Kurtz (1925–2012) was an American philosopher and a prominent figure in the skeptical movement. He was a co-founder of the [[Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal]] (CSICOP), along with [[Carl Sagan]], [[Martin Gardner]], [[Ray Hyman]], and [[James Randi]][^1]. + +CSICOP was established to promote scientific inquiry and combat pseudoscience, superstition, and irrational beliefs. Kurtz, through his work with CSICOP, advocated for critical thinking and the application of the scientific method to claims of the paranormal[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Paul Paige.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Paul Paige.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3ab22cce --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Paul Paige.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Paul Paige]] was the Sheriff of Mariposa County. He was involved in the initial investigation of [[Ron Van Meter]]'s alleged drowning on Lake McClure. Paige refused outside help in the search for Van Meter, including additional divers from adjacent counties and a mini-submarine offered by [[Dave Beavers]]' associate.[^1] + +Paige confronted [[Ron Van Meter]] after Van Meter reported drug dealing and corruption within the Mariposa Sheriff's Department to the [[California Attorney General's Office|Attorney General's office]] in Sacramento. Paige had received a call from the Attorney General informing him of Van Meter's visit and its contents, and was reportedly "livid" about Van Meter's actions.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Pavel Naumov.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Pavel Naumov.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..47c77aed --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Pavel Naumov.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Pavel Naumov +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Military + - Soviet Union +--- +# Pavel Naumov + +Pavel Naumov was a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] military scientist who reportedly conducted a notable [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] experiment around 1956. This experiment involved a mother rabbit, her newborn litter, a submerged Soviet submarine, and a research station on shore[^1]. + +In this experiment, the baby rabbits were placed aboard the submarine, and electrodes were implanted in the mother rabbit's brain at the shore-based laboratory. When the baby rabbits were killed one by one, the mother rabbit's brain produced detectable and recordable reactions. The results of this experiment, if believed, suggested that [[Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Waves|ELF]] might be an ESP information carrier channel[^1]. + +This experiment was known to [[Stephan Schwartz]], a former U.S. naval officer, and contributed to the U.S. military's interest in exploring the relationship between ELF and ESP for potential communication in a post-nuclear strike environment[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Pavel Stepanek.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Pavel Stepanek.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4408d169 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Pavel Stepanek.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Pavel Stepanek +tags: + - person + - psychic + - Czechoslovakia +description: Pavel Stepanek was a Czech psychic known for his participation in experiments demonstrating the transmission of psi data with error-correcting protocols. +--- + +[[Pavel Stepanek]] was a Czech psychic who participated in experiments conducted by researcher Milan Ryzl in the mid-1960s. These experiments aimed to demonstrate the transmission of [[Parapsychology|psi]] data using error-correcting protocols, similar to those used in telecommunications. In one notable experiment, Stepanek repeatedly guessed bits in a randomly generated 50-bit sequence of ones and zeros. After several days and twenty thousand guesses, Ryzl, using a majority-vote error-correcting protocol, successfully reconstructed the entire 50-bit sequence.[^1] + +While the effective bit rate for this experiment was very low (about one word per day), it was considered an impressive proof-of-concept, suggesting that the claims made in [[The Nautilus (Telepathy Project)|the Nautilus story]] might not have been entirely farfetched. Stepanek's work contributed to the broader body of psi research being conducted in Czechoslovakia and the [[Soviet Union|Soviet Union]] during the Cold War.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Pazit Ravina.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Pazit Ravina.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fa59fbcf --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Pazit Ravina.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - Israel +--- +[[Pazit Ravina]] is an [[Israel|Israeli]] journalist who wrote a two-part piece titled "Who Are You, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]]?" in the [[Israel|Israeli]] daily *Davar* in January and February 1992. In her article, she confirmed that individuals who worked with [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] stated he had access to highly sensitive intelligence information, countering media assaults that sought to discredit him.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Peter D. Stockton.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Peter D. Stockton.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ab539481 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Peter D. Stockton.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Investigator + - USA +--- +Peter D. Stockton was a chief investigator for congressional subcommittees. He, along with [[Henry R. Myers]], spent nearly fifteen years relaying the suspicions of [[Carl E. Duckett]] and [[John L. Hadden]] to journalists as the views of knowledgeable intelligence sources, leading many reporters to publish these beliefs as "facts." Stockton had continuing doubts about the credibility of Hadden, noting that Hadden told different versions of events to subcommittee investigators and officials of the Government Accounting Office.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 18. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Peter R. Phillips.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Peter R. Phillips.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d043836e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Peter R. Phillips.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Peter R. Phillips +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Researcher +--- +Peter R. Phillips was the director of the [[McDonnell Laboratory for Psychical Research]] at Washington University. His laboratory became the target of a hoax orchestrated by magician [[James Randi]] in 1983[^1]. + +Randi sent two young magicians, [[Steven Shaw]] and [[Michael Edwards]], to Phillips's lab, where they pretended to possess [[Psychokinesis|psychokinetic]] abilities and simulated feats like spoon bending using sleight of hand. Randi sent twenty-two letters to Phillips, warning him that spoon bending could easily be faked by skilled magicians and offering methods to catch those who were cheating, but Phillips never took him up on his offer[^1]. + +Phillips dismissed Shaw and Edwards from the lab at one point, but rehired them months later. When Randi exposed the hoax, Phillips stated that he had trusted the research subjects and that "there are ethical issues involved" in lying to scientists[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Peter Squire.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Peter Squire.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4f7a88e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Peter Squire.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Peter Squire +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Scientist +--- +Peter Squire is a program officer in the [[Office of Naval Research]] (ONR)'s Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare and Combating Terrorism department. In 2014, ONR embarked on a four-year, $3.85 million research program to explore the phenomena it calls [[Premonition]] and [[Intuition]], or "Spidey sense," for sailors and Marines[^1]. + +Squire stated, "We have to understand what gives rise to this so-called ‘sixth sense,'" emphasizing that Navy scientists place less emphasis on trying to understand the phenomena theoretically and more on using technology to examine the mysterious process. The [[Pentagon]]'s focus is to maximize the power of the sixth sense for operational use[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Peter W. Rodman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Peter W. Rodman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..55e9b40c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Peter W. Rodman.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Peter W. Rodman was a longtime assistant to [[Henry A. Kissinger]]. He was present during a meeting between Kissinger and [[Simcha Dinitz]], the Israeli ambassador, during the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], where Dinitz emphasized the desperate situation of the Israeli military and the need for more tanks and aircraft. Rodman, who could be trusted with sensitive information, was dismissed from the meeting when Dinitz insisted on speaking with Kissinger alone.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Pinhas Sapir.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Pinhas Sapir.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1b68b52c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Pinhas Sapir.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Israel +--- +Pinhas Sapir was an Israeli politician who, along with [[Levi Eshkol]], dominated the Israeli budget process for more than fifteen years. He was a perennial critic of [[Israel]]'s nuclear program, viewing the Egyptian arms buildup as the most compelling argument against investing money at [[Dimona]]. Sapir saw a nuclear-armed [[Israel]] as financial madness and believed it would only lead to conflicts with the [[United States]] and a lessened flow of American contributions.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 5, 9. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Qian Xuesen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Qian Xuesen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3128b71a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Qian Xuesen.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Qian Xuesen +tags: + - person + - scientist + - China +description: Qian Xuesen was a Chinese rocket scientist who played a key role in the development of China's missile and space programs, and was a vocal advocate for research into Extraordinary Human Body Function. +--- + +Qian Xuesen, also known as H. S. Tsien, was a brilliant Chinese rocket scientist who made significant contributions to the U.S. missile and space programs before being deported to [[China]] during the McCarthy era. He is considered the father of the Chinese rocket program.[^1] + +In his later years, Qian became a vocal advocate for research into [[Extraordinary Human Body Function]] (EHBF), a term used in China to describe a range of paranormal abilities. He believed that the study of [[qigong]] and other traditional Chinese practices could lead to a scientific revolution and provide [[China]] with a strategic advantage. His influence was instrumental in the Chinese government's decision to officially sanction and fund research into these phenomena.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Rajesh Rao.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Rajesh Rao.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..87504f11 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Rajesh Rao.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Rajesh Rao +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Neuroscientist +--- +Rajesh Rao is a computational neuroscientist who collaborated with [[Andrea Stocco]] at the [[Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences]] (I-LABS) at the [[University of Washington]] in [[Seattle]]. Their work focuses on [[Synthetic Telepathy]] and direct brain-to-brain communication[^1]. + +On August 12, 2013, Rao's laboratory, in collaboration with Stocco, demonstrated synthetic telepathy between two human test subjects for the first time in human history[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Raji Samghabadi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Raji Samghabadi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..55e69fac --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Raji Samghabadi.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - Iran + - USA +--- +[[Raji Samghabadi]] was an Iranian-born journalist who worked as a Middle East correspondent for *Time* magazine. He was initially hired as a stringer for *Time* by [[Bruce van Voorst]], who had been a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] officer. Prior to this, in the early 1970s, Samghabadi worked for *Keyhan International*, an English-language daily newspaper in [[Tehran]], and was secretly a member of the pro-Soviet [[Tudeh Party]].[^1] + +After the [[Iranian Revolution]], Samghabadi was arrested by the Mullahs, accused of being a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] spy and a [[Tudeh Party]] member. He was later released and sought political asylum in the [[USA|U.S.]], eventually becoming an [[USA|American]] citizen and a Middle East correspondent for *Time*.[^1] + +In May 1986, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] provided [[Raji Samghabadi|Samghabadi]] with detailed information about the [[Oliver North|North]]-[[Amiram Nir|Nir]] operation, which became known as the [[Iran-Contra Affair]]. Samghabadi considered it a major scoop, but *Time* magazine ultimately refused to print the story, a decision attributed to the editor-in-chief, [[Henry Grunwald]].[^1] + +[[Raji Samghabadi|Samghabadi]] was later a witness for [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] in his trial for arms dealing. Despite suffering from frayed nerves, he testified, confirming that [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] had informed him about the [[Iran-Contra Affair]] prior to its public exposure. He also made a memorable, if excitable, statement during his testimony, highlighting the human cost of the conflict.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ralph Olberg.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ralph Olberg.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1dd5bf20 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ralph Olberg.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +[[Ralph Olberg]] was a prominent American businessman involved in spearheading the procurement of [[United States|U.S.]] weapons and technology for the [[Mujahideen]] in [[Afghanistan]]. He met with [[Ted Gunderson]], [[Tim Osman]], and [[Michael Riconosciuto]] in early 1986 to discuss his role with the worldwide support network for the Mujahideen, the Afghanistan Resistance Movement against the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]].[^1] + +Discussions included the Mujahideen's willingness to field test new and esoteric weapons and return research reports with photos. They also discussed the capture and/or defection of high-ranking Soviet military personnel with sensitive compartmentalized information, and the availability of their briefings, including a Soviet defector who was a communications officer with detailed information on Soviet military C-3I ([[Command Control Intelligence and Communications]]).[^1] + +Olberg's group also discussed the Soviet-directed weapons system referred to as "[[Blue Death]]," with witnesses claiming that corpses did not decay even after six months of exposure. They considered the possibility of [[Michael Riconosciuto]] analyzing one of these units captured by the Afghan rebels to help develop effective countermeasures. Other topics included a military joint venture in [[Turkey]] to produce specialized ammunition and a lobbying effort to legally obtain Stinger II missiles and their variants.[^1] + +It was understood that they were working on a legally sanctioned arms assistance project to the Afghan rebels, with Olberg operating through the Afghan desk at the State Department and Senator Humphrey's office. [[Danny Casolaro]] later confirmed this. Olberg indicated a potential "turf battle problem" with certain factions of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and their group, MSH (Management Science For Health), who argued that Olberg and [[Tim Osman]]'s group did not truly represent the leadership of the Afghan rebel resistance. Olberg and Osman proposed an unprecedented leadership meeting in Washington D.C. to prove their group represented the full leadership of the Mujahideen.[^1] + +When contacted by [[Ted Gunderson]] later, Olberg initially denied the meeting had taken place but then admitted to it and asked Gunderson not to discuss it.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Reza Hashemi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Reza Hashemi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..12feff73 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Reza Hashemi.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - Iran + - USA +--- +[[Reza Hashemi]] was one of the [[Hashemi brothers]], an [[Iran|Iranian]] living in the [[USA|West]]. He was involved in secret arms sales and negotiations concerning the [[USA|American]] hostages in [[Tehran]].[^1] + +[[Reza Hashemi|Hashemi]] was arrested after his brothers, [[Cyrus Hashemi]] and [[Jamshid Hashemi]], were tipped off about their indictment under the [[Arms Export Control Act]] for illegal arms sales to [[Iran]]. He became a hostage himself, which pressured his elder brothers to negotiate with [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs]] to become informants.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Richard G. Stilwell.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Richard G. Stilwell.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0ca58483 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Richard G. Stilwell.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Richard G. Stilwell + - General Richard G. Stilwell +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Government Official +--- +Richard G. Stilwell (1917–1991) was a retired [[U.S. Army]] four-star general who served as the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. He was a distinguished military figure, having participated in the Normandy Invasion in [[World War II]], served as head of the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Thailand during the [[Vietnam War]], and commanded the United Nations Command in Korea[^1]. + +In January 1981, Stilwell took an interest in Lieutenant Colonel [[John B. Alexander]]'s controversial article, "The New Mental Battlefield: Beam Me Up, Spock." After an informal meeting with Alexander, Stilwell arranged for his transfer to the [[Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]] under Major General [[Albert Stubblebine]]. This move formally brought Alexander into the realm of psychic research within the military[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Richard Nixon.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Richard Nixon.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..60cb36c2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Richard Nixon.md @@ -0,0 +1,37 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Richard Nixon +tags: + - person + - president + - government +description: Richard Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. His presidency was marked by significant foreign policy initiatives and the Watergate scandal. +--- +Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the [[United States]], serving from 1969 to 1974. His presidency was marked by significant foreign policy initiatives, including opening relations with [[China]] and pursuing détente with the [[Soviet Union]].[^1] + +### Pre-Presidential Activities + +Prior to his presidency, Nixon cultivated relationships with influential figures. He was often seen at [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]]'s Hotel Del Charro in La Jolla, California, during the 1950s, alongside [[J. Edgar Hoover]] and Senator [[Joseph McCarthy]].[^3] In 1961, after losing the presidential election to [[John F. Kennedy|JFK]], [[Clint Murchison, Sr.]] sold Nixon a lot in Beverly Hills for $35,000, a transaction financed through a [[Jimmy Hoffa|Hoffa]] loan. Nixon subsequently sold this lot two years later for $86,000.[^3] + +As Vice President in 1960, Nixon served as the [[White House]]'s liaison to the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s Cuban operations, a period during which the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] initiated a series of assassination attempts against [[Fidel Castro]].[^3] [[Bebe Rebozo]] was also identified as a close associate of Nixon.[^3] + +### Nuclear Policy and Israel + +During his presidency, [[Israel]] received warmer treatment and support compared to the later [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration.[^2] Nixon and [[Henry A. Kissinger]] approached inauguration day on January 20, 1969, convinced that [[Israel]]'s nuclear ambitions were justified and understandable. Once in office, they endorsed [[Israel]]'s nuclear ambitions. They also shared a contempt for the 1968 [[Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty|Nonproliferation Treaty]]. Nixon, midway in his campaign against [[Hubert H. Humphrey]], urged the Senate to delay ratification of the NPT until after the election, expressing concern about its failure to permit the transfer of "defensive nuclear weapons" to non-nuclear powers.[^2] + +In the secrecy of their offices, Nixon and Kissinger simultaneously issued a presidential order (National Security Decision Memorandum No. 6) undercutting their public statements. This document stated that there should be no efforts by the [[United States]] government to pressure other nations, particularly [[West Germany]], to ratify the NPT. The government's public posture was to reflect optimism that other countries would sign or ratify, while privately disassociating itself from any plan to bring pressure on these countries.[^2] + +This new policy led to the end of the [[Floyd L. Culler, Jr.|Floyd Culler]] inspections of [[Dimona]] in 1969. The Nixon administration made a judgment that would become American policy for the next two decades: [[Israel]] had gone nuclear, and there was nothing the [[United States]] could—or wanted to—do about it.[^2] + +### Unusual Intelligence Incidents + +Nixon's administration also saw the continuation of covert intelligence programs. In the early 1970s, he made a strange complaint to the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], as testified by [[Sidney Gottlieb]], claiming that he and his staff experienced "inappropriate tears and crying" during a visit to a "potentially hostile country." [^1] + +### Later Connections + +Later, [[Alan Michael May]], who had served as a former Northern California field director in Nixon's presidential campaign and as an attorney for Nixon's brothers, was found dead in San Francisco on June 19, 1991. This occurred four days after a newspaper story outlined May's alleged role in a plot by Republican Party officials to bribe Iranian officials to delay the release of U.S. hostages until after [[Ronald Reagan]]'s inauguration.[^3] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. _Remote Viewers_. Dell, 1997. [^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 16. [^3]: Seymour, Cheri. _The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal_. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Richard Secord.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Richard Secord.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ac6dec4d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Richard Secord.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Richard Secord]] was a General and a co-conspirator of [[Oliver North]] in the [[Iran-Contra Affair]]. The [[United States]] Tower Commission probe into Iran-gate revealed that [[Monzer Al-Kassar]], a Syrian kingpin and arms dealer, had been paid $1.2 million by Secord to move weapons from [[Israel]] to the Nicaraguan [[Contras]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Richard St. Francis.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Richard St. Francis.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6dd98f64 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Richard St. Francis.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - USA +--- +[[Richard St. Francis]] was a businessman from [[Connecticut]] who worked for [[TransCapital]], a firm licensed to sell computer hardware used for the [[PROMIS]] program. He was involved in arms deals, particularly concerning the sale of [[C-130]] aircraft to [[Iran]].[^1] + +In April 1989, [[Richard St. Francis|St. Francis]] was involved in a deal to sell three C-130s to [[Iran|Tehran]], working with [[Joseph O'Toole]] and [[Mike Timpani]]. This deal was intended to be a go-between for [[Israel]] and [[Iran]]. He was also the person who brought the mysterious "Lettner" (later identified as [[John Lisica]], an undercover [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs Service]] agent) to [[Kennedy Airport]] to meet [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], as part of a sting operation.[^1] + +[[Richard St. Francis|St. Francis]] was arrested in April 1989 and later indicted for conspiracy to defraud the [[USA|United States]], cover up illegal dealings, and attempt to sell three planes to [[Iran]] in violation of federal laws. He was a co-defendant with [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] in the trial, though his case was later severed.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Richard Stavin.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Richard Stavin.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..837bc805 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Richard Stavin.md @@ -0,0 +1,7 @@ +[[Richard Stavin]] was a member of the Organized Crime Strike Force. He supervised the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretaps on [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]. Along with [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] [[Marvin Rudnick]] and [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent [[Thomas Gates]], Stavin believed that [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] had been penetrated by organized crime, based on the wiretaps.[1] + +Stavin quit his job after the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] sealed the wiretaps and no prosecutions were pursued in the [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] organized crime investigation. The [[Los Angeles Organized Crime Strike Force]] was disbanded following these events.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Robert Booth Nichols.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Robert Booth Nichols.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ed10ebbb --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Robert Booth Nichols.md @@ -0,0 +1,28 @@ +[[Robert Booth Nichols]] is a figure frequently mentioned in connection with [[Danny Casolaro]]'s "[[The Octopus]]" investigation, described as an international intelligence operative with extensive ties to government, organized crime, and illicit activities. He was born in 1943 or 1944.[1] + +### Key Roles and Affiliations + +Nichols held significant positions in several organizations, often described as cutouts for intelligence operations: + +* **[[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] (First Intercontinental Development Corporation):** Nichols served as a Director, Senior Vice President, and Chairman of the Investment Committee. FIDCO was reportedly a [[National Security Council|NSC]] cutout used in Lebanon, notably involved in arranging the release of a prisoner and discussions about a multi-billion dollar financial transaction for the reconstruction of Lebanon. Other board members included [[Michael A. McManus]], [[George K. Pender]], [[Robert Maheu]], [[Clint W. Murchison, Jr.]], [[Kenneth A. Roe]], [[Frances T. Fox]], [[William M. Pender]], and [[Glen R. Shockley]].[1] +* **Meridian International Logistics (MIL):** Nichols was a principal in this holding company, which was under [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] investigation as a "source of funding for the purchasing of narcotics/controlled substances and the allocation and use of the proceeds from its trafficking." MIL was also reportedly an [[National Security Council|NSC]] cutout used for funneling money to pay its board of directors. [[Eugene Giaquinto]], then president of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] home entertainment division, was a board member of MIL.[1] +* **Meridian Arms:** A subsidiary of MIL, where Nichols partnered with [[Michael Riconosciuto]]. They provided technical assistance to [[Wackenhut Corporation]] in the proposed development of esoteric armaments at the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation]].[1] +* **R.B.N. Companies, International:** Nichols was the Chief Executive Officer of this holding company, involved in manufacturing and development of high technology electronics, real estate development, construction, and international finance.[1] + +### Alleged Activities and Controversies + +Nichols' activities spanned a wide range of illicit and covert operations, often intertwined with intelligence agencies and organized crime: + +* **Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering:** He was under investigation by the Los Angeles [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] as a suspected "international launderer of money derived from both narcotics and organized crime activities." His telex number (652483 RBN ASSOCS LSA) was linked to financial transactions in Lebanon. Nichols was associated with the illegal transportation of narcotics through the [[Golden Triangle]] and was described as a "bigtime drug dealer" operating overseas, using a rum importing business as a cover for heroin trafficking. He was also named as "Mr. Big" in the [[Medellin Cartel]] in drug prosecutions. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed Nichols handled gold transfers, money laundering, and "virtual dead drops" for various underworld figures, including [[Gilbert Rodriguez]] and [[Jose Londono]] of the [[Cali Drug Cartel]].[1] +* **Intelligence Operations:** Nichols reportedly worked as a contract operative for the [[National Security Council|NSC]] at the time of [[Danny Casolaro]]'s death. He was considered a valuable asset in U.S. intelligence circles, providing "service for money" to any government agency. He assisted [[Ignacio Paz]] of the Philippine government in removing large sums of money from the Philippines by investing it in Swiss bank accounts. He was also involved in a [[National Security Council|NSC]]-directed drug operation in Lebanon through Euramae Trading Company, where heroin flow was maintained to preserve the credibility of intelligence operations.[1] +* **Organized Crime Connections:** Nichols was linked to [[La Cosa Nostra]], specifically the [[Gambino Crime Family]] and [[Bufalino Crime Family]], and the [[Yakuza]]. [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretaps on [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] recorded his communications with [[Eugene Giaquinto]], who had a close working relationship with the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]]. He was also alleged to be the "godson" of [[Harold Okimoto]], a figure believed to be a top Japanese organized crime figure based in Hawaii.[1] +* **Arms Dealing:** Nichols was involved in proposed arms projects, including the construction of an R&D facility for weapons systems on the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation]]. He was also involved with [[Michael Riconosciuto]] in proposals to FMC Corporation for advanced military technologies. He was described as a weapons technical advisor for Steven Seagal's movie *Under Siege*.[1] +* **Relationship with Danny Casolaro:** Casolaro spent hundreds of hours on the phone with Nichols during his investigation into "[[The Octopus]]." Nichols reportedly warned Casolaro to drop his investigation and even flew to Martinsburg to convince him of the danger. Casolaro confronted Nichols about his connection to [[Michael Abbell]] and the [[Cali Drug Cartel]] shortly before his death. Nichols wrote a manuscript titled "Danny Casolaro's Octopus" after Casolaro's death, suggesting he believed Casolaro was murdered.[1] + +### Investigations and Legal Status + +Despite numerous allegations and investigations, [[Robert Booth Nichols]] reportedly had no arrest record. Investigations into his activities, including [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretaps, were often abruptly shut down by the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] when they approached high-level organized crime and drug connections.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Robert Parry.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Robert Parry.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4db44502 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Robert Parry.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - Author + - USA +--- +[[Robert Parry]] was an [[USA|American]] investigative journalist and author. He is mentioned as having produced two first-rate documentaries for [[Frontline]] that delved into various aspects of the arms-for-hostages deal related to the [[Iran-Contra Affair]].[^1] + +[[Robert Parry|Parry]] also confirmed the authenticity of letters of recommendation for [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] with the signatories, which were later used in [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] trial to counter the [[Israel|Israeli]] government's claims about his employment.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Roberto.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Roberto.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cdffcc55 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Roberto.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Peru +--- +[[Roberto]] was the head of the English department at the [[University of San Cristobal]] in [[Ayacucho]], [[Peru]]. He was also a member of the national leadership of [[Shining Path]] (El Sendero Luminoso).[^1] + +[[Roberto]] invited [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] to his home, where he explained the [[Shining Path|movement's]] ideas for [[Peru]] after they took over, including a free market based on a kibbutz-like commune and Inca culture. He also confessed that [[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso]], the movement's founder, was alive, despite rumors of his death.[^1] + +[[Roberto]] facilitated [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] meeting with [[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso|Guzmán]] and acted as a liaison for the purchase of rare minerals for [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear program. He also requested hair lotion from [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] as a personal favor. [[Roberto]] was aware of the military's surveillance and the dangers involved in [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] activities.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Rodolfo Stange.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Rodolfo Stange.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..72455297 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Rodolfo Stange.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Politics + - Chile +--- +[[Rodolfo Stange]] was a General and chief of the Chilean Carabineros (paramilitary police). He was a significant figure in the Chilean government during the period of [[Augusto Pinochet|Pinochet's]] rule and was involved in the country's arms trade and intelligence operations.[^1] + +[[Rodolfo Stange|Stange]] was present at a meeting in [[Santiago]], [[Chile]], in late 1986, with [[Carlos Cardoen]], [[Robert Gates]], Senator [[John Tower]], and [[Pieter Van Der Westhuizen|Gen. Pieter Van Der Westhuizen]] (South African Military Intelligence). At this meeting, [[USA|U.S.]] officials reaffirmed their intention to maintain arms channels to [[Iraq]] through [[South Africa]] and [[Chile]].[^1] + +In September 1988, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] met with [[Rodolfo Stange|Stange]] in [[Chile]] to discuss [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen's]] chemical trade with [[Iraq]]. [[Rodolfo Stange|Stange]] initially expressed concern about the trade but also indicated his loyalty to [[Augusto Pinochet|Pinochet]] and his own political ambitions. He was aware of the [[USA|U.S.]] backing for [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen's]] activities. [[Rodolfo Stange|Stange]] invited [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] to dinner, where [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen]] and [[Mark Thatcher]] were also present, a meeting that appeared to be staged to demonstrate Cardoen's connections.[^1] + +[[Rodolfo Stange|Stange]] was a key figure in the Chilean government's response to [[Israel|Israeli]] pressure to halt arms sales to [[Iraq]]. He was also involved in the plot to overthrow [[Alfredo Stroessner|President Stroessner]] in [[Paraguay]], aligning with [[Andres Rodriguez|Gen. Andres Rodriguez]] and the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. He had presidential aspirations in [[Chile]] following [[Augusto Pinochet|Pinochet's]] defeat in the plebiscite.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Romeo.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Romeo.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..07b8723c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Romeo.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - LawEnforcement + - USA +--- +[[Romeo]] was a [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs Service]] agent. He was the partner of [[Joe King]] and was involved in the [[Hashemi sting]] operation, which was designed to entrap individuals connected with [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence arms sales to [[Iran]].[^1] + +[[Romeo]] and [[Joe King|King]] contacted [[Cyrus Hashemi]] and contrived an illegal frame-up. [[Romeo]] also videotaped some of the people [[Cyrus Hashemi|Hashemi]] met and secretly recorded.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ron Robertson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ron Robertson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8e471ffa --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ron Robertson.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Ron Robertson +tags: + - Person + - Security Officer + - AEC +--- +Ron Robertson was a security officer for the [[Atomic Energy Commission]] (AEC). He was assigned to oversee national security issues between the AEC, [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory|Livermore]], and the [[CIA]] during [[Uri Geller]]'s classified [[Psychokinesis|psychokinesis]] tests in the winter of 1975[^1]. + +These tests, conducted at a laboratory adjacent to Livermore in an old wooden [[World War II]] barracks, involved firing high-quality lasers at a target and placing magnetic computer program cards in a lead container to see if Geller could interfere with them. Robertson's role was to ensure security protocols were maintained, especially given Geller's status as a foreign national and unresolved potential role with the [[Mossad]][^1]. + +After the second day of tests, Robertson called [[Kit Green]] at [[CIA]] headquarters, reporting that several nuclear weapons engineers had seen inexplicable phenomena, including "items flying across the room. Lights flashing. A six-inch ball of light, rolling down the hallway. One scientist reported seeing a flying orb." These incidents, which Green privately thought sounded like "poltergeist events," caused concern at both the AEC and the [[CIA]], leading Green to investigate whether the scientists were experiencing hallucinations[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ronald Reagan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ronald Reagan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dfec3276 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ronald Reagan.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - President + - Government +--- +Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the [[United States]], serving from 1981 to 1989. His administration's first [[Middle East]] crisis involved the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] in June 1981. Upon being informed of the bombing by his national security adviser, [[Richard V. Allen]], Reagan privately expressed delight, remarking, "Well. Boys will be boys."[^1] + +Despite public condemnation from the [[State Department]] and proposals from some of his high command, including [[Caspar Weinberger]], to sanction [[Israel]] by canceling F-16 aircraft sales, Reagan had no intention of taking such steps. The suspension of F-16 deliveries was lifted two months later.[^1] + +In September 1981, [[Menachem Begin 1]] and [[Ariel Sharon]] visited [[Washington D.C.]] to lobby Reagan's administration for a U.S.-Israeli strategic cooperation against the [[Soviet Union]].[^1] + +--- + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Rosemary Smith.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Rosemary Smith.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..be105293 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Rosemary Smith.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Rosemary Smith +tags: + - person + - remoteviewer +description: Rosemary Smith was a remote viewer associated with the Stargate Project, known for allegedly locating a lost Soviet spy plane. +--- + +[[Rosemary Smith]] was a [[Remote Viewing|remote viewer]] associated with the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]]. In 1976, she allegedly located a lost [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] spy plane, an event that is noted in the project's timeline. While details of this specific success are not extensively elaborated in the *Remote Viewers* narrative, her inclusion in the timeline suggests her significance within the program's history.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Rosie Nimrodi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Rosie Nimrodi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f954f6ef --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Rosie Nimrodi.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - Israel + - USA +--- +[[Rosie Nimrodi]] was an Iraqi Jew working in [[New York]] for the Council on Economic Priorities, a think tank. She was a distant relative of [[Yaacov Nimrodi]].[^1] + +[[Rosie Nimrodi|Nimrodi]] had an affair with [[Raji Samghabadi]], a *Time* magazine correspondent, and introduced him to [[Ari Ben-Menashe]]. She typed notes of the [[Oliver North|North]] story from [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] and gave them to other journalists, including [[Stephen Engelberg]] of *The New York Times*.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ruth Sinai.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ruth Sinai.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..40b2c42f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ruth Sinai.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Ruth Sinai +tags: + - Person + - Journalist +--- +Ruth Sinai was a Washington correspondent for the Associated Press. In November 1991, she broke the story about [[PSI Tech]], a private firm run by retired military intelligence officers, being enlisted by the [[United Nations]] to find [[Saddam Hussein]]'s weapon sites. Her article, titled "U.N. Enlists Psychic Firm to Find Iraqi’s Weapon Sites," marked the beginning of the end for the U.S. government's twenty-three-year history in [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis|PK]] research[^1]. + +Sinai's report focused on the work of [[Karen Jansen]], a UN inspector and Army major, who allegedly carried sketches of Iraqi biological weapons sites provided by PSI Tech president [[Ed Dames]]. Dames told Sinai that he and his associates drew the sketches through [[Remote Viewing]], which he described as a learned technique that doesn't require psychic powers but rather suppressing imagination and concentrating on a target[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sal Pisello.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sal Pisello.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c0e8660d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sal Pisello.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Sal Pisello]] was an alleged [[Gambino Crime Family|Gambino]] mobster. He was investigated by [[Marvin Rudnick]] for tax evasion and his relationship with [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]. Pisello was convicted of tax evasion in March 1985. Rudnick's investigation into Pisello's income from [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] launched another investigation at the urging of the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]].[^1] + +[[William Knoedelseder, Jr.]], a business reporter for the *Los Angeles Times*, broke a story on May 10, 1985, revealing that Pisello's involvement with [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] was more extensive than Rudnick had realized. Knoedelseder obtained a report prepared by internal corporate auditors of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] detailing payments to Pisello. These press revelations rekindled government interest in Pisello's involvement with [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]].[^1] + +When a grand jury indicted Pisello on a second round of tax charges on July 9, 1987, Rudnick "opened fire on [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]." His press release announcing the indictment documented [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]'s payments to Pisello's company, Consultants for World Records, which Rudnick stated was "shared" with [[New York]] organized crime figures. By the Fall of 1987, [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] hired [[William Hundley]] to plead its case to top [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] officials.[^1] + +[[Irving Azoff]] and Pisello were discussed in phone conversations captured by [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretaps. [[Eugene Giaquinto]] said he was considering sending the [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] board of directors an incriminating letter prepared in 1985 on behalf of Pisello, sent to Azoff, which would conflict with Azoff's testimony at the trial.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sami Masri.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sami Masri.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8154c124 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sami Masri.md @@ -0,0 +1,34 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "BCCI Operative", "Intelligence"] +--- +Sami Masri was a [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] operative.[^1] He was a Palestinian with a [[Jordan|Jordanian]] passport, raised in [[Abu Dhabi]], and had connections to [[Sheikh Zayed]]'s Private Department.[^2] + +### Role in BCCI's Black Network + +Masri was recruited into BCCI's "[[Black Network]]" in 1984 while in college in [[Pittsburgh]].[^3] This network was a clandestine division of BCCI that functioned as a global intelligence operation and a mafia-like enforcement squad.[^4] Masri described the network's involvement in drug shipments, smuggled gold, stolen military secrets, assassinations, bribery, extortion, covert intelligence operations, and weapons deals.[^5] + +He claimed the Black Network did a lot of intelligence operations with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], including picking up and assassinating people for the agency.[^6] Masri stated that the organization was bankrolled by BCCI and aimed for complete domination of key countries.[^7] He also revealed that the Black Network was involved in financing both sides in [[Nicaragua]], handling money from [[Saudi Arabia]] for the [[Contras]] and from [[Kuwait]] for the [[Sandinistas]].[^8] + +Masri was a source for [[Jonathan Beaty]] and [[S. C. Gwynne]] during their investigation into BCCI. He provided detailed information about the bank's criminal activities and its connections to intelligence agencies, though he was often evasive and exaggerated his own importance.[^9] He was secretly tape-recorded by federal law enforcement figures as he described BCCI's criminal activities.[^10] + +### Legal Issues and Personal Life + +Masri was arrested by American Customs agents in Tampa, Florida, as part of a sting operation targeting money laundering.[^11] He was later indicted on charges of tax evasion stemming from a coffee-smuggling scheme financed by BCCI.[^12] + +His personal life was tumultuous; he was disinherited by his family after marrying an Australian airline stewardess named Pamela. He later sought to divorce Pamela, claiming she knew too much about his work with the Black Network.[^13] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 10. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 94. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 103. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 147. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 90. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 108. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 105. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 105. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 122. +[^10]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 29. +[^11]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 13. +[^12]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 14. +[^13]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 94. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sandra Spooner.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sandra Spooner.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2ba16e00 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sandra Spooner.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Sandra Spooner was the Deputy Director of the Commercial Litigation Branch, Civil Division, within the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. She became a figure in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] due to allegations concerning missing documents related to the [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] case. + +During its investigation, the House Committee on the Judiciary learned from the DOJ that certain requested documents compiled by Sandra Spooner were missing. The Committee noted that, based on the DOJ's numbering system, numerous additional documents appeared to be missing, raising questions about whether they might have been destroyed, especially given the allegations of criminal conspiracy against high-level DOJ officials. The Committee also noted that the question of unauthorized document destruction arose in the context of a former DOJ employee who alleged that Department employees illegally destroyed Inslaw-related documents by shredding them.[^1] + +The Special Counsel's investigation, however, found no evidence that anyone intentionally destroyed any documents requested by Congress. The circumstances surrounding the missing file and its reconstruction persuaded the Special Counsel that it was lost and not destroyed. Spooner herself discovered and reported the missing file, which was a binder of privileged documents she had compiled from her trial materials. She directed her secretary to locate it, and when it could not be found, she sent an office-wide notice. She also advised the Committee investigators that a file was missing and provided them with other privileged documents. The Special Counsel found Spooner to be extremely credible and genuinely concerned about the loss of the file, believing it was misplaced rather than stolen. The report concluded that the suspicion of intentional destruction was far-fetched and found no evidence to implicate anyone else.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sanford McDonnell.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sanford McDonnell.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a931bdef --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sanford McDonnell.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Sanford N. McDonnell]] (October 12, 1922 – March 19, 2012) was an American engineer, businessman, and philanthropist. He was a member of [[Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International|FGBMFI]] and was associated with [[McDonnell Douglas Corporation]].[^1] + +Born in Little Rock, Arkansas,[^2] McDonnell attended [[Princeton University]], the [[University of Colorado Boulder]], and [[Washington University in St. Louis]], earning bachelor's degrees in economics (1945) and mechanical engineering (1948), and a master's degree in applied mechanics (1954).[^3] + +In 1948, McDonnell joined [[McDonnell Aircraft Corporation]], a company founded by his uncle, [[James S. McDonnell]], as a stress engineer. He participated in the development of the F-101 Voodoo and the F-4 Phantom II jet fighters. In 1962, he was named vice president-general manager of all combat aircraft. He became the president of the company, by then [[McDonnell Douglas Corporation]], in 1971, and chief executive officer the following year. Upon the death of [[James S. McDonnell]] in 1980, Sanford McDonnell succeeded him as chairman of the board, a role he retained until 1988. He also served as chairman of the board of governors of the [[Aerospace Industries Association]].[^3] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. +[^2]: *World Who's who in Commerce and Industry*. 1968. +[^3]: "[History of Sanford McDonnell](https://web.archive.org/web/20101120111514/http://boeing.com/history/mdc/snm.htm)" *Boeing.com*. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sarah McClendon.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sarah McClendon.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4b73d1c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sarah McClendon.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +[[Sarah McClendon]] was a [[White House]] correspondent and a close friend of [[Paul Wilcher]]. She wrote in her *Washington Report* on July 4, 1993, an article entitled "Death of a Friend," expressing her belief that Wilcher was a "casualty of good citizenship and patriotism."[^1] + +McClendon had alerted authorities that Wilcher was missing. She was present at the scene after Wilcher's death but was unable to identify his body after viewing the remains. She was told that preliminary autopsy results found "no natural cause of death, and no other cause of death" to explain Wilcher's demise, despite him being in apparent good health.[^1] + +McClendon called local police for 24 hours, imploring them to check on Wilcher. She attempted to get possession of the papers and tapes he left behind, but his family took them away. She believed Wilcher was a political prisoner, persecuted because he allegedly flew former President [[George Bush]] to [[Paris]] to meet with Iranians to make a deal to supply [[Iran]] with weapons in exchange for keeping American hostages until after the November election, ensuring [[Ronald Reagan]]'s victory.[^1] + +McClendon was also present when [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agents arrived at Wilcher's apartment. She checked their identification, which seemed convincing. She later phoned the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] to ask about the presence of [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agents, and [[James V. Desarno, Jr.]], Assistant Special Agent in Charge from the D.C. Metropolitan Office, arrived. Desarno strongly denied that the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] was interested in or involved in the case, despite the presence of multiple agents.[^1] + +McClendon petitioned [[Dr. Joye Carter]] of the D.C. Medical Examiner's office to submit forensic evidence from Wilcher's body fluids for further study, as the inconclusive autopsy results raised concerns. She also expressed her desire to submit the evidence to [[Dr. Mason]], a top forensic toxicologist.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sarcis Sargalian.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sarcis Sargalian.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3d048c27 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sarcis Sargalian.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - ArmsDealer + - USA +--- +[[Sarcis Sargalian]] was an [[USA|American]] arms dealer of Lebanese-Armenian extraction. He was involved in projects supplying [[Iraq]] with military equipment, working with [[Ihsan Barbouti]] and [[Richard Babayan]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sasson Yishaek.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sasson Yishaek.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4994df2e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sasson Yishaek.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +Lieutenant Colonel [[Sasson Yishaek]], also known as Lt. Col. Sasson, was a key figure in [[Israel|Israeli]] Military Intelligence. He was the number-two person in the code-breaking department of [[Unit 8200]] and later became its commander, replacing [[Reuben Yirador|Col. Yirador]].[^1] + +[[Sasson Yishaek|Lt. Col. Sasson]] recruited [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] into Military Intelligence in 1973, offering him a special position in connection with his military service. He was involved in the incident where [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] broke the [[Iran|Iranian]] diplomatic code. He also court-martialed [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] for insubordination when [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] refused an assignment to the [[Rome]] listening station, a decision that was later overruled by the Director of Military Intelligence.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 19th, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Scott Lawrence.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Scott Lawrence.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7f549401 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Scott Lawrence.md @@ -0,0 +1,9 @@ +[[Scott Lawrence]] is a [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs]] internal affairs investigator from Boston. He became involved in the investigation of the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]], initially focusing on [[Peter Videnieks]], a [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs]] contract specialist detailed to the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] in the early 1980s for the development of the [[PROMIS]] software.[1] + +Lawrence's investigation quickly expanded beyond the software to follow a drug trail. His deep-cover drug investigation was code-named [[THE INDO-CHINA PROJECT]], operating on the Maine/Canadian border. However, his probe was abruptly shut down after he and his supervisor, [[John (Tim) Kelly]], requested to impanel grand juries in several states to depose officials from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. The [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] declined this request, and [[Peter Videnieks]] was never charged with any wrongdoing.[1] + +Despite the obstruction, Lawrence is noted as one of only two investigators who remained in law enforcement after directly or peripherally investigating the alleged theft of the [[PROMIS]] software and its connections to high-level organized crime, drugs, and money laundering.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sheikh Mussa Sadr.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sheikh Mussa Sadr.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a7671b1a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sheikh Mussa Sadr.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - ReligiousLeader + - Lebanon +--- +[[Sheikh Mussa Sadr]] was a Shi'ite leader from southern [[Lebanon]]. He disappeared on a visit to [[Libya]] in 1978. The [[Libya|Libyans]] were believed to have killed him for preaching Shi'ite [[Islam]] rather than their own brand of the religion.[^1] + +His disappearance became a point of contention during [[Abdul Salam Jalloud|Maj. Abdul Salam Jalloud's]] visit to [[Iran]] after the [[Iranian Revolution]], with [[Iran|Iranian]] hosts demanding an explanation from [[Muammar Qaddafi|Col. Qaddafi's]] right-hand man.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sheila Ostrander.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sheila Ostrander.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..92876f47 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Sheila Ostrander.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Sheila Ostrander +tags: + - person + - author + - parapsychology +description: Sheila Ostrander is an American author known for co-authoring "Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain," a book that popularized Soviet and Eastern European psi research in the West. +--- + +[[Sheila Ostrander]] is an American author who, along with [[Lynn Schroeder]], co-authored the 1970 book *Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain*. This book played a significant role in popularizing Soviet and Eastern European [[Parapsychology|psi]] research in the West. The book portrayed a "veritable frenzy of psychic research" going on in the [[Soviet Union|USSR]], with investigators uncovering powerful natural clairvoyants, psychokinetic prodigies, and dowsers whose talents could potentially be employed against the West.[^1] + +Ostrander and Schroeder's work, which included accounts from figures like [[Eduard Naumov]], contributed to the growing awareness and concern within the U.S. intelligence community about a potential "psi gap" with the Soviet Union, ultimately influencing the decision to fund and initiate programs like the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shimon Lavee.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shimon Lavee.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9030ad7a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shimon Lavee.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Israel +--- +Lieutenant Colonel [[Shimon Lavee]] was the branch head of the Special Assistance Branch (SIM) of the External Relations Department of the [[Israel Defense Forces]]/Military Intelligence. He was responsible for preparing the [[Israel|Israeli]] version of the [[SIMWA]] (SADF-IDF Mutual Wartime Agreement) between [[Israel]] and [[South Africa]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shimon Peres.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shimon Peres.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fc62a49e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shimon Peres.md @@ -0,0 +1,46 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Israel +--- +[[Shimon Peres]] was a prominent [[Israel|Israeli]] politician who served as Defense Minister and later as Prime Minister. He was a key figure in [[Israel|Israel's]] political and military landscape for decades, playing particularly significant roles in the country's nuclear program and various covert operations.[^1] + +### Early Career and Nuclear Program Leadership + +Peres's rise to influence began in late 1953, when [[David Ben-Gurion]] appointed the then thirty-year-old [[Shimon Peres]] as director general of the ministry of defense. In this pivotal role, Peres, alongside [[Ernst David Bergmann]], became instrumental in driving [[Israel]]'s nuclear weapons program, which was publicly presented as research for peaceful purposes. Recognizing the financial challenges of such an ambitious undertaking, Peres, Ben-Gurion, and Bergmann sought private financing from wealthy American and European Jews to fund this secret endeavor.[^2] + +As the architect of [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear ambitions, [[Shimon Peres|Peres]] was effectively the father of [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear program in the mid-1950s. Working under [[David Ben-Gurion]], he believed that [[Israel]] needed nuclear weapons as a deterrent against [[Arab countries]]. Understanding the technical requirements, Peres knew that no plutonium weapon could be made without a reprocessing plant, and that its construction was impossible without French commitment.[^2] + +Peres also insisted on the creation of a new intelligence agency, initially known as the Office of Special Tasks, to provide security for the burgeoning nuclear operation at [[Dimona]]. This office, handpicked by Peres and led by [[Binyamin Blumberg]], was bureaucratically placed inside the defense ministry and would later become known as LAKAM.[^3] + +### International Nuclear Partnerships + +Peres's diplomatic efforts proved crucial in securing international support for [[Israel]]'s nuclear program. He traveled to [[France]] to secure assistance for [[Israel]]'s nuclear ambitions, and in 1956, he flew to [[France]] to secure a weapons-grade nuclear reactor and technology for a nuclear bomb from [[Charles de Gaulle|President Charles de Gaulle]]. Beyond the French connection, Peres also arranged for the sale of high-performance French bombers to [[Israel]] in 1955, bypassing diplomatic niceties.[^2] + +Expanding [[Israel]]'s nuclear partnerships further, Peres initiated military cooperation with [[South Africa]] in 1959. This arrangement involved [[South Africa]] selling uranium to [[Israel]] and later financing parts of [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear program, creating a mutually beneficial relationship that would support [[Israel]]'s nuclear development for years to come.[^1] + +### Controversies and Covert Operations + +Peres's career was not without scandal. In 1976, a telegram intercepted by [[Unit 8200]] revealed details of bribes paid by a [[Lockheed Aircraft Company|Lockheed]] representative in [[Israel]] to Defense Minister [[Shimon Peres|Peres]]. The sum involved was $3.5 million, deposited in one of [[Shimon Peres|Peres's]] brother's business accounts in [[Europe]]. This damaging information, discovered by [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], was subsequently covered up by [[Israel|Israeli]] military intelligence superiors.[^1] + +The 1980s brought new controversies involving arms sales to [[Iran]]. In 1980, [[William Casey]] invited [[Shimon Peres|Peres]], then [[Labor Party]] leader, to participate in secret meetings concerning arms sales to [[Iran]]. [[Shimon Peres|Peres]] secretly met with [[Mehdi Karrubi]] in [[Madrid]], actions that drew sharp criticism when they came to light. When [[Menachem Begin 1]] learned of this unauthorized diplomacy, he warned [[Shimon Peres|Peres]] that such actions without government knowledge would be considered treason.[^1] + +### Prime Ministerial Tenure and Arms Trading + +In 1984, [[Shimon Peres|Peres]] became Prime Minister as part of a bizarre coalition agreement with [[Yitzhak Shamir]] of the [[Likud Party]], where they would share the roles of prime minister and foreign minister. During his tenure as prime minister (1984-1986), [[Shimon Peres|Peres]] appointed [[Amiram Nir]] as his counterterrorism adviser, a decision that would have significant implications for [[Israel]]'s covert operations.[^1] + +During this period, Peres sought to expand [[Israel]]'s involvement in international arms trading. He worked to open a competing arms channel to [[Iran]] to gain control over the profitable arms sales and to undermine the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee|existing intelligence-community channel]]. This involvement extended to the broader [[USA|U.S.]] policy of arming both [[Iran]] and [[Iraq]], with [[Shimon Peres|Peres]] encouraging [[Bruce Rappaport]] to buy military equipment from [[Israel]] and divert it to [[Iraq]].[^1] + +Despite his involvement in these controversial arms dealings, Peres also supported diplomatic initiatives, including the idea of a peace conference with the [[Palestinians]]. However, this proposal was blocked by [[Yitzhak Shamir]] and the [[Likud Party]], reflecting the ongoing political tensions within [[Israel]]'s coalition government.[^1] + +### Later Political Developments + +The legacy of Peres's covert operations continued to create complications even after his prime ministerial tenure. [[Amiram Nir|Nir's]] death in 1988 was believed by [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence to be a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operation to prevent his testimony from embarrassing [[Shimon Peres|Peres]], [[Ronald Reagan]], or [[George Bush]], highlighting the international ramifications of the arms trading networks Peres had helped establish.[^1] + +Peres's long political career eventually faced a significant setback in 1992, when he was ousted as leader of the [[Labor Party]] by [[Yitzhak Rabin]], who then replaced [[Yitzhak Shamir]] as prime minister after the national elections, marking the end of an era in [[Israel|Israeli]] politics.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. _Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network_. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shimshon Shtrang.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shimshon Shtrang.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..75f6c7d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shimshon Shtrang.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Shimshon Shtrang + - Shipi Shtrang + - Shipi +tags: + - Person + - Assistant + - Friend +--- +# Shimshon "Shipi" Shtrang + +Shimshon "Shipi" Shtrang is best known as the long-time friend and assistant of the [[Israel|Israeli]] psychic [[Uri Geller]]. Their association began when Shtrang was a thirteen-year-old boy at a government-run summer camp, where Geller, recovering from [[Six-Day War]] injuries, performed [[Telepathy|telepathy]] demonstrations[^1]. + +Shtrang was mesmerized by Geller's abilities and asked if he had any other tricks. Geller insisted they were real and showed Shipi how he could bend a metal spoon by concentrating and saying, "Bend, bend, bend." This early exposure led to Geller's first paid appearance at Shipi's middle school, marking the beginning of Geller's public career[^1]. + +As Geller's career progressed, Shtrang became his assistant, often participating in his demonstrations. During Geller's testing at [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) by the [[CIA]], Shtrang was part of Geller's entourage. However, when the magician [[James Randi]] speculated that Shtrang helped Geller cheat, the [[CIA]] denied Shtrang access to Geller during the experiments to ensure stricter controls[^1]. + +Shtrang continues to live on the compound of Geller's home in Sonning-on-Thames, England, and later in Jaffa, Israel, along with Geller's wife, Hanna (who is Shipi's sister). He has been Geller's friend and assistant for forty-eight years[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shippi Strang.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shippi Strang.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..88bf75b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shippi Strang.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Shippi Strang +tags: + - person + - manager +description: Shippi Strang was a friend and early manager of Uri Geller, encouraging him to pursue a public career as a psychic entertainer. +--- + +[[Shippi Strang]] was a friend and early manager of [[Uri Geller]]. He encouraged Geller to put on his first public performance of mind reading and metal-bending in a Tel Aviv school hall in 1969. Strang's encouragement was instrumental in Geller's decision to pursue a public career as a psychic entertainer, which eventually led to his international fame.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shira.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shira.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0fb80172 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shira.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Family + - Israel +--- +[[Shira]] is the daughter of [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] and [[Ora Ben-Shalom]]. She was born on July 22, 1988.[^1] + +[[Shira|Shira]] was with her mother, [[Ora Ben-Shalom|Ora]], when [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] was arrested in [[Los Angeles]] in October 1989. [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] has not seen [[Shira|Shira]] since October 1989.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shirley Boone.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shirley Boone.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..067b2ee2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shirley Boone.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Shirley Boone]] was a member of FGBMFI ([[Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International]]). In 1970, she, along with [[Pat Boone]], [[Harold Bredesen]], and [[George Otis]], prayed with then-California Governor [[Ronald Reagan]] at his home in Sacramento.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shlomo Gazit.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shlomo Gazit.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..82b15d03 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Shlomo Gazit.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +Major General [[Shlomo Gazit]] was the Director of [[Israeli Military Intelligence]]. He commended [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] and other members of the [[Unit 8200]] Iranian desk after they successfully broke the [[Iran|Iranian]] diplomatic code.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Simon Gabbay.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Simon Gabbay.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..af169d67 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Simon Gabbay.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Intelligence + - Israel + - France +--- +[[Simon Gabbay]] was a cousin of [[Ari Ben-Menashe]]'s father and the head of a Jewish organization in [[Paris]], [[France]]. He served as an [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence asset for many years.[^1] + +[[Simon Gabbay|Gabbay]] coordinated the October 1980 [[Paris meeting]] between [[Israel|Israeli]] and [[Iran|Iranian]] delegations, which included [[George Bush]], [[William Casey]], and [[Mehdi Karrubi]]. His role was to eliminate direct contact between [[Israel|Israeli]] and [[Iran|Iranian]] embassy personnel. He continued to serve this function in subsequent years.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Spencer Oliver.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Spencer Oliver.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ff7740c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Spencer Oliver.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - USA +--- +[[Spencer Oliver]] was the chief counsel for the [[United States House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs|House Foreign Relations Committee]]. He was involved in the [[Iran-Contra Affair]] hearings. In 1991, he discussed the events of 1987 with [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], admitting that the Democrats knew the witnesses were lying and that the hearings were a cover-up to avoid impeaching the president.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Stephan Schwartz.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Stephan Schwartz.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..afe6ef80 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Stephan Schwartz.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Stephan Schwartz +tags: + - Person + - Naval Officer + - Researcher + - Parapsychologist +--- +# Stephan Schwartz + +Stephan Schwartz is a former naval officer and researcher who became deeply involved in [[Parapsychology|psychic research]], particularly in the area of [[Remote Viewing]]. He served as a special assistant for research and analysis to Chief of Naval Operations Admiral [[Elmo Zumwalt]], where he was briefed on the [[U.S. Navy]]'s [[Telepathy|telepathy]] studies and Soviet efforts in the field[^1]. + +Schwartz was aware of a notable Soviet [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] experiment from around 1956, which allegedly involved a mother rabbit, her newborn litter, a submerged Soviet submarine, and a research station on shore. In this experiment, the baby rabbits were placed aboard the submarine, and electrodes were implanted in the mother rabbit's brain on shore. When the baby rabbits were killed one by one, the mother rabbit's brain produced detectable and recordable reactions, suggesting that [[Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Waves|ELF]] might be an ESP information carrier channel[^1]. + +In 1975, Schwartz left the Navy to pursue his enthusiasm for psychic research, accepting a fellowship with the Philosophical Research Society in Los Angeles. He had an idea to put a distant viewer (a psychic) aboard one of the Navy's submarines during sea trials to test [[Remote Viewing]] capabilities, but Admiral [[Hyman Rickover]] declined due to concerns about media attention[^1]. + +However, in the summer of 1977, Schwartz found an opportunity to conduct such an experiment. He teamed up with deep-sea explorers [[Don Keach]] and [[Don Walsh]], who had access to the *Taurus I*, a state-of-the-art, five-man submersible. Schwartz, along with [[Hal Puthoff]], [[Dale Graff]], the [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] team, and psychics [[Ingo Swann]] and [[Hella Hammid]], conducted [[Project Deep Quest]], one of the most unique psychic functioning experiments of the 1970s[^1]. + +For the unclassified part of the project, Schwartz aimed to locate a previously unknown shipwreck on the seafloor. He provided Swann and Hammid with a nautical chart of Catalina Island and asked them to locate any sea wreck using [[Map Dowsing]]. Both psychics independently marked a single target on the composite map, which was later confirmed to be a previously unidentified shipwreck by the claw on *Taurus I*[^1]. + +For the classified [[U.S. Air Force]] project, Schwartz, Puthoff, and Graff designed a remote-viewing experiment where psychics in the submerged *Taurus I* would attempt to identify images from sealed envelopes, with Puthoff and Graff acting as beacons at the target sites. This experiment aimed to test long-distance remote viewing inside a submersible and served as a fail-safe protocol for emergency military scenarios[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Steve Rios.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Steve Rios.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..101ee7af --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Steve Rios.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Steve Rios]] was an attorney in San Juan Capistrano. [[Fred Alvarez]], [[Joseph R. (Mike) Benitez]], and [[William Callaway]] were scheduled to meet with Rios at 10 a.m. on July 1, 1981, to initiate an investigation of [[Cabazon Tribal Council|Cabazon tribal]] affairs, according to the *Indio Daily News*. Instead, Alvarez and two others were executed on June 29.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Steven Shaw.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Steven Shaw.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..84718438 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Steven Shaw.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Steven Shaw +tags: + - Person + - Magician +--- +Steven Shaw was one of two young magicians, along with [[Michael Edwards]], who participated in [[James Randi]]'s hoax against the McDonnell Laboratory for Psychical Research at Washington University in 1983. Shaw and Edwards pretended to be psychics capable of [[Psychokinesis|psychokinesis]], using sleight of hand to simulate feats like spoon bending[^1]. + +They spent a total of five weeks in the lab over a three-year period. When Randi held a press conference to expose the hoax, Steven Shaw famously walked up to the microphone and said, "I cheat," revealing the deception[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Stuart Symington.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Stuart Symington.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ca5ca724 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Stuart Symington.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - USA +--- +Stuart Symington was a Democratic Senator from [[Missouri]]. He was a strong backer of [[Adlai E. Stevenson]] for the Democratic presidential nomination. Paradoxically, Symington later emerged as an ardent supporter of a nuclear-armed [[Israel]] while also authoring key Senate legislation to limit the spread of such weapons.[^1] + +In April 1963, [[Shimon Peres]] discussed nuclear weapons with Senator Symington, who was then a ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Symington reportedly told Peres, "Don't be a bunch of fools. Don't stop making atomic bombs. And don't listen to the administration. Do whatever you think best."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8, 9. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Swaleh Naqvi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Swaleh Naqvi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5d7fe0d2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Swaleh Naqvi.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Banker", "BCCI"] +--- +Swaleh Naqvi was the chief operating officer of [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]], taking over after [[Agha Hasan Abedi]]'s 1988 heart attack.[^1] + +### Role at BCCI + +Naqvi was instrumental in the day-to-day operations and manipulations within BCCI. He personally maintained some six thousand secret accounts, which were at the core of the bank's deception.[^2] He was responsible for orchestrating the sale of [[Clark Clifford]] and [[Robert Altman]]'s stock in [[First American Bank]] to a BCCI front man.[^3] + +Naqvi, along with Abedi, was indicted by [[Robert Morgenthau]], the Manhattan district attorney, in July 1991 for fraud, bribery, grand larceny, and money laundering.[^4] He was also indicted by the [[Justice Department]] in November 1991 for his role in the bond manipulation at [[CenTrust Savings Bank]] and the secret ownership of [[Independence Bank of Encino]].[^5] + +### Connections and Influence + +Naqvi had close ties with Abedi and was involved in many of the bank's illicit activities, including the use of nominees and offshore networks to conceal ownership and financial transactions.[^6] He was also involved in the meeting where [[Eugene Holley]] introduced [[Bert Lance]] to Abedi.[^7] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 10. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 140. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 216. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 14. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 383. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 143. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 180. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 393. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ted Shackley.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ted Shackley.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..435c6a46 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Ted Shackley.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Ted Shackley]] was a former station chief in Indo-China. He is connected to [[Michael Hand]], stating that after Hand's first stint in [[Vietnam]], he moved to the clandestine [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] war in [[Laos]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Thomas Olmstead.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Thomas Olmstead.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6cee76f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Thomas Olmstead.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Thomas Olmstead]] was the attorney for [[Michael Riconosciuto]]. He represented Riconosciuto during his trial in Tacoma, Washington, where Riconosciuto's defense rested on his ability to prove he worked for the [[United States Government|U.S. government]] in intelligence and undercover operations.[^1] + +Olmstead questioned [[Peter Videnieks]] during the trial about his knowledge of the [[Wackenhut Corporation]]-[[Cabazon Indian Reservation]] joint venture, his relationship with [[Earl Brian]], and his involvement with Hadron Company. He also pressed Videnieks on "Modification No. 12" of the [[PROMIS]] software and the bankruptcy court's ruling that the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] had "stolen" [[PROMIS]] from [[INSLAW]] through Videnieks' handling of it.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] communicated with [[Cheri Seymour]] and [[J.H.]] (an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent) to convey information that Olmstead could use in his defense, including details about "[[The Company]]" and Riconosciuto's attempts to enter the Witness Protection Program.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Thomas Stanton.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Thomas Stanton.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d5aaafef --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Thomas Stanton.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Thomas Stanton was the Director of the Executive Office of U.S. Trustees (EOUST) within the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. He became a central figure in [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]'s allegations of a plot to convert its bankruptcy to a liquidation and a subsequent cover-up. + +According to [[Anthony Pasciuto]], then Deputy Director of EOUST, Stanton had pressured [[Philip White]], the U.S. Trustee assigned to the Inslaw case, to convert Inslaw's Chapter 11 reorganization to a Chapter 7 liquidation. Pasciuto also alleged that Stanton tried to detail [[Harry Jones]], an attorney from the U.S. Trustee's Office, to Washington D.C. to work on converting the Inslaw case. [[Cornelius Blackshear]], then a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, initially testified that White had told him of Stanton's pressure. Bankruptcy Judge Bason, in his findings, concluded that Stanton struck a bargain with [[C. Madison Brewer]] to liquidate [[INSLAW]] to rid the DOJ of its contract problems, and that Stanton made this commitment to curry favor with the EOUSA and higher DOJ officials to secure support for making the temporary U.S. Trustee program permanent. Bason believed Stanton agreed to pressure White and, when White resisted, sought to detail Jones to accomplish the conversion. However, the Special Counsel's investigation found that Stanton and Brewer denied any such discussions, and that Stanton testified he only briefly considered transferring Jones to assist with the Inslaw matter due to its high-profile nature, not to effect a conversion.[^1] + +The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) investigated allegations against Stanton and others, concluding that Bankruptcy Judge Bason's findings on the Independent Handling proceeding were "clearly erroneous" and that there was no evidence that DOJ employees had tried to pressure White to convert Inslaw's case. OPR also found no evidence that DOJ officials had lied to cover up a conversion effort. The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) also investigated the matter, finding "no proof that an effort to convert Inslaw's bankruptcy proceedings was conducted by individuals beyond those the Bankruptcy Court had found responsible." The PSI noted that Stanton urged special treatment for the Inslaw case because he saw it as a means of favorably impressing the DOJ and ensuring continued support for his office, which, while improper, did not equate to the conspiracy alleged by the Hamiltons. The Special Counsel's investigation concluded that there was insufficient evidence to establish that the DOJ and Stanton endeavored to have the Inslaw case converted or engaged in any cover-up. It noted that a scheme to convert Inslaw would have been self-defeating, as only the Bankruptcy Court could order conversion, and the facts of the Inslaw case would not have supported such a motion.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Uri Simchoni.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Uri Simchoni.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..00aabf69 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Uri Simchoni.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +Brigadier General [[Uri Simchoni]] was a member of the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]]. He served at various times as assistant deputy chief of staff for operations for the [[Israel Defense Forces]] and as a military attaché in [[Washington D.C.]]. He had also been the chief of the elite [[Golani infantry brigade|Golani infantry brigade]].[^1] + +[[Uri Simchoni|Simchoni]] was part of the [[Israel|Israeli]] delegation at the October 1980 [[Paris meeting]], which included [[George Bush]], [[William Casey]], and [[Mehdi Karrubi]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Walter Schellenberg.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Walter Schellenberg.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a852f5da --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Walter Schellenberg.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Walter Schellenberg + - SS-Brigadeführer Walter Schellenberg +tags: + - Person + - Nazi Germany + - SS + - Intelligence +--- +Walter Schellenberg (1910–1952) was an SS-Brigadeführer and the head of foreign intelligence for [[Nazi Germany]] during [[World War II]][^1]. + +Schellenberg conveyed to astrologer [[Wilhelm Wulff]] that mystical belief systems were "a suitable vehicle for the propagation of political concepts and for the political control of a nation"[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Walter Stoessel Jr..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Walter Stoessel Jr..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d435a0b4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Walter Stoessel Jr..md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Walter Stoessel Jr. +tags: + - person + - diplomat + - government + - Ambassador +--- +Walter Stoessel Jr. (1920–1986) was a distinguished American diplomat who served as the U.S. Ambassador to [[Moscow]] from 1974 to 1976. During his tenure, he was exposed to the [[Moscow Signal]], a microwave beam directed at the [[U.S. Embassy in Moscow]] by the [[Soviet Union]][^1]. + +In January 1976, Stoessel was briefed on the Moscow Signal and filed a formal protest with the Soviets. He minimally informed embassy personnel about their exposure to high-powered microwave beam radiation. *The Los Angeles Times* reported that Stoessel had told his staff that the Russians were using microwave beams to listen in on conversations and that such radiation could be harmful to their health[^1]. + +Stoessel was later reassigned to the U.S. embassy in Bonn, West Germany. He died of leukemia at the age of sixty-six in 1986. Notably, two of the three ambassadors who had served before him in Moscow and had also been subjected to the Moscow Signal also died of cancer: [[Charles Bohlen]] (died 1974, age sixty-nine) and [[Llewellyn Thomas]] (died 1972, age sixty-seven)[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Wayne Reeder.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Wayne Reeder.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e86ebad1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Wayne Reeder.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Wayne Reeder]] was a California investor who was seen at a [[Wackenhut Corporation]]/[[Contras|Contra]] meeting in Riverside County. He was also alleged to have associated with [[Robert Corson]], a business associate of [[Ian Stuart Spiro]] and a reported [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operative.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William Bradford Reynolds.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William Bradford Reynolds.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..af97a903 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William Bradford Reynolds.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[William Bradford Reynolds]] served as the Assistant [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] in the Civil Rights Division of the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]]. + +In a document dated May 16, 1985, which Reynolds signed, [[William F. Weld]], [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] in Boston, Massachusetts, was advised that the [[PROMIS]] software was being provided to an Arab Sheik for resale and general distribution.[^1] + +[[Bill Hamilton]], owner of [[INSLAW]], received this document in November 2004 from a reliable U.S. intelligence source. [[Donald Carr]] showed the document to Reynolds in 2005, and Reynolds authenticated it. Reynolds stated that [[Lowell Jensen]]'s secretary brought the letter to him for signature because Jensen was unavailable, and the letter needed to be sent that day and signed by someone in [[Edwin Meese]]'s inner circle. He recalled signing the letter but not drafting it. Reynolds also had a vague recollection that [[Edwin Meese]] recused himself on [[PROMIS]] when he became [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] in February 1985, leading Jensen to handle [[PROMIS]]. Reynolds independently remembered [[Richard Armitage]], [[Adnan Khashoggi]], and [[Manucher Ghorbanifar]] working together on [[PROMIS]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William M. Pender.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William M. Pender.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c7697293 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William M. Pender.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[William M. Pender]] was a Director and Senior Vice President of [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]. He was also a licensed contractor in the State of California.[^1] + +His involvement with [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] placed him among a group of influential individuals with ties to government and intelligence, including [[Robert Maheu]], [[Michael A. McManus]], [[Robert Booth Nichols]], and [[George K. Pender]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William Odom.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William Odom.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b99de0b4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William Odom.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: William Odom +tags: + - person + - military + - general +description: William Odom was a U.S. Army Major General who succeeded Ed Thompson as the Army's Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (ACSI). +--- +William Odom was a [[U.S. Army]] Major General who succeeded [[Edmund Thompson]] as the Army's Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (ACSI) in 1981. Odom was generally skeptical of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program, often expressing embarrassment that the Army was spending money on paranormal research.[^1] + +Despite being shown compelling evidence of remote viewing accuracy, such as [[Joe McMoneagle]]'s predictions about the bugging of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Odom remained dismissive, stating, "Yes, we know that already." He appeared to believe that, whether or not there was anything to it, it was something best left alone by the military. His skepticism was rooted in a secular viewpoint, though some proponents of the program suspected a deeper, almost "Inquisition-like" opposition to psi. He was particularly concerned about the public perception of the program, fearing the "mortification and embarrassment" that would arise if the program were exposed.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William Perry.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William Perry.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..53825330 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William Perry.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - William Perry +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - Military +--- +William Perry served as the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. He was involved in the debate surrounding the [[U.S. Army]]'s involvement in [[Remote Viewing]] and [[Parapsychology|psychic research]][^1]. + +Perry stated in a memo that it was "not appropriate for Army to fund technology programs aimed at scientific development of parapsychology."[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William Rolya.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William Rolya.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dcca2fd7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William Rolya.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: William Rolya +tags: + - person + - military + - general + - intelligence +description: William Rolya was the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) commander who supported the Stargate Project. +--- + +[[William Rolya]] was the [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]] commander during the early years of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]]. He tacitly supported the program, along with Army Chief of Staff [[Edward Meyer]] and Secretary of the Army [[Clifford Alexander]]. His support, though not always overt, contributed to the project's ability to continue operating despite its controversial nature and minimal budget.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William Stephenson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William Stephenson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..586ece42 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/William Stephenson.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +aliases: + - William Stephenson + - Sir William Stephenson + - Intrepid +tags: + - Person + - Spy + - British Intelligence +--- +Sir William Stephenson (1896–1989), famously known as "Intrepid" by [[Winston Churchill]], was a Canadian intelligence officer who headed [[British Intelligence]]'s operational arm in America, the [[British Security Coordination Office]]. This office was disguised as part of the British Passport Control Office in Rockefeller Center, [[New York City]][^1]. + +Stephenson played a crucial role in influencing American public opinion to support Britain's entry into [[World War II]]. He orchestrated an elaborate black propaganda campaign involving astrologer [[Louis de Wohl]]. Stephenson's agency would feed information to de Wohl for his column, "Stars Foretell," and then disseminate this information to the U.S. press, which, unable to fact-check with [[Nazi Germany]], would report it as real[^1]. + +Stephenson's efforts were highly effective, with one declassified memo noting that "An ever-growing audience [is] becoming convinced of his supernatural powers"[^1]. He coordinated with [[William Donovan]], who would later head the [[Office of Strategic Services]], the precursor to the [[Central Intelligence Agency]][^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Yehoshua Saguy.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Yehoshua Saguy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..233c64c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Yehoshua Saguy.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +Yehoshua Saguy was the chief of military intelligence in [[Israel]]. He opposed the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] in June 1981, arguing that the adverse reaction in [[Washington D.C.]] would be a more serious national security threat to [[Israel]] than the Iraqi reactor itself. He suffered for his dissent, not being informed of the mission until three days before it was scheduled to take place. Saguy responded by briefly threatening to withhold intelligence.[^1] + +He joined [[Yitzhak Hofi]], the director of [[Mossad]], and [[Yigael Yadin]], the deputy prime minister, in their futile dissent against the Osirak attack. Saguy took exception to the view that any Israeli military steps to avoid a "second Holocaust" were permissible.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Yitzhak Rabin.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Yitzhak Rabin.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a23e206e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Yitzhak Rabin.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Military + - Israel +--- +[[Yitzhak Rabin]] was an [[Israel|Israeli]] politician and military leader who served as Prime Minister of [[Israel]] and Defense Minister. He was a rival of [[Shimon Peres]] within the [[Labor Party]].[^1] + +As army chief of operations, [[Yitzhak Rabin]] was among the old-fashioned military men, including [[Yigal Allon]] and [[Ariel Sharon]], who believed that [[Israel]]'s essential advantage over the Arabs was the quality and training of its military personnel. To these men, nuclear weapons were nothing more than a great equalizer, and they argued that an [[Egypt]] equipped with the bomb would be far more dangerous to [[Israel]] than an [[Egypt]] limited to conventional arms.[^2] + +As Defense Minister, [[Yitzhak Rabin|Rabin]] did not try to impede the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee|Joint Committee's]] arms operations, as he had no interest in helping [[Shimon Peres|Peres]]. However, he unceremoniously and disrespectfully threw [[Oliver North]] out of his office when the [[Contras]] were mentioned, thwarting [[Oliver North|North's]] attempts to set up his second channel.[^1] + +[[Yitzhak Rabin|Rabin]] replaced [[Shimon Peres]] as leader of the [[Labor Party]] and became Prime Minister of [[Israel]] in 1992 after the national elections, replacing [[Yitzhak Shamir]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 9. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Yitzhak Shamir.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Yitzhak Shamir.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5fe68378 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Yitzhak Shamir.md @@ -0,0 +1,35 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Israel + - Intelligence +--- +[[Yitzhak Shamir]] was a prominent [[Israel|Israeli]] politician who served as Prime Minister of [[Israel]]. He was a former member of [[LEHI]] (Stern Gang), a Jewish terrorist group, and later became a prominent figure in [[Mossad]], serving as operations chief for [[Europe]].[^1] + +### Anti-American Sentiments and Soviet Relations + +[[Yitzhak Shamir|Shamir]] was known for his anti-[[USA|American]] sentiments, stemming from his belief that the [[USA|U.S.]] was partially responsible for the Holocaust. He sought to open lines of communication between [[Israel]] and the [[East Bloc]] countries, particularly after becoming prime minister in 1983. He authorized intelligence exchanges with the [[Soviet Union]], including sanitized [[USA|American]] intelligence reports about nuclear issues and evaluations of [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] nuclear technology.[^1] + +### Coalition Government and Arms Trading + +[[Yitzhak Shamir|Shamir]] was a key figure in the [[Likud Party]]. He formed a bizarre coalition government with [[Shimon Peres]] of the [[Labor Party]] in 1984, sharing the roles of prime minister and foreign minister. [[Yitzhak Shamir|Shamir]] had a close relationship with [[Rafi Eitan]], who served as his counterterrorism adviser and later ran the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]]. [[Yitzhak Shamir|Shamir]] was involved in the decision to supply [[Iran]] with arms in its war with [[Saddam Hussein|Saddam Hussein's]] [[Iraq]], believing it was in [[Israel|Israel's]] national security interest.[^1] + +### Pollard Espionage Case + +[[Yitzhak Shamir|Shamir]] was also involved in the [[Jonathan Pollard]] espionage case, authorizing the transfer of [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence gleaned from the [[USA|United States]] to the [[Soviet Union]]. During his tenure as prime minister (1984-1986), Shamir authorized some of the [[Jonathan Pollard|Pollard]] material to be sanitized, retyped, and turned over to Soviet intelligence officials as a gesture of Israeli goodwill. This decision was consistent with his personal and political beliefs, as he viscerally disliked the [[United States]] and was fascinated with strong regimes, viewing the U.S. as "soft, bourgeois, materialistic and effete." He believed that by relaying the Pollard information to the Soviets, he was demonstrating that [[Israel]] could be a much more dependable and important collaborator in the [[Middle East]] than the "fickle" Arabs. Shamir's actions, if exposed, would have meant the end of the increasingly shaky Likud coalition and put the overall Israeli–United States relationship at risk.[^1][^2] + +[[Yitzhak Shamir|Shamir]] was furious when the [[Oliver North|North]] group leaked the [[Jonathan Pollard|Pollard]] story, and sought to nip the newcomers in the bud.[^1] + +### Palestinian and Regional Policy + +[[Yitzhak Shamir|Shamir]] opposed [[USA|U.S.]] peace initiatives that would involve giving up territory in the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip]], and believed that [[Jordan]] should be the Palestinian state. Despite this public stance, [[Yitzhak Shamir|Shamir]] initiated secret attempts to negotiate a solution to the Palestinian situation with the [[Palestine Liberation Organization|PLO]], discussing a plan to unseat [[King Hussein of Jordan|King Hussein]] of [[Jordan]] and establish a Palestinian state there.[^1] + +### Nuclear and Chemical Weapons Programs + +[[Yitzhak Shamir|Shamir]] authorized [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] to undertake a secret mission to [[Peru]] to acquire nuclear substances for [[Israel|Israel's]] tactical atom bomb program. [[Yitzhak Shamir|Shamir]] was confronted by [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] regarding the chemical weapons trade to [[Iraq]] and the need to secure the release of [[Israel|Israeli]] soldiers held in [[Lebanon]]. He initially refused to release [[C-130]] aircraft to [[Iran]] until the [[Israel|Israeli]] soldiers were freed, but later changed his mind. He also intervened to put on hold the execution list of individuals deemed enemies of the state of [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. _Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network_. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Yoav Shacham.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Yoav Shacham.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..495be077 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Yoav Shacham.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Yoav Shacham +tags: + - Person + - Spy + - Israel +--- +# Yoav Shacham + +Yoav Shacham was an [[Israel|Israeli]] grain trader and alleged spy who significantly influenced [[Uri Geller]]'s early life and aspirations. Shacham was a resident at the hotel in Nicosia, [[Cyprus]], run by Geller's stepfather, Ladislas Gero[^1]. + +Shacham, described as tough-looking and powerfully built, practiced martial arts in the hotel garden, which intrigued a fourteen-year-old Geller. Geller, seeking to impress Shacham, demonstrated his ability to bend metal spoons and keys. Shacham, impressed, offered to teach Geller martial arts[^1]. + +Geller confided in Shacham, claiming he could read his mind and knew he was an Israeli spy. Shacham, whose cover was compromised, presented Geller with a challenge: to join the Israeli Army as a paratrooper, work hard, become the best soldier, attend officer training school, and then find him. Shacham promised that only then would he get Geller into the [[Mossad]] (Israel's intelligence agency). This undertaking gave Geller a sense of purpose[^1]. + +Geller diligently followed Shacham's instructions, joining the Israeli army in 1965 and entering officer training school. However, his dream was shattered in November 1966 when a national newspaper reported that Major Yoav Shacham had been killed in action during a skirmish in a Jordanian border town[^1]. Geller's opportunity to do secret government work for Mossad seemingly died with his friend, though he would later have connections to Israeli intelligence[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Yuval Neeman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Yuval Neeman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..93c8aca1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Yuval Neeman.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Government Official + - Israel +--- +Yuval Neeman was an Israeli physicist and defense ministry intelligence officer. He was directly involved in [[Israel]]'s nuclear weapons program. Neeman was responsible for drafting [[David Ben-Gurion]]'s responses to [[John F. Kennedy]]'s increasingly sour correspondence regarding [[Dimona]]. Neeman described the exchange as "not a friendly exchange" and that Kennedy was "writing like a bully. It was brutal."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 9. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Zalman Mordecai Shapiro.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Zalman Mordecai Shapiro.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4a113be9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(N-S)/Zalman Mordecai Shapiro.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Businessman + - Nuclear +--- +Zalman Mordecai Shapiro was an American Jew and owner of the [[Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation]] (NUMEC), a privately owned nuclear enriching plant in [[Apollo]], [[Pennsylvania]]. He was suspected by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and others of having smuggled more than two hundred pounds of weapons-grade uranium to [[Israel]], enough for four bombs. This alleged diversion was a major factor in [[Carl E. Duckett]]'s [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] estimates of [[Israel]]'s nuclear arsenal.[^1] + +Shapiro was hounded by these suspicions for twenty-five years, despite no significant evidence proving the diversion was ever found. The [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and [[Atomic Energy Commission|AEC]] never learned that Shapiro did have a secret life, meeting and befriending many of [[Israel]]'s senior nuclear scientists, including [[Ernst David Bergmann]], and conducting sensitive, legitimate missions for [[Israel]]. He was asked by [[Israel]] to devise a rapid and accurate method of determining whether water had been contaminated with toxic materials, and also advised on how to prevent water loss in the National Water Carrier.[^1] + +Shapiro's business involved the chemical isolation and recovery of enriched uranium from dirt and scrap, a process that inherently generated some loss, known as MUF (material unaccounted for). The AEC eventually determined that over two hundred pounds of enriched uranium could not be accounted for from NUMEC, leading to suspicions of diversion. Despite intensive FBI surveillance and investigations, no significant evidence proving that Shapiro had diverted any uranium was ever found. Instead, the missing uranium was found to have ended up in the air and water of [[Apollo]], as well as in the plant's ducts, tubes, and floors.[^1] + +In 1967, Shapiro and his partners were forced to merge their interest in NUMEC into the [[Atlantic Richfield Company]] (ARCO) due to the continuing controversy. Shapiro continued to run the plant. He convened meetings of American and Israeli scientists to discuss protecting [[Israel]]'s National Water Carrier from terrorists, and his company provided specialized small power sources for the security of waterways, all approved for export by the Commerce Department.[^1] + +In 1977, [[Jody Powell]], President [[Jimmy Carter]]'s press secretary, publicly announced that investigations had "failed to reveal" a diversion of uranium to [[Israel]]. However, [[Carl E. Duckett]] and [[John L. Hadden]] continued to push their suspicions, leading to further investigations. By the early 1990s, Duckett essentially recanted many of his previous assertions, stating he knew of nothing to indicate Shapiro was guilty. Despite this, many journalists continued to believe Shapiro diverted uranium for the Israeli bomb.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 14, 18. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Aharon Yariv.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Aharon Yariv.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9a4b59d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Aharon Yariv.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Aharon Yariv +tags: + - person + - military + - intelligence + - Israel +--- + +Aharon Yariv was a Brigadier General and the head of military intelligence in [[Israel]]. He was one of the high-profile Israeli figures who took an interest in [[Uri Geller]]'s purported psychic abilities. Newspapers in Israel reported that Geller had met privately with Yariv[^1]. + +This meeting highlights the interest of Israeli intelligence in Geller's capabilities, similar to how other nations' intelligence agencies, including the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], explored the potential military and intelligence applications of [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis|PK]][^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Algie A. Wells.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Algie A. Wells.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e3bbbd00 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Algie A. Wells.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Algie A. Wells was the director of international affairs for the [[Atomic Energy Commission|AEC]] in mid-1958. He suggested that [[Lewis L. Strauss]] might have ignored his statutory responsibility as AEC chairman for trivial reasons, rather than his Jewishness, when it came to informing [[John A. McCone]] about [[Dimona]]. Wells believed that if McCone was surprised to learn about the reactor in late 1960, "he shouldn't have been," as any government official who chose to do so could have learned about [[Israel]]'s nuclear reactor.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 7. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Allan Thompson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Allan Thompson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4ac688f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Allan Thompson.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Allan Thompson]] was a reporter for the *Toronto Star*. He, along with [[Valerie Lawton]], was told by [[Sean McDade]] in August 2000 that there were issues he could not talk about related to his investigation, which centered on [[PROMIS]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Ardeshir Zahedi.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Ardeshir Zahedi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ef5eeb92 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Ardeshir Zahedi.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Iran + - USA +--- +[[Ardeshir Zahedi]] was the [[Iran|Iranian]] ambassador to the [[USA|U.S.]]. He served as a vital source of information for [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence, reporting directly back to the [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Shah's]] office in the Royal Court. His reports detailed discussions in [[Washington D.C.]] regarding [[Middle East]] policy and [[USA|American]] initiatives with [[Anwar Sadat|Anwar Sadat's]] [[Egypt]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Baruch Weiss.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Baruch Weiss.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dc13b609 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Baruch Weiss.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Legal + - USA +--- +[[Baruch Weiss]] was an Assistant [[USA|U.S.]] Attorney for the Southern District of [[New York]]. He was the prosecutor in the trial of [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] and [[Richard St. Francis]] for conspiracy to sell [[C-130]] aircraft to [[Iran]].[^1] + +[[Baruch Weiss|Weiss]] initially classified [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] as dangerous, but later admitted it was a mistake. He signed an agreement with [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] to talk without a lawyer present, granting him immunity for the conversations. [[Baruch Weiss|Weiss]] insisted that [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] was a low-level translator acting for personal profit, but the taped conversations and [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] employment records, including letters of recommendation, contradicted this claim.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Bill Turner.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Bill Turner.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a117a193 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Bill Turner.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Bill Turner]] was a friend and confidante of investigative journalist [[Danny Casolaro]]. He met with Casolaro in the parking lot of the Sheraton Hotel in Martinsburg, Virginia, on August 9, 1991, the day before Casolaro's death, to deliver some papers. These papers allegedly included two sealed packages that Turner had been keeping in his safe for Casolaro, and a packet of Hughes Aircraft papers belonging to Turner, who had been let go from Hughes for whistleblowing.[^1] + +Turner later admitted to police that he met with Casolaro but initially refused to specify the time or describe the contents of the papers. He claimed not to know what was in the sealed documents, which had Casolaro's name written across the seal. It was suggested that Turner might have known who Casolaro was preparing to meet that evening and wanted Casolaro to show the Hughes Aircraft documents to that individual.[^1] + +Turner stated he was "scared shitless" about information he had seen connecting [[Oliver North]] and the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]]. He claimed to have seen papers from Casolaro that linked back through the Keating Five and Silverado, a failed Denver Savings and Loan where [[Neil Bush]] had been an officer.[^1] + +[[Bill Hamilton]], president of [[INSLAW]], later stated that he had received an affidavit from Bill Turner on "highly classified computer printouts on off-shore accounts that he claimed Casolaro intended to use the night he died in a planned meeting with [[Peter Videnieks]] and [[Joseph Cuellar]] and others."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Brad Veek.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Brad Veek.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e9a31fc9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Brad Veek.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Brad Veek +tags: + - Person + - Cartographer + - Submariner +--- +# Brad Veek + +Brad Veek was a cartographer and career submariner who played a role in [[Project Deep Quest]]. He was responsible for creating a composite map from the individual maps marked up by psychics [[Ingo Swann]] and [[Hella Hammid]] during their [[Map Dowsing]] efforts to locate a shipwreck[^1]. + +This composite map was then taken by [[Stephan Schwartz]] to the Bureau of Marine Sites of the [[U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey]] for official opinion and verification, helping to narrow down the search area for the *Taurus I* submersible[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Brian Toohey.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Brian Toohey.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dd33f308 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Brian Toohey.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Brian Toohey]] was a top [[Australia|Australian]] journalist. In 1991, he reported in his *The Eye* magazine that [[Michael Hand]] had a postal drop at a suite in NE Bellevue, Washington State, and that Hand's wife was reportedly living with him there.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Bruce Williams.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Bruce Williams.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bf0c19fe --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Bruce Williams.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - USA +--- +Bruce Williams was a U.S. Army attaché in [[Israel]]. He accompanied [[Orwin C. Talbott]] during a meeting with [[David Elazar]] in early 1974, where Elazar revealed [[Israel]]'s preparedness to use nuclear weapons against the Syrians if they had broken through during the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]]. Williams recalled Elazar's remarks as revelatory, stating that the message was clear.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Caspar W. Weinberger.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Caspar W. Weinberger.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..92bfb499 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Caspar W. Weinberger.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Caspar W. Weinberger +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - Secretary of Defense +--- +Caspar W. Weinberger (1917–1990) was an American politician and businessman who served as the Secretary of Defense under President [[Ronald Reagan]] from 1981 to 1987. He was a key figure in the Reagan administration's military buildup during the [[Cold War]][^1]. + +[[William Richard Higgins]], a Marine Lieutenant Colonel who was abducted in [[Lebanon]] in 1988, had served as a military aide to Weinberger from June 1985 until he went to Lebanon in June 1987. Higgins's in-depth knowledge of classified military matters, gained during his time with Weinberger, made him a high-value hostage[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Caspar Weinberger.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Caspar Weinberger.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fcf7d866 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Caspar Weinberger.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government + - Secretary of Defense +--- +Caspar Weinberger served as the Secretary of Defense under President [[Ronald Reagan]]. Following the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] in June 1981, Weinberger proposed canceling the F-16 aircraft sale to [[Israel]] as a sanction. However, President Reagan privately disagreed with this course of action.[^1] + +--- + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Chaim Weizmann.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Chaim Weizmann.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7f3a74d6 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Chaim Weizmann.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Zionist + - Israel +--- +Chaim Weizmann was a Russian-Jewish biochemist and prominent Zionist leader. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the [[Weizmann Institute of Science]] in [[Rehovot]], [[Israel]]. Weizmann actively sought to bring eminent scientists to [[Israel]], attempting to woo figures like [[J. Robert Oppenheimer]] and [[John von Neumann]] as early as 1947 to conduct research there.[^1] + +Weizmann was a close friend of [[Ernst David Bergmann]]'s father, one of Berlin's most eminent rabbis. In 1933, when Nazi decrees made it impossible for Bergmann to continue his academic work in Germany, Weizmann arranged for Bergmann to join him on the faculty at Manchester University in England. Weizmann also intervened to help Bergmann find a job in Philadelphia and later in Brooklyn after he left England.[^1] + +Weizmann was instrumental in setting up Palestine's first research facility, the [[Daniel Sieff Institute]], in the 1930s. He even approached [[Albert Einstein]], then teaching at Princeton, to recommend a director for the institute.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Charles N. Van Doren.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Charles N. Van Doren.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..77b94b59 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Charles N. Van Doren.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Charles N. Van Doren was the deputy general counsel of the [[Arms Control and Disarmament Agency]] in the [[Richard M. Nixon|Nixon]] administration. He was convinced that [[Israel]] was the "Achilles heel" of [[America]]'s [[Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty|NPT]] policy, stating, "We were winking at it." Van Doren repeatedly tried to get the NPT on the agenda for talks on the [[Middle East]], but was told there was "too much on the table." He understood the underlying reason: an order had gone out that no nuclear information on Israeli proliferation was to be put out, which he found very frustrating.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 16. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Charles R. Work.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Charles R. Work.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9aeb2228 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Charles R. Work.md @@ -0,0 +1,40 @@ +Charles "Chuck" R. Work was born June 21, 1940, in Glendale, CA. He is married, has three children, and spent most of his life in Washington, DC[^1] (now retired and living in Naples, Florida). + +He graduated from Wesleyan University (B.A., 1962), the University of Chicago Law School (J.D., 1965), and the Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M., 1966). He passed the bar exam in 1965. + +In 1966 Work became an Assistant United States Attorney (criminal trial section). In 1969 he moved to to the Superior Court Division, the division responsible for prosecuting all local crime in the District of Columbia, as Deputy Chief and finally Chief until he left in 1973. + +In 1973, Work became the Deputy Administrator of the [[LEAA|Law Enforcement Assistance Administration]] (via [[Richard Nixon|Richard Nixon's]] Presidential nomination and Senate confirmation) within the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] until 1975 at which point he became a partner at Peabody, Lambert & Meyers. In 1983 Work moved to McDermott, Will & Emery where he was the Partner-In-Charge of DC through 1997 (now retired).[^2] + +Following Nixon’s resignation, Work was close personal friends with one of [[Ford administration|President Ford’s]] speech writers and used that connection to encourage Ford to come out as tough on crime and career criminals (bolstering the LEAA).[^3] + +In 1985, [[Reagan administration|Ronald Reagan]] appointed him a member of the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure, the body that reappoints and disciplines the judges of the District of Columbia. + +Work has handled civil and criminal matters in state and federal courts as well as matters before various federal agencies, including the International Trade Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Office of the Independent Counsel. Chuck has on a number of occasions represented former government officials, business executives and trade association executives with respect to employment contract and compensation issues. + +He is a former president of the D.C. Bar. In 1978, he received the Rockefeller Public Service Award for Administering Justice and Reducing Crime. +## Notable Cases +#### Wesley Jessen Corporation vs. Bausch & Lomb, Inc. +A patent trial in the U.S. District Court in Delaware involving contact lenses. +#### United States of America v. Quorum +A significant health care fraud case in the U.S. District Court in Tampa, Florida. +#### United States of America v. Lockheed Martin Corporation and Northrup Grumman Corporation +Co-lead counsel on behalf of the Lockheed Martin Corporation in which the United States sued to enjoin the merger of the two companies +#### Aristotle Publishing, Inc. v. CDB Infotech +a case involving data rights +## INSLAW +Charles R. Work hired [[INSLAW]] to write the first version of [[PROMIS]] for the [[U.S. Attorney's office]]. He appears to have been close to [[Bill Hamilton]] who thanked him specifically and profusely for enabling the PROMIS program to proceed. + +Work continued to fund INSLAW during his tenure as Deputy Administrator of LEAA. + +During [[Inslaw, Inc., et al. v. The United States]] Work was co-lead counsel. +## MISC +Was appointed by the United States District Court as guardian ad litem of the Vietnamese orphans who survived a plane crash in Saigon in 1975. + + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: [Appointment of Charles R. Work as a Member of the District of Columbia Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure](https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/appointment-charles-r-work-member-the-district-columbia-commission-judicial-disabilities) +[^2]: [Charles R. Work - Atlantic Legal Foundation](https://atlanticlegal.org/directors/charles-r-work) +[^3]: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/acprod/odb_etd/ws/send_file/send?accession=osu1487081370607576&disposition=inline \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Charles Trombetta.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Charles Trombetta.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bb76833a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Charles Trombetta.md @@ -0,0 +1,9 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Charles Trombetta was identified by [[Lois Battistoni]] as an individual who might have information about the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] and [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]. However, when interviewed by the Special Counsel, Trombetta stated that he had no direct knowledge of the [[INSLAW]] matter. He did suggest that [[Garnett Taylor]] might possess information concerning Inslaw documents held by the DOJ security office, but he could not provide any further details.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Craig Unger.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Craig Unger.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..58a02729 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Craig Unger.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - Author + - USA +--- +[[Craig Unger]] is an [[USA|American]] journalist and author. In October 1991, his article in *Esquire* magazine repeated [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] allegations that [[Robert McFarlane]] had been recruited by [[Rafi Eitan]] and named [[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] as "Mr. X" in the [[Jonathan Pollard]] case. [[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] subsequently sued the magazine, but the suit was dismissed in June 1994.[^1] + +In July 1992, *The Village Voice* printed a long article by [[Craig Unger|Unger]] that quoted [[Moshe Hebroni]], a former colleague of [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]], confirming [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] access to very sensitive material while working for the Foreign Flow desk in External Relations.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Daniel Tessler.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Daniel Tessler.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5cb418d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Daniel Tessler.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Daniel Tessler managed a venture capital fund called [[53rd Street Ventures]], Inc., which was formed around 1976 as an investment company. In about 1984, Tessler and his wife, [[Patricia Cloherty]], assumed management of 53rd Street Ventures through their investment management company, [[Tessler & Cloherty]], Inc. At that time, 53rd Street Ventures had a $100,000 investment in [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]], representing less than 1% of the fund's total portfolio. This investment was made around 1982 under the supervision of [[Patricof and Company]], the previous managers, with [[Jonathan Ben Cnaan]] arranging the investment. The investment resulted in 53rd Street Ventures owning about 1.2% of [[INSLAW]]. + +[[Bill Hamilton]]'s affidavit claimed that in December 1984, shortly before Inslaw's Chapter 11 filing, Tessler came to Inslaw and attempted to induce the Hamiltons to turn over the voting rights of their controlling interest in Inslaw common stock. Hamilton alleged that Tessler stated neither 53rd Street Ventures nor [[Hambro Venture Capital]] would help Inslaw raise capital unless the Hamiltons surrendered their voting rights by the end of the business day. Hamilton's affidavit also suggested a relationship between [[Daniel Tessler]] and [[Alan Tessler]], a partner in a law firm representing [[Earl Brian]] and [[Hadron]], and that Daniel Tessler helped organize Hadron's efforts to "get" Inslaw.[^1] + +Daniel Tessler denied these allegations. He stated that he and Cloherty looked into the Inslaw investment after taking over management and determined that Inslaw had serious operating difficulties, was heavily in debt, and could not meet its production obligations. He met with Hamilton in late 1984, and while Hamilton asked about additional investment, Tessler denied ever trying to induce the Hamiltons to turn over their voting rights or giving them an ultimatum. He maintained that he only discussed control in the context of future investments, explaining that investors were unlikely to invest if the company continued to be managed by the same people who led it into financial difficulties. Tessler stated he does not know Earl Brian, [[Edwin Meese]], [[Dominic Laiti]], or [[Lowell Jensen]], and denied any discussions or communications with them or any DOJ officials regarding Inslaw's investment or his conversations with Hamilton. He also denied any dealings with Hadron, Simeon, or Biotech, and denied being related to Alan Tessler or having dealings with Shea and Gould. Tessler stated that to his knowledge, his wife, [[Patricia Cloherty]], had no knowledge of Earl Brian or any connection between Brian and Inslaw, and never claimed to "know all about" Brian's role in the Inslaw matter.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/David Zornow.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/David Zornow.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0a07b624 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/David Zornow.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Legal + - USA +--- +[[David Zornow]] was an attorney who represented [[Robert Maxwell]] and [[Nicholas Davies]]. He was also part of [[Lawrence Walsh|Lawrence Walsh's]] team that prosecuted [[Oliver North]].[^1] + +[[David Zornow|Zornow]] became the attorney for [[Robert Maxwell|Maxwell's]] Mirror group, including [[Nicholas Davies|Davies]], after [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] was imprisoned. He was able to negotiate with the prosecution to ensure that the names of his clients did not come out in open court during [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] trial.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Dennis W. Wright.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Dennis W. Wright.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2c2c900d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Dennis W. Wright.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is a placeholder and requires extensive additions. + +Worked on the team developing the original 1969 [[PROMIS]] under [[Joan E. Jacoby]], [[Charles R. Work]], and [[Bill Hamilton]]. + +As of 1974, Dennis was working for [[INSLAW]][^2] directly. + +In 1990, Dennis was a Senior Research Computer Scientist working in the [[ICMS]] Re-engineering project within the [[Division of Innovations and Systems Development]][^1] of the [[U.S. Department of Justice]]. + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: [1990 Annual Report Federal Judicial Center](https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/132273NCJRS.pdf) +[^2]: [Management of data elements in information processing](https://archive.org/details/managementofdata7446mcew/page/474/mode/2up?q=%22dennis+w.+wright%22) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Diana, Princess of Wales.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Diana, Princess of Wales.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e2cc65ca --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Diana, Princess of Wales.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Diana, Princess of Wales]] was romantically involved with [[Dodi Fayed]]. The couple died in a car crash in a Paris underpass in the early hours of August 31, 1997.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Don Thrasher.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Don Thrasher.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b0b9278d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Don Thrasher.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Don Thrasher]] was a ten-year veteran producer for ABC News 20/20. He interviewed [[Ron Williams]], a Secret Service agent, in connection with the "[[Queen's accident]]." Thrasher's interview with Williams corroborated the profile of [[Roderick Sinclair]]'s father as a military attaché to [[Douglas MacArthur]] during [[World War II]] and his role in supervising intelligence training in [[Japan]]. + +Thrasher also learned about Rod Sinclair, Jr.'s education in [[Japan]] and his later work in Army [[Criminal Investigation Division|C.I.D.]][^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Don Walsh.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Don Walsh.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dd3efbc1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Don Walsh.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Don Walsh +tags: + - Person + - Explorer + - Naval Officer +--- +# Don Walsh + +Don Walsh is a renowned deep-sea explorer and former naval officer, known for achieving the deepest dive ever undertaken. In 1960, along with a crewmate, he descended to the bottom of the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean, a feat that would not be replicated for another fifty-two years[^1]. + +In the fall of 1976, Walsh, along with fellow deep-sea explorer [[Don Keach]], was running the Institute for Marine and Coastal Studies at the [[University of Southern California]]. They provided [[Stephan Schwartz]] with access to the *Taurus I*, a state-of-the-art submersible, for three days of sea trials. This access was crucial for Schwartz's [[Project Deep Quest]], which aimed to use [[Remote Viewing]] to locate a previously unknown shipwreck on the seafloor[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Dr. D. G. Vinod.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Dr. D. G. Vinod.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a8be2215 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Dr. D. G. Vinod.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Dr. D. G. Vinod +tags: + - person + - mystic + - scholar +description: Dr. D. G. Vinod was a Hindu scholar and mystic who Andrija Puharich believed channeled a group of entities called "the Nine Principles and Forces." +--- + +Dr. D. G. Vinod was a Hindu scholar and mystic who [[Andrija Puharich]] met in New York City in 1952. Puharich was deeply impressed by Vinod's apparent ability to divine his past and future with remarkable accuracy.[^1] + +Puharich brought Vinod to the [[Round Table Foundation]], where Vinod allegedly went into a trance and channeled a group of entities called "[[the Nine Principles and Forces]]." This event had a profound impact on Puharich, solidifying his belief in an external, possibly extraterrestrial, source for psychic phenomena. The séance was attended by several of the foundation's wealthy benefactors, including [[Alice Astor Bouverie]] and [[Marcella Miller du Pont]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Ed Tompson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Ed Tompson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7b91dd6b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Ed Tompson.md @@ -0,0 +1,5 @@ +Major General Edmund R. "Ed" Thompson was a key figure in the U.S. Army's psychic research programs, serving as the Army Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence ([[ACSI]]) from 1977 to 1981. Thompson, who had developed an interest in psi after reading Arthur Koestler’s The Roots of Coincidence, demonstrated considerable enthusiasm for the idea of psychic spying and remote viewing work. He supported getting the [[U.S. Army]] involved in remote viewing without relying too heavily on the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] or [[SRI International]]. + +His support included approving [[Frederick Atwater]]'s proposal for a psychic spying unit and encouraging its initial progress. Thompson also personally engaged in remote viewing semi successfully. He augmented the unit’s resources by increasing its budget and allocating positions for three full-time remote viewers. The program evolved from [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]] to "Grill Flame," encompassing both the [[Fort Meade]] unit and [[SRI International]]’s work [i]. + +Later in his career, as ACSI, Thompson expressed concerns about [[Albert Stubblebine]]’s [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]]. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Edmund Thompson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Edmund Thompson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a36af77a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Edmund Thompson.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Edmund Thompson +tags: + - person + - military + - general + - intelligence +description: Major General Edmund R. Thompson was the U.S. Army Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (ACSI) and a key supporter of the Stargate Project. +--- + +Major General [[Edmund Thompson]] was the [[U.S. Army]] Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (ACSI) from 1977 to 1981. He was a key figure in the establishment and early support of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], then codenamed [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]] and later [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]]. Thompson had a personal interest in [[Psi|psi]] phenomena, having read [[Arthur Koestler]]'s pro-paranormal book *The Roots of Coincidence*.[^1] + +Thompson approved [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]]'s proposal to assemble a remote viewing team, seeing it as an opportunity to involve the Army in psychic spying without relying too heavily on the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] or [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]]. He provided minimal initial funding and assigned Major [[Murray Watt|Scotty Watt]] to lead the unit alongside Atwater. His support was crucial in the project's early survival, despite its controversial nature and the skepticism from many within the military and intelligence communities, including his successor, [[William Odom]].[^1] + +Thompson even participated in a remote viewing session himself, attempting to remote-view Major Stone's location. Although he initially misidentified the target, he later realized he had accurately perceived a nearby Masonic Temple, which he had mistaken for the Lincoln Memorial. This experience further solidified his belief in the potential of remote viewing. He also briefed Congressman [[Charlie Rose]] on the program, contributing to Rose's staunch public support.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Edward Teller.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Edward Teller.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1db89e2f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Edward Teller.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Nuclear Physicist + - USA +--- +Edward Teller was a Hungarian-American theoretical physicist who is widely known as the "father of the hydrogen bomb." He and other American nuclear weapons designers understood well before the end of World War II that a far more powerful nuclear device, with fission as merely a first step, was theoretically possible. This new weapon, code-named "Super," was the hydrogen bomb, or fusion device.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Elmo Zumwalt.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Elmo Zumwalt.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..727fe529 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Elmo Zumwalt.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Elmo Zumwalt + - Admiral Elmo Zumwalt +tags: + - Person + - Military + - US Navy +--- +Elmo Zumwalt (1920–2000) was an American naval officer who served as the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) from 1970 to 1974. He was a key figure in modernizing the [[U.S. Navy]] during the [[Cold War]][^1]. + +[[Stephan Schwartz]] served as a special assistant for research and analysis to Admiral Zumwalt. In this capacity, starting in 1971, Schwartz was briefed on the Navy's [[Telepathy|telepathy]] studies and [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] efforts in [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] research[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Eugene Wigner.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Eugene Wigner.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8ed3a648 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Eugene Wigner.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Physicist + - USA +--- +Eugene Wigner was a Hungarian-American theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate. He, along with [[I. I. Rabi]], was asked by the Israelis to visit the still-incomplete reactor at [[Dimona]] sometime early in 1961. They reported seeing no evidence of a weapons facility, and President [[John F. Kennedy]] expressed satisfaction with their conviction that the reactor was designed for peaceful purposes.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Ezer Weizman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Ezer Weizman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..97a3fe1f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Ezer Weizman.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Military + - Israel +--- +[[Ezer Weizman]] was an [[Israel|Israeli]] politician and military leader. He served as Defense Minister under [[Menachem Begin 1]] and later became President of [[Israel]].[^1] + +[[Ezer Weizman|Weizman]] urged [[Menachem Begin 1|Begin]] to sign the [[Camp David Accords]], which [[Menachem Begin 1|Begin]] reluctantly did under pressure from [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]]. In 1978, [[Menachem Begin 1|Begin]] dispatched [[Ezer Weizman|Weizman]] to [[Pretoria]] to meet [[P.W. Botha|Prime Minister P.W. Botha]] of [[South Africa]] to discuss [[Israel|Israeli]]-[[South Africa|South African]] relations. Despite [[Menachem Begin 1|Begin's]] intentions to downgrade the relationship, [[Ezer Weizman|Weizman]] agreed with [[P.W. Botha|Botha]] on a wartime alliance between the two governments as the price for continuing nuclear tests. This led to the creation of [[SIMWA]] (SADF-IDF Mutual Wartime Agreement).[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Fred Zachariasen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Fred Zachariasen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fa637956 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Fred Zachariasen.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Fred Zachariasen +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Professor +--- +Fred Zachariasen was a physics professor at [[California Institute of Technology|Caltech]] and a ranking member of the [[Department of Defense]]'s elite [[JASON Committee]]. He was a member of the new science panel for the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Sun Streak]] program, which was established on January 31, 1986[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Frederick G. Watts.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Frederick G. Watts.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..909948b7 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Frederick G. Watts.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ + +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> Need additional time to complete research. + +Assistant [[U.S. Attorney's office|U.S. Attorney, District of Columbia]] that together with assistant attorney [[Charles R. Work]] helped to design the initial version of [[PROMIS]] with criminologist [[Joan E. Jacoby]] from 1969-1971. + +Co-wrote a paper with Work about the process entitled “Developing an Automated Information System for The Prosecutor” published in American Criminal Law Quarterly, Vol 9, No 1, Fall 1970[^1] + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: [Directory of data bases in the social and behavioral sciences : Sessions, Vivian S](https://archive.org/details/directoryofdatab0000sess/page/56/mode/2up) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Garnett Taylor.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Garnett Taylor.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..24de69ea --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Garnett Taylor.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Garnett Taylor was a former security officer at the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. He was identified by [[Lois Battistoni]] and an unnamed senior U.S. Government official (according to [[Bill Hamilton]]) as having information about the [[PROMIS Software Scandal|Inslaw matter]]. Specifically, Hamilton's source alleged that Taylor knew about the destruction of a number of [[INSLAW|Inslaw]] documents by the Justice Department's Office of Security.[^1] + +Taylor supervised by [[James Walker]], Chief Security Specialist with the Justice Management Division, for approximately one year before being transferred to Personnel Security. As a control officer, Taylor was responsible for shredding classified documents once a determination was made that they need not be retained. However, he did not review classified files of departing DOJ attorneys to determine retention or shredding; rather, the attorney themselves would make that determination.[^1] + +When interviewed, [[Charles Trombetta]] suggested that Taylor might have information concerning Inslaw documents held by the DOJ security office. William Hamilton also stated that Taylor knew that [[Anthony Moscato]], then Acting Director of EOUSA, played an affirmative role on behalf of the DOJ in denying Bankruptcy Judge Bason's reappointment. However, Moscato denied any involvement in the selection of bankruptcy judges and stated he was not familiar with Judge Norma Johnson or the Merit Selection Panel. He also noted that Taylor and he were not social friends or confidants.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/General Torrijos.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/General Torrijos.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5d713795 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/General Torrijos.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[General Torrijos]] was a figure in [[Panama]] whose family members were reportedly heavily involved at the highest levels of the world cocaine trade. During [[Jimmy Carter]]'s presidency, the Carter administration was reportedly reluctant to pursue Torrijos due to its determination in 1977 to sign a [[Panama Canal]] treaty with him.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Harry S. Truman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Harry S. Truman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..799b9aa2 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Harry S. Truman.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - President + - Government +--- +Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the [[United States]], serving from 1945 to 1953. He declined [[David Ben-Gurion]]'s offer to send Israeli troops to fight alongside [[United Nations]] forces in South Korea, reportedly fearing it would back him into a security arrangement with [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Hartleigh Trent.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Hartleigh Trent.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4fa5e0a8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Hartleigh Trent.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Hartleigh Trent +tags: + - person + - military + - psychic + - remoteviewer +description: Hartleigh Trent was a former Navy petty officer and one of the original remote viewers in the Stargate Project, known for his ability to take directions at a target. +--- +Hartleigh Trent was a former Navy petty officer and one of the original six remote viewers in the [[STARGATE PROJECT]]. He was recruited into the program, then codenamed [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]], in 1977 by [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] and [[Murray Watt|Scotty Watt]].[^1] + +Trent was the oldest of the initial group of remote viewers, in his fifties, and had a background as a photo-interpreter. He was described as a "restless tinkerer and inventor," having built a large solar-powered hot-water heater at his home. He was also a close friend of [[Mel Riley]] and [[Joe McMoneagle]].[^1] + +As a remote viewer, Trent was noted for his unusual ability to take directions at a target, even in confusing situations. In one instance, when asked to describe what was to his right, left, and front at a Soviet site, he accurately reported seeing a transmission, realizing he was lying under a truck.[^1] + +Trent was one of the six most promising members of the team selected to travel to [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) for further evaluation of their talents. He participated in the intense, round-the-clock remote viewing sessions during the Iran hostage crisis, and was present when [[Jackie Keith]] suffered a fatal heart attack.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Jack Varona.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Jack Varona.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d696baa5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Jack Varona.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Intelligence + - USA +--- +Dr. [[Jack Varona]] was the assistant deputy director of the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] for technical affairs. He was the head of the [[USA|U.S.]] delegation at an [[Israel|Israel]]-[[USA|U.S.]] intelligence exchange conference in late September 1979.[^1] + +[[Jack Varona|Varona]] was criticized by [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] for his indifference and lack of understanding regarding the [[Iraq|Iraqi]] threat to [[Iran]]. He was more concerned with obtaining details about [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]-made military equipment than with the urgent situation in [[Iran]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Jack Vorona.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Jack Vorona.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..125d56f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Jack Vorona.md @@ -0,0 +1,29 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Jack Vorona + - Dr. Jack Vorona +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - DIA + - Intelligence +--- +Jack Vorona was the Assistant Director for Scientific and Technical Intelligence at the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] (DIA) and served as the overall manager of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program. He played a crucial role in the continuation and restructuring of the U.S. government's psychic research programs after the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] scaled back its involvement[^1][^2]. + +In 1981, Vorona contacted [[Dale Graff]] and brought him to Washington, D.C., to help run a classified program called [[Psychoenergetics]]. The main goals of this project were "to evaluate the threat that foreign psychoenergetics achievements might pose to US national security, and to explore the potential of psychoenergetics for use in US intelligence collection"[^2]. Vorona believed that with the resources of the DIA, genuine progress could be made toward a general theory of [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis|PK]][^2]. + +Vorona oversaw the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program and later the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Sun Streak]] program, which aimed to train military personnel in [[Remote Viewing]]. He made administrative changes, converting the branch chief and operations officer positions from military to civilian, and reducing training time[^2]. + +He was also involved in high-priority operational tasks, such as the effort to locate [[William Richard Higgins]], a Marine Lieutenant Colonel abducted in [[Lebanon]], and the tracking of [[Muammar Qaddafi]]'s alleged chemical weapons stockpile. In the latter case, Vorona sat with [[Angela Dellafiora]] in the viewing room at [[Fort Meade]], demonstrating the high-level attention given to her abilities[^2]. + +Vorona chaired the Remote Viewing Tasking Group for Sun Streak, which included representatives from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], [[National Security Agency|NSA]], [[State Department]], and various military and intelligence agencies. This group handled targets such as underground tunnels in [[Korea]], [[Silkworm Missile]] launch facilities in [[Iran]], and the errant nuclear-powered [[Cosmos 1900]] satellite[^2]. + +He received [[Hal Puthoff]]'s sixty-page classified report, "Psychoenergetics Research in the People’s Republic of China (1982)," which confirmed the extensive research into [[Extraordinary Human Body Function|EHBF]] and its military applications in [[China]], driven by [[H. S. Tsien]][^2]. + +Vorona, along with General [[Edmund Thompson]], briefed Congressman [[Charlie Rose]] on the Grill Flame program in the late 1970s. He accompanied Rose on tours of the remote viewing facilities at both [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] and [[Fort Meade]], and was a staunch supporter of the program, despite the skepticism it faced[^1]. + +Jack Vorona retired after twenty-five years of service at DIA and was inducted into the DIA's Torch Bearers Hall in 2011[^2]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. +[^2]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Jacques Vallée.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Jacques Vallée.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4d0fd793 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Jacques Vallée.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Jacques Vallée +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Computer Scientist + - Astronomer + - UFOlogist +--- +Jacques Vallée is a French-born computer scientist, astronomer, and [[UFOlogist]]. He worked at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] and carried a top-secret security clearance, being assigned to the SRI psychic research program as a "de facto unpaid consultant"[^1]. + +In early 1973, Vallée was working on a classified [[Department of Defense]] contract for [[ARPA]] involving a multiuser military computer network called [[ARPANET]], which later became the [[Internet]]. His expertise in information technology and computer programming, combined with his dedication to the study of [[Unidentified Flying Objects|UFOs]], made him a relatable figure for [[Ingo Swann]][^1]. + +Vallée observed Swann's frustration with the [[Outbounder-Beacon Experiment|outbounder-beacon experiments]], which Swann felt were a "trivialization of my abilities." Vallée suggested Swann approach the problem from the perspective of information technology, asking, "What do you do [when remote viewing]? Do you move your consciousness around?" Swann replied, "Yes, I can position it anywhere"[^1]. + +Vallée drew an analogy between long-distance [[Telepathy|telepathy]] and his work on the ARPANET, suggesting that a "virtual addressing" scheme could be applied to [[Remote Viewing]]. This idea, that accessing a virtual address was a means of accessing data beyond sensory grasp, inspired Swann to develop the concept of [[Coordinate Remote Viewing]] (CRV)[^1]. + +Vallée also commented on the mysterious death of [[Pat Price]], noting that when the [[FBI]] learned Price was a Scientologist, the church became a suspect in his death[^1]. + +## Publications +* *Forbidden Science 2* + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/James Walker.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/James Walker.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..da343fef --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/James Walker.md @@ -0,0 +1,9 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +James Walker is the Chief Security Specialist with the Justice Management Division, having been employed by the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] for eight years. His duties include operating a Sensitive Compartment Information Facility (SCIF), a specially constructed room within the DOJ building for storing classified national security/foreign intelligence documents. Walker supervised [[Garnett Taylor]], a former DOJ security officer, for approximately one year. Walker had no recollection of an incident where he reassigned Taylor and handled document disposition himself. He stated that there were no [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] or [[PROMIS]] documents in the DOJ Security Department, nor in any of the safes he controlled or knew about.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Jerome B. Wiesner.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Jerome B. Wiesner.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3f223044 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Jerome B. Wiesner.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Jerome B. Wiesner was President [[John F. Kennedy]]'s science adviser. He was Jewish, but was totally cut out of the intelligence about [[Dimona]], and assumed that [[David Ben-Gurion]] had requested that he not deal with that issue in the White House. Wiesner played a major role on disarmament issues for the [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedy]] administration and had served as a board member of the [[Weizmann Institute of Science]]. He frequently ran into Ben-Gurion on visits to [[Israel]], who would always ask him two questions: "Can computers think? And should we build a nuclear weapon?" Wiesner consistently answered "no" to the latter, which he believed marked him as a liberal in Ben-Gurion's eyes and limited his access.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/John L. Wilhelm.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/John L. Wilhelm.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..47a837f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/John L. Wilhelm.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: + - John L. Wilhelm +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - Skeptic +--- +# John L. Wilhelm + +John L. Wilhelm was a journalist and a skeptic of [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and other anomalous mental phenomena. He is known for his *Washington Post* article, "Psychic Spying? The [[CIA]], the [[Pentagon]] and the Russians Probe the Military Potential of [[Parapsychology]]," published on August 7, 1977[^1]. + +Wilhelm's exposé centered on the [[U.S. Navy]]'s top scientist, [[Samuel Koslov]], who publicly expressed outrage about the [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] project on ESP, claiming he had demanded its cessation. Koslov told Wilhelm, "If you ask me, ‘Do you think it’s a pile of crap?’ I do, and you can quote me." Wilhelm's article highlighted the public relations nightmare faced by Koslov, especially as the nefarious details surrounding the [[Moscow Signal]] and [[Project Pandora]] had only recently become public[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/John Taylor.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/John Taylor.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..94a2fa8d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/John Taylor.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - John Taylor +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Professor +--- +John Taylor was a professor at King's College. He was one of two scientists, along with South African zoologist and anthropologist [[Lyall Watson]], who witnessed [[Uri Geller]]'s demonstrations live on [[BBC]] television's *Dimbleby Talk-In* show. During the broadcast, Geller bent and broke a fork, started a broken watch, and reproduced a drawing hidden in a sealed envelope[^1]. + +Professor Taylor expressed wonder at Geller's abilities, stating, "I believe this process... I believe that you actually broke the fork here and now." This public endorsement from a scientist contributed to the phenomenon of "conversion moments" occurring on live television, where individuals became convinced of Geller's powers[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/John Tower.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/John Tower.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..148cdba0 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/John Tower.md @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - USA + - Intelligence +--- +[[John Tower]] was a [[USA|U.S.]] Senator and a prominent figure with connections to [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] circles. He served as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.[^1] + +[[John Tower|Tower]] was introduced to [[Rafi Eitan]], then counterterrorism adviser to [[Menachem Begin 1]], in 1978. Eitan sought to build a network within the [[USA|United States]] to obtain information about Palestinian terrorists. [[John Tower|Tower]] and his senior aide, [[Robert McFarlane]], developed a close relationship with Eitan, and much information reaching the Senate Armed Services Committee found its way to Eitan's desk.[^1] + +[[John Tower|Tower]] was involved in the secret negotiations concerning the [[Iran-Contra Affair]]. He was present at a meeting in [[Santiago]], [[Chile]], in late 1986 with [[Carlos Cardoen]], [[Robert Gates]], and [[Pieter Van Der Westhuizen|Gen. Pieter Van Der Westhuizen]] (South African Military Intelligence), where the [[USA|U.S.]] reaffirmed its intention to maintain arms channels to [[Iraq]].[^1] + +[[Robert Maxwell]] claimed that when [[George Bush]] was head of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] in 1976, [[John Tower|Tower]] approached Maxwell to connect him and Bush secretly with various [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] intelligence people. Maxwell delivered, and [[John Tower|Tower]] became his friend for life, later being appointed a director of Maxwell's [[Macmillan]] publishing company in the [[USA|U.S.]].[^1] + +[[John Tower|Tower]] approached [[Robert Maxwell|Maxwell]] to market the [[PROMIS]] software on behalf of the [[Robert Gates|CIA]] group. He also personally gave [[Yitzhak Shamir]] permission to use [[USA|U.S.]] funds as a guarantee for Maxwell's publishing empire.[^1] + +After the [[Iran-Contra Affair]] scandal broke, [[John Tower|Tower]] was appointed to head a presidential commission of inquiry into the affair. The [[Tower Commission]]'s conclusions were largely seen as a cover-up, focusing only on a minor part of the sales and making no mention of the ongoing original arms channel. [[George Bush]] later nominated [[John Tower|Tower]] for defense secretary, but he was not confirmed by [[USA|Congress]].[^1] + +[[John Tower|Tower]] died in a plane crash in [[Georgia]] in early 1991.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/John Vorster.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/John Vorster.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..908d1d01 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/John Vorster.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - South Africa +--- +John Vorster was the Prime Minister of [[South Africa]]. He had sided with [[Germany]] during World War II. In 1976, he visited [[Israel]], marking the first official state visit by a South African prime minister to [[Israel]]. This visit resulted in a renewal of full diplomatic relations, as well as secret arms transfer agreements that would enable the two countries to work together in defiance of international opinion and [[United Nations]] sanctions.[^1] + +[[Shimon Peres]] made at least one private trip to [[Pretoria]] before the Vorster visit to arrange for arms and nuclear cooperation. His agenda included nuclear testing, and he won a commitment in principle from John Vorster for a series of joint Israeli–South African tests in [[South Africa]].[^1] + +In 1970, Vorster informed Parliament that [[South Africa]]'s nuclear scientists had developed a unique uranium enrichment process involving jetnozzle enrichment and a sophisticated cascade technique. Within a few years, [[South Africa]] began construction of a pilot plant for the production of enriched uranium, not subject to [[International Atomic Energy Agency|IAEA]] safeguards, at a plant called Valindaba near [[Pretoria]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 19. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Joseph O. Zurhellen, Jr..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Joseph O. Zurhellen, Jr..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a2b96e9d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Joseph O. Zurhellen, Jr..md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - USA +--- +Joseph O. Zurhellen, Jr. was the replacement for [[William N. Dale]] as deputy chief of mission at the American embassy in [[Tel Aviv]]. He followed Ambassador [[Walworth Barbour]]'s cue and was much less interested in [[Dimona]]. Zurhellen explained that Barbour was not well versed in technical matters and that the embassy's view was that much of the international concern about [[Dimona]] had been deliberately fostered by [[Israel]] as "disinformation."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 12. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Karl Maria Wiligut.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Karl Maria Wiligut.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..500d8044 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Karl Maria Wiligut.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Karl Maria Wiligut + - Wiligut +tags: + - Person + - Nazi Germany + - SS + - Occultist +--- +Karl Maria Wiligut (1866–1946) was an Austrian occultist and SS-Brigadeführer who advised [[Heinrich Himmler]] on esoteric matters within [[Nazi Germany]]. Himmler, fascinated with the occult since his college days, hired Wiligut in 1925 to advise him on these subjects[^1]. + +Wiligut was an expert in runes and Teutonic symbols, and he designed the SS death's-head ring, *Totenkopfring*. He claimed to be a seer, or medium, who could channel a tribe of ancient Aryans from AD 1200[^1]. + +Elevated to the position of SS-Brigadeführer, Wiligut remained on Himmler's personal staff until SS intelligence officers discovered that he had been committed to a mental institution in 1923 and declared legally insane. In 1936, he was removed from the SS command structure, but Himmler continued to meet with him privately until at least 1941, as indicated in Himmler's diaries[^1]. + +Wiligut's influence on Himmler contributed to the promotion of quasi-science projects within the [[Nazi Germany|Third Reich]], particularly through organizations like [[Das Ahnenerbe]], which sought to prove the superiority of Nazi ideology through mystical and occult means[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Karl Zener.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Karl Zener.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a024bb62 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Karl Zener.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Karl Zener +tags: + - person + - psychologist + - parapsychologist +description: Karl Zener was an American psychologist and parapsychologist known for developing the Zener cards used in ESP experiments. +--- + +[[Karl Zener]] was an American psychologist and parapsychologist. He is best known for developing the [[Zener Cards]] in the early 1930s, which became a standard tool for testing [[ESP]] (extrasensory perception) in [[Parapsychology|parapsychological]] experiments. Zener collaborated with [[J. B. Rhine]] at the [[Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Leonid L. Vasilev.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Leonid L. Vasilev.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..45f11da5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Leonid L. Vasilev.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Leonid L. Vasilev + - L. L. Vasilev +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Parapsychologist + - Soviet Union +--- +# Leonid L. Vasilev + +Leonid L. Vasilev was a leading Russian [[Parapsychology|parapsychology]] researcher who played a significant role in the [[Soviet Union]]'s efforts to investigate [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]]. He is noted for his statements in April 1960, where he claimed that Soviet scientists had conducted extensive, unreported investigations into telepathy under the Stalin regime, predating American efforts[^1]. + +Vasilev asserted that the publication of articles like [[Jacques Bergier]]'s "Thought Transfer, Weapon of War" and "The Secret of the Nautilus" in French journals stimulated Soviet parapsychology research. He used these reports to advocate for increased Soviet investment in the field, stating, "Today the American Navy is testing telepathy on their atomic submarines. Soviet scientists conducted a great many successful telepathy tests over a quarter of a century ago. It’s urgent that we throw off our prejudices. We must plunge into the exploration of this vital field"[^1]. + +In a 1963 Kremlin edict, the Soviet minister of defense, R. J. Malinosky, declared [[Telepathy]] to be science- and technology-based, leading to the creation of the Special Laboratory for Biocommunications Phenomena at the University of Leningrad, with Vasilev in charge. The laboratory's goals included establishing "scientific proof of telepathic communications" and identifying the nature of the brain energy that produces it. Vasilev proclaimed that "The discovery of the energy underlying telepathic communication will be equivalent to the discovery of atomic energy"[^1]. + +Vasilev's work contributed to the Soviet nomenclature around ESP being rewritten to sound technical, severing ties with its occult past. Mental telepathy became "long-distance biological signal transmission," and [[Psychokinesis|psychokinesis]] was termed "non-ionizing, in particular electromagnetic, emissions from humans"[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Leonid Vasiliev.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Leonid Vasiliev.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..40ae0b66 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Leonid Vasiliev.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Leonid Vasiliev +tags: + - person + - scientist + - parapsychologist + - SovietUnion +description: Leonid Vasiliev was a prominent Soviet parapsychologist and chairman of the physiology department at the University of Leningrad, known for his research into remote influencing. +--- + +[[Leonid Vasiliev]] was a prominent [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] parapsychologist and chairman of the physiology department at the University of Leningrad. A past winner of the Lenin Prize, Vasiliev was a key figure in the resurgence of Soviet [[Parapsychology|psi]] research following the publication of [[The Nautilus (Telepathy Project)|"The Secret of the Nautilus"]] article in 1960. He argued that "the discovery of the energy underlying ESP will be equivalent to the discovery of atomic energy."[^1] + +By the early 1960s, Vasiliev was heading a well-funded parapsychology laboratory, and his work soon concentrated on "remote-influencing" experiments, such as attempting to telepathically induce sleep in a distant receiver. His efforts, along with those of other Soviet researchers like [[I. M. Kogan]], contributed to the establishment of numerous other psi research centers in the Soviet Union.[^1] + +Vasiliev publicly stated in April 1960 that the Soviets had conducted extensive and unreported investigations into telepathy under the Stalin regime, and that they had successfully performed telepathy tests over a quarter-century prior to the alleged U.S. Nautilus tests. He urged Soviet scientists to overcome their prejudices against such research and to explore this vital field, which he believed had the potential to be as significant as the discovery of atomic energy.[^2] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. +[^2]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Leslie Ronald Young.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Leslie Ronald Young.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..073254b8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Leslie Ronald Young.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Leslie Ronald Young + - Jimmy Young +tags: + - Person + - Broadcaster +--- +# Leslie Ronald "Jimmy" Young + +Leslie Ronald "Jimmy" Young was a veteran British broadcaster for [[BBC Radio 2]], known for his show *The Jimmy Young Show*, which had a wide audience across England, [[Ireland]], and [[Scotland]][^1]. + +On November 23, 1973, Young conducted a live on-air experiment with [[Uri Geller]]. Young asked Geller to bend a large key. Geller concentrated, and encouraged listeners across the [[United Kingdom]] to summon their own [[Psychokinesis|psychokinetic]] powers and bend metal in their homes. Live on national radio, Young exclaimed, "It’s bending right in front of me, I can’t believe it!"[^1]. + +Following the broadcast, the [[BBC]] switchboard was inundated with calls from citizens reporting metal objects in their homes inexplicably bending, and watches restarting. This event, which the [[CIA]] referred to as "secondary consequences," led many people across Great Britain to believe they had bent metal with their own minds[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Leslie Van Meter.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Leslie Van Meter.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b95d58c4 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Leslie Van Meter.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Leslie Van Meter]] was the widow of [[Ron Van Meter]], a deputy in the Mariposa Sheriff's Department. She was notified of her husband's disappearance after his alleged boating accident on Lake McClure. Her home was subsequently ransacked, and her husband's briefcase and diary were seized by the Mariposa Sheriff's Department. She and a few deputies were the only ones who knew the contents of Van Meter's diary. A special life insurance policy taken out by Ron two weeks before his death also went missing after the search.[^1] + +On March 23, 1984, [[Leslie Van Meter]] filed a Citizen's Complaint with the Mariposa County Sheriff's Department, alleging negligence and unprofessionalism in the investigation of her husband's disappearance, as his body had still not been found. She requested the case be re-opened. On July 6, 1985, she filed a "Request for Official Inquiry" with the State of [[California]] Department of Boating and Waterways, stating that no satisfactory investigation had been conducted.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Lew Wasserman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Lew Wasserman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fb905cb9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Lew Wasserman.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Lew Wasserman]] was the Chairman of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] Corporation. He was a powerful figure in Hollywood and a long-time political supporter of [[Ronald Reagan]]. Wasserman represented Reagan during the actor's early days in Hollywood, and along with [[Jules Stein]], [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]'s founder, negotiated the sale of Reagan's [[California]] properties at hugely inflated prices, which helped make Reagan a millionaire.[^1] + +Wasserman was a major contributor to and sat on the board of the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] presidential library, along with [[Edwin Meese]] and others. He was involved in raising $80 million to build it.[^1] + +Wasserman was connected to organized crime. He was on the [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] Board of Directors during the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] investigation into alleged mob ties to [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]. [[Edward Sciandra]] reportedly wanted to go to Wasserman and [[Sidney Sheinberg]] (President of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]) and tell them who they were up against.[^1] + +[[Ronald Reagan]] and [[Nancy Reagan]] were known to celebrate New Year's Eve with Wasserman and his wife, Edie. [[Howard Baker]] returned to [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]'s board of directors in March 1989, just in time to help Wasserman celebrate his seventy-sixth birthday.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Llewellyn Thomas.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Llewellyn Thomas.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..acf172ee --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Llewellyn Thomas.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Llewellyn Thomas +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - Ambassador +--- +Llewellyn Thomas (1903–1972) was an American diplomat who served as the U.S. Ambassador to the [[Soviet Union]] from 1957 to 1962 and again from 1967 to 1969. He was one of the ambassadors who was subjected to the [[Moscow Signal]], a microwave beam aimed at the [[U.S. Embassy in Moscow]] by the Soviets[^1]. + +Thomas died of cancer on February 6, 1972, at the age of sixty-seven. His death, along with that of [[Charles Bohlen]] and later [[Walter Stoessel Jr.]], raised concerns about the potential health effects of prolonged exposure to the Moscow Signal[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Louis de Wohl.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Louis de Wohl.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e5e14148 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Louis de Wohl.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Louis de Wohl +tags: + - Person + - Astrologer + - Propaganda +--- +# Louis de Wohl + +Louis de Wohl was a German-born Hungarian astrologer and British citizen who became a key figure in Allied black propaganda during [[World War II]]. He was one of the most high-profile astrologers in the Western world, with admirers including [[Lord Halifax]], Britain's Foreign Secretary, and the Duke of Alba, the ambassador from [[Spain]][^1]. + +De Wohl's mission in America, in the summer of 1941, was to elevate astrology into the realm of "astro-philosophy" and, more importantly, to influence American public opinion in favor of aiding [[Great Britain]]. His syndicated American column, "Stars Foretell," consistently emphasized the Nazi threat. Starting in June 1941, shortly after the [[Rudolf Hess]] affair, de Wohl's predictions became unusually specific and appeared to come true, such as his foretelling of a "strong collaborator of Hitler who is neither German nor a Nazi will go violently insane," which was followed by reports of Admiral Georges Robert, the Vichy High Commissioner of the French West Indies, going mad[^1]. + +His escalating popularity led the [[Federal Communications Commission]] to lift its ban against astrologers and air an exclusive interview with him. He was also the first astrologer filmed for a U.S. newsreel. However, de Wohl's successful American career was a product of [[British Intelligence]], specifically through its operational arm in America, the [[British Security Coordination Office]]. His so-called manager was none other than the spymaster [[William Stephenson]], whom [[Winston Churchill]] famously called Intrepid. The [[American Federation of Scientific Astrologers]] and its 1941 convention had been fabricated by [[MI6]]. The British spy agency would first feed information to de Wohl for his column, and then feed this bogus information to the U.S. press, which, unable to fact-check with [[Nazi Germany]], would report it as real[^1]. + +De Wohl's efforts were effective in swaying public opinion away from U.S. isolationist views. A declassified memo from Stephenson noted that "An ever-growing audience [is] becoming convinced of his supernatural powers"[^1]. This operation was coordinated with [[William Donovan]], who would later head the [[Office of Strategic Services]], the precursor to the [[CIA]][^1]. After the Japanese bombed [[Pearl Harbor]] and the U.S. declared war on Japan, and [[Adolf Hitler]] declared war on the United States, de Wohl returned to England[^1]. + +For the next few years, de Wohl was used by the Allies as a countermeasure to [[Heinrich Himmler]]'s use of astrology and the occult. Under the direction of master propagandist [[Sefton Delmer]], de Wohl wrote seemingly authentic astrology charts that predicted the demise of certain Nazi admirals and generals, and stated that [[Adolf Hitler]] would be betrayed by his inner circle. These fake star charts and horoscopes were included in near-perfect replicas of a banned German astrological magazine called *Zenit*, intended for underground distribution in Germany. However, these counterfeit magazines were seized by the [[Gestapo]] in [[Stettin]], as detailed by [[Wilhelm Wulff]] in his memoir *Zodiac and Swastika*[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Lyall Watson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Lyall Watson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..78654365 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Lyall Watson.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Lyall Watson +tags: + - Person + - Zoologist + - Anthropologist +--- +Lyall Watson was a South African zoologist and anthropologist. He was one of two scientists, along with King's College professor [[John Taylor]], who witnessed [[Uri Geller]]'s demonstrations live on [[BBC]] television's *Dimbleby Talk-In* show. During the broadcast, Geller bent and broke a fork, started a broken watch, and reproduced a drawing hidden in a sealed envelope[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Malcolm Toon.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Malcolm Toon.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f856a3ab --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Malcolm Toon.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Diplomat + - USA +--- +Malcolm Toon was the U.S. Ambassador to [[Israel]]. In 1976, after [[Carl E. Duckett]] inadvertently revealed that the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] estimated [[Israel]]'s nuclear arsenal to total at least ten warheads, Toon was summoned by [[Yigal Allon]], then Israeli Foreign Minister, to discuss the disclosure. Toon reported that Allon was "very disturbed" and asked rhetorically why the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] had done it. Toon dutifully explained that Duckett's remarks were supposed to have been off-the-record. When Toon asked Allon if Duckett's conclusion was accurate, Allon replied, "It is not true."[^1] + +A year later, after [[Jimmy Carter]]'s election, Toon told a delegation of thirteen visiting American senators that he was sure [[Israel]] had the bomb. He complained that it was "indecent for [[Israel]] to keep us out of [[Dimona]]," but recalled the bureaucratic response was "Don't stir up the waters."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 19. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Manuel Zelaya.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Manuel Zelaya.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..96ae3d61 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Manuel Zelaya.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Manuel Zelaya]] was the president of [[Honduras]]. On June 28, 2009, he was rousted from his home in Tegucigalpa and exiled at gunpoint to [[Costa Rica]]. He called the action a kidnapping and maintained he was still president. The [[United States]] and other countries condemned the coup.[^1] + +Zelaya was ousted by a coup allegedly designed by [[General Daniel Lopez Carballo]] and [[Romeo Vásquez Velásquez]], both friends of [[Jimmy Hughes]]. The Honduran Supreme Court reportedly gave the order for the military to detain the president. The Honduran Congress formally removed Zelaya from the presidency and named congressional leader [[Roberto Micheletti]] as his successor.[^1] + +[[General Daniel Lopez Carballo]] justified the coup by stating that [[Venezuelan President]] [[Hugo Chávez]] would eventually be running [[Honduras]] by proxy if the military had not acted. Zelaya had been in the process of forming a friendship or alliance with [[Hugo Chávez]], which could have led to the [[United States]] losing its airbase in [[Honduras]] (Soto Cano Air Base), which [[Oliver North]] once used as a base of operations for the [[Contras]].[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Marcel Vogel.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Marcel Vogel.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e69de29b diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Marilyn Titus.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Marilyn Titus.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1bd7bd46 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Marilyn Titus.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Marilyn Titus worked for [[Simeon]] from September 1982 until January 1984, and then for [[Hadron]] for four years after leaving Simeon. Simeon was a subsidiary of Hadron, Inc. + +[[Bill Hamilton]]'s affidavit claimed that Titus, then secretary to [[Paul Wormeli]], stated that the purpose of a 1983 fundraising trip to New York by [[Dominic Laiti]] and Wormeli was to "raise capital to buy the court [i.e. [[PROMIS]]] software."[^1] + +Titus, however, denied this. She told investigators that to her knowledge, the only court-related software company Simeon/Hadron ever had an interest in purchasing was a Southern California company called Responsive Design. She stated that she never heard any discussion about Hadron obtaining PROMIS software and did not believe she ever told William Hamilton that the purpose of the 1983 fundraising trip was to acquire PROMIS or [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]. She also confirmed that she was not present at or a participant in any conversations Simeon or Hadron personnel had about Inslaw, and that no one ever made a statement in her presence indicating that Wormeli and Laiti attempted to raise capital to buy Inslaw, or that Hadron had any interest in acquiring Inslaw or PROMIS. Furthermore, she said no one made any statements in her presence that indicated they were contemplating any unethical or illegal activities to acquire PROMIS.[^1] + +The Special Counsel's investigation concluded that Titus's statements did not support Hamilton's claims and that there was no evidence from her or other interviewed individuals that Hadron or Simeon ever had any interest in obtaining Inslaw's software.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Mark Thatcher.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Mark Thatcher.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7c56498b --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Mark Thatcher.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - ArmsDealer + - UK +--- +[[Mark Thatcher]] is the son of British Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]]. He is an established arms dealer with significant connections in the international arms trade, particularly with [[Chile]] and [[South Africa]].[^1] + +In 1983, [[Mark Thatcher|Thatcher]] introduced [[Gerald Bull]] to [[Pieter Van Der Westhuizen|Gen. Pieter Van Der Westhuizen]], chief of [[South African Military Intelligence]], who then connected Bull with [[South African Arms Corporation|ARMSCOR]] for his "supergun" project.[^1] + +[[Mark Thatcher|Thatcher]] was present at a meeting in [[Santiago]], [[Chile]], in late 1986 with [[Carlos Cardoen]], [[Robert Gates]], Senator [[John Tower]], and [[Pieter Van Der Westhuizen|Gen. Pieter Van Der Westhuizen]], where the [[USA|U.S.]] reaffirmed its intention to maintain arms channels to [[Iraq]] through [[South Africa]] and [[Chile]].[^1] + +[[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen]] indicated that [[Mark Thatcher|Thatcher]] was involved in his business, and that he had the backing of the [[USA|Americans]] and the Chilean government. [[Mark Thatcher|Thatcher]] also had business dealings with [[South Africa]] for a long time, and was involved in providing military equipment through the [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen]] network to the [[Iraq|Iraqis]], including nuclear missile projects.[^1] + +In 1988, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] met [[Mark Thatcher|Thatcher]] in [[Santiago]], [[Chile]], where [[Mark Thatcher|Thatcher]] presented himself as a private businessman with no connection to the British government, despite his mother's position. He expressed admiration for [[Augusto Pinochet|Pinochet]] and discussed the [[Falklands War]], noting [[Chile]]'s support for [[United Kingdom|Britain]]. He also revealed that [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen]] received technology directly from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] through [[Robert Gates|Gates's]] office.[^1] + +[[Mark Thatcher|Thatcher]] was involved in the sale of 48 [[Chieftain tanks]] to [[Chile]] after the [[Falklands War]]. He was also linked to [[Ihsan Barbouti]] and [[Sarcis Sargalian]] in projects supplying [[Iraq]] with military equipment. [[Richard Babayan]], a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] contract agent, also controlled a network providing equipment for [[Iraq]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Mike Timpani.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Mike Timpani.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..11925c06 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Mike Timpani.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Business + - ArmsDealer +--- +[[Mike Timpani]] was an individual who worked for [[GeoMiliTech]] (GMT), a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]-financed company. He was involved in various arms deals, particularly concerning the sale of C-130 aircraft to [[Iran]].[^1] + +In April 1989, [[Mike Timpani|Timpani]] was involved in a deal to sell three C-130s to [[Iran|Tehran]], working with [[Richard St. Francis]] of [[TransCapital]] and [[Joseph O'Toole]]. This deal was intended to be a go-between for [[Israel]] and [[Iran]]. He was slated to make a personal profit of $2 million from this deal.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Mordecai Vanunu.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Mordecai Vanunu.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e8e55bcc --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Mordecai Vanunu.md @@ -0,0 +1,49 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Whistleblower + - Israel +--- +[[Mordecai Vanunu]] was a former technician at a nuclear facility near [[Dimona]], [[Israel]], who became a whistleblower, exposing details of [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear program to the _London Sunday Times_ in 1986.[^1][^2] + +### Background and Early Career + +[[Mordecai Vanunu|Vanunu]] was born in [[Morocco]] to a right-wing Jewish family that migrated to [[Israel]] in the early 1960s. He grew up in [[Beersheba]] and was drafted into the military, where he was trained as a technician at the [[Dimona reactor]]. After his military service, he continued to work there as a civilian. He began sympathizing with the Palestinian cause and was horrified by [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear capabilities.[^1] + +### Work at Dimona and Security Breach + +Vanunu began working as a technician at [[Dimona]] in August 1977 and spent much of the next eight years assigned to various tasks inside the reprocessing plant, formally known as Machon 2 and informally as the Tunnel. This plant, handling highly radioactive materials, was the most sensitive area at [[Dimona]], with only 150 of Dimona's 2,700 employees working there. A special pass was required for entry, and all movement was theoretically closely monitored. However, Vanunu found that the stringent security existed only in theory.[^2] + +Constantly in trouble for his public pro-Arab views, Vanunu was laid off in mid-1985 as part of a government-wide cutback. He appealed through his union and won back his job. It was at this point that he smuggled a camera into the reprocessing plant during an overnight shift and wandered around undetected for some forty minutes, taking fifty-seven color photographs. A few weeks later, he was fired after calling for the formation of a Palestinian state during an Arab rally. Even then, with union help, Vanunu negotiated a settlement from Dimona's management, receiving severance pay and a letter attesting to his good record.[^2] + +### Exile and Attempts to Share Information + +A combination of factors—disenchantment with his life, distress at the treatment of Arabs in [[Israel]], and what he had learned inside [[Dimona]]—drove him to exile in [[Australia]] and eventually to the _London Sunday Times_. [[Mordecai Vanunu|Vanunu]] first traveled to [[Thailand]] and [[Nepal]], where he converted to [[Buddhism]]. He carried with him photographs and undeveloped film of the inside of the [[Israel|Israeli]] nuclear facility. In [[Nepal]], he contacted the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] Embassy in [[Kathmandu]] and offered them the photographs, but received little in return.[^1][^2] + +[[Mordecai Vanunu|Vanunu]] later traveled to [[Australia]], where he preached about the evils of nuclear power and shared his top-secret photos with a church prayer group. He converted to [[Christianity]] and worked as a part-time taxi driver. [[Oscar Guerrero]], a freelance journalist, saw the photographs and proposed publishing them for a fee.[^1] + +### Mossad Operation and Capture + +[[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence learned of [[Mordecai Vanunu|Vanunu's]] activities and sought to stop him. Copies of some of Vanunu's sensational photographs were made available in [[London]]—before publication of the _Sunday Times_ story—to an Israeli intelligence agent masquerading as an American newspaper reporter. The photographs were sent by courier to the office of Prime Minister [[Shimon Peres]], who ordered [[Mossad]] to get Vanunu out of [[London]] and into Israeli custody. [[Cindy Hanin Bentov]], a [[Mossad]] agent, enticed Vanunu to leave for [[Rome]] a few days before publication. Once in [[Rome]], Vanunu was drugged and returned to [[Israel]] by ship to stand trial. He was sentenced in March 1988 to eighteen years in a maximum-security prison for espionage and treason.[^1][^2] + +### Impact on American Intelligence + +Vanunu's _Times_ interview and his photographs of many of the production units in the Tunnel, or Machon 2, provided the American intelligence community with the first extensive evidence of Israeli capability to manufacture fusion, or thermonuclear, weapons. American intelligence also obtained copies of many of the _Sunday Times_'s interview notes with Vanunu, which provided more specific detail of the inner workings of [[Dimona]]. Senior American officials and nuclear experts uniformly agreed that the unpublished Vanunu notes are highly credible, with one official describing the scope of the operation as "much more extensive than we thought."[^2] + +The most exhaustive analysis of the Vanunu statements and photographs was conducted by the Z Division, a special intelligence unit at the [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory|Livermore Laboratories]]. While Z Division's only debate was over the numbers, as Vanunu claimed [[Israel]]'s nuclear stockpile totaled over two hundred warheads (a number significantly higher than [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] estimates), American nonproliferation experts independently learned of a boost in [[Dimona]]'s cooling capacity, further evidence of Vanunu's credibility.[^2] + +### Nuclear Program Timeline and Capabilities + +Vanunu's revelations helped American intelligence experts date the progress of the Israeli nuclear arsenal. He revealed that Unit 92 in the Tunnel had been painstakingly removing tritium from heavy water since the 1960s, indicating that physicists at [[Dimona]] had been attempting to manufacture "boosted" fission weapons from the earliest days of production. In 1980, he was assigned to work at a new production plant for lithium 6, another essential element of the hydrogen bomb. In 1984, a new facility (Unit 93) for large-scale production of tritium was opened, suggesting that full-scale production of neutron weapons began then.[^2] + +### Dimona Facility Structure + +As described by Vanunu, [[Dimona]] includes the reactor (Machon 1) and at least eight other buildings, or Machons, with Machon 2 (the chemical reprocessing plant) being the most essential. Machon 1 is the large silver-domed reactor, sixty feet in diameter, where uranium fuel rods remain for three months and are cooled by heavy water. The steam created is vented into the atmosphere, creating a radioactive cloud. Machon 3 converts lithium 6 into a solid for insertion into a nuclear warhead and processes natural uranium for the reactor. Machon 4 contains a waste treatment plant for radioactive residue from Machon 2. Machon 5 coats uranium rods with aluminum for consumption in the reactor. Machon 6 provides basic services and power. Machon 8 contains a laboratory for testing samples and experimenting on new manufacturing processes, and is also the site of Special Unit 840, where Israeli scientists developed a gas centrifuge method of enriching uranium. Machon 9 houses a laser-isotope-reprocessing facility for uranium enrichment. Depleted uranium is chemically isolated in Machon 10 for shipment to the Israeli Defense Force or sale to arms manufacturers.[^2] + +### Production Capacity + +The Tunnel (Machon 2) remained in operation around the clock for thirty-four weeks a year, producing a weekly average of 1.2 kilograms of pure plutonium, enough for four to a dozen or more bombs annually, depending on warhead design. This production rate suggests the reactor operates at about 120 to 150 megawatts, more than five times its officially stated output, consuming nearly one hundred tons of uranium ore a year. The precision involved in machining plutonium hemispheres and placing them around gases for boosted nuclear weapons was achieved through advancements in robotics, a field in which [[Aharon Katzir]] was world-renowned for his research at the [[Weizmann Institute of Science]].[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. _Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network_. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") [^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 15. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Mordechai Tsippori.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Mordechai Tsippori.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..88141411 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Mordechai Tsippori.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Israel +--- +[[Mordechai Tsippori]] was the director general of the [[Israel|Israeli]] Ministry of Defense in 1980. He gave the go-ahead for [[Israel]] to develop a hydrogen bomb for testing.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Murray Watt.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Murray Watt.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5c8a2f1f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Murray Watt.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Murray Watt +tags: + - person + - military + - officer +description: Murray "Scotty" Watt was a U.S. Army Major and the commanding officer of the remote viewing unit in the Stargate Project. +--- + +Murray B. "Scotty" Watt was a U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and the first commander of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]] (later [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]]) remote viewing unit. He was two decades older than [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]], described as a tall and husky man with a bulbous nose and a Boston accent. Watt had a reputation for a volcanic temper, which was said to have hindered his career progression after an incident in Panama where he struck a fellow officer. He was chosen for this obscure and potentially controversial assignment because it was felt he had "little to lose."[^1] + +Watt, along with Atwater, was responsible for selecting and training the initial remote viewers for the program. He handled the bureaucratic aspects of the unit, maintaining contact with the network of Grill Flame customers and ensuring the unit's operations adhered to necessary protocols. He was concerned about maintaining the appearance of scientific rigor and avoiding any perception of cheating within the program.[^1] + +Watt was present during many key remote viewing sessions, including the initial session with [[Mel Riley]] where he served as the target. He also played a role in the acquisition of a Soviet T-72 tank, signing for the envelope containing the target information. He was a key figure in the unit's operations during the Iran hostage crisis, where he gathered the team at a motel to conduct continuous remote viewing related to the rescue mission.[^1] + +Despite his initial lack of interest in the paranormal, Watt was instrumental in the establishment and early operations of the Army's psychic spying program. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel during his tenure with the unit. He eventually transferred out of the unit, but not before helping to establish it on a firm footing.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Orwin C. Talbott.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Orwin C. Talbott.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..006191fc --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Orwin C. Talbott.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - USA +--- +Orwin C. Talbott was a Lieutenant General and deputy commander of the U.S. Army's Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). In early 1974, Talbott visited [[Israel]] to discuss lessons learned from the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]]. During a meeting with [[David Elazar]], then Israeli Chief of Staff, Elazar suddenly began talking "out of the blue" about [[Israel]]'s threat to use nuclear weapons in the desperate moments of the 1973 war. Talbott understood the significance of this information and quickly filed a top-secret one-page memorandum for General [[Creighton W. Abrams]], the Army chief of staff, believing Elazar was trying to send a message to [[Washington D.C.]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/P. T. Van Dyke.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/P. T. Van Dyke.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d0f49be3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/P. T. Van Dyke.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +aliases: + - P. T. Van Dyke +tags: + - Person + - Author +--- +P. T. Van Dyke was a co-author of the Pentagon briefing, "Paranormal Phenomena—Briefing on a Net Assessment Study," published in January 1973. This report discussed the potential military utility of [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis|PK]], particularly in the context of [[Uri Geller]]'s alleged abilities[^1]. + +The study noted that it would not be conceptually difficult to imagine the utility of psychokinesis in disrupting electrical systems, such as those associated with an [[Intercontinental Ballistic Missile|ICBM]]'s guidance program, as displayed by Geller. The report emphasized a serious need for detailed analytical studies of these phenomena by specialists in various scientific disciplines[^1]. + +Van Dyke and his co-author, [[M. L. Juncosa]], also highlighted the challenge facing anyone working on such studies, noting that the subject matter "tends to be polarized into uncritical acceptance or total rejection" of fact. They lamented that little progress was likely to be made as long as the research field remained a "childish battle between 'true believers' and 'the incredulous [who] dismiss the matter out of hand'"[^1]. + +## Publications +* "Paranormal Phenomena—Briefing on a Net Assessment Study" (1973, co-authored with M. L. Juncosa) + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Patricia Wald.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Patricia Wald.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..73f52444 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Patricia Wald.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Patricia Wald was the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She played a direct role in the events surrounding the non-reappointment of [[George Francis Bason, Jr.|Judge Bason]], which became a central point of contention in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] due to allegations of improper influence by the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. + +On December 28, 1987, Chief Judge Wald informed Judge Bason of the Court's decision not to reappoint him. Subsequently, on January 12, 1988, Judge Bason sent a 14-page letter to Chief Judge Wald (with copies to every judge on the Court of Appeals), in which he raised the allegation that the DOJ may have obstructed his reappointment in retaliation for his rulings in the [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] case. This letter became a basis for the DOJ's motion to recuse Judge Bason from further proceedings in the [[INSLAW]] case.[^1] + +The Special Counsel's investigation found no evidence that anyone tried to influence the selection process improperly. Chief Judge Wald unequivocally denied that the DOJ obstructed or attempted to obstruct the reappointment of Bankruptcy Judge Bason. The investigation concluded that the allegations of improper interference were not supported by credible evidence. The report notes that Judge Bason's allegation was made by himself, a disappointed candidate, and that the great weight of the evidence supports the conclusion that there was no attempt by the DOJ to obstruct his reappointment.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Paul C. Warnke.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Paul C. Warnke.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e356140a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Paul C. Warnke.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Government Official + - USA +--- +Paul C. Warnke served as the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. He was involved in intense pressure on [[Israel]] to sign the [[Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty|NPT]] in exchange for F-4 fighter jets. Warnke directly questioned [[Yitzhak Rabin]], then [[Israel]]'s ambassador to [[Washington D.C.]], about [[Israel]]'s nuclear capabilities, stating, "we are shocked at the manner in which you are dealing with us.… You, our close ally, are building nuclear bombs in [[Israel]] behind our back."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 14. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Paul Wilcher.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Paul Wilcher.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7619b696 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Paul Wilcher.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +[[Paul Wilcher]] was a Washington D.C. attorney who investigated the [[October Surprise]] incident based on the claims of his client, [[Gunther Karl Russbacher]]. He was also investigating possible government involvement in a variety of questionable activities, including the [[INSLAW]] case, with his research leading him into areas that [[Danny Casolaro]] had covered earlier.[^1] + +On or about May 21, 1993, Wilcher hand-delivered a 100-page letter to [[Janet Reno]], the [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]], claiming that holdover [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] employees from the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]]-[[George Bush|Bush]] era were responsible for a number of government cover-ups, unbeknownst to the Attorney General and President [[Bill Clinton]]. On or about June 11, Wilcher was interviewed by [[Carl Stern]], her public relations man, regarding the contents of the letter.[^1] + +After days of not hearing from him, worried friends contacted the police, who found his decomposing body propped on a toilet in his apartment on June 23, 1993. [[Sarah McClendon]], a [[White House]] correspondent and close friend of Wilcher, wrote that Wilcher believed [[Gunther Karl Russbacher]] to be a political prisoner, persecuted because he allegedly flew former President [[George Bush]] to [[Paris]] to meet with leading Iranians to make a deal to supply [[Iran]] with weapons in exchange for keeping American hostages until after the November election, ensuring [[Ronald Reagan]]'s victory.[^1] + +Wilcher was working daily for Russbacher and wanted to ask [[Janet Reno]] to grant immunity from prosecution to Russbacher so he could testify about activities inside the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. McClendon concluded that Wilcher was a "casualty of good citizenship and patriotism." She attempted to obtain his papers and tapes, but his family took them away.[^1] + +[[Garby Leon]] wrote a letter to [[Janet Reno]] on July 14, 1993, highlighting the disturbing parallels between Wilcher's death and [[Danny Casolaro]]'s, noting that both were investigating illegal government activities, expressed fears for their lives, and were found dead in bizarre circumstances with missing records and altered corpses. The letter also mentioned the presence of police, [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], and [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] at the scene of Wilcher's death.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Paul Wormeli.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Paul Wormeli.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e7a28f9a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Paul Wormeli.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Paul Wormeli was the Vice President in charge of Product Development for [[Simeon]], Inc., a company that was purchased by Hadron in 1982. He remained with Simeon for two years after the acquisition. + +Wormeli accompanied [[Dominic Laiti]] on a business trip to New York City in late 1983, which [[Bill Hamilton]] alleged was to raise capital to buy [[PROMIS]]. Wormeli confirmed that the trip was to raise money for Simeon and that he and Laiti met with [[Earl Brian]] and executives from Allen and Company, including [[Mark Kesselman]], to discuss funding. However, Wormeli stated that neither Laiti nor Brian ever discussed the acquisition of PROMIS or [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] with him, and that Laiti never mentioned PROMIS or Inslaw to him or at any of the New York meetings. Wormeli first became aware of Inslaw's problems with the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] from reading newspaper articles. While sympathetic to Hamilton's view, Wormeli maintained he had no knowledge of a connection between Hadron and Inslaw.[^1] + +The Special Counsel's investigation found that Wormeli's testimony did not support Hamilton's thesis that the New York trip was to raise money to buy PROMIS. The investigation concluded that there was no evidence from Wormeli or other interviewed individuals that Hadron or Simeon ever had any interest in obtaining Inslaw's software.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Paul Zalis.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Paul Zalis.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..578eee67 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Paul Zalis.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Paul Zalis]] was a staff writer for the *Indio Daily News* (currently known as the *Desert Sun*). He reported on the subsequent killings of [[Fred Alvarez]], [[Ralph Boger]], and [[Patricia Castro]]. Zalis wrote that [[Indio City Manager]] [[Phillip Hawes]] confirmed that [[William Cole]], a Los Angeles-based attorney, had been hired to investigate possible links between the triple slayings and the [[Cabazon Casino]].[^1] + +Zalis also reported that [[Fred Alvarez]], [[Joseph R. (Mike) Benitez]], and [[William Callaway]] had previously divulged their findings to him in May 1981, asserting that they were marked for death, but their story never got published.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Peter Tompkins.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Peter Tompkins.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7c86ae97 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Peter Tompkins.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Peter Tompkins +tags: + - person + - author + - OSS +description: Peter Tompkins was an American journalist, author, and former OSS officer, known for co-authoring "The Secret Life of Plants." +--- + +[[Peter Tompkins]] was an American journalist, author, and former [[Office of Strategic Services|OSS]] officer. He is best known for co-authoring the 1973 bestselling book, *[[The Secret Life of Plants]]*, which popularized the controversial experiments of [[Cleve Backster]] on plant sentience.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Peter Videnieks.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Peter Videnieks.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..737a5d3d --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Peter Videnieks.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +[[Peter Videnieks]] was a [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs]] contract specialist who was detailed to the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] in the early 1980s to develop the [[PROMIS]] software. He later became a central figure in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]].[^1] + +### Role in PROMIS Software Scandal + +Videnieks administered the [[INSLAW]] contract with the government, which involved conducting competitive procurement, negotiating and awarding contracts, and administering them to ensure proper performance. His employment history included work with the [[Internal Revenue Service]], [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration|NASA]], and [[United States Customs Service|Customs]], before and after his tenure at the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]].[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that [[Earl Brian]] made a copy of the [[PROMIS]] software available to him through [[Wackenhut Corporation]] after acquiring it from Videnieks, who was then a [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] contracting official with responsibility for the [[PROMIS]] software. Riconosciuto performed modifications to [[PROMIS]] in Indio, California; Silver Spring, Maryland; and Miami, Florida, with the purpose of supporting a plan for its worldwide implementation in law enforcement and intelligence agencies.[^1] + +In February 1991, Videnieks, still employed by the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]], allegedly attempted to persuade [[Michael Riconosciuto]] not to cooperate with an independent investigation of the government's piracy of [[INSLAW]]'s proprietary [[PROMIS]] software, being conducted by the [[United States House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]]. Videnieks reportedly offered rewards for non-cooperation and threatened specific punishments, including future inclusion of Riconosciuto and his father in a criminal prosecution related to a savings and loan institution, and prosecution for perjury if he testified.[^1] + +During [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s trial in Tacoma, Washington, Videnieks testified about his contact with the [[PROMIS]] software but denied ever hearing of the [[Wackenhut Corporation]]-[[Cabazon Indian Reservation]] joint venture or meeting [[Earl Brian]]. He was evasive when questioned about his involvement with Hadron Company, which was owned by [[Earl Brian]] at the time of the court proceedings. Videnieks also refused to discuss "Modification No. 12" of the [[PROMIS]] software until the original [[INSLAW]] contract was produced, and acknowledged that a bankruptcy court had ruled that the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] had "stolen" [[PROMIS]] from [[INSLAW]] through his handling of Modification No. 12, though he noted this record was later erased.[^1] + +### Connections to Danny Casolaro's Investigation + +[[Danny Casolaro]] was intent on interviewing Videnieks. A week before Casolaro's death, a man named [[Joseph Cuellar]] approached Casolaro, claiming to be a Special Forces operative, and offered to arrange a meeting between Videnieks and Casolaro. Cuellar's connection to Videnieks allegedly came through Videnieks' wife, Barbara, who was the executive assistant to Senator [[Robert Byrd]].[^1] + +Despite the allegations and his central role in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]], Videnieks was never charged with any wrongdoing. [[Scott Lawrence]]'s investigation into corruption within [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs]], which involved Videnieks, was abruptly shut down when Lawrence and his supervisor requested to impanel grand juries to depose [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] officials.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Philip White.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Philip White.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a491fa5c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Philip White.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Philip White was the Director of International Affairs for the Criminal Division of the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. He was implicated in allegations surrounding the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] and the attempted conversion of [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]'s bankruptcy case. + +According to a source of [[Ronald LeGrand]], White, along with [[John Keeney]] and [[Mark Richards]], knew "all about" [[Lowell Jensen]]'s alleged malfeasance in the Inslaw matter. The source believed that while Richards and White were "pretty upset" about it, they would not disclose what they knew except under subpoena and oath, and that they would not commit perjury.[^1] + +White was also the U.S. Trustee assigned to the [[INSLAW]] bankruptcy case. [[Anthony Pasciuto]] alleged that [[Thomas Stanton]], Director of the Executive Office of U.S. Trustees (EOUST), pressured White to convert Inslaw's Chapter 11 reorganization to a Chapter 7 liquidation. [[Cornelius Blackshear]], then a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, initially testified that White had told him of Stanton's pressure. White, however, denied that Stanton had tried to exert any pressure on him to convert Inslaw. He explained that he asked for specific language to be added to a confidentiality order to protect himself from criticism, such as that made by Inslaw's counsel following the [[Jack Rugh]]-[[Gregory McKain]] conversation, by ensuring only personnel in his office would be involved in the case. White's recollection was that Blackshear was mistaken and had confused Inslaw with the UPI case, about which White had told Blackshear that the IRS had pressured him to join a motion to convert.[^1] + +The Special Counsel's investigation found no credible evidence to support the allegations against White. When interviewed, White denied any wrongdoing or pressure from Stanton to convert the Inslaw case. The investigation concluded that White's testimony was consistent with that of most other witnesses, and that his explanation for the confidentiality order language was credible. The report also noted that White, being no longer in government, was less susceptible to pressure to tailor his testimony to suit the DOJ's position. The investigation found insufficient evidence to support a finding that the DOJ pressured the U.S. Trustee to convert the U.S. Trustee to convert the Inslaw Bankruptcy case or otherwise improperly interfere with it, or that the DOJ attempted a cover-up.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Pieter Van Der Westhuizen.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Pieter Van Der Westhuizen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0b1be0d8 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Pieter Van Der Westhuizen.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Intelligence + - SouthAfrica +--- +[[Pieter Van Der Westhuizen]] was the chief of [[South African Military Intelligence]]. He played a significant role in the arms trade and intelligence cooperation between [[South Africa]] and other nations, including [[Israel]] and [[Chile]].[^1] + +In 1983, [[Mark Thatcher]] introduced [[Gerald Bull]] to [[Pieter Van Der Westhuizen|Van Der Westhuizen]], who then connected Bull with [[South African Arms Corporation|ARMSCOR]] for his "supergun" project. [[Pieter Van Der Westhuizen|Van Der Westhuizen]] was also present at a meeting in [[Santiago]], [[Chile]], in late 1986 with [[Carlos Cardoen]], [[Robert Gates]], and Senator [[John Tower]], where the [[USA|U.S.]] reaffirmed its intention to maintain arms channels to [[Iraq]] through [[South Africa]] and [[Chile]].[^1] + +In November 1988, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] met with [[Pieter Van Der Westhuizen|Van Der Westhuizen]] in [[South Africa]]. The General claimed that [[South Africa]] had stopped the flow of technology to [[Iraq]] and was interested in resuming nuclear cooperation with [[Israel]]. He also confirmed [[Mark Thatcher|Thatcher's]] long-standing business dealings with [[South Africa]]. However, [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence later confirmed that while [[South Africa]] was not directly dealing with [[Iraq]], it was involved with [[Chile]], which continued to supply [[Iraq]] through the [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen]] network.[^1] + +[[Pieter Van Der Westhuizen|Van Der Westhuizen]] was threatened by an [[Israel|Israeli]] counterpart for his continued involvement in supplying missile technology to [[Iraq]] through [[South African Arms Corporation|ARMSCOR]]. The [[South Africa|South African]] government was reportedly considering dismissing him from all official positions.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/R. Gordon Wasson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/R. Gordon Wasson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c3eab51f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/R. Gordon Wasson.md @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +--- +aliases: + - R. Gordon Wasson + - Gordon Wasson +tags: + - Person + - Ethnomycologist + - Banker +--- +# R. Gordon Wasson + +R. Gordon Wasson was an American ethnomycologist and vice president at J.P. Morgan & Company bank, known for his pioneering research into the use of psychedelic mushrooms in shamanistic rituals. His work became central to the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s [[Project MKUltra|MKULTRA Subproject 58]]'s quest for the *teonanáctl* (God's flesh) mushroom[^1]. + +Wasson and his wife, Valentina, a pediatrician, had been investigating a mushroom cult in Mexico. He had traveled to Mexico twice and was planning a third expedition when he was contacted by [[Andrija Puharich]] and [[Alice Astor Bouverie]]. Wasson explained that the Mexicans believed the mushroom was a pathway to the supernatural and possessed divinatory powers, allowing human consciousness to separate from the physical body[^1]. + +In August 1954, Wasson shared his information with Puharich, who then briefed his Army superiors on the *teonanáctl* mushroom. The [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], however, chose to bypass Puharich and approached Wasson directly through their chemist, [[James Moore]], who posed as a professor[^1]. + +In June 1955, Wasson, accompanied by photographer Allan Richardson, arrived in Huautla de Jiménez, Oaxaca, and became the first white men in recorded history to eat the divine mushrooms. Wasson reported intense hallucinations but no divinatory powers. Upon his return, he sent a cache of mushrooms to Puharich for chemical analysis[^1]. + +Wasson's work gained widespread public attention when he struck a publishing deal with *Life* magazine and authored a twelve-page account of his experience titled "Seeking the Magic Mushroom." While he omitted any mention of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s involvement, he highlighted the mushroom's alleged ability to access and enhance [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]]. The article caused a sensation, effectively undermining the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s desire to keep the drug a secret psychic weapon under military intelligence control, as pleasure seekers flocked to Mexico to consume *God's flesh*[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Reuben Yirador.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Reuben Yirador.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ab98244e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Reuben Yirador.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +Colonel [[Reuben Yirador]] was a department commander in [[Unit 8200]], an [[Israel|Israeli]] Signals Intelligence (Sigint) unit. He was later replaced by [[Sasson Yishaek|Lt. Col. Sasson Yishaek]] as commander of the department, but remained in [[Israeli Military Intelligence]].[^1] + +In 1972, [[Reuben Yirador|Yirador]] was involved in a significant discovery when he decoded a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] intercept (VENONA) that revealed the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]] were bugging the office of [[Golda Meir]], then Prime Minister of [[Israel]]. This discovery, along with [[Golda Meir|Meir's]] meeting with [[Leonid Brezhnev]] and her rejection of a peace settlement, informed [[Anwar Sadat]] and may have prompted the 1973 war.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Reuven Yerdor.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Reuven Yerdor.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1c9401ac --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Reuven Yerdor.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +Reuven Yerdor, also known as Rudi, was an accomplished linguist and a senior officer in [[Israel]]'s Detachment 515 (later redesignated Detachment 8200), which is in charge of signals intelligence and code-breaking. He had cracked a Soviet code, for which he later received [[Israel]]'s highest defense medal. By early 1982, Yerdor had been promoted to brigadier general and was in charge of [[Unit 8200]], the Israeli communications intelligence service.[^1] + +Yerdor worked closely with his counterparts in the American [[National Security Agency|NSA]], traveling to [[Washington D.C.]] every three months for liaison meetings. His official title was deputy chief of staff for military intelligence in the [[Israel Defense Forces]]. Over the 1981–82 New Year's holiday, Yerdor was summoned by [[Yehoshua Saguy]], the head of Aman (military intelligence), and given two packets of documents to evaluate: one with highly technical American intelligence describing a Soviet military system in the hands of the Arabs, and the other with daily and weekly summaries of worldwide [[National Security Agency|NSA]] intercepts.[^1] + +In February 1982, [[Israel]] learned that the Soviets had decided to upgrade the Syrian air defense command with SA-5 missiles. Yerdor was told that there was very little intelligence available on the system, but two days later, he received full U.S. intelligence on the SA-5, which made it clear it was not as good as feared. In mid-May 1982, three weeks before the invasion of [[Lebanon]], Yerdor's office received an astonishing assortment of invaluable American technical data about the air defense systems in [[Syria]], including detailed information on side-looking radar, electronic maps, and precise frequency of operations for [[Syria]]'s SA-6, SA-8, and advanced SA-3 surface-to-air missile systems.[^1] + +Yerdor had little respect for [[Rafael Eitan]] and worried about the long-range implications of Israeli intelligence activities in the [[United States]], its best ally. He was convinced Eitan was driven by personal ambition and a need to settle old scores with [[Yitzhak Hofi]], the head of [[Mossad]], and [[Avraham Shalom]], Shin Beth's director. He also believed that Eitan had recruited two or more Americans, and was dismayed by the fact that [[Jonathan Pollard]]'s material, marked JUMBO, was not supposed to be discussed with American counterparts.[^1] + +[[Ari Ben-Menashe]] was aware of Yerdor's distress about the spying, noting that Yerdor was "bitching about the fact that Eitan was compromising [[Israel]]'s relations with the [[United States]]."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Robert T. Webber.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Robert T. Webber.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..779e3522 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Robert T. Webber.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - USA +--- +Robert T. Webber was a physicist who served as the scientific attaché at the U.S. embassy in [[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]]. He earned a doctorate in physics at [[Yale University]] and shared [[William N. Dale]]'s interest in [[Dimona]]. Webber worked closely with [[John L. Hadden]], the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] station chief, in clear violation of a [[State Department]] decree forbidding scientific attachés from engaging in intelligence work. He also relied on intelligence gathered by [[Mel Alba]] and encouraged collaboration with British and Canadian counterparts. Webber was eventually replaced as science attaché by someone much less interested in [[Dimona]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 12. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Robert Van de Castle.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Robert Van de Castle.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2be76094 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Robert Van de Castle.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Robert Van de Castle +tags: + - Person + - Psychologist +--- +Robert Van de Castle was a civilian psychologist who, along with [[George Lawrence]] and [[Ray Hyman]], traveled to [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] to test [[Uri Geller]]'s purported psychic abilities for [[ARPA]]. Their conclusion, later reported in *Time* magazine, was that anyone who believed in Geller's powers was falling for the "ridiculous"[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Robert Whitaker.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Robert Whitaker.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e9d01856 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Robert Whitaker.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is a placeholder and requires extensive additions. Difficulties have arisen from how common the name Robert Whitaker is. + +Worked on the team developing the original 1969 [[PROMIS]] under [[Joan E. Jacoby]], [[Charles R. Work]], and [[Bill Hamilton]]. + +There are a huge amounts of Robert Whitakers working in the government, but we can assume that in 1969, Robert was an Executive Officer[^4] of the DC Department of Corrections and in 1970, Executive Assistant to the Director of the Department of Corrections DC[^1]. He seems to have represented the Metropolitan Police Department’s interests in an on-line records management system[^4]. + +Further records of Robert Whitakers can be found working in the secret service (1982)[^3] and Office of Personnel Management (1985)[^2]. It’s not at all clear if these are related to the Whitaker who worked on PROMIS. + +There was an issue of Corrections Magazine in 1974 that mentions a Robert Whitaker, who runs a correction center, used to be a marine[^5]. It’s possible this is the same Whitaker as the Corrections field is fairly small even with a relatively common name. + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: [District of Columbia Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1970](https://www.google.com/books/edition/District_of_Columbia_Appropriations_for/4g1EAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22robert+whitaker%22&pg=PA605&printsec=frontcover) +[^2]: [United States Government Policy and Supporting Positions (1985)](https://www.google.com/books/edition/United_States_Government_Policy_and_Supp/DWli9TlXliQC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22robert+whitaker%22+DC&pg=PA224&printsec=frontcover) +[^3]: [Government direction and support (1982)](https://www.google.com/books/edition/Government_direction_and_support/D6mWWTvqugMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22robert+whitaker%22+DC&pg=PA1182&printsec=frontcover) +[^4]: [Crime in the National Capital (1969)](https://www.google.com/books/edition/Crime_in_the_National_Capital/gcFFAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1) +[^5]: [Corrections Magazine Vol 1 1974](https://www.google.com/books/edition/Corrections_Magazine/67lQAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22robert+whitaker%22+DC&dq=%22robert+whitaker%22+DC&printsec=frontcover) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Robert Whitely.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Robert Whitely.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b5f019a1 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Robert Whitely.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Robert Whitely was the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]'s auditor on the [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] contract. He played a role in the events surrounding the advance payments dispute and the DOJ's demand for a copy of [[PROMIS]]. + +In November 1982, Whitely informed [[Peter Videnieks]], the contracting officer, that based on his review of Inslaw's financial statements and discussions with Inslaw's accountants, he believed [[INSLAW]] was insolvent. This information contributed to Videnieks' decision to terminate the advance payments provision of the contract. Whitely testified that after reviewing Inslaw's financial statements and meeting with their accountants, he expressed his view that Inslaw was either insolvent or nearly so. The Special Counsel's investigation found that Whitely's testimony was credible and that the evidence supported the DOJ's claim that its employees were genuinely concerned about Inslaw's financial health. + +The report noted that Bankruptcy Judge Bason had dismissed Whitely's testimony as "manufactured solely for use at trial," but the Special Counsel found this assertion to be incorrect, citing Whitely's work papers and deposition testimony as evidence of his consistent concerns about Inslaw's financial viability. The investigation concluded that the DOJ's demand for a copy of PROMIS was made in good faith due to concerns about Inslaw's potential failure, which would leave the government vulnerable.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Rocco Zangari.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Rocco Zangari.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cd822dcc --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Rocco Zangari.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Rocco Zangari]] was the first manager of the [[Cabazon Indian Casino]]. He was a former bookie and was later indicted on racketeering charges. + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Roger Whelan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Roger Whelan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4c07235a --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Roger Whelan.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +Roger Whelan was the bankruptcy judge who preceded [[George Francis Bason, Jr.|Judge Bason]] in the District of Columbia. He was appointed on February 8, 1984, and his term expired four years later. + +Whelan became involved in the controversy surrounding Judge Bason's non-reappointment. He was a practicing bankruptcy attorney and reportedly received complaints about Bason from several of his colleagues. These attorneys, according to Whelan, shared his view that Bason was pro-debtor and too slow in making decisions. Whelan reported these views to the Merit Selection Panel by telephone. The Special Counsel's investigation noted that Whelan's opposition to Bason's reappointment was significant, as it contributed to the perception that Judge Bason was a poor administrator. This perception, whether accurate or not, was made known to the Panel at least by Whelan and almost certainly by others.[^1] + +[[Charles Deeter]], an attorney for [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]], reported to the House Committee on the Judiciary that in July 1987, Whelan had threatened to oppose Bason's reappointment because Bason had not ruled on a fee petition filed by Whelan. Deeter alleged that Whelan told him that Senior District Court Judge Irwin Gasch would organize the opposition to Bason's reappointment. Whelan acknowledged that he represented a party in the UPI case and was frustrated by Judge Bason's delay in ruling on an application he had filed. He also acknowledged being a friend of Senior Judge Gasch. However, he denied ever speaking with Charles Deeter about the UPI case or trying indirectly to pressure Judge Bason to rule on his application for compensation in that case. The Special Counsel's investigation did not attempt to resolve this disagreement but noted that the possibility of concerted opposition to Bason by district court judges or others might explain why he was not reappointed.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Romeo Vásquez Velásquez.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Romeo Vásquez Velásquez.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3f60e4db --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Romeo Vásquez Velásquez.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Romeo Vásquez Velásquez]] was a Brigadier General and head of the armed forces of [[Honduras]]. He was sacked by President [[Manuel Zelaya]] on June 25, 2009, for refusing to allow the armed forces to help in conducting a referendum on a constitutional change proposed by President Zelaya. He, along with [[General Daniel Lopez Carballo]], was identified as a coup leader who ousted [[Manuel Zelaya]] and placed [[Roberto Micheletti]] in office.[^1] + +Vásquez Velásquez attended the [[School of the Americas]] (SOA/WHINSEC) at least twice, in 1976 and 1984. He was also mentioned as a friend of [[Jimmy Hughes]] and a member of FGBMFI ([[Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International]]).[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Ron Van Meter.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Ron Van Meter.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1fc0fbeb --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Ron Van Meter.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +[[Ron Van Meter]] was a deputy in the Mariposa Sheriff's Department. His death on June 24, 1980, in an alleged boating accident on Lake McClure, became a central point of investigation into long-standing corruption, murder, threats, and harassment within the department. Those he confided in believed he was murdered after uncovering and reporting drug trafficking within the sheriff's department.[^1] + +Official reports listed his death as a drowning. The search party consisted mainly of three divers: deputies [[Dave Beavers]], [[Rod Cusic]], and [[Gary Estep]]. Sheriff [[Paul Paige]] refused outside help, including additional divers from adjacent counties and a mini-submarine offered by Beavers' associate.[^1] + +Van Meter's widow, [[Leslie Van Meter]], was notified of his disappearance. His home was ransacked, and his briefcase and diary were seized by the Mariposa Sheriff's Department. Only she and a few deputies knew what his diary contained. He had taken out a special life insurance policy two weeks before his death, which also went missing after the search.[^1] + +On March 23, 1984, [[Leslie Van Meter]] filed a Citizen's Complaint, alleging negligence and unprofessionalism in the investigation of her husband's disappearance. His body had still not been found. Newly elected Sheriff [[Ken Mattheys]] responded by re-opening the investigation, appointing deputies [[Frank McCoy]] and [[Lonnie Hammond]] to handle the internal affairs aspect. In October 1984, Sheriff Mattheys also recruited private investigator [[Raymond Jenkins]] and retired [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent [[Tom Walsh]] to investigate and help clean up the Sheriff's Department. These investigators concluded that Van Meter was murdered after obtaining evidence of drug trafficking within the department.[^1] + +Their investigation also led them to [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] (Music Corporation of America), parent company to [[Curry Company]], the largest concessionaire in Yosemite National Park, where a major drug network had surfaced. A park ranger, [[Paul Berkowitz]], testified before the House Interior Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation about drug distribution by Curry Company officials.[^1] + +A few weeks prior to his death in 1980, Van Meter had driven to the [[California Attorney General's Office|Attorney General's office]] in Sacramento and reported drug dealing and other forms of corruption within the Mariposa Sheriff's Department. Upon his return, he was confronted by Sheriff [[Paul Paige]], who had been informed by the Attorney General. Van Meter had been photographing and journaling drug activity by deputies at Lake McClure. He was part of a California State Abatement Program involving harvesting and eradicating marijuana fields in Yosemite National Park and adjacent counties. Instead, the harvested marijuana was being stored in abandoned cars and towed out of town by a local wrecker under contract with the sheriff's department, and also distributed at a hidden cove at Lake McClure.[^1] + +On June 24, 1980, frustrated and angry at the Attorney General for betraying him, Van Meter borrowed a boat and was on his way to arrest the deputies at Lake McClure himself. He never returned. His body was finally recovered in September 1990 in the shallow waters of Lake McClure, wrapped in a fish net and weighted down by various objects.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Russell Targ.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Russell Targ.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..49a45145 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Russell Targ.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Russell Targ +tags: + - person + - scientist + - physicist +description: Russell Targ is a physicist who, along with Hal Puthoff, led the remote viewing research program at SRI. +--- +Russell Targ is a physicist who, in the early 1970s, joined [[Hal Puthoff]] at [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) to lead the remote viewing research program. He was a laser physicist who had previously worked at Sylvania Corporation, which manufactured televisions and lightbulbs. The ivory tower atmosphere of SRI seemed to suit him better, as he was described as the "very picture of the intense scientist, the thinker disengaged from prosaic reality." He had a "frizzy and wavy mass of red-brown hair" and a deep, monotonal voice that conveyed a sense of authority. He wore extraordinarily thick, eye-magnifying glasses. His sister had married the chess master Bobby Fischer, and it was easy to imagine some of Fischer's "neurotic cerebrality" had rubbed off on him. He had apparently been having spontaneous psychic experiences since he was a child, which contributed to his interest in the field.[^1] + +Targ was responsible for many of the early experiments at SRI, including the development of an ESP "teaching" machine, a primitive computer designed to give subjects feedback on their psychic guesses. He often clashed with [[Ingo Swann]] over the use of this machine, as Swann found it to be a "depressing remnant of old-time parapsychology." He also conducted experiments with other psychics, including [[Pat Price]] and [[Uri Geller]], and explored various psi phenomena such as psychokinesis and telepathy. He was instrumental in developing and refining remote viewing protocols, including "outbound remote viewing" and "coordinate remote viewing" (CRV).[^1] + +As a monitor in remote viewing sessions, Targ would prompt psychics with questions and record their impressions. He was involved in the testing of [[Uri Geller]], and while often suspecting sleight of hand due to Geller's hyperkinetic style, he was also impressed by Geller's genuine abilities. He and Puthoff would sometimes search the laboratory rafters and acoustic tiles for hidden audio or video bugs after Geller's sessions, though they never found anything.[^1] + +Despite the personality conflicts and the controversial nature of the research, Targ was a key figure in the remote viewing program. He was the co-author, with Hal Puthoff, of a number of influential papers on remote viewing, including a 1974 article in *Nature* and a 1976 article in the *Proceedings of the IEEE*. He eventually became convinced of the reality of remote viewing, even conducting his own informal experiments. He was present during many of Price's most impressive remote viewing feats, including the glider experiment where Price accurately perceived the numbers Kennett was carrying and the "ankh" around his neck, and the precognitive viewing of the Redwood City Marina and the Rinconada Park water tanks.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Santos Trafficante, Jr..md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Santos Trafficante, Jr..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4d6cff16 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Santos Trafficante, Jr..md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Santos Trafficante, Jr.]] was an organized-crime leader who was contacted by [[Robert Maheu]] in 1960 as part of [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operations to assassinate [[Fidel Castro]]. Trafficante, Jr., along with [[Sam Giancana]] and [[Johnny Rosselli]], was enlisted to assist in these efforts, which involved Cuban exiles.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Shimon Yiftach.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Shimon Yiftach.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b9637511 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Shimon Yiftach.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Scientist + - Israel +--- +Shimon Yiftach was the director of scientific programs for the Israeli defense ministry. He was trained at the [[Argonne National Laboratory]] in [[Illinois]] and was one of [[Israel]]'s leading experts in the chemistry of plutonium. In December 1963, he publicly stated that the advanced reactor at [[Dimona]] would produce plutonium as a by-product, but insisted that the Israeli government had no plans to build a separate plant for chemically reprocessing plutonium. Yiftach knew this was false, as French construction companies had already restarted work on the underground reprocessing plant at [[Dimona]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 10. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Sir Hubert Wilkins.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Sir Hubert Wilkins.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e1026deb --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Sir Hubert Wilkins.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Sir Hubert Wilkins +tags: + - person + - explorer + - author + - parapsychology +description: Sir Hubert Wilkins was an Australian polar explorer, aviator, and decorated war hero who conducted experiments in mind-to-mind telepathy. +--- + +[[Sir Hubert Wilkins]] was an Australian polar explorer, aviator, and decorated war hero. He was the first man to fly from North America to the polar regions of Europe and attempted to reach the North Pole in a surplus World War I submarine. His ashes were later scattered at the North Pole by the [[USS Skate]].[^1] + +Wilkins conducted experiments in [[Mind-to-Mind Telepathy]], which he documented in his book *Thoughts Through Space: A Remarkable Adventure in the Realm of Mind*. His work influenced [[Edgar Mitchell]], the Apollo 14 astronaut, who was inspired to conduct his own telepathy experiments during his Moon voyage.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Stanley H. Turner.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Stanley H. Turner.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8829bb59 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Stanley H. Turner.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> Need additional time to complete research. + +Doctorate. + +Assistant Director for Research and Analysis at the [[Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia]] underneath [[Joan E. Jacoby]]. Part of the original 1969 [[PROMIS]] team. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Stansfield Turner.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Stansfield Turner.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e82cb1df --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Stansfield Turner.md @@ -0,0 +1,30 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Stansfield Turner +tags: + - person + - CIA + - director + - admiral +description: Stansfield Turner was an American admiral who served as the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) under President Jimmy Carter. +--- +Stansfield Turner (1923–2018) was an American admiral who served as the [[Director of Central Intelligence|DCI]] under President [[Jimmy Carter]] from 1977 to 1981. His tenure at the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] was marked by significant changes, including a reduction in [[Human Intelligence|HUMINT]] capabilities, which was seen as being on the wane following a number of scandals in the mid-1970s, including revelations of domestic spying.[^1] + +As Director of Central Intelligence, Turner abruptly cut back intelligence liaison with [[Israel]] and other friendly nations as part of a restructuring of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. This move was met with disquiet from the Israelis, who were accustomed to warmer treatment from previous administrations.[^3] + +In an interview in 2002, Turner stated, "When I was first introduced to this idea of [[Parapsychology|parapsychology]] I was very skeptical. Then I began to think about it, and we all know of people who seem to have some kind of psychic powers." His acceptance of the phenomena, despite his initial skepticism, was crucial for the continuation of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate]] program.[^1] + +Turner was widely disliked within the Agency for abruptly firing two hundred case officers in [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] stations around the world in October 1977. He seemed to prefer "arm's-length collection techniques," such as satellite photography and communications intercepts, over traditional spy work. This preference for "clean" spying methods inadvertently made psychic intelligence, or [[PSI-INT]], seem like an ideal alternative in the political context of the time.[^1] + +Turner was also a member of the board of directors for [[Wackenhut Corporation]], a security firm with extensive ties to government and intelligence agencies.[^2] + +During [[Jimmy Carter]]'s presidency, Turner's leadership of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] saw the agency distanced from death-squad interdiction due to Carter's human rights foreign policy in [[Latin America]].[^2] + +--- + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. +[^2]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. +[^3]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Sue Todd.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Sue Todd.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9d7efe71 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Sue Todd.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +[[Sue Todd]] is a Police Detective from Hercules, California. She became involved in the investigation surrounding the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] and its broader implications, particularly through her collaboration with [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] national security investigator [[Sean McDade]].[1] + +Todd accompanied [[Sean McDade]] during his secret entry into the [[United States]] in February 2000, where they met with [[Cheri Seymour]], the author of *The Last Circle*. Their collaboration stemmed from a shared "source" and Todd's own investigation into a three-year-old double homicide that she believed was connected to the [[PROMIS]] case. During their meeting with Seymour, Todd and McDade were armed with 9mm police guns, indicating the serious nature of their inquiry.[1] + +She assisted [[Sean McDade]] in his extensive probe, which involved interviewing former investigators, witnesses, and law enforcement personnel across the [[United States]]. Todd was also a point of contact for [[Sean McDade]] when he found himself targeted by [[ECHELON]] technology during his investigation, forcing him to take extraordinary measures to communicate securely.[1] + +Despite the exposure of [[Sean McDade]]'s investigation in the *Toronto Star* in August 2000, Todd indicated that he ultimately returned to police work in his hometown, suggesting a continued commitment to law enforcement despite the challenges faced during the [[PROMIS]] investigation.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Tang Yu.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Tang Yu.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5bc1e68f --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Tang Yu.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Tang Yu +tags: + - person + - psychic + - China +description: Tang Yu was a twelve-year-old boy in China who, in 1979, was reported to be able to read with his ears, sparking the Extraordinary Powers Craze. +--- + +Tang Yu was a twelve-year-old boy in [[China]] who, in 1979, was reported to be able to read with his ears. His case, which was publicized in the *Sichuan Daily*, sparked the [[Extraordinary Powers Craze]], a period of intense interest in paranormal phenomena in China.[^1] + +Tang Yu's alleged ability to perceive written words through his ears was investigated by local and provincial officials, and eventually by the national Science Commission in Beijing. He was one of the first individuals to be identified as possessing [[Extraordinary Human Body Function]] (EHBF), and his case played a key role in the Chinese government's decision to officially sanction research into these phenomena.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Ted Gunderson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Ted Gunderson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..40a5a657 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Ted Gunderson.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +[[Ted Gunderson]] was a former [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent who transitioned into private investigation after his retirement from the Bureau. His distinguished career with the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] included serving as a Senior Special Agent in Charge (SAC) at headquarters in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Dallas, Texas. Following his tenure with the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], he worked for F. Lee Bailey, Esq., before establishing his own investigative agency in Los Angeles County.[1] + +Gunderson became deeply involved in the investigation of corruption and drug rings within Mariposa County, California, after being approached by the D.I.G. (Decency in Government) group. His prior work included compiling a comprehensive 700-page report for the Tulare City Council, which meticulously detailed instances of deputies receiving payoffs and distributing drugs in Tulare. His engagement in the Mariposa investigation marked a significant expansion of his efforts into the broader "[[The Octopus]]" inquiry.[1] + +His professional network and investigative pursuits were intricately linked with several key figures and clandestine operations. He served as a crucial contact for [[Michael Riconosciuto]], particularly following Riconosciuto's arrest. Riconosciuto initiated contact with Gunderson from jail, and Gunderson subsequently informed [[Cheri Seymour]] about Riconosciuto's ongoing investigation into the Mariposa County corruption and drug ring. Furthermore, Gunderson provided an affidavit and testimony during Riconosciuto's trial, aiming to corroborate Riconosciuto's covert government-sanctioned activities. At one point, Gunderson, Riconosciuto, and [[Robert Booth Nichols]] were colloquially described as being "inseparable, like the three musketeers," highlighting their close association.[1] + +His involvement extended to discussions with [[Ralph Olberg]] and [[Tim Osman]] concerning a global support network for the [[Mujahideen]] in [[Afghanistan]]. These discussions encompassed the field testing of novel weaponry and the exchange of arms for drugs, an operation connected to "[[The Company]]," a drug and arms organization comprising former military, law enforcement, and intelligence personnel. Gunderson's affidavit detailed conversations about the modification of Chinese 107 MM rockets and the strategic sanitization of Stinger missiles to prevent the leakage of sensitive information if they were to be captured by Soviet forces.[1] + +Despite their past collaboration, Gunderson faced limitations in disclosing numerous activities involving [[Robert Booth Nichols]] during Riconosciuto's trial, as Nichols was concurrently under [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] investigation for alleged involvement in organized crime. Interestingly, Gunderson had previously conducted an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] background check on Nichols, which, to his surprise, indicated Nichols was "squeaky clean," a finding that later contrasted sharply with information suggesting Nichols' deep entanglement in drug trafficking and organized crime.[1] + +[[Danny Casolaro]], the investigative journalist, maintained contact with Gunderson during his "[[The Octopus]]" investigation. Casolaro confirmed that [[Ralph Olberg]]'s project to provide arms assistance to the Afghan rebels was legally sanctioned and operated through the State Department and Senator Humphrey's office.[1] + +Throughout his career, Gunderson encountered significant challenges and obstruction in his efforts to expose corruption. He observed a "turf battle problem" between [[Ralph Olberg]]'s group and certain factions within the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and their group, MSH (Management Science For Health), concerning the legitimate representation of the Afghan rebel leadership. His attempts to facilitate [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s entry into the Witness Protection Program ultimately proved unsuccessful, as federal agencies, including the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], demonstrated reluctance to fully cooperate or acknowledge Riconosciuto's claims.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Thomas F.X. Dunn.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Thomas F.X. Dunn.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4637793e --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Thomas F.X. Dunn.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Legal + - USA +--- +[[Thomas F.X. Dunn]] was a New York-born, Irish-Catholic lawyer who represented [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] during his trial for conspiracy to sell [[C-130]] aircraft to [[Iran]]. Despite his initial lack of knowledge about the Middle East, [[Israel]], or the international intelligence scene, he developed a deep understanding of the complex case.[^1] + +Dunn was assigned to [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]]'s case pursuant to the [[Criminal Justice Act]] after [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] had spent 75 days in jail. He worked to prove that [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] was acting on behalf of the [[Israel|Israeli]] government with the knowledge of the [[USA|U.S.]] government, rather than as an illegal arms dealer. He faced challenges due to the [[Israel|Israeli]] government's initial denial of [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] employment and later claims that he was only a low-level translator.[^1] + +Dunn successfully used [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] employment records, including performance reports and letters of recommendation from his superiors (Col. [[Pesah Melowany]] and Col. [[Arieh Shur]]), to demonstrate his high-level involvement in [[Israel|Israeli]] government activities. He also called [[Raji Samghabadi]], a *Time* magazine correspondent, as a witness, who confirmed [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] prior knowledge of the [[Iran-Contra Affair]].[^1] + +Through Dunn's efforts, [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] was released on bail after 11 months and three weeks in jail, and ultimately found not guilty. Dunn's summation to the jury highlighted [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] role as a victim of both the [[USA|U.S.]] and [[Israel|Israeli]] governments' stonewalling and denials.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Tim Osman.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Tim Osman.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7f22b614 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Tim Osman.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Tim Osman]] was a figure involved in a worldwide support network for the [[Mujahideen]] in [[Afghanistan]]. He met with [[Ted Gunderson]], [[Ralph Olberg]], and [[Michael Riconosciuto]] in early 1986 to discuss this network, which focused on the Afghanistan Resistance Movement against the Soviets.[^1] + +Discussions included the Mujahideen's willingness to field test new and esoteric weapons and return research reports with photos. They also discussed the capture and/or defection of high-ranking Soviet military personnel with sensitive compartmentalized information, and the availability of their briefings. Other topics included a military joint venture in [[Turkey]] to produce specialized ammunition and a lobbying effort to legally obtain Stinger II missiles and their variants.[^1] + +[[Ralph Olberg]] and Osman proposed an unprecedented leadership meeting in Washington D.C. to prove that their group represented the full leadership of the Mujahideen, addressing a "turf battle problem" with certain factions of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and their group, MSH (Management Science For Health).[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Timothy Phelps.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Timothy Phelps.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1f33a5e5 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Timothy Phelps.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Journalist + - USA +--- +[[Timothy Phelps]] was the Middle East correspondent for *Newsday*, based in [[Cairo]]. He visited [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] several times in [[Jerusalem]], where [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] provided him with details about the [[Oliver North|North]] story, which later became known as the [[Iran-Contra Affair]]. However, *Newsday* did not print the story.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Tina Sinatra.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Tina Sinatra.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5e176338 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Tina Sinatra.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Tina Sinatra]] is the daughter of [[Frank Sinatra]]. She was involved in overseeing a slate of projects at [[Joel Silver Productions]], including *The Manchurian Candidate*. She read the draft manuscript of *The Last Circle* and was very interested in meeting [[Robert Booth Nichols]], seeing the Zapruder tape, and reading his script. She was also interested in a potential TV or movie project based on *The Last Circle*.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Tom Walsh.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Tom Walsh.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b052fe38 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Tom Walsh.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Tom Walsh]] was a retired [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent from Merced. He was recruited by Sheriff [[Ken Mattheys]] in October 1984, along with private investigator [[Raymond Jenkins]], to investigate [[Ron Van Meter]]'s disappearance and help clean up the Mariposa Sheriff's Department. Walsh and Jenkins concluded that [[Ron Van Meter]] was murdered after obtaining evidence of drug trafficking within the department.[^1] + +Walsh also provided [[Cheri Seymour]] with a significant piece of information regarding Judge [[Robert E. Coyle]]'s background, alleging that the Judge was once the attorney of record for Curry Company (owned by [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]) in Yosemite National Park.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Tommy Marson.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Tommy Marson.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b5a102ba --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Tommy Marson.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Tommy Marson]] was a known [[Gambino Crime Family]] associate. He was observed by the Indio Police Department in August 1981 meeting with [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]], the Cabazon Administrator, and other [[La Cosa Nostra]] underworld figures. These meetings were believed to involve financial transactions. Marson reportedly lent [[Dr. John Philip Nichols]] $50,000 to start the [[Cabazon Casino]], the first Indian card room in the nation.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Werner Tony Asmar.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Werner Tony Asmar.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..84d72d31 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Werner Tony Asmar.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Werner Tony Asmar]] was a German Lebanese intelligence agent who worked with the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]]. He was one of five key members of the MC-10 cell in [[Cyprus]] and Beirut. Asmar became aware of the alleged "non-controlled" loads of heroin being shipped back to the [[United States]] by [[Michael T. Hurley]] and the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] operation. He reportedly went "toe to toe" with Hurley over this issue.[^1] + +Asmar was killed in a bomb explosion at his office in east Beirut on May 26, 1988. His death was attributed to terrorists, but [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that Asmar's cover was "deliberately blown." When Asmar was killed, the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] ordered [[Lester Coleman]] home.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Wilhelm Wulff.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Wilhelm Wulff.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3389b5bd --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Wilhelm Wulff.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Wilhelm Wulff +tags: + - Person + - Astrologer +--- +# Wilhelm Wulff + +Wilhelm Wulff was a German astrologer who became a personal astrologer to [[Heinrich Himmler]], the Reichsführer-SS. He was ensnared in "[[Special Action Hess]]" (Sonderaktion Heß), the mass arrest of astrologers and other occult practitioners initiated by [[Adolf Hitler]] following [[Rudolf Hess]]'s flight in 1941[^1]. + +Wulff's postwar account, *Zodiac and Swastika*, provides insights into the Nazi regime's complex relationship with the occult. He noted that while the circulation of occult literature was forbidden and decrees were issued against predicting future events, astrology was considered "privilegium singulorum"—not for the broad masses[^1]. + +[[Walter Schellenberg]], the Nazi head of foreign intelligence, conveyed to Wulff that mystical belief systems could be a "suitable vehicle for the propagation of political concepts and for the political control of a nation"[^1]. This highlights the manipulative potential of such beliefs, which was also exploited by the Allies through figures like [[10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Louis de Wohl]] during [[World War II]][^1]. + +Wulff also detailed how counterfeit astrological magazines, designed by the Allies to look as if they were secretly published in Germany, were seized by the Gestapo in Stettin[^1]. + +## Publications +* *Zodiac and Swastika* + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William F. Weld.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William F. Weld.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6c637ef3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William F. Weld.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[William F. Weld]] was the [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] in Boston, Massachusetts. He received a document dated May 16, 1985, signed by [[William Bradford Reynolds]], Assistant [[United States Attorney General|Attorney General]] in the Civil Rights Division of the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]]. + +This document advised Weld that the [[PROMIS]] software was being provided to an Arab Sheik for resale and general distribution in his region, contingent upon specific conditions, including a "soft arrival" without paperwork or customs delays, and equipped with a special data retrieval unit. + +Weld was instructed to process the financial aspects through [[Credit Suisse]] into [[National Commercial Bank]] and to contact Reynolds directly if he encountered any problems.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William J. Casey.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William J. Casey.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2749e3bc --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William J. Casey.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - CIA + - Director +--- +William J. Casey served as the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) under President [[Ronald Reagan]]. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the [[KH-11]] imagery-sharing program with [[Israel]] from the moment he took office. Early in his tenure, he ordered that Israeli liaison officers be provided with a private office near [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] headquarters to ensure all essential intelligence was turned over.[^1] + +After the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]], Casey authorized a small, ad hoc committee of experts to review [[Israel]]'s potential abuse of the KH-11 intelligence-sharing agreement. The review found that [[Israel]] had significantly expanded the agreement, requesting and receiving extensive KH-11 coverage of western [[Russia]], including [[Moscow]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William James.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William James.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9ba0f9ac --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William James.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: William James +tags: + - person + - philosopher + - psychologist +description: William James was a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher, and one of the founders of the American Society for Psychical Research. +--- + +[[William James]] was a pioneering American psychologist and philosopher, often referred to as the "Father of American psychology." He was a leading thinker of the late 19th century and a key figure in the development of pragmatism.[^1] + +James was also deeply interested in psychic phenomena and was one of the founders of the [[American Society for Psychical Research]] (ASPR) in 1885. He believed that the scientific study of such phenomena was crucial for a complete understanding of human consciousness and the nature of reality.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William Ryback.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William Ryback.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a6fd53d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William Ryback.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Banker", "Government Official"] +--- +William Ryback was the Deputy Director of Banking Supervision at the [[Federal Reserve]].[^1] + +### Role in BCCI Investigation + +Ryback was the Federal Reserve's spearhead in the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]]-[[First American Bank]] case.[^2] He had repeatedly investigated the supposed connections between the two banks but had found no concrete evidence.[^2] + +In December 1990, Ryback traveled to [[London]] and demanded to see the October 1990 audit report of BCCI from [[Zafar Iqbal]], who had recently taken over BCCI.[^2] This audit revealed over $1 billion in loans to an entity coded "[[XYZ Corp]]." and that the loans were secured by stock in XYZ, with no repayment.[^2] Ryback concluded that "XYZ Corp." was actually [[First American Bank]] and that the loans were made to front men.[^2] + +Ryback's findings led him to believe that BCCI had been lying to the Federal Reserve for years, and he sought to have [[Clark Clifford]] and [[Robert Altman]] investigated for withholding this vital information.[^2] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 11. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 132-133. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William Sessions.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William Sessions.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d151aa36 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William Sessions.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Person +--- +William Sessions was the Director of the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]. He became involved in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] due to allegations that the FBI's Field Office Information Management System ([[FOIMS]]) was a pirated version of [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]'s [[PROMIS]] software. + +In January 1991, [[Terry D. Miller]], President of Government Sales Consultants, Inc., sent a letter to Director Sessions, alleging that FOIMS was stolen. In response, Sessions offered the FBI's complete cooperation to the Special Counsel's investigation, agreeing to a request to examine the FOIMS software. He requested reasonable security-related conditions, including requiring the expert to have appropriate security clearance. The Special Counsel's investigation ultimately concluded that FOIMS was not PROMIS or any derivative of PROMIS, and that it was developed independently by the FBI.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William Wolfe.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William Wolfe.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..31cce8ae --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William Wolfe.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: William Wolfe +tags: + - person + - criminal + - SLA +description: William Wolfe was a member of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) and a key figure in the Patty Hearst kidnapping. +--- + +[[William Wolfe]] was a member of the [[Symbionese Liberation Army|Symbionese Liberation Army]] (SLA), a radical left-wing organization. He was a Berkeley dropout and was identified by [[Pat Price]] from a mug shot during the investigation into the [[Patty Hearst]] kidnapping. Price referred to him as "Lobo," Spanish for "wolf," which was one of Wolfe's nicknames ("Willie the Wolf"). Price also accurately described a bizarre anecdote about Wolfe's anesthetic-free dental surgery, relying instead on self-hypnosis.[^1] + +Wolfe became [[Patty Hearst]]'s lover within the SLA. He was among the group of SLA members who were cornered and killed by police in a building in Los Angeles in May 1974.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William Xenakis.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William Xenakis.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..90e89e42 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William Xenakis.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +aliases: + - William Xenakis + - Lieutenant Colonel William Xenakis +tags: + - Person + - Military + - US Army +--- +William Xenakis was a Lieutenant Colonel who commanded Detachment G, the [[Remote Viewing]] unit at [[Fort Meade]]. He ordered [[Ed Dames]] to cease his "bogus targets," which included anomalous destinations not in the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] protocols, such as alien bases and UFO encounters[^1]. + +Xenakis's intervention indicates an attempt to bring the unit back to its intended purpose of intelligence gathering and to curb the unconventional targeting practices that had become prevalent under Dames's management[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William von Raab.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William von Raab.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..83710459 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/William von Raab.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Government Official", "USA"] +--- +William von Raab was the [[U.S. Customs Service]] Commissioner.[^1] + +He was involved in the [[Hashemi sting]] operation, which was designed to entrap individuals connected with [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence arms sales to [[Iran]].[^2] + +Von Raab, along with [[Rudolph Giuliani]], gave joint TV interviews on April 22, 1986, announcing the arrest of a "huge ring of terrorists" and "Merchants of Death" who were supposedly about to sell arms worth a billion dollars to [[Iran]]. [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] claims that von Raab and his associates had created the crime themselves.[^2] + +### Role in BCCI Scandal + +Von Raab headed the agency during the Tampa money-laundering investigations involving the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]].[^1] He stated that the [[C-Chase]] sting operation, which led to the arrest of several BCCI bankers, was the most important money-laundering case in history.[^3] + +After BCCI's Tampa conviction, von Raab thought the case was "enormously meaningful" and announced it publicly. He was told by his superiors to dampen his public enthusiasm.[^4] He later testified before the [[John Kerry|Kerry]] subcommittee that the [[Justice Department]] had denied knowledge of the [[Ali Mirza]] tapes, which contained crucial information about BCCI's activities.[^5] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 11. +[^2]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 25. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 389. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 54. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Wolfgang Pauli.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Wolfgang Pauli.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..af726abd --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Wolfgang Pauli.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Wolfgang Pauli +tags: + - Person + - Physicist + - Nobel Laureate +--- +Wolfgang Pauli (1900–1958) was an Austrian-American theoretical physicist and Nobel Laureate, known for his pioneering work on quantum mechanics, particularly the Pauli exclusion principle. He is also famously associated with the "Pauli effect," a phenomenon where technical equipment inexplicably malfunctions or breaks in his presence[^1]. + +The Pauli effect was coined after numerous instances were noted where Pauli was present and technical equipment malfunctioned, fell, broke, or sustained unusual damage. For example, in February 1950, during a visit to Princeton University, the cyclotron Pauli had come to observe inexplicably caught fire[^1]. + +Pauli, along with psychiatrist [[Carl Jung]], had a lively conversation about [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis|PK]], discussing a paper by physicist Robert A. McConnell titled "ESP—Fact or Fancy?" Jung remarked on how some age-old mysteries never change, and that attempts to explain away seemingly miraculous results often fail against the facts[^1]. + +Pauli wrote an article on the subject titled "Background Physics," in which he discussed the relationships between physics, the conscious, and the unconscious[^1]. His association with Jung and his interest in the unconscious aspects of reality highlight a unique intersection of physics and parapsychology. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Yakov Terletsky.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Yakov Terletsky.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d3b692ad --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Yakov Terletsky.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Yakov Terletsky +tags: + - Person + - Physicist + - Soviet Union +--- +Yakov Terletsky was the chairman of theoretical physics at [[Moscow University]] and a winner of the Laureate of the State Prize in the [[Soviet Union]]. He was working on hypotheses involving a subatomic particle called a [[Tachyon]], which is proposed to be superluminal, or faster-than-light[^1]. + +His work, along with that of [[Gerald Feinberg]], attracted the attention of [[Hal Puthoff]], who was interested in whether the tachyon flow could account for an "extra field" or force that physics couldn't yet see, potentially explaining [[Extrasensory Perception|ESP]] and other anomalous mental phenomena[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Yekutiel Adam.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Yekutiel Adam.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..53121e74 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Yekutiel Adam.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Israel +--- +General [[Yekutiel Adam]] was an [[Israel|Israeli]] military leader who was in line to take over as Director of [[Mossad]] in 1981. However, he was assassinated by his own people, according to [[Rafi Eitan]], who claimed it was an inside job. The old guard in [[Mossad]] were reportedly afraid of him because he had told people in the [[Prime Minister's Office]] that he would make a clean sweep of the intelligence network.[^1] + +Prior to his assassination, [[Yekutiel Adam|Adam]] lost a number of top-secret documents when he left his briefcase behind in a [[Los Angeles]] gas station, which caused a huge internal row within [[Mossad]] and an unsuccessful attempt to stop his appointment.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Yigael Yadin.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Yigael Yadin.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..99989795 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Yigael Yadin.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Politics + - Israel +--- +Yigael Yadin served as the Deputy Prime Minister of [[Israel]]. He joined [[Yitzhak Hofi]] and [[Yehoshua Saguy]] in their futile dissent against the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] in June 1981.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Yitzhak Tunic.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Yitzhak Tunic.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9d3b79db --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Yitzhak Tunic.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Legal + - Israel +--- +[[Yitzhak Tunic]] was the lawyer for [[Michael Dennis Rohan]], who carried out the 1969 arson attack on the [[El Aqsa Mosque]]. He was later appointed as the state comptroller (ombudsman) of [[Israel]].[^1] + +[[Michael Dennis Rohan|Rohan]] believed that [[Yitzhak Tunic|Tunic]] "sold him down the river" because he was afraid [[Michael Dennis Rohan|Rohan]] might mention the [[Jewish Defense League]] (JDL) if he took the witness stand. [[Yitzhak Tunic|Tunic's]] actions were part of the suppression of the [[El Aqsa Mosque]] arson case for "reasons of State interests."[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Yosef Zeira.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Yosef Zeira.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5241d8ca --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Yosef Zeira.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Person + - Military + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +Colonel [[Yosef Zeira]] was a stern department commander in [[Unit 8200]], an [[Israel|Israeli]] Signals Intelligence (Sigint) unit. He was responsible for briefing a team of officers, including [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], about the secret commando raid to rescue [[Israel|Israeli]] and other passengers from a hijacked [[Air France]] jet at [[Entebbe Airport]] in [[Uganda]] in July 1976. He ordered the team to "disappear" for the duration of the operation, with no contact with their families.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan.md b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c6522130 --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan.md @@ -0,0 +1,32 @@ +--- +tags: ["Person", "Royalty", "Government Official", "BCCI"] +--- +Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan was the Head of [[Abu Dhabi]]'s ruling family and president of the [[United Arab Emirates]].[^1] + +### Early Life and Ascension + +Zayed's early life was described by explorer Wilfred Thesiger, who noted his powerful build and reputation among the Bedouin. He was involved in the *ghazzu*, or Bedouin raid, to secure territory or camels. Zayed's passion was falconing. In 1966, Zayed deposed and exiled his brother, Shakhbut bin Sultan AL-Nahayan, and ascended to the throne of Abu Dhabi.[^2] + +### Relationship with BCCI and Abedi + +[[Agha Hasan Abedi]] cultivated a relationship with Zayed, recognizing the potential of Abu Dhabi's oil wealth.[^3] Abedi's persistence led to Zayed becoming a key supporter and later owner of [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]].[^4] Zayed's petrodollars were pumped into Abedi's bank, and BCCI handled the purchase of homes for Zayed in [[Pakistan]] and managed details of his trips.[^4] + +BCCI effectively merged with Zayed's Private Department, which handled and invested the Emirates' wealth.[^5] Zayed was the principal mark in Abedi's con game, having been coddled into pumping $1.5 billion in new capital and another $1.5 billion in deposits into BCCI since mid-1990.[^6] + +### Role in BCCI Scandal + +Zayed and his chief lieutenant, [[Ghanim Fan's al-Mazrui]], were infuriated by the global seizure of BCCI, as it occurred just ten days before a deal to restructure the bank was to be signed.[^6] Zayed's various state agencies, along with Zayed himself, lost as much as $8 billion in the shutdown of BCCI.[^7] + +He ordered audits of BCCI, which revealed billions of dollars missing.[^8] The [[Bank of England]] tried to persuade Zayed to inject more money into BCCI to cover losses.[^9] + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 11. +[^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, pp. 155-156. +[^3]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 155. +[^4]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, pp. 162-163. +[^5]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 176. +[^6]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 128. +[^7]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 129. +[^8]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 55. +[^9]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. *The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI*. New York: Random House, 1993, p. 136. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/10 - PEOPLE/KEY INDIVIDUALS.md b/10 - PEOPLE/KEY INDIVIDUALS.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0e5ba48c --- /dev/null +++ b/10 - PEOPLE/KEY INDIVIDUALS.md @@ -0,0 +1,141 @@ +--- +tags: + - MOC + - META +--- +This Map of Content (MOC) organizes the key individuals within The Info Web, focusing on their roles and significance to the central narrative of paranormal research and its intersection with government and science. + +# Key Figures + +- [[Hal Puthoff]] - An SRI physicist who co-founded the remote viewing program, pioneering research into psychic abilities for the U.S. government. +- [[Russell Targ]] - An SRI physicist who, alongside Hal Puthoff, co-founded and managed the remote viewing program. +- [[Ingo Swann]] - A psychic artist who was instrumental in developing the protocols for remote viewing and was one of the program's most gifted participants. +- [[Pat Price]] - A retired police officer whose remarkable and often uncannily accurate psychic abilities in early SRI experiments attracted CIA interest. +- [[Frederick Atwater|Frederick "Skip" Atwater]] - The U.S. Army operations officer for the remote viewing unit, instrumental in its creation, management, and recruitment. +- [[Joe McMoneagle]] - One of the most talented and longest-serving military remote viewers in the program, known as "Remote Viewer 001". +- [[Uri Geller]] - A charismatic Israeli psychic whose spoon-bending abilities brought worldwide attention to psychokinesis and led to his testing by the CIA and SRI. +- [[Kit Green|Christopher "Kit" Green]] - A CIA analyst and neurophysiologist who oversaw the medical and scientific aspects of the agency's psychic research programs. +- [[Albert Stubblebine|Maj. Gen. Albert Stubblebine]] - As head of INSCOM, he was a high-ranking champion of the remote viewing program and other "human potential" technologies. +- [[Andrija Puharich]] - A medical doctor and researcher who was a central hub for paranormal research, connecting psychics like Uri Geller with U.S. intelligence. + +# Intelligence & Government + +- [[Alfredo Stroessner]] - President of Paraguay, installed by the CIA, involved in arms trade and chemical weapons production. +- [[Amiram Nir]] - Israeli counterterrorism adviser who led a competing arms channel during Iran-Contra. +- [[Andres Rodriguez]] - Paraguayan General who orchestrated a CIA-backed coup against Alfredo Stroessner. +- [[Carlos Cardoen]] - Chilean businessman and arms producer, involved in supplying Iraq with chemical weapons and cluster bombs. +- [[Ihsan Barbouti]] - Egyptian businessman involved in procuring materials for chemical weapons and linked to intelligence operations. +- [[John Tower]] - U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, involved in Iran-Contra and PROMIS. +- [[Pieter Van Der Westhuizen]] - Chief of South African Military Intelligence, involved in arms trade and intelligence cooperation. +- [[Rodolfo Stange]] - Chilean General and chief of the Carabineros, involved in arms trade and intelligence operations. +- [[Joseph O'Toole]] - Former U.S. Air Force colonel, involved in arms brokering. +- [[Mark Thatcher]] - Son of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, involved in arms dealing and connections to intelligence operations. +- [[Alan Sanders]] - Businessman with CIA links, involved in supplying technology for cluster bombs to Carlos Cardoen. +- [[Carl Duckett]] - The CIA's Deputy Director for Science and Technology who was a key early proponent and sponsor of remote viewing research. +- [[Dale Graff]] - An Air Force civilian scientist and project manager for the Stargate Project, who sought to integrate psychic abilities into military applications. +- [[James Clapper]] - A career intelligence officer who, as Director of the DIA, was involved with the program in its later stages and oversaw its termination. +- [[John B. Alexander]] - A U.S. Army colonel who was a key proponent of "non-lethal" and psychotronic weapons, and a central figure in the military's exploration of the paranormal. +- [[John McMahon]] - The CIA's Deputy Director for Operations who, along with Carl Duckett, was briefed on the SRI research and approved operational taskings. +- [[Norm Everheart]] - A CIA technical operations specialist who served as a primary coordinator for Grill Flame taskings from the CIA's Operations Directorate. +- [[Richard Helms]] - Director of Central Intelligence during the early days of SRI's research who was briefed on the initial findings. +- [[Robert Gates]] - A high-ranking CIA official and later Director who was a vocal skeptic and adversary of the psychoenergetic programs. +- [[William Odom]] - Director of the NSA who was known for his skepticism towards the Stargate Project. +- [[Frank Carlucci]] - Former Secretary of Defense and Deputy Director of the CIA, with connections to intelligence operations. +- [[Oliver North]] - Former National Security Council aide involved in the Iran-Contra affair, a key parapolitical event. +- [[Sidney Gottlieb]] - Chemist who headed the CIA's MKUltra program, a central figure in mind control research. +- [[Stansfield Turner]] - Former Director of Central Intelligence, overseeing the termination of some psychic programs. +- [[William Stephenson]] - Canadian intelligence officer and head of British Security Coordination, a significant figure in early intelligence and espionage history. + + +# Scientists & Researchers + +- [[J. B. Rhine]] - A botanist who founded the parapsychology lab at Duke University and is considered the father of modern parapsychology. +- [[Edwin May]] - A physicist who served as a principal investigator and later the director of the Stargate Project, focusing on the scientific understanding of psi. +- [[Leonid Vasiliev]] - A prominent Soviet parapsychologist whose work on remote influencing and telepathy fueled the "psi gap" concerns of the Cold War. +- [[Edgar Mitchell]] - The sixth astronaut to walk on the moon and founder of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, a key early funder of Hal Puthoff's research. +- [[Jacques Vallee]] - A computer scientist, astronomer, and author whose research into UFOs and consciousness intersected with the figures and concepts in the psi research world. +- [[Robert Monroe]] - A radio broadcasting executive who founded The Monroe Institute to research human consciousness after experiencing out-of-body states. +- [[Allan H. Frey]] - A biologist whose research into the auditory effects of microwave radiation (the "Frey effect") was central to understanding psychotronic weapons. +- [[Arthur Hebard]] - A physicist at Stanford University whose magnetometer was the subject of Ingo Swann's first successful psychokinesis experiment at SRI. +- [[Andrea Stocco]] - A cognitive neuroscientist researching brain-to-brain communication. +- [[Garry Nolan]] - A Stanford professor investigating anomalous materials and phenomena. +- [[Karl Zener]] - A psychologist known for his work on extrasensory perception (ESP). +- [[Qian Xuesen]] - A Chinese rocket scientist and father of Chinese space program, who also researched Qigong and paranormal abilities. +- [[Rajesh Rao]] - A computer scientist and neuroscientist known for his brain-computer interface research. +- [[Robert O. Becker]] - An orthopedic surgeon and researcher in bioelectromagnetics. +- [[Stephan Schwartz]] - A parapsychologist and remote viewing researcher. +- [[Wolfgang Pauli]] - A Nobel laureate physicist known for the Pauli exclusion principle and his interest in the paranormal. + +# Psychics & Remote Viewers + +- [[Ken Bell]] - An original member of the military remote viewing unit, known for his ability to connect with and describe human targets. +- [[Mel Riley]] - An Army sergeant and gifted artist who became one of the unit's most reliable remote viewers, known for his detailed operational drawings. +- [[Bud Duncan]] - An Army civilian photo-interpreter and an early member of the Stargate Project's remote viewing unit. +- [[Hella Hammid]] - A professional photographer who discovered her psychic talents at SRI and became one of their most reliable remote viewers. +- [[Lyn Buchanan]] - A military remote viewer who later became a prominent trainer and author on the subject. +- [[Cleve Backster]] - A polygraph expert known for his experiments on plant perception, relevant to psi phenomena. +- [[David Morehouse]] - A former military remote viewer and author. +- [[Eileen Garrett]] - A prominent trance medium and parapsychologist. +- [[Ninel Kulagina]] - A Soviet psychic known for her psychokinetic abilities. +- [[Tang Yu]] - A Chinese psychic known for her psychokinetic abilities. + +# Skeptics & Critics + +- [[James Randi]] - A professional magician and prominent skeptic who dedicated his career to debunking paranormal claims, including a famous hoax targeting psi researchers. +- [[Martin Gardner]] - A science writer and founding figure of the modern skepticism movement who was a sharp critic of J.B. Rhine's and SRI's research. +- [[Ray Hyman]] - A psychologist and founding member of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP). + +# Authors & Journalists + +- [[Annie Jacobsen]] - An investigative journalist whose book *Phenomena* is a primary source for much of the information in this vault. +- [[Jim Schnabel]] - An author and journalist whose book *Remote Viewers* provides a detailed inside account of the Stargate Project. +- [[Jack Anderson]] - An investigative columnist who broke stories about the military's interest in "voodoo warriors" and psychic research. + +# Philanthropists & Benefactors + +- [[Bill Church]] - A philanthropist and part-owner of Church's Fried Chicken who provided Hal Puthoff with the initial $10,000 to start his psi research at SRI. +- [[Alice Astor Bouverie]] - An American heiress who was the primary financial backer of Andrija Puharich's Round Table Foundation. +- [[Henry Belk]] - A department store tycoon who was a key benefactor for Andrija Puharich's research into psychics like Peter Hurkos and Arigo. + +# PROMIS Scandal & Related Figures + +- [[Menachem Schneerson]] - Lubavitcher Rebbe, involved in funneling funds for Jewish settlements and the PROMIS-related slush fund. +- [[Michael Milken]] - Prominent stockbroker involved in the financial operations of the Iran-Israel Joint Committee's slush fund. +- [[Bill Hamilton]] - Co-founder of INSLAW and central figure in the PROMIS software scandal, alleging government theft and misuse of his software. +- [[Nancy Hamilton]] - Co-founder of INSLAW and key figure alongside her husband, Bill Hamilton, in the PROMIS software scandal. +- [[Michael Riconosciuto]] - A computer scientist and self-proclaimed former CIA asset, known for his claims regarding the modification and alleged backdoors in the PROMIS software. +- [[Peter Videnieks]] - A U.S. Customs contract specialist and central figure in the PROMIS software scandal, accused of facilitating the software's alleged theft. +- [[Earl Brian]] - A businessman and associate of Edwin Meese, alleged to have played a key role in the pirating and distribution of the PROMIS software. +- [[Danny Casolaro]] - An investigative journalist who died under mysterious circumstances while investigating the "Octopus" conspiracy, which centered on the PROMIS software scandal. +- [[Cheri Seymour]] - An investigative journalist and author of "The Last Circle," a primary source on Danny Casolaro's investigation into the PROMIS software scandal. +- [[Scott Lawrence]] - A U.S. Customs internal affairs investigator who probed the PROMIS software scandal and its connections to high-level organized crime. +- [[Thomas Olmstead]] - A lawyer involved in the INSLAW case, who questioned Peter Videnieks about his knowledge of the PROMIS software. +- [[John Belton]] - A Canadian banker who claimed to have lost money due to the alleged sale of PROMIS to Canada. +- [[Lester Coleman]] - A former DEA agent who provided an affidavit regarding the alleged sale of PROMIS software by the U.S. Government to foreign entities. +- [[Ronald LeGrand]] - A source who provided INSLAW with internal corroboration of their suspicions regarding the theft of the PROMIS software. +- [[Sue Todd]] - A Police Detective who investigated a double homicide connected to the PROMIS software scandal and collaborated with Sean McDade. +- [[Sean McDade]] - An RCMP national security investigator who secretly investigated the alleged use of PROMIS software by the Canadian Government. +- [[Randy Buffam]] - A partner of Sean McDade in the RCMP's national security section, involved in the investigation of the alleged theft of PROMIS software. +- [[William Bradford Reynolds]] - Former Assistant Attorney General, who signed a document related to the distribution of PROMIS software and had recollections of its connection to Iran-Contra figures. +- [[John Cohen]] - A House Judiciary Committee investigator involved in the PROMIS software scandal investigation, focusing on money laundering and narcotics connections. +- [[Joan E. Jacoby]] - Co-headed the team that created PROMIS and was director of the Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia. +- [[Charles R. Work]] - Assistant U.S. Attorney who helped design the initial version of PROMIS and hired INSLAW. +- [[Janet Reno]] - Former Attorney General who commissioned a report on PROMIS use by Canadian agencies. +- [[Elliot Richardson]] - Former Attorney General who asked Daniel Murphy to review claims about the covert dissemination of PROMIS. +- [[Daniel Murphy]] - Former Chief of Staff to Vice President George Bush, who investigated the plausibility of claims about PROMIS dissemination. +- [[Robert Booth Nichols]] - A figure with alleged intelligence ties, whose name surfaced in connection to the PROMIS scandal and related investigations. +- [[Michael T. Hurley]] - A DEA Country Attache involved in the alleged sale of PROMIS software to Middle Eastern countries. +- [[Edwin Meese]] - Former Attorney General linked to the PROMIS software scandal and alleged efforts to sell stolen software. +- [[Lowell Jensen]] - A figure within the Justice Department involved with the PROMIS software, who handled it after Edwin Meese recused himself. +- [[Manucher Ghorbanifar]] - An Iranian arms dealer involved in brokering the transaction of PROMIS software to an Arab Sheik. +- [[Richard Armitage]] - Involved in brokering the transaction of PROMIS software to an Arab Sheik. +- [[Adnan Khashoggi]] - A Saudi Arabian arms dealer involved in brokering the transaction of PROMIS software to an Arab Sheik. + +# Organized Crime & Underworld Connections + +- [[Meyer Lansky]] - A notorious American mobster, whose activities sometimes intersected with intelligence operations and government figures. +- [[Sam Giancana]] - A prominent American mobster and boss of the Chicago Outfit, whose name appears in broader conspiracy narratives. +- [[Johnny Rosselli]] - An American mobster with ties to the Chicago Outfit and alleged involvement in CIA assassination plots. +- [[Santos Trafficante, Jr.]] - A powerful Mafia boss in Florida and Cuba, with alleged ties to the CIA and assassination plots. +- [[Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela]] - A leader of the Cali Cartel, whose drug trafficking operations were allegedly connected to the PROMIS software for money laundering. +- [[Jose Santacruz Londono]] - A leader of the Cali Cartel, also implicated in the alleged use of PROMIS for money laundering. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Agranat Commission.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Agranat Commission.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..016a4b24 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Agranat Commission.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Government + - Israel +--- +The [[Agranat Commission]] was a commission appointed by the [[Israel|Israeli]] prime minister in 1974 to investigate the intelligence failures of the 1973 war, where [[Israel]] was surprised by the [[Syria|Syrian]]-[[Egypt|Egyptian]] attack on [[Yom Kippur]].[^1] + +Several important recommendations from the commission's secret report were implemented immediately. One key recommendation converted [[Israeli Military Intelligence]] into the senior intelligence agency, granting it more powers than [[Mossad]]. As a result, the National Assessment of the immediate security situation became solely the responsibility of the director of [[Israeli Military Intelligence]].[^1] + +A further effect of the recommendations was the creation of the External Relations Department of [[Israeli Military Intelligence]] (IDF/MI/ERD), built around an existing unit called Foreign Liaison.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Ahnenerbe.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Ahnenerbe.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f51da339 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Ahnenerbe.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Ahnenerbe +tags: + - organization + - research + - Nazi +description: The Ahnenerbe was a Nazi German think tank that promoted itself as a research institute for the archaeological and cultural history of the Aryan race. +--- + +The [[Ahnenerbe]] was a [[Nazi Germany|Nazi German]] think tank that operated as a research institute for the archaeological and cultural history of the Aryan race. It was founded by [[Heinrich Himmler]], who served as its president and overlord.[^1] + +The Ahnenerbe's mission was to prove the superiority of the Nazi ideology by linking it to ancient Teutonic culture. To this end, it conducted a wide range of research, from archaeology and geology to more esoteric subjects like extrasensory perception, astrology, and map dowsing. The captured documents from the Ahnenerbe's research on these unusual subjects are believed to have been a catalyst for the psychic arms race between the [[Soviet Union]] and the [[United States]] after World War II.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Australian Security Intelligence Organization.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Australian Security Intelligence Organization.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..99cb0dad --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Australian Security Intelligence Organization.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Government + - Australia + - Intelligence +--- +The [[Australian Security Intelligence Organization]] (ASIO) is [[Australia|Australia's]] internal intelligence service. It was informed by *The [[Sydney Morning Herald]]* about [[Oscar Guerrero|Oscar Guerrero's]] attempt to sell photographs of [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear facility, provided by [[Mordecai Vanunu]]. [[Australian Security Intelligence Organization|ASIO]] then passed this information to the [[Australian Security Intelligence Service|Australian Security Intelligence Service]] (ASIS), who informed [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Australian Security Intelligence Service.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Australian Security Intelligence Service.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..efc0e0bf --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Australian Security Intelligence Service.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Government + - Australia + - Intelligence +--- +The [[Australian Security Intelligence Service]] (ASIS) is [[Australia|Australia's]] external intelligence service. It was informed by the [[Australian Security Intelligence Organization|Australian Security Intelligence Organization]] (ASIO) about [[Oscar Guerrero|Oscar Guerrero's]] attempt to sell photographs of [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear facility, provided by [[Mordecai Vanunu]]. [[Australian Security Intelligence Service|ASIS]] then informed [[Israel]].[^1] + +[[Australian Security Intelligence Service|ASIS]] was aware of and gave permission for aircraft loaded with arms to land in Western [[Australia]], en route to [[Tehran]], as part of a smokescreen operation by the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/British Intelligence.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/British Intelligence.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..81453600 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/British Intelligence.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: British Intelligence +tags: + - organization + - intelligence + - government +description: British Intelligence refers to the various intelligence agencies of the United Kingdom, including MI6. +--- + +[[British Intelligence]] refers to the various intelligence agencies of the United Kingdom, including the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6). During World War II, British Intelligence engaged in a variety of unconventional warfare tactics, including the use of black propaganda and psychological operations.[^1] + +One notable example was the use of astrologers like [[Sybil Leek]] and [[10 - PEOPLE/(A-G)/Louis de Wohl]] to spread disinformation and influence the behavior of high-ranking Nazi officials. These operations highlight the willingness of intelligence agencies to exploit beliefs in the paranormal for strategic advantage.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/China.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/China.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..759074cc --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/China.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: China +tags: + - country + - Asia + - ColdWar +description: China is a country in East Asia, a major global power, and a significant player in Cold War geopolitics, including nuclear and intelligence activities. +--- +[[China]] is a country in East Asia. During the Cold War, it was a significant player in global geopolitics, often viewed as a rival or potential ally by both the [[United States]] and the [[Soviet Union]].[^1] +## Nuclear Program +China's nuclear program was a subject of intense interest for U.S. intelligence. In the late summer of 1979, [[Mel Riley]] and [[Joe McMoneagle]], remote viewers from the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program, successfully remote-viewed a new Chinese nuclear device at Lop Nor. Their descriptions, including an unusual hourglass-shaped design element, were later confirmed by U.S. weapons analysts, demonstrating the efficacy of remote viewing in intelligence gathering.[^1] + +## Diplomatic Relations +President [[Richard Nixon]]'s historic visit to China in 1972 marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, opening relations between the two countries. However, intelligence concerns persisted. For example, the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] investigated the Chinese Embassy in a foreign capital, suspecting its basement communications office, and later tasked [[Pat Price]] to remote-view a Chinese consular building in Rome.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/France.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/France.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e8970f0d --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/France.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: France +tags: + - country + - Europe +description: France is a country in Western Europe, known for its historical involvement in international affairs and its intelligence services. +--- +[[France]] is a country in Western Europe. Its intelligence services have been implicated in various international affairs, including alleged involvement in disinformation campaigns related to psychic research during the Cold War. For instance, [[Jacques Bergier]], a French consulting editor with alleged ties to [[French Intelligence]], played a role in disseminating the fabricated "[[The Nautilus]]" story, which had significant repercussions for Soviet psi research.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/French Intelligence.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/French Intelligence.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f0aae207 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/French Intelligence.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: French Intelligence +tags: + - organization + - intelligence + - government +description: French Intelligence refers to the various intelligence agencies of France, involved in national security and international espionage. +--- +[[French Intelligence]] refers to the various intelligence agencies of [[France]]. While not directly involved in the U.S. psychic research programs, French intelligence services were indirectly linked to the early Cold War "psi race" through figures like [[Jacques Bergier]]. Bergier, a consulting editor with alleged connections to French intelligence, is believed to have been the source of the fabricated "[[The Nautilus]]" story, which inadvertently spurred Soviet psi research.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/International Atomic Energy Agency.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/International Atomic Energy Agency.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..94fec61b --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/International Atomic Energy Agency.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - International + - Nuclear +--- +International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA inspected the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] in January 1981, under provisions of the 1968 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, to which [[Iraq]] was a party.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 1. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Iran-Israel Joint Committee.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Iran-Israel Joint Committee.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dedb36af --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Iran-Israel Joint Committee.md @@ -0,0 +1,27 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Government + - Israel + - Iran +--- +The [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]] was established in the fall of 1980 by [[Menachem Begin 1|Prime Minister Begin]], who ordered [[Yehoshua Sagi|Director of Israel Defense Forces/Military Intelligence Yehoshua Sagi]] and [[Nachum Admoni|acting Director of Mossad Nachum Admoni]] to appoint it. This committee coordinated the efforts of both [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence services and was assigned the task of supplying [[Iran]] with arms in its war with [[Saddam Hussein|Saddam Hussein's]] [[Iraq]].[^1] + +The rationale for helping the [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini|Khomeini]] government was that if the [[Iran|Iranians]] fought the [[Iraq|Iraqis]], their soldiers would be killed instead of [[Israel|Israeli]] soldiers. Additionally, the war diverted [[Arab]] attention away from [[Israel]] and drained [[Arab countries]] of money. From the [[Likud Party|Likud's]] perspective, the rise of [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini|Khomeini]] was beneficial as he was radical, anti-[[USA|American]], and anti-[[Arab]], aligning with [[Israel|Israel's]] national security interest to support him.[^1] + +The initial members of the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]] included [[David Kimche]], [[Shmuel Morieh]], [[Uri Simchoni]], [[Moshe Hebroni]], and [[Rafi Eitan]]. [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] was appointed to the committee on November 28, 1980, as the youngest member, responsible for carrying out the committee's initiatives due to his fluency in Farsi and personal contacts in [[Iran]].[^1] + +By March 1981, the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]] had established mechanisms for handling secret arms sales to [[Iran]], as promised in the October [[Paris meeting]]. [[Israel]] operated under a general agreement of cooperation secretly reached in principle between [[Menachem Begin 1|Prime Minister Begin]] and [[William Casey]] in August 1980. [[David Kimche]] dealt directly with [[Robert Gates]] on the implementation of these sales. In early 1981, [[Robert Gates|Gates]] approved the sale of unsophisticated weapons to [[Iran]].[^1] + +The [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]] became self-sufficient, with its operating budget derived from the profits of arms sales, overseen by the [[Mossad]] comptroller. Profits rapidly grew into a huge extra-budgetary slush fund. Disbursements were requested from the [[Mossad]] comptroller through either the heads of the intelligence community or directly from the [[Prime Minister's Office]].[^1] + +The committee used various trading companies and a flagship holding company called [[Ora Group|Ora]] to manage the slush fund. It also employed smokescreen operations involving private arms brokers like [[John Hortrich]] (alias [[John de Laroque]]) and [[Nicholas Davies]] to obscure its activities. The committee's operations included the sale of [[TOW missile]]s, [[T-80 tank]]s, and other military equipment to [[Iran]].[^1] + +From March 1981 to the end of 1987, [[Iran]] spent over $82 billion on equipment from the [[USA|United States]], [[Israel]], [[Europe]], [[South America]], and [[South Africa]], with the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]] making substantial profits. These profits were used to finance activities of [[Yitzhak Shamir|Yitzhak Shamir's]] faction of the [[Likud Party]], fund "black" operations (including those involving [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah]] and the [[Achille Lauro]] attack), and finance housing projects in the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip]] for Jewish settlers.[^1] + +In 1984, political chaos in [[Israel]] led to a coalition government between the [[Labor Party]] and [[Likud Party|Likud]]. [[Shimon Peres]], as prime minister, attempted to open a competing arms channel to [[Iran]] through [[Amiram Nir]], which led to the [[Iran-Contra Affair]] scandal. The [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]] actively worked to thwart this second channel, including leaking information about [[Jonathan Pollard]] and the [[Oliver North|North]]-[[Amiram Nir|Nir]] operation.[^1] + +In September 1987, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] and three other members of the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]] were dismissed due to pressure on [[Yitzhak Shamir]] following the leaking of the [[Iran-Contra Affair]] story. Prior to this, some funds were set aside for their futures, and the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] money controlled by [[Israel]] was transferred to the [[East Bloc]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Israel.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Israel.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8acc3565 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Israel.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Israel +tags: + - country + - middleeast +description: The State of Israel, a country in the Middle East. It has been connected to various intelligence and psychic research activities. +--- + +The State of [[Israel]] is a country in the Middle East. It has been connected to various intelligence and psychic research activities, notably through figures like [[Uri Geller]] and its intelligence agency, [[Mossad]]. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/KGB.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/KGB.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b3375ec7 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/KGB.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: KGB +tags: + - organization + - intelligence + - SovietUnion +description: The KGB was the main security agency for the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, serving as its intelligence agency, secret police, and border guard. +--- + +The [[KGB]] was the main security agency for the [[Soviet Union]] from 1954 until 1991, serving as its intelligence agency, secret police, and border guard. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, the KGB was deeply interested in [[Parapsychology|psi]] phenomena and was reported to have funded and directed psi research laboratories, such as that of [[I. M. Kogan]].[^1] + +The 1972 [[Controlled Offensive Behavior - USSR]] report by the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] explicitly stated that the "major impetus behind the Soviet drive to harness the possible capabilities of telepathic communication, telekinetics, and bionics are said to come from the Soviet military and the KGB." The report even outlined potential threats, such as the KGB knowing the contents of top-secret U.S. documents or molding the thoughts of U.S. leaders at a distance.[^1] + +[[Uri Geller]] claimed to have worked for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s Mexico City station, spying on local Soviet case officers, their agents, and the dead-drop sites they used, and attempting to convince Mexican officials to reduce the KGB presence. [[Ken Bell]] and [[Joe McMoneagle]] also successfully remote-viewed a KGB "illegal" in South Africa, revealing his method of decoding messages using a hidden pocket calculator and his use of a fishing pole to retrieve dead-drop packages.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/LAKAM.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/LAKAM.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1475b7a4 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/LAKAM.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Government + - Israel +--- +[[LAKAM]] (Hebrew acronym for Science Liaison Bureau) was an Israeli Ministry of Defense intelligence agency, previously known as the Office of Special Tasks. It was set up to gather and exchange technology and intelligence with foreign military industries.[^1][^2] + +### Leadership and Operations + +In the early 1980s, LAKAM was widely known by its Hebrew acronym. [[Rafael Eitan]], a crony of [[Ariel Sharon]], was appointed its new head. LAKAM operations in the [[United States]] produced a steady stream of routinely transferred scientific and technical documents, including [[KH-11]] imagery and reporting and assessments from U.S. embassies and intelligence operatives inside [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Jordan]], and [[Egypt]]. Some of this material was marked JUMBO, indicating it was not to be discussed with American counterparts.[^2] + +### U.S. Spy Network Operations + +[[Rafi Eitan]]'s operation to build a spy network in the [[USA|United States]] to obtain information about Palestinian terrorists was funded from [[LAKAM|LAKAM's]] budget. [[Iris]], a [[LAKAM]] representative in [[Washington D.C.]], served as a conduit for intelligence reports between [[Robert McFarlane]], [[Jonathan Pollard]], and [[Rafi Eitan]].[^1] + +### Political Control and Funding + +[[LAKAM]] was later controlled by [[Rafi Eitan]] after [[Shimon Peres]] became prime minister in 1984, and its huge slush fund, which had once financed [[Labor Party|Labor]] projects, was then controlled by [[Rafi Eitan|Eitan]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. _Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network_. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Labor Party.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Labor Party.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5795427a --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Labor Party.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Political Party + - Israel +--- +The Labor Party is a major political party in [[Israel]]. It was formed through the merger of [[Mapai Party]] and Achdut Avodah in 1968, and later joined by [[Rafi]]. [[Pinhas Sapir]] was renowned as the economic boss of the newly formed Labor Party.[^1] + +In 1968, [[Pinhas Sapir]], renowned as the economic boss of the newly formed Labor Party, was a strong believer in government loans and investments to promote economic development. Dollars for [[Dimona]] never made much sense to him, as he believed an Israeli bomb would only lead to conflicts with the [[United States]] and a lessened flow of American contributions.[^1] + +In 1984, neither Labor nor [[Likud Party|Likud]] achieved a majority in the national elections. A national unity coalition was negotiated, with [[Shimon Peres]] and [[Yitzhak Shamir]] sharing power: Peres would serve as prime minister and Shamir as foreign minister until September 1986, when they would trade jobs. The Labor Party's political advisers understood that [[Yitzhak Shamir]]'s action of forwarding [[Jonathan Pollard]]'s material to the Soviets, if exposed, would mean the end of the increasingly shaky Likud coalition and put the overall Israeli–United States relationship at risk.[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 13. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Likud Party.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Likud Party.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..06589cc5 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Likud Party.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Political Party + - Israel +--- +The Likud Party is a major right-wing political party in [[Israel]]. Its surprising victory in the May 1977 national elections ended twenty-nine years of [[Mapai Party|Mapai]] and [[Labor Party]] domination of the political process in [[Israel]]. This brought to power a government that was even more committed than Labor to the [[Samson Option]] and the necessity of an Israeli nuclear arsenal. The Likud Party, led by [[Menachem Begin]], represented a populist-nationalist view of a greater [[Israel]] with a right to permanent control of the [[West Bank]].[^1] + +In 1984, neither [[Labor Party|Labor]] nor Likud achieved a majority in the national elections. A national unity coalition was negotiated, with [[Shimon Peres]] and [[Yitzhak Shamir]] sharing power: Peres would serve as prime minister and Shamir as foreign minister until September 1986, when they would trade jobs. The slush fund from arms sales financed the [[Likud Party]] and "black" operations.[^2] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 19. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Mapai Party.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Mapai Party.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8d810dc9 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Mapai Party.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Political Party + - Israel +--- +Mapai (Israel Workers') Party was the dominant political party in [[Israel]] for many years. Its political control under [[David Ben-Gurion]] was total, akin to that of a Mafia don. Ben-Gurion's influence ensured that the government left behind after his retirement in late 1953 was of his own creation, with his jointly held positions of prime minister and defense minister being separated and filled by his chosen successors, [[Moshe Sharett]] and [[Pinhas Lavon]].[^1] + +Many senior members of the Mapai Party viewed an Israeli nuclear bomb as suicidal, too expensive, and too reminiscent of the horrors inflicted on Jews in World War II. This led to a bitter fight within the Israeli government over the nuclear weapons program, championed by [[David Ben-Gurion]], [[Shimon Peres]], and [[Ernst David Bergmann]].[^1] + +National elections in the summer of 1955 eroded the Mapai plurality in the Knesset, providing more evidence that the Israeli public was dissatisfied with the dovish policies of [[Moshe Sharett]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2, 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Mossad.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Mossad.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cbee24cf --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Mossad.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Mossad +tags: + - organization + - intelligence + - international +description: Mossad is the national intelligence agency of Israel. +--- + +[[Mossad]] is the national intelligence agency of [[Israel]]. Its relationship with the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] was extensive, involving 28 formal cooperative ventures in strategic intelligence since the 1950s. Many of these arrangements were financed off-the-books through a special contingency fund maintained by the Director of Central Intelligence. One such operation, code-named KK MOUNTAIN, provided millions in annual cash payments to Mossad, in return for which Mossad agents acted as American surrogates in North Africa and other regions. Other agreements financed Israeli operations in [[Syria]] and the [[Soviet Union]], where the CIA found it difficult to operate.[^2] + +In 1977, [[Stansfield Turner]], then Director of Central Intelligence, abruptly cut back intelligence liaison with [[Israel]], leading to a sharp reduction in the flow of intelligence from [[Israel]] to [[Washington D.C.]]. However, the CIA's "embarrassingly inept reporting on [[Iran]]", particularly their failure to anticipate the overthrow of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, forced the American leadership to turn back to Israeli help in anticipating world events. This contributed to the March 1979 [[KH-11]] agreement, which granted [[Israel]] access to high-tech satellite imagery.[^2] + +[[Yitzhak Hofi]], the director of Mossad, opposed the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] in June 1981, primarily because there was no evidence that [[Iraq]] was yet capable of building a bomb.[^2] + +In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, [[Uri Geller]] claimed to have worked with Mossad officials, along with Israeli military intelligence and Shin Bet. He stated that he was tested by these agencies and began to work for them, performing tasks such as clairvoyantly viewing intelligence targets and predicting troop deployments.[^1] + +However, Geller later chose to pursue a high-profile career as a stage performer rather than a psychic operative for Israel. Mossad officials, along with other Israeli intelligence, also visited [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] to assess Geller's abilities, seeking to determine if his psychic talents were genuine and how valuable he could be as an intelligence asset.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Nazi Germany.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Nazi Germany.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8cadbec3 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Nazi Germany.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Nazi Germany +tags: + - country + - historical + - government +description: Nazi Germany is the common English name for Germany between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country. +--- + +[[Nazi Germany]] is the common English name for [[Germany]] between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country. During this period, the Nazi regime was responsible for the Holocaust and was a major belligerent in World War II.[^1] + +In the context of psychic research, Nazi Germany had a complex and often contradictory relationship with the paranormal. While the regime officially banned occult practices, figures like [[Heinrich Himmler]] were deeply interested in the supernatural and established organizations like the [[Ahnenerbe]] to research and exploit such phenomena for political and military purposes. The capture of Ahnenerbe documents by the Allies after the war is believed to have influenced the development of psychic research programs in both the [[United States]] and the [[Soviet Union]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Rafael.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Rafael.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..06eb09de --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Rafael.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Government + - Israel +--- +Rafael is a top-secret Israeli research and manufacturing agency responsible for [[Israel]]'s most sensitive weaponry. The final stage of warhead production for [[Israel]]'s nuclear arsenal takes place at a defense plant north of [[Haifa]] operated by Rafael.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 15. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Rafi.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Rafi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3934e78d --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Rafi.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Political Party + - Israel +--- +Rafi (an acronym for the Israel Workers' List) was a new political party created by [[David Ben-Gurion]] in June 1965, after he dramatically resigned from the [[Mapai Party]]. He was joined by [[Shimon Peres]], who became Rafi's power broker, and [[Moshe Dayan]]. Ben-Gurion's hope was that Rafi could capture a significant number of seats in the Knesset and emerge as a major power broker in Israeli politics.[^1] + +Rafi became an opposition party, playing a role traditionally belonging to right-wing groups. While Ben-Gurion's immediate reason for splitting with Mapai leadership was his continued anger over the [[Lavon Affair]], the Rafi Party, under Peres's leadership, advocated for a more aggressive position across defense issues, particularly on nuclear weapons. [[Ernst David Bergmann]] was another founding member of Rafi and continued to influence Ben-Gurion regarding the dangers of not initiating the production of a nuclear arsenal.[^1] + +The issue of nuclear weapons emerged as a dominant one in the 1965 elections, often discussed in coded language in Israeli newspapers. Rafi leaders criticized [[Levi Eshkol]]'s "big mistake," which was understood by many inside [[Israel]] as referring to Eshkol's hesitations about opening a nuclear weapons assembly line at [[Dimona]].[^1] + +However, Rafi and Ben-Gurion were disappointed by the election results, winning only ten seats in the Knesset, which was insufficient to provide Ben-Gurion with a power base. The election was interpreted as a brutal referendum on his dream of returning to power and marked the end of his role in the public policy of [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 9. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Royal Canadian Mounted Police.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Royal Canadian Mounted Police.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..36dfeb07 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Royal Canadian Mounted Police.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +The [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] is [[Canada]]'s national police force, which became significantly involved in the investigation of the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]]. In February 2000, [[Sean McDade]], an [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] national security investigator, secretly entered the [[United States]] to investigate evidence that the [[Canadian Government]] was using a modified version of the [[PROMIS]] computer software, which purportedly allowed the [[United States Government|U.S.]] to eavesdrop on [[Canada|Canadian]] intelligence secrets through a "back-door." His investigation was code-named Project Abbreviation, and his email handle, "simorp," was [[PROMIS]] spelled backward.[1] + +The [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] probe, code-named Project Abbreviation, was authorized at the highest levels of the organization and was well-funded. The investigation was prompted by the discovery of an invoice for the purchase of [[PROMIS]] from Strategic Software Planning in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which contradicted earlier denials by [[Canada|Canadian]] authorities regarding the Hamiltons' claims about the pirated software. [[Sean McDade]]'s investigation reportedly traced banking transactions that supported the claim that high-ranking [[Canadian Government|Canadian]] officials might have unlawfully purchased the software from officials in the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]]-[[George Bush|Bush]] administration.[1] + +During his investigation, [[Sean McDade]] learned that a meeting had taken place in December 1999 at the [[Los Alamos National Laboratory|Los Alamos facility]] in [[New Mexico]], attended by intelligence heads from the [[United States|U.S.]] ([[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]), [[United Kingdom|Britain]] ([[MI6]]), [[Israel]] ([[Mossad]]), and [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service|CSIS]]. The discussion, labeled "Unique Elements," touched upon questions related to Y2K computer problems and a glitch in the British computer system. A source suggested that all four allied countries shared the same computer system, possibly [[PROMIS]], due to its mutual integration capabilities. Furthermore, [[Sean McDade]] was informed that the [[Mossad]] might have modified the [[PROMIS]] software to create a "two-way" backdoor, potentially granting [[Israel]] access to top [[United States|U.S.]] weapons secrets at [[Los Alamos National Laboratory|Los Alamos]] and other installations.[1] + +The [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] investigation, with assistance from Detective [[Sue Todd]] of Hercules, California, revealed that [[United States|U.S.]] investigators who had previously probed the [[PROMIS]] affair faced significant obstruction from the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]]. Many were fired, suspended, or resigned when their inquiries into drugs and money laundering reached high-level connections. The text highlights that [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] investigators, among others, still feared punitive action for coming forward, even if they were no longer in the public sector.[1] + +The [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]]'s involvement in the [[PROMIS]] investigation also brought to light the use of [[ECHELON]] technology. [[Sean McDade]] himself became a target of [[ECHELON]] during his investigation in the [[United States]], forcing him to take extraordinary measures to communicate securely. He noted that the [[National Security Agency|NSA]] was spying on [[Canada|Canadian]] citizens while [[Canada]] spied on [[United States|American]] citizens, both utilizing [[ECHELON]] and exchanging data.[1] + +Despite the exposure of [[Sean McDade]]'s investigation in the *Toronto Star* in August 2000, he reportedly returned to police work in his hometown.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Russian Orthodox Church.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Russian Orthodox Church.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9005b011 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Russian Orthodox Church.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Religion + - Russia +--- +The [[Russian Orthodox Church]]'s Nuncio in [[Jerusalem]] served as the quasi-official representative of the [[KGB]] in [[Israel]]. The [[KGB]]'s contacts with [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence went through him ever since [[Israel]] and the [[Soviet Union]] cut diplomatic ties in 1967.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Science Liaison Bureau.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Science Liaison Bureau.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..686e2486 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Science Liaison Bureau.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Intelligence + - Israel +--- +The Science Liaison Bureau, also known as LAKAM, was an Israeli intelligence agency. It was previously known as the Office of Special Tasks and was led by [[Binyamin Blumberg]]. LAKAM's agents operated worldwide, collecting technical information and setting up front companies in [[Europe]] and [[Latin America]] to purchase high-tech equipment from the [[United States]] that would otherwise not be permitted for export to [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 15. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Shas Party.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Shas Party.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..873fd0db --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Shas Party.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - PoliticalParty + - Israel +--- +The [[Shas Party]] is an orthodox political party in [[Israel]], which emerged as a significant force in Israeli politics. It was at odds with [[Menachem Schneerson]], the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and gained influence within the [[Likud Party]]-controlled Israeli government. + +In 1987, the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]] redirected funds from the Lubavitcher yeshivahs to the Shas yeshivahs, as the committee and [[Menachem Schneerson|Schneerson]] parted ways. The [[Likud Party]] considered the support of [[Ovadia Yousef]], an Iraqi-Jewish rabbi who controlled Shas, essential due to his large following in [[Israel]]'s Middle Eastern Jewish communities.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Shin Bet.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Shin Bet.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5ed95438 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Shin Bet.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Shin Bet +tags: + - organization + - intelligence + - international +description: Shin Bet is Israel's internal security service. +--- + +[[Shin Bet]] is [[Israel]]'s internal security service. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, [[Uri Geller]] claimed to have worked with Shin Bet officials, along with Israeli military intelligence and [[Mossad]]. He stated that he was tested by these agencies and began to work for them, performing tasks such as clairvoyantly viewing intelligence targets and predicting troop deployments.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/South African Defense Force.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/South African Defense Force.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c4bdd020 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/South African Defense Force.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Military + - SouthAfrica +--- +The [[South African Defense Force]] (SADF) was the military of [[South Africa]]. It entered into a military cooperation agreement with the [[Israel Defense Forces]] (IDF) known as [[SIMWA]] (SADF-IDF Mutual Wartime Agreement).[^1] + +Under [[SIMWA]], if either country faced a shortage of matériel during war or military operations, the other country would provide supplies from its own stockpiles. The [[South African Defense Force|SADF]] also agreed to invest in [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear program and provide testing grounds in the [[Indian Ocean]] for [[Israel|Israeli]] nuclear tests.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Soviet Union.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Soviet Union.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3576b83b --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Soviet Union.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Soviet Union +tags: + - country + - ColdWar + - USSR +description: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a socialist state in Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991. It was a key player in the Cold War and was perceived by the U.S. as a leader in psi research. +--- +The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a socialist state in Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991. During the Cold War, the [[Soviet Union]] was a primary geopolitical rival of the United States, leading to an arms race that extended into unconventional areas, including psychic research.[^1] +## Psi Research and the "Psi Gap" +Reports and rumors of extensive Soviet psi research, particularly after the fabricated "[[The Nautilus]]" story in 1960, spurred significant concern within the U.S. intelligence community. Figures like [[Leonid Vasiliev]] and Eduard Naumov were prominent in Soviet parapsychology, conducting experiments in telepathy and remote influencing.[^1] + +U.S. intelligence agencies, including the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]], expressed concerns about a potential "psi gap," fearing that Soviet advancements in this field could enable them to access top-secret U.S. documents, influence leaders, or disable military equipment remotely.[^1] +#### Targets of U.S. Remote Viewing +The Soviet Union and its military installations were frequent targets for U.S. remote viewing programs, including the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] unit. Notable successes included [[Joe McMoneagle]]'s remote viewing of a Soviet Typhoon-class submarine under construction and a Soviet surveillance bug in a U.S. embassy.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Syrian Embassy in London.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Syrian Embassy in London.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..245a674d --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Syrian Embassy in London.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Government + - International + - Syria + - UK +--- +The [[Syrian Embassy in London]] was implicated in a 1986 plot to bomb an [[El Al]] plane, orchestrated by [[Rafi Eitan]] to discredit [[Syria]]. [[Nezar Hindawi]] was instructed to meet with a Syrian intelligence officer at the embassy, leading him to believe his actions were for the Arab cause. Following the foiled plot, [[Margaret Thatcher|Margaret Thatcher's]] government closed down the embassy in London.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Tahal.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Tahal.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8d93ec7f --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Tahal.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Government + - Israel +--- +Tahal is the government-owned water planning corporation in [[Israel]]. It was responsible for building the expertly concealed shelters for [[Israel]]'s first nuclear missile field at Hirbat Zachariah. The smooth barrels through which the missiles would be launched were imported into the country marked as lengths of pipeline.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 13. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/U.S. Embassy in Moscow.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/U.S. Embassy in Moscow.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..22b2a9bf --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/U.S. Embassy in Moscow.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: U.S. Embassy in Moscow +tags: + - location + - diplomatic + - ColdWar + - intelligence +description: The U.S. Embassy in Moscow was the target of the Moscow Signal, a microwave beam directed by the Soviet Union, suspected of being an electromagnetic weapon. +--- + +The [[U.S. Embassy in Moscow]] was the diplomatic mission of the [[United States]] to the [[Soviet Union]] (and later [[Russia]]). It became a focal point of Cold War espionage and a significant location in the history of U.S. government investigations into psychic phenomena and electromagnetic warfare.[^1] + +From 1956 to 1976, the embassy was subjected to the [[Moscow Signal]], a microwave beam directed at its upper floors by the Soviets. U.S. intelligence suspected this was an electromagnetic weapon designed to influence or degrade the health and behavior of embassy personnel. This led to classified U.S. research programs like [[Project Pandora]] to study and counter its effects. Embassy employees experienced various non-specific symptoms, including headaches, inability to concentrate, and fatigue, and later, some died of cancer, raising concerns about the long-term health impacts of the signal.[^1] + +In the early 1980s, the construction of a new U.S. Embassy building in Moscow became another intelligence concern. The [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] received intelligence that the new embassy had been bugged at its core, with sensors embedded deep inside the structural framing materials. [[Joe McMoneagle]], a remote viewer from the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], accurately remote-viewed the building, perceiving it to be riddled with thousands of bugs and metallic decoys, including girders welded into antennas. This was later confirmed by a CIA/[[NSA]] investigation, revealing a massive Soviet eavesdropping and surveillance program.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Advanced Research Projects Agency.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Advanced Research Projects Agency.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cd11ae0b --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Advanced Research Projects Agency.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Advanced Research Projects Agency +tags: + - organization + - government + - research +description: The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) was a U.S. government agency responsible for funding and overseeing advanced technological research, including early investigations into psychic phenomena. It is now known as DARPA. +--- +The [[Advanced Research Projects Agency]] (ARPA) was a U.S. government agency responsible for funding and overseeing advanced technological research. It is now known as [[DARPA]] (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency).[^1] + +In the early 1970s, ARPA showed interest in psychic phenomena, sending a three-man team to observe [[Uri Geller]] at [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) in early 1973.[^1] + +While ARPA's corporate stance was not to pursue further investigations into Geller, one of its team members, psychologist [[Robert Van de Castle]], was reportedly impressed by Geller's abilities.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Air Force Technical Applications Center.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Air Force Technical Applications Center.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..93205d0a --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Air Force Technical Applications Center.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Military + - USA +--- +The Air Force Technical Applications Center (AFTAC) is a unit of the [[United States]] Air Force responsible for operating and maintaining a global network of sensors to detect nuclear explosions. On September 22, 1979, a [[VELA Satellite]] digitally relayed its sighting of two distinctive bright flashes of light over the South Indian Ocean to AFTAC headquarters at Patrick Air Force Base in [[Cape Canaveral]], [[Florida]]. This event was probable evidence of a nuclear explosion.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 20. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5a8562f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Government + - USA +--- +The Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) was a U.S. government agency responsible for arms control and disarmament policy. [[Charles N. Van Doren]] served as its deputy general counsel during the [[Richard M. Nixon|Nixon]] administration. The ACDA was involved in discussions and reports regarding nuclear proliferation, including the Gilpatric report which warned about the spread of nuclear weapons.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 11, 16. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Army Intelligence Agency.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Army Intelligence Agency.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..17208463 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Army Intelligence Agency.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Army Intelligence Agency +tags: + - organization + - military + - intelligence + - USA +description: The U.S. Army Intelligence Agency (USAINTA) was a component of the United States Army's intelligence apparatus. +--- + +The [[Army Intelligence Agency]] (USAINTA) was a component of the [[U.S. Army]]'s intelligence apparatus. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, it is mentioned as merging with the Army Security Agency (ASA) to form the all-in-one [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]].[^1] + +Brigadier General [[Edmund Thompson]] was the head of USAINTA before the merger, and later became the Major General and Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (ACSI) for INSCOM, overseeing the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Army Security Agency.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Army Security Agency.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0d336a8b --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Army Security Agency.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Army Security Agency +tags: + - organization + - military + - intelligence + - USA +description: The Army Security Agency (ASA) was a United States Army organization responsible for signals intelligence and communications security. +--- + +The [[Army Security Agency]] (ASA) was a [[U.S. Army]] organization responsible for signals intelligence and communications security. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, ASA was often treated as a "low-wage workforce" by the [[National Security Agency|NSA]], which used ASA and other service personnel to staff its global listening posts.[^1] + +In the summer of 1977, ASA merged with the [[Army Intelligence Agency|USAINTA]] to form the all-in-one [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]]. This amalgamation was, among other things, an effort by the Army to regain some control over its personnel who were often utilized by the NSA.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Atomic Energy Commission.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Atomic Energy Commission.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..769d3523 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Atomic Energy Commission.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Government + - Nuclear +--- +An Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) is a governmental body responsible for the oversight and regulation of nuclear energy and related activities within a country. These commissions typically manage nuclear research, development, and the production of nuclear materials, often with both civilian and military applications. + +### Israeli Atomic Energy Commission + +The Israeli Atomic Energy Commission was established in 1952. It was chaired by [[Ernst David Bergmann]] and operated under the direct jurisdiction of [[Shimon Peres]] and the Ministry of Defense. While publicly presented as being for peaceful nuclear research, its primary objective was the development of [[Israel]]'s nuclear weapons program.[^1] + +### United States Atomic Energy Commission + +The United States Atomic Energy Commission (USAEC) was an independent federal agency established after World War II, responsible for the custody of America's nuclear materials, operating nuclear reactors, and developing atomic bombs. Under the [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] administration's Atoms for Peace program, the USAEC facilitated cooperation in the civilian uses of atomic energy, including financing and fueling a small nuclear research reactor at Nahal Soreq in [[Israel]]. This agreement included inspection rights for the [[United States]] to ensure nuclear materials were not diverted to weapons research.[^1] + +[[Lewis Strauss]] served as chairman of the USAEC, followed by [[John McCone]]. Both were briefed on the Israeli nuclear program, though their responses and actions varied.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2, 7. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/California Attorney General's Office.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/California Attorney General's Office.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..19843960 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/California Attorney General's Office.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +The [[California Attorney General's Office]] is the chief law enforcement agency for the state of [[California]]. It is mentioned in the context of [[Ron Van Meter]] reporting drug dealing and other forms of corruption within the Mariposa Sheriff's Department to this office in Sacramento. Upon his return, Van Meter was confronted by Sheriff [[Paul Paige]], who had been informed by the Attorney General of Van Meter's visit and its contents.[^1] + +Three consecutive grand jury foremen sought help from the [[California Attorney General's Office]], but to no avail. [[Ben Wagner]], an attorney representing [[Dave Beavers]] and other deputies, learned that everything pertaining to Mariposa was automatically "trashed" when it crossed the Attorney General's desk. Wagner later filed a Writ of Mandamus against [[John Van de Kamp]], the State Attorney General, for refusing to investigate corruption in Mariposa County.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/California Highway Patrol.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/California Highway Patrol.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b187a9d6 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/California Highway Patrol.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +The [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]] is the state police agency of [[California]]. It was involved in the investigation of the "Queen's accident" on March 5, 1983, a head-on collision involving a Mariposa County Sheriff's vehicle and a Secret Service car. [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]] Assistant Chief [[Richard Hanna]] reported on the collision, and [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]] Sergeant [[Bob Schilly]] provided details about the accident.[^1] + +The original [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]] report on the "Queen's accident" was sent to the [[California Attorney General's Office|State Attorney General's office]] ([[John Van de Kamp]]) in Sacramento. However, [[John Van de Kamp]] reportedly told his assistant to "discard" or "trash" the report. All of the "crack M.A.I.T.S. team" [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]] officers involved in the original investigation either resigned or were transferred or fired afterward. The [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]] Commander and the Deputy Commander who supervised the M.A.I.T.S. investigation also resigned.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Central Intelligence Agency.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Central Intelligence Agency.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0b1702d5 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Central Intelligence Agency.md @@ -0,0 +1,49 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Central Intelligence Agency +tags: + - organization + - intelligence + - government +description: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the U.S. federal government, tasked with gathering, processing, and analyzing national security information from around the world. +--- +The [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) is a primary intelligence-gathering organization of the United States government. In the context of psychic research, the CIA played a significant, albeit often covert, role in funding and overseeing programs aimed at exploring and utilizing psychic phenomena for intelligence purposes.[^1] + +The CIA, particularly through its Photographic Intelligence Division, was instrumental in aerial reconnaissance efforts, especially with the U-2 spy plane, to monitor Soviet nuclear programs and later, the Israeli nuclear facility at [[Dimona]].[^2] + +## Early Involvement in Psi Research +The CIA's interest in psi research dates back to the early 1970s, partly in response to rumors of extensive Soviet psi research. Following a number of scandals in the mid-1970s, including revelations of domestic spying, the CIA came under unprecedented scrutiny from Congress. This led to a preference for "clean" spying methods, making psychic intelligence an appealing, low-profile alternative to traditional human intelligence (HUMINT).[^1] + +In 1972, the CIA, through officials like [[Ken Kress]] from the Technical Services Division (TSD) (later the Office of Technical Service, OTS), provided the initial funding for [[Hal Puthoff]]'s psi research program at [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI). This funding, initially $50,000 for eight months, was contingent on the researchers demonstrating a repeatable psi phenomenon. The Office of Research and Development (ORD) also jointly managed the funding and contract.[^1] + +### Oversight and Tasking of Remote Viewing +CIA officials, including [[Richard Kennett]] (from the Office of Scientific Intelligence), [[Norm Everheart]] (from OTS and liaison to Staff D), and senior figures like John McMahon (Deputy Director for Operations) and Carl Duckett (Deputy Director for Science and Technology), served as key liaisons and evaluators for the remote viewing programs at SRI and later the Army's [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] unit at [[Fort Meade]]. They tasked psychics like [[Ingo Swann]], [[Pat Price]], and [[Uri Geller]] with sensitive intelligence problems, ranging from locating lost objects to gathering information on foreign military installations and agents.[^1] + +#### Notable Operations and Impact +* **Semipalatinsk:** CIA officials tasked [[Pat Price]] with remote viewing a mysterious Soviet military research facility at Semipalatinsk. Price's detailed descriptions of a gantry crane and large metal spheres were later confirmed by satellite photography, significantly impressing the Agency and securing further funding for SRI's psi research.[^1] +* **Soviet Diplomat and Fishing Pole:** [[Norm Everheart]] utilized remote viewers to investigate a Soviet diplomat suspected of using a fishing pole for dead-drop operations, leading to the successful identification of a dead-drop site.[^1] +* **KGB Agent Interrogation:** Remote viewers, particularly [[Ken Bell]], were used by the CIA to telepathically interrogate a captured KGB agent in South Africa, extracting information about a hidden pocket calculator used for coding messages. This operation, facilitated by [[Norm Everheart]] and Jim Morris, was considered a success despite its unconventional nature.[^1] +* **Tehran Hostage Crisis:** During the Iran hostage crisis in 1979-1980, the CIA and Pentagon tasked remote viewers hundreds of times to gather information on the hostages' whereabouts and conditions. While the remote viewers experienced burnout due to the relentless tasking, the data was considered "no worse" than that collected by more conventional methods.[^1] +* **Moscow Embassy:** The CIA tasked remote viewers to assess the new U.S. Embassy building in Moscow for Soviet bugs, even before its construction was complete. Remote viewers like [[Joe McMoneagle]] accurately described the building being riddled with thousands of bugs and metallic decoys, including girders welded into antennas, which was later confirmed by a CIA/NSA investigation. This prescient remote viewing highlighted a major security fiasco for the U.S. diplomatic efforts.[^1] + +### Intelligence Liaison with Israel +The CIA's relationship with [[Israel]]i intelligence, particularly [[Mossad]], was extensive, involving 28 formal cooperative ventures in strategic intelligence since the 1950s. These arrangements were often financed off-the-books through a special contingency fund maintained by the Director of Central Intelligence. One such operation, code-named KK MOUNTAIN, involved millions in annual cash payments to [[Mossad]] in exchange for their agents acting as American surrogates in North Africa and other regions. Other agreements financed Israeli operations in [[Syria]] and the [[Soviet Union]], where the CIA found it difficult to operate.[^2] + +In 1977, [[Stansfield Turner]], then Director of Central Intelligence, abruptly cut back intelligence liaison with [[Israel]] as part of a CIA restructuring. This led to a sharp reduction in the flow of intelligence from [[Israel]] to [[Washington D.C.]]. However, the CIA's "embarrassingly inept reporting on [[Iran]]", particularly their failure to anticipate the overthrow of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, forced the American leadership to turn back to Israeli help in anticipating world events. This contributed to the March 1979 KH-11 agreement, which granted [[Israel]] access to high-tech satellite imagery.[^2] + +Initially, the KH-11 satellite's images were tightly restricted, even to close allies like [[Great Britain]]. However, [[Jimmy Carter]]'s decision to provide [[Israel]] with direct access to the KH-11 in March 1979 disrupted the satellite's careful scheduling and meant less access for some American intelligence agencies. This decision was suspected by some American intelligence officials as a reward for the [[Camp David Accords|Camp David summit]].[^2] + +Following the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] in June 1981, [[William J. Casey]], [[Ronald Reagan]]'s Director of Central Intelligence, ordered a review of [[Israel]]'s use of the KH-11 intelligence-sharing agreement. The review found that [[Israel]] had expanded the agreement to extract virtually any photograph desired, including extensive coverage of western [[Russia]] and [[Moscow]]. This led to anger within the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] over the "very lax" management of the liaison agreement. Despite this, it was agreed that photographs would continue to flow to [[Israel]], but with the initial 1979 restrictions re-enforced.[^2] + +### Internal Skepticism and "Giggle Factor" +Despite the successes, the CIA faced internal skepticism regarding psi research, often referred to as the "giggle factor." Officials like Ed Rogers, chief of Staff D, were hesitant to rely solely on psychic intelligence for high-stakes operations, fearing ridicule and operational compromise. This skepticism often led to remote viewing data being used to supplement conventional intelligence rather than as a primary source, as seen in the decision not to use Price's data for a direct penetration of the Chinese Embassy basement.[^1] + +#### Relationship with Psychics: +The CIA's relationship with the psychics was complex. While valuing their abilities, the Agency maintained strict secrecy regarding their identities and the nature of their work. Psychics like [[Uri Geller]] were closely scrutinized for potential deception, and the Agency was wary of being exploited or used for disinformation by foreign intelligence services. Geller himself claimed to have worked for [[Israel]]i intelligence and later for the CIA's Mexico City station, providing psychic spying services in exchange for favorable U.S. visa arrangements.[^1] + +--- + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Criminal Investigation Division.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Criminal Investigation Division.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5b3603a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Criminal Investigation Division.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +The [[Criminal Investigation Division|CID]] typically refers to the Criminal Investigation Division or Department within military or police forces. It is responsible for investigating felony crimes and other serious offenses within its jurisdiction.[^1] + +[[Roderick Sinclair]], Jr. reportedly worked in the Army C.I.D. in a non-military or civilian capacity. He allegedly received training at Fort Liggett in San Luis Obispo, which is described as a training center for military intelligence operations.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/DARPA.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/DARPA.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f072cb8d --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/DARPA.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: DARPA +tags: + - organization + - government + - research +description: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is a research and development agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military. +--- +The [[DARPA|Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency]] (DARPA) is the modern name for the [[Advanced Research Projects Agency]] (ARPA). It is a research and development agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military.[^1] + +While the *Remote Viewers* text primarily refers to the agency by its earlier name, ARPA, DARPA continues to be at the forefront of advanced research, including areas that may touch upon human capabilities and unconventional intelligence methods. + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/DOTBCA.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/DOTBCA.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b6cfe406 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/DOTBCA.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Organization +--- +The Department of Transportation Board of Contract Appeals (DOTBCA) was the forum where various disputes and related claims arising under the implementation contract between [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] and the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] were pending. These contract disputes were presented to DOTBCA pursuant to the provisions of the Contract Disputes Act, as the DOJ had not established its own board. The claims before DOTBCA included Inslaw's claims for allegedly reimbursable costs (computer center costs, other direct costs, overhead and fringe benefits), additional fees, and amounts due to the DOJ's termination for convenience of the word processing portion of the contract. The DOJ also filed counterclaims to recover certain overpayments allegedly made to Inslaw. Most of the issues before DOTBCA were not passed upon or decided by the Bankruptcy Court, which had specifically excluded them from its trial. Neither the Senate PSI's Staff Study nor the House Committee Report made findings on the merits of these claims.[^1] + +In October 1992, [[INSLAW]] unilaterally moved to withdraw its claims before DOTBCA, citing an inability to afford counsel. The bulk of Inslaw's brief, however, took exception to several adverse, pre-hearing rulings of DOTBCA and reargued the merits of some claims previously made before the Bankruptcy Court. DOTBCA, without DOJ objection, granted the motion, and Inslaw's appeals before the Board were dismissed with prejudice on November 9, 1992. This final disposition meant that, as a civil matter, Inslaw was almost certainly not entitled to retry the merits of its contract appeals. The Special Counsel's investigation noted that Inslaw's decision to withdraw was unfortunate, as it gave up its right to a full hearing and determination of its claims by a department presumably free of the influences Inslaw alleged against the DOJ. The investigation concluded that the DOJ's positions and actions leading up to these disputes were not baseless or without foundation, but rather arose from legitimate differences of opinion and concerns about potential cost overruns and overcharges, supported by audit staff reports and an independent audit by the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA).[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Defense Intelligence Agency.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Defense Intelligence Agency.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2f50e5a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Defense Intelligence Agency.md @@ -0,0 +1,27 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Defense Intelligence Agency +tags: + - organization + - intelligence + - government +description: The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is an intelligence agency of the United States federal government, specializing in defense and military intelligence. +--- +The [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] (DIA) is a major intelligence agency of the United States, specializing in defense and military intelligence. The DIA played a significant role in the oversight and funding of the [[STARGATE PROJECT]], particularly after the Army's initial involvement.[^1] + +In March 1979, when [[Jimmy Carter]] decided to provide [[Israel]] with KH-11 satellite photographs, the images, once processed, were to be picked up by Israeli military attachés at a special Pentagon office controlled by the DIA. This arrangement was designed to provide [[Israel]] with intelligence and warning (I&W) regarding military activity within one hundred miles of its borders, but with the caveat that no intelligence would be provided to help them plan preemptive strikes.[^2] + +Following the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] in June 1981, [[William J. Casey]], [[Ronald Reagan]]'s Director of Central Intelligence, authorized a review of [[Israel]]'s use of the KH-11 intelligence-sharing agreement. This review found that [[Israel]] had significantly expanded the agreement, leading to anger within the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and DIA over the "very lax" management of the liaison agreement.[^2] + +## Involvement in Psi Research: +The DIA's interest in psi research was driven by concerns over perceived Soviet advancements in the field. A 1972 DIA report, *Controlled Offensive Behavior—USSR*, highlighted the potential threat of Soviet psi capabilities, including the ability to access top-secret documents, influence thoughts, and disable military equipment remotely. This report, while alarmist to some, contributed to the impetus for U.S. investment in psychic research.[^1] + +#### Oversight of Stargate Project: +[[Jack Vorona]], the head of the DIA's Scientific and Technical Intelligence Directorate, was the overall manager of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program. He, along with General [[Ed Tompson]], briefed Congressman Charlie Rose on the program in the late 1970s. The DIA continued to oversee the program even after the Army's funding was initially terminated in 1985.[^1] + +--- + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Democratic Party.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Democratic Party.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cec9b570 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Democratic Party.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Political Party + - USA +--- +The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the [[United States]]. [[Abraham Feinberg]] was perhaps the most important Jewish fundraiser for the Democratic Party by the presidential campaign of 1960, with the dollars he collected meant to ensure continued Democratic Party support for [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Department of Defense.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Department of Defense.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..23794a6d --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Department of Defense.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Department of Defense +tags: + - organization + - government + - military + - USA +description: The Department of Defense (DoD) is an executive branch department of the U.S. federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government concerned directly with national security and the United States Armed Forces. +--- + +The [[Department of Defense]] (DoD) is an executive branch department of the U.S. federal government charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government concerned directly with national security and the [[United States Armed Forces]].[^1] + +In the context of psychic research, the DoD played a significant role, particularly after the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s initial involvement. The DoD became the primary sponsor of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], overseeing its various phases and applications for military and intelligence purposes. Figures like [[William Perry]] and [[Richard DeLauer]] were involved in funding decisions for these programs.[^1] + +The DoD's interest in [[Psi|psi]] phenomena was often driven by concerns about perceived advancements in [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] and [[China|Chinese]] psychic research, leading to programs aimed at understanding and potentially weaponizing these abilities. This included research into [[Psychotronic Weapons]] and the biological effects of electromagnetic radiation, as seen in [[Project Pandora]] and the work of scientists like [[Allan H. Frey]] and [[Robert O. Becker]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Director of Central Intelligence.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Director of Central Intelligence.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c74f9bbc --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Director of Central Intelligence.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Director of Central Intelligence +tags: + - organization + - intelligence + - government +description: The Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) was the head of the U.S. intelligence community and the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 1946 to 2005. +--- +The Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) was a dual-hatted position that served as both the head of the U.S. intelligence community and the director of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] from 1946 to 2005. The DCI was responsible for coordinating intelligence activities across various U.S. government agencies.[^1] + +[[Stansfield Turner]] held this position during the [[Jimmy Carter]] administration, overseeing the CIA's operations, including its involvement with psychic research programs like the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Federal Bureau of Investigation.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Federal Bureau of Investigation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4cec5d90 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Federal Bureau of Investigation.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Federal Bureau of Investigation +tags: + - organization + - government + - USA + - lawenforcement +description: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. +--- + +The [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, the FBI was aware of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program and occasionally sought assistance from its remote viewers for counterintelligence situations.[^1] + +One notable instance involved an FBI official seeking [[Norm Everheart]]'s help to investigate a Soviet Embassy official who was using a fishing pole in a suspicious manner. [[Joe McMoneagle]]'s remote viewing session accurately revealed that the fishing pole was being used to retrieve a dead-drop package from a military installation wall, helping the FBI break an important case. This demonstrated the potential utility of remote viewing in law enforcement and counterintelligence operations, even if the FBI itself did not directly task the psychics due to internal skepticism or religious objections.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0f1aa89d --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +The [[Financial Crimes Enforcement Network|FinCen]] is a bureau of the [[United States Department of the Treasury|U.S. Department of the Treasury]] that collects and analyzes information about financial transactions to combat domestic and international money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] expressed a strong desire to communicate with someone from [[Financial Crimes Enforcement Network|FinCen]], believing they had the necessary expertise to understand his claims about high-level financial illicit activities. He requested that [[J.H.]], an [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent, connect him with a "technical guy that speaks my language" from [[Financial Crimes Enforcement Network|FinCen]]. Riconosciuto claimed he could "unmask the whole operation" of how illicit cash flow was handled daily, including details about the [[Wackenhut Corporation|Wackenhut]] people, the [[Workers Bank]] in [[Colombia]], and "virtual dead-drops" used to circumvent ACH reconciliations.[^1] + +Riconosciuto offered to reconstruct his files and provide [[Financial Crimes Enforcement Network|FinCen]] with a day-by-day view of alleged Mob and [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] Corporation illegal banking transactions. He specified the need for particular computer systems (VAX 11-730 and VAX 3900) to achieve this, claiming to know [[PROMIS]] and [[FOIMS]] (Field Office Information Management System) "inside out" and having helped develop their internal tracking audit trail. He also advised on how [[J.H.]] could make inquiries into his files without alerting the issuing agencies, suggesting "non-electric" filings on [[NCIC]].[^1] + +Despite Riconosciuto's repeated requests and offers, nothing was forthcoming from [[J.H.]] regarding a connection to [[Financial Crimes Enforcement Network|FinCen]] or entry into the Witness Protection Program.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Fort Meade.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Fort Meade.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5ede3ff9 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Fort Meade.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Fort Meade +tags: + - location + - military + - intelligence +description: Fort George G. Meade is a United States Army installation in Maryland, serving as a key center for intelligence and security operations, and a primary location for the Stargate Project. +--- +[[Fort Meade]] (officially Fort George G. Meade) is a United States Army installation located in Maryland, approximately twenty-five miles northeast of Washington, D.C. It is a sprawling, town-like base that houses, among other things, the [[NSA]], the U.S. First Army, and a part of the Army's [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|Intelligence and Security Command]] (INSCOM).[^1] + +Fort Meade served as a primary location for the [[STARGATE PROJECT]], the U.S. Army's secret psychic research program. The remote viewing unit, initially codenamed [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]] and later [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]], was established here in 1977. The unit's offices were initially located in building 4554, and later moved to buildings 2560 and 2561 on Llewellyn Street, which were refurbished by the remote viewers themselves to create quiet, secure spaces for their sessions.[^1] + +Key figures in the [[STARGATE PROJECT]], such as [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]], [[Murray Watt|Scotty Watt]], [[Mel Riley]], [[Joe McMoneagle]], and [[Ken Bell]], were stationed at Fort Meade. The base served as the operational hub for many of the remote viewing missions, with tasking requests originating from various offices throughout the U.S. intelligence community.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Iran Group.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Iran Group.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..08f94662 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Iran Group.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Intelligence + - USA +--- +The [[Iran Group]] was a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] group headed by [[Robert Gates]]. It was created as a result of the October 1980 [[Paris meeting]], and its members, including [[George Cave]], were involved with [[Israel|Israelis]] in arms sales to [[Iran]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..239c973c --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Johns Hopkins APL + - APL +tags: + - Organization + - Research Institution + - Military +--- +# Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory + +The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is a not-for-profit university-affiliated research center that serves as a technical resource for the [[Department of Defense]], [[NASA]], and other government agencies. In the context of the [[Cold War]], APL scientists were assigned to oversee [[Project Pandora]], a classified program initiated by [[ARPA]] to duplicate the effects of the [[Moscow Signal]][^1]. + +Under the direction of [[Richard S. Cesaro]], APL scientists constructed an elaborate facility inside the [[Walter Reed Army Institute of Research]]. Here, primates were irradiated with microwave beams with a power density similar to that of the Moscow Signal. Cesaro became convinced of the harmful nature of these beams, concluding they adversely affected the internal organs, including the brain, of primates, and could lead to conditions like [[Alzheimer's Disease]][^1]. + +APL was also involved in a $1 million study funded by the [[State Department]] to investigate the health effects on [[U.S. Embassy in Moscow]] personnel exposed to the Moscow Signal. This study, released in November 1978, found "no convincing evidence" that employees suffered "adverse health effects as of the time of this analysis," a finding that was controversial given the concerns raised by scientists like Cesaro and [[Allan H. Frey]][^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/LEAA.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/LEAA.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3bc80406 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/LEAA.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2024-04-26 +updated: 2024-04-27 +title: LEAA +tags: + - Law Enforcement Assistance Administration + - PROMIS + - INSLAW +description: The Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) funded PROMIS, a case management software, and supported its expansion. LEAA was shut down in 1982, leading to funding issues for INSLAW, which later faced bankruptcy after a contract with the U.S. Department of Justice. +--- +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is a placeholder and requires extensive additions. + +The Law Enforcement Assistance Administration was funded by a 1968 omnibus crime bill from [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] and provided hundreds of millions of dollars of grants for programs to further law enforcement and judicial assistance within the United States. + +[[PROMIS]] was started with an exploratory grant by the LEAA to the [[U.S. Attorney's office]] DC to create a case management software system. The program was considered "examplary" and the LEAA invested heavily in expanding PROMIS both funding [[INSLAW]] (as up to 80% of their income) and providing grants for municipalities who would transfer to PROMIS. In August 1971, LEAA head [[Jerris Leonard]] wrote 1,300 letters to most of the prosecutors in the country telling them about PROMIS and encouraging them to adopt a similar system. Later LEAA head [[Charles R. Work]] (who was head of the program that created PROMIS along with [[Joan E. Jacoby]] and [[Bill Hamilton]]) would also extensively promote the program through funding of the [[National Center for Prosecution Management]] as well as direct grants to INSLAW and municipalities who would transfer into the PROMIS software. + +In 1981, [[Jimmy Carter]] slashed the government budget and the LEAA's grants were in trouble. The election of [[Reagan administration|Ronald Reagan]] provided hope that the LEAA would be resurrected with Reagan's tough on crime stance, but instead the organization was fully shut down in 1982 with some parts reorganized into other areas of the [[U.S. Department of Justice]]. + +This caused a crisis of funding for [[INSLAW]] who soon after entered into the contract with the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] that would eventually bankrupt the company. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..584b4d06 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory +tags: + - organization + - research + - nuclear +description: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a U.S. federal research facility responsible for nuclear weapons research and development, which also had a brief involvement with psychic phenomena. +--- +[[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] (LLNL) is a U.S. federal research facility located in Livermore, California. It is one of the two primary institutions responsible for America's nuclear weapons research and development. The lab employs thousands of physicists and support personnel and maintains a high level of security.[^1] + +By the late 1960s, much of the [[United States]]' primary analysis of nuclear intelligence had shifted to laboratories like Livermore and [[Los Alamos]], where intelligence units dealing with the [[Soviet Union]] and [[China]] had been set up after World War II. These units began monitoring the transfer of nuclear technology and countries viewed as "nth" nations, or near-nuclear countries. Any interesting intelligence on [[Israel]] was then routed to Livermore through the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s Office of Science and Technology, headed by [[Carl E. Duckett]].[^2] + +In 1974, some Livermore personnel, aware of the psychic experiments at [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) and the public feats of [[Uri Geller]], became concerned about the potential security threat posed by psychokinesis. A small group, including security officer Ron Robertson and physicist Peter Crane, began conducting their own experiments with Geller outside of work hours.[^1] + +While their tests concluded that Geller's psychokinetic abilities were not effective over long distances, and thus posed no threat to nuclear weapons, the Livermore group experienced a series of bizarre, hallucination-inducing phenomena after their involvement with Geller. These included hovering, monochrome flying saucer images, and fantastic animals appearing in their homes and labs. This culminated in a visit from [[Richard Kennett]] of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] to investigate the strange occurrences.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 11. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/NAMRL.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/NAMRL.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f0b01d97 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/NAMRL.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2024-12-31 +updated: 2025-01-06 +title: NAMRL +tags: + - Aerospace Medicine + - Biomedical Research + - Military Health +description: The Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory (NAMRL) conducts research to address health and performance challenges in aerospace environments, focusing on areas like spatial disorientation, fatigue, and aircrew physiology. Equipped with advanced facilities, it supports military readiness and safety under the leadership of Dr. Richard Arnold. +--- +The [[United States Navy|Naval]] Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory (NAMRL) at [[NAMRU-D]] conducts basic and applied research and development in the biomedical and allied sciences to better understand and mitigate challenges and threats aerospace operational environments pose to service member health, safety, readiness, and performance. + +The lab is equipped with capabilities in acceleration and sensory sciences, biomedical sciences, environmental physiology, and engineering and technical services, all of which are supported by a unique collection of state-of-the art science research devices. + +Key areas of investigation include pilot spatial disorientation, situational awareness, motion sickness, vestibular function, unusual acceleration environments, effects of altitude, aircrew physiology, sustained operations and fatigue, personnel selection, back and neck pain and injury in aircrew, en route patient care, and visual and auditory sciences. +## Personnel +[[Richard Arnold |Dr. Richard Arnold]] is the director of NAMRL since the 2010 formation of [[NAMRU-D]] at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]] in Dayton, Ohio (previously NAMRL was a standalone lab in Pensacola, Fl).[^1] +# Footnotes + +[^1]: [Who Are Dayton’s Navy Scientists? Dr. Richard Arnold](https://www.dvidshub.net/news/319884/who-daytons-navy-scientists-dr-richard-arnold) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/NAMRU-D.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/NAMRU-D.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3b1c3f70 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/NAMRU-D.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +The [[United States Navy|Naval]] Medical Research Unit Dayton is one of the eight laboratories within the Department of Defense's Navy Medicine Research & Development Enterprise. As a subordinate command to Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC), NAMRU DAYTON is home of the Environmental Health Effects Laboratory (EHEL) and the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory (NAMRL). They are located at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]], Ohio.[^1] + +Mission: +"To optimize the readiness, performance, and survivability of operational forces through environmental health effects, toxicology and aerospace medical research and development." + +Vision: +"To be the research lab of choice for enhancing human performance and protection in extreme environments." +## Directorates +- Environmental Health Effects Laboratory (EHEL) +- Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory ([[NAMRL]]) +# Footnotes + +[^1]: [About NAMRU-D](https://www.med.navy.mil/Naval-Medical-Research-Command/R-D-Commands/Naval-Medical-Research-Unit-Dayton/About-NAMRU-Dayton/) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/NSA.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/NSA.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9833c19f --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/NSA.md @@ -0,0 +1,44 @@ +--- +created: 2025-03-05 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: NSA +tags: + - agency + - government + - intelligence +description: The National Security Agency (NSA) is a U.S. intelligence agency responsible for global monitoring, collection, and processing of information and data for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence purposes. +--- +> [!INFO] THIS IS NOT WIKIPEDIA +> This page is not all encompassing. The organization is obviously much larger and more detailed than the scope of this page. Consequently, only general information and details relevant to other research thrusts are included. + +The National Security Agency (NSA) is a U.S. intelligence agency primarily responsible for signals intelligence (SIGINT) and cybersecurity. The NSA became involved in the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program, particularly in tasking remote viewers with sensitive intelligence collection.[^1] + +## Role in Satellite Intelligence + +A former official of the NSA explained that the [[KH-11]] satellite, launched in December 1976, was considered the most important advance of its time in reconnaissance photography. Every military and civilian intelligence agency in the government had an urgent requirement for its imagery. The NSA was responsible for all communications intelligence and played a key role in managing the KH-11's schedule to maximize its intelligence collection and cost-efficiency.[^2] + +However, [[Jimmy Carter]]'s decision in March 1979 to provide [[Israel]] with direct access to KH-11 photographs disrupted this careful scheduling. This decision was unpopular within the NSA and other intelligence agencies, as it meant less access to the satellite for American intelligence needs.[^2] + +Later, during the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] administration, it was learned that Israeli military officers were permitted to attend Pentagon meetings where future missions and orbital flight paths for the KH-11 were discussed. This caused significant dismay among some NSA officials, who felt it compromised the security and integrity of the highly sensitive KH-11 system.[^2] + +## Involvement in Psi + +#### Early Connections +[[Hal Puthoff]], a key figure in the [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] remote viewing program, had previously fulfilled his military service as a Navy officer at the NSA at [[Fort Meade]] in the early 1960s. He earned a Pentagon commendation for his work towards a future generation of high-speed optical computers.[^1] + +While the NSA's direct involvement in psi research was initially limited, it became a significant customer of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program. The agency tasked remote viewers with various intelligence collection missions, demonstrating a pragmatic interest in the potential of psychic abilities.[^1] + +* **Soviet Bug Detection:** In 1980, an NSA liaison officer tasked [[Joe McMoneagle]] with locating a Soviet surveillance bug in a U.S. consulate. McMoneagle not only pinpointed the bug's location but also identified a Soviet listening post across the street and, surprisingly, an American NSA team counter-surveilling the Soviets.[^1] +* **Typhoon Submarine:** The NSA was also a recipient of [[Joe McMoneagle]]'s remote viewing data on the new Soviet Typhoon-class submarine. Despite initial skepticism from some within the NSA, McMoneagle's detailed descriptions of the submarine's construction and features were later confirmed by satellite photography.[^1] + +#### Security Concerns and Later Involvement +The NSA was at the center of the "Sugar Grove incident" in 1973. After [[Pat Price]] and [[Ingo Swann]] accurately remote-viewed a secret NSA facility in Sugar Grove, West Virginia, a security investigation was launched, highlighting the potential vulnerabilities of highly classified sites to psychic penetration. Despite this, the NSA later became directly involved in tasking remote viewers at both SRI and Fort Meade.[^1] + +### Connection to PROMIS +Employed [[Bill Hamilton]] as a specialist in Vietnamese from 1962 through 1969. + +In 1995, the NSA filed an affidavit in the [[INSLAW]] bankruptcy case, claiming that unspecified "national security" interests would be at risk if the case were allowed to proceed. This suggests a continued, albeit hidden, connection to the PROMIS software controversy and the alleged "backdoor" theory.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/National Center for Prosecution Management.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/National Center for Prosecution Management.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a13e2be8 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/National Center for Prosecution Management.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is a placeholder and requires extensive additions. + +In December of 1971, [[LEAA]] provided $292,925 to form the National Center for Prosecution Management, a nonprofit that was to act as the onboarding organization to get municipalities to convert to [[PROMIS]]. In 1972 they received an additional $68,675 to finance the development of technical manuals on case screening and paperwork flow, and $54,057 to develop a technical assistance program. + +In 1973, LEAA awarded the Center a total of $ 528,365- including $296,462 for operations, $159,564 to produce another four manuals, and $72,339 to expand technical assistance. + +[[Joan E. Jacoby]] was the first Executive Director of the center with [[James M. Etheridge]] as the Deputy Director, both worked to create the first version of PROMIS and cooperated closely with [[Charles R. Work]], [[Bill Hamilton]], and [[INSLAW]] to expand PROMIS systems. + +The Executive Board of the National Center for Prosecution Management is composed of Preston Trimble, District Attorney of Norman, Okla.; William Randall, County Attorney of St. Paul, Minn.; James Garber, Chief of the Criminal Division, Wayne County, Mich.; Patrick Healy, Executive Director of the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), Chicago, Ill.; George Van Hoomissen, Dean of the National College of District Attorneys, Houston, Tex.; Ernest C. Friesen, Executive Director of the Institute for Court Management, Denver, Colo.; and Judge Joseph Wapner, Superior Court, Los Angeles, Calif. + +Carol S. Vance, President of the NDAA and the District Attorney of Harris County, Tex., is an ad hoc member of the Executive Board. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/National Photo Interpretation Center.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/National Photo Interpretation Center.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dcede1b3 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/National Photo Interpretation Center.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Intelligence + - USA +--- +The National Photo Interpretation Center (NPIC) was a U.S. intelligence agency established in December 1961, with [[Arthur C. Lundahl]] in charge. Its mission was to provide more sophisticated photo intelligence, including huge photographic mosaics of areas like [[Israel]], capturing nuclear facilities such as [[Dimona]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/National Security Council.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/National Security Council.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0f074770 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/National Security Council.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: National Security Council +tags: + - organization + - government + - USA +description: The National Security Council (NSC) is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his or her senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials. +--- + +The [[National Security Council]] (NSC) is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his or her senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials. In the context of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program, the NSC was a key customer for remote viewing taskings, particularly during the [[Jimmy Carter]] administration.[^1] + +During the late 1970s, the NSC, through staff members like Navy Lieutenant Commander Jake Stewart, tasked remote viewers with highly sensitive intelligence problems, including the remote viewing of a new Soviet Typhoon-class submarine under construction at the port of Severodvinsk. The accuracy of these remote viewing sessions, particularly those conducted by [[Joe McMoneagle]], sparked debate within the NSC regarding the value of psychic intelligence, with some officials, like [[Robert Gates]], remaining skeptical, while others, like Stewart, became strong proponents.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Nuclear Intelligence Panel.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Nuclear Intelligence Panel.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8d023eba --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Nuclear Intelligence Panel.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Intelligence + - Nuclear + - USA +--- +The Nuclear Intelligence Panel (NIP) is a highly classified nuclear intelligence group within the U.S. government. Its members, including [[Harold M. Agnew]] and [[Louis H. Roddis, Jr.]], conducted their own investigation into the 1979 [[VELA Satellite]] sighting and concluded that a low-yield nuclear weapon had most certainly been detonated. They were dismayed by the extent of White House interference in the investigation, which they believed was politically motivated to find a different explanation for the event.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 20. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Nuclear Regulatory Commission.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Nuclear Regulatory Commission.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8ad597d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Nuclear Regulatory Commission.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Government + - USA +--- +The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is a U.S. government agency established in 1975, formed when the [[Atomic Energy Commission|AEC]] was dissolved. It is responsible for regulating the nation's civilian use of nuclear materials and ensuring the public health and safety, common defense and security, and environmental protection. [[James H. Conran]], an analyst in the NRC, was assigned to write a history of nuclear safeguards and sought access to the [[Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation|NUMEC]] file, which was initially denied on security grounds.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 18. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6ea5b520 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> Very difficult to find details for some reason. Repeated references are made to this organization but no information seems available. + +The Office of Crime Analysis, Government of the District of Columbia seems to have been a very small governmental research group. + +[[Joan E. Jacoby]] was Director during 1969 when she commissioned the initial [[PROMIS]] system for the [[U.S. Attorney's office]] via an [[LEAA]] grant. She remained director at least through 1972[^1] + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: [The Prosecutor’s Charging Decision: A Policy Perspective](https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/35832NCJRS.pdf) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Naval Research.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Naval Research.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..69568b43 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Naval Research.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Office of Naval Research +tags: + - organization + - military + - research + - USA +description: The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is an agency within the U.S. Department of the Navy responsible for the science and technology programs of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. +--- + +The [[Office of Naval Research]] (ONR) is an agency within the [[U.S. Navy]] responsible for the science and technology programs of the [[U.S. Navy]] and Marine Corps. It funds basic and applied research to develop new technologies and capabilities for naval operations.[^1] + +In the context of psychic research, the ONR funded the development of the superconducting-shielded magnetometer used by [[Arthur Hebard]] at [[Stanford University]], which was later used in [[Hal Puthoff]]'s experiments with [[Ingo Swann]]. The ONR also provided contracts to scientists like [[Allan H. Frey]] for research on the effects of microwave radiation on the human body.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Research and Development (CIA).md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Research and Development (CIA).md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f84ef93b --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Research and Development (CIA).md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Office of Research and Development (CIA) +tags: + - organization + - intelligence + - CIA + - research +description: The Office of Research and Development (ORD) was a more scientifically oriented office within the CIA's Directorate of Science and Technology, involved in funding psi research. +--- + +The [[Office of Research and Development (CIA)]] (ORD) was a more scientifically oriented office within the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s Directorate of Science and Technology. Along with the [[Office of Technical Service|Office of Technical Service]] (OTS), ORD jointly handled the funding and contract management for the CIA's psi research, including the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]] at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Science and Technology.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Science and Technology.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d42fbacd --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Science and Technology.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Government + - USA +--- +Office of Science and Technology (OST) was a unit within the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. By the mid-1960s, it was headed by [[Carl E. Duckett]]. The OST became the routing point for interesting intelligence on [[Israel]]'s nuclear program from laboratories like [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]] and [[Los Alamos]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 11. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Special Investigations.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Special Investigations.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9ae9bce7 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Special Investigations.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Organization +--- +The Office of Special Investigations (OSI) is an organizational unit within the Criminal Division of the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. Its publicly declared mission is to locate and deport Nazi war criminals. + +In February 1994, [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] alleged for the first time that OSI was, in fact, the DOJ's own covert intelligence agency, with functions unrelated to its stated mission. These allegations claimed that OSI was at the center of various conspiracies, including the illegal dissemination of the proprietary version of [[PROMIS]] and the murder of [[Danny Casolaro]]. Inslaw asserted that OSI's Nazi war criminal program was a front for this secret intelligence service. Inslaw also claimed to have obtained a "Criminal Division Vendor List," which, according to their intelligence community informants, was actually a list of commercial organizations and individuals serving as "cutouts" for this secret agency. These charges were repeated in an Inslaw press release.[^1] + +The Special Counsel's investigation found these charges to be "fantasy" and "wholly unsubstantiated," lacking any credible corroborative evidence. The report noted that Inslaw relied solely on unnamed "reliable sources" and anonymous "senior Justice Department career officials," none of whom came forward for interviews. The Special Counsel interviewed [[Mark Richard]], Deputy Assistant Attorney General, whom Inslaw suggested oversaw OSI's covert operations. Richard stated that Inslaw's charges were "ridiculous" and that OSI was only involved in its stated mission and related projects. He categorically denied any involvement by OSI in covert operations, the dissemination of PROMIS, or the death of Mr. Casolaro, calling Inslaw's allegations slanderous. The investigation also found no evidence during its tenure that OSI engaged in the types of activities alleged by Inslaw.[^1] + +Regarding the vendor list, the Special Counsel showed it to [[Robert Bratt]], Executive Officer for the Justice Department's Criminal Division. Bratt confirmed that the list was exactly what it purported to be: a list of vendors used by the Criminal Division for its automated procurement system, PROCURE. The Special Counsel concluded that the vendor list was nothing other than what it claimed to be, and that the theory that large companies like AT&T, Canon, IBM, and Xerox were fronts for OSI's covert operations was unsupported. The allegations concerning OSI's involvement in Danny Casolaro's death were also dismissed as absurd and lacking corroborating evidence, as the investigation found no credible evidence that Casolaro's death was anything other than a suicide.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Strategic Services.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Strategic Services.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c1ed7fc0 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Strategic Services.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Office of Strategic Services +tags: + - organization + - intelligence + - historical +description: The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was a wartime intelligence agency of the United States during World War II, and a precursor to the CIA. +--- + +The [[Office of Strategic Services]] (OSS) was a wartime intelligence agency of the [[United States]] during World War II. It was formed in 1942 to collect and analyze strategic information required by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and to conduct special operations not assigned to other agencies. The OSS was a precursor to the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], which was established in 1947.[^1] + +Figures like [[Oliver J. Caldwell]] were former OSS officers who later became involved in intelligence activities related to psychic research, highlighting the continuity of personnel and interests across different intelligence organizations.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Technical Service.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Technical Service.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..248f6c64 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Office of Technical Service.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Office of Technical Service +tags: + - organization + - intelligence + - CIA + - technology +description: The Office of Technical Service (OTS) was a division within the CIA responsible for technical assistance to spying and covert-action operations, often referred to as the "Q Branch" of the CIA. +--- + +The [[Office of Technical Service]] (OTS) was a division within the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] responsible for technical assistance to spying and covert-action operations. It was previously known as the Technical Services Division (TSD). OTS was often referred to as the "Q Branch" of the CIA, akin to the gadget-strewn division in the James Bond films.[^1] + +OTS played a significant role in the early funding and management of the CIA's psi research, including the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]]. [[Ken Kress]], an OTS engineer, was responsible for giving [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] its first psi research contract in 1972. [[Norm Everheart]] served as the chief of OTS's regional "tech base" in Athens before becoming a liaison to [[Staff D]] and a key coordinator for [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] taskings from the CIA's Operations Directorate.[^1] + +[[John McMahon]], the CIA's deputy director for operations, was also the head of OTS, indicating the importance of this office in technical and covert operations, including those involving psychic intelligence.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Operations Security Group.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Operations Security Group.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ea8491dc --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Operations Security Group.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Operations Security Group +tags: + - organization + - military + - intelligence + - USA +description: The Operations Security Group (Opsec) was a U.S. Army unit focused on protecting sensitive operations from foreign espionage. +--- + +The [[Operations Security Group]] (Opsec) was a [[U.S. Army]] unit based at [[Fort Meade]], Maryland, whose primary task was to protect sensitive operations from foreign espionage. This involved acting as a "Red-Team," literally spying on U.S. military facilities to identify and correct security lapses.[^1] + +[[Mel Riley]] was posted to the Opsec Group in 1976, where his specific job was to analyze photographic intelligence on these installations. The Opsec Group later became part of the [[Systems Exploitation Detachment]] (SED), which in turn was attached to the office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence (ACSI).[^1] + +[[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] initially proposed the formation of a small remote-viewing team to the head of SED, Colonel [[Robert Keenan]], arguing that remote viewing represented a potential security threat that Opsec teams should study. The early remote viewing activities under [[STARGATE PROJECT|Gondola Wish]] were initially envisioned to support opsec missions, though the unit later transitioned to an offensive spying role under [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Sandia National Laboratories.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Sandia National Laboratories.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6b3150c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Sandia National Laboratories.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Research + - Nuclear + - USA +--- +Sandia National Laboratories is a U.S. national laboratory that conducts research and development in nuclear weapons and other areas. By the late 1960s, much of the [[United States]]' primary analysis of nuclear intelligence had shifted to laboratories like Sandia and [[Los Alamos]], where intelligence units dealing with the [[Soviet Union]] and [[China]] had been set up after World War II. These units began monitoring the transfer of nuclear technology and countries viewed as "nth" nations, or near-nuclear countries.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 11. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Soto Cano Air Base.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Soto Cano Air Base.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1cbfa732 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Soto Cano Air Base.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +The [[Soto Cano Air Base]], also commonly known as Palmerola Air Base, is a joint [[Honduras]] and [[United States]] military base located near Comayagua in [[Honduras]], approximately 60 miles (97 km) from the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa. The airbase became operational in 1981.[^1] + +### Operations and Significance + +The [[United States]] military uses Soto Cano as a launching point for its war on drugs efforts in Central [[America]] as well as humanitarian aid missions throughout [[Honduras]] and Central [[America]]. A large concentration of U.S. troops and the Honduran Air Force academy utilize the airbase. The U.S. military's Joint Task Force Bravo (JTF-B) is headquartered at Soto Cano, consisting of a Medical Element – Military Hospital, Army Forces, Air Force Forces, Joint Security Forces, and the 1st Battalion-228th Aviation Regiment (comprising approximately 18 aircraft, a mix of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and CH-47 Chinook helicopters).[^1] + +### Political Context + +The Honduran Constitution does not permit a permanent foreign presence in [[Honduras]]. A "handshake" agreement between the [[United States]] and [[Honduras]] allows the U.S. military's Joint Task Force (JTF-Bravo) to remain on a "semi-permanent" basis. This agreement, an annex to the 1954 military assistance agreement, can be abrogated with little notice.[^1] + +[[Oliver North]] once used this air base as a base of operations for the [[Iran-Contra Affair|Contras]] in the 1980s. If President [[Manuel Zelaya]] had sided with [[Hugo Chávez]] militarily, the [[United States]] could have lost this airbase in [[Honduras]].[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Staff D.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Staff D.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5ba0b137 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Staff D.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Staff D +tags: + - organization + - intelligence + - CIA + - SIGINT +description: Staff D was a cryptically named office within the CIA specializing in small-scale signals intelligence collection, later known as the Office of SIGINT Operations. +--- + +[[Staff D]] was a cryptically named office within the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] specializing in small-scale [[SIGINT|signals intelligence]] collection. It often worked closely with the Office of Technical Service (OTS). The chief of Staff D was [[Ed Rogers]], who was initially skeptical of incorporating psychic intelligence into operations due to the "giggle factor."[^1] + +[[Norm Everheart]] was appointed as a liaison to Staff D, with the task of informing both offices of each other's activities and potential collaborations. Everheart encouraged Staff D to consider how remote viewers, particularly [[Pat Price]], could assist their operations. Despite Price's impressive demonstrations of remote viewing accuracy, Rogers ultimately decided against using psychic intelligence for high-stakes operations, opting for conventional technical means instead.[^1] + +Staff D was later known as the Office of SIGINT Operations.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/State Department.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/State Department.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f88a21b4 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/State Department.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: State Department +tags: + - organization + - government + - USA + - diplomatic +description: The United States Department of State is the federal executive department responsible for the nation's foreign policy and international relations. +--- + +The [[State Department]] is the federal executive department responsible for the [[United States]]' foreign policy and international relations. + +Following the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] in June 1981, the State Department formally condemned the bombing, stating it "cannot but seriously add to the already tense situation in the area." This public condemnation, however, did not reflect President [[Ronald Reagan]]'s private acceptance of the raid.[^2] + +In the context of the *Phenomena* text, the State Department was involved in the U.S. government's response to the [[Moscow Signal]], a microwave beam directed at the [[U.S. Embassy in Moscow]] by the [[Soviet Union]].[^1] + +The State Department set up a classified endeavor, or "cytogenic testing program," code-named the Moscow Viral Study, to secretly conduct genetic testing on embassy personnel exposed to the signal. Employees were told they were being tested for a simple viral infection. This program was later terminated due to concerns about the secret testing of employees.[^1] + +Despite concerns raised by scientists about the health effects of the Moscow Signal, the State Department publicly downplayed the dangers and funded a study that found "no convincing evidence" of adverse health effects. This stance was controversial, especially given that several U.S. ambassadors who served in Moscow later died of cancer.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Strategic Air Command.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Strategic Air Command.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1eeeb636 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Strategic Air Command.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Military + - USA +--- +The Strategic Air Command (SAC) was a United States Air Force command responsible for the nation's strategic nuclear deterrence. In the mid-1950s, SAC's American missiles and bombers were used to target and map Soviet sites, utilizing intelligence gathered by the [[U-2 Spy Plane]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Task Force 157.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Task Force 157.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5f2c89fa --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Task Force 157.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Military + - USA +--- +Task Force 157 was a small, undercover U.S. Navy intelligence unit. During the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], operating in the waters of the [[Bosporus]] off [[Turkey]], it relayed data to [[Washington D.C.]] suggesting that one of the Soviet ships leaving the [[Black Sea]] en route to the [[Mediterranean]] was carrying radioactive material. This report swept through the American intelligence community and the White House, contributing to the heightened alert status during the crisis.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/U.S. Air Force.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/U.S. Air Force.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..41ec29cb --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/U.S. Air Force.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: U.S. Air Force +tags: + - organization + - military + - USA +description: The U.S. Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces. +--- + +The [[U.S. Air Force]] is the aerial warfare service branch of the [[United States Armed Forces]]. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, the Air Force was a key customer for the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program, tasking remote viewers with sensitive intelligence problems.[^1] + +One notable instance involved the tasking of [[Mel Riley]] and [[Joe McMoneagle]] to remote-view a new Chinese nuclear device at Lop Nor. Air Force officials, anxious to supplement their conventional intelligence efforts, sought details about the device's design and whether it had been tested. The remote viewers' descriptions, particularly of an "hourglass-shaped device," were of significant interest to Air Force analysts. The Air Force also tasked remote viewers to locate a crashed U.S. Navy A-6 aircraft, which [[Ken Bell]] successfully did.[^1] + +Additionally, the Air Force was involved in the public rollout of the B-2 Stealth bomber, which [[Mel Riley]] had accurately remote-viewed years prior during an opsec tasking, demonstrating the program's ability to penetrate highly secret projects.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/U.S. Army.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/U.S. Army.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5a957e64 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/U.S. Army.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ +Obviously this is an enormous organization within the larger umbrella of the [[Department of Defense]] and well beyond the scope of a single information page. With that said, the U.S. Army is deeply ingrained as one of the locuses of power within the United State due in large part of it's abilities to directly inflict violence globally as well as direct hundreds of billions of dollars in funding annually. + +The ability of the Army, like all governmental programs entrusted with some semblance of “defense” or related critical task, to classify programs makes it’s activities and actions hard to discern and attractive to individuals looking to shield information and related materials from inquisitive eyes. + +While this page is intended more as a locus for the connection graph, the following is a non exhaustive list of U.S. Army related pages contained within this knowledge pool. +## Departments +- [[ACSI]] +- [[Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program]] +- [[Advanced Tactics Projects]] +- [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] +- [[Great Skill Program]] +- [[Green Beret]] +- [[Joint Special Operations Command]] +- [[United States Army Intelligence Support Activity]] +- [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command]] +- [[Special Operations Group]] +- [[Systems Exploitation Detachment]] +## Facilities +- [[Fort Bragg]] +- [[Fort Carson]] +- [[Fort Huachuca]] +- [[Fort Meade]] +## Projects +- [[STARGATE PROJECT]] \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/U.S. Attorney's office.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/U.S. Attorney's office.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d5151c55 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/U.S. Attorney's office.md @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is a placeholder and requires extensive additions. + +[[Charles R. Work]] hired [[INSLAW]] to create [[PROMIS]] for the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia with funding from the [[LEAA]]. The system went live on January 1, 1971. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/U.S. First Army.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/U.S. First Army.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b767d797 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/U.S. First Army.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: U.S. First Army +tags: + - organization + - military + - USA +description: The U.S. First Army is a corps-level support formation of the United States Army. +--- + +The U.S. First Army is a corps-level support formation of the [[U.S. Army]]. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, it is mentioned as being based at [[Fort Meade]], Maryland, alongside other significant military and intelligence organizations like the [[National Security Agency|NSA]] and a part of the [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/U.S. Navy.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/U.S. Navy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8cac5d95 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/U.S. Navy.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: U.S. Navy +tags: + - organization + - military + - USA +description: The U.S. Navy is the maritime warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces. +--- + +The [[U.S. Navy]] is the maritime warfare service branch of the [[United States Armed Forces]]. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, the Navy was involved in early rumors of a telepathy project with the USS Nautilus submarine, though this was later debunked as a fabrication or disinformation ploy.[^1] + +More directly, the Navy had small contracts with [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] for psi research. The book also mentions a U.S. Navy A-6 attack aircraft that crashed, which [[Ken Bell]] successfully remote-viewed. Additionally, the secret [[NSA]] facility at Sugar Grove, West Virginia, which [[Pat Price]] accurately remote-viewed, was ostensibly a U.S. Navy communications base.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/United States Army Criminal Investigation Division.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/United States Army Criminal Investigation Division.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f8637796 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/United States Army Criminal Investigation Division.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +The [[United States Army Criminal Investigation Division|U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division]] (CID) is the primary federal law enforcement agency of the [[United States Army]]. It is responsible for investigating felony crimes and other serious offenses within the Army.[^1] + +[[Bill McCoy]] was a retired Chief Warrant Officer from the [[United States Army Criminal Investigation Division|U.S. Army's Criminal Investigation Division]]. He became involved in the [[Danny Casolaro]] investigation of the [[PROMIS]] software.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/United States Army Intelligence Support Activity.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/United States Army Intelligence Support Activity.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8c7ef1b3 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/United States Army Intelligence Support Activity.md @@ -0,0 +1,85 @@ +--- +created: 2024-08-21 +updated: 2025-01-03 +title: United States Army Intelligence Support Activity +tags: + - U.S. Army + - Covert Operations + - Intelligence Gathering +description: The Intelligence Support Activity (ISA) is a covert U.S. Army unit specializing in HUMINT and SIGINT for JSOC operations. It conducts clandestine intelligence gathering, operational support, and direct action missions globally. ISA operates under classified programs, collaborates with NSA and CIA, and has a history of involvement in high-profile missions. +--- +The following borrows or copies heavily from [greydynamics.com](https://greydynamics.com/isa-soldier-spies-of-the-intelligence-support-activity/) and their explainer of the ISA. + +The Intelligence Support Activity (ISA) is a covert [[U.S. Army]] unit providing intelligence for [[Joint Special Operations Command]] (JSOC) operations. Its current official name is classified. All records are classified under a [[Special Access Programs]] originally named OPTIMIZE TALENT. +## Known Designations +- 1st Capabilities Integration Group (Airborne) +- Task Force Orange +- [[GRAY FOX]] +- Army of Northern Virginia +- Office of Military Support +- CENTRA SPIKE +- Torn Victor +- INTREPID SPEAR +## Function and Doctrine +ISA specializes in clandestine intelligence gathering and operational support, focusing on HUMINT and SIGINT. Unlike combat-focused JSOC units, ISA conducts intelligence and espionage operations at a tactical level. It prepares the battlespace for military operations globally, primarily enabling JSOC special mission units. +### Key Activities +- HUMINT collection through coercion and interrogation +- SIGINT gathering via communication interception and physical bugging +- Direct action missions when necessary +## Organizational Structure +- Comprises 5 primary elements: administration, training, SIGINT, HUMINT, and direct action +- Four primary battalions with over 300 operators +- Includes cyber ops teams, technology ops teams, and mission support teams +### Known Squadrons +1. Operations Squadron (HUMINT/Ground Squadron) + - Four troops: A, B, C, D + - A and C troops use official cover + - B and D troops use non-official cover +2. SIGINT Squadron +3. Mission Support Squadron + +Headquarters located at Fort Belvoir, VA; squadrons scattered across Maryland/D.C./Virginia area. +## Connections to Other Organizations +- Operates as a tactical arm of the [[NSA|National Security Agency]] (NSA) +- Works closely with JSOC, SOCOM, and other intelligence agencies +- Collaborates with [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], including cross-training of personnel +## Selection and Training +- Recruits primarily from Green Berets and other military branches +- Emphasizes language skills and ability to blend with locals +- Training includes: + - Infiltration techniques + - Advanced air operations + - Offensive and off-road driving + - Personal defensive measures + - Communications + - Espionage methods +- Cross-trains with CIA at "The Farm" in Virginia +## Notable Operations +1. Operation Winter Harvest (Italy, 1980s) + - Rescue of U.S. Brigadier General James Dozier from Red Brigades +2. Operation Queens Hunter (El Salvador) + - Extended SIGINT operations against guerrillas +3. Afghanistan: Operation Anaconda + - Provided critical SIGINT support during Battle of Takur Ghar + - Called [[GRAY FOX]] during this period +4. Iraq: Operation Red Dawn + - Contributed to the capture of Saddam Hussein +5. Colombia: Centra Spike + - SIGINT operations in hunt for Pablo Escobar +6. Raid on Osama bin Laden + - SIGINT prior to and during the bin Laden raid +## Equipment and Tactics +- Weapons vary based on mission, often using local arms for cover +- Utilizes advanced SIGINT and surveillance technology +- "Confederate Air Force": Fleet of 40 ISR aircraft across 15 types +- Mastery of tradecraft, including disguises and covert entry +## History +- 1965: Department of Defense outlines need for military intelligence operations +- 1979: Field Operations Group (FOG) conducts covert survey in Nicaragua +- 1981: Officially established as ISA +- Expanded role following Operation Eagle Claw (attempt to rescue hostages in Tehran) failure +- 2003: Organization was transferred to [[Joint Special Operations Command]] +## Unusual Information +- Members are on the [[Department of the Army's Special Roster]] (DASR), effectively making them "non-existent" +- Can remotely activate turned-off cell phones for surveillance +- Operatives sometimes work in male-female teams, posing as married couples for deep cover operations \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/United States Army Intelligence and Security Command.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/United States Army Intelligence and Security Command.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8855e303 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/United States Army Intelligence and Security Command.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +created: 2025-01-06 +updated: 2025-03-05 +title: United States Army Intelligence and Security Command +tags: + - U.S. Army Intelligence + - NSA Collaboration + - Remote Viewing +description: INSCOM was formed in 1977 by merging USAINTA and ASA, maintaining Army control while collaborating with the NSA. Headquartered at Fort Meade, it conducted remote viewing operations, including the STARGATE PROJECT, until at least 1981 under General Albert Stubblebine. +--- +The United States Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) was formed from the merger of the [[U.S. Army Intelligence Agency]] (USAINTA) and the [[Army Security Agency]] (ASA) which in particular was being used by the [[NSA]] as a source of readily available labor. INSCOM continues to collaborate with the NSA, but maintains more [[U.S. Army]] control of the process. + +This merger was organized at [[Arlington Hall Station]], VA and officially occurred on October 1, 1977. General [[William Rolya]] was the first commanding officer. The headquarters was moved to [[Fort Meade]] where the ASA and other groups were originally stationed. + +The command engaged in [[remote viewing]] operations (under various codenames but referred to as [[STARGATE PROJECT]] for the purposes of this knowledge base) through at least 1981 under commanding general [[Albert Stubblebine]]. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2a42dda2 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +aliases: + - Walter Reed Army Institute of Research + - WRAIR +tags: + - Organization + - Military + - Research Institution +--- +# Walter Reed Army Institute of Research + +The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) is a biomedical research laboratory of the [[U.S. Army]]. It was involved in classified research related to the [[Moscow Signal]] and [[Project Pandora]] during the [[Cold War]][^1]. + +An elaborate facility was constructed inside WRAIR, specifically at its Forest Glen Section, where scientists from [[Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory]] irradiated primates with microwave beams. This research aimed to duplicate the effects of the Moscow Signal, an [[Electromagnetic Weapons|electromagnetic weapon]] believed to be aimed at the [[U.S. Embassy in Moscow]] by the [[Soviet Union]][^1]. + +[[Richard S. Cesaro]] of [[ARPA]], who was in charge of Project Pandora, became convinced that these microwave beams adversely affected the internal organs of primates, including the brain, and could lead to conditions like [[Alzheimer's Disease]][^1]. + +Later, in the 1990s, [[David Morehouse]] was transferred to the psychiatric ward at Womack Army Hospital at Fort Bragg, after a period at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington for psychiatric evaluation. The Walter Reed Army Medical Center Sanity Board concluded that Morehouse did not have a severe mental disease or defect, but rather major depression and alcohol abuse[^1]. + +## Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..33766be6 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base +tags: + - location + - military + - USA +description: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Ohio, and a key center for aerospace research and development. +--- + +[[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]] is a [[U.S. Air Force]] base located in Ohio. It is a key center for aerospace research and development, and has been involved in various classified projects, including those related to psychic phenomena.[^1] + +[[Dale Graff]], a civilian scientist who played a significant role in the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], worked in the Foreign Technology Division at Wright-Patterson. The base served as a hub for his efforts to integrate psychic abilities into military applications, and it was from here that he managed the program's various phases and taskings.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Z Division.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Z Division.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..611f5db8 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/GOVERNMENT/USA/Z Division.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Intelligence + - USA +--- +Z Division is a special intelligence unit at the [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory|Livermore Laboratories]]. Its experts are considered the final word on proliferation issues, and it is responsible for analyzing foreign nuclear weapons, with an emphasis on Soviet weaponry. The most exhaustive analysis of [[Mordecai Vanunu]]'s statements and photographs was conducted by Z Division.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 15. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/INTERNATIONAL/Arab League.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/INTERNATIONAL/Arab League.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cd7aabd0 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/INTERNATIONAL/Arab League.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - International + - Middle East +--- +The Arab League is a regional organization of Arab states in [[North Africa]], the Horn of [[Africa]], and [[Western Asia]]. In April 1976, the Arab League denounced the visit of South African Prime Minister [[John Vorster]] to [[Israel]], along with the [[Organization of African States|OAS]], the [[Soviet Union]], and the [[Netherlands]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 19. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/INTERNATIONAL/Organization of African States.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/INTERNATIONAL/Organization of African States.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ec589103 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/INTERNATIONAL/Organization of African States.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - International + - Africa +--- +The Organization of African States (OAS) is a continental organization consisting of the countries of [[Africa]]. In April 1976, the OAS denounced the visit of South African Prime Minister [[John Vorster]] to [[Israel]], along with the [[Arab League]], the [[Soviet Union]], and the [[Netherlands]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 19. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/INTERNATIONAL/United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/INTERNATIONAL/United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5d8dced7 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/INTERNATIONAL/United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +The [[United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control]] (UNFDAC) was a funding source for the purchase of computer software and hardware systems. [[Lester Coleman]]'s affidavit states that third-party funds, including from the [[United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control|UNFDAC]] in Vienna, [[Austria]], were generally made available for the purchase of [[PROMIS]] software and hardware systems by drug abuse control agencies in the Middle East.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/KEY ORGANIZATIONS.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/KEY ORGANIZATIONS.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fe7ff823 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/KEY ORGANIZATIONS.md @@ -0,0 +1,42 @@ +--- +tags: + - MOC + - META +--- +This Map of Content (MOC) provides a curated guide to the key organizations involved in the story of The Info Web. It is not an exhaustive list, but a starting point for exploring the institutional players in the hidden history of paranormal research, intelligence, and advanced technology. + +# U.S. Government & Military +*The core U.S. intelligence and military organizations that funded, managed, and ultimately utilized the psychic spying programs.* + +- [[GOVERNMENT/USA/Central Intelligence Agency|Central Intelligence Agency]] - The primary civilian intelligence agency of the U.S., which initiated the first contracts with SRI and was a key consumer of psychic intelligence. +- [[GOVERNMENT/USA/Defense Intelligence Agency|Defense Intelligence Agency]] - The Pentagon's top military intelligence agency, which took over management of the psychic spying program in its later years. +- [[PRIVATE/Stanford Research Institute|Stanford Research Institute]] - The prestigious California-based think tank where the original remote viewing research was conducted by Hal Puthoff and Russell Targ. +- [[GOVERNMENT/USA/U.S. Army|U.S. Army]] - The branch of the military that established the operational remote viewing unit at Fort Meade, which became the heart of the Stargate Project. +- [[GOVERNMENT/USA/NSA|National Security Agency]] - The U.S. signals intelligence agency whose highly secret facilities, like Sugar Grove, became early, convincing targets for remote viewers. +- [[GOVERNMENT/USA/Advanced Research Projects Agency|Advanced Research Projects Agency]] - The Pentagon's high-tech research and development agency, which was involved in the early evaluation of psychic phenomena. +- [[GOVERNMENT/USA/Iran Group|Iran Group]] - A CIA group headed by Robert Gates, involved in arms sales to Iran. + +# International Government & Intelligence +*Foreign government organizations that were either involved in their own psychic research or were targets of U.S. psychic spying.* + +- [[GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Agranat Commission|Agranat Commission]] - An Israeli commission that investigated intelligence failures of the 1973 war, leading to significant reforms in Israeli intelligence. +- [[GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Soviet Union|Soviet Union]] - The primary adversary of the U.S. during the Cold War, whose own extensive research into psychotronics and parapsychology fueled the "psi gap." +- [[GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Mossad|Mossad]] - The national intelligence agency of Israel, which reportedly had its own interests in and connections with psychics like Uri Geller. +- [[GOVERNMENT/INTERNATIONAL/Nazi Germany|Nazi Germany]] - The Third Reich's deep interest in the occult and its state-sponsored research into paranormal phenomena laid the groundwork for post-war psi research by both the U.S. and Soviets. + +# Private & Paramilitary Organizations +*The non-governmental groups, from research institutes to terrorist organizations, that played significant roles in the narrative.* + +- [[PARAMILITARY/Black September|Black September]] - A Palestinian militant organization involved in conflicts with Mossad and implicated in the killing of Israeli Military Intelligence members. +- [[PRIVATE/Lockheed Aircraft Company|Lockheed Aircraft Company]] - An American aerospace manufacturer involved in a bribe scandal with Israeli Defense Minister Shimon Peres. +- [[PARAMILITARY/Baader-Meinhof Group|Baader-Meinhof Group]] - A West German far-left militant organization involved in the 1976 Entebbe hijacking. +- [[PRIVATE/Air France|Air France]] - A French airline involved in the 1976 Entebbe hijacking. +- [[PRIVATE/Gamma Corporation|Gamma Corporation]] - A CIA "cut-out" company involved in supplying components for chemical weapons to Carlos Cardoen. +- [[PRIVATE/El Al|El Al]] - The national airline of Israel, involved in various covert operations and arms transport. +- [[PRIVATE/Degem|Degem]] - An Israeli-owned computer business used by Robert Maxwell to market the PROMIS software, particularly to the East Bloc and other countries. +- [[PRIVATE/The Monroe Institute|The Monroe Institute]] - A non-profit organization founded by Robert Monroe to research human consciousness, which became a post-military home for some Stargate personnel. +- [[PRIVATE/INSLAW|INSLAW]] - The private software company that developed the PROMIS case-management system, which became the center of a wide-ranging political conspiracy. +- [[PARAMILITARY/Jewish Defense League|Jewish Defense League]] - A New York-based extreme right-wing organization implicated in the 1969 El Aqsa Mosque arson attack. +- [[PARAMILITARY/LEHI|LEHI]] - A Jewish terrorist group, also known as the Stern Gang, involved in the fight for Israeli independence. +- [[PARAMILITARY/Stern Gang|Stern Gang]] - Another name for LEHI, a Jewish terrorist group. +- [[PARAMILITARY/Symbionese Liberation Army|Symbionese Liberation Army]] - The radical paramilitary group responsible for the kidnapping of Patty Hearst, an early target for SRI's remote viewers. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/African National Congress.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/African National Congress.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c1ee175d --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/African National Congress.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Paramilitary + - SouthAfrica +--- +The [[African National Congress]] (ANC) was a black revolutionary group in [[South Africa]]. It was targeted by the [[PROMIS]] software, which was implemented in [[Transkei]] by [[Degem]] (controlled by [[Israel|Israeli]] military intelligence) with the assistance of [[Robert Maxwell]]. + +[[PROMIS]] was used as a "killing machine" against the [[African National Congress|ANC]] and other black revolutionary groups, leading to the disappearance or maiming of almost 12,000 activists by early 1986. This was often carried out through "black-on-black" violence by death squads led by Chief [[Gatsha Buthelezi]], a term known in [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence circles as "Kushi kills Kushi." The system tracked dissidents through their required identity passes, and death lists were drawn up and handed over to [[Gatsha Buthelezi|Buthelezi]]'s group.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Baader-Meinhof Group.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Baader-Meinhof Group.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1a0c2251 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Baader-Meinhof Group.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Paramilitary + - Germany + - Terrorism +--- +The [[Baader-Meinhof Group]], also known as the Red Army Faction (RAF), was a West German far-left militant organization. They were involved in the 1976 [[Entebbe hijacking]], where they boarded an [[Air France]] jet flying from [[Tel Aviv]] to [[Paris]] and diverted it to [[Entebbe Airport]] in [[Uganda]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Black September.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Black September.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a0a725e3 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Black September.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Paramilitary + - Palestine + - Terrorism +--- +[[Black September]] was a Palestinian militant organization. They were involved in a battle with [[Mossad]] agents in [[Europe]] in the aftermath of the 1972 [[Munich Olympic Massacre|Olympic Games massacre]] of [[Israel|Israeli]] athletes. They were known for killing each other at every opportunity.[^1] + +Suspicion fell on [[Black September]] for the killing of two [[Israeli Military Intelligence]] members working in the [[Rome]] listening station in April 1977.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Golani infantry brigade.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Golani infantry brigade.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9769a0c1 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Golani infantry brigade.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Military + - Israel +--- +The [[Golani infantry brigade]] is an elite infantry brigade of the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Defense Forces]]. [[Uri Simchoni]], a member of the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]], was formerly the chief of this brigade.[^1] + +[[Ari Ben-Menashe]]'s basic training in the military was in a special infantry unit known as Golani, where he undertook a special high-explosives sabotage course.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Hagannah.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Hagannah.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..76752dbe --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Hagannah.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Paramilitary + - Israel +--- +The Hagannah was the military arm of the Zionist movement in Palestine. In 1936, it requested a chemist to help produce an effective high explosive for use in the underground war against the Arabs and the British. [[Ernst David Bergmann]] was assigned this mission and subsequently joined the Hagannah's technical committee.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Jewish Defense League.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Jewish Defense League.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a3c2d318 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Jewish Defense League.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Paramilitary + - USA + - Israel +--- +The [[Jewish Defense League]] (JDL) is a [[New York]]-based extreme right-wing organization associated with [[Meir Kahane|Rabbi Meir Kahane]].[^1] + +The JDL was implicated in the 1969 arson attack on the [[El Aqsa Mosque]] in [[Jerusalem]], carried out by [[Michael Dennis Rohan]]. [[Michael Dennis Rohan|Rohan]] claimed to have coordinated the deed with the JDL. [[Israel|Israeli]] interrogators, including those who questioned [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], emphasized the importance of not revealing the JDL's involvement to avoid any "traces of Jewish hands" in the incident.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/LEHI.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/LEHI.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0f151c31 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/LEHI.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Paramilitary + - Israel + - Terrorism +--- +[[LEHI]] (Lohamei Herut Israel, Hebrew for Fighters for the Liberation of [[Israel]]), also known as the [[Stern Gang]], was a Jewish terrorist group. It was founded by [[David Stern]] and later led by [[Yitzhak Shamir]].[^1] + +[[Gourdji]], the father of [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], was involved with [[LEHI]] in [[Palestine]] during 1940. Although the organization had a reputation as right-wing, many of its members were formerly part of the communist movement. [[LEHI]] was virulently anti-British, and [[Yitzhak Shamir]] was even willing to negotiate with the [[Nazi Germany|Nazis]] for Jewish lives, offering to fight alongside German troops against the British if the Germans would allow interned Jews to emigrate to [[Palestine]].[^1] + +[[LEHI]] members were persecuted and hunted down, even by other Jews in [[Palestine]], due to opposition from the British, [[USA|U.S.]] governments, and the Jewish labor movement. Most individuals affiliated with the [[Stern Gang]] were not welcomed in the State of [[Israel]] after its establishment. [[Yitzhak Shamir]] was an exception, becoming a prominent figure in [[Mossad]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Mujahideen.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Mujahideen.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..52374fa3 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Mujahideen.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +The [[Mujahideen]] refers to various groups of Muslim guerrilla fighters, particularly those who resisted the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] invasion of [[Afghanistan]]. They were supported by a worldwide network that included figures like [[Ralph Olberg]] and [[Tim Osman]], who were involved in procuring [[United States|U.S.]] weapons and technology for them.[^1] + +Discussions with [[Ted Gunderson]], [[Ralph Olberg]], and [[Tim Osman]] in early 1986 focused on the Mujahideen's willingness to field test new and esoteric weapons and provide research reports with photos. They also discussed the capture and/or defection of high-ranking Soviet military personnel and the availability of their intelligence briefings. The Mujahideen were also linked to the exchange of arms for drugs, with cocaine or heroin being used as payment for weapons.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] was involved in discussions about analyzing a Soviet-directed weapons system called "[[Blue Death]]," captured by the Afghan rebels, to help develop effective countermeasures. There were also plans for a military joint venture in [[Turkey]] to produce specialized ammunition and a lobbying effort to legally obtain Stinger II missiles and their variants for the Mujahideen. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] was tasked with formulating a plan to sanitize the electronics of any Stingers at risk of Soviet capture.[^1] + +[[Ralph Olberg]]'s arms assistance project to the Afghan rebels was understood to be legally sanctioned, operating through the State Department and Senator Humphrey's office. However, there was a "turf battle problem" with certain factions of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and their group, MSH ([[Management Science For Health]]), who questioned whether Olberg and Osman's group truly represented the leadership of the Afghan rebel resistance.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/National Liberation Front.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/National Liberation Front.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e086debc --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/National Liberation Front.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Political + - Algeria +--- +The National Liberation Front (FLN) was a nationalist political party and armed liberation movement in [[Algeria]]. By 1955, the French government was facing an insurrection from the FLN, which was strongly supported by [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]]. The bloody war for independence, which resulted in 250,000 deaths, came close to destroying [[France]] over five years and inspired Arab revolutionaries throughout the [[Middle East]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..87666901 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +The [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command|PFLP-GC]] is a Palestinian militant organization. It was implicated by the private investigative firm [[Interfor]] as being behind the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. Interfor claimed that the [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command|PFLP-GC]] was able to get their bomb on board the 747 because the flight was part of a heroin smuggling route connected to the Syrian regime and protected by both the [[United States Drug Enforcement Administration|U.S. DEA]] and the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]].[^1] + +Allegations suggest that a suitcase intended for heroin was covertly substituted with explosives by the [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command|PFLP-GC]] and [[Monzer Al-Kassar]], unbeknownst to others involved in the alleged drug smuggling operation. The [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command|PFLP-GC]] also maintained camps in the Bekaa Valley in [[Lebanon]], which were targeted by [[Israel|Israeli]] air strikes in 1989.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Shining Path.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Shining Path.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0ab01362 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Shining Path.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Paramilitary + - Peru + - Terrorism +--- +The [[Shining Path]] (Sendero Luminoso) is a Maoist terrorist group in [[Peru]]. It was founded and led by [[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso]], a former philosophy professor at the [[University of San Cristobal]] in [[Ayacucho]].[^1] + +In 1980, [[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso|Guzmán]] proclaimed the armed struggle against the capitalist government in [[Lima]], leading to the [[Shining Path]] becoming a powerful force. The department of [[Ayacucho]] was declared under martial law by [[Alan Garcia|Peruvian President Alan Garcia]] due to the group's activities.[^1] + +In 1988, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] met with [[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso|Guzmán]] to secure rare minerals for [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear program. The [[Shining Path]] agreed to sell the minerals for $10 million and requested [[Israel]] to purchase the [[Ocho Group]] newspaper chain and provide medical equipment. The group's philosophy was a mixture of Inca and kibbutz ideology, with a focus on communal living and a unique perspective on social issues.[^1] + +The [[Shining Path]] controlled significant areas of [[Peru]], particularly outside of [[Ayacucho]]. They were involved in ambushes against the military, and their actions led to the slaughter of innocent villagers by [[Rafael Cordova|Col. Rafael Cordova]] in retaliation. The group also used [[Stinger missiles]] to shoot down military helicopters.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Stern Gang.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Stern Gang.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f6147383 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Stern Gang.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Paramilitary + - Israel + - Terrorism +--- +The [[Stern Gang]] was another name for [[LEHI]] (Lohamei Herut Israel, Hebrew for Fighters for the Liberation of [[Israel]]), a Jewish terrorist group founded by [[David Stern]] and later led by [[Yitzhak Shamir]].[^1] + +[[Gourdji]], the father of [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], was involved with the [[Stern Gang]] in [[Palestine]] in 1940. The group was known for its virulently anti-British stance, with [[Yitzhak Shamir]] even willing to negotiate with the [[Nazi Germany|Nazis]] for Jewish lives. They were persecuted by British and [[USA|U.S.]] governments and the Jewish labor movement.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Symbionese Liberation Army.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Symbionese Liberation Army.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dca52851 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/Symbionese Liberation Army.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Symbionese Liberation Army +tags: + - organization + - terrorist + - radical +description: The Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) was a radical left-wing organization active in California in the mid-1970s, known for the kidnapping of Patty Hearst. +--- +The Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) was a radical left-wing organization active in California in the mid-1970s. They are best known for the kidnapping of newspaper heiress Patty Hearst in 1974.[^1] + +[[Pat Price]], a psychic at [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI), was asked by the Berkeley police to assist in the investigation. Price correctly identified the kidnapping as a political act and picked out three members of the SLA, including William Wolfe (nicknamed "Lobo"), from police mugshots.[^1] + +Price attempted to locate Hearst using remote viewing, but was unsuccessful. Hearst was eventually arrested with other SLA members in 1975.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/United States Army Special Forces.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/United States Army Special Forces.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7c0cc3c7 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PARAMILITARY/United States Army Special Forces.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +The [[United States Army Special Forces|U.S. Army Special Forces]], also known as the Green Berets, are a special operations force of the [[United States Army]]. They are mentioned in connection with several individuals involved in covert operations and intelligence activities.[^1] + +[[Michael Hand]], co-founder of [[Nugan Hand Bank]], was a highly decorated Special Forces Green Beret soldier in [[Vietnam]]. He later moved to the clandestine [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] war in [[Laos]].[^1] + +[[Bo Gritz]] was also a highly decorated Special Forces Green Beret in [[Vietnam]]. Both Gritz and Hand had special knowledge of intelligence operations in the [[Golden Triangle]].[^1] + +An American code-named "Charlie," who allegedly helped [[Michael Hand]] escape from [[Australia]] to [[Fiji]], was identified as a former member of the [[United States Army Special Forces|U.S. Special Forces]] and an ex-[[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operative.[^1] + +[[Allan Boyak]], an attorney who represented [[Michael Riconosciuto]], had a background in the [[United States Army Special Forces|U.S. Army Special Forces]] and reportedly did some contract work for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] during the 1960s and early 1970s.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/ARMSCOR.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/ARMSCOR.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f92f42b3 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/ARMSCOR.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - SouthAfrica + - ArmsManufacturer +--- +[[ARMSCOR]] (South African Arms Corporation) is the government weapons manufacturer of [[South Africa]]. It played a significant role in the international arms trade, particularly in its dealings with [[Carlos Cardoen]] and [[Gerald Bull]], and its involvement in supplying [[Iraq]].[^1] + +In 1979, [[Carlos Cardoen]] obtained a brokering license from [[ARMSCOR]] after being rejected by [[Israel]]. This allowed him to begin his work as an arms producer and broker.[^1] + +[[ARMSCOR]] collaborated with [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen]] in selling arms to [[Iraq]]. [[Alan Sanders]] of [[ITICO]] provided technology for cluster bombs to Cardoen, which were then produced with a covert [[USA|U.S.]] license.[^1] + +In 1983, [[ARMSCOR]] contracted [[Gerald Bull]] for his "supergun" artillery project, following an introduction by [[Mark Thatcher]] and [[Pieter Van Der Westhuizen|Gen. Pieter Van Der Westhuizen]], chief of [[South African Military Intelligence]].[^1] + +[[ARMSCOR]] was represented at a meeting in [[Santiago]], [[Chile]], in late 1986, where [[USA|U.S.]] officials, including [[Robert Gates]], reaffirmed their intention to maintain arms channels to [[Iraq]] through [[South Africa]] and [[Chile]].[^1] + +In late 1988, [[Pieter Van Der Westhuizen|Gen. Pieter Van Der Westhuizen]] informed [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] that [[South Africa]] had stopped the flow of technology to [[Iraq]], claiming it was due to a decision to resume nuclear cooperation with [[Israel]]. However, [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence later confirmed that while [[South Africa]] was not directly dealing with [[Iraq]], it was involved with [[Chile]], which continued to supply [[Iraq]] through the [[Carlos Cardoen|Cardoen]] network. The [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] reportedly used [[ARMSCOR]] to facilitate the transfer of nuclear technology to [[Iraq]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/AiResearch Manufacturing Group.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/AiResearch Manufacturing Group.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ec798bb5 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/AiResearch Manufacturing Group.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: AiResearch Manufacturing Group +tags: + - organization + - private + - aerospace + - research +description: AiResearch Manufacturing Group was an American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor known for its work on life support systems and classified research. +--- + +[[AiResearch Manufacturing Group]] was an American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor based in Torrance, California. The company held numerous classified [[Department of Defense|DoD]] contracts, including those in avionics, hydraulics, and microprocessors. Notably, AiResearch engineered the life support systems for the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo astronauts, giving it unique expertise in human physiology under extreme conditions.[^1] + +In the context of psychic research, the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] contracted AiResearch to conduct a classified study on [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[ESP]], [[Psychokinesis]], and electromagnetic (EM) research. While AiResearch found much of the Soviet work to be "speculative, unscientific and sensationalistic," they identified a cause for alarm in Soviet efforts to enhance psychic functioning by bombarding test subjects with very high frequency (VHF) sound and pulsing the brain with electromagnetic signals. The goal was to bring humans to "the razor's edge between sleep and wakefulness" and to "facilitate hallucinations and altered states."[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Air France.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Air France.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9392c89d --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Air France.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Airline + - France +--- +[[Air France]] is a French airline. It was involved in the 1976 [[Entebbe hijacking]], where an [[Air France]] jet flying from [[Tel Aviv]] to [[Paris]] was diverted to [[Entebbe Airport]] in [[Uganda]] by members of the [[Baader-Meinhof Group]]. The hijacking led to a commando raid by [[Israel|Israeli]] forces to rescue the hostages.[^1] + +[[Ari Ben-Menashe]] later booked an [[Air France]] flight from [[Europe]] to [[Israel]] for [[Sayeed Mehdi Kashani]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/American Jewish Committee.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/American Jewish Committee.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ee1296cd --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/American Jewish Committee.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Jewish + - USA +--- +The American Jewish Committee is a Jewish advocacy organization in the [[United States]]. In 1933, [[Lewis L. Strauss]] was asked by the Committee to attend an international conference in [[London]] on the Jewish plight, where he met [[Chaim Weizmann]] and discussed the need to raise funds for the resettlement of Jews.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 7. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/American Society for Psychical Research.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/American Society for Psychical Research.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d490f544 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/American Society for Psychical Research.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: American Society for Psychical Research +tags: + - organization + - parapsychology + - research +description: The American Society for Psychical Research (ASPR) is the oldest psychical research organization in the United States, dedicated to the scientific study of psychic phenomena. +--- + +The [[American Society for Psychical Research]] (ASPR) is the oldest psychical research organization in the [[United States]], founded in 1885 by the philosopher and physician [[William James]]. It is dedicated to the scientific study of [[Psi|psychic]] phenomena, including [[Telepathy]], [[Clairvoyance]], [[Precognition]], and [[Psychokinesis]].[^1] + +In the early 1970s, the ASPR was one of the institutions where [[Ingo Swann]] participated in psychic experiments before his involvement with [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]]. [[Karlis Osis]], a parapsychologist at the ASPR, conducted experiments on [[Out-of-Body Experience|out-of-body experiences]] (OBEs) with Swann, where Swann claimed to be able to "float up" and perceive hidden objects. Osis also conducted a [[Psychokinesis|psychokinesis]] experiment with [[Pat Price]], where Price, from a distance, appeared to affect an infrared sensor in a sealed copper box.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. +[^2]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Atlantic Richfield Company.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Atlantic Richfield Company.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c4e2a691 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Atlantic Richfield Company.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Energy +--- +Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) was an American oil company. In 1967, [[Zalman Mordecai Shapiro]] and his partners were forced to merge their interest in the [[Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation|NUMEC]] into ARCO due to the continuing controversy over alleged uranium diversion. Shapiro, with his special Q clearance still intact, continued to run the plant.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 18. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Babcock & Wilcox.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Babcock & Wilcox.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ced76c36 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Babcock & Wilcox.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Manufacturing +--- +Babcock & Wilcox is a major American reactor designer and manufacturing company. It took over the [[Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation|NUMEC]] plant in the early 1970s. In 1978, Babcock & Wilcox shut down [[Zalman Mordecai Shapiro]]'s [[Apollo]] plant when the nuclear fuels business suffered a downturn. Under public pressure, the company agreed to keep the plant open to determine how much contamination existed. In 1989, the firm began to decontaminate the plant, an expensive process that involved the virtual dismantling of some areas. Company officials acknowledged that many sections of the plant, including its concrete floor, were so contaminated that they had to be dismantled, piece by piece, and buried at appropriate sites after the valuable uranium was removed.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 18. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bank Leumi.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bank Leumi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9f99aee5 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bank Leumi.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Finance + - Israel +--- +Bank Leumi is an Israeli state bank. After his retirement in 1973, [[Walworth Barbour]], the former American ambassador to [[Israel]], agreed to become a board member of its American branch. This decision, while not illegal, was seen by many [[State Department]] officials as posing an obvious conflict of interest.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 12. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bank of Credit and Commerce International.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bank of Credit and Commerce International.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b6f4f955 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bank of Credit and Commerce International.md @@ -0,0 +1,48 @@ +The [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] was a financial institution that became embroiled in a major scandal involving money laundering, drug trafficking, and covert operations. Its collapse had far-reaching implications and was a significant focus of [[Danny Casolaro]]'s "[[The Octopus]]" investigation.[^1] + +### Involvement in Illicit Activities + +[[Adnan Khashoggi]], an international arms merchant, borrowed money for arms purchases related to the [[Iran-Contra Affair]] from BCCI accounts, with Saudi and U.S. backing.[^1] [[Lester Coleman]], a [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] covert intelligence officer, was paid in travelers checks sent from the Luxembourg branch of the now-collapsed BCCI.[^1] + +[[Danny Casolaro]] was investigating the BCCI scandal as part of his broader "[[The Octopus]]" probe, believing it was interconnected with the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] and the [[Iran-Contra Affair]]. He obtained papers referring to Iran-Contra arms deals, including photocopies of checks drawn on BCCI accounts for [[Adnan Khashoggi]] and [[Manucher Ghorbanifar]], from his confidante [[Bob Bickel]].[^1] + +[[Bill Turner]], a friend and confidante of [[Danny Casolaro]], claimed to have seen papers from Casolaro that connected [[Oliver North]] and BCCI.[^1] + +### Chronology + +**1972:** [[Agha Hasan Abedi]] organizes BCCI with the intention of forming the Third World's first multinational bank.[^2] + +**1975:** Using [[Abbas Gokal]] as a front, BCCI attempts to acquire Chelsea National Bank in [[New York]]. Regulators reject the bid due to concerns about BCCI's involvement.[^2] + +**1976:** BCCI opens its [[Cayman Islands]] subsidiary ICIC, which becomes BCCI's repository for loans to privileged insiders.[^2] + +**1977:** [[Eugene Holley]] introduces [[Bert Lance]] to Abedi.[^2] + +**1978:** [[Ghaith Pharaon]] finalizes his acquisition of [[National Bank of Georgia]] from Bert Lance with Abedi's help. Abedi pays off Lance's $3.5-million bank loan. BCCI orchestrates a hostile bid for [[Financial General Bankshares]] of [[Washington, D.C.]] with Lance's help. [[Joseph E. Vaez]] submits a report on BCCI characterizing it as dangerously out of control. The [[Securities and Exchange Commission]] files suit against BCCI, Abedi, Lance, and others in connection with the purchase of Financial General Bankshares stock.[^2] + +**1979:** The [[Soviet Union]] invades [[Afghanistan]], making [[Pakistan]] a key strategic priority for the [[United States]].[^2] + +**1981:** Regulators approve the sale of Financial General to Middle Eastern investors connected with BCCI, based on [[Clark Clifford]]'s assurances of no link between BCCI and Financial General Bankshares.[^2] + +**1982:** Lance introduces Abedi to [[Jimmy Carter]]. BCCI illegally acquires [[Independence Bank of Encino]] using Ghaith Pharaon as a front man. BCCI helps [[Adnan Khashoggi]] finance arms sales to [[Iran]] as part of the [[Reagan Administration]]'s [[Iran-Contra Affair]]. BCCI suffers over $440 million in losses from options trading through its subsidiary Capcom.[^2] + +**1986:** The [[CIA]] issues a report stating that BCCI has owned [[First American Bank]] since 1982.[^2] + +**1987:** Pharaon becomes a partner in [[David L. Paul]]'s [[CenTrust Savings Bank]] of [[Miami]]. First American Bank buys the National Bank of Georgia from Ghaith Pharaon for $227 million.[^2] + +**1988:** Clifford and [[Robert Altman]] sell their stock in First American to [[Mohammed Hammoud]]. Abedi's heart attack ends his direct control of BCCI, and [[Swaleh Naqvi]] becomes chief executive. [[Amjad Awan]] tells investigators that BCCI owns First American and National Bank of Georgia. American Customs agents arrest five BCCI bankers in Tampa, Florida, along with other bankers and narcotics traffickers in London and the U.S. on money laundering charges.[^2] + +**1989:** [[Jack Blum]] visits Manhattan District Attorney [[Robert Morgenthau]] to persuade him to take on the BCCI case.[^2] + +**1990:** BCCI pleads guilty to money laundering in Tampa, Florida, forfeiting $14 million. The first Price Waterhouse audit reveals a $1.7 billion black hole in the bank's accounts. A second Price Waterhouse audit details thousands of irregular transactions and confirms BCCI's control of First American.[^2] + +**1991:** [[Zayed bin Sultan AL-Nahayan|Sheikh Zayed]] acquires 77 percent control of BCCI. A Florida jury convicts five Tampa BCCI officers of conspiring to launder cocaine profits. The [[Federal Reserve]] orders BCCI to sell illegally acquired shares in First American Bank. Regulators worldwide seize BCCI offices, placing over 75 percent of the bank's assets in government hands. A [[New York]] State grand jury indicts BCCI, Abedi, and Naqvi for fraud, bribery, grand larceny, and money laundering. The Federal Reserve Board fines BCCI $200 million for illegally acquiring control of First American Bank, National Bank of Georgia, and CenTrust Savings. Clifford and Altman resign from First American. BCCI's liquidators plead guilty and agree to forfeit $550 million.[^2] + +**1992:** [[Khalid bin-Mahfouz]] is indicted by a Manhattan grand jury. [[Kamal Adham]] pleads guilty in New York and agrees to cooperate with Morgenthau and the Justice Department. Clifford and Altman are indicted by Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau and a federal grand jury.[^2] + +--- + +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. _The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro's Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal_. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. +^2]: Beaty, Jonathan and Gwynne, S. C. _The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of BCCI_. New York: Random House, 1993, pp. 11-14. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Banque Worms.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Banque Worms.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7fb08d9d --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Banque Worms.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Finance + - Europe +--- +[[Banque Worms]] was a bank in [[Geneva]], [[Switzerland]], that played a role in the financial transactions related to [[Israel|Israeli]] arms sales to [[Iran]] and the release of [[USA|American]] hostages.[^1] + +In April 1980, [[Sayeed Mehdi Kashani]] opened a numbered account at [[Banque Worms]] and deposited $270,000 for the purchase of tires from [[Israel]]. This marked the beginning of the extra-budgetary [[Likud Party]]/intelligence community slush fund.[^1] + +In December 1980, $40 million in bank checks, part of a $56 million payment for the release of [[USA|American]] hostages, were drawn on [[Banque Worms]]. [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] deposited $52 million of this money into [[Sayeed Mehdi Kashani|Kashani's]] safe deposit box at [[Banque Worms]]. The remaining $4 million was deposited into [[Earl Brian|Earl Brian's]] account at [[Valley National Bank of Arizona]].[^1] + +Profits from the sales of tires and wheelbases to [[Iran]] ($956,000) were also deposited into [[Banque Worms]] to initiate the slush fund. [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] later opened a special account at [[Banque Worms]] for these profits.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bell Labs.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bell Labs.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..58a86cd0 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bell Labs.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Bell Labs +tags: + - organization + - research + - technology +description: Bell Labs is an American industrial research and scientific development company, historically known for its innovations in telecommunications and computing. +--- + +[[Bell Labs]] is an American industrial research and scientific development company, historically known for its innovations in telecommunications and computing. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, Bell Labs is mentioned in relation to the early rumors of a telepathy project involving the USS Nautilus, though this was later debunked as a fabrication or disinformation ploy.[^1] + +More significantly, [[Robert Lucky]], the editor of the prestigious *Proceedings of the IEEE* electrical engineering society journal, was a Bell Labs scientist. He initially hesitated to publish [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]]'s paper on remote viewing but was later impressed after they visited Bell Labs to answer questions from skeptical scientists. Lucky eventually conducted his own informal remote viewing experiments and became convinced of its reality, stating, "Psychic stuff is really not much more far-fetched than some of the physics behind the laser."[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bufalino Crime Family.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bufalino Crime Family.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7c7e8638 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Bufalino Crime Family.md @@ -0,0 +1,7 @@ +The [[Bufalino Crime Family]] is a [[La Cosa Nostra]] crime family that was reportedly involved in the alleged organized crime penetration of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]. Members of the Bufalino family were specifically related to the [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] investigation, with many reportedly picked up in [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretaps.[1] + +[[Marvin Rudnick]], [[Thomas Gates]], and [[Richard Stavin]] all believed [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] had been penetrated by organized crime, based on these wiretaps.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Burns & Roe, Inc..md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Burns & Roe, Inc..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..87358132 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Burns & Roe, Inc..md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +Burns & Roe, Inc. was an international engineering and construction corporation. It was a family corporation owned by [[Kenneth A. Roe]] and his family. [[George K. Pender]] was a former Director of the Pacific Ocean area for Burns & Roe, Inc., and also served as a Senior Engineer Consultant to the company.[^1] + +Under [[Kenneth A. Roe]]'s leadership, Burns & Roe, Inc. was involved in major projects, including the engineering design and construction of the [[United States of America|U.S.A.]] Fast Breeder Nuclear Reactor Plant in conjunction with [[Westinghouse Electric Corporation]], which was responsible for the nuclear system supply of steam. At the time, the construction value of Burns & Roe, Inc.'s business backlog exceeded six billion U.S. dollars.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Cabazon Indian Reservation.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Cabazon Indian Reservation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..22209a56 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Cabazon Indian Reservation.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +The [[Cabazon Indian Reservation]] is located near Indio, California, and is home to the [[Cabazon Band of Mission Indians]]. Its sovereign nation status played a crucial role in a joint venture with [[Wackenhut Corporation]], allowing the parties to operate outside typical federal jurisdiction and congressional prohibitions.[1] + +### Joint Venture with Wackenhut Corporation + +On April 1, 1981, the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians formalized a joint venture with [[Wackenhut Corporation]], primarily to establish a production facility named "Cabazon Arms" on the reservation. This partnership was designed to manufacture high-tech arms and explosives for export to third-world countries, including the [[Contras]] in Nicaragua and nations in the Middle East, effectively circumventing U.S. arms export regulations.[1] + +[[Dr. John Nichols]], the Cabazon tribal administrator and a former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] agent, was instrumental in this venture. He obtained a [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] secret facility clearance for the reservation to conduct various research projects. Nichols proposed to Wackenhut the production of a range of weapons systems, such as 120mm combustible cartridge cases, 9mm machine pistols, laser-sighted assault weapons, sniper rifles, and portable rocket systems. The joint venture also explored the development of biological weapons.[1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] served as the Director of Research for this joint venture. He claimed to have modified the proprietary [[PROMIS]] computer software at the Wackenhut facility on the reservation. This modified software, allegedly made available by [[Earl Brian]] through [[Peter Videnieks]] of the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]], was intended for worldwide implementation in law enforcement and intelligence agencies, leading to the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]].[1] + +Frequent visitors to the Wackenhut-Cabazon joint venture included [[Peter Videnieks]] and [[Earl Brian]]. The venture maintained close liaison with elements of the [[United States Government]], including representatives of intelligence, military, and law enforcement agencies.[1] + +### Termination and Investigations + +The Wackenhut/Cabazon Joint Venture was terminated on October 1, 1984. Following its termination, the activities conducted on the Cabazon Indian Reservation became the subject of numerous investigations by various governmental and law enforcement bodies, including the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]], the [[United States House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee on Inslaw]], [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs]], and the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|Royal Canadian Mounted Police]], as well as police agencies and media worldwide.[1] + +Investigative journalist [[Danny Casolaro]] had planned to visit the reservation just days before his death, indicating its significance to his "[[The Octopus]]" investigation. His notes contained cryptic references to slow-acting brain viruses, like Mad Cow Disease, which he believed could be used against targeted individuals, and he was concerned he might have been a target of such a virus, linking it to activities at the reservation.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Cali Drug Cartel.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Cali Drug Cartel.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5cf91951 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Cali Drug Cartel.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +The [[Cali Drug Cartel]] was a powerful Colombian drug trafficking organization, described in a 1994 *Time* magazine article as controlling 80% of the world's cocaine trade. Its key leaders included [[Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela|Gilberto Rodriguez]] and [[Jose Santacruz Londono|Jose Londono]].[1] + +The cartel laundered its substantial profits through various channels, notably Miami banks, with [[Gilberto Rodriguez]] reportedly owning the Northside Bank of Miami. The influence of the Cali Cartel extended deeply into political spheres, as evidenced by allegations that [[Ernesto Samper Pizano]], the newly elected president of [[Colombia]], accepted $3.7 million in campaign funds from [[Gilberto Rodriguez]], effectively aligning him with the drug lords.[1] + +Investigations into the Cali Cartel frequently intersected with U.S. government operations and intelligence activities. [[Gilberto Rodriguez]] and [[Jose Londono]] were significant targets of a major [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] Centac investigation, which led to their indictments in Los Angeles and New York in 1978. However, these cases reportedly did not progress beyond the indictment phase, and the Centac 21 task force was dismantled during the [[Ronald Reagan]] and [[George Bush]] administrations, leading to suspicions among disgruntled [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] agents of a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] connection.[1] + +The narrative suggests a potential complicity or manipulation by U.S. intelligence agencies. For instance, [[Michael Abbell]], a former [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] official, was indicted for laundering money for the Cali Cartel, with surveillance reports indicating his frequent visits to [[Gilberto Rodriguez]]'s home in Bogota. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that [[Robert Booth Nichols]] provided Abbell with $50,000 in cash to influence an internal affairs investigation within the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] that would have otherwise led to the extradition of Cali Cartel leaders, whom Nichols reportedly considered "intelligence people."[1] + +The cartel's alleged funding of the Colombian president and its strategic position raised profound questions about the [[United States Government|U.S. government]]'s powerful controlling influence within [[Colombia]] and over the cartels, potentially implying that [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] drug operatives were behind the election of the Colombian president.[1] + +The Cali Cartel was a significant focus of investigative journalist [[Danny Casolaro]]'s "[[The Octopus]]" probe. Casolaro had uncovered a connection between [[Michael Abbell]], the Cali Cartel, and [[Robert Booth Nichols]] shortly before his death. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] attempted to exchange information on Abbell, Rodriguez, and Nichols with the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] in return for witness protection, further highlighting the cartel's deep entanglement with intelligence and criminal networks.[1] + +Historically, during [[Jimmy Carter]]'s presidency, his human rights foreign policy in Latin America reportedly created a distance between the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and death-squad interdiction. The Carter administration was also reportedly hesitant to pursue certain figures involved in the drug trade, such as General Torrijos of [[Panama]], due to ongoing negotiations for the [[Panama Canal]] treaty. This historical context suggests that political considerations have, at times, influenced drug enforcement efforts. The cartel's activities were also contrasted with the [[Medellin Cartel]], which [[Manuel Noriega]] chose to support, ultimately leading to his ousting by [[George Bush]].[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Church's Fried Chicken.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Church's Fried Chicken.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c33962de --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Church's Fried Chicken.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Church's Fried Chicken +tags: + - organization + - private + - business +description: Church's Fried Chicken is an American fast food restaurant chain specializing in fried chicken. +--- + +[[Church's Fried Chicken]] is an American fast food restaurant chain specializing in fried chicken. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, Bill Church, a part owner of the chain and an amateur scientist, provided [[Hal Puthoff]] with ten thousand dollars in funding to begin his psi experiments at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]]. This private funding was crucial in the early stages of the remote viewing research program before the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] became involved.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Coca-Cola.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Coca-Cola.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0c636e95 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Coca-Cola.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Beverage +--- +Coca-Cola is a multinational beverage corporation. By 1968, the government of [[Israel]] rewarded [[Abraham Feinberg]] for his services by permitting him to become the major owner of the nation's Coca-Cola franchise, which quickly became a multimillion-dollar profit center.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 14. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Committee for the Denuclearization of the Middle East.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Committee for the Denuclearization of the Middle East.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..24041c81 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Committee for the Denuclearization of the Middle East.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Activism + - Israel +--- +The Committee for the Denuclearization of the Middle East was a group of prominent Israeli scholars and scientists, including two former members of [[Ernst David Bergmann]]'s [[Atomic Energy Commission]], who privately banded together in late 1961. Their agenda was to stop [[Israel]]'s search for the nuclear option and to defuse the secrecy surrounding the activities at [[Dimona]]. In April 1962, the committee went public, stating that the development of nuclear weapons constituted a danger to [[Israel]] and to peace in the [[Middle East]], and urged [[United Nations]] intervention to prevent military nuclear production.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/D.I.G. (Decency in Government).md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/D.I.G. (Decency in Government).md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5e58259a --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/D.I.G. (Decency in Government).md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +D.I.G. (Decency in Government) was an organization formed by deputies and former grand jury members in Mariposa County, [[California]]. The group was established after numerous meetings where deputies and grand jurors corroborated stories of long-standing corruption, murder, threats, and harassment within the Mariposa Sheriff's Department.[^1] + +[[Ben Wagner]], a Jackson, [[California]], lawyer representing [[Dave Beavers]] and other deputies, played a key role in assembling the group and airing their stories. D.I.G. was later incorporated. Wagner, on behalf of D.I.G., filed two civil rights lawsuits with the [[United States District Court|U.S. District Court]] in Fresno, which were later revealed to be the largest civil rights lawsuits ever recorded in [[California]] history. He also filed a Writ of Mandamus against [[John Van de Kamp]], the State Attorney General; [[George Vinson]], regional director of the Fresno [[Federal Bureau Investigation|FBI]]; [[George Deukemejian]], then Governor of [[California]]; and [[David F. Levi]], [[United States Attorney|United States Attorney]], for refusing to investigate corruption in Mariposa County.[^1] + +The citizens of Mariposa became divided, with D.I.G. becoming a major topic of discussion. A *Capitol News Service* story by [[Jerry Goldberg]] noted that Attorney General staff members "stonewalled questions" about any investigation or willingness to meet with D.I.G. Goldberg's article also mentioned the "Queen's accident" and threats received by individuals who spoke out against the sheriff and district attorney.[^1] + +[[Vivian L. Wagner]], Ben Wagner's wife, sent an emotionally gripping letter to President [[Ronald Reagan]] at the [[White House]] on February 19, 1988, titled "Restoring Equal Rights to the Citizens of Mariposa County." The letter detailed the alleged corruption, the failure of state and federal agencies to investigate, and the threats and intimidation faced by residents. It listed numerous grievances, including violations of civil rights, obstruction of justice, bribery, intimidation of grand jury members, and homicides.[^1] + +Shortly before [[Ben Wagner]]'s first scheduled court appearance on behalf of D.I.G., he received an obscure response from "Chuck" at the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] [[White House]]. The day after meeting with "Chuck," Wagner, along with [[Jerry Goldberg]], reportedly disappeared, unplugging his phone and leaving his law practice and home, never to be seen again. The remaining members of D.I.G. began to call themselves "The Loser's Club," feeling they were fighting an incomprehensible evil.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Dassault Company.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Dassault Company.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..71a0be93 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Dassault Company.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - France +--- +Dassault Company is a French aerospace company. In 1963, [[Israel]] paid $100 million to Dassault for the joint development and manufacture of twenty-five medium-range Israeli missiles, which would become known as the Jericho I. These missiles were anticipated to be capable of delivering a miniaturized nuclear warhead to targets three hundred miles away.[^1] + +By 1963, the Dassault Company was involved in the joint development and manufacture of the Jericho I missile system with [[Israel]]. This missile was designed to deliver a miniaturized nuclear warhead to targets three hundred miles away.[^1] + +[[Charles de Gaulle]] claimed to newsmen that he had not known of Dassault's contract with [[Israel]] until the first field test in 1967 of the Jericho I, although the French firm continued to work with Israelis on the missile program for another year.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3, 9, 13. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Degem.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Degem.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ad58c362 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Degem.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Technology + - Israel +--- +[[Degem]] was an [[Israel|Israeli]]-owned computer business with operations in [[Israel]], [[Guatemala]], and [[Transkei]] (a Bantustan "homeland" controlled by [[South Africa]]). It was initially controlled by [[Israel|Israel]]'s military intelligence and provided computer services to the [[South Africa|South Africans]] and to [[Guatemala]].[^1] + +[[Robert Maxwell]] took over [[Degem]] after its previous owner, [[Yaacov Meridor]], faced a scandal. Maxwell acquired [[Degem]] with the intention of using it to market the [[PROMIS]] software, distancing himself personally from the spy project. Through [[Degem]], Maxwell sold [[PROMIS]] to the [[East Bloc]] and other countries, including [[Brazil]], [[Chile]], [[Colombia]], and [[Nicaragua]]. An abridged version of [[PROMIS]], including the trap door, was also sold by [[Degem]] to [[Credit Suisse]] in 1985. [[Degem]] even sold [[PROMIS]] to the [[Soviet Union]] in the late 1980s, with [[Robert Gates]] lifting export barriers for [[IBM]] computers to the Soviets, which were then fitted with the trap-doored [[PROMIS]] by [[Degem]] technicians.[^1] + +In [[Guatemala]], [[Degem]], through [[Manfred Herrmann|Herrmann's]] [[Sedra]] company, moved into offices, railway stations, and airports, and set up terminals at remote roadblocks, contributing to a system that tracked suspected dissidents. In [[Transkei]], [[Degem]] was instrumental in implementing [[PROMIS]] as a "killing machine" against black revolutionary groups, including the [[African National Congress]], by providing information that led to the disappearance or maiming of activists.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Dickstein, Shapiro & Morin.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Dickstein, Shapiro & Morin.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4f8159f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Dickstein, Shapiro & Morin.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Organization +--- +Dickstein, Shapiro & Morin was a law firm that represented [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] in prosecuting its adversary complaint against the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]]. [[Lee Ratiner]] was the partner in charge of the matter. + +Inslaw filed an objection to Dickstein, Shapiro & Morin's application for fees, charging that the firm, due to pressure by the DOJ, forced Ratiner out and effectively abandoned [[INSLAW]]. Bankruptcy Judge James F. Schneider found no credible evidence to support Inslaw's charge, concluding that Inslaw's allegations of wrongdoing were "built upon supposition, suspicion and uncorroborated hearsay, all of which [are] unworthy of belief." The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations also investigated Inslaw's claim and found no proof of any DOJ pressure on the firm that affected its representation of Inslaw.[^1] + +More recently, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] published a book in which he claimed to have seen evidence suggesting that the Dickstein, Shapiro firm was to be paid $600,000 by Hadron, Inc., or [[Earl Brian]] in order to remove Ratiner from the firm. However, the Special Counsel's investigation found this claim implausible given their conclusions about Ben-Menashe's testimony.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Drexel Burnham.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Drexel Burnham.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..feed4eb6 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Drexel Burnham.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Finance + - USA +--- +[[Drexel Burnham]] was a prominent brokerage house where [[Michael Milken]] built his junk-bond fortune. It was involved in the financial operations of the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]]'s slush fund, which was used to finance various covert activities and political initiatives. + +Large amounts of money from the arms sales to [[Iran]], along with profits from earlier deals, were held at various interest rates by Drexel on behalf of [[Israel|Israeli]] front companies after being funneled through [[USA|American]] banks. These large deposits contributed to Drexel's stature and helped underwrite huge quantities of junk bonds.[^1] + +In 1987, the [[Iran-Israel Joint Committee]] decided to withdraw its funds from Drexel and from the control of [[Menachem Schneerson]] (Lubavitcher Rebbe). This decision was influenced by concerns that the funds might be frozen if relations between [[Israel]] and the [[USA|U.S.]] deteriorated, and it contributed to [[Michael Milken|Milken's]] growing troubles and ultimately to the fall of Drexel.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9b7f6555 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory +tags: + - organization + - parapsychology + - research +description: The Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory was a research unit founded by J. B. Rhine, dedicated to the scientific study of psychic phenomena. +--- + +The [[Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory]] was a research unit founded in 1930 by [[J. B. Rhine]], a botanist who sought to bring scientific rigor to the study of psychic phenomena. Rhine, frustrated by the theatrical displays of séance mediums, aimed to banish "mediumistic monkeying-about" and instead focused on controlled experiments, such as card-guessing and dice-throwing, to generate statistical evidence for psi.[^1] + +Rhine's work at Duke helped transform psychical research into "parapsychology," emphasizing dry statistics and experimental rigor. While his methods were blessed by statisticians and gained some public interest, the laboratory's work ultimately failed to firmly establish psi within mainstream science. Critics argued that parapsychologists never seemed to have anything to show for their work beyond marginal statistical evidence, leading to the ghettoization of the field.[^1] + +The laboratory also conducted classified research for the U.S. government. In the early 1950s, the Army initiated a secret program with the Duke lab to test whether dogs could locate buried landmines underwater. The lab also conducted experiments on the homing abilities of pigeons for the Army Signal Corps, and on telepathic communication with cats.[^2] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. +[^2]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Dynavest Limited.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Dynavest Limited.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fcdccced --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Dynavest Limited.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - ArmsDealer + - UK +--- +[[Dynavest Limited]] was an arms dealing company run by [[John Knight]] in [[London]]. It was involved in acquiring arms from [[Yugoslavia]] and selling them to [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah]], who in turn sold them to Palestinian groups like [[Abu Nidal]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Eagle.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Eagle.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b0f119f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Eagle.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - ArmsDealer + - Israel +--- +[[Eagle]] was an [[Israel|Israeli]] arms-dealing company. Its representative, [[Pesach Ben-Or]], was involved in helping the military regime in [[Guatemala]] set up a computer tracking system to fight the leftist insurgency. The company's operations in [[Guatemala]] were overseen by [[Ariel Sharon]] and his associate [[Mike Harari]] in [[Panama]].[^1] + +In 1984, [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence, with the backing of the [[USA|Americans]], agreed to continue selling weapons to the [[Guatemala|Guatemalan]] government through [[Eagle]]. This was part of a deal that allowed [[Guatemala]] to be used for storing weapons en route to [[Iran]] and for planes carrying arms from [[Poland]] to the [[Sandinista National Liberation Front|Sandinista]] government in [[Nicaragua]] to fly over [[Guatemala]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/El Al.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/El Al.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0533a5d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/El Al.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Israel + - Transportation +--- +El Al is the national airline of [[Israel]]. It played a role in various covert operations and financial transactions detailed by [[Ari Ben-Menashe]]. + +In January 1979, El Al was one of the last airlines to operate flights into [[Tehran]] before the airport closed, facilitating the departure of 48 [[Israel|Israeli]] aircrews who flew out F-14 jets from [[Iran]].[^1] + +In April 1980, El Al was involved in the transport of tires sold to [[Iran]], with a payment of $14,000 made to El Al for freight and insurance. The tires were flown from [[Israel]] to [[Vienna]] via El Al, then transferred to [[Iran Air]] by [[Israel|Israeli]] embassy personnel.[^1] + +In October 1980, El Al was used to transport [[Israel|Israeli]] personnel from [[Tel Aviv]] to [[Orly Airport]] in [[Paris]] for a top-secret meeting concerning the hostage release and arms deals. Later, electronic equipment acquired through a New York operation was usually flown by the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]]'s weekly Boeing 707 flight from [[New York]] to [[Tel Aviv]], or by El Al cargo, before being transferred to [[Tehran]] via Argentinean charters.[^1] + +In 1986, El Al was the target of a "black" propaganda operation orchestrated by [[Rafi Eitan]] to discredit [[Syria]]. [[Nezar Hindawi]] was tasked with planting explosives on an El Al plane, with the intention of causing a public incident. The plot was foiled by [[Israel|Israeli]] security. Hindawi's girlfriend, Ann-Marie Murphy, was unwittingly used in the plot, and an [[Israel|Israeli]] security man, disguised as a cleaner, passed her the parcel containing the explosives in the [[Heathrow Airport|El Al]] departure lounge.[^1] + +In 1988, El Al's first-class lounge at [[Heathrow Airport]] was the meeting place for [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] and [[David Ivry]], director general of [[Israel|Israel]]'s Ministry of Defense, to discuss the sale of C-130s to [[Iran]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Esquire.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Esquire.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c18ec8dd --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Esquire.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Media + - USA +--- +*[[Esquire]]* is an [[USA|American]] magazine. In October 1991, it published an article by [[Craig Unger]] that repeated [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] allegations that [[Robert McFarlane]] had been recruited by [[Rafi Eitan]] and named [[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] as "Mr. X" in the [[Jonathan Pollard]] case. [[Robert McFarlane|McFarlane]] subsequently sued the magazine, but the suit was dismissed in June 1994.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Euramae Trading Company.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Euramae Trading Company.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4eb68fca --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Euramae Trading Company.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Euramae Trading Company]] was a company operating throughout the Middle East, described by [[Michael Riconosciuto]] as a companion company to [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] and an [[National Security Council|NSC]] cutout. It was also identified as a [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]]/[[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] "front" by [[Lester Coleman]], newly established by the Cypriot Police Narcotics Squad in Nicosia, [[Cyprus]].[^1] + +Euramae's operations were deeply intertwined with drug trafficking and intelligence activities. It served as a transit point for heroin from the Bekaa Valley in [[Lebanon]], cash, documents, and bootleg computer software moving along the Beirut-Nicosia-U.S. pipeline. It was also intended as a meeting place for [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] and [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] agents with informants and clients, a message drop for [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] arms dealers supplying [[Iraq]] and the [[Mujahideen]] in [[Afghanistan]], and a waiting room for [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] confidential informants and couriers from [[Lebanon]].[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that Euramae was involved in the drug trade as a fully sanctioned [[National Security Council|NSC]]-directed operation. He handled communications protocol and financial transactions for these operations. [[Michael T. Hurley]], the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] Country Attache in Nicosia, [[Cyprus]], had overall responsibility for Euramae Trading Company and its initiative to sell [[PROMIS]] software to Middle Eastern countries for drug abuse control.[^1] + +[[Lester Coleman]] worked in the office of Euramae Trading Company, Ltd. in Nicosia, [[Cyprus]], between April and May 1988. He later expressed concern about poor security in the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] operation in [[Cyprus]]. Coleman also claimed that the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]], along with Cypriot, German, and British police, ran a "drug sting operation" code-named "Khourah" through [[Cyprus]] and airports in Europe, which involved delivering heroin from the Bekaa Valley to the [[United States]]. This operation allegedly used Pan Am Flight 103 as a "controlled delivery" flight, which later tragically exploded over Scotland.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/FXC International.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/FXC International.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cf67c8c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/FXC International.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Business + - USA +--- +[[FXC International]] was a company that initially produced parachutes for civilian purposes. It was transformed by [[Frank Chevrier]], who became its director and later owner. After Chevrier took control, [[FXC International]] began manufacturing parachutes for military purposes with [[Israel|Israeli]] technology.[^1] + +[[FXC International]] had associates in [[Singapore]], [[Australia]], and other parts of the world. The [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] approached [[FXC International]] with the idea of opening an aircraft division, through which it could broker secret sales of aircraft around the world on behalf of the [[USA|U.S.]] government. Due to existing relations with [[Israel]], [[FXC International]] was used to "paper" [[USA|American]] equipment in what might have been perceived as illegal sales, allowing the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] to closely monitor these transactions.[^1] + +[[Joseph O'Toole]], managing director of [[FXC International]]'s aircraft sales division, was involved in negotiations to sell [[Chile|Chilean]] F-5Es to [[Iran]] through [[Singapore]]. [[FXC International]] was intended to act as a broker, buying planes from [[Chile]] on behalf of [[Israel]], thereby putting an [[USA|American]] stamp of approval on the deal.[^1] + +[[FXC International]] was also involved in a deal to sell three C-130s to [[Iran|Tehran]], working with [[Richard St. Francis]] of [[TransCapital]] and [[Mike Timpani]]. [[FXC International]] was slated to receive $200,000 for the purchase of each aircraft and another $200,000 for each sale, with the [[Chile|Chilean]] government paying half its fee and [[Israel]] paying the other half.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/First Intercontinental Development Corporation.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/First Intercontinental Development Corporation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1aaa6f5b --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/First Intercontinental Development Corporation.md @@ -0,0 +1,27 @@ +[[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] was a company whose board of directors included prominent figures with ties to government and intelligence, and it was reportedly a [[National Security Council|NSC]] cutout. Its activities were closely scrutinized in the context of [[Danny Casolaro]]'s "[[The Octopus]]" investigation.[1] + +### Board of Directors + +The Board of Directors of [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] consisted of individuals with significant backgrounds in government, intelligence, and business: + +* [[Robert Maheu]], Sr.: Vice President, Director; former [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent and former CEO of Howard Hughes Operations.[1] +* [[Michael A. McManus]]: Director, Vice President, and General Counsel to [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]; former Assistant to President [[Ronald Reagan]] at the [[White House]].[1] +* [[Robert Booth Nichols]]: Director, Senior Vice President, and Chairman of Investment Committee; CEO of R.B.N. Companies, International, involved in high technology electronics, real estate, construction, and international finance.[1] +* [[George K. Pender]]: Director; former Director of Pacific Ocean area of Burns & Roe, Inc., an international engineering and construction corporation.[1] +* [[Kenneth A. Roe]]: Director; Chairman and President of Burns & Roe, Inc., involved in major projects like the [[United States of America|U.S.A.]] Fast Breeder Nuclear Reactor Plant.[1] +* [[Frances T. Fox]]: Vice President and Director; former General Manager of L.A. International Airport and Director of Aviation for Howard Hughes Nevada operations (now Summa Corporation).[1] +* [[Clint W. Murchison, Jr.]]: Director; owner of the Dallas Cowboys NFL football team, with family ties to powerful political and organized crime figures.[1] +* [[William M. Pender]]: Director and Senior Vice President; licensed contractor in California.[1] +* [[Glen R. Shockley]]: Director; consultant to Fortune 500 Companies and international financial consultant.[1] + +### Activities and Allegations + +[[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] was reportedly used as a [[National Security Council|NSC]] cutout in [[Lebanon]] to arrange the release of a prisoner. Letters from the summer of 1983 between [[Michael A. McManus]] and [[George K. Pender]] confirmed [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]'s role in [[Lebanon]]. A follow-up letter from [[George K. Pender]] to [[Amin Gamayel]], the president of [[Lebanon]], indicated that transactions could be telexed to [[Robert Booth Nichols]]' address. The Arab Bank Limited in Amman, [[Jordan]], responded positively to a potential financial transaction of "US$ three billion or more" for the reconstruction of [[Lebanon]], though it is unlikely such reconstruction ever fully materialized.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] was a [[National Security Council|NSC]] corporate cutout and that he was a technical advisor for the organization. He also stated that [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] had a companion company called Euramae Trading, which operated throughout the Middle East and was involved in the drug trade, allegedly as a [[National Security Council|NSC]]-directed operation.[^1] + +[[Robert Booth Nichols]] used [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] to verify his credibility in proposed arms projects, including the construction of an R&D facility for weapons systems on the [[Cabazon Indian Reservation]].[[Michael Riconosciuto]] also claimed that [[Robert Booth Nichols]] was involved in illicit activities through [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]], including attempting to take embargoed technology out of the [[United States]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..96e12b63 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +The [[Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International|FGBMFI]] is an influential organization with a history of strong military connections and wide-ranging effects on foreign policy, particularly in Central [[America]] under the [[Ronald Reagan]] administration. Prominent right-wing activists, such as [[Joseph Coors]] (Heritage Foundation) and [[Sanford McDonnell]] (McDonnell Douglas Corporation), were members of FGBMFI.[^1] + +### Political and Military Influence + +[[Ronald Reagan]] had close ties with FGBMFI. In 1970, five FGBMFI members, including [[Pat Boone]] and [[Shirley Boone]], [[Harold Bredesen]], and [[George Otis]], prayed with then-California Governor Reagan at his home in Sacramento. [[George Otis]], a former Lear executive, reportedly spoke in the voice of God, comparing Reagan to a king and prophesying that Reagan would "reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue" if he continued to walk in God's way. Reagan reportedly took the prophecy very seriously. A Reagan Aide who later worked on [[Pat Robertson]]'s presidential campaign invited [[Nita Scoggan]], the wife of an FGBMFI member, to form a prayer group in the [[White House]]. [[Oliver North]] reportedly attended these prayer meetings.[^1] + +Since 1964, FGBMFI held regular military prayer meetings in the Washington D.C. area, with three chapters, including one in the Navy Officers' Club. The Secretary of Defense even arranged for two prayer rooms to be built in the [[Pentagon]]. A 1986 FGBMFI brochure listed over a dozen military names, including the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Chief of Staff of the Army, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force.[^1] + +In Central [[America]], President [[Ronald Reagan]] supported [[General Ríos Montt]], a Pentecostal "true believer," who became president of [[Guatemala]] in an army coup in March 1982. Montt was aided and supported by Full Gospel businessman [[John Carrette]], a former Army Ranger in [[Vietnam]]. According to Carrette, the then-presidents of [[Guatemala]], [[El Salvador]], and [[Honduras]] were all Full Gospel.[^1] + +### Connections to Jimmy Hughes and the Honduras Coup + +[[Jimmy Hughes]] joined FGBMFI in 1987 and subsequently founded Jimmy Hughes Ministries – Free the Oppressed in [[Honduras]]. He openly admitted his past as a "Mafia hit-man" on the FGBMFI website. [[John Carrette]] "god-fathered" Hughes into the Fellowship and helped set him up in [[Honduras]].[^1] + +Hughes was a high-standing member of FGBMFI and a keynote speaker at a dinner event in Fresno, [[California]], in February 2008, alongside [[General Daniel Lopez Carballo]] of [[Honduras]]. Hughes, [[General Daniel Lopez Carballo]], and [[Romeo Vásquez Velásquez]] were all members of FGBMFI. Hughes was allegedly involved in the planning of the [[Honduras coup]] in June 2009, which ousted President [[Manuel Zelaya]]. The interim de-facto president of [[Honduras]], [[Roberto Micheletti]], was placed in office by coup leaders [[General Daniel Lopez Carballo]] and [[Romeo Vásquez Velásquez]], both friends of Hughes and members of FGBMFI.[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Gambino Crime Family.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Gambino Crime Family.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..44cbf2e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Gambino Crime Family.md @@ -0,0 +1,9 @@ +The [[Gambino Crime Family]] is a prominent [[La Cosa Nostra]] crime family that was reportedly involved in the alleged organized crime penetration of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]]. Members of the Gambino family were specifically related to the [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] investigation, with many reportedly picked up in [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretaps.[1] + +[[Marvin Rudnick]], [[Thomas Gates]], and [[Richard Stavin]] all believed [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] had been penetrated by organized crime, based on these wiretaps. The wiretaps also indicated that [[Eugene Giaquinto]], then president of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] home entertainment division, enjoyed a special relationship with [[John Gotti]], a well-known figure associated with the Gambino Crime Family.[1] + +[[Bill Hamilton]], president of [[INSLAW]], believed that the [[Wackenhut Corporation]]-[[Cabazon Indian Reservation]] Joint Venture was connected to government-sanctioned drug trafficking and money laundering by organized crime groups like the Gambino Family, with [[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s role being to help these groups utilize the [[National Security Agency|NSA]]'s bank surveillance version of [[PROMIS]] to launder drug proceeds.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Gamma Corporation.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Gamma Corporation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..40dbdbc9 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Gamma Corporation.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - USA +--- +[[Gamma Corporation]], also referred to as Gamma of [[Massachusetts]], was a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] "cut-out" company in the [[USA|U.S.]]. It was involved in supplying components for chemical weapons to [[Carlos Cardoen]]. Specifically, [[Gamma Corporation]] sold fuses for cluster bombs to Cardoen, which were then used in his operations, including those supplying [[Iraq]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") + diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Genovese Crime Family.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Genovese Crime Family.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3d1a0cf8 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Genovese Crime Family.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +The [[Genovese Crime Family]] is a prominent [[La Cosa Nostra]] crime family. [[Gerardo Catena]], a chief lieutenant to the Genovese Crime Family, owned almost 20 percent of the Murchison Oil Lease Company in Oklahoma.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Hadron.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Hadron.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c23e1f63 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Hadron.md @@ -0,0 +1,30 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Organization +--- +Hadron, Inc. was a company that became central to [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]]'s allegations of a high-level conspiracy to steal its [[PROMIS]] software and destroy [[INSLAW]]. [[Earl Brian]] had both a direct and indirect financial interest in Hadron. Inslaw alleged that the purpose of this conspiracy was to force Inslaw into liquidation so that Hadron could buy Inslaw's assets, after which the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] would award Hadron a "massive sweetheart contract."[^1] + +Inslaw's conspiracy theory evolved over time, with later claims suggesting that DOJ employees delivered copies of Inslaw's proprietary software to Brian and Hadron before Inslaw's bankruptcy. These allegations posited that Brian was involved in various covert intelligence operations, and that DOJ officials gave Brian and Hadron copies of PROMIS to reward Brian for his role in the alleged "[[October Surprise]]" conspiracy.[^1] + +Key allegations involving Hadron include: + +* **Dominic Laiti's Alleged Call:** [[Bill Hamilton]] claimed that [[Dominic Laiti]], Chairman of Hadron, called him in April 1983, stating that Hadron needed PROMIS for federal government contracts and intended to become a leading vendor of law enforcement software. Laiti allegedly threatened, "We have ways of making you sell." Laiti denied making these statements, and the Special Counsel's investigation found his denial credible, concluding no evidence supported Hamilton's claim.[^1] + +* **1983 New York Fundraising Trip:** Hamilton alleged that a 1983 Hadron fundraising trip to New York, involving Laiti, [[Paul Wormeli]], and [[Earl Brian]], was to raise capital to buy PROMIS. Laiti, Wormeli, and [[Marilyn Titus]] (Wormeli's secretary) all denied this, stating the trip was to raise capital for Simeon, a Hadron subsidiary, and had nothing to do with acquiring Inslaw or PROMIS. The Special Counsel's investigation found no evidence to support Hamilton's thesis.[^1] + +* **Edward Hurley's Overtures:** Hamilton claimed that [[Edward Hurley]], a Hadron Vice President, stated in June 1985 that Hadron wanted to acquire Inslaw's "court software." While Theresa Bousquin, an Inslaw employee, confirmed Hurley's general interest in Inslaw's software, she stated his remark was made in passing and did not indicate an active effort by Hadron to acquire Inslaw. The Special Counsel's investigation found Hamilton's claim inaccurate.[^1] + +* **Accumenics Contract Award:** Hamilton alleged that [[James L. Byrnes]], a Deputy Assistant Attorney General with ties to [[Edwin Meese]], spearheaded a $40 million computer services contract award to a Hadron subsidiary (Accumenics) in October 1987. Byrnes denied any knowledge of such a contract or any contact with Hadron or its subsidiaries. The Special Counsel's investigation found no evidence to support this allegation.[^1] + +* **Peter Videnieks Connection:** Inslaw alleged a connection between DOJ's contracting officer, [[Peter Videnieks]], and Hadron, claiming Videnieks was the contracting officer for two Customs Service contracts with Hadron. While [[John Schoolmeister]] suggested a possible meeting between Videnieks and Laiti, Videnieks denied ever being the contracting officer for any Hadron contract or meeting Hadron management. The Special Counsel's investigation found no evidence of a conspiracy, concluding any connection was tenuous and insignificant.[^1] + +* **Attempted Purchase of Inslaw by SCT:** Hamilton alleged that [[Systems and Computer Technology, Inc.|SCT]]'s 1986 attempt to purchase Inslaw was encouraged by DOJ officials and indirectly linked to Brian. The Special Counsel's investigation found no evidence to support these claims, noting that SCT's contacts with DOJ were for due diligence and that there was no apparent reason for Brian or Hadron to control Inslaw at that time.[^1] + +* **Lois Battistoni's Allegations:** [[Lois Battistoni]] claimed an unnamed DOJ employee told her Hadron was connected to a top DOJ official and was chosen to take over Inslaw's business. The Special Counsel's investigation found Battistoni's information unreliable and biased, with no corroboration for her claims.[^1] + +Investigations by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and the Special Counsel found no credible evidence to support the allegations of a conspiracy involving Hadron, Earl Brian, and the DOJ to steal PROMIS or destroy Inslaw. The overwhelming weight of the evidence indicated no connection between Hadron and anything related to Inslaw or PROMIS software. The Special Counsel's report concluded that the individuals claiming direct knowledge of this conspiracy were "unworthy of belief" and contradicted by credible evidence.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Histadrut.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Histadrut.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6dcc4d28 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Histadrut.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Labor Union + - Israel +--- +Histadrut, also known as the General Organization of Workers in [[Israel]], is a powerful federation of labor unions that historically controlled a large segment of Israeli industry. [[Pinhas Lavon]] served as its head. The organization played a significant role in Israeli politics, particularly during the [[Lavon Affair]], where its internal disputes and the leaking of allegations to the press broke cardinal rules of Israeli politics.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3, 9. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Honeywell.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Honeywell.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9eb5da84 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Honeywell.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Technology + - USA +--- +[[Honeywell]] is a multinational conglomerate. Its [[Israel|Israeli]] franchise, [[Medan Computers Ltd.]], was involved in the implementation of the [[PROMIS]] software in [[Guatemala]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/IBM.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/IBM.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0c5c894a --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/IBM.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +created: 2024-05-11 +updated: 2024-05-11 +title: IBM +tags: + - IBM + - technology + - history +description: IBM, founded in 1911, is a multinational tech company specializing in computers and computing technologies. Known for inventing the relational database in 1969, it provided mainframe and minicomputers during the 1960s-70s, used by organizations and governments worldwide. +--- +> [!INFO] THIS IS NOT WIKIPEDIA +> This page is not all encompassing. The company is obviously much larger and deserving more detail than the scope of this page. Consequently, only general information and details relevant to other research thrusts are included. + +International Business Machines, or IBM as it’s commonly known, is a multinational tech and research company headquartered in Armonk, New York. It was founded in 1911. The company specializes in computers and computing technologies and has close ties with governments around the world (most infamously with Nazi Germany as part of the Holocaust). + +In 1969, IBM invented the [[Relational Database|relational database]]. During the 1960’s and 70’s, IBM was a major provider of mainframe and later minicomputers. These large, powerful (for the time), and expensive machines were used by organizations like the [[LEAA]] or countries like [[Canada]] to run software including [[PROMIS]]. + +Richard L. Garwin, a prominent scientist, was associated with IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Center. He was a member of an ad hoc panel of distinguished scientists tasked with studying the VELA data related to a probable nuclear explosion in the South Indian Ocean in 1979. Garwin was known for his independence as a government consultant.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 11. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/INSLAW.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/INSLAW.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..650b16ad --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/INSLAW.md @@ -0,0 +1,46 @@ +[[INSLAW|Inslaw Corporation]] is a software company that developed the [[PROMIS]] (Prosecutor's Management Information System) software in the early 1980s. The company was owned by [[Bill Hamilton]] and [[Nancy Hamilton]].[3] + +Inslaw became central to a major scandal when it sued the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] for alleged non-payment on a version of PROMIS called Modification 12, and for allegedly pirating and modifying the software for sale to foreign governments, including [[Israel]] and [[Canada]].[3] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed to have installed a "back door" in the PROMIS software, which was then allegedly made available by [[Earl Brian]] through [[Wackenhut Corporation]] after acquiring it from [[Peter Videnieks]], a [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]] contracting official.[3] + +The [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] became a significant focus of investigative journalist [[Danny Casolaro]]'s work, who believed it was connected to a larger network he termed "[[The Octopus]]."[3] + +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is a placeholder and requires extensive additions. + +The Institute for Law and Social Research (INSLAW) started as a non-profit think tank and research group founded by former [[NSA]] analyst [[Bill Hamilton]] and his wife [[Nancy Hamilton]] in XXXX year in Washington, DC. It was located at 1025 Fifteenth St, NW, Washington DC 20005. + +## PROMIS + +> [!TODO] TODO +> Brief [[PROMIS]] summary + +### PROMIS RESEARCH PROJECT + +> [!TODO] TODO +> Need to research exactly what this was, who funded it, who was in charge, etc. All we know currently is the 17+ papers published and possibly team leaders. + +74-NI -99-0008-G - [[PROMIS Research Project|PROMIS Research]] (Institute for Law and Social Research, Washington, D.C.; William A. Hamilton, Project Director). The Prosecutor's Management Information System (PROMIS) collects detailed statistical data on every case prosecuted or considered for prosecution in the D.C. Superior Court. Based on this data, the project will diagnose problems and develop recommended changes in police and prosecution management policies, procedures and decision-making. +### JIS + > [!TODO] TODO +> Need to summarize the [[JIS|Jail Information System]][^1] + +## DOJ + +> [!TODO] TODO +> Need to find [[U.S. Department of Justice]] contract with INSLAW and flesh out details. + +## Bankruptcy +> [!TODO] TODO +> Need to go through the bankruptcy court case and fully update [[Inslaw, Inc., et al. v. The United States]], etc + + +## FBI + +In mid-1979, the [[FBI]] sought approval from Congress for acquisition of a new front-end processor (also known as a communications controller), a device that controls and manages the flow of messages into and out of the computer. In order to evaluate this request, the Senate Judiciary Committee asked both the [[OTA|Office of Technology Assessment]] (OTA) and the Institute for Law and Social Research (INSLAW) for an outside analysis.[^2] + +#### Footnotes +[^1]: https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/83078NCJRS.pdf +[^2]: https://www.princeton.edu/~ota/disk3/1982/8203/820308.PDF +[^3]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/ITICO.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/ITICO.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4171a1a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/ITICO.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - USA +--- +[[ITICO]] (Integrated Technologies International Co.) was a company that served as a cover for [[Alan Sanders]], who had links to the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. Through [[ITICO]], Sanders was involved in supplying technology for cluster bombs to [[Carlos Cardoen]] in the form of blueprints, despite a [[United Nations]] arms embargo against [[Chile]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Institute for Advanced Studies.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Institute for Advanced Studies.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..85b392e8 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Institute for Advanced Studies.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Academic + - USA +--- +The Institute for Advanced Studies is a prestigious academic institution in Princeton, New Jersey. [[Lewis L. Strauss]] was a major contributor and fundraiser for the institute, and served on its board of trustees during World War II. In the fall of 1966, Strauss used his influence to get [[Ernst David Bergmann]] a two-month appointment as a visiting fellow at the institute, despite its usual focus on physicists and mathematicians.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 7. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Institute of Noetic Science.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Institute of Noetic Science.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dc2f4d4f --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Institute of Noetic Science.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Institute of Noetic Science +tags: + - organization + - research + - science +description: The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) is an American nonprofit parapsychological research institute. +--- + +The [[Institute of Noetic Science]] (IONS) is an American nonprofit parapsychological research institute. It was founded by former Apollo 14 astronaut [[Edgar Mitchell]], a known psi enthusiast. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, the Institute provided a grant that funded [[Andrija Puharich]]'s efforts to bring [[Uri Geller]] to America in 1972 for scientific testing at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Israel Bond Organization.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Israel Bond Organization.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f68ff73e --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Israel Bond Organization.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Finance + - Israel +--- +The Israel Bond Organization is a financial institution that raises funds for the State of [[Israel]] through the sale of Israel Bonds. [[Abraham Feinberg]] publicly served as its president, while privately helping to raise millions of dollars needed to build the controversial [[Dimona]] reactor and reprocessing plant. This allowed the expanding and expensive operations at [[Dimona]] to be financed outside of the normal Israeli budget process, circumventing critics of the nuclear program.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Israel Chemicals Company.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Israel Chemicals Company.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..cfe8c752 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Israel Chemicals Company.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Israel +--- +The Israel Chemicals Company is the largest state-owned enterprise in [[Israel]]. [[Rafael Eitan]] was subsequently named to a high administrative position with this company, an appointment authorized by [[Ariel Sharon]], who had been named minister of trade and industry in 1984. This occurred after Eitan was tarnished by the [[Jonathan Pollard]] scandal.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Joel Silver Productions.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Joel Silver Productions.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f99f3371 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Joel Silver Productions.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Joel Silver Productions]] is a film production company. [[Garby Leon]] was the Director of Development at Joel Silver Productions at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, [[California]]. While at Joel Silver Productions, Garby developed movies such as *The Matrix* (with [[Larry Wachowski]] and [[Andy Wachowski]]), *Exit Wounds* (with [[Chris Bertolini]]), and *Lethal Weapon IV*. He also oversaw a slate of over seventy projects, including *The Manchurian Candidate* in association with [[Tina Sinatra]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/John Curtin Foundation.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/John Curtin Foundation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..18d02565 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/John Curtin Foundation.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Australia +--- +The [[John Curtin Foundation]] was an organization in [[Australia]] whose funds were guarded by [[Alan Bond]]. In February 1987, a contribution from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] was made to the West Australian Labor Party, involving [[Richard Babayan]] and [[Earl Brian]] acting on behalf of [[Hadron]]. This money was passed on by one of [[Robert Maxwell|Maxwell's]] companies in [[Australia]] to be held by the [[Pergamon Press Trust Fund]] in [[Moscow]], with [[Alan Bond]] receiving the check in his role as the guardian of the [[John Curtin Foundation]] funds.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..593d89f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory +tags: + - organization + - research + - academic + - military +description: The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is a not-for-profit university-affiliated research center that serves as a technical resource for the U.S. government. +--- + +The [[Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory]] (APL) is a not-for-profit university-affiliated research center that serves as a technical resource for the U.S. government. In the context of the *Phenomena* text, APL scientists were assigned to oversee [[Project Pandora]], a classified program aimed at duplicating the effects of the [[Moscow Signal]] and studying the biological effects of microwave radiation.[^1] + +APL conducted experiments where primates were irradiated with microwave beams similar to the Moscow Signal. Later, the [[State Department]] funded a $1 million study by the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, which found "no convincing evidence" that any employees suffered "adverse health effects" from the Moscow Signal, a finding that was controversial given the concerns raised by scientists like [[Richard S. Cesaro]] and [[Allan H. Frey]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Lockheed Aircraft Company.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Lockheed Aircraft Company.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..770dd7dd --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Lockheed Aircraft Company.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Aerospace + - USA +--- +The [[Lockheed Aircraft Company]] is an [[USA|American]] aerospace manufacturer that developed advanced military aircraft and became involved in a bribe scandal affecting [[Israel|Israeli]] politics. + +### U-2 Spy Plane Development + +Lockheed built the revolutionary [[U-2 Spy Plane]] under cover in Burbank, California. This aircraft was capable of flying and gliding for almost eleven hours at heights greater than 65,000 feet, covering more than five thousand miles, while utilizing only one thousand gallons of fuel. Special lenses, cameras, and thin film were developed for the U-2, enabling it to photograph a path from [[Moscow]] to [[Tashkent]] in one take.[^2] + +### Israeli Bribery Scandal + +In 1976, a telegram intercepted by [[Unit 8200]] revealed details of bribes paid by a [[Lockheed Aircraft Company|Lockheed]] representative in [[Israel]] to Defense Minister [[Shimon Peres]]. The sum involved was $3.5 million, deposited in one of [[Shimon Peres|Peres's]] brother's business accounts in [[Europe]]. This information, discovered by [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], was subsequently covered up by [[Israel|Israeli]] military intelligence superiors, including [[Yoel Ben-Porat|Col. Ben-Porat]] and [[Sasson Yishaek|Lt. Col. Yishaek]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. _Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network_. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Management Science For Health.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Management Science For Health.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3a3b7940 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Management Science For Health.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Management Science For Health|MSH]] was a group associated with certain factions of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. They were involved in a "turf battle problem" with [[Ralph Olberg]] and [[Tim Osman]] regarding the representation of the [[Mujahideen]] leadership in [[Afghanistan]]. MSH argued that Olberg and Osman's group did not truly represent the full leadership of the Mujahideen.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Massachusetts Institute of Technology.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Massachusetts Institute of Technology.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..37a0fba5 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Massachusetts Institute of Technology.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Academic + - USA +--- +The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a prestigious research university in [[Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts]]. [[Jack P. Ruina]] was a professor of electrical engineering at MIT and a director of its Defense and Arms Control Studies Program. In late 1979, Ruina was involved in the preparation of a federally funded MIT report that assessed the foreign availability of critical components for the assembly of short-range ballistic missiles.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 20. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Medan Computers Ltd..md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Medan Computers Ltd..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9fd93a80 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Medan Computers Ltd..md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Technology + - Israel +--- +[[Medan Computers Ltd.]] was the [[Israel|Israeli]] franchise of [[Honeywell]]. All its technicians were [[Israel Defense Forces|military intelligence]] reservists and computer experts. They were involved in the implementation of the [[PROMIS]] software in [[Guatemala]].[^1] + +While the technicians at [[Medan Computers Ltd.]] were aware of the [[PROMIS]] program, they were not informed about the "trap door" functionality. When [[Medan Computers Ltd.]] pointed out that their computers would not be suitable for the [[PROMIS]] implementation in [[Guatemala]], they were arranged to act as brokers for [[IBM]] equipment in [[Guatemala]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Meridian International Logistics.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Meridian International Logistics.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8afa229c --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Meridian International Logistics.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +[[Meridian International Logistics|MIL]] was a holding company associated with [[Robert Booth Nichols]], who was a principal in the organization. It was under investigation by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] as a suspected "source of funding for the purchasing of narcotics/controlled substances and the allocation and use of the proceeds from its trafficking."[1] + +Reportedly, [[Meridian International Logistics|MIL]] functioned as a [[National Security Council|NSC]] cutout, used for the purpose of "funneling money to pay the board of directors." A friend of Nichols, who was once on the board, explained that the [[National Security Council|NSC]] operates as a "profit-making entity" with unlimited funding and no accountability due to national security considerations. This individual further stated that all covert business conducted at that time related to "money and/or drugs," with drugs serving as international currency, often referred to as "gold," due to the high market demand and profitability.[1] + +[[Eugene Giaquinto]], then president of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] home entertainment division, was a board member of [[Meridian International Logistics|MIL]]. Both Giaquinto and Nichols reportedly maintained a close working relationship with the [[United States Department of Justice|Justice Department]], according to wiretaps.[1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] was also associated with [[Meridian International Logistics|MIL]], serving as Vice President of Meridian Arms, a subsidiary of [[Meridian International Logistics|MIL]]. He claimed that [[Robert Booth Nichols]] was under [[Harold Okimoto]] from the Hawaiian Islands, who was represented as an intelligence person and had worked under [[Frank Carlucci]] for years.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Monroe Institute.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Monroe Institute.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ce8b7f6a --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Monroe Institute.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Monroe Institute +tags: + - organization + - research + - consciousness +description: The Monroe Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to the exploration of human consciousness, known for its Hemi-Sync audio technology. +--- + +The [[Monroe Institute]] is a non-profit organization dedicated to the exploration of human consciousness, known for its Hemi-Sync audio technology. It was founded by [[Robert Monroe]]. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] became the director of research for the Institute after retiring from the [[U.S. Army]], and later served as its president. The Institute is mentioned as a place where Atwater continued his work in consciousness research, building upon his experiences with remote viewing.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Music Corporation of America.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Music Corporation of America.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..83880b07 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Music Corporation of America.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +The [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] was a major entertainment corporation that became entangled in investigations related to organized crime and the broader network that [[Danny Casolaro]] termed "[[The Octopus]]." + +### Organized Crime Allegations + +[[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] was the subject of a [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretap investigation supervised by [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] [[Marvin Rudnick]] and later by [[Richard Stavin]], a member of the Organized Crime Strike Force. These investigations, which also involved [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent [[Thomas Gates]], led them to believe that [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] had been penetrated by organized crime. Specifically, the wiretaps recorded communications between [[Robert Booth Nichols]] and [[Eugene Giaquinto]], then president of [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] home entertainment division. Giaquinto was also a board member of Nichols' holding company, [[Meridian International Logistics|MIL]], which was under [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] investigation as a source of funding for narcotics and the allocation of drug trafficking proceeds.[1] + +The intercepted conversations reportedly revealed connections to [[La Cosa Nostra]], including members of the [[Gambino Crime Family]] and [[Bufalino Crime Family]]. The wiretap application itself stated that the purpose of the interceptions was to determine the "source, type and quantity of narcotics/controlled substances, methods and means of delivery, and the source of funding for purchasing of narcotics/controlled substances." It was also apparent from the intercepted conversations that [[Eugene Giaquinto]] had a special relationship with [[John Gotti]].[1] + +### Leveraged Buyout and Investigation Shutdown + +At the time of these investigations, [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] was being offered in a leveraged buyout to Japanese interests. An [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] investigation could have jeopardized this sale. Consequently, the wiretaps were sealed by the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]], and no prosecutions were pursued. The Los Angeles Organized Crime Strike Force was disbanded, [[Richard Stavin]] resigned, and [[Thomas Gates]] closed the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] investigation. The Japanese ultimately purchased [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] in what was reported as the largest corporate sale in U.S. history at the time.[1] + +[[Marvin Rudnick]], who lost his job for refusing to drop the investigation, later had part of his story told in the 1993 book *Stiffed: A True Story of MCA, The Music Business, and the Mafia* by William Knoedelseder.[1] + +### Connection to "The Octopus" + +[[Danny Casolaro]]'s investigation into "[[The Octopus]]" included [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]], and he was reportedly told by [[Robert Booth Nichols]] about the leveraged buyout. [[Dan Moldea]], in his 1986 book *Dark Victory: Ronald Reagan, MCA, and the Mob*, had previously labeled [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] as "[[The Octopus]]," a term that likely inspired Casolaro's own use of the phrase.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/New York University.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/New York University.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d0c13146 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/New York University.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Academic + - USA +--- +New York University is a private research university in [[New York City]]. [[Aviem Sella]] had almost completed his requirement for a Ph.D. in computer science at New York University by 1984, when he was approached to handle [[Jonathan Pollard]]. His technical training was seen as an asset in evaluating and winnowing down Pollard's materials.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..eb2d161b --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Nuclear + - Private + - USA +--- +Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation (NUMEC) was a privately owned nuclear enriching plant in [[Apollo]], [[Pennsylvania]], owned by [[Zalman Mordecai Shapiro]]. It was suspected by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and others of having smuggled more than two hundred pounds of weapons-grade uranium to [[Israel]], enough for four bombs. This alleged diversion was a major factor in [[Carl E. Duckett]]'s [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] estimates of [[Israel]]'s nuclear arsenal.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 14, 18. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Nugan Hand Bank.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Nugan Hand Bank.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7391776e --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Nugan Hand Bank.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Nugan Hand Bank]] was an [[Australia|Australian]] bank co-founded by [[Michael Hand]] and [[Frank Nugan]], along with officials of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]-owned Air America. It was described as a primary CIA operation in the Pacific area.[^1] + +The bank reportedly laundered profits from drug trafficking in the [[Golden Triangle]]. These laundered profits, in in turn, financed subversive paramilitary activities in Southeast [[Asia]]. The bank collapsed in 1980, $5 billion in debt, and [[Michael Hand]] subsequently disappeared.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Ocho Group.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Ocho Group.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2a624bf3 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Ocho Group.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Media + - Peru +--- +The [[Ocho Group]] was a chain of five small newspapers in [[Peru]]. [[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso]], the leader of the [[Shining Path]], requested that [[Israel]] purchase this newspaper chain on the movement's behalf as part of a deal to secure rare minerals for [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear program.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Odyssey Systems.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Odyssey Systems.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..33d26f9d --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Odyssey Systems.md @@ -0,0 +1,9 @@ +May 1997, Odyssey is founded in the Boston area by Michael Sweat and Michael Prisco to support the Air Force Electronic Systems Center (ESC). + +August 2015, Odyssey opens offices in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, Dayton, Ohio, and Warner Robbins, Georgia. + +In March 2016, Odyssey expands into medical administration and research roles supporting the Dayton, Ohio Naval Medical Research Unit (Aeromedicine). In August 2016 they are supporting all acquisition activities of the Navy’s Health Research Center (San Diego, California). By March 2017, Odyssey wins contract to support the Army’s Walter Reed Hospital with brain trauma research. + +The work in Ohio was reaffirmed in March 2021 when Odyssey, the incumbent contractor, was awarded a contract to provide R&D non-personal administrative support services to Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton ([[NAMRU-D]]) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. NAMRU-D conducts aerospace medical and environmental health effects research to enhance warfighter health, safety, performance, and readiness. Similarly, the San Diego NHRC contract was renewed in August 2021. + +In September 2021, Odyssey was awarded a 5-year contract to provide research support services to the Clinical Investigation Department (CID) at the Navy Medical Center, Portsmouth (NMCP) Virginia, and Naval Hospital Jacksonville (NHJAX), Florida. Our qualified research staff support Principal Investigators with human- and animal-use research protocol development and data collection. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Palo Alto Medical Clinic.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Palo Alto Medical Clinic.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ca1b187b --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Palo Alto Medical Clinic.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Palo Alto Medical Clinic +tags: + - organization + - medical +description: The Palo Alto Medical Clinic oversaw medical and psychological evaluations for psychic subjects in the SRI remote viewing program. +--- + +The [[Palo Alto Medical Clinic]] oversaw the medical and psychological evaluations for psychic subjects in the [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) remote viewing program. These evaluations, which included a wide range of tests from blood work and EEGs to various psychological inventories, were designed to identify any neurophysiological or personality features that correlated with psychic abilities. The aim was to understand how psi worked, how it could be enhanced, and to develop screening tools for selecting psychics from the general population.[^1] + +[[Pat Price]], [[Ingo Swann]], and other subjects underwent these extensive evaluations. Despite the comprehensive testing, no clear profile emerged for what made a good psychic, though hints suggested that talented psychics might be intuitive, non-judgmental, emotionally sensitive, and highly intelligent, with a proneness to altered states and EEG "asynchronicities."[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Parapsychological Association.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Parapsychological Association.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c7e950c6 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Parapsychological Association.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Parapsychological Association +tags: + - organization + - parapsychology + - research +description: The Parapsychological Association is an international professional organization of scientists and scholars engaged in the study of parapsychology. +--- + +The [[Parapsychological Association]] is an international professional organization of scientists and scholars engaged in the study of [[Parapsychology]]. In 1969, after a rousing conference speech by the anthropologist [[Margaret Mead]], the American Association for the Advancement of Science voted to admit the Parapsychological Association to its ranks of approved disciplines. Her support helped lend a degree of legitimacy to the field of parapsychology, which had long struggled for scientific acceptance.[^1] + +Despite this recognition, the field of parapsychology, and the Association, continued to face an "informal system of scientific apartheid." Parapsychologists were officially allowed to call themselves scientists but were largely kept out of the mainstream scientific community, often ignored and forced to rely on private funding and publish in their own specialized journals. This was largely due to the fact that their work, while statistically significant, often lacked tangible, real-world applications that could convince skeptics. The [[Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory]] is an example of a research institution whose work contributed to the field of parapsychology.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e1396207 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +> [!WARNING] INCOMPLETE RESEARCH +> This page is a placeholder and requires extensive additions. + +Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co was an accounting and consulting firm that eventually became Peat Marwick International in 1978. In 1986 PMI merged with KMG to form KPMG. + +In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, PMMC (also referred to as PMM, PM&M, and PMM&C in various documents) was developing several computerized systems for various parts of the federal government including the Department of Defense[^2], Department of Transportation, Small Business Administration, and the [[LEAA]]. + +By 1972, the LEAA had paid PM&M $667,400[^1] in various grants. This includes the initial version of [[PROMIS]] which the firm began designing for the [[U.S. Attorney's office]] in 1969 under project manager [[Bill Hamilton]] (fresh from the NSA) with an initial $60,000 grant from the [[Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia]] (through LEAA). + +PMMC would receive further grants after the system went live in 1971 to create training and technical manuals and documentation to help other departments transfer to the system. + +By the mid 1970’s, PMMC had over 25,000 US clients and more than 300 offices in 50 countries (the largest accounting firm worldwide). 21,000 employees and 1,400 partners across the global conglomerate. 9,300 of these employees were in the US with 65 percent of revenue coming from audit, 20% tax, and 15% consulting. + +--- +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: [Intermediate Report of the Committee on Government Operations—Google Books](https://www.google.com/books/edition/Intermediate_Report_of_the_Committee_on/gZ_QAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Peat,+Marwick,+Mitchell+%26+Co+computer+management&pg=PA119&printsec=frontcover) +[^2]: [US House Appropriations Hearings 1971—Google Books](https://www.google.com/books/edition/Hearings/waO9U5M2a6oC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Peat,%20Marwick) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Pergamon Press Trust Fund.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Pergamon Press Trust Fund.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6b9be346 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Pergamon Press Trust Fund.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Finance +--- +The [[Pergamon Press Trust Fund]] was a financial entity in [[Moscow]] that held funds related to covert operations. In February 1987, a contribution from the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] was made to the West Australian Labor Party, involving [[Richard Babayan]] and [[Earl Brian]] acting on behalf of [[Hadron]]. This money was passed on by one of [[Robert Maxwell|Maxwell's]] companies in [[Australia]] to be held by the [[Pergamon Press Trust Fund]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d5a8abca --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Education + - USA +--- +The Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn is an educational institution in the [[United States]]. In 1940, [[Herman F. Mark]] was running a laboratory there, and two years later he became dean of faculty, turning the institute into a haven for Jewish refugees, including [[Chaim Weizmann]] and [[Ernst David Bergmann]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Radio Cairo.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Radio Cairo.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6de96e81 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Radio Cairo.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Media + - Egypt +--- +[[Radio Cairo]] is an [[Egypt|Egyptian]] radio station. It announced the death of [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]] from a heart attack, twenty minutes after [[Uri Geller]] purportedly predicted it during a [[Telepathy|telepathy]] demonstration in [[Tel Aviv]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Rand Corporation.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Rand Corporation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..54a47c6f --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Rand Corporation.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Rand Corporation +tags: + - organization + - thinktank + - research +description: The Rand Corporation is an American nonprofit global policy think tank. +--- + +The [[Rand Corporation]] is an American nonprofit global policy think tank. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, it is mentioned as being larger and more prestigious than [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] among scientific think tanks in the early 1970s.[^1] + +Rand Corporation is also mentioned in relation to the early rumors of a telepathy project involving the USS Nautilus, though this was later debunked as a fabrication or disinformation ploy.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Round Table Foundation.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Round Table Foundation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a1044537 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Round Table Foundation.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Round Table Foundation +tags: + - organization + - research + - private +description: The Round Table Foundation was a research facility founded by Andrija Puharich in Maine, dedicated to the study of psychic phenomena. +--- + +The [[Round Table Foundation]] was a research facility founded by [[Andrija Puharich]] in Glen Cove, Maine, in the late 1940s. It was dedicated to the study of [[Parapsychology|psi]] phenomena, particularly [[ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis]], and was funded by a group of wealthy patrons interested in the paranormal, including [[Alice Astor Bouverie]] and [[Marcella Miller du Pont]].[^1] + +The foundation was housed in a 45-room mansion called the Warrenton Estate, and it was here that Puharich conducted his early research, including experiments with psychics like [[Eileen Garrett]] in a [[Faraday cage]]. The foundation also explored other areas of research, such as audio waves and human hearing.[^1] + +The Round Table Foundation attracted the attention of the U.S. government, and Puharich was eventually called back into military service. The foundation's work, though often blending science with mysticism, played a role in the early history of U.S. government interest in psychic phenomena.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/SCT.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/SCT.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b3cf69e3 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/SCT.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Organization +--- +Systems and Computer Technology, Inc. ("SCT") was a company involved in an alleged attempt to purchase [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] in early 1986. [[Bill Hamilton]]'s affidavit described this as a "hostile" effort, alleging that in "late 1985" [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]] officials met with SCT representatives to "encourage" the SCT takeover of [[INSLAW]]. Hamilton also suggested an indirect link between [[Earl Brian]] and SCT, claiming that the investment firm [[Allen and Company]] bought 7.8% of SCT stock on behalf of an unnamed third party, and that one of the law firms that worked for Earl Brian also worked for SCT.[^1] + +The Special Counsel's investigation found little evidence to support these allegations. It noted that by late 1985, Inslaw's implementation contract with the DOJ was terminated, and the DOJ was beginning to self-install [[PROMIS]]. Furthermore, Inslaw claimed that by 1985, Earl Brian had already obtained enhanced PROMIS and was selling it globally, which would negate any apparent reason for Brian or Hadron to attempt to control Inslaw through SCT in 1986. The investigation interviewed SCT officers and employees involved in the effort to purchase Inslaw, who stated that they approached Hamilton about a possible purchase, and he was initially receptive but later rejected the offer. They also confirmed that their only contacts with DOJ officials occurred during their due diligence, to understand Inslaw's disputes with the DOJ and the possibility of Inslaw obtaining additional contract work if SCT purchased Inslaw. None of the SCT employees had any knowledge of a DOJ effort to encourage the purchase or any connection between Earl Brian and SCT. The Special Counsel concluded that none of the evidence supported the allegation that the DOJ encouraged SCT to buy Inslaw, or that Earl Brian had any connection to the SCT effort.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Saint-Gobain Techniques Nouvelles.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Saint-Gobain Techniques Nouvelles.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c3058822 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Saint-Gobain Techniques Nouvelles.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - France +--- +Saint-Gobain Techniques Nouvelles (SGN) is a large French chemical company. It was granted a contract to build a chemical reprocessing plant on the grounds at Marcoule, [[France]]. This plant was a critical element in the making of a nuclear bomb, as it separated weapons-grade plutonium from irradiated uranium fuel.[^1] + +[[Ernst David Bergmann]]'s men were able to contribute to the development of this technology. Israeli scientists were the only foreigners allowed access throughout the secret French nuclear complex at Marcoule, and were said to be able to roam "at will." One reason for this carte blanche was the brilliance of the Israeli scientists and their expertise in computer technology, on which the French would remain dependent for the next decade.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Science Applications International Corporation.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Science Applications International Corporation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6d77deac --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Science Applications International Corporation.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-01-09 +updated: 2025-01-29 +title: Science Applications International Corporation +tags: + - SAIC + - Stargate Project + - Department of Defense +description: SAIC, founded in 1969, evolved from nuclear research to diverse projects like radiation therapy and missile development. Its unique structure supported classified DoD programs and later consciousness research, including the Stargate Project, which it managed until 1994 before its declassification in 1995. +--- +The Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) was founded in 1969 by [[J Robert Beyster]] as Science Applications Incorporated (SAI). Beyster remained with the company, which was employee owned, until 2003 which paved the way to it’s 2006 initial public offering and 2012 split into two companies (SAIC and Leidos which is the core of the original SAIC). + +During this period, SAIC operated through a unique structure of semi-autonomous divisions, allowing it to simultaneously pursue multiple classified programs for the [[Department of Defense]] while maintaining information compartmentalization. This structure would prove crucial in its later involvement with consciousness research and advanced physics programs. + +The company initially focused on nuclear power and weapons effects study programs but expanded into: radiation therapy, development of the cruise missle (1970’s), cleanup of Three Mile Island, and even luggage inspection machines for the FAA. + +[[Edwin May]] moved the [[STARGATE PROJECT]] in 1991 following [[SRI International]] stepping away. SAIC operated the project until 1994 at which point is was declassified in 1995. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Scientology.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Scientology.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e65a118f --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Scientology.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Scientology +tags: + - organization + - religion + - philosophy +description: Scientology is a body of beliefs and practices invented by American author L. Ron Hubbard, often described as a cult or a new religious movement. +--- + +[[Scientology]] is a body of beliefs and practices invented by American author L. Ron Hubbard. In the context of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], several key figures involved in the early remote viewing research at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] were former members of Scientology, including [[Hal Puthoff]], [[Ingo Swann]], and [[Pat Price]]. This connection has led to speculation about the possible influence of Scientology's practices and theories on the development of early remote viewing protocols.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Sheridan Square Press.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Sheridan Square Press.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..57f81def --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Sheridan Square Press.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Publisher + - USA +--- +[[Sheridan Square Press]] was a publisher based in [[New York]]. It published [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ari Ben-Menashe's]] book, *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] noted that [[Sheridan Square Press]] remained impervious to intimidation, unlike other publishers who backed out of publishing his book.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Sidem International Limited.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Sidem International Limited.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5c8bf4c1 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Sidem International Limited.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - ArmsDealer + - UK +--- +[[Sidem International Limited]] was an arms dealing company that operated out of [[London]]. It was involved in acquiring arms from [[Yugoslavia]] and selling them to [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah]], who in turn sold them to Palestinian groups like [[Abu Nidal]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Society for Psychical Research.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Society for Psychical Research.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..263d2235 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Society for Psychical Research.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Society for Psychical Research +tags: + - organization + - parapsychology + - research +description: The Society for Psychical Research (SPR) is the oldest psychical research organization in the world, founded in London in 1882. +--- + +The [[Society for Psychical Research]] (SPR) is the oldest psychical research organization in the world, founded in London in 1882. Its members included prominent figures such as the psychologist Frederic Myers, the philosopher Henry Sidgwick, the physiologist Charles Richet, the physicists Sir William Crookes and Sir Oliver Lodge, the poet William Butler Yeats, and the writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.[^1] + +Despite its prestigious membership and rigorous investigations, the SPR and similar organizations were unable to firmly establish psi within the Western scientific worldview. As theories of nature hardened into laws that did not admit the human mind could span time and space unaided, psi research became increasingly marginalized. This led to a transformation of psychical research into "parapsychology," focusing on statistical evidence rather than real-world applications, as exemplified by the work of J. B. Rhine.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Solel Bone Ltd..md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Solel Bone Ltd..md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4b27b270 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Solel Bone Ltd..md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Israel +--- +Solel Bone Ltd., of Haifa, was the largest Israeli engineering company involved in the construction of [[Dimona]]. It was closely associated with the [[Mapai Party]], and Israelis involved in the early stages of construction acknowledged an extensive, and traditional, system of diverting contract funds to the party.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 5. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Stanford Research Institute.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Stanford Research Institute.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8c45d069 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Stanford Research Institute.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Stanford Research Institute +tags: + - organization + - research + - thinktank +description: The Stanford Research Institute (SRI) was a key institution in the history of remote viewing, conducting research for the CIA and other intelligence agencies. +--- + +The [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) is a scientific research institute based in Menlo Park, California. In the early 1970s, SRI became the center of the U.S. government's secret psychic research program, which would eventually become known as the [[STARGATE PROJECT]].[^1] + +SRI was a large and prestigious think tank, with close ties to Stanford University, and was primarily funded by government contracts, many of which were highly classified. This made it an ideal location for sensitive research into psychic phenomena.[^1] + +The psi research at SRI was led by physicists [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]]. They conducted experiments with a number of psychics, including [[Ingo Swann]], [[Pat Price]], and [[Uri Geller]]. The research was funded by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] (DIA), and other government agencies.[^1] + +SRI was responsible for developing many of the key concepts and techniques of remote viewing, including [[Coordinate Remote Viewing]] (CRV) and the use of outbounder teams. The research at SRI was instrumental in convincing the intelligence community that remote viewing had the potential to be a valuable intelligence-gathering tool. Despite initial skepticism from some within the scientific community, Puthoff and Targ were able to publish some of their findings in reputable scientific journals, lending a degree of credibility to the field.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Stanford University.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Stanford University.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a0ecfbf1 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Stanford University.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Academic + - USA +--- +Stanford University is a private research university in [[Stanford]], [[California]]. Its Linear Accelerator Center was home to [[Wolfgang K. H. Panofsky]], a physicist who was a key colleague of [[Jack P. Ruina]] on an ad hoc panel of distinguished scientists tasked with studying the [[VELA Satellite]] data related to a probable nuclear explosion in the South Indian Ocean in 1979.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 20. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Strategic Intelligence Services.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Strategic Intelligence Services.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e8deb839 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Strategic Intelligence Services.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Intelligence + - UK +--- +[[Strategic Intelligence Services]] was a company run by [[Anthony Pearson]], a former British Special Airborne Service (SAS) officer. Located in [[London]], it provided espionage services to [[Israel]], among others.[^1] + +[[Strategic Intelligence Services|The firm]] was involved in recruiting mercenaries and facilitating covert operations, including an unsuccessful coup in the [[Seychelles]] in November 1981. It also played a role in gathering intelligence on Palestinian organizations in [[Europe]] through [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah]], who unwittingly provided information that led to the elimination of Palestinian militants.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Sylvania Corporation.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Sylvania Corporation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..de0895da --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Sylvania Corporation.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Sylvania Corporation +tags: + - organization + - private + - technology +description: Sylvania Corporation was an American manufacturer of lighting products, televisions, and other electronic equipment. +--- + +The [[Sylvania Corporation]] was an American manufacturer of lighting products, televisions, and other electronic equipment. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, [[Russell Targ]] worked at the research laboratories of Sylvania Corporation before joining [[Hal Puthoff]] at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] to lead the remote viewing research program. This background in electronics and technology contributed to his approach to studying psi phenomena.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/The Age.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/The Age.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f92d1e4a --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/The Age.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Media + - Australia +--- +*The [[Age]]* is an [[Australia|Australian]] newspaper based in [[Melbourne]]. [[Oscar Guerrero]] attempted to sell photographs of [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear facility, provided by [[Mordecai Vanunu]], to *The Age*, but was rejected. [[Robert Maxwell]] later tried to buy *The [[Age]]* newspaper for $750 million [[Australia|Australian]], but this move was thwarted by the [[Australia|Australian]] [[Labor Party|Labor]] government's foreign ownership policy.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/The Company.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/The Company.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5f4e7bbf --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/The Company.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +"The Company" was a drug and arms organization consisting of approximately 300 members, many of whom were former military men, ex-police officers, or ex-intelligence personnel. It was involved in large-scale illegal drug trafficking, gunrunning, and mercenary operations, with assets estimated at nearly $30 million, including planes, ships, and real estate.[^1] + +### Activities and Operations + +The organization imported billions of dollars worth of narcotics from [[Latin America]]. It was also involved in the theft of specialized military equipment from the [[United States Naval Weapons Station China Lake|U.S. Naval Weapons Station at China Lake]] in the Mojave Desert, including infrared sniperscopes, a television camera for night vision, tracer ammunition, a remote-control helicopter, and secret components from a Sidewinder guided missile's radar unit. Some of this stolen equipment was intended for drug smugglers, and some was traded to drug suppliers in [[Colombia]].[^1] + +"The Company" was headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, and Mena, Arkansas. Twenty-nine members of the organization were indicted by the Fresno federal grand jury in 1981, including [[Andrew "Drew" Thornton]], a former narcotics officer who later died while parachuting with 77 pounds of cocaine.[^1] + +### Connections and Investigations + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed to have provided "valuable intelligence" on illegal drug activities and "The Company" to [[Brian Leighton]], a former Assistant [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] in Fresno. Riconosciuto stated that he had been instrumental in helping Leighton identify members of "The Company" and even led law enforcement officers to a marijuana cache belonging to its members. However, Leighton's testimony in Riconosciuto's trial was evasive regarding their direct collaboration.[^1] + +[[Danny Casolaro]] had been communicating regularly with [[Michael Riconosciuto]] and learned about "The Company." It is suggested that Casolaro may have scheduled a meeting with the Lexington [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] regarding drug trafficking by "The Company" shortly before his death.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] also claimed that "The Company" was still active and that [[Brian Leighton]]'s prosecutions had only served to "vaccinate" the group against further penetration. Riconosciuto sought to hand "The Company" and [[Robert Booth Nichols]] over to [[Financial Crimes Enforcement Network|FinCen]] in exchange for entry into the Witness Protection Program, but his efforts were unsuccessful.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/The Sunday Mirror.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/The Sunday Mirror.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..167947ab --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/The Sunday Mirror.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Media + - UK +--- +*The [[Sunday Mirror]]* is a British newspaper. [[Robert Maxwell|Robert Maxwell's]] publishing empire included *The [[Sunday Mirror]]*.[^1] + +[[Nicholas Davies]], a London *Daily Mirror* foreign editor and [[Israel|Israeli]] agent, put together a disinformation story for *The [[Sunday Mirror]]* to discredit [[Mordecai Vanunu|Mordecai Vanunu's]] claims about [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear program. This piece was published with copies of [[Mordecai Vanunu|Vanunu's]] photographs, claiming that *The [[Sunday Mirror]]* had investigated the pictures and the men trying to sell them and found it to be a "con job."[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/The Sunday Times.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/The Sunday Times.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b13a77cd --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/The Sunday Times.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Media + - UK +--- +*The [[Sunday Times]]* is a British newspaper. It struck a deal with [[Oscar Guerrero]] to publish [[Mordecai Vanunu|Mordecai Vanunu's]] story and photographs of [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear facility. The arrangement included a £250,000 advance for [[Mordecai Vanunu|Vanunu]] on a book about [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear capability, with [[Oscar Guerrero|Guerrero]] receiving a 10% cut.[^1] + +[[Mordecai Vanunu|Vanunu]] flew to [[London]] and was put up in various hotels while giving interviews to *The [[Sunday Times]]*. [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence, aware of the impending publication, attempted to discredit [[Mordecai Vanunu|Vanunu]] and later kidnapped him from [[Rome]]. *The [[Sunday Times]]* published the story and photos on October 5, 1986, after [[Mordecai Vanunu|Vanunu]] failed to return from his trip to [[Rome]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/TransCapital Corporation.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/TransCapital Corporation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..428dcc1b --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/TransCapital Corporation.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Business + - USA +--- +[[TransCapital Corporation]] was a [[Connecticut]] firm licensed to sell computer hardware, particularly for the [[PROMIS]] program. It played a role in facilitating arms deals and technology transfers.[^1] + +In 1986 and 1987, [[TransCapital Corporation]] was allowed to export high-tech [[IBM]] computers to the [[Soviet Union]], despite a general ban on selling such equipment to the [[East Bloc]]. This was made possible by [[Robert Gates]], who lifted the barriers. When the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]] desired [[PROMIS]], [[Degem]] technicians fitted it to the [[IBM]] computers, complete with the "trap door."[^1] + +[[Richard St. Francis]], who worked for [[TransCapital Corporation]], was involved in a deal to sell three C-130s to [[Iran|Tehran]], working with [[Joseph O'Toole]] and [[Mike Timpani]]. This deal was intended to be a go-between for [[Israel]] and [[Iran]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/University of California.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/University of California.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e6675b6c --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/University of California.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Academic + - USA +--- +The University of California is a public university system in [[California]]. The physics department at the [[University of California]] was home to [[Luis Alvarez]], a Nobel laureate who was a key colleague of [[Jack P. Ruina]] on an ad hoc panel of distinguished scientists tasked with studying the [[VELA Satellite]] data related to a probable nuclear explosion in the South Indian Ocean in 1979.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 20. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/University of San Cristobal.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/University of San Cristobal.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..09bc8988 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/University of San Cristobal.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Education + - Peru +--- +The [[University of San Cristobal]] at [[Ayacucho]], [[Peru]], was where [[Abimael Guzmán Reynoso]], the founder of the [[Shining Path]], was formerly a professor of philosophy. Many of its professors were members of the [[Shining Path]] or the Communist Party of [[Peru]].[^1] + +[[Ari Ben-Menashe]] applied for a position to teach about the [[Middle East]] at the [[University of San Cristobal|University]] as a cover for his mission to secure rare minerals for [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear program. The rector of the [[University of San Cristobal|University]] accepted [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] quickly, stating that his academic credentials were sufficient, and that his potential role as an intelligence officer was not their concern.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Valley National Bank of Arizona.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Valley National Bank of Arizona.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..48a9d317 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Valley National Bank of Arizona.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Private + - Finance + - USA +--- +[[Valley National Bank of Arizona]] was a bank in [[Phoenix]], [[Arizona]]. It was used in financial transactions related to [[Israel|Israeli]] arms sales and the release of [[USA|American]] hostages.[^1] + +In December 1980, $4 million, part of a larger $56 million payment for the release of [[USA|American]] hostages in [[Iran]], was deposited into an account belonging to [[Earl Brian]] at the [[Valley National Bank of Arizona|Valley National Bank]]. This transaction was handled by [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], who ensured a customs slip was obtained to legitimize the deposit.[^1] + +[[Valley National Bank of Arizona|Valley National Bank]] was also one of the [[USA|U.S.]] banks through which letters of credit for arms sales to [[Iran]] were routed, along with [[Chicago-Tokyo Bank]], [[Chemical Bank]], and [[Bank One]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Wackenhut Corporation.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Wackenhut Corporation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..53cb2bd3 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Wackenhut Corporation.md @@ -0,0 +1,46 @@ +[[Wackenhut Corporation]] is a security and investigative firm founded in 1954 by [[George R. Wackenhut]] and three other former [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] Special Agents. Initially named Special Agent Investigators, it expanded to physical security and was renamed Wackenhut Corporation in 1958. Headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida, Wackenhut grew to become one of the world's largest security and investigative firms, with operations across the United States and internationally.[^1] + +## Operations and Services + +Wackenhut provides security and investigative services to businesses, industries, and various U.S. Government agencies. Its services include guard and electronic security for various facilities, personnel background reports, pre-employment screening, polygraph examinations, and criminal investigations. The company also develops sophisticated computerized security systems through its subsidiary, [[Wackenhut Electronic Systems Corporation]].[^1] + +Notable contracts include providing security for the [[Nevada Test Site]], the [[Alaskan Pipeline]], and [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory|Lawrence Livermore Labs]], as well as numerous American embassies abroad.[^1] + +### Leadership and Government Connections + +The company's leadership has historically included executives and managers with extensive backgrounds in the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]], [[National Security Agency|NSA]], and other military and governmental security fields. Its board of directors has featured prominent former government officials such as [[Stansfield Turner]] (former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] director), [[Clarence Kelley]] (former [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] director), [[Frank Carlucci]] (former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] deputy director and Defense Secretary), [[James Rowley]] (former [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]] director), [[Bobby Ray Inman]] (former acting chairman of President Bush’s foreign intelligence advisory board and former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] deputy director), and [[Joseph Carroll]] (former Director, [[Defense Intelligence Agency|Defense Intelligence Agency]]).[^1] + +[[William Casey]], former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] director under [[Ronald Reagan]], served as Wackenhut's outside legal counsel before his appointment.[^1] + +### Controversies and Allegations + +Despite its public profile as a security firm, Wackenhut Corporation has been associated with several significant controversies and allegations, particularly concerning its political leanings and its alleged role in covert government operations. + +#### Political Leanings and Dossier Collection +[[George R. Wackenhut]], the company's founder, was characterized as a "hard-line right-winger" whose political values were reflected in the company's operations. Wackenhut actively built dossiers on suspected dissidents and sold this information to interested parties. By 1965, Wackenhut claimed to maintain files on 2.5 million suspected dissidents. This number grew to over 4 million by 1966, following the acquisition of the private files of [[Karl Barslaag]], a former staff member of the House Committee on Un-American Activities. The company's monthly publication, the "Wackenhut Security Review," consistently criticized protest movements of the 1960s, earning accolades from right-wing organizations such as the John Birch Society and the All-American Conference to Combat Communism.[1] + +#### Allegations of CIA Front Operations +Multiple sources have alleged that Wackenhut served as a front for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and other intelligence agencies. [[Richard Babayan]], identified as a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] contract employee, claimed that Wackenhut had been used by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] for years to provide cover for clandestine operations. [[Bruce Berckmans]], a former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] agent who later became a Wackenhut international-operations vice president, reportedly saw a formal proposal from [[George Wackenhut]] to the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] offering Wackenhut offices worldwide as fronts for [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] activities. [[William Corbett]], a terrorism expert and former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] analyst, further stated that Wackenhut allowed the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] to occupy positions within the company to conduct clandestine operations and supplied intelligence agencies with information in exchange for lucrative government contracts.[^1] + +#### The Cabazon Joint Venture +A particularly controversial aspect of Wackenhut's operations was its joint venture with the [[Cabazon Band of Mission Indians|Cabazon Indian tribe]] in Indio, California. Formalized on April 1, 1981, this partnership aimed to leverage the sovereign nation status of the Indian reservation to bypass federal jurisdiction and congressional prohibitions on arms exports. The venture, known as "Cabazon Arms," sought to establish a production facility for high-tech armaments and explosives for export to third-world countries, including the [[Contras]] in Nicaragua and nations in the Middle East.[^1] + +[[Dr. John Nichols]], the Cabazon tribal administrator and a former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] agent, secured a [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] secret facility clearance for the reservation. He then proposed to Wackenhut the manufacture of various weapons systems, including 120mm combustible cartridge cases, 9mm machine pistols, laser-sighted assault weapons, sniper rifles, and portable rocket systems. The venture also explored the development of biological weapons. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] served as the Director of Research for this joint venture, and was involved in meetings with figures like [[Robert Frye]] (Wackenhut VP), [[John P. Nichols]], and [[Peter Zokosky]], and [[Dr. Harry Fair]] of the U.S. Army's Railgun Project at Picatinny Arsenal, where Riconosciuto's scientific expertise was noted.[^1] + +#### PROMIS Software Modification + +Within the Cabazon Joint Venture, [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed to have modified the proprietary [[PROMIS]] computer software. This modification, allegedly spearheaded by [[Earl Brian]] and made available through [[Peter Videnieks]] of the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]], was intended to facilitate the worldwide implementation of [[PROMIS]] in law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Riconosciuto's affidavit detailed his work on the software, including specific modifications for the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] and the [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service|CSIS]] in [[Canada]]. This alleged pirating and modification of the [[PROMIS]] software became a central component of the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]].[^1] + +It was here that the "trap door" was built into the [[USA|U.S.]] version of [[PROMIS]], based on [[Israel|Israeli]] information. This operation was conducted by a small [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] group, headed by [[Robert Gates]], who sought to keep it secret from the [[NSA]] due to interagency competition.[^2] + +#### End of Wackenhut + +The Wackenhut/Cabazon Joint Venture was terminated on October 1, 1984, following [[Robert Frye]]'s heart attack. Its activities subsequently became the subject of numerous investigations by entities such as the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]], the [[United States House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee on Inslaw]], [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs]], and the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|Royal Canadian Mounted Police]], as well as various police agencies and media outlets worldwide.[^1] + +#### Other Allegations +Beyond the Cabazon venture, Wackenhut was also implicated in other international controversies. A 1992 *SPY* magazine article by [[John Connolly]] alleged that Wackenhut secretly assisted [[Iraq]] in its efforts to obtain sophisticated weapons and contributed to unrest in [[Venezuela]].[^1] + +--- +### Footnotes +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. +[^2]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Weizmann Institute of Science.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Weizmann Institute of Science.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2f6a1673 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Weizmann Institute of Science.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Organization + - Research + - Israel +--- +The Weizmann Institute of Science is a preeminent research facility in [[Israel]]. After [[Israel]]'s successful War of Independence in 1948, [[Ernst David Bergmann]] became the director of its chemistry division. In 1949, a department of isotope research was established at the Institute, and young Israeli scientists were sent abroad to study nuclear energy and chemistry. A joint research program was also initiated with the nascent French Atomic Energy Commission.[^1] + +By 1953, researchers at Weizmann had pioneered a new process for creating heavy water and a more efficient means of extracting uranium from phosphate fields. These concepts were later sold to the French, leading to a formal agreement for cooperation in nuclear research between the two nations.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Westinghouse Electric Corporation.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Westinghouse Electric Corporation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b9c06f4e --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Westinghouse Electric Corporation.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Westinghouse Electric Corporation]] was involved in a major project with Burns & Roe, Inc., for the engineering design and construction of the [[United States of America|U.S.A.]] Fast Breeder Nuclear Reactor Plant. Westinghouse was responsible for the nuclear system supply of steam for this project.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Yakuza.md b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Yakuza.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fa16c2a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/20 - ORGANIZATIONS/PRIVATE/Yakuza.md @@ -0,0 +1,7 @@ +The [[Yakuza]] is a Japanese organized crime syndicate that was implicated in the broader network investigated by [[Danny Casolaro]] as "[[The Octopus]]." The syndicate's involvement was highlighted in [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretap summaries, which revealed a government drug trafficking operation that included high-ranking [[La Cosa Nostra]] figures, the [[Gambino Crime Family]], and the Yakuza.[1] + +[[Robert Booth Nichols]], a key figure in Casolaro's investigation, was linked to the Yakuza. An [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] wiretap summary on Nichols, part of [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agent [[Thomas Gates]]'s affidavit, connected Nichols to the Yakuza as a money launderer. Furthermore, [[Michael Riconosciuto]] alleged that Nichols was the "godson" of [[Harold Okimoto]], a figure believed to be a top Japanese organized crime figure based in Hawaii and described as a top agent in the Yakuza overseas.[1] + +--- +## Footnotes +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/Dimona.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/Dimona.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d69a7420 --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/Dimona.md @@ -0,0 +1,47 @@ +The [[Dimona]] facility, officially known as the Negev Nuclear Research Center, stands as a deeply clandestine and pivotal complex within [[Israel]]'s national security apparatus, nestled in the arid [[Negev Desert]] south of [[Jerusalem]]. Its existence and operations are central to [[Israel]]'s undeclared nuclear weapons program, embodying the nation's commitment to [[The Samson Option]], a doctrine of last resort that envisions massive nuclear retaliation in the face of an existential threat. This facility is not merely a research center but a fully operational industrial complex dedicated to the production of weapons-grade plutonium and the development of advanced nuclear armaments. + +### History and Construction + +The genesis of [[Dimona]] can be traced back to the early 1950s, driven by the unwavering vision of [[Israel]]i leaders such as Prime Minister [[David Ben-Gurion]], Defense Minister [[Shimon Peres]], and the brilliant scientist [[Ernst David Bergmann]]. [[Ernst David Bergmann|Bergmann]], often hailed as the "scientific father of the [[Israel]]i bomb," tirelessly championed the pursuit of nuclear capabilities, believing it to be the ultimate guarantor of [[Israel]]'s survival in a hostile region. [[France]] emerged as [[Israel]]'s indispensable partner in this ambitious endeavor, providing critical expertise and resources. [[Israel]]i scientists were granted unprecedented access to [[France|French]] nuclear facilities, including [[Marcoule]] and [[Saclay]], gaining invaluable knowledge and experience. This collaboration culminated in late 1955 when [[David Ben-Gurion|Ben-Gurion]] formally sought [[France|French]] assistance in constructing a large nuclear reactor and a chemical reprocessing plant on [[Israel]]i soil. The agreement was reportedly solidified in the aftermath of the 1956 [[Suez Crisis]], with [[Guy Mollet|French Prime Minister Guy Mollet]] famously declaring, "I owe the bomb to them" [^1]. The [[Saint-Gobain|French]] chemical firm, Saint-Gobain, was subsequently contracted to undertake the construction of the crucial underground reprocessing facility. + +Groundbreaking for the EL-102 reactor commenced in early 1958, marking the physical manifestation of [[Israel]]'s nuclear aspirations. The remote [[Negev Desert]] site rapidly transformed into a bustling "French boom town," as hundreds of [[France|French]] engineers and technicians, eventually numbering up to 2,500, arrived to oversee and execute the complex construction. The reactor achieved criticality in 1962, demonstrating its capacity to operate at over 70 megawatts (MW), significantly higher than the publicly acknowledged 24 MW. This enhanced operational capacity was vital for producing larger quantities of plutonium, a key ingredient for nuclear weapons. By mid-1964, the underground reprocessing plant, a marvel of engineering with its remote-controlled laboratories and computer-driven machinery, was largely completed and poised to begin extracting weapons-grade plutonium from the reactor's spent uranium fuel rods. This progress continued despite [[Charles de Gaulle|French President Charles de Gaulle]]'s public attempts to distance [[France]] from the project [^2]. The immense financial undertaking of [[Dimona]], estimated to cost billions of dollars, was partially sustained through covert fundraising efforts led by figures like [[Shimon Peres]] and [[Abraham Feinberg]], who solicited contributions from wealthy [[American]] and [[European]] Jews [^2]. + +### Operational Details and Facilities (Based on Mordecai Vanunu's Revelations) + +The intricate workings of [[Dimona]] were brought to light in 1986 through the detailed revelations and photographs provided by [[Mordecai Vanunu]], a former technician at the facility. His disclosures offered an unprecedented glimpse into [[Israel]]'s advanced nuclear capabilities. The complex comprises the main reactor and at least eight other specialized buildings, or Machons, each serving a distinct function in the nuclear fuel cycle. + +[[Machon 1]] houses the large, silver-domed reactor, a prominent structure 60 feet in diameter, visible even from nearby highways. This heavy-water moderated reactor utilizes uranium fuel rods, which remain within its core for approximately three months. The heavy water coolant is, in turn, cooled by ordinary water flowing through a heat exchanger, generating steam that, unlike in a conventional power plant, is vented directly into the atmosphere, creating a radioactive cloud [^3]. + +The most sensitive and critical component of [[Dimona]] is [[Machon 2]], the chemical reprocessing plant, informally known as "The Tunnel." This six-level underground facility is where plutonium is meticulously extracted through chemical processes from the highly radioactive spent uranium rods. Operating around the clock for 34 weeks annually, "The Tunnel" is a testament to advanced engineering and stringent security. Within this facility, an observation area in the control room, affectionately dubbed "Golda's Balcony," commemorates [[Golda Meir|Prime Minister Golda Meir]]'s frequent visits during her tenure [^3]. On level five of "The Tunnel," weapons-grade plutonium is precisely molded into hemispheres for warheads within sealed glove boxes, alongside the fabrication of other crucial chemicals like lithium and beryllium. [[Mordecai Vanunu|Vanunu]]'s accounts indicated a steady weekly production of 1.2 kilograms of pure plutonium [^3]. + +Beyond the core reprocessing functions, other Machons contribute to the overall operation. [[Machon 3]] is responsible for converting lithium-6 into a solid form suitable for nuclear warheads and for processing natural uranium for the reactor. [[Machon 4]] manages the waste treatment processes for the radioactive residues generated by [[Machon 2]]. [[Machon 5]] applies an aluminum coating to the uranium rods, prepared in [[Machon 3]], before their insertion into the reactor. [[Machon 6]] provides essential basic services and power to the entire [[Dimona]] complex. Advanced research and development take place in [[Machon 8]], which notably includes [[Special Unit 840]], where [[Israel]]i scientists pioneered a gas centrifuge method for uranium enrichment. Further enrichment capabilities are housed in [[Machon 9]], a laser-isotope-reprocessing facility. Finally, [[Machon 10]] is dedicated to the chemical isolation of depleted uranium, which is then prepared for military applications or commercial sale [^3]. The facility also includes specialized units for tritium production, with Unit 92 having removed tritium from heavy water since the 1960s, and Unit 93, opened in 1984, focusing on large-scale tritium production. Tritium is a vital component for "boosted" fission weapons and neutron bombs, underscoring [[Israel]]'s pursuit of sophisticated nuclear designs [^3]. + +### Security and Secrecy + +From its inception, [[Dimona]] has been shrouded in an unparalleled veil of secrecy, a testament to [[Israel]]'s determination to conceal its nuclear ambitions. The [[Israel]]i government consistently maintained elaborate cover stories, publicly asserting that the facility was solely dedicated to peaceful purposes such as scientific research, seawater desalinization, or agricultural development [^4]. This narrative was meticulously crafted to deflect international scrutiny. + +Despite these denials, [[American]] intelligence, particularly through [[U-2 Spy Plane|U-2]] spy plane overflights beginning in the late 1950s, gathered early evidence of the clandestine construction. From 1962 to 1969, [[American]] inspection teams, notably led by [[Floyd L. Culler, Jr.]], conducted scheduled visits to [[Dimona]]. However, these inspections were largely a "whitewash," as [[Israel]] employed sophisticated deception tactics. This included the construction of a false control room, complete with fake panels and measuring devices designed to mimic a 24 MW research reactor, and the use of elaborate camouflage, such as covering bunkers with sod, to mislead inspectors [^5]. The inspections ultimately ceased in 1969 under the [[Nixon Administration]], which implicitly acknowledged [[Israel]]'s nuclear status without public declaration. + +The protection of [[Dimona]]'s secrets was a paramount concern, leading to the creation of the Office of Special Tasks (later known as [[LAKAM]]), an intelligence agency specifically tasked with this mission. Led by figures like [[Binyamin Blumberg]], [[LAKAM]] agents operated globally, collecting technical information and establishing front companies to acquire high-tech equipment that would otherwise be denied to [[Israel]] due to export controls [^3]. [[Israel]]i security forces maintained constant vigilance, actively monitoring and deterring any attempts at unauthorized photography or infiltration, engaging in a prolonged "cat-and-mouse game" with [[American]] intelligence [^6]. + +### Nuclear Arsenal and Testing + +[[Dimona]]'s operational success paved the way for [[Israel]]'s emergence as a nuclear power. Well-placed [[Israel]]i sources indicate that at least one successful low-yield nuclear test was conducted in an underground cavern in the [[Negev Desert]] during the mid-1960s [^7]. By early 1968, [[Dimona]] had transitioned to full-scale production, manufacturing an estimated 4 to 5 warheads annually. By the time of the [[Yom Kippur War]] in September 1973, [[Israel]]'s nuclear arsenal was believed to comprise at least 20 warheads [^8]. + +A significant event in [[Israel]]'s nuclear history occurred on September 22, 1979, when [[Israel]], in conjunction with [[South Africa]], conducted a low-yield nuclear test over the [[South Indian Ocean]]. This event was detected by the [[VELA Satellite|U.S. VELA satellite]], providing concrete evidence of [[Israel]]'s nuclear capability [^9]. [[Mordecai Vanunu|Vanunu]]'s later revelations further underscored the sophistication of [[Israel]]'s nuclear program, suggesting its capacity to manufacture advanced thermonuclear weapons, including low-yield neutron bombs [^3]. + +### Strategic Significance + +The existence and output of [[Dimona]] form the bedrock of [[Israel]]'s nuclear deterrent strategy. The facility's continuous production of plutonium and its capability to develop advanced warheads have enabled [[Israel]] to maintain a policy of "strategic ambiguity" regarding its nuclear capabilities. This deliberate lack of official confirmation, coupled with the implied threat of a nuclear arsenal, serves to enhance [[Israel]]'s perceived security in a volatile and often hostile region. The [[The Samson Option]], deeply intertwined with [[Dimona]]'s capabilities, represents [[Israel]]'s ultimate assurance against existential threats, a powerful and silent guarantor of its survival. + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 3. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 5. +[^3]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 15. +[^4]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 6. +[^5]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 8. +[^6]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 4. +[^7]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 10. +[^8]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 13. +[^9]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991, Chapter 20. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/HISTORICAL_PROGRAMS/Project MKUltra.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/HISTORICAL_PROGRAMS/Project MKUltra.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5cb34266 --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/HISTORICAL_PROGRAMS/Project MKUltra.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Project MKUltra +tags: + - program + - CIA + - mindcontrol + - experimentation +description: Project MKUltra was a top-secret, illegal human experimentation program designed and undertaken by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). +--- + +[[Project MKUltra]] was a top-secret, illegal human experimentation program designed and undertaken by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. It involved the use of various methods, including drugs like LSD, hypnosis, and other psychological manipulation techniques, to develop mind-control capabilities. The program's dark history, particularly its controversial studies on servicemen in the 1950s and 1960s, led to strict regulations regarding "human use experimentation" in the military.[^1] + +In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, the history of such experimentation meant that the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program, which involved human subjects in remote viewing, had to involve the informed consent of its participants and approval and oversight by the Army's human use review board. This was a direct consequence of the controversies surrounding programs like MKUltra.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/HISTORICAL_PROGRAMS/Project Pandora.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/HISTORICAL_PROGRAMS/Project Pandora.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c99a16f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/HISTORICAL_PROGRAMS/Project Pandora.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Project Pandora +tags: + - program + - research + - military + - ColdWar +description: Project Pandora was a classified U.S. research program initiated by ARPA to duplicate the effects of the Moscow Signal and study the biological effects of microwave radiation. +--- + +[[Project Pandora]] was a classified U.S. research program initiated by the [[Advanced Research Projects Agency|ARPA]] (now [[DARPA]]) in response to the [[Moscow Signal]], a microwave beam directed at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow by the [[Soviet Union]]. The project's primary goal was to duplicate the effects of the Moscow Signal and study the biological effects of microwave radiation.[^1] + +Scientists with [[Johns Hopkins University]]'s Applied Physics Laboratory were assigned to oversee the research. Experiments were conducted inside an anechoic chamber at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, where primates were irradiated with microwave beams similar to the Moscow Signal. [[Richard S. Cesaro]], in charge of Project Pandora, became convinced of the harmful nature of the signal, believing it adversely affected the internal organs of primates, including the brain, and could cause Alzheimer's disease.[^1] + +In 1969, Project Pandora was quietly expanded to include human subjects, with highly classified studies code-named Big Boy and Project Bizarre projecting microwave beams at unwitting sailors stationed in the Philadelphia Naval Yard. These experiments remained secret for seven years.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/CHAOS Program.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/CHAOS Program.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..68530414 --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/CHAOS Program.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Program + - CIA + - Intelligence +--- +The CHAOS Program was a highly secret [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operation. It involved the Agency's purchase of a [[Washington D.C.]] trash collection company, which had contracts to pick up garbage at various Third World embassies, including the Israeli embassy. The trash was systematically sorted and analyzed for any possible intelligence. [[James Jesus Angleton]] was a sponsor of this program.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 11. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/Project 8200.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/Project 8200.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..135cb9c6 --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/Project 8200.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Project 8200 +tags: + - program + - military + - intelligence + - remoteviewing +description: Project 8200 is a program related to UFO/UAP bases and activities, with original Remote Viewing Transcripts. +--- + +[[Project 8200]] is a program related to UFO/UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) bases and activities. It is mentioned in the context of [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]]'s publications, specifically his 2024 book *Project 8200: UFO/UAP Bases and Activities: The original Remote Viewing Transcripts* (ISBN-10 3911151047). This suggests a connection between remote viewing and the investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena, potentially involving the use of remote viewing to gather intelligence on such subjects.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/Systems Exploitation Detachment.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/Systems Exploitation Detachment.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..39b435e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/Systems Exploitation Detachment.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-03-05 +updated: 2025-03-05 +title: Systems Exploitation Detachment +tags: + - military intelligence + - remote viewing + - organizational structure +description: The Systems Exploitation Detachment (SED), led by Colonel Robert Keenan, initiated the Army's remote viewing program in 1977. It operated under INSCOM and ACSI, with the Special Action Branch executing tasks for U.S. intelligence agencies under the code name GRILL FLAME. +--- +The Systems Exploitation Detachment (SED) was a unit within the [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command]] (INSCOM) and the office of the assistant chief of staff for intelligence ([[ACSI]]). It was headed by Colonel [[Robert Keenan]] when the remote viewing program was initiated in 1977. [[Ed Dames]] considered the SED to be an elite unit of creative thinkers. + +The SED played a crucial role in the establishment of the Army's remote viewing program. When [[Frederick Atwater]] proposed forming a remote viewing team, he presented the idea to Colonel Robert Keenan, who was in charge of the SED. Keenan approved Atwater's proposal, leading to the program's creation in 1977. +### Organizational Structure and Control +* The SED was under the control of two entities [i]: + * United States Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) [i] + * The office of the assistant chief of staff for intelligence (ACSI) [i] +* The remote viewing unit itself, formally known as the "Special Action Branch," took its orders from the Pentagon office of the Army’s assistant chief of staff for intelligence. +* Tasking requests for the Special Action Branch came from various offices throughout the U.S. intelligence community, including the [[Central Intelligence Agency]], the [[Defense Intelligence Agency]], and the [[President’s National Security Council]]. +* Orders and information were marked with the standard Army intelligence **SECRET** and the Pentagon code word, [[STARGATE PROJECT|GRILL FLAME]]. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/Unit 8200.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/Unit 8200.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c8268228 --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/Unit 8200.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +tags: + - Program + - IntelligenceOperation + - Israel +--- +[[Unit 8200]] is an [[Israel|Israeli]] Signals Intelligence (Sigint) unit, specializing in code-breaking. It is housed in a base located near a country club north of [[Tel Aviv]], with a nearby building known as "the villa" belonging to [[Mossad]], where top-secret security meetings were held. The unit operates on a need-to-know basis, with departments requiring special permission to access each other's areas.[^1] + +Key personnel mentioned in connection with [[Unit 8200]] include Col. [[Yoel Ben-Porat]] (unit commander, known as Buffy), Lt. Col. [[Sasson Yishaek]] (number-two in code-breaking, later commander), Col. [[Reuben Yirador]] (department commander), and [[Shulamit Ingerman]] (head of the Iranian desk and a cryptographer).[^1] + +[[Ari Ben-Menashe]] was stationed in [[Unit 8200]]'s code-breaking department, specifically on the [[Iran|Iranian]] desk, from 1975 to 1977. He claims to have broken the [[Iran|Iranian]] diplomatic code, which allowed [[Israel|Israel]] to read coded messages faster than the [[Iran|Iranians]]. This breakthrough eliminated the need to "acquire" the weekly black book sent by diplomatic pouch to the [[Iran|Iranian]] embassy in [[Ramat Gan]].[^1] + +[[Unit 8200]] was involved in monitoring [[Iran|Iranian]] communications through satellite stations in Bet Ella and listening stations in northern [[Israel]], the [[Sinai]], and overseas (e.g., [[Japan]], [[Italy]], [[Ethiopia]]). These stations intercepted traffic from the [[Iran|Iranian]] Foreign Ministry, Royal Court, [[SAVAK]], and [[Iran|Iranian]] military intelligence.[^1] + +In 1972, Col. [[Reuben Yirador]] decoded a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] intercept (VENONA) that revealed the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]] were bugging the office of [[Golda Meir]], then Prime Minister of [[Israel]]. This discovery, along with [[Golda Meir|Meir's]] meeting with [[Leonid Brezhnev]] and her rejection of a peace settlement, informed [[Anwar Sadat]] and may have prompted the 1973 war.[^1] + +In 1976, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], while on duty in [[Unit 8200]], intercepted a telegram detailing [[Lockheed Aircraft Company|Lockheed]] bribes paid to Defense Minister [[Shimon Peres]]. This information was subsequently covered up by superiors, including [[Yoel Ben-Porat|Buffy]] and [[Sasson Yishaek|Lt. Col. Yishaek]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/KEY PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/KEY PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b46065c4 --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/KEY PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.md @@ -0,0 +1,35 @@ +--- +tags: + - MOC + - META +--- +This Map of Content (MOC) provides a curated guide to the most significant programs and projects discussed within The Info Web. It highlights key initiatives that shaped the narrative of paranormal research, intelligence operations, and technological development. + +# PSI Research Programs +*These programs represent the direct efforts to study, develop, and apply psychic phenomena for intelligence and military purposes.* + +- [[PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/STARGATE PROJECT|STARGATE PROJECT]] - The umbrella designation for the U.S. government's psychic spying program, which investigated remote viewing and other psi abilities for over two decades. +- [[PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/Project Deep Quest|Project Deep Quest]] - A unique psychic functioning experiment that used remote viewing to locate a previously unknown shipwreck, demonstrating the potential of psi in real-world applications. +- [[PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/SCANATE|SCANATE]] - The original code name for the Coordinate Remote Viewing (CRV) methodology, developed by Ingo Swann, which became a foundational technique for psychic intelligence. +- [[PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/Great Skill Program|Great Skill Program]] - A U.S. Army program that explored human potential and psychic abilities, reportedly recruiting and training individuals for remote viewing. +- [[PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/Paraphysics R&D - Warsaw Pact|Paraphysics R&D - Warsaw Pact]] - A 1977 report highlighting extensive Soviet research into electromagnetic fields, quantum physics, and psychokinesis, fueling U.S. concerns about a "psi gap." +- [[PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/Controlled Offensive Behavior - USSR|Controlled Offensive Behavior - USSR]] - A 1972 DIA report that warned of a "devastating 'psi gap'" with the Soviets, outlining their alleged advancements in psychic warfare and behavior control. +- [[PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/The Nautilus (Telepathy Project)|The Nautilus (Telepathy Project)]] - A fabricated story about successful telepathy experiments on a U.S. submarine that, despite being false, was believed by the Soviets and spurred their own extensive psi research. + +# Intelligence Operations +*These programs represent specific intelligence-gathering or special operations efforts, some of which intersected with psychic capabilities.* + +- [[INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/Systems Exploitation Detachment|Systems Exploitation Detachment]] - An INSCOM unit involved in operations security and special projects, which housed the early Army remote viewing team. +- [[INTELLIGENCE_OPERATIONS/Project 8200|Project 8200]] - An Israeli intelligence unit, reportedly involved in advanced technological and psychic research, with connections to figures like Uri Geller. +- [[30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/Tower Commission|Tower Commission]] - A presidential commission of inquiry established to investigate the Iran-Contra Affair, focusing on a limited scope of the events. + +# Historical Programs +*Significant historical programs that provide context for the later development of psychic research and intelligence activities.* + +- [[HISTORICAL_PROGRAMS/Project MKUltra|Project MKUltra]] - A notorious CIA program that explored mind control, chemical interrogation, and other unconventional methods, setting a precedent for ethically questionable research. +- [[HISTORICAL_PROGRAMS/Project Pandora|Project Pandora]] - A classified Pentagon program that aimed to duplicate the effects of the Moscow Signal, investigating the potential of microwave radiation as a weapon. + +# Software Projects +*Key software development initiatives that became central to broader narratives of government, technology, and alleged conspiracy.* + +- [[SOFTWARE_PROJECTS/PROMIS|PROMIS]] - A case-management software developed for the Department of Justice that became entangled in a complex web of conspiracy involving intelligence agencies and alleged backdoors. diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/Manhattan Project.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/Manhattan Project.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8f168d15 --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/Manhattan Project.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Project + - Nuclear + - World War II +--- +The [[Manhattan Project]] was a top-secret research and development undertaking by the [[United States]] with the support of the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Canada]] during World War II. Its primary objective was to produce the first nuclear weapons. [[J. Robert Oppenheimer]] was the scientific director of the project, and [[John von Neumann]] was also a key figure.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PROMIS Software Scandal.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PROMIS Software Scandal.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b89199ca --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PROMIS Software Scandal.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +The [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] centers around a revolutionary case management system called [[PROMIS]] (Prosecutor's Management Information System). Originally developed as "Old PROMIS" by the not-for-profit Institute For Law And Social Research ("the Institute") in 1973 with funding from the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA), this initial version was in the public domain. Further enhancements, known as the five BJS enhancements, and a "Pilot Project" version were also developed with public funding and remained in the public domain.[1, 2] + +In January 1981, [[Bill Hamilton]] organized [[Inslaw Corporation]] as a for-profit entity and acquired the Institute's assets. The core of the scandal involves a 1982 implementation contract between Inslaw and the [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]] (DOJ) for installing PROMIS in U.S. Attorneys' offices. This contract specifically called for the public domain version of Pilot Project PROMIS plus the five BJS enhancements.[2] + +According to [[Bill Hamilton]] and [[Nancy Hamilton]], the owners of Inslaw, a version of their PROMIS software was pirated and allegedly modified with a "back-door" that allowed the U.S. government to access intelligence data of foreign countries. This modified software was reportedly sold to various foreign governments, including [[Canada]] (specifically the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]] and [[Canadian Security Intelligence Service|CSIS]]) and [[Israel]].[1] + +Key figures involved in the scandal include [[Michael Riconosciuto]], a computer scientist who claimed to have installed the "back-door" in PROMIS. Riconosciuto made various claims, including personally meeting with [[Earl Brian]], receiving a copy of PROMIS from Brian, performing alterations to PROMIS for international sale, and being aware of entities to which altered PROMIS was distributed. However, investigations found inconsistencies in his accounts regarding who he received the software from and when and where he altered it. Both Brian and [[Peter Videnieks]], a Justice Department contract official implicated by Riconosciuto, categorically denied ever meeting Riconosciuto or each other, or being involved in the alleged activities. The investigation concluded that Riconosciuto was a "totally unreliable witness" and that his claims were fabricated, lacking credible corroboration.[2] + +[[Earl Brian]] allegedly spearheaded the plan for worldwide use of the modified software. However, investigations found no credible evidence to support the allegation that members of the DOJ conspired with Earl Brian to obtain or distribute PROMIS software. The overwhelming weight of the evidence indicated no connection between Earl Brian and anything related to Inslaw or PROMIS software.[2] + +[[Peter Videnieks]], a Justice Department contract official, was also implicated in making the software available. His involvement was denied by him and found to be without credible evidence by the investigation.[2] + +Investigations into the PROMIS Software Scandal were conducted by various entities, including the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]], the [[United States House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]], [[United States Customs Service|U.S. Customs]], and the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police|RCMP]]. These investigations often encountered obstruction and led to the abrupt shutdown of probes when they connected to high-level organized crime, drugs, and money laundering.[1] + +The scandal is deeply intertwined with other major events, such as the [[October Surprise]], the [[Iran-Contra Affair]], and allegations of government-sanctioned drug trafficking and money laundering. The software was believed to be capable of tracking money laundering and moving funds invisibly through international banking systems like [[CHIPS]] and [[SWIFT]].[1] + +## Footnotes + +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/Controlled Offensive Behavior - USSR.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/Controlled Offensive Behavior - USSR.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..911beb5d --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/Controlled Offensive Behavior - USSR.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Controlled Offensive Behavior - USSR +tags: + - report + - intelligence + - SovietUnion + - psi +description: Controlled Offensive Behavior - USSR was a 1972 Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report that assessed Soviet research into psi phenomena and its potential military applications. +--- +[[Controlled Offensive Behavior - USSR]] was a 1972 [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] report that assessed [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] research into [[Parapsychology|psi]] phenomena and its potential military applications. The report noted that "the major impetus behind the Soviet drive to harness the possible capabilities of telepathic communication, telekinetics, and bionics are said to come from the Soviet military and the [[KGB]]."[^1] + +The report, with what was described as "almost comical blandness," outlined the potential horrors that could be inflicted on the U.S. if Soviet psi research advanced, including: knowing the contents of top-secret U.S. documents, troop movements, and military installations; molding the thoughts of key U.S. leaders at a distance; causing instant death of U.S. officials at a distance; and disabling U.S. military equipment, including spacecraft, remotely. It concluded that "Soviet knowledge in this field is superior to that of the West," suggesting a devastating "psi gap" in addition to the perceived missile gap.[^1] + +This report, along with other intelligence, contributed to the U.S. intelligence community's increased interest in and funding of its own psi research, including the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/Great Skill Program.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/Great Skill Program.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f0e0b39b --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/Great Skill Program.md @@ -0,0 +1,25 @@ +--- +created: 2024-08-21 +updated: 2024-08-21 +title: Great Skill Program +tags: + - U.S. Army + - Human Intelligence + - Special Access Programs +description: The Great Skill Program (GSP) identifies and develops Army recruits into soldier spies for HUMINT, CI, and Technical Intelligence. Participants are removed from standard tracking systems, allowing flexible, secretive assignments to high-security Special Access Programs, often operating without traditional military identifiers. +--- +Great Skill Program (GS or GSP) is a secretive internal [[U.S. Army]] program to identify promising recruits and help to develop them into soldier spies. The focus is on Human Intelligence (HUMINT), Counterintelligence (CI), and Technical Intelligence[^2]. + +Great Skills is not a formal unit, but rather a specialized program for managing individuals with unique skills for sensitive and clandestine operations. Recruits are removed from the Human Resource Command (HRC) database (which tracks career assignments and locations of all Army personnel) and instead places them on the [[Department of the Army's Special Roster]] (DASR) effectively making these individuals invisible to the broader Army. This allows members to be assigned with more flexibility and secrecy. + +The primary motivation is to allow these soldiers to be assigned to [[Special Access Programs]] (SAPs) with high security classification and no concern of rotation or reassignment. + +While not always true, members operating in these roles are almost “in the army without being in the army” and can work without uniforms, ranks, etc to protect secrecy. + +The program was born out of the [[National Security Act of 1947]] and has changed names throughout time (for example, in 1977 it was referred to as The Military Intelligence Enlisted Case Officer Program[^4] and is now renamed Army Strategic Intelligence Recruiting[^3]). There are ways for members of other services to operate within this program, but it’s primarily intended for Army enlisted members. +#### Footnotes + +[^1]: Imminent (2024), p32 - note, Elizondo calls this Great Skill**s** and Gr**e**y Fox, both of which are incorrect +[^2]: [Army Enlistment overview](https://armyreenlistment.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Special-Assignments-February-2019.pdf) +[^3]: [Army Talent Management](https://talent.army.mil/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/TBCA-Program-Guide_Phase-8.pdf) +[^4]: [Army military publication](https://www.google.com/books/edition/Military_Publications/LiQzp6onTXkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=great%20skill%20) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/Paraphysics R&D - Warsaw Pact.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/Paraphysics R&D - Warsaw Pact.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..46b699a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/Paraphysics R&D - Warsaw Pact.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Paraphysics R&D - Warsaw Pact +tags: + - report + - intelligence + - SovietUnion + - psi +description: Paraphysics R&D - Warsaw Pact was a 1977 Defense Intelligence Agency report authored by Dale Graff, assessing Soviet and Warsaw Pact research into psi phenomena. +--- + +"[[Paraphysics R&D - Warsaw Pact]]" was a 1977 [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] report authored by [[Dale Graff]]. The report assessed [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] and Warsaw Pact research into [[Psi|psi]] phenomena, including electromagnetic fields, quantum physics, holography, and gravitation. Graff coined the term "paraphysics" to describe this field, aiming to pivot the nomenclature away from psychology towards physics to gain more traction within the [[Department of Defense|DoD]].[^1] + +The report highlighted Soviet research in biophysics and psychic healing, Kirlian photographs, auras, and map dowsing, with particular attention to [[Psychokinesis]]. It summarized the activities of individuals whose abilities were of concern to the U.S. intelligence and military communities, citing the "[[Geller Effect]]" and the frog experiments of [[Ninel Kulagina]].[^1] + +This report, along with the earlier "[[Controlled Offensive Behavior - USSR]]" report, contributed to the U.S. intelligence community's increased interest in and funding of its own psi research, including the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/Project Deep Quest.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/Project Deep Quest.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9a33d23f --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/Project Deep Quest.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Project Deep Quest +tags: + - program + - research + - psi + - military +description: Project Deep Quest was a unique psychic functioning experiment conducted in 1977, involving remote viewing to locate an underwater shipwreck from a submersible. +--- + +[[Project Deep Quest]] was a unique psychic functioning experiment conducted in 1977, involving [[Remote Viewing]] to locate an underwater shipwreck from a submersible. It was a collaborative effort between [[Stephan Schwartz]], [[Hal Puthoff]], [[Dale Graff]], and psychics [[Ingo Swann]] and [[Hella Hammid]].[^1] + +The project had two main elements: an unclassified one focused on locating a shipwreck, and a classified project for the [[U.S. Air Force]] to test long-distance remote viewing inside a submersible. For the unclassified part, Swann and Hammid used map dowsing techniques to identify potential shipwreck locations on a nautical chart of Catalina Island. The submersible *Taurus I* was then used to investigate the identified location.[^1] + +The project successfully located a previously unidentified shipwreck, marking the first time psychics had located an underwater archaeological site from inside a submersible. The classified portion, designed to test remote viewing for emergency military scenarios, also yielded positive results, suggesting the potential for [[PSI-INT]] in operational contexts.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/SCANATE.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/SCANATE.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..725e60ac --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/SCANATE.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: SCANATE +tags: + - program + - CIA + - remoteviewing +description: SCANATE was an early CIA program that explored psychic phenomena, particularly remote viewing, in response to Soviet research. +--- + +[[SCANATE]] was an early [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] program that explored [[Psi|psychic]] phenomena, particularly [[Remote Viewing|remote viewing]]. It was initiated in 1970 in response to growing concerns about Soviet [[Parapsychology|psi]] research. The name "Scanate" was also used by [[Ingo Swann]] to refer to his coordinate-based clairvoyance scheme, which later became known as [[Coordinate Remote Viewing|Coordinate Remote Viewing (CRV)]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/STARGATE PROJECT.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/STARGATE PROJECT.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c96b430a --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/STARGATE PROJECT.md @@ -0,0 +1,161 @@ +--- +created: 2024-08-26 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Stargate Project +tags: + - psychic + - research + - military + - intelligence + - remoteviewing +description: The Stargate Project was a secret U.S. Army unit established in 1977, which investigated psychic phenomena like remote viewing for military and intelligence purposes. Operating under various code names including Gondola Wish and Grill Flame, it involved psychics who claimed successes in locating targets and detecting foreign surveillance until its declassification in 1995. +--- + +The [[STARGATE PROJECT]] was a secret [[U.S. Army]] unit established in 1977 at [[Fort Meade]], Maryland. Its purpose was to investigate [[Psi|psychic]] phenomena, particularly [[Remote Viewing|remote viewing]], for military and intelligence applications. The project operated under various code names throughout its lifespan, including **Gondola Wish**, **Grill Flame**, **Center Lane**, **Sun Streak**, and **Scanate**. These names were used at different times and for different aspects of the project, but all fell under the umbrella of psychic research for military and intelligence purposes. The project sought to harness these abilities for intelligence gathering and military operations, eventually being declassified in 1995. + +## Overview +[[Remote Viewing]] is the claimed ability to gather information about distant or unseen targets using extrasensory perception or other paranormal means. The Stargate Project sought to harness this ability for intelligence gathering and military operations. + +## The Project +### Foundations +The program was initiated by [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]], who had heard rumors of extensive [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Parapsychology|psi]] research and the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s own involvement with [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]]. Atwater proposed to Colonel [[Robert Keenan]], then head of [[Systems Exploitation Detachment]] (SED), that they assemble a remote viewing team. This proposal was ultimately approved in 1977 by Major General [[Edmund Thompson]] and commanding officer Major [[Murray Watt|Murray “Scotty” Watt]], who were assigned with Atwater to lead the project. They were given a very small budget and initially operated from a room in building 4554 at [[Fort Meade]], later moving to buildings 2560 and 2561 on Llewellyn Street to escape noise and gain more space. + +The team reached out to [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] for guidance on selecting psychics. The original six soldier psychics, later narrowed to three full-time members, were [[Mel Riley]], [[Joe McMoneagle]], [[Ken Bell]], [[Nancy Stern]], [[Fernand Gauvin]], and [[Hartleigh Trent]]. The project, thanks in part to its minuscule investment, had support from not only Major General Thompson, but also [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command]] (INSCOM) commander [[William Rolya]], Army Chief of Staff [[Edward Meyer]], and Secretary of the Army [[Clifford Alexander]]. + +Initially codenamed **Gondola Wish**, the program began as an experimental, part-time unit. It faced early challenges, including being categorized as "[[Human Use Experimentation|human use experimentation]]," which required informed consent and oversight from the Army's human use review board. After initial promising results and high-level interest, the unit transitioned to an offensive psychic spying team, becoming known as **Grill Flame** in late 1978. + +### Successes +- **Chinese Nuclear Device (1979)**: In late summer 1979, [[Mel Riley]] and [[Joe McMoneagle]] remote viewed a new Chinese nuclear device at Lop Nor. They successfully agreed on the rough design, describing an "hourglass on its side" shape, which was later confirmed to be a critical design element by [[U.S. Air Force]] officials. They also determined that the device allegedly did not successfully detonate, a fact later confirmed by other intelligence sources, explaining why U.S. intelligence had failed to detect a nuclear explosion at the test site.[^1] + +- **Crashed U.S. Navy A-6 Aircraft (1979)**: [[Ken Bell]] was tasked with locating a crashed [[U.S. Navy]] A-6 aircraft. He accurately determined its general location, specifying it was a few hundred miles from [[Fort Meade]] on something called “bald.” The aircraft was later found in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia on a hill named “Bald Knob,” confirming Bell's remote viewing.[^1] + +- **Soviet Embassy Surveillance Bug (1980)**: [[Joe McMoneagle]], tasked by the [[NSA]], successfully detected the location of a [[Soviet Union|USSR]] surveillance bug in a U.S. embassy. He accurately deduced the device’s position, the location of the soviet listening equipment across the street, and even perceived that an American team had detected the Russians and were counter-surveilling them. This demonstrated the program's ability to provide actionable intelligence.[^1] + +- **Soviet T-72 Tank Acquisition**: Remote viewers, including [[Mel Riley]], [[Hartleigh Trent]], [[Ken Bell]], and [[Joe McMoneagle]], successfully tracked the acquisition of a Soviet T-72 tank by the U.S. government. McMoneagle even perceived a staged hijacking of the tank's transport ship, which was later confirmed to be a ruse to cover the general selling the tank.[^1] + +- **B-2 Stealth Bomber (Opsec Tasking)**: In a highly sensitive opsec tasking, [[Mel Riley]] remote-viewed a "strange batlike flying-wing shape" with a "bulbous cockpit" and fiber-optic control mechanisms. Years later, this was identified as the then-secret B-2 Stealth bomber, demonstrating the program's ability to penetrate highly classified projects and provide details that were unknown even to the tasking Air Force officials.[^1] + +- **KGB Agent Interrogation**: [[Ken Bell]] and [[Mel Riley]] successfully remote-viewed a [[KGB]] "illegal" in South Africa who was resisting interrogation. Bell's "telepathic interrogation" revealed details about the agent's family and a hidden pocket calculator, which helped the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] break an important counterintelligence case.[^1] + +- **Soviet Typhoon-Class Submarine (1979)**: [[Joe McMoneagle]], known as "Viewer 518" to the [[National Security Council|NSC]], provided highly accurate details about a new Soviet Typhoon-class submarine under construction at Severodvinsk. He described its massive size, double hull, canted missile tubes, and unique welding techniques, even predicting the Soviets would dynamite a channel to launch it. This information was later confirmed by satellite imagery, sparking debate within the NSC about the value of remote viewing.[^1] + +- **Skylab Crash Zone (1979)**: [[Joe McMoneagle]] accurately predicted the crash zone of Skylab, which reentered Earth's atmosphere over eastern Australia, blazing a trail westward and raining hot metal debris on western Australia and the Indian Ocean.[^1] + +## Key Personnel and Connections + +### Military Figures +- Lieutenant [[Frederick Atwater|Frederick Holmes “Skip” Atwater]] - Project overseer until 1987 or 1988, later president of the [[Monroe Institute]] +- Major General [[Albert Stubblebine]] - [[U.S. Army]] [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|Intelligence and Security]] (INSCOM) commander, strong supporter of psychic research +- Lieutenant General [[James Clapper]] - Project leader in the 1990s, later Director of National Intelligence +- Major General [[Harry Soyster]] - INSCOM commander who ended Army's participation +- [[David Morehouse]] - Remote viewer, author of "Psychic Warrior" +- [[Joe McMoneagle]] - Remote viewer, one of the project's most prominent psychics +- [[Ed Dames]] - Session monitor and analyst, later became a public figure in remote viewing circles +- Colonel [[Robert Keenan]] - Head of [[Systems Exploitation Detachment]] (SED), approved Atwater's proposal +- Major [[Murray Watt|Murray “Scotty” Watt]] - First commanding officer of the remote viewing unit +- [[William Rolya]] - [[United States Army Intelligence and Security Command|INSCOM]] commander, supported the project +- [[Edward Meyer]] - Army Chief of Staff, supported the project +- [[Clifford Alexander]] - Secretary of the Army, supported the project +- [[Jake Stewart]] - Navy lieutenant commander on the [[National Security Council|NSC]] staff, enthusiastic supporter and tasker of remote viewers + +### Civilian Researchers and Psychics +- [[Hal Puthoff]] - Principal investigator, co-founder of the SRI remote viewing program, former [[Scientology]] member +- [[Russell Targ]] - Researcher, co-founder of the SRI remote viewing program +- [[Edwin May]] - Principal investigator, judge, and gatekeeper in later years +- [[Ingo Swann]] - Remote viewer, developed [[Coordinate Remote Viewing]] (CRV) protocols, former Scientology member +- [[Pat Price]] - Remote viewer, former police officer and Scientology member +- [[Uri Geller]] - Israeli psychic tested by SRI, known for spoon bending +- [[Nancy Stern]] - Army civilian photo-interpreter, original remote viewer +- [[Fernand Gauvin]] - Civilian counterintelligence specialist, original remote viewer +- [[Hartleigh Trent]] - Former Navy petty officer, original remote viewer +- [[Phyllis Cole]] - Lab technician at SRI, demonstrated strong psychic talents +- [[Marshall Pease]] - Mathematician at SRI, demonstrated strong psychic talents +- [[Duane Elgin]] - Futurologist at SRI, demonstrated strong psychic talents +- [[Hella Hammid]] - Photographer, demonstrated exceptional remote viewing abilities +- [[Karlis Osis]] - Parapsychologist, conducted psychokinesis experiments with Pat Price +- [[Hugh Crane]] - SRI official, involved in early remote viewing experiments +- [[Ron Robertson]] - Security officer at [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]], investigated Geller and experienced unusual phenomena +- [[Don Curtis]] - Physicist at [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]], experienced unusual apparitions + +### Government Officials and Liaisons +- [[Richard Kennett]] - [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] analyst, key liaison and evaluator for psychic research programs +- [[Norm Everheart]] - [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] technical operations specialist, chief coordinator for Grill Flame taskings from CIA's Operations Directorate +- [[Jim Morris]] - [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] counterintelligence officer, sought RV assistance for KGB case +- [[Ed Rogers]] - Chief of [[Staff D]] (later Office of SIGINT Operations) at CIA, skeptical of psychic intelligence +- [[John McMahon]] - Deputy Director for Operations at CIA, head of [[Office of Technical Service|OTS]] +- [[Bill O'Donnell]] - [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] officer, inadvertently provided coordinates for Sugar Grove +- [[Peter Maris]] - [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] physicist, tasked Price with Semipalatinsk viewing +- [[Ken Kress]] - [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] engineer, initiated CIA's first psi research contract with SRI +- [[Robert Gates]] - Young Soviet analyst on loan from CIA, skeptical of RV results +- [[William Perry]] - President [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]]'s Defense R&D chief, later Secretary of Defense, influenced funding +- [[Charlie Rose]] - U.S. Congressman, staunch supporter of Grill Flame +- [[Jack Anderson]] - Journalist, reported on the existence of the program + +### Organizational Connections +- [[Stanford Research Institute]] - Initial contractor for the research +- [[Science Applications International Corporation]] (SAIC) - Later contractor, took over most of the project in 1991 +- [[American Society for Psychical Research]] - Conducted early experiments in [[Out-of-Body Experience|out-of-body experiences]] +- [[Monroe Institute]] - Organization focused on consciousness exploration, led by Skip Atwater after his military career +- [[Scientology]] - Several key figures (Puthoff, Swann, Price) were former members, suggesting possible influence on early remote viewing protocols +- [[U.S. Air Force]] - Tasked remote viewers for intelligence gathering +- [[U.S. Navy]] - Involved in early psi research rumors and RV taskings +- [[KGB]] - Soviet intelligence agency, subject of RV taskings +- [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] - Sought RV assistance for counterintelligence +- [[Mossad]] - Israeli intelligence agency, reportedly worked with Uri Geller +- [[Shin Bet]] - Israeli internal security service, reportedly worked with Uri Geller +- [[U.S. First Army]] - Based at Fort Meade, associated with the project +- [[Army Intelligence Agency]] - Merged to form INSCOM, precursor to project oversight +- [[Army Security Agency]] - Merged to form INSCOM, precursor to project oversight +- [[Operations Security Group]] - Initial unit for some remote viewers +- [[Palo Alto Medical Clinic]] - Oversaw medical and psychological evaluations for psychics +- [[Institute of Noetic Science]] - Funded Uri Geller's visit to SRI +- [[Bell Labs]] - Scientist Robert Lucky became RV proponent after publishing SRI paper +- [[Rand Corporation]] - Think tank, mentioned in early psi research rumors +- [[Society for Psychical Research]] - Historical psychical research organization +- [[Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory]] - Key parapsychology research institution +- [[Parapsychological Association]] - Professional organization for parapsychologists +- [[Sylvania Corporation]] - Russell Targ's former employer +- [[Church's Fried Chicken]] - Early private funder of Hal Puthoff's research +## Project Timeline and Notable Event +1. 1970: [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] initiates [[SCANATE]] program in response to Soviet psychic research +2. 1972: [[Stanford Research Institute]] (SRI) begins testing psychics, including [[Uri Geller]] +3. 1976: Remote viewer [[Rosemary Smith]] allegedly locates a lost Soviet spy plane +4. 1977: Stargate Project officially established +5. 1979: Project psychics claim to identify Soviet weapons and technologies +6. 1980: Failed Iran hostage rescue mission; remote viewers tasked extensively +7. 1984: Existence of the program reported by journalist Jack Anderson +8. 1985: Army funding terminated, program continues under DIA +9. 1991: Most contracting transferred to SAIC under Edwin May +10. 1995: CIA terminates and declassifies the project + +## Challenges and Controversies +- **Scientific Skepticism**: The project faced significant skepticism from the mainstream scientific community, who often dismissed psi research as pseudoscience or fraud. Despite statistically significant results, the lack of tangible, repeatable real-world applications made it difficult to gain widespread scientific acceptance. The "[[Giggle Factor]]" within intelligence agencies also reflected this skepticism, hindering the program's operational integration.[^1] + +- **Human Use Experimentation Concerns**: Due to the controversial history of programs like [[Project MKUltra]], the Stargate Project was categorized as "[[Human Use Experimentation|human use experimentation]]." This required extensive informed consent and oversight, but also raised concerns about the psychological toll on remote viewers, who experienced mental fatigue, emotional fragility, and burnout from intense and monotonous taskings, particularly during the Iran hostage crisis.[^1] + +- **Disinformation and Misinformation**: The field of psi research was often plagued by disinformation, such as the fabricated [[The Nautilus (Telepathy Project)|"Secret of the Nautilus"]] story, which, despite being false, significantly influenced Soviet psi research and contributed to the perception of a "[[Psi Gap|psi gap]]." This made it challenging to discern genuine psychic phenomena from hoaxes or deliberate deception.[^1] + +- **Operational Limitations**: While remote viewers achieved notable successes, their abilities had limitations. They struggled with perceiving numbers and letters accurately, and their perceptions could be influenced by their own imagination or prior knowledge. The effectiveness of remote viewing was also dependent on the nature of the target, with fixed, visually dramatic targets being easier to perceive than moving or abstract ones.[^1] + +- **Security Concerns**: The accuracy of remote viewing, as demonstrated by incidents like the Sugar Grove viewing, raised significant security concerns within the Pentagon, leading to investigations into potential information leaks. The extreme secrecy surrounding the program was partly to protect it from Soviet eyes, but also to shield its supporters from public "mortification and embarrassment."[^1] + +## Related Concepts +- [[Psychotronic Research]] - Soviet studies into the interaction between human psychology and electronics +- [[Out-of-Body Experience]] - Sensation of consciousness leaving the physical body +- [[Precognition]] - Ability to see future events +- [[Coordinate Remote Viewing]] (CRV) - Structured protocol for remote viewing developed by [[Ingo Swann]] +- [[Extended Remote Viewing]] (ERV) - Deeper altered-state methods of psychic spying +- [[Associative Remote Viewing]] (ARV) - Precognitive technique using surrogates for abstract data +- [[Psi Gap]] - Perceived disparity in psychic research capabilities between the US and the Soviet Union +- [[Giggle Factor]] - Skepticism and ridicule associated with paranormal research in intelligence communities +- [[Human Use Experimentation]] - Ethical and regulatory framework for human research, impacting the project +- [[Psi]] - General term for psychic phenomena +- [[Psychokinesis]] - Ability to influence physical systems with the mind +- [[Telepathy]] - Direct mental communication of thoughts +- [[Disinformation]] - Deliberate spread of false information +- [[Near-Death Experience]] - Profound personal experiences with psychic aftereffects +- [[Kirlian Photography]] - Technique for photographing the "aura" or "biofield" + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/The Nautilus (Telepathy Project).md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/The Nautilus (Telepathy Project).md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..67b65f22 --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/PSI_RESEARCH_PROGRAMS/The Nautilus (Telepathy Project).md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: The Nautilus (Telepathy Project) +tags: + - project + - telepathy + - disinformation + - ColdWar +description: The Nautilus (Telepathy Project) refers to a sensational 1960 French magazine article claiming successful telepathic communication with the USS Nautilus submarine, which spurred Soviet psi research. +--- + +[[The Nautilus (Telepathy Project)]] refers to a sensational 1960 article in the French magazine *Science et Vie* titled "The Secret of the Nautilus." The article claimed that the [[U.S. Government|U.S. government]], in secret tests, had successfully employed telepathy to communicate with the crew of the USS Nautilus, its first nuclear submarine, while it was submerged beneath the Arctic ice cap. The story suggested the project had the special attention of President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] and involved the [[U.S. Navy|Navy]], [[U.S. Air Force|Air Force]], Westinghouse, General Electric, [[Bell Labs]], and the [[Rand Corporation]].[^1] + +The implications of such a breakthrough were enormous, as communicating with deeply submerged submarines was a critical research goal. Telepathy seemed an ideal solution, as it appeared unaffected by seawater or other earthly obstacles. However, the story quickly unraveled upon closer inspection, with denials from involved parties and suspicious inconsistencies in the reported accuracy rates. It was eventually suggested that the article was a fabrication, possibly a disinformation ploy designed to stir up data on American psi research or to encourage the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]] to undertake wasteful psi research, or both.[^1] + +Despite being declared a fake in the West, the Nautilus story had a profound impact in the East. The Soviets, seemingly swallowing the story whole, viewed official American denials as confirmation of its truth. This article provided the necessary stimulus for the resurgence and significant funding of Soviet [[Parapsychology|psi]] research, which had been nearly extinct during the Stalin years. Figures like Leonid Vasiliev and I. M. Kogan eagerly cited the story as justification for their work, leading to the establishment of numerous psi research centers in the USSR and Eastern Europe.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/SOFTWARE_PROJECTS/PROMIS.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/SOFTWARE_PROJECTS/PROMIS.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..464cab6a --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/SOFTWARE_PROJECTS/PROMIS.md @@ -0,0 +1,108 @@ +--- +created: 2024-04-25 +updated: 2025-01-03 +title: PROMIS +tags: + - PROMIS + - INSLAW + - Conspiracy +description: PROMIS, a case management software developed by INSLAW in the 1970s, faced controversy after being allegedly stolen by the U.S. Justice Department. It became central to conspiracy theories involving espionage, backdoors, and international proliferation, with ties to intelligence agencies and global criminal activities. +--- +**PROMIS** (**Prosecutor's Management Information System**) was a pioneering case management software system developed in the 1970s and 80s by [[INSLAW|The Institute for Law and Social Research]] (INSLAW). The software was originally designed to help the [[U.S. Attorney's office]] in DC automate and streamline their case management processes. This expanded across the country and internationally. However, it later became embroiled in controversy, theft, and conspiracy theories. +## Origins and Development + +In 1969, US Attorney [[Thomas A. Flannery]] perceived an urgent need for new techniques for dealing with the overwhelming amount of cases going through the [[U.S. Attorney's office|DC U.S. Attorney's Office]]. The [[Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia]] (funded by the [[LEAA|Law Enforcement Assistance Administration]] (LEAA)) gave a $60,000 grant (70-DF-047) to [[Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co]] that put together a team of lawyers, management analysts, criminologists, statisticians, and computer science specialists to development a computer-based information system for the prosecutor. + +This team was headed by [[Joan E. Jacoby]] (then Director of the [[Office of Crime Analysis of the District of Columbia]]) and [[Charles R. Work]] (then Deputy Chief of the Superior Court Division of the [[U.S. Attorney's office]]) with project manager [[Bill Hamilton]] (senior consultant at [[Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co]], formerly [[NSA]] analyst). Other team members included [[Sidney H. Brounstein]], [[Robert H. Cain]], [[Joyce H. Deroy]], [[James M. Etheridge]], [[John L. Gizzarelli]], [[Fred L. Lander III]], [[Soo Lee]], [[Dean C. Merrill]], [[John M. Middleton]], [[Stanley H. Turner]], [[Frederick G. Watts]], [[Dennis W. Wright]], and [[Robert Whitaker]]. 14 months were spent designing the system (NOTE: this timeline doesn’t work out properly). + +The system came to be known as the Prosecutor's Management Information System (PROMIS) and deployed on January 1, 1971 in Washington D.C. for the District Attorney's Office. + +PROMIS had four basic subsystems: Report Generator, Forms Generator, Generalized Inquiry Package, Management Report Package. It could track case details, court schedules, witness information, and even “score” how important cases were (and later how likely someone was to commit another crime). + +The software operated in batch processing mode (no online capabilities) and was designed to run on LEAA's [[IBM]] mainframe. It used a flat file database structure, and had no online data entry or inquiry capabilities. Original PROMIS was written in PL/I but was reprogrammed to COBOL for subsequent versions. + +Around 1973 (date unclear), [[Bill Hamilton]] and [[Nancy Hamilton]] founded [[INSLAW|The Institute of Law and Social Research]], a non profit think tank that was to be the steward of the PROMIS software. The LEAA declared PROMIS an "exemplary project" and further funded INSLAW to enhance PROMIS to make it a transferrable system that could be adopted by other jurisdictions. The LEAA also funded "transfers" for municipalities to adopt the PROMIS software. + +This new version of the software was called PROMIS II. +### PROMIS II (mid-1970s) + +In February 1973, US Attorney for DC [[Harold H. Titus Jr]] made the decision to upgrade PROMIS to a real-time on-line system capable of more than 160 variables per case. + +- Enhanced version funded by LEAA to make the system transferable to other jurisdictions. +- Still primarily batch-oriented, but added online inquiry capabilities so users could look up case status and defendant information interactively. +- Implemented in New Orleans and Indianapolis. +- New Orleans ran PROMIS II on a DEC PDP-11/70 minicomputer dedicated to the prosecutor's office. +- Indianapolis operated PROMIS II on the city's IBM mainframe in a time-sharing mode. +### MINI-PROMIS (late 1970s) + +- Minicomputer version of PROMIS designed to work with non-buffered character-oriented terminals. +- Could be implemented on a dedicated minicomputer or a time-shared mainframe. +- Rewritten in ANSI COBOL for easier portability between different computer systems. +- Featured a full-screen, menu-driven user interface for data entry and inquiry. +- Provided the "tailoring" capability to let each jurisdiction customize their database, screens, edits, and reports without programming. +- Produced outputs include case listings, defendant calendars, disposition reports, and more. +### MAXI-PROMIS / NEW-PROMIS (late 1970s) + +- Minicomputer version that was a step up from MINI-PROMIS, utilizing newer "smart" buffered terminals. +- Also written in ANSI COBOL for portability and could run on minis or mainframes. +- Further improved the "tailoring" facility to make it easier for jurisdictions to adapt the system to their needs. +- Provided all the same online data entry, inquiry, and reporting features as MINI-PROMIS. +- Allowed integration with other criminal justice systems like police and corrections when implemented as a regional system, as in Colorado. +- Supported privacy segmentation for example Portland, Oregon implemented NEW-PROMIS on the county's mainframe, but partitioned it to be accessible only by the prosecutor's office. + +Both MINI-PROMIS and MAXI-PROMIS continued to produce the traditional batch reports for management analysis, in addition to their online capabilities. The "tailoring" facility was a key feature that made these versions attractive for wider adoption, as jurisdictions could avoid much of the custom programming that was typically required to modify a transferred system to fit their local needs and terminology. However, implementing a PROMIS system still required some level of data processing expertise to set up the files, load the data, and customize the tables that drove the tailored features. INSLAW was usually hired to complete this process. +### PROMIS 82 +> [!TODO] TODO +> Still determining the difference between PROMIS 82, VAX PROMIS, and DOJ lawsuit PROMIS +## Theft and Misappropriation by the U.S. Justice Department + +- In 1982, Inslaw signed a $10 million [[INSLAW contract|contract]] with the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] to install PROMIS in 42 U.S. Attorneys' offices as part of a pilot program +- The contract had vague and contradictory language in terms of deliverables, software ownership, and licensing rights +- The Justice Dept later tried to claim ownership of PROMIS, insisting its development was funded under the original contract +- High-level Justice Dept officials, including [[Lowell Jensen]], were allegedly involved in a scheme to bankrupt INSLAW by withholding payments and contractual disputes +- Under financial duress and legal pressure, INSLAW was forced to hand over the PROMIS source code to the Justice Dept to end the contract dispute +- However, this gave the Justice Dept the ability to surreptitiously modify and distribute PROMIS both domestically and to foreign governments without INSLAW's knowledge or consent +- Key individuals within the Justice Dept who were allegedly involved in the theft and distribution of PROMIS later left to private sector positions where they continued to profit from the stolen software +- Ultimately concluded in [[Inslaw, Inc., et al. v. The United States]] + +## Danny Casolaro and "The Octopus" +- Freelance reporter [[Danny Casolaro]] began investigating the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] in 1990 after being contacted by [[INSLAW]] founder [[Bill Hamilton]].[1] +- Casolaro believed the theft of [[PROMIS]] was connected to a sprawling criminal conspiracy he termed "[[The Octopus]]", involving: + - U.S. intelligence agencies, especially the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and [[National Security Agency|NSA]][1] + - International espionage and arms dealing[1] + - Organized crime and drug cartels, especially those involved in the [[Iran-Contra Affair]][1] + - Money laundering through [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]][1] + - Covert operations to manipulate foreign governments[1] +- Casolaro was working on a book entitled "Behold, A Pale Horse," which encompassed these interconnected events.[1] +- Casolaro [[Death of Danny Casolaro|died under suspicious circumstances]] in August 1991 while investigating leads related to [[The Octopus]] and [[PROMIS]].[1] +- His death was ruled a suicide, but family and friends suspect foul play and a cover-up, noting that his research files on [[PROMIS]] and [[The Octopus]] were missing from his hotel room.[1] + +## The "Backdoor" Theory and International Proliferation +- Numerous sources allege that U.S. intelligence agencies modified PROMIS with a secret [[backdoor]] before selling it to foreign governments and banks +- The backdoor allegedly allowed U.S. intelligence to surreptitiously access the databases of international PROMIS users and monitor their data in real-time +- [[Michael Riconosciuto]], a self-proclaimed computer expert with ties to U.S. intelligence agencies, claims he was tasked with modifying PROMIS with the backdoor and [[artificial intelligence]] capabilities +- Alleged international users of the backdoored PROMIS include: + - [[Israel]] + - [[Canada]] + - [[United Kingdom]] + - [[Australia]] + - [[South Korea]] + - [[Iraq]] + - [[Libya]] + - The [[Soviet Union]] and later [[Russia]] +- International banks alleged to have used the backdoored PROMIS include: + - [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] + - [[Banco Nazionale del Lavoro]] + - [[HSBC|Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC)]] + - [[UBS|Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS)]] + - [[Bank of America]] +- [[Mossad]], Israel's intelligence service, is alleged to have played a key role in the international distribution of PROMIS as a favor to the [[Reagan administration]] +- The backdoor would have essentially given U.S. intelligence agencies a window into the activities of foreign governments, banks, and international criminal and terrorist organizations +- The international proliferation of PROMIS, if true, represents an unprecedented breach of national sovereignty and privacy on a global scale + +## Later Developments and Continuing Mysteries +- In 1987, a federal bankruptcy court ruled that the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] had indeed "stolen" PROMIS from [[INSLAW]], but that ruling was later overturned on appeal +- Inslaw founder [[Bill Hamilton]] continues to maintain that PROMIS was fraudulently stolen from his company and distributed internationally, but has not been able to conclusively prove the [[backdoor]] theory in court +- In 1991, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee launched an investigation into the PROMIS affair, but its final report in 1992 was classified and its contents have never been fully revealed +- In 1995, the [[NSA]] filed an affidavit in the PROMIS bankruptcy case claiming that some unspecified "national security" interests would be at risk if the case were allowed to proceed +- Alleged [[PROMIS]] derivatives and successors continue to be sold and used internationally for intelligence and data mining, but their connection to the original stolen version remains unclear \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/Tower Commission.md b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/Tower Commission.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0785fc72 --- /dev/null +++ b/30 - PROGRAMS & PROJECTS/Tower Commission.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Program + - Project + - USA + - IranContra +--- +The [[Tower Commission]] was a presidential commission of inquiry established to investigate the [[Iran-Contra Affair]]. It was headed by former Senator [[John Tower]]. + +The commission's investigation focused on the years 1984 to 1986. Its conclusions were largely seen as a cover-up, as it declared that some individuals in the [[National Security Council]], interested in the release of hostages in [[Lebanon]], had tried to make a deal with the [[Iran|Iranians]], selling them 97 [[TOW missile]]s and some [[Hawk missile]]s. The commission made no mention of the ongoing original arms channel between [[Israel]] and [[Iran]], despite [[John Tower|Tower's]] inside knowledge of the weapons trade with [[Iran]].[^1] + +[[George Bush]] later nominated [[John Tower|Tower]] for defense secretary, but he was not confirmed by [[USA|Congress]] due to the controversy surrounding the commission's findings.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/Achille Lauro.md b/40 - EVENTS/Achille Lauro.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f5f9cf57 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/Achille Lauro.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Terrorism + - Italy +--- +The [[Achille Lauro]] was a cruise ship that was attacked in 1985. This event is described as an [[Israel|Israeli]] "black" propaganda operation designed to portray Palestinians as deadly and cutthroat.[^1] + +The operation was orchestrated by [[Rafi Eitan]], who passed instructions to [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah]]. [[Mohammed Radi Abdullah|Radi]] then relayed orders to [[Abul Abbas]], who was reportedly receiving millions from [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence officers posing as Sicilian dons. [[Abul Abbas|Abbas]] gathered a team to attack the cruise ship, with instructions to make the attack severe to show the world what would happen if Palestinian demands were not met.[^1] + +During the attack, an elderly [[USA|American]] Jewish man in a wheelchair was killed and his body thrown overboard. For [[Israel]], this was considered the best kind of anti-Palestinian propaganda.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/Bandung Conference.md b/40 - EVENTS/Bandung Conference.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3b399eb6 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/Bandung Conference.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Diplomacy + - Cold War +--- +The Bandung Conference was a meeting of Asian and African states, most of which were newly independent, held in Bandung, Indonesia, in April 1955. Egyptian leader [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]] attended this conference and received a promise from [[Chou En-lai]], the Chinese premier, for as many arms as [[Egypt]] could afford. This marked a significant step in Nasser's efforts to secure military aid from the Communist world.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/COLD_WAR_ERA/Moscow Signal.md b/40 - EVENTS/COLD_WAR_ERA/Moscow Signal.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8f692d67 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/COLD_WAR_ERA/Moscow Signal.md @@ -0,0 +1,23 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Moscow Signal +tags: + - event + - ColdWar + - technology + - intelligence +description: The Moscow Signal was a microwave beam directed at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow by the Soviet Union, suspected of being an electromagnetic weapon. +--- + +The [[Moscow Signal]] refers to a microwave beam directed at the [[U.S. Embassy in Moscow]] by the [[Soviet Union]] from 1956 to 1976. Discovered in 1962 by American military engineers, the signal was aimed primarily at the upper floors of the embassy, where the ambassador and top intelligence officials had their offices.[^1] + +Initially suspected as a new means of eavesdropping, further investigation revealed that the Soviets were using multiple frequencies to transmit widely fluctuating and irregularly patterned microwave beams. The signal, with a power density between 2.5 and 4.0 GHz, was code-named MUTS (Moscow Unidentified Technical Signal) and later MUTS-2 when a more powerful signal was detected in 1973.[^1] + +The [[United States]] suspected the Moscow Signal was an electromagnetic weapon designed to adversely affect the behavior and health of embassy personnel. This led to classified U.S. research programs, such as [[Project Pandora]], aimed at duplicating its effects and developing countermeasures. Studies on primates and later unwitting sailors exposed to similar microwave beams raised concerns about potential health hazards, including chromosomal damage and the development of Alzheimer's disease.[^1] + +Despite official denials and attempts to downplay its effects, the Moscow Signal became a public controversy in the mid-1970s, leading to lawsuits from embassy employees and further debate among scientists about the reality and dangers of electromagnetic weapons.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/Camp David summit.md b/40 - EVENTS/Camp David summit.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..99398f1b --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/Camp David summit.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Diplomacy + - Middle East +--- +Camp David summit was a series of meetings between Egyptian President [[Anwar Sadat]] and Israeli Prime Minister [[Menachem Begin]], facilitated by U.S. President [[Jimmy Carter]], in September 1978. The summit led to the [[Camp David Accords]], which were seen as a significant step towards peace in the [[Middle East]]. Some American intelligence officials suspected that Carter's decision to provide [[Israel]] with KH-11 satellite photographs was a reward for Begin's success at this summit.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 1. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/Dienbienphu.md b/40 - EVENTS/Dienbienphu.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a0a9d2d6 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/Dienbienphu.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Military + - Vietnam + - France +--- +Dienbienphu was a decisive battle in the First Indochina War, fought between the French Union's colonial forces and the Viet Minh (led by [[Ho Chi Minh]]) in 1954. The disastrous defeat of [[France]] at Dienbienphu contributed to a change in attitude among many French military men who had been skeptical of an independent nuclear deterrent. This defeat, coupled with the subsequent collapse of French colonialism in North Africa, made it clear that [[France]] could not depend on its [[NATO]] allies to protect purely French interests.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/Entebbe hijacking.md b/40 - EVENTS/Entebbe hijacking.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dd16a4f5 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/Entebbe hijacking.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Terrorism + - Uganda + - Israel +--- +The [[Entebbe hijacking]] occurred on June 27, 1976, when an [[Air France]] jet flying from [[Tel Aviv]] to [[Paris]] was hijacked by members of the [[Baader-Meinhof Group]]. The plane was diverted to [[Athens]] and then landed at [[Entebbe Airport]] in [[Uganda]]. Non-[[Israel|Israeli]] passengers were released, but [[Israel|Israeli]] and other passengers remained captive.[^1] + +[[Israel]] decided to mount a commando raid to rescue the passengers. [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] was part of a backup team, flying to [[Nairobi]] in an [[Air Force]] Boeing 707 to serve as a listening post. The raid was successful.[^1] + +Relations between [[Israel]] and [[Idi Amin]], then president of [[Uganda]], were strained at the time. [[Idi Amin|Amin]] had been installed in a military coup planned by former [[Israel|Israeli]] military attaché Col. Baruch Bar Lev, but relations deteriorated after [[Muammar Qaddafi|Col. Muammar Qaddafi]] of [[Libya]] promised money to black [[Africa|African]] nations if they cut ties with [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Afghanistan.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Afghanistan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..57879c71 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Afghanistan.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +[[Afghanistan]] is a country in Central [[Asia]] that was the site of a significant conflict involving the Soviet Union and the [[Mujahideen]]. It is also mentioned as one of the countries whose economies are dependent on the drug trade.[^1] + +### Soviet-Afghan War and Mujahideen Support + +[[Afghanistan]] was the focus of a worldwide support network for the [[Mujahideen]], the Afghanistan Resistance Movement against the [[Soviet Union|Soviets]]. This network involved figures like [[Ralph Olberg]] and [[Tim Osman]], who were instrumental in procuring [[United States|U.S.]] weapons and technology for the Mujahideen. Discussions included the Mujahideen's willingness to field test new and esoteric weapons and provide research reports with photos. The exchange of arms for drugs, with cocaine or heroin being used as payment for weapons.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] was involved in discussions about analyzing a Soviet-directed weapons system called "Blue Death," captured by the Afghan rebels, to help develop effective countermeasures. Plans also included a military joint venture in [[Turkey]] to produce specialized ammunition and a lobbying effort to legally obtain Stinger II missiles and their variants for the Mujahideen. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] was tasked with formulating a plan to sanitize the electronics of any Stingers at risk of Soviet capture.[^1] + +[[Ralph Olberg]]'s arms assistance project to the Afghan rebels was understood to be legally sanctioned, operating through the State Department and Senator Humphrey's office. However, there was a "turf battle problem" with certain factions of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and their group, MSH ([[Management Science For Health]]), who questioned whether Olberg and Osman's group truly represented the leadership of the Afghan rebel resistance.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Australia.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Australia.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ec567854 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Australia.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Australia]] is a country and continent in the Southern Hemisphere. It is mentioned in connection with [[Nugan Hand Bank]], which was an [[Australia|Australian]] bank co-founded by [[Michael Hand]] and [[Frank Nugan]]. This bank reportedly laundered profits from drug trafficking in the [[Golden Triangle]] and financed subversive paramilitary activities in Southeast [[Asia]]. The bank collapsed in 1980, $5 billion in debt, and [[Michael Hand]] disappeared from [[Australia]].[^1] + +[[Michael Hand]] reportedly fled [[Australia]] under a false identity on June 14, 1980, on a flight to [[Fiji]]. He was allegedly helped to escape by an American code-named "Charlie," identified as a former member of the [[United States Army Special Forces|U.S. Special Forces]] and ex-[[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operative. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed to have handled money transfers for Hand when he fled [[Australia]].[^1] + +[[Brian Toohey]], a top [[Australia|Australian]] journalist, reported in his *The Eye* magazine in 1991 that [[Michael Hand]] had a postal drop in Washington State, and his wife was reportedly living with him there.[^1] + +[[Robert Booth Nichols]] also listed [[Australia]] as one of his residences.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Austria.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Austria.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..81cf0865 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Austria.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Austria]] is a country in Central Europe. Its capital, Vienna, is home to the [[United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control|United Nations Fund for Drug Abuse Control]] (UNFDAC). The UNFDAC was a funding source for the purchase of computer software and hardware systems, including [[PROMIS]] software, by drug abuse control agencies in the Middle East.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Colombia.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Colombia.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..52929a09 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Colombia.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +[[Colombia]] is a country in [[South America]] that has been significantly impacted by drug trafficking, particularly through the operations of the [[Cali Drug Cartel]]. The country's political landscape has also been influenced by these illicit activities.[^1] + +### Drug Trafficking and Political Influence + +The [[Cali Drug Cartel]], led by figures like [[Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela|Gilberto Rodriguez]] and [[Jose Santacruz Londono|Jose Londono]], controlled a vast portion of the world's cocaine trade. The cartel's influence extended to the highest levels of Colombian government, with allegations that the newly elected president, [[Ernesto Samper Pizano]], accepted $3.7 million in campaign funds from [[Gilberto Rodriguez]], effectively aligning him with the drug lords.[^1] + +[[Michael Abbell]], a former [[United States Department of Justice|U.S. Department of Justice]] official, was indicted for laundering money for the [[Cali Drug Cartel]]. Surveillance reports indicated his frequent visits to [[Gilberto Rodriguez]]'s home in Bogota, [[Colombia]]. The law firm of Kaplan, Russin and Becchi, where Abbell worked after leaving the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]], had offices in Bogota.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that [[Robert Booth Nichols]] paid Abbell to "crowbar" the extradition of Cali Cartel leaders, as they were considered "intelligence people." This suggests a complex interplay between drug trafficking, intelligence operations, and political influence within [[Colombia]].[^1] + +### Financial Operations + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] also mentioned the "[[Workers Bank]]" in [[Colombia]] in the context of money laundering operations for the [[Wackenhut Corporation|Wackenhut]] people. He claimed to have set up "virtual dead-drops" for this bank, a method to circumvent ACH reconciliations on a daily basis, indicating sophisticated financial illicit activities originating from or passing through [[Colombia]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Cyprus.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Cyprus.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a865a5b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Cyprus.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +[[Cyprus]] is an island nation in the Eastern Mediterranean, off the coast of [[Lebanon]]. Its capital, Nicosia, became a significant location for various intelligence and drug trafficking operations, particularly during the 1980s.[^1] + +### Role in Drug and Intelligence Operations + +Nicosia, [[Cyprus]], served as a base for the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] and [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operations, notably through the [[Euramae Trading Company]]. This company, described as a [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]]/[[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] "front," was established in Nicosia by the Cypriot Police Narcotics Squad. It functioned as a transit point for heroin from the Bekaa Valley in [[Lebanon]], cash, documents, and bootleg computer software moving along the Beirut-Nicosia-U.S. pipeline. It was also intended as a meeting place for [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] and [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] agents with informants and clients, a message drop for [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] arms dealers supplying [[Iraq]] and the [[Mujahideen]] in [[Afghanistan]], and a waiting room for [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] confidential informants and couriers from [[Lebanon]].[^1] + +[[Michael T. Hurley]], the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] Country Attache in Nicosia, had overall responsibility for [[Euramae Trading Company]] and its initiative to sell [[PROMIS]] software to Middle Eastern countries for drug abuse control. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed to have handled communications protocol and financial transactions for operations in [[Lebanon]] from [[Cyprus]], including those involving [[Maurice Ghanem]] and [[George K. Pender]].[^1] + +[[Lester Coleman]], a [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] covert intelligence officer, worked in the office of [[Euramae Trading Company]] in Nicosia. He claimed that the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]], along with Cypriot, German, and British police, ran a "drug sting operation" code-named "Khourah" through [[Cyprus]] and airports in Europe, which involved delivering heroin from the Bekaa Valley to the [[United States]]. This operation allegedly used Pan Am Flight 103 as a "controlled delivery" flight, which later tragically exploded over Scotland.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Fiji.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Fiji.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2432f62a --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Fiji.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Fiji]] is an island nation in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean. [[Michael Hand]] reportedly fled [[Australia]] under a false identity on June 14, 1980, on a flight to [[Fiji]]. He was allegedly helped to escape by an American code-named "Charlie," identified as a former member of the [[United States Army Special Forces|U.S. Special Forces]] and ex-[[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operative.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Guatemala.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Guatemala.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4a55bbba --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Guatemala.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Guatemala]] is a country in Central [[America]]. It is mentioned in connection with political instability, military coups, and U.S. involvement in the region.[^1] + +[[General Ríos Montt]] became president of [[Guatemala]] in an army coup in March 1982. He was supported by the [[Ronald Reagan]] administration and aided by Full Gospel businessman [[John Carrette]]. Montt's military regime (1982–1983) was involved in severe atrocities during [[Guatemala]]'s 36-year civil war. Despite this, the [[Ronald Reagan]] administration continued its support, with [[Ronald Reagan]] praising Montt's integrity and commitment. In January 1983, Reagan agreed to sell [[Guatemala]] millions of dollars worth of helicopter spare parts without Congressional approval.[^1] + +Montt's extreme Christian fundamentalism eventually led to his ousting in another coup in August 1983 by General [[Oscar Mejia Victores]]. However, [[Ronald Reagan]] later pressured Congress to approve $300,000 in military training for the Guatemalan army.[^1] + +[[Jimmy Hughes]]' mother was a Christian missionary in [[Guatemala]]. Hughes also moved to [[Guatemala]] after leaving [[Los Angeles]] and before joining FGBMFI in [[Honduras]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Honduras.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Honduras.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bda25fa1 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Honduras.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +[[Honduras]] is a country in Central [[America]]. It has been a focal point for political instability, military operations, and the influence of various international actors, particularly in relation to drug trafficking and U.S. foreign policy.[^1] + +### 2009 Coup d'état + +On June 28, 2009, the president of [[Honduras]], [[Manuel Zelaya]], was ousted from his home in Tegucigalpa and exiled at gunpoint to [[Costa Rica]]. The Honduran Supreme Court reportedly ordered the military to detain the president, and the Honduran Congress formally removed Zelaya from the presidency, naming congressional leader [[Roberto Micheletti]] as his successor. The [[United States]] and other countries condemned the coup.[^1] + +The coup was allegedly designed by [[General Daniel Lopez Carballo]] and [[Romeo Vásquez Velásquez]], both friends of [[Jimmy Hughes]]. [[General Daniel Lopez Carballo]] justified the coup by stating that [[Venezuelan President]] [[Hugo Chávez]] would eventually be running [[Honduras]] by proxy if the military had not acted. Zelaya had been in the process of forming a friendship or alliance with [[Hugo Chávez]], who had reportedly formed an alliance with [[Iran]] and offered military support to [[Iran]] in the event of a war with the [[United States]].[^1] + +### U.S. Military Presence and Drug War + +The [[United States]] operates an airbase in [[Honduras]], the Soto Cano Air Base (commonly known as Palmerola Air Base), near Comayagua. This base is a joint Honduran and U.S. military facility. The [[United States]] has been expanding the infrastructure of the Soto Cano Air Base, which is used as a launching point for its war on drugs efforts in Central [[America]] as well as humanitarian aid missions throughout [[Honduras]] and Central [[America]].[^1] + +The Honduran Constitution does not permit a permanent foreign presence in [[Honduras]]. A "handshake" agreement between the [[United States]] and [[Honduras]] allows the U.S. military's Joint Task Force (JTF-Bravo) to remain on a "semi-permanent" basis. This agreement, an annex to the 1954 military assistance agreement, can be abrogated with little notice. [[Oliver North]] once used this air base as a base of operations for the [[Contras]] in the 1980s.[^1] + +### Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International (FGBMFI) Connections + +[[Jimmy Hughes]] Ministries, founded by [[Jimmy Hughes]], operates in Zambrano, [[Honduras]], where Hughes ministers to the military and trains military personnel. Hughes, [[General Daniel Lopez Carballo]], and [[Romeo Vásquez Velásquez]] were all members of FGBMFI. The influential FGBMFI has a history of strong military connections and wide-ranging effects on foreign policy in Central [[America]] under the [[Ronald Reagan]] administration.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Jordan.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Jordan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..099832fc --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Jordan.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Jordan]] is a country in the Middle East. Its capital, Amman, is home to the Arab Bank Limited. The Arab Bank Limited, under the leadership of Chairman and General Manager [[Abdul Majeed Shoman]], expressed willingness to cooperate with [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] concerning a fund to reconstruct [[Lebanon]]. The bank confirmed its capacity to handle a financial transaction of "US$ three billion or more" for this purpose, provided the conditions in [[Lebanon]] were clear and subject to the approval and counter guarantees of the Lebanese Authority.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Kuwait.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Kuwait.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..472ba4b3 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Kuwait.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Kuwait]] is a country in the Middle East. [[Lester Coleman]]'s affidavit states that the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] was using [[Euramae Trading Company]] to sell [[PROMIS]] software to drug abuse control agencies in various Middle Eastern countries, including [[Kuwait]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Laos.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Laos.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f113d37e --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Laos.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Laos]] is a country in Southeast [[Asia]]. It is mentioned in connection with the clandestine [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] war and drug trafficking activities in the [[Golden Triangle]].[^1] + +[[Michael Hand]], co-founder of [[Nugan Hand Bank]] and a highly decorated [[United States Army Special Forces|Special Forces Green Beret]] soldier, moved to the clandestine [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] war in [[Laos]] after his first stint in [[Vietnam]], according to [[Ted Shackley]], a former station chief in Indo-China.[^1] + +[[Bo Gritz]] staged several expeditions to [[Laos]] in search of missing POWs. During these expeditions, he reportedly stumbled upon a "massive drug network in Southeast [[Asia]]" that was intertwined with American POWs.[^1] + +[[Danny Casolaro]] was investigating [[Bo Gritz]]'s expose of [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] drug trafficking in the [[Golden Triangle]] and had requested to meet with a former police officer who had information on Laotian warlord [[Kuhn Sa]]'s Golden Triangle drug trade proposal to the [[United States]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Lebanon.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Lebanon.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..23e6aa47 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Lebanon.md @@ -0,0 +1,33 @@ +[[Lebanon]] is a country in the Middle East that has been a focal point for various international political, military, and illicit activities, particularly during the 1980s. Its strategic location and internal conflicts made it a significant area for intelligence operations, arms dealing, and drug trafficking.[^1] + +### Political and Military Landscape + +In 1982, [[Israel]] invaded [[Lebanon]] with the aim of crushing [[Palestine Liberation Organization|PLO]] strongholds and installing the Gamayel family in power. At this time, Tel-Aviv supported the ultra-right Christian Phalange militia. The Christian Phalangist militia was instrumental in introducing [[Lebanon]] into the heroin trade. The powerful Christian Gamayel family sought external support for money, weapons, and political backing, with the international heroin trafficking network being a primary source.[^1] + +Following the Israeli invasion, the Lebanese Parliament elected [[Bashir Gemayel]] to the presidency, who was reportedly on the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] payroll. However, Bashir was assassinated before taking office, and his brother, [[Amin Gamayel]], was subsequently installed as president.[^1] + +In 1990, an accord was reached that granted Christians and Muslims equal representation, officially ending the civil war. Under this accord, [[Syria]] maintained control of the Bekaa Valley, including notorious drug ports north of Beirut.[^1] + +### Drug Trafficking and Intelligence Operations + +[[Lebanon]] became a significant hub for drug trafficking, particularly heroin. The Bekaa Valley saw an explosion in heroin production under Syrian occupation, with Syrian forces reportedly profiting from and protecting the trade. Estimates suggested that up to $2 billion in protection money was paid annually by dope plantation operators to Syrian occupation forces. The Bekaa also served as a center for processing Colombian cartel cocaine for re-export to European markets.[^1] + +Various intelligence agencies and organizations were involved in [[Lebanon]]'s drug trade: + +* **[[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]:** This company, reportedly a [[National Security Council|NSC]] cutout, was involved in [[Lebanon]] to arrange the release of a prisoner and discussed a multi-billion dollar financial transaction for the country's reconstruction. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] had a companion company, Euramae Trading, which operated throughout the Middle East and was involved in the drug trade as an [[National Security Council|NSC]]-directed operation.[^1] +* **[[Euramae Trading Company]]:** Described as a [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]]/[[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] "front" in Nicosia, [[Cyprus]], Euramae was a transit point for heroin, cash, documents, and bootleg computer software moving along the Beirut-Nicosia-U.S. pipeline. [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed to have handled communications protocol and financial transactions for operations in [[Lebanon]], including those involving [[Maurice Ghanem]] and [[George K. Pender]].[^1] +* **U.S. Government Presence:** The [[United States Government|U.S. government]]'s presence in [[Lebanon]] was significant. [[Lester Coleman]], a [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] covert intelligence officer, ran a network of agents in Beirut to find American hostages. He claimed that the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]], along with Cypriot, German, and British police, ran a "drug sting operation" code-named "Khourah" that involved delivering heroin from the Bekaa Valley to the [[United States]]. This operation allegedly used Pan Am Flight 103 as a "controlled delivery" flight, which later tragically exploded over Scotland.[^1] +* **Syrian Involvement:** [[Syria]]'s president [[Hafez al-Assad]] closed ranks with the [[White House]] after Desert Storm, and [[Syria]] maintained control of the Bekaa Valley, including drug ports. Allegations surfaced that [[Monzer Al-Kassar]], a Syrian kingpin and arms dealer, provided [[Oliver North]] with drug profits to purchase arms for the [[Contras]].[^1] + +### Key Individuals and Events + +* **[[Amin Gamayel]]:** President of [[Lebanon]] who received a letter from [[George K. Pender]] of [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]] regarding reconstruction efforts.[^1] +* **[[Maurice Ghanem]]:** A figure involved in meetings concerning [[First Intercontinental Development Corporation|FIDCO]]'s participation in the redevelopment of [[Lebanon]], and under whom [[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed to have worked.[^1] +* **[[Michael T. Hurley]]:** [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] Country Attache in Nicosia, [[Cyprus]], who had overall responsibility for Euramae Trading Company and its initiative to sell [[PROMIS]] software to Middle Eastern countries.[^1] +* **[[Werner Tony Asmar]]:** A German Lebanese intelligence agent who worked with [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] and was killed in a bomb explosion in Beirut after getting involved in the alleged drug operation.[^1] +* **[[Ian Stuart Spiro]]:** Lived in Beirut during the 1970s and 1980s, making contacts with Lebanese religious leaders and the Islamic Jihad. His death was linked to a spy network and the [[Iran-Contra Affair]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Liechtenstein.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Liechtenstein.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..55599387 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Liechtenstein.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Liechtenstein]] is a small, landlocked country in Central Europe, known for its financial services. [[Adnan Khashoggi]] established front companies in [[Switzerland]] and [[Liechtenstein]] to handle his commissions.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Pakistan.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Pakistan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f34b6c61 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Pakistan.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Pakistan]] is a country in South [[Asia]]. It is mentioned in connection with the assembly of 107 MM rockets and their launchers at a facility known as the Pakistan Ordinance Works. This was part of a plan formulated by [[Michael Riconosciuto]] to reconfigure Chinese 107 MM rockets into a backpack-portable effective artillery counter battery system for the [[Mujahideen]] in [[Afghanistan]].[^1] + +[[Lester Coleman]]'s affidavit also states that the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] was using [[Euramae Trading Company]] to sell [[PROMIS]] software to drug abuse control agencies in various Middle Eastern countries, including [[Pakistan]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Panama Canal.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Panama Canal.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1f567119 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Panama Canal.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +The [[Panama Canal]] is a vital waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In 1977, the [[Jimmy Carter]] administration was determined to sign a treaty regarding the Panama Canal with [[General Torrijos]]. This determination reportedly influenced the administration's reluctance to pursue Torrijos, despite his and his family members' alleged involvement at the highest levels of the world cocaine trade.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Philippines.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Philippines.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0bf70d6c --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Philippines.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +The [[Philippines]] is an archipelago nation in Southeast [[Asia]]. It is mentioned in the context of [[Ignacio Paz]], the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence in the Philippine government, who was assisted by [[Robert Booth Nichols]] in removing large sums of money from the [[Philippines]] by investing with Nichols, who placed the money in Swiss bank accounts.[^1] + +[[Art Suchesk]], a friend of [[Allan Boyak]] and a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] proprietary company runner, repeatedly encountered [[Robert Booth Nichols]] in the [[Philippines]], among other locations, after the Los Angeles [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] dropped its interest in Nichols.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Singapore.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Singapore.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..67b87063 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Singapore.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +[[Singapore]] is a city-state and island country in Southeast [[Asia]]. It is mentioned in connection with [[Patrick Moriarty]] and [[Bo Gritz]], as Moriarty paid Gritz to make business trips to [[China]], [[Singapore]], and other parts of [[Asia]]. Gritz claimed his July 1989 trip to [[Asia]] was to negotiate an oil interest he and Moriarty had set up between the [[People's Republic of China]] and [[Indonesia]].[^1] + +[[Art Suchesk]], a friend of [[Allan Boyak]] and a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] proprietary company runner, repeatedly encountered [[Robert Booth Nichols]] in [[Singapore]], the [[Philippines]], and [[Taiwan]] over a two-year period after the Los Angeles [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] dropped its interest in Nichols.[^1] + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that [[Robert Booth Nichols]] wanted to receive the set-up of their end offshore in [[Singapore]], including $20 million in cash, and to use certain technology overseas, namely in [[Australia]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Switzerland.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Switzerland.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2f954e76 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Switzerland.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Switzerland]] is a country in Europe known for its banking system. [[Adnan Khashoggi]] established front companies in [[Switzerland]] and [[Liechtenstein]] to handle his commissions. In 1988, Khashoggi was arrested in [[Switzerland]], accused of concealing funds, held for three months, and then extradited to the [[United States]].[^1] + +[[Robert Booth Nichols]] had an office in Zurich, [[Switzerland]]. [[Art Suchesk]], a friend of [[Allan Boyak]] and a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] proprietary company runner, was based out of Zurich, [[Switzerland]], during a period when he repeatedly encountered [[Robert Booth Nichols]] in various international locations.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Syria.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Syria.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..67aa2d93 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Syria.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ +[[Syria]] is a country in the Middle East that has been significantly involved in the regional drug trade and political conflicts. Its president, [[Hafez al-Assad]], played a role in regional politics and alliances.[^1] + +### Drug Trade and Political Influence + +[[Syria]] maintained control of the Bekaa Valley in [[Lebanon]], a major heroin-producing area, after the Lebanese civil war. Syrian occupation forces reportedly profited from and protected the drug trade, with estimates suggesting up to $2 billion in protection money was paid annually by dope plantation operators. The Bekaa also became a center for processing Colombian cartel cocaine for re-export to European markets. In 1988, two Syrians arrested with large quantities of heroin and coke in Milan, [[Italy]], claimed to be working for a Syrian colonel in Bekaa.[^1] + +There were long-standing back-channel relations between Washington D.C. and Damascus. A 1987 [[United States Department of Defense|Pentagon]] memo indicated that [[Oliver North]] was personally notified that Syrian intelligence in [[Lebanon]] was willing to negotiate with the [[White House]] for the release of hostages held by Lebanese terrorists. President [[George Bush]] himself reportedly made secret visits to Damascus for hostage negotiations.[^1] + +After Desert Storm, [[Hafez al-Assad]] closed ranks with the [[White House]] and softened his stance against [[Israel]]. President [[George Bush]] and Secretary of State [[James Baker]] encouraged [[Syria]] and [[Israel]] to recognize each other's Lebanese occupation zones. Under a 1990 accord, [[Syria]] maintained control of the Bekaa Valley, including notorious drug ports north of Beirut.[^1] + +### Connections to Pan Am Flight 103 + +[[Syria]] was implicated in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. The private investigative firm [[Interfor]] claimed that the [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command|PFLP-GC]] was behind the bombing and that the flight was part of a heroin smuggling route connected to the Syrian regime and protected by both the [[United States Drug Enforcement Administration|U.S. DEA]] and the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. [[Monzer Al-Kassar]], a Syrian kingpin and arms dealer, was alleged to oversee this ring. The [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] was reportedly protecting Al-Kassar's operation due to his cooperation in freeing U.S. hostages in [[Lebanon]].[^1] + +Allegations suggested that the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and [[United States Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] instructed [[Germany]]'s internal intelligence agency, the [[BKA]], to allow certain suitcases to pass uninspected onto U.S.-bound flights at the Frankfurt airport. A suitcase intended for heroin was covertly substituted with explosives by the [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command|PFLP-GC]] and [[Monzer Al-Kassar]]. In 1990, when the [[White House]] sought [[Syria]] as a partner in the Allied coalition, blame for the Pan Am bombing shifted from [[Syria]] to [[Libya]].[^1] + +### Other Connections + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]]'s affidavit stated that the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] was using [[Euramae Trading Company]] to sell [[PROMIS]] software to drug abuse control agencies in various Middle Eastern countries, including [[Syria]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Taiwan.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Taiwan.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c3f00805 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Taiwan.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Taiwan]] is an island nation in East [[Asia]]. It is mentioned in connection with [[Art Suchesk]], a friend of [[Allan Boyak]] and a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] proprietary company runner. Suchesk repeatedly encountered [[Robert Booth Nichols]] in [[Taiwan]], among other locations, over a two-year period after the Los Angeles [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] dropped its interest in Nichols.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Turkey.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Turkey.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..539a0172 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Turkey.md @@ -0,0 +1,8 @@ +[[Turkey]] is a country that was discussed in the context of a military joint venture to produce specialized ammunition. This discussion took place between [[Ted Gunderson]], [[Ralph Olberg]], [[Tim Osman]], and [[Michael Riconosciuto]] in early 1986, as part of a worldwide support network for the [[Mujahideen]] in [[Afghanistan]].[^1] + +[[Lester Coleman]]'s affidavit also states that the [[Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] was using [[Euramae Trading Company]] to sell [[PROMIS]] software to drug abuse control agencies in various Middle Eastern countries, including [[Turkey]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Venezuela.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Venezuela.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..992e76e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Venezuela.md @@ -0,0 +1,6 @@ +[[Venezuela]] is a country in [[South America]]. Its president, [[Hugo Chávez]], was a close ally of [[Manuel Zelaya]], the ousted president of [[Honduras]]. Chávez stated he would consider it an "act of war" if there were hostilities against his diplomats and put the armed forces of [[Venezuela]] on alert. Chávez reportedly had close ties to [[Iran]] and offered military support to [[Iran]] in the event of a war with the [[United States]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Vietnam.md b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Vietnam.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1d6f6aa3 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/GEOPOLITICAL_ENTITIES/Vietnam.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +[[Vietnam]] was the site of a protracted conflict involving the [[United States]] and other international powers. It is mentioned in connection with several individuals who served there and later became involved in covert operations and intelligence activities.[^1] + +[[Michael Hand]], co-founder of [[Nugan Hand Bank]], was a highly decorated [[United States Army Special Forces|Special Forces Green Beret]] soldier in [[Vietnam]]. After his first stint in [[Vietnam]], Hand moved to the clandestine [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] war in [[Laos]].[^1] + +[[Bo Gritz]] was also a highly decorated [[United States Army Special Forces|Green Beret]] in [[Vietnam]]. Both Gritz and Hand had special knowledge of intelligence operations in the [[Golden Triangle]].[^1] + +[[Robert Booth Nichols]] was reportedly in [[Vietnam]], working for a wealthy U.S. businessman in the private sector.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/Geneva Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy.md b/40 - EVENTS/Geneva Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3b48662a --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/Geneva Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Nuclear + - Diplomacy +--- +The Geneva Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy was a major international scientific conference held in [[Geneva]] in 1955. More than fifteen hundred delegates from seventy nations, including [[Israel]], whose delegation was led by [[Ernst David Bergmann]], took part. [[Lewis L. Strauss]] publicly joined the Israeli delegation in prayer during this conference, despite his private feelings about Zionism.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 7. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/HISTORICAL_PHENOMENA/Extraordinary Powers Craze.md b/40 - EVENTS/HISTORICAL_PHENOMENA/Extraordinary Powers Craze.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..285397d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/HISTORICAL_PHENOMENA/Extraordinary Powers Craze.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Extraordinary Powers Craze +tags: + - event + - China + - psi +description: The Extraordinary Powers Craze was a period of intense interest in paranormal phenomena in China during the late 1970s and early 1980s. +--- + +The [[Extraordinary Powers Craze]] was a period of intense interest in paranormal phenomena in [[China]] during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was sparked by a 1979 newspaper article about a twelve-year-old boy named Tang Yu who could allegedly read with his ears.[^1] + +This event led to a nationwide fascination with [[Extraordinary Human Body Function]] (EHBF), with numerous reports of children and adults demonstrating psychic abilities such as [[ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis]]. The Chinese government, influenced by the scientist [[Qian Xuesen]], officially sanctioned research into these phenomena, leading to the establishment of research institutes and a surge in the practice of [[qigong]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/Iran-Contra Affair.md b/40 - EVENTS/Iran-Contra Affair.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..919706c5 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/Iran-Contra Affair.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +The [[Iran-Contra Affair]] was a political scandal in the [[United States]] that came to light between 1985 and 1987. This complex event involved the secret sale of arms to [[Iran]] by the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] administration. In exchange for these arms, American hostages held in [[Lebanon]] were to be released. The profits generated from these clandestine arms sales were then illegally diverted to fund the [[Contras]], a right-wing rebel group operating in [[Nicaragua]], circumventing a congressional ban on such aid.[^1] + +Several key figures were implicated in the affair. [[Oliver North]], a Lieutenant Colonel in the [[United States Marine Corps]], emerged as a central figure. He was alleged to have received drug profits from [[Monzer Al-Kassar]], a Syrian kingpin and arms dealer, which were then used to purchase arms for the [[Contras]]. The [[United States]] Tower Commission probe into Iran-gate specifically revealed that Al-Kassar had been paid $1.2 million by North's co-conspirator, General [[Richard Secord]], to facilitate the movement of weapons from [[Israel]] to the [[Contras]].[^1] + +[[Adnan Khashoggi]], an international arms merchant, and [[Manucher Ghorbanifar]], an Iranian arms dealer, served as crucial middlemen in the arms-for-hostages exchange. Khashoggi was found to have borrowed money for these arms purchases from the now-bankrupt [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]], with financial backing from Saudi and U.S. sources. [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], a self-proclaimed Israeli military intelligence officer, played a role in exposing the scandal by tipping off an obscure Lebanese magazine. Furthermore, [[Barbara Honegger]], a former [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] [[White House]] aide, alleged in her book *October Surprise* that [[Monzer Al-Kassar]]'s heroin smuggling network in [[Italy]] was utilized to launder [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|NATO]] arms stocks, diverting them to [[Iran]] with the assistance of corrupt Italian intelligence officials linked to the secretive fascist Masonic lodge, P2.[^1] + +The [[Iran-Contra Affair]] was a significant component of [[Danny Casolaro]]'s broader "[[The Octopus]]" investigation. Casolaro believed that this scandal was deeply interconnected with the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] and the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] scandal. He obtained documents related to Iran-Contra arms deals, including photocopies of checks drawn on [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International|BCCI]] accounts for [[Adnan Khashoggi]] and [[Manucher Ghorbanifar]], from his confidante [[Bob Bickel]]. Bickel, in turn, had acquired these documents from [[October Surprise]] source [[Richard Brenneke]]. The name of [[Ian Stuart Spiro]] also appeared in [[Oliver North]]'s personal notebooks documenting the [[Iran-Contra Affair]], and Spiro's death was subsequently linked to a spy network and the affair itself.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/Iranian Revolution.md b/40 - EVENTS/Iranian Revolution.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..14837f23 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/Iranian Revolution.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Iran + - Politics +--- +Iranian Revolution refers to the popular uprising in [[Iran]] that led to the overthrow of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in February 1979. The [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] had provided upbeat predictions that the Shah would manage to cling to power, despite a trenchant analysis from [[Uri Lubrani]], a former Israeli ambassador to Iran, in 1978, which stated that the Shah would not survive. The CIA's embarrassingly inept reporting on Iran forced the American leadership to turn once again to Israeli help in trying to anticipate world events.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 1. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/KEY EVENTS.md b/40 - EVENTS/KEY EVENTS.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..edde2bd3 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/KEY EVENTS.md @@ -0,0 +1,32 @@ +--- +tags: + - MOC + - META +--- +This Map of Content (MOC) highlights the most significant events within The Info Web, focusing on those that profoundly impacted the narrative of paranormal research, intelligence operations, and the unfolding of hidden histories. + +# Military Operations & Conflicts + +# Military Operations & Conflicts + +- [[40 - EVENTS/Achille Lauro|Achille Lauro]] - A 1985 cruise ship attack described as an Israeli "black" propaganda operation. +- [[40 - EVENTS/Munich Olympic Massacre|Munich Olympic Massacre]] - The 1972 attack on Israeli Olympic athletes by Black September, leading to retaliatory actions. +- [[Entebbe hijacking]] - A 1976 hijacking of an Air France jet that led to a daring Israeli commando raid to rescue hostages. + +# Cold War Era +*Events specifically tied to the Cold War period and its unique geopolitical context.* + +- [[COLD_WAR_ERA/Moscow Signal|Moscow Signal]] - A microwave beam directed at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow by the Soviet Union, suspected of being an electromagnetic weapon that caused health issues and spurred U.S. research into psychotronics. + +# Modern Incidents +*Recent, contemporary events, particularly those related to domestic and international security.* + +- [[MODERN_INCIDENTS/Cybertruck Trump Hotel Bombing|Cybertruck Trump Hotel Bombing]] - A recent act of alleged domestic terrorism involving a U.S. Army Special Ops soldier, whose manifesto linked the event to government cover-ups of UAP technology and war crimes. +- [[MODERN_INCIDENTS/New Orleans Truck Attack|New Orleans Truck Attack]] - A recent act of terrorism involving a vehicle and firearms, highlighting the ongoing threat of domestic extremism and its potential connections to broader narratives. +- [[MODERN_INCIDENTS/FBI Seizes Largest Ever Explosive Cache|FBI Seizes Largest Ever Explosive Cache]] - A significant domestic law enforcement event revealing a large cache of explosives and extremist views, underscoring the volatile intersection of radical ideologies and potential violence. +- [[40 - EVENTS/Lockheed bribe scandal|Lockheed bribe scandal]] - A 1976 scandal involving bribes paid by Lockheed Aircraft Company to Israeli Defense Minister Shimon Peres, which was covered up. + +# Historical Phenomena +*Broader historical events that highlight the long-standing nature of certain phenomena, even if not directly tied to Cold War intelligence.* + +- [[HISTORICAL_PHENOMENA/Extraordinary Powers Craze|Extraordinary Powers Craze]] - A period of intense interest in paranormal phenomena in China, sparked by reports of children with psychic abilities, which led to government-sanctioned research into "Extraordinary Human Body Function." diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/Lavon Affair.md b/40 - EVENTS/Lavon Affair.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..17a6c225 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/Lavon Affair.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Israel + - Egypt + - Scandal +--- +The Lavon Affair was a covert Israeli operation in [[Egypt]] in mid-1954, involving an Israeli spy ring that bombed and sabotaged American, British, and Egyptian targets. The goal of these bombings was to derail pending British and American negotiations and possible rapprochement with the [[Gamal Abdel Nasser|Nasser]] government, aiming to keep [[Egypt]] isolated from Western powers.[^1] + +An internal Israeli investigation was unable to determine who had given the order for the sabotage activities. [[Moshe Sharett]], who had not known of the operation, accepted [[Pinhas Lavon]]'s resignation in January 1955. The affair resurfaced as a major scandal in the early 1960s, with new revelations suggesting that low-level officials in the defense ministry might have falsified documents and given misleading testimony to accuse Lavon of authorizing the operation. Lavon, then head of the [[Histadrut]], publicly charged that [[David Ben-Gurion]], [[Shimon Peres]], and [[Moshe Dayan]] had undermined civilian authority over the military, leaking his allegations to the press and breaking cardinal rules of Israeli politics.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3, 9. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/Lockheed bribe scandal.md b/40 - EVENTS/Lockheed bribe scandal.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b837af5c --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/Lockheed bribe scandal.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Scandal + - Israel + - USA +--- +The [[Lockheed bribe scandal]] refers to a series of bribery incidents involving the [[Lockheed Aircraft Company]]. In [[Israel]], a specific instance of this scandal came to light in 1976 through an intercepted telegram.[^1] + +[[Ari Ben-Menashe]], while serving as a duty officer in [[Unit 8200]], intercepted a telegram from the [[Iran|Iranian]] Embassy in [[Ramat Gan]] to [[Tehran]]. This telegram detailed a meeting between an [[Lockheed Aircraft Company|Lockheed]] representative in [[Israel]] and [[Shimon Peres]], then Defense Minister, revealing a bribe of $3.5 million deposited into one of [[Shimon Peres|Peres's]] brother's business accounts in [[Europe]].[^1] + +Despite the explosive nature of this information, it was covered up by [[Israel|Israeli]] military intelligence superiors, including [[Yoel Ben-Porat|Col. Yoel Ben-Porat]] and [[Sasson Yishaek|Lt. Col. Sasson Yishaek]]. The original telegram, its translation, and related logs were ordered to be erased, and the young woman working with [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] was transferred to another unit. No public disclosure or inquiry was ever made regarding [[Israel|Israel's]] involvement in the scandal.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Arab-Israeli War (1948-1949).md b/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Arab-Israeli War (1948-1949).md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..97b0d4cc --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Arab-Israeli War (1948-1949).md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Conflict + - Middle East +--- +The Arab-Israeli War (1948-1949) refers to the conflict that began after the end of the British Mandate for Palestine and the declaration of the State of [[Israel]] in May 1948. This war resulted in [[Israel]]'s victory and the creation of the Palestinian refugee problem in the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip]]. The [[United Nations]] approved Resolution 194 after the war, directing that the refugees had to be given the option of returning to [[Israel]] if they wished to do so.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 8. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Korean War.md b/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Korean War.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e9165e88 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Korean War.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Conflict + - Cold War +--- +The Korean War was a conflict that began in 1950, involving North Korea (supported by China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (supported by the United Nations, primarily the United States). During this period, the [[United States]] was preoccupied with the war, as well as economic and social conditions in Europe, and the political battle with the [[Soviet Union]].[^1] + +[[Israel]] publicly supported the American position in the Korean War. [[David Ben-Gurion]] even secretly offered to send Israeli troops to fight alongside the [[United Nations]] forces in South Korea, but President [[Harry S. Truman]] declined the offer, reportedly fearing it would lead to a security arrangement with [[Israel]]. Israel's stance on the Korean War, however, angered [[Moscow]] and led to a rupture in diplomatic relations between the two nations.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Six-Day War.md b/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Six-Day War.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e0e6d7cb --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Six-Day War.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Conflict + - Middle East +--- +The Six-Day War was a conflict fought between [[Israel]] and a coalition of Arab states (primarily [[Egypt]], [[Syria]], and [[Jordan]]) from June 5 to June 10, 1967. [[Israel]] launched a preemptive strike against the increasing Arab buildup in the [[Sinai]] and achieved a stunning victory, humiliating the Soviet-supplied Arabs and seizing [[Egypt]]'s [[Sinai Peninsula]], the [[Gaza Strip]], [[Jordan]]'s [[West Bank]], and [[Syria]]'s [[Golan Heights]]. The war also resulted in the Old City of [[Jerusalem]] coming under Jewish control.[^1] + +Following the war, [[Charles de Gaulle]] responded by accusing [[Israel]] of being the aggressor and canceling all of [[France]]'s arms sales to [[Israel]], abrogating twelve years of close French support. He also delayed the pending shipment of fifty previously purchased Mirage III jet fighters.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 12, 13. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Suez Crisis.md b/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Suez Crisis.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..83f4cb79 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Suez Crisis.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Conflict + - Middle East +--- +The Suez Crisis, also known as the Second Arab–Israeli War or the Sinai War, was an invasion of [[Egypt]] in late 1956 by [[Israel]], followed by [[France]] and the [[United Kingdom]]. The invasion aimed to regain Western control of the [[Suez Canal]] and remove Egyptian President [[Gamal Abdel Nasser]] from power, who had nationalized the canal in July 1956.[^1] + +[[Israel]]'s immediate tactical goal in the war was to destroy the Egyptian Army and its ability to support and train the growing Palestinian fedayeen movement. The strategic goal was to destroy Nasser's ability to achieve Arab unity. The battle plan involved [[Israel]] initiating the attack, followed by demands from [[France]] and [[Britain]] for a halt to hostilities and withdrawal from the [[Suez Canal]], creating a buffer zone. When [[Egypt]] refused, [[France]] and [[England]] would launch assaults to occupy the canal.[^1] + +The battle plan went better than scheduled for [[Israel]], which stormed through the Egyptian Army and captured all of the [[Sinai]] by November 4. However, the intervention of the [[Soviet Union]], which issued a nuclear ultimatum to [[David Ben-Gurion]], [[Guy Mollet]], and [[Anthony Eden]], forced [[Britain]] and [[France]] to cease firing. [[Israel]], deserted by its two allies, was forced to agree to a cease-fire and the eventual deployment of a [[United Nations]] peacekeeping force in the [[Sinai]].[^1] + +The Israelis were disappointed by the French and enraged by [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]], who, they believed, had betrayed them. For [[David Ben-Gurion]], the lesson was clear: the Jewish community in [[America]] was unable to save [[Israel]]. This event solidified the conviction among some Israelis that they could not rely on external powers for their security, reinforcing the drive for an independent nuclear deterrent.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Suez War.md b/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Suez War.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a2048e59 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Suez War.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Conflict + - Middle East +--- +The Suez War refers to the 1956 conflict involving [[Israel]], [[France]], and the [[United Kingdom]] against [[Egypt]]. The battle plan called for [[Israel]] to initiate the attack on October 29, sending paratroopers into the [[Sinai]] and destroying [[Egypt]]'s ability to operate from [[Gaza]]. [[France]] and [[Britain]] would then demand that both sides halt hostilities and withdraw ten miles from the [[Suez Canal]], creating a buffer zone. When the Egyptians refused, [[France]] and [[England]] would launch bombing and airborne assaults on November 6 to neutralize and occupy the canal.[^1] + +The battle plan went much better than scheduled for [[Israel]], which stormed through the Egyptian Army and had captured all of the [[Sinai]] by November 4. However, the intervention of the [[Soviet Union]], which issued what was perceived in [[Israel]] to be a nuclear ultimatum to [[David Ben-Gurion]], [[Guy Mollet]], and [[Anthony Eden]], forced [[Britain]] and [[France]] to cease firing. [[Israel]], deserted by its two allies, was forced a few days later to agree to a cease-fire and the eventual deployment of the [[United Nations]]' peacekeeping force in the [[Sinai]].[^1] + +The Israelis were disappointed by the French and enraged by [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]], who, so Ben-Gurion had believed, would never turn away from supporting [[Israel]] in the weeks before the presidential elections. For [[David Ben-Gurion]], the lesson was clear: the Jewish community in [[America]] was unable to save [[Israel]]. This event solidified the conviction among some Israelis that they could not rely on external powers for their security, reinforcing the drive for an independent nuclear deterrent.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/War of Independence.md b/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/War of Independence.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e2aa378d --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/War of Independence.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Conflict + - Israel +--- +The War of Independence, also known as the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, was fought in 1948 following the end of the British Mandate for Palestine. [[Israel]]'s successful outcome in this war led to the establishment of the State of [[Israel]]. After this conflict, [[Ernst David Bergmann]] became widely known in the international scientific community as a brilliant organic chemist and director of the chemistry division at the [[Weizmann Institute of Science]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Yom Kippur War.md b/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Yom Kippur War.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..11b67f2f --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/MAJOR_CONFLICTS/Yom Kippur War.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Conflict + - Middle East +--- +The Yom Kippur War, also known as the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, began on Saturday, October 6, 1973, when [[Egypt]] attacked across the [[Sinai]] and [[Syria]] invaded the [[Golan Heights]]. The initial days of the war were a stunning rout for [[Israel]], with significant losses in tanks and aircraft. Egyptian forces breached the Bar-Lev defense line in the [[Sinai]], and Syrian forces advanced to the edge of [[Galilee]].[^1] + +In response to the desperate situation, [[Israel]] called its first nuclear alert and began arming its nuclear arsenal. This alert was used to pressure [[Washington D.C.]] into a major policy change, specifically demanding an emergency airlift of replacement arms and ammunition. The Israeli leadership, including [[Golda Meir]] and [[Moshe Dayan]], resolved to implement three critical decisions: rally collapsing forces for a counterattack, arm and target its nuclear arsenal for the [[Samson Option]] in case of total collapse, and inform [[Washington D.C.]] of its nuclear action to demand resupply.[^1] + +The initial target list for the nuclear weapons included Egyptian and Syrian military headquarters near [[Cairo]] and [[Damascus]]. While no weapons were targeted on the [[Soviet Union]], it was understood that the Soviets would quickly learn of the nuclear arming. The arming of nuclear weapons also served the purpose of forcing the [[United States]] to begin a massive resupply of the Israeli military, as the Israeli cabinet was enraged by what they perceived as an American strategy of delaying resupply to facilitate land-for-peace bargaining.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/MODERN_INCIDENTS/Cybertruck Trump Hotel Bombing.md b/40 - EVENTS/MODERN_INCIDENTS/Cybertruck Trump Hotel Bombing.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2eca5187 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/MODERN_INCIDENTS/Cybertruck Trump Hotel Bombing.md @@ -0,0 +1,69 @@ +--- +created: 2025-01-03 +updated: 2025-01-04 +title: Cybertruck Trump Hotel Bombing +tags: + - terrorism + - " military" + - " conspiracy" +description: A U.S. Army Special Ops soldier detonated a Tesla Cybertruck filled with explosives near the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, injuring seven. The suspect left a manifesto alleging government cover-ups and war crimes, claiming the act was a 'wake-up call.' The FBI is investigating it as a potential terrorist act. +--- +On January 1, 2025, active duty [[U.S. Army]] [[Special Operations Group|Special Ops Soldier]] [[Matthew Livelsberger]] parked a Tesla Cybertruck in front of the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas in Paradise, Nevada. The truck was filled with firework mortars and gas canisters and was detonated at approximately 8:39am injuring seven bystanders.[^1] Livelsberger allegedly shot himself in the head seconds before the explosion. The [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] is still deciding whether to classify this as an [[act of terrorism]]. +## Detailed Timeline +- The truck was rented in Colorado using [[Turo]] on December 28[^2]. Livelsberger texted a girlfriend that he felt like batman or “halo.” +- December 30, Livelsberger drove to Monument, Colorado and purchased two handguns +- December 31, Livelsberger drove through and charged at Trinidad, CO; Las Vegas, NM; Albuquerque, NM; and Gallup, NM. +- January 1, the truck is charged in Holbrook, Flagstaff, and Kingman, AZ (the last charge at 5:33 AM). +- 7:29 AM The Cybertruck is first spotted in Las Vegas +- 7:34 AM The Cybertruck is seen turning on to Fashion Show Drive, the location of the Trump International Hotel. +- Between 7:34 and 8:35 AM The Cybertruck pulled through the valet at the Trump hotel, then spent the next hour driving at several different locations along Las Vegas Boulevard. The truck spent nearly 45 minutes in the parking lot of a business near Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road. +- 8:35 AM The Cybertruck is spotted pulling onto Las Vegas Boulevard from Sands Avenue. +- 8:39 AM The Cybertruck again pulls into the valet area of Trump hotel. Within 17 seconds, the truck explodes. +- Livelsberger allegedly shot themselves in the head immediately before the detonation +## Additional Details +One rifle and one handgun (a Desert Eagle) were found in the vehicle.[^6] + +Authorities recovered two cellphones, a laptop, and notes[^3] from one of those devices. One note was titled “surveillance log” and detailed activity from Dec 21 to New Year’s. +> “Fellow servicemembers, Veterans, and all Americans. TIME TO WAKE UP! We are being led by weak and feckless [sic] leadership who only serve to enrich themselves.”[^7] + +A second note stated in part: + +> "We are the United States of America, the best country ... to ever exist, but right now, we are terminally ill and headed towards collapse," the letter said. "This was not a terrorist attack. It was a wake up call. Americans only pay attention to spectacles and violence. What better way to get my point across than a stunt with fireworks and explosives. ... I need to cleanse my mind of the brothers I’ve lost, and relieve myself of the burden of the lives I took." [^3] + +The vehicle was allegedly never in self driving mode[^7] +## “Manifesto” +Livelsberger allegedly sent a “manifesto” to [[Sam Shoemate]] (@samosaur) on December 31, 2024[^4] alleging, among other things, that the [[New Jersey Drones|NJ Drones]] are Chinese [[anti-gravitic]] devices, that the United States also possesses this technology, that he is aware of war crimes committed in 2019 by the United States, and that he has TSSCI with [[UAP]] [[Special Access Programs|USAP]] access. +### “Manifesto” Text + +^5630d3 + +> In case I do not make it to my decision point or on to the Mexico border I am sending this now. Please do not release this until 1JAN and keep my identity private until then. + +> First off I am not under duress or hostile influence or control. My first car was a 2006 Black Ford Mustang V6 for verification. + +> What we have been seeing with "drones" is the operational use of gravitic propulsion systems powered aircraft by most recently China in the east coast, but throughout history, the US. Only we and China have this capability. Our OPCEN location for this activity in the box is below. + +> China has been launching them from the Atlantic from submarines for years, but this activity recently has picked up. As of now, it is just a show of force and they are using it similar to how they used the balloon for sigint and isr, which are also part of the integrated comms system. There are dozens of those balloons in the air at any given time. + +> The so what is because of the speed and stealth of these unmanned AC, they are the most dangerous threat to national security that has ever existed. They basically have an unlimited payload capacity and can park it over the WH if they wanted. It's checkmate. + +> USG needs to give the history of this, how we are employing it and weaponizing it, how China is employing them and what the way forward is. China is poised to attack anywhere in the east coast + +> I've been followed for over a week now from likely homeland or FBI, and they are looking to move on me and are unlikely going to let me cross into Mexico, but won't because they know I am armed and I have a massive VBIED. I've been trying to maintain a very visible profile and have kept my phone and they are definitely digitally tracking me. + +> I have knowledge of this program and also war crimes that were covered up during airstrikes in Nimruz province [[Afghanistan War|Afghanistan]] in 2019 by the admin, [[Department of Defense|DoD]], [[Drug Enforcement Agency|DEA]] and [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. I conducted targeting for these strikes of over 125 buildings (65 were struck because of CIVCAS) that killed hundreds of civilians in a single day. USFORA continued strikes after spotting civilians on initial ISR, it was supposed to take 6 minutes and scramble all aircraft in [[CENTCOM]]. The UN basically called these war crimes, but the administration made them disappear. I was part of that cover-up with USFORA and Agent [redacted] of the DEA. So I don't know if my abduction attempt is related to either. I worked with GEN Millers IO staff on this as well as the response to Bala Murghab. AOB-S Commander at the time [redacted] can validate this. + +> You need to elevate this to the media so we avoid a world war because this is a mutually assured destruction situation. + +> For vetting my LinkedIn is Matt Berg or Matthew Livelsberger, an active duty 18Z out of 1-10 my profile is public. I have an active TSSCI with UAP USAP access.[^5] + +The “box below” comment refers to a pin dropped on Google Maps near Lincoln County, NV at 37.2475372, -115.8155235[^8] ([Google Earth Link](https://earth.google.com/web/search/37%2e2475372,+-115%2e8155235/@37.2475372,-115.81552349,1354.56239459a,656.55298892d,35y,0h,0t,0r/data=CmAaMhIsGY5FiUyvn0JAIaVneokx9FzAKhgzNy4yNDc1MzcyLCAtMTE1LjgxNTUyMzUYAiABIiYKJAkJ_i20GaZCQBFG45X9UppCQBkeJs7mBOxcwCFBBNxVhPpcwEICCAE6AwoBMEICCABKDQj___________8BEAA)) which is a specific building at [[Groom Lake]] aka Homey Airport (KXTA) aka [[Area 51]]. +# Footnotes +[^1]: [Fireworks, gas tanks and camping fuel used in Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside Las Vegas Trump Hotel](https://archive.is/nxAPd) +[^2]: [Cybertruck explosion timeline: What was vehicle's path to Las Vegas?](https://archive.is/yMUC0) +[^3]: [Soldier who died in Cybertruck left writing criticizing government, authorities say](https://archive.is/oahMf) +[^4]: [Tweet by @samosaur](https://archive.is/BLh0q) +[^5]: [manifesto posted by @ShawnRyan762](https://archive.is/e2UZA) +[^6]: [Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion investigators piece together suspect's final hours](https://archive.is/GxiYr) +[^7]: [ ‘TIME TO WAKE UP!’ Tesla Cybertruck driver left messages before Las Vegas bombing](https://archive.is/VC7Pp) +[^8]: [coordinates](https://archive.is/6iV4v) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/MODERN_INCIDENTS/FBI Seizes Largest Ever Explosive Cache.md b/40 - EVENTS/MODERN_INCIDENTS/FBI Seizes Largest Ever Explosive Cache.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c45343e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/MODERN_INCIDENTS/FBI Seizes Largest Ever Explosive Cache.md @@ -0,0 +1,24 @@ +--- +created: 2025-01-04 +updated: 2025-01-04 +title: FBI Seizes Largest Ever Explosive Cache +tags: + - FBI + - Explosives Cache + - Extremism +description: The FBI seized the largest explosives cache in its history from Brad Kenneth Spafford's Virginia farm, including 150+ pipe bombs, a rifle, and unstable chemicals. A confidential source revealed Spafford's extremist views and plans for violence, leading to his arrest after a year-long investigation. +--- +On January 1, 2025, the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] announced they seized the "largest explosives cache in FBI history." + +The FBI found more than 150 homemade pipe bombs and a short barrel rifle during a December 30, 2024 raid on [[Brad Kenneth Spafford]]'s farm in Isle of Wight County in Virginia.[^1] + +Most of the weapons were found in a detached garage that also contained homemade fuses. A notebook contained lists of explosives and recipes for making HMTD, C4, grenades, etc. There was also a vest preloaded with pipe bombs and a homemade mortar. + +In his freezer they found a jar of HMTD, a highly unstable easy to make chemical used for amateur blasting caps, etc. + +A confidential human source (CHS) first tipped off the FBI in 2023 when they witnessed Spafford firing at a target of President Biden with an unregistered short barrel rifle and discussing how we need more political assassinations and that the government was kidnapping children and training them to be school shooters. The CHS kept in contact with Spafford through 2024 and received memes, etc endorsing violence that the CHS also provided to the FBI. + +This culminated in October 2024 when the CHS visited Spafford's newly purchased farm while wearing a wire. The CHS was able to get Spafford to state he had the SBR and would not register it, that he had HMTD, ETN (a secondary explosive), and that he was going to fortify his property with a 50 caliber turret mounted gun. +# Footnotes + +[^1]: [UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. BRAD KENNETH SPAFFORD](https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.vaed.564917/gov.uscourts.vaed.564917.18.0_1.pdf) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/MODERN_INCIDENTS/New Orleans Truck Attack.md b/40 - EVENTS/MODERN_INCIDENTS/New Orleans Truck Attack.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c221a411 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/MODERN_INCIDENTS/New Orleans Truck Attack.md @@ -0,0 +1,29 @@ +--- +created: 2025-01-03 +updated: 2025-01-03 +title: New Orleans Truck Attack +tags: + - terrorism + - mass shooting + - vehicle attack +description: On January 1, 2025, Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove a rented truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, New Orleans, firing an AR-style rifle. He killed 15 people, injured 35, and was later killed by police. The FBI declared it an act of terrorism. Pipe bombs and ISIS ties were also discovered. +--- +On January 1, 2025 at approximately 3:15 am, [[Shamsud-Din Jabbar]] bypassed police barriers with a rented Ford F-150 Lightning (electric vehicle). He proceeded to drive for three blocks into dozens of people along Bourbon Street in New Orleans while firing with an AR style rifle. He eventually crashed into a boom lift and engaged law enforcement with fire striking two officers before being killed in return fire. 15 people, including Jabbar, were killed and ~35 others were injured (primarily via the truck, one person died from a gunshot wound). + +The [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] declared the event an [[act of terrorism]]. + +## Additional Details +- Truck was rented on December 30, 2024 in Houston, Texas via [[Turo]] +- Jabbar drove to New Orleans on the evening of December 31, 2024. +- He stayed in an airbnb in St. Roch at 1329 Mandeville Street that caught on fire early Jan 1[^1] +- New Orleans police had removed bollards which “were being repaired” in preparation for the Sugarbowl (scheduled for Jan 1).[^5] +- Jabbar had an ISIS flag mounted on the back of his truck.[^5] +## Weapons +Two pipe bombs were found in coolers in the French Quarter a few blocks from the attack (Bourbon St and Orleans St and Bourbon between Tolouse and St peter). Allgedly they were rigged for remote detonation with a wireless remote found in the truck.[^2] +Jabbar used or had on him an AR style rifle with a homemade suppressor and a handgun.[^3] +# Footnotes + +[^1]: [Fire at St. Roch rental may be connected to mass casualty Bourbon Street attack, sources say](https://archive.is/XzFA6) +[^2]: [Islamic State-inspired driver expressed desire to kill before deadly New Orleans rampage, Biden says](https://archive.is/6V9is) +[^3]: [10 killed on Bourbon Street in New Orleans after suspect intentionally slams truck into crowd; dozens injured](https://archive.is/B6eFa) +[^5]: [At least 10 killed in New Orleans after driver intentionally rams into crowd on Bourbon Street](https://archive.is/EYCVr) \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/Munich Olympic Massacre.md b/40 - EVENTS/Munich Olympic Massacre.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0b1c8361 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/Munich Olympic Massacre.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Terrorism + - Germany + - Israel +--- +The [[Munich Olympic Massacre]] refers to the attack that took place during the 1972 Summer Olympics in [[Munich]], [[West Germany]], where 11 [[Israel|Israeli]] Olympic team members were taken hostage and eventually killed by the Palestinian terrorist group [[Black September]].[^1] + +In the aftermath of this massacre, a battle raged in [[Europe]] between [[Mossad]] agents and [[Black September]], with both sides engaging in retaliatory killings.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/October Surprise.md b/40 - EVENTS/October Surprise.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..332bfe2d --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/October Surprise.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +The [[October Surprise]] refers to a conspiracy theory alleging that [[Ronald Reagan]]'s presidential campaign secretly negotiated with [[Iran]] to delay the release of American hostages held in [[Iran]] until after the 1980 [[USA|U.S.]] presidential election. This alleged delay was intended to prevent President [[Jimmy Carter]] from gaining an "October Surprise" boost in popularity that could have secured his re-election.[^1] + +[[Gary Sick]], a former [[Jimmy Carter|Carter]] administration adviser on [[Iran]], published his book *October Surprise*, which systematically sifts through the evidence that convinced him the [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] camp and [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini|Khomeini]] did actually make a secret deal.[^2] + +### Connections to PROMIS Software Scandal + +[[Michael Riconosciuto]] claimed that he and [[Earl Brian]] traveled to [[Iran]] in 1980 and paid $40 million to Iranian officials to persuade them not to release the hostages before [[Ronald Reagan]]'s inauguration. This allegation directly linked the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] to the [[October Surprise]] affair, creating a "domino effect" in [[Washington D.C.]] and leading to numerous investigations and media attention.[^1] + +[[Danny Casolaro]] was investigating the [[October Surprise]] as part of his broader "[[The Octopus]]" probe, believing it was connected to the alleged theft of the [[INSLAW]] computer program, [[PROMIS]]. [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], a self-proclaimed [[Israel|Israeli]] military intelligence officer, claimed that two [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] agents from [[Lexington]], [[Kentucky]], were disaffected because their superiors had refused to indict high [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] officials for their role in the [[October Surprise]].[^1] + +[[Barbara Honegger]], a former [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] [[White House]] aide, authored a book titled *October Surprise*, in which she alleged that [[Monzer Al-Kassar|Al-Kassar's]] heroin smuggling network in [[Italy]] was used to launder [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|NATO]] arms stocks for diversion to [[Iran]], with the help of corrupt [[Italy|Italian]] intelligence officials linked to the secretive fascist Masonic lodge, P2.[^1] + +### Investigations + +Both the [[USA|U.S.]] [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] and the [[USA|U.S.]] [[United States Senate|Senate]] began looking into the [[October Surprise]]. The full [[United States Senate|Senate]] voted down a formal investigation, but the [[Senate Foreign Relations Committee]] decided to hold limited hearings on the arms-for-hostages deal. The [[United States House of Representatives|House]], however, funded a full-scale [[October Surprise Task Force]], whose chief counsel was [[E. Lawrence Barcella, Jr.]], to investigate [[Gary Sick|Sick's]] and [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] allegations, among others.[^2] + +An interim report issued by the [[October Surprise Task Force]] chairman, [[Lee Hamilton]], on June 30, 1992, concluded that [[George Bush]] was in the [[USA|United States]] continuously during the October 18-22 time period and did not travel to [[Paris]], [[France]], to participate in the alleged secret meeting. This conclusion was drawn despite the report's assertions that it had interviewed only about 50 out of some 150 potential witnesses and had obtained only a small fraction of the documents it was seeking. [[Lee Hamilton|Hamilton]] stated that "all credible evidence" led to the conclusion that [[George Bush]] was not in [[Paris]].[^2] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. +[^2]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/Osirak bombing.md b/40 - EVENTS/Osirak bombing.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f8bb2dda --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/Osirak bombing.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Military + - Israel + - Iraq +--- +Osirak bombing refers to the Israeli air strike on the Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak, twelve miles southeast of Baghdad, on June 7, 1981. The raid was carried out by Israeli F-16s, which had been authorized for purchase by [[Israel]] in 1975 for "defensive purposes only."[^1] + +Upon learning of the bombing, U.S. President [[Ronald Reagan]] privately expressed delight, remarking, "Well. Boys will be boys." Despite this, the [[State Department]] formally condemned the bombing, and some of Reagan's high command, including [[Caspar Weinberger]] and [[George H.W. Bush]], proposed sanctions against [[Israel]]. However, the suspension of F-16 deliveries was lifted two months later.[^1] + +Within [[Israel]], the bombing was controversial. [[Yitzhak Hofi]], the director of [[Mossad]], and Major General [[Yehoshua Saguy]], chief of military intelligence, both opposed the attack, primarily because there was no evidence that [[Iraq]] was yet capable of building a bomb. [[Yigael Yadin]], the deputy prime minister, also dissented. Saguy argued that the adverse reaction in [[Washington D.C.]] would be a more serious national security threat to [[Israel]] than the Iraqi reactor. Prime Minister [[Menachem Begin]], however, was buoyed by the success and unilaterally announced the Israeli coup, defending the operation by stating that another Holocaust would have occurred if the reactor had not been destroyed.[^1] + +Begin also made a controversial statement at a British diplomatic reception, claiming that the Israeli planes had destroyed a secret underground facility at Osirak intended for the assembly of Iraqi nuclear bombs. Israeli officials knew this description was not of a facility in [[Iraq]], but rather of a secret underground facility in [[Israel]] at [[Dimona]]. They attempted to downplay his remarks by stating he had misspoken and that the facility was only four meters deep.[^1] + +Following the bombing, [[Ariel Sharon]] concluded that the [[United States]] was not a reliable strategic ally. He then turned to a clandestine Israeli intelligence agency under his defense ministry, which began intercepting intelligence on the [[Middle East]] and [[Soviet Union]] from sensitive American agencies.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 1. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/Pan Am Flight 103.md b/40 - EVENTS/Pan Am Flight 103.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..94572049 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/Pan Am Flight 103.md @@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ +Pan Am Flight 103 was a passenger flight that exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. The incident became a focal point for investigations into international terrorism, drug trafficking, and intelligence operations.[^1] + +### Allegations of Drug Smuggling and Intelligence Cover + +Pan Am Flight 103 was allegedly part of a heroin smuggling route run by a drug trafficking ring connected to the Syrian regime and protected by both the [[United States Drug Enforcement Administration|U.S. DEA]] and the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]. The private investigative firm Interfor, hired by Pan Am, claimed that the Syrian-backed [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command|PFLP-GC]] was behind the bombing. Interfor also alleged that the ring was overseen by Syrian kingpin [[Monzer Al-Kassar]], known as a major arms dealer, and that the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] was protecting Al-Kassar's operation because he was cooperating with efforts to free U.S. hostages in [[Lebanon]].[^1] + +According to allegations, the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and [[United States Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] instructed Germany's internal intelligence agency, the BKA, to allow certain suitcases to pass uninspected onto U.S.-bound flights at the Frankfurt airport, where Flight 103 originated. Unbeknownst to all but the [[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command|PFLP-GC]] and Al-Kassar, a suitcase intended for heroin was covertly substituted with explosives.[^1] + +### "Controlled Delivery" Operation + +The [[United States Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]] admitted that a protection program, code-named "[[Khourah]]," existed. [[Ronald Caffrey]], acting assistant administrator of the operational division of the [[United States Drug Enforcement Administration|DEA]], stated that this was a "controlled delivery" operation. In such operations, a law enforcement agency permits and monitors shipments of contraband to identify and arrest high-ranking members of trafficking organizations rather than just low-level couriers.[^1] + +### Aftermath and Shifting Blame + +Pan Am argued in court that it was a pawn of an international intelligence operation but lost the case and was forced into bankruptcy. In 1990, as the [[White House]] sought to align [[Syria]] as a partner in the Allied coalition, blame for the bombing shifted from [[Syria]] to [[Libya]], where it largely remains.[^1] + +Two senior members of the [[Middle East Collection 10]] (MC-10) cell, [[Matthew Kevin Gannon]] and Major [[Charles Dennis McKee]], were on Pan Am Flight 103, having just returned from a mission in Beirut. After the explosion, the Beirut end of MC-10 was reportedly "blown."[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/Paris Summit Meeting.md b/40 - EVENTS/Paris Summit Meeting.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e62625f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/Paris Summit Meeting.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Diplomacy + - Cold War +--- +The Paris Summit Meeting was scheduled for a few weeks after the [[U-2 Incident]] in May 1960, but was ruined by [[Nikita Khrushchev]]'s rage at the incident, which caught the White House in a series of lies. This event led [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] to order an end to all reconnaissance flights over [[Russia]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 6. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/Queen's Accident.md b/40 - EVENTS/Queen's Accident.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7a5a5f07 --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/Queen's Accident.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +The [[Queen's Accident]] refers to a head-on collision that occurred on March 5, 1983, in the Yosemite National Park foothills, involving a Mariposa County Sheriff's vehicle and a Secret Service car. The accident took place while scouting Queen Elizabeth II's motorcade route, approximately 25 minutes ahead of her motorcade. Three Secret Service agents, [[George P. LaBarge]], [[Donald Robinson]], and [[Donald A. Bejcek]], were killed in the collision. Mariposa County Sheriff's Sergeant [[Roderick Sinclair]], who was driving, sustained broken ribs and a fractured knee, while his partner, Deputy [[Rod McKean]], was also present.[^1] + +### Circumstances and Cover-up Allegations + +Allegations surfaced that [[Roderick Sinclair]] had been heavily drugged on the day of the accident, receiving large daily doses of Demerol prescribed by [[Dr. Arthur Dahlem]]. Nurses at Fremont Hospital, where Sinclair was initially treated, and some former deputies corroborated this. Assistant [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] [[James White]] in Fresno attempted to investigate Sinclair's drug use, ordering Dahlem's files seized. However, [[United States District Court|U.S. District Court]] Judge [[Robert E. Coyle]] intervened, ordering White to drop the criminal investigation, claiming Sinclair's drug problem was irrelevant and drug records inadmissible because no blood tests were taken at the hospital. Despite this, blood tests had been taken but later disappeared.[^1] + +In the subsequent civil trial, Judge [[Robert E. Coyle]] ruled both Sinclair and the deceased Secret Service agents at fault, ordering Mariposa County to pay 70 percent of the claim. Ironically, Sinclair was later promoted to Commander of the Mariposa Sheriff's Department. The original [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]] report on the accident was reportedly sent to the [[California Attorney General's Office|State Attorney General's office]] ([[John Van de Kamp]]), who allegedly ordered it "discarded." [[Bruce Eckerson]], the Mariposa County District Attorney who owned stock in [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] Entertainment Corporation, was then appointed to submit a new report. All [[California Highway Patrol|CHP]] officers involved in the original investigation either resigned, were transferred, or fired, as did [[James White]] himself after the alleged cover-up.[^1] + +Deputy [[Rod Cusic]] stated he was "told by [[Roderick Sinclair]] to lie to a Grand Jury" about Sinclair's drug addiction and the accident, a disclosure he made to the Fresno [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]. Cusic also witnessed a booby-trapped incendiary device explode at Sinclair's home. A 1984 civil trial revealed Sinclair's vehicle contained "a myriad of automatic weapons including a booby-trapped bomb" at the time of the collision.[^1] + +### Subsequent Investigations and Connections + +Years later, a CBS television executive and [[Ron Williams]], a Secret Service agent whose best friend was killed in the accident, sought [[Cheri Seymour]]'s help to investigate the incident. [[Don Thrasher]], a producer for ABC News 20/20, also investigated, corroborating details about [[Roderick Sinclair]]'s background, including his father's military service under [[Douglas MacArthur]] and Sinclair's own alleged work in Army C.I.D.[^1] + +The [[Queen's Accident]] became a key element in the broader investigation into corruption in Mariposa County, as highlighted by [[Jerry Goldberg]]'s reporting for *Capitol News Service* and the efforts of [[D.I.G. (Decency in Government)|D.I.G.]].[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/Sabra and Shatila massacres.md b/40 - EVENTS/Sabra and Shatila massacres.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..714f489f --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/Sabra and Shatila massacres.md @@ -0,0 +1,28 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Conflict + - Lebanon + - Israel +--- +The [[Sabra and Shatila massacres]] occurred on September 16 and 17, 1982, in the [[Sabra and Shatila refugee camps]] in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]]. The massacres were carried out by [[Lebanese Christian militias]] (Phalangists) while the camps were surrounded by [[Israel|Israeli]] troops. + +### Sharon's Lebanon Invasion Plan + +[[Ariel Sharon]]'s plan for the invasion of [[Lebanon]] involved the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] serving as an anti-Syrian blocking force while its Lebanese Christian allies, the Phalangists, cleaned out the city of [[Palestine Liberation Organization|PLO]] followers. However, the Phalangists failed to move, and the Israeli Air Force was called upon to begin the bombing of [[Beirut]]. Instead of victory, there was impasse, as five hundred Israeli soldiers were killed along with more than ten thousand Palestinians and Lebanese, some in the shocking massacre at the Palestinian refugee camps in Sabra and Shatila.[^2] + +### Advance Warning and Israeli Knowledge + +According to [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], [[Ariel Sharon]], then [[Israel|Israeli]] Defense Minister, was aware in advance that the massacres were likely to happen. A letter from [[Pierre Gemayel]], leader of the Christian forces, to Sharon indicated an intention to seek revenge for the assassination of his son, [[Bashir Gemayel]], and that many Palestinians would die. This letter was delivered to Sharon's office and read by [[Moshe Hebroni]] and [[Yehoshua Sagi|Sagi]].[^1] + +### Israeli Military Role + +Despite this foreknowledge, [[Israel|Israeli]] troops allowed the Phalangist forces into the camps and sealed off the area, preventing Palestinians from escaping. A commission of inquiry, headed by Supreme Court Justice [[Yitzhak Kahan]], found that while the [[Israel|Israeli]] government was not directly involved, it was warned and took no action to prevent the tragedy. The full report of the commission, though highly classified, indicated that Sharon had seen the warning letter.[^1] + +### Political Consequences + +As a result of the inquiry, [[Yehoshua Sagi|Maj. Gen. Sagi]] was removed from his position, and [[Ariel Sharon]] was forced to resign as Defense Minister, replaced by [[Moshe Arens]]. [[Moshe Hebroni]] was allowed a three-month period as head of branch in the External Relations Department, during which he could remove any incriminating documentation.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. _Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network_. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") [^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. _The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy_. Random House, 1991. Chapter 21. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/U-2 Incident.md b/40 - EVENTS/U-2 Incident.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e75974aa --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/U-2 Incident.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Cold War + - Espionage +--- +The [[U-2 Spy Plane|U-2]] Incident refers to the shooting down of an American U-2 spy plane over the [[Soviet Union]] on May 1, 1960. The incident, involving pilot [[Gary Francis Powers]], caused a major international crisis and led to the ruin of [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]]'s Paris summit meeting scheduled for a few weeks later. It also prompted Eisenhower to order an end to all reconnaissance flights over [[Russia]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4, 6. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/40 - EVENTS/USS Liberty Incident.md b/40 - EVENTS/USS Liberty Incident.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..64f188fc --- /dev/null +++ b/40 - EVENTS/USS Liberty Incident.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +--- +tags: + - Event + - Military + - USA + - Israel +--- +The USS Liberty Incident refers to the attack on the U.S. Navy intelligence ship USS Liberty by Israeli forces on June 8, 1967, the third day of the [[Six-Day War]]. The Liberty, flying the American flag, had been monitoring [[Middle East]] communications traffic in international waters off the coast of [[Israel]] and had been identified as an American ship before the attack. The incident resulted in the deaths of thirty-four American servicemen and wounded 171 others.[^1] + +[[Walworth Barbour]], the American ambassador to [[Israel]], urged [[Washington D.C.]] to downplay the incident, reporting that [[Israel]] did not intend to admit to it and suggesting that publicity could feed Arab suspicions of U.S.-Israel collusion. He noted that the Israelis were "obviously shocked by error and tender sincere apologies."[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 12. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ADVANCED_HUMAN_TECHNOLOGY/Extraordinary Human Body Function.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ADVANCED_HUMAN_TECHNOLOGY/Extraordinary Human Body Function.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..72381fdb --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ADVANCED_HUMAN_TECHNOLOGY/Extraordinary Human Body Function.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Extraordinary Human Body Function +tags: + - concept + - psi + - China +description: Extraordinary Human Body Function (EHBF) is a term used in China to describe a range of paranormal abilities, including ESP and psychokinesis. +--- + +[[Extraordinary Human Body Function]] (EHBF) is a term used in [[China]] to describe a range of paranormal abilities, including [[ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis]]. The term gained prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s during the "Extraordinary Powers Craze," which was sparked by reports of a young boy named Tang Yu who could allegedly read with his ears.[^1] + +The Chinese government, under the influence of the scientist [[Qian Xuesen]], officially sanctioned research into EHBF, viewing it as a new frontier of science with potential military applications. This led to the establishment of numerous research institutes and a surge in the study of [[qigong]] and other practices believed to enhance these abilities.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ADVANCED_HUMAN_TECHNOLOGY/Human Potential.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ADVANCED_HUMAN_TECHNOLOGY/Human Potential.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..685f3163 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ADVANCED_HUMAN_TECHNOLOGY/Human Potential.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Human Potential +tags: + - concept + - psychology + - philosophy +description: Human potential refers to the inherent capabilities and untapped resources believed to exist within all individuals, often explored through various self-improvement and consciousness-expanding practices. +--- + +[[Human Potential]] refers to the inherent capabilities and untapped resources believed to exist within all individuals. This concept gained prominence in American counterculture since the early 1960s, with programs like EST (Erhard Seminars Training) and other practices ranging from Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to information-coded biofeedback.[^1] + +In the context of psychic research, the idea of human potential was explored as a possible explanation for [[Psi|psychic]] abilities. The belief was that [[ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis]] might be latent in all people and could be brought out through specific training and practices. This concept was particularly influential in the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], where the Army sought to train its own personnel in [[Remote Viewing]], believing that these abilities could be developed rather than being innate.[^1] + +The Chinese government's interest in [[Extraordinary Human Body Function]] (EHBF) also aligns with the concept of human potential, as they viewed these abilities as biological functions that could be cultivated through practices like [[qigong]]. The U.S. military's interest in human potential was stimulated by the perceived threat from the Chinese, leading to efforts to advance human potential as a means of gaining superiority over the enemy.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ADVANCED_HUMAN_TECHNOLOGY/Mind Projection.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ADVANCED_HUMAN_TECHNOLOGY/Mind Projection.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..99b47097 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ADVANCED_HUMAN_TECHNOLOGY/Mind Projection.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Mind Projection +tags: + - concept + - psi + - telepathy +description: Mind projection is a claimed psychic ability where an individual can influence or implant thoughts into another person's mind. +--- + +[[Mind Projection]] is a claimed [[Psi|psychic]] ability where an individual can influence or implant thoughts into another person's mind. In the context of the *Phenomena* text, [[Uri Geller]] was believed by [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] analysts to possess this unique ability, whereby he could "force" researchers to name a city he had previously written down with a high degree of accuracy.[^1] + +This concept raised national security concerns for the CIA, as the ability to influence a person's thoughts could potentially be used to manipulate their actions. The CIA implemented stricter controls during Geller's experiments to guard against any potential trickery or external influence, including strip-downs and X-rays.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ADVANCED_HUMAN_TECHNOLOGY/Psychotronic Weapons.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ADVANCED_HUMAN_TECHNOLOGY/Psychotronic Weapons.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5799b0e0 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ADVANCED_HUMAN_TECHNOLOGY/Psychotronic Weapons.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Psychotronic Weapons +tags: + - concept + - technology + - military + - SovietUnion +description: Psychotronic weapons are a theoretical class of electromagnetic weapons, described in Soviet science journals, designed to influence or degrade human behavior and cognition. +--- + +[[Psychotronic Weapons]] are a theoretical class of electromagnetic weapons, described in [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] science journals, designed to influence or degrade human behavior and cognition. The term emerged from the Soviet nomenclature around [[ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis]], which was rewritten to sound technical and sever ties with the occult past of [[Parapsychology]].[^1] + +These weapons were described as involving "the generation of high-penetrating emission of non-biological origin." U.S. intelligence analysts were initially baffled by the concept, but later understood that these weapons were part of a broader Soviet effort to explore the psycho-physiological effects of microwave emissions, stemming from captured [[Ahnenerbe]] research.[^1] + +In the Soviet laboratories, if [[ESP]] and long-distance telepathic communications were proven to be scientific fact, they would be classified as augmented perception and cognition in humans. Electromagnetic weapons, which are designed to degrade or destroy perception and cognition in humans, would be useful countermeasures. The [[Moscow Signal]], a microwave beam aimed at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, was suspected by the U.S. to be an early form of such a weapon.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ADVANCED_HUMAN_TECHNOLOGY/Synthetic Telepathy.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ADVANCED_HUMAN_TECHNOLOGY/Synthetic Telepathy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e4e78f0b --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ADVANCED_HUMAN_TECHNOLOGY/Synthetic Telepathy.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Synthetic Telepathy +tags: + - concept + - technology + - military + - psi +description: Synthetic telepathy, also known as the Frey effect, is a technology that allows the brain to receive messages perceived as voice transmissions through microwave input signals. +--- + +[[Synthetic Telepathy]], also known as the [[Frey Effect]], is a technology discovered by [[Allan H. Frey]] in 1961. It involves using microwave input signals to allow the brain to receive messages that are perceived as voice transmissions, without any auditory input. This phenomenon suggests a direct interaction between electromagnetic energy and the human nervous system.[^1] + +Frey's research demonstrated that living organisms are complex electrochemical systems that can be influenced by electromagnetic energy. He showed that by synchronizing the pulse rate of a microwave beam with a frog's heart, he could speed up, slow down, or even stop the heart. This raised concerns about the potential for [[Psychotronic Weapons]] to affect human physiology and behavior.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Aura.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Aura.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..88840057 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Aura.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Aura +tags: + - concept + - paranormal + - energy +description: An aura is a supposed emanation of energy or light surrounding a person or object, believed by some to be a manifestation of their life force or spiritual essence. +--- + +An [[Aura]] is a supposed emanation of energy or light surrounding a person or object, believed by some to be a manifestation of their life force or spiritual essence. The concept of auras is often associated with spiritual and metaphysical traditions, and has been explored in the context of [[Parapsychology]].[^1] + +[[Kirlian Photography]] was believed by some to be able to capture images of auras, suggesting a physical manifestation of this energy. [[Dale Graff]]'s 1977 report, "[[Paraphysics R&D - Warsaw Pact]]," discussed Soviet research into auras as part of their broader investigation into paranormal phenomena.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Backster Effect.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Backster Effect.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6c5cb0b4 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Backster Effect.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Backster Effect +tags: + - concept + - parapsychology + - plantconsciousness +description: The Backster Effect is a controversial theory proposing that plants exhibit a form of consciousness and can respond to human thoughts and emotions. +--- + +The [[Backster Effect]] is a controversial theory proposed by [[Cleve Backster]], a former [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] polygraph expert. It suggests that plants exhibit a form of consciousness and can respond to human thoughts and emotions, as well as to events occurring in their environment, even at a distance.[^1] + +Backster's experiments involved attaching polygraph electrodes to plants and observing their responses to various stimuli, such as the intention to harm them. He claimed that the plants showed measurable reactions, which he interpreted as evidence of a "primary perception" in plant life. While widely criticized by mainstream scientists for lacking scientific rigor and repeatability, the concept gained popular attention through the bestselling book *The Secret Life of Plants*.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Cryptomnesia.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Cryptomnesia.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ac5e45cd --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Cryptomnesia.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Cryptomnesia +tags: + - concept + - psychology +description: Cryptomnesia is a phenomenon where a forgotten memory reappears without being recognized as such by the subject, who believes it is a new and original thought. +--- + +[[Cryptomnesia]] is a phenomenon where a forgotten memory reappears without being recognized as such by the subject, who believes it is a new and original thought. It is a form of unconscious plagiarism, where information previously encountered is mistakenly attributed to one's own creative thought.[^1] + +The term was coined by the psychology professor [[Théodore Flournoy]] in his study of the medium Hélène Smith, who claimed to channel historical figures and speak in unknown languages. Flournoy believed that the content produced during her séances came from her "subliminal imagination, derived largely from forgotten sources."[^1] + +Cryptomnesia has been used as a defense in high-profile plagiarism cases, such as those involving Helen Keller and Friedrich Nietzsche, suggesting that the brain is capable of astonishing feats of memory, even if unconsciously.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Dowsing.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Dowsing.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..42d4ab1c --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Dowsing.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Dowsing +tags: + - concept + - divination + - psi +description: Dowsing is a divinatory practice used to locate water, minerals, or other hidden objects using a divining rod or pendulum. +--- + +[[Dowsing]] is a divinatory practice used to locate water, minerals, or other hidden objects using a divining rod, usually a forked twig, but also a pendulum or one's hand. It is an ancient practice, with drawings of men with divining rods found in prehistoric cave paintings dating back to 6000 BC.[^1] + +In the context of psychic research, dowsing, particularly "map dowsing," was explored for its potential applications in intelligence gathering. [[Uri Geller]] reportedly used map dowsing to help General Moshe Dayan locate ancient artifacts in [[Israel]]. The U.S. military also experimented with dowsing during the Vietnam War, with Marines using dowsing rods to locate Viet Cong tunnels.[^1] + +Despite its historical use and anecdotal successes, dowsing is largely considered pseudoscience by the mainstream scientific community, as its effectiveness has not been consistently demonstrated under controlled conditions.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Ein Brera.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Ein Brera.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6d4100ac --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Ein Brera.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Israel + - Philosophy +--- +Ein Brera, meaning "no alternative" in Hebrew, is a doctrine deeply ingrained in Israeli strategic thought. It reflects the belief that [[Israel]] is surrounded by implacable enemies and therefore has no choice but to take decisive action, often preemptively, to ensure its survival. This concept was particularly prevalent among Israelis who were survivors of the Holocaust, who saw parallels between historical persecution and the perceived threats from Arab nations.[^1] + +[[David Ben-Gurion]] repeatedly warned that [[Israel]]'s only security would come through self-defense and self-reliance, articulating the core of the ein brera fears. [[Ernst David Bergmann]] explicitly articulated these fears in a letter, stating his conviction that the State of [[Israel]] needed its own defense research program to avoid being "as lambs led to the slaughter."[^1] + +For many Israelis, a nuclear arsenal became essential to the survival of the state, embodying the ein brera doctrine by providing an ultimate deterrent against existential threats.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Geller Effect.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Geller Effect.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5977df34 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Geller Effect.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Geller Effect +tags: + - concept + - psi + - psychokinesis +description: The Geller effect refers to the apparent ability of individuals to bend metal or influence electronic devices after witnessing Uri Geller perform such feats. +--- + +The "[[Geller Effect]]" refers to the phenomenon where individuals, particularly children and teenagers, reportedly become able to bend metal or influence electronic devices after witnessing [[Uri Geller]] perform such feats. This secondary effect of Geller's demonstrations was of interest to the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and the Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences, as it suggested a potential for widespread psychokinetic influence.[^1] + +The Geller effect is an example of how the perception of a paranormal event can have real-world consequences, regardless of whether the initial event was genuine or the result of trickery. It highlights the power of belief and suggestion in the realm of psychic phenomena.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Glossolalia.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Glossolalia.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..eac1b350 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Glossolalia.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Glossolalia +tags: + - concept + - psychology + - religion +description: Glossolalia, or speaking in tongues, is the phenomenon of uttering words or sounds that resemble language but are not understood by the speaker or listeners, often associated with religious or trance states. +--- + +[[Glossolalia]], commonly known as "speaking in tongues," is the phenomenon of uttering words or sounds that resemble language but are not understood by the speaker or listeners. It is often associated with religious practices, spiritual experiences, or trance states, where it is sometimes described as divinely inspired speech.[^1] + +In the context of [[Parapsychology]] and the study of mediums, glossolalia was a key aspect of the case of [[Hélène Smith]], a French medium studied by [[Théodore Flournoy]]. Smith claimed to speak in various languages, including an unidentifiable "Martian-speak," during her trance states. Flournoy, however, attributed this to glossolalia, suggesting it was a product of her subconscious rather than genuine communication with spirits or extraterrestrial beings. He believed that the brain was capable of astonishing feats, including the unconscious recall and reproduction of foreign languages heard only briefly, sometimes decades before.[^1] + +Historically, glossolalia has been discussed in religious texts, such as the First Corinthians in the Bible, where Paul describes it as a form of communication directed only to God, as people would not be able to understand it. This concept highlights the intersection of psychological phenomena, religious belief, and the interpretation of unusual linguistic expressions.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Parapsychology.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Parapsychology.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..282d22df --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Parapsychology.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Parapsychology +tags: + - concept + - science + - research +description: Parapsychology is the scientific study of paranormal or psychic phenomena, including extrasensory perception (ESP) and psychokinesis (PK). +--- + +[[Parapsychology]] is the scientific study of paranormal or psychic phenomena, including extrasensory perception (ESP) and psychokinesis (PK). The field emerged from earlier psychical research, which began in the late 1700s with the study of "Mesmeric trance" (hypnosis) and the psi abilities observed in hypnotized individuals. The 19th century saw a craze over "spiritism" and "spiritualism," with mediums claiming to communicate with the supernatural, leading to considerable psychological and psychiatric research into these phenomena.[^1] + +In the modern era, parapsychology, particularly through the work of J. B. Rhine at the [[Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory]], sought to bring scientific rigor to the study of psi. Rhine focused on statistical evidence from experiments like card-guessing and dice-throwing, moving away from the theatrical displays of mediums. This approach led to the establishment of parapsychology as an academic discipline, with its main professional organization, the [[Parapsychological Association]], being admitted to the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1969, partly due to the support of figures like [[Margaret Mead]].[^1] + +Despite these efforts, parapsychology has largely remained outside mainstream science, facing an "informal system of scientific apartheid." Critics often point to the lack of tangible, real-world applications and the reliance on statistical evidence as reasons for its marginalization. However, government-sponsored research, such as the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program, explored the practical applications of psi, particularly remote viewing, for intelligence gathering, often keeping such findings classified due to their controversial nature.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Pauli Effect.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Pauli Effect.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7eb6b4bf --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Pauli Effect.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Pauli Effect +tags: + - concept + - physics + - paranormal +description: The Pauli effect is the anecdotal tendency of technical equipment to encounter critical failure in the presence of certain people. +--- + +The [[Pauli Effect]] is the anecdotal tendency of technical equipment to encounter critical failure in the presence of certain people. It is named after the Austrian theoretical physicist Wolfgang Pauli, who was known for his uncanny ability to cause experimental equipment to malfunction simply by being in its vicinity.[^1] + +In the context of psychic research, the Pauli effect is often cited as an example of [[Psychokinesis|psychokinesis]], or the ability of the mind to influence physical systems. The strange occurrences that happened around [[Uri Geller]], such as equipment malfunctioning and objects disappearing, were referred to as the "[[Geller Effect]]," a modern-day extension of the Pauli effect.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Qi.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Qi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7e93e389 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Qi.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Qi +tags: + - concept + - energy + - China +description: Qi, also known as chi, is a fundamental concept in traditional Chinese culture, referring to the vital life force that flows through all living things. +--- + +[[Qi]], also known as chi, is a fundamental concept in traditional Chinese culture, referring to the vital life force that flows through all living things. It is a central principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts.[^1] + +In the context of psychic research, the concept of qi is closely linked to the practice of [[qigong]] and the belief in [[Extraordinary Human Body Function]] (EHBF). It is believed that by cultivating and mastering the flow of qi, individuals can unlock paranormal abilities such as [[ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Qigong.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Qigong.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a58cae69 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Qigong.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Qigong +tags: + - concept + - practice + - China +description: Qigong is a traditional Chinese practice of coordinated body posture and movement, breathing, and meditation used for health, spirituality, and martial arts training. +--- + +[[Qigong]] is a traditional Chinese practice of coordinated body posture and movement, breathing, and meditation used for health, spirituality, and martial arts training. It is based on the concept of [[qi]], or vital energy, which is believed to flow through the body.[^1] + +In the context of psychic research, qigong gained prominence in [[China]] during the "Extraordinary Powers Craze" of the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was believed that the practice of qigong could enhance or unlock [[Extraordinary Human Body Function]] (EHBF), including [[ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis]]. The Chinese government, under the influence of [[Qian Xuesen]], officially sanctioned research into qigong and its potential applications.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Sheep-Goat Effect.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Sheep-Goat Effect.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7b1dcb56 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Sheep-Goat Effect.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Sheep-Goat Effect +tags: + - concept + - parapsychology +description: The sheep-goat effect is a term coined by parapsychologist Gertrude Schmeidler to describe the correlation between a person's belief in psi and their performance in psi experiments. +--- + +The **sheep-goat effect** is a term coined by parapsychologist [[Gertrude Schmeidler]] in 1942 to describe the tendency for individuals who believe in [[Psi|psychic]] phenomena (sheep) to score better in [[ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis|PK]] experiments than those who are skeptical (goats).[^1] + +Schmeidler, a Harvard-educated experimental psychologist, conducted experiments with psychology students at the City University of New York. Her analysis of the data led her to create this distinction, which has become a well-known concept in [[Parapsychology]]. The sheep-goat divide is not only present in the general population but also existed within the U.S. military and intelligence communities, influencing the dynamics of government-sponsored psychic research.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Synchronicity.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Synchronicity.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9cd13d9a --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/Synchronicity.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Synchronicity +tags: + - concept + - psychology + - philosophy +description: Synchronicity is a concept, first introduced by Carl Jung, referring to meaningful coincidences that lack a causal relationship but are deeply connected in meaning. +--- + +[[Synchronicity]] is a concept first introduced by the Swiss psychiatrist [[Carl Jung]]. It refers to meaningful coincidences that lack a causal relationship but are deeply connected in meaning. Jung believed that synchronicity was an acausal connecting principle, a phenomenon where events in the external world mirror an individual's internal psychological state, suggesting a deeper, underlying order to the universe.[^1] + +In the context of the *Phenomena* text, synchronicity is mentioned in relation to [[Arthur Koestler]]'s book *The Roots of Coincidence*, which explored Jung's concepts and their potential connection to [[ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis]]. Major General [[Edmund Thompson]], a key supporter of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], developed an interest in psi phenomena after reading Koestler's book, suggesting that the idea of meaningful coincidences played a role in his openness to psychic research.[^1] + +Synchronicity differs from mere coincidence in that it carries a profound personal meaning for the individual experiencing it, often feeling like a sign or a message. It suggests a connection between the inner and outer worlds that goes beyond conventional cause and effect, hinting at a collective unconscious or a universal field of information.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/THE PHENOMENON.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/THE PHENOMENON.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..71624fcb --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/THE PHENOMENON.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +### Editor’s Note + +The phenomenon is a multi-thousand year old interaction between humanity and [[non human intelligence]]. Over this period, it has been discussed under a variety of names such as gods, angels, demons, spirits, various folklore creatures, flying ships, and most recently UFO’s, UAP’s, and USO’s (a very non exhaustive list). + +The focus of this info web is the 20th and 21st century intersection between government [[UAP]] coverups and our increasing sensor and information technological abilities. + +This project is not exhaustive and does not pretend to be, it is a work in progress and will always be incomplete. It tries to follow threads and explore verifiable information. It does so by digging into texts and the people, organizations, and events chronicled within. It is oriented from a perspective that this phenomenon is real, that it exists both in a physical nuts and bolts way as well as in a domain beyond our current understanding. + +### People, Orgs, Events, and Texts to Begin With + +##### Orgs +- [[STARGATE PROJECT]] +##### People +- [[Luis Elizondo]] \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/The Nautilus.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/The Nautilus.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6f69157f --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/The Nautilus.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: The Nautilus +tags: + - vessel + - submarine + - ColdWar +description: The USS Nautilus (SSN-571) was the world's first operational nuclear-powered submarine. It became the subject of a fabricated story about telepathy experiments that influenced Soviet psi research. +--- +The USS Nautilus (SSN-571) was the world's first operational nuclear-powered submarine, launched by the United States in 1954. It gained notoriety in the context of psychic research due to a fabricated story published in 1960.[^1] + +In February 1960, the French magazine *Science et Vie* published an article titled "The Secret of the Nautilus," written by [[Gerard Messadié]] and allegedly sourced by [[Jacques Bergier]]. The article falsely claimed that the U.S. government had successfully used telepathy to communicate with the Nautilus crew while the submarine was submerged beneath the Arctic ice cap.[^1] + +Despite official American denials, the Soviet Union reportedly believed the story, which served as a significant stimulus for the expansion of their own parapsychology research programs. The Soviets even claimed to have replicated the entire Nautilus experiment successfully with one of their own submarines.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/The Nine Principles and Forces.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/The Nine Principles and Forces.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..011d8ed6 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/ESOTERIC_&_HISTORICAL_CONCEPTS/The Nine Principles and Forces.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: The Nine Principles and Forces +tags: + - concept + - entity + - paranormal +description: The Nine Principles and Forces were a group of entities that Dr. D. G. Vinod allegedly channeled during a séance at the Round Table Foundation. +--- + +"[[The Nine Principles and Forces]]" was the name given to a group of entities that the Hindu mystic [[Dr. D. G. Vinod]] allegedly channeled during a séance at [[Andrija Puharich]]'s [[Round Table Foundation]] on New Year's Eve, 1952.[^1] + +According to Puharich, Vinod, in a deep trance, spoke in a sonorous voice, discussing a wide array of mystical concepts, from [[ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis]] to teleportation and alchemy. The entities also referred to Einstein, Jesus, atomic weapons, and cosmic rays. This experience was a turning point for Puharich, convincing him that the energy force behind psychic phenomena was an external, possibly extraterrestrial, intelligence.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INFORMATION_SYSTEMS_&_SOFTWARE/FOIMS.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INFORMATION_SYSTEMS_&_SOFTWARE/FOIMS.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d0fbde9f --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INFORMATION_SYSTEMS_&_SOFTWARE/FOIMS.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Concept + - Technology +--- +Field Office Information Management System (FOIMS) is a computer program developed by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]]. It became a subject of controversy in the [[PROMIS Software Scandal]] due to allegations by [[Inslaw Corporation|Inslaw]] that it was a pirated form of their [[PROMIS]] software. + +Inslaw first raised this prospect in early 1991, relying on a letter from Terry D. Miller, President of Government Sales Consultants, Inc., to FBI Director William Sessions, which charged that FOIMS was stolen. Inslaw argued that the FBI's response to Miller's letter, which did not outright reject the charge, implied an admission that FOIMS was stolen and was, in fact, PROMIS. However, the FBI's Deputy Assistant Director, Kier T. Boyd, later provided an affidavit stating that the FBI does not use, nor has it ever used, any version of PROMIS, and that FOIMS was developed entirely in-house by the FBI and is not based on or does not contain any portion of PROMIS. Miller himself later stated he did not know whether FOIMS contained stolen software and based his allegations on claims made by others. Inslaw, however, continued to claim that a senior career Justice Department official had admitted that FOIMS was PROMIS.[^1] + +The Special Counsel's investigation, recognizing the importance Inslaw attached to this issue, hired an expert consultant, Professor Dorothy Denning, Chair of the Computer Science Department at Georgetown University, to settle the issue of whether FOIMS was derived from PROMIS. The FBI cooperated fully, providing access to the FOIMS software. Professor Denning, after reviewing both the operation of FOIMS at FBI Headquarters and PROMIS at the [[United States Department of Justice|DOJ]], concluded that there could be no relation between the two programs. She stated that PROMIS, written in COBOL, is fundamentally different from FOIMS, which was written in the NATURAL/ADABASE programming/database management environment. She concluded that the two programs were so obviously different that further examination of the source code would be a waste of time and money. The Special Counsel expressed complete confidence in Professor Denning's conclusions and the representations of Gordon Zacrep, Section Chief of the FBI's System Development Section, who denied that FOIMS had any relation to PROMIS and stated the FBI had independently developed it. The report concluded that the FBI's FOIMS software is not PROMIS or any derivative of PROMIS. It also noted that Inslaw declined to participate in the review, and that any reasonable person seeing the operation of both systems would agree they are completely different.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua to the Attorney General of the United States Regarding the Allegations of Inslaw, Inc.* March 1993. (Hereafter, "Bua Report") \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INFORMATION_SYSTEMS_&_SOFTWARE/JIS.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INFORMATION_SYSTEMS_&_SOFTWARE/JIS.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e62e8000 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INFORMATION_SYSTEMS_&_SOFTWARE/JIS.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +The Jail Information System (JIS) was developed through a grant to the [[AJI|American Justice Institute]] (AJI) from the [[U.S. Department of Justice]], [[LEAA|Law Enforcement Assistance Administration]] (LEAA), Office of Criminal Justice Programs" The development of JIS was an outgrowth of the need perceived during AJI's LEAA-funded Jail Overcrowding/Pretrial Detainee Program for an +automated booking, inmate accounting, and jail population management information system that would store in a single data base all offender transactions from booking through inmate custody and pretrial release management. + +As such, the system was designed to meet the information needs of jails (and pretrial release units) for a defendant-based, "subject-in-process" system that would track individuals from booking at the jail through pre- and post-trial incarceration (or pretrial release). It is a computer-based inmate/defendant record system designed to replace current manual inmate accounting procedures that have proven to be totally inadequate to handle (1) the volume and complexity +of cases/defendants entering the criminal justice system at the point of booking, (2) the number of inmate transactions occurring during incarceration, and (3) the information and accounting requirements of pretrial release units in determining eligibility for release and subsequent tracking in the system. + +The computer software for the Jail Information System was developed by the [[INSLAW|Institute for Law and Social Research]], Inc. (INSLAW), under contract from the American Justice Institute, as an expansion of the widely-used [[PROMIS]] information system previously developed by INSLAW. The system design for JIS was based upon the information requirements analyses for booking, inmate +accounting, and jail population management conducted by the six jurisdictions that served as pilot sites for system implementation: + +- Multnomah County (Portland), Oregon +- Santa Cruz County, California +- Pima County (Tucson), Arizona +- Jefferson County (Louisville), Kentucky +- Orange County (Orlando), Florida +- Middlesex County (New Brunswick), New Jersey + +## Operation + +This software has been run on a variety of mini and mainframe computers and is compatible with 74 ANS COBOL. In addition, JIS system users are not limited to the design described in this document. The software provides a procedure known as "tailoring". Using an interactive program, an agency can add, delete, or modify data elements or transactions without reprogramming. The model JIS system serves as the starting point for this tailoring. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INFORMATION_SYSTEMS_&_SOFTWARE/Relational Database.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INFORMATION_SYSTEMS_&_SOFTWARE/Relational Database.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..32161aae --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INFORMATION_SYSTEMS_&_SOFTWARE/Relational Database.md @@ -0,0 +1 @@ +https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relational_database \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Disinformation.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Disinformation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..99c81098 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Disinformation.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Disinformation +tags: + - concept + - intelligence + - propaganda +description: Disinformation is false information deliberately and often covertly spread in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth. +--- + +[[Disinformation]] is false information deliberately and often covertly spread in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, disinformation plays a significant role, particularly concerning the origins of the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Parapsychology|psi]] research program.[^1] + +The sensational 1960 French magazine article, [[The Nautilus (Telepathy Project)|"The Secret of the Nautilus"]], which claimed successful telepathic communication with the USS Nautilus submarine, was later suggested to be a fabrication or a disinformation ploy. Its purpose may have been to stir up valuable data about any American psi research or to encourage the Soviets to undertake wasteful research on psi, or both. Despite being debunked in the West, the Soviets seemingly believed the story, leading to a significant increase in their own psi research efforts.[^1] + +Disinformation can be a powerful tool in intelligence operations, capable of influencing adversary actions and perceptions, even if based on false premises. The *Remote Viewers* narrative highlights how a single piece of disinformation can have far-reaching and unintended consequences in the realm of intelligence and scientific research.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Dual Loyalty.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Dual Loyalty.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b6dc428a --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Dual Loyalty.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Politics + - Intelligence +--- +Dual loyalty is a concept that has been a concern to the American intelligence community since the creation of [[Israel]] in 1948. It refers to the perceived conflict of allegiance for American Jews who also have strong commitments to the security of [[Israel]]. This concern has led to practices such as routinely barring American Jews from dealing with Israeli issues inside [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] headquarters and excluding them from Hebrew language training in the [[National Security Agency|NSA]].[^1] + +[[Lewis L. Strauss]]'s actions, particularly his private approval of [[Israel]]'s nuclear weapons program despite his public stance against proliferation, exemplify the issue of dual loyalty. The notion of dual loyalty, however, is not solely a Jewish problem, as the incredible travails and sufferings of Jewish survivors during World War II garnered enormous appeal from Americans of all backgrounds. The primary effect of "dual loyalty" has been a form of self-censorship that has prevented the [[United States]] government from dealing rationally and coherently with the strategic and political issues raised by a nuclear-armed [[Israel]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 7. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/ELINT.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/ELINT.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..adff4468 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/ELINT.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: ELINT +tags: + - intelligence + - electronic +description: ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) refers to intelligence gathered from the interception and analysis of electronic signals, excluding communications intelligence. +--- + +ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) is a category of intelligence gathering that involves the interception and analysis of electronic signals, excluding communications intelligence (COMINT). This often includes things like the radar signatures of enemy air defense systems and telemetry signals for missiles and satellites.[^1] + +ELINT's boundaries often blur with those of [[SIGINT/COMINT]] and [[PHOTINT/IMINT]]. Like other intelligence disciplines, ELINT data is used in conjunction with other sources to confirm and complement information, and the emergence of [[PSI-INT]] offered another potential avenue for intelligence collection.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Eight-Martini Results.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Eight-Martini Results.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..899378e0 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Eight-Martini Results.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Eight-Martini Results +tags: + - concept + - intelligence + - psi +description: Eight-martini results refer to highly accurate and unsettling psychic intelligence that is so inexplicable it drives intelligence officers to drink. +--- + +"[[Eight-Martini Results]]" is a term coined within the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] to describe highly accurate and unsettling [[PSI-INT|psychic intelligence]] that is so inexplicable it drives intelligence officers to drink. The term implies that the information received through [[Remote Viewing]] or other [[Psi|psi]] means is so precise and unexpected that it challenges conventional understanding and can be deeply unsettling for those who receive it.[^1] + +[[Pat Price]]'s remote viewing of the Chinese Embassy in Africa, where he accurately described details that were known only to a few intelligence officers, was described as an "eight-martini evening" by [[Nick Clancy]], a CIA officer. Similarly, [[Joe McMoneagle]]'s accurate remote viewing of the Soviet Typhoon-class submarine was considered an "intelligence first" and an example of an eight-martini result for the [[U.S. Army]]'s [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] unit.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Giggle Factor.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Giggle Factor.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3a8570bf --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Giggle Factor.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Giggle Factor +tags: + - concept + - intelligence + - skepticism +description: The "giggle factor" is a term used in intelligence communities to describe the skepticism and ridicule associated with paranormal research and its potential operational use. +--- + +The "[[Giggle Factor]]" is a term used in intelligence communities to describe the skepticism and ridicule associated with [[Parapsychology|paranormal]] research and its potential operational use. It represents the fear of embarrassment and professional compromise if it became widely known that an intelligence agency was consulting psychics or relying on psychic data.[^1] + +In the context of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], the giggle factor was a significant obstacle to the program's acceptance and funding. [[Norm Everheart]] of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] used this term to describe the concerns of his superior, [[Ed Rogers]], the chief of [[Staff D]]. Despite impressive demonstrations of [[Remote Viewing|remote viewing]] accuracy by psychics like [[Pat Price]], Rogers ultimately decided against using psychic intelligence for high-stakes operations, fearing the ridicule and operational compromise that would ensue if his office was perceived as "reading tea leaves."[^1] + +The secrecy surrounding the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program was designed not only to protect it from Soviet eyes but also, perhaps more importantly, to protect its supporters from the "sheer mortification and embarrassment they would feel if the program were exposed. Psychics in the Pentagon! The Army's crystal ball gazers!"[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Golden Triangle.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Golden Triangle.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9042d401 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Golden Triangle.md @@ -0,0 +1,14 @@ +The [[Golden Triangle]] is a region in Southeast [[Asia]], primarily encompassing parts of [[Myanmar]], [[Laos]], and [[Thailand]], historically known as one of the world's largest opium-producing areas. It has been a significant hub for drug trafficking, particularly heroin, and has been linked to various intelligence operations and covert activities.[^1] + +[[Danny Casolaro]]'s investigation into "[[The Octopus]]" included a focus on the Golden Triangle's drug trade. He was investigating [[Bo Gritz]]'s expose of [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] drug trafficking in the region and sought information on Laotian warlord [[Kuhn Sa]]'s Golden Triangle drug trade proposal to the [[United States]].[^1] + +[[Robert Booth Nichols]]' name was associated with the illegal transportation of narcotics through the Golden Triangle, and this connection tied into Casolaro's final inquiry. [[Michael Hand]], co-founder of [[Nugan Hand Bank]], and [[Bo Gritz]], both highly decorated Special Forces Green Berets in [[Vietnam]], had special knowledge of intelligence operations in the Golden Triangle.[^1] + +[[Nugan Hand Bank]], a primary [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] operation in the Pacific area, reportedly laundered profits from drug trafficking in the Golden Triangle. These laundered profits, in turn, financed subversive paramilitary activities in Southeast [[Asia]]. The bank collapsed in 1980, $5 billion in debt, and [[Michael Hand]] disappeared.[^1] + +[[Allan Boyak]], an attorney, described [[Robert Booth Nichols]]' rum importing business as a cover for large-scale heroin trafficking from the Golden Triangle.[^1] + +--- +## Footnotes + +[^1]: Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Ground Truth.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Ground Truth.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d233257d --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Ground Truth.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Ground Truth +tags: + - concept + - intelligence + - verification +description: Ground truth refers to information that is known to be true or accurate through direct observation or measurement, used to verify or calibrate other forms of data. +--- + +[[Ground Truth]] refers to information that is known to be true or accurate through direct observation or measurement. In the context of intelligence and scientific research, it is used to verify or calibrate other forms of data, particularly those obtained through less conventional means.[^1] + +In the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], ground truth was crucial for validating the accuracy of [[Remote Viewing]] sessions. For example, after remote viewers provided impressions of a target, their descriptions would be compared against satellite imagery or on-site reconnaissance to determine their accuracy. [[Dale Graff]] considered his profound [[Out-of-Body Experience|out-of-body experience]] at Bellows Beach to be "ground truth," a real situation that defied conventional explanation and spurred his interest in paranormal phenomena.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Human Intelligence (HUMINT).md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Human Intelligence (HUMINT).md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7ae2941d --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Human Intelligence (HUMINT).md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Intelligence +--- +Human Intelligence (HUMINT) refers to intelligence gathered from human sources. [[James Jesus Angleton]], the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s director of counterintelligence, was known for his forte in HUMINT. However, analysts in the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s Office of National Estimates (ONE) often did not find his HUMINT sources reliable, particularly concerning [[Dimona]] and [[Israel]]'s nuclear weapons progress.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 11. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Human Intelligence.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Human Intelligence.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4c6c5952 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Human Intelligence.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Human Intelligence +tags: + - intelligence + - HUMINT +description: Human Intelligence (HUMINT) is intelligence gathered by means of interpersonal contact, as opposed to the more technical intelligence disciplines. +--- +Human Intelligence (HUMINT) refers to intelligence gathered by means of interpersonal contact, such as through foreign agents and their case officers. It is often considered the "second-oldest profession" in the world of espionage.[^1] + +During the mid-1970s, following a series of scandals and increased congressional scrutiny, the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] under [[Stansfield Turner]] reduced its reliance on HUMINT, favoring more "arm's-length" collection techniques like satellite photography and communications intercepts. This shift inadvertently made psychic intelligence, or [[PSI-INT]], seem like an appealing alternative for intelligence gathering.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Human Use Experimentation.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Human Use Experimentation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4760d9f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Human Use Experimentation.md @@ -0,0 +1,21 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Human Use Experimentation +tags: + - concept + - ethics + - military + - research +description: Human Use Experimentation refers to the ethical and regulatory framework governing research involving human subjects, particularly in military and intelligence contexts. +--- + +[[Human Use Experimentation]] refers to the ethical and regulatory framework governing research involving human subjects, particularly in military and intelligence contexts. The dark history of such experimentation in the military, notably programs like [[Project MKUltra]], which involved controversial studies of LSD and other potential "mind control" drugs on servicemen, led to strict requirements for informed consent and oversight by human use review boards.[^1] + +In the context of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], the remote viewing program was categorized as human use experimentation. This meant that participants like [[Mel Riley]] and others had to fill out extensive informed consent paperwork, and the project required approval and oversight from the Army's human use review board. This regulatory scrutiny, while causing delays, was a direct consequence of past abuses and aimed to protect the rights and well-being of the psychic subjects.[^1] + +Concerns about the potential psychological effects of prolonged remote viewing, such as mental fatigue and emotional fragility, also fell under the purview of human use experimentation oversight, with psychologists like Dr. Dick Hartsell initially involved in evaluating the psychics' mental stability.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Human Use Review Board.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Human Use Review Board.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..028d1be6 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Human Use Review Board.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Human Use Review Board +tags: + - concept + - ethics + - research +description: A Human Use Review Board is a committee responsible for reviewing and approving research involving human subjects to ensure ethical standards and participant safety. +--- + +A [[Human Use Review Board]] (also known as an Institutional Review Board or IRB) is a committee responsible for reviewing and approving research involving human subjects to ensure ethical standards and participant safety. These boards are a direct consequence of past abuses in human experimentation, such as those seen in [[Project MKUltra]] and Nazi medical experiments.[^1] + +In the context of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], the remote viewing program was categorized as [[Human Use Experimentation]], requiring the establishment of a Human Use Review Board within the [[U.S. Army]] to oversee its activities. This ensured that participants provided informed consent and that the research adhered to ethical guidelines.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/I&W.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/I&W.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f2e09076 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/I&W.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Intelligence +--- +I&W, standing for intelligence and warning, refers to intelligence that depicts military activity or other potentially threatening actions. This type of intelligence carries the highest classification marking in the American intelligence community. For example, KH-11 imagery provided to [[Israel]] depicting military activity inside the border of [[Israel]]'s four neighbors was considered I&W.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 1. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/KH-11.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/KH-11.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..fa286776 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/KH-11.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Technology + - Satellite + - Intelligence +--- +KH-11 is a type of reconnaissance satellite developed by the [[United States]]. The first KH-11 was launched on December 19, 1976. Its images were capable of being digitally relayed to ground stations in real-time for instant analysis by the intelligence community. The KH-11 was considered an astonishing leap in technology, with its superb optical resolution.[^1] + +Access to the high-quality imagery from the KH-11 was tightly restricted, even to close allies like [[Great Britain]]. However, in March 1979, President [[Jimmy Carter]] decided to provide [[Israel]] with access to KH-11 photographs. This agreement gave [[Israel]] access to satellite intelligence dealing with troop movements or other potentially threatening activities up to one hundred miles inside the borders of neighboring [[Lebanon]], [[Syria]], [[Egypt]], and [[Jordan]]. This decision disrupted the satellite's careful scheduling and meant less access for some American intelligence agencies.[^1] + +Following the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor at [[Osirak bombing|Osirak]] in June 1981, [[William J. Casey]], Director of Central Intelligence, authorized a review of [[Israel]]'s use of the KH-11 intelligence-sharing agreement. The review found that [[Israel]] had expanded the agreement to extract virtually any photograph desired, including extensive coverage of western [[Russia]] and [[Moscow]]. Despite this, it was agreed that photographs would continue to flow to [[Israel]], but with the initial 1979 restrictions re-enforced.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 1. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/KK MOUNTAIN.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/KK MOUNTAIN.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..95645093 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/KK MOUNTAIN.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Intelligence + - CIA +--- +KK MOUNTAIN was a code-name for one of the most sensitive operations of the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] during the [[Cold War]]. It provided untold millions in annual cash payments to [[Mossad]], [[Israel]]'s primary foreign intelligence service. In return, [[Mossad]] authorized its agents to act, in essence, as American surrogates throughout North [[Africa]] and in countries like [[Kenya]], [[Tanzania]], and the [[Congo]]. Some of the programs under KK MOUNTAIN were financed off the shelf by [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] contingency funds.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 1, 11. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/PHOTINT_IMINT.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/PHOTINT_IMINT.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8cb708f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/PHOTINT_IMINT.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: PHOTINT/IMINT +tags: + - intelligence + - imagery +description: PHOTINT (Photographic Intelligence) or IMINT (Imagery Intelligence) refers to intelligence gathered through photographic and other imagery, typically from satellites or spy planes. +--- + +PHOTINT (Photographic Intelligence), also known as IMINT (Imagery Intelligence), is a form of intelligence gathering that relies on photographic and other imagery, typically obtained from reconnaissance satellites or spy planes. This includes visible-light images, thermal infrared images, gamma-ray images, and even wall- and ground-penetrating radar images.[^1] + +PHOTINT is one of the major "conventional" intelligence disciplines, alongside [[Human Intelligence|HUMINT]], [[SIGINT/COMINT]], and [[ELINT]]. While powerful, intelligence consumers prefer not to rely on solitary sources of information, using different intelligence disciplines together to confirm and complement each other. The advent of [[PSI-INT]] offered another potential source of intelligence to supplement these traditional methods.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/PSI-INT.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/PSI-INT.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..1a538484 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/PSI-INT.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: PSI-INT +tags: + - intelligence + - psychic +description: PSI-INT, or psi-derived intelligence, refers to information gathered through psychic phenomena such as remote viewing, used for intelligence purposes. +--- +PSI-INT, or psi-derived intelligence, refers to information gathered through psychic phenomena such as [[remote viewing]], used for intelligence purposes. It is a term coined to categorize psychic intelligence alongside other traditional intelligence disciplines like [[Human Intelligence|HUMINT]], PHOTINT (photographic intelligence), SIGINT (signals intelligence), and ELINT (electronic intelligence).[^1] + +Proponents of PSI-INT, particularly within the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]] program, argued that it could provide accurate data and serve as a valuable supplement to conventional intelligence sources, especially when traditional methods were limited or politically sensitive. The concept gained traction within the U.S. intelligence community, particularly during the [[Jimmy Carter]] administration, when there was a preference for "clean" spying methods.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Psi Gap.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Psi Gap.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ec52eeaf --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Psi Gap.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Psi Gap +tags: + - concept + - ColdWar + - intelligence + - psi +description: The "psi gap" was a perceived disparity in psychic research capabilities between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. +--- + +The "[[Psi Gap]]" was a perceived disparity in [[Psi|psychic]] research capabilities between the [[United States|U.S.]] and the [[Soviet Union]] during the [[Cold War]]. This concept gained prominence following reports of extensive Soviet and Eastern European [[Parapsychology|psi]] research, particularly after the sensational 1960 article [[The Nautilus (Telepathy Project)|"The Secret of the Nautilus"]], which, despite being a fabrication, spurred significant Soviet investment in the field.[^1] + +The 1972 [[Controlled Offensive Behavior - USSR]] report by the [[Defense Intelligence Agency|DIA]] explicitly warned of a "devastating 'psi gap,'" stating that "Soviet knowledge in this field is superior to that of the West." This alarmist assessment, which outlined potential military applications of psi such as telepathic communication and psychokinesis, contributed to the U.S. intelligence community's increased interest in and funding of its own psi research, including the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], in an effort to catch up with perceived Soviet advancements.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Psychic Spying.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Psychic Spying.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d32eaf97 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Psychic Spying.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Psychic Spying +tags: + - concept + - intelligence + - psi +description: Psychic spying refers to the use of psychic abilities, such as remote viewing, for intelligence gathering and espionage. +--- + +[[Psychic Spying]] refers to the use of [[Psi|psychic]] abilities, such as [[Remote Viewing]], for intelligence gathering and espionage. This concept was a central focus of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], a U.S. government-sponsored program that investigated the operational utility of psychic phenomena for military and intelligence applications.[^1] + +The idea of psychic spying gained traction during the Cold War, fueled by concerns about a "[[Psi Gap|psi gap]]" with the [[Soviet Union]] and the desire to find unconventional methods for intelligence collection. Psychics were tasked with gathering information on distant or unseen targets, including foreign military installations, nuclear devices, and even the whereabouts of hostages.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/SIGINT_COMINT.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/SIGINT_COMINT.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e0c62fe4 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/SIGINT_COMINT.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: SIGINT/COMINT +tags: + - intelligence + - signals +description: SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) and COMINT (Communications Intelligence) refer to intelligence gathered by intercepting electronic signals and communications. +--- + +SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) covers the interception of virtually all electronic signals, while COMINT (Communications Intelligence) generally refers to signals from telephone or radio conversations. Led by the [[NSA]] SIGINT/COMINT rapidly became one of the most important intelligence-gathering technologies during the Cold War.[^1] + +The sheer volume of data collected through SIGINT/COMINT often required heavy reliance on computers to automatically sift through intercepts for worthwhile material. Like other intelligence disciplines such as [[Human Intelligence|HUMINT]], [[PHOTINT/IMINT]], and [[ELINT]], SIGINT/COMINT was used in conjunction with other sources to confirm and complement information. The emergence of [[PSI-INT]] offered another potential avenue for intelligence collection.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Technical Intelligence.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Technical Intelligence.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..25cb8695 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Technical Intelligence.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Intelligence +--- +Technical Intelligence refers to intelligence gathered through technical means, such as satellite imagery and communications intercepts. This is in contrast to [[Human Intelligence (HUMINT)]]. [[James Jesus Angleton]], the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s director of counterintelligence, was known for his forte in human intelligence, and not technical intelligence, such as the U-2 imagery.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 11. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Telepathic Interrogation.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Telepathic Interrogation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2f5d161c --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/Telepathic Interrogation.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Telepathic Interrogation +tags: + - concept + - psi + - intelligence +description: Telepathic interrogation is a claimed psychic technique involving the use of telepathy to extract information from a subject. +--- + +[[Telepathic Interrogation]] is a claimed [[Psi|psychic]] technique involving the use of [[Telepathy]] to extract information from a subject. In the context of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], this technique was reportedly used by [[Ken Bell]] to gain information from a [[KGB]] agent in South Africa. Bell allegedly whispered telepathically about the agent's son and daughter, which led the agent to reveal details about a hidden pocket calculator used for coding messages.[^1] + +This incident, while controversial, was considered a significant success by some within the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]], demonstrating the potential utility of psychic abilities in counterintelligence operations.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/The Octopus.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/The Octopus.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c751b1fa --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/The Octopus.md @@ -0,0 +1,7 @@ +The Octopus is a term coined by investigative journalist [[Danny Casolaro]] to describe a complex, interconnected network of organized crime, drug trafficking, money laundering, and pirated software. Casolaro believed this network involved various entities, including a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] 'Old Boy' network, the [[Wackenhut Corporation]], and the [[PROMIS Software Scandal|PROMIS]] software.[1] + +Casolaro's investigation suggested that the origins of this cabal could be traced back to the Cold War era, with its tentacles extending into various government agencies and private corporations. The term was also used by Dan Moldea in his 1986 book, *Dark Victory: Ronald Reagan, MCA, and the Mob*, where he labeled [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] as "The Octopus."[1] + +## Footnotes + +[1] Seymour, Cheri. *The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal*. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/VELA Satellite.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/VELA Satellite.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..68d806d4 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/INTELLIGENCE/VELA Satellite.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Technology + - Satellite + - Intelligence +--- +VELA Satellite refers to a series of U.S. nuclear detection satellites. On September 22, 1979, a VELA satellite recorded two distinctive bright flashes of light over the South Indian Ocean, which was considered probable evidence of a nuclear explosion. VELA satellites had seen similar flashes on forty-one previous occasions, and in each case, it was subsequently determined that a nuclear explosion had taken place.[^1] + +The sighting was digitally relayed to the headquarters of the [[Air Force Technical Applications Center|AFTAC]]. This event, suspected to be a joint Israeli-South African nuclear test, created a significant political dilemma for President [[Jimmy Carter]]. The [[Jack P. Ruina|Ruina]] panel, tasked with studying the VELA data, concluded that the signal was "probably not from a nuclear explosion," suggesting it might have been a "zoo event" or a meteoroid impact. However, the [[Nuclear Intelligence Panel|NIP]], a highly classified nuclear intelligence group, concluded that a low-yield nuclear weapon had most certainly been detonated, and were dismayed by White House interference in the investigation.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 20. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/KEY CONCEPTS AND TECH.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/KEY CONCEPTS AND TECH.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d2cead77 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/KEY CONCEPTS AND TECH.md @@ -0,0 +1,55 @@ +--- +tags: + - MOC + - META +--- +This Map of Content serves as a curated guide to the most significant concepts and technologies within The Info Web. It is not an exhaustive index, but a starting point for exploring the central themes of paranormal research, intelligence, and the esoteric technologies that define this hidden history. + +# PSI Phenomena +*The core psychic abilities that were the subject of government research and espionage.* + +- [[Remote Viewing]] - A structured psychic protocol developed at SRI, allowing a "viewer" to perceive a distant, unseen target, which became the cornerstone of the U.S. psychic spying program. +- [[Psychokinesis]] - The ability of the mind to influence physical matter without direct interaction, famously demonstrated by Uri Geller's metal-bending, which sparked major CIA and scientific interest. +- [[Telepathy]] - The direct transmission of thoughts or feelings from one mind to another, a capability explored for covert communication and interrogation. +- [[Precognition]] - The perception of future events, an ability that, while unreliable, occasionally produced startlingly accurate results in operational tests. +- [[Out-of-Body Experience]] - The sensation of one's consciousness leaving the physical body, a phenomenon reported by key psychics like Ingo Swann and Joe McMoneagle that informed their remote viewing abilities. + +# Research Methodologies +*The specific techniques developed to harness psi and the primary obstacles faced by the researchers.* + +- [[Coordinate Remote Viewing]] - The breakthrough protocol using geographic coordinates to target psychics, making remote viewing a viable intelligence-gathering tool. +- [[Analytical Overlay]] - The remote viewer's primary cognitive pitfall, where their own knowledge and biases distort raw psychic data. +- [[Psychotronic Research]] - The Eastern European term for psi research, focusing on the interaction between human psychology and electronics. + +# Scientific Theories & Technologies +*Key scientific concepts and technologies used to test, measure, or explain psychic phenomena.* + +- [[Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Waves]] - Electromagnetic waves hypothesized as a potential carrier for telepathic signals due to their ability to penetrate physical barriers. +- [[Faraday Cage]] - An enclosure used to block electromagnetic fields, which was a critical tool in early experiments to test the nature of ESP. +- [[The Nautilus]] - The world's first nuclear submarine, which became the subject of a fabricated telepathy story that spurred real Soviet research. + +# Intelligence Tradecraft +*Terms and concepts specific to the world of espionage and the military application of psi.* + +- [[Psi Gap]] - The Cold War fear that the Soviet Union had a significant lead in psychic research and weaponry, a primary driver for U.S. investment. +- [[Giggle Factor]] - The pervasive skepticism and fear of ridicule that constantly threatened the psychic programs' funding and legitimacy. +- [[Disinformation]] - The deliberate spread of false information, a key Cold War tactic that clouds the true history of psi research. +- [[PSI-INT]] - The formal intelligence designator for "psi-derived intelligence," placing it alongside traditional disciplines like HUMINT and SIGINT. +- [[Eight-Martini Results]] - A CIA term for psychic intelligence so accurate and unsettling that it drives intelligence officers to drink. + +# Esoteric & Historical Concepts +*Related spiritual, psychological, and historical ideas that provide a broader context for the research.* + +- [[Parapsychology]] - The formal, albeit controversial, scientific study of paranormal phenomena that provided the foundation for government research. +- [[THE PHENOMENON]] - The meta-concept of a long-standing interaction between humanity and a non-human intelligence, framing the modern UAP/psi story. +- [[The Nine Principles and Forces]] - A group of channeled entities that profoundly influenced the worldview of researcher Andrija Puharich. +- [[Synchronicity]] - A concept of meaningful coincidences, which influenced some key figures to be more open to the possibility of psi. + +# Advanced Human Technology +*Technologies and techniques aimed at influencing or enhancing human performance and perception.* + +- [[Psychotronic Weapons]] - A theoretical class of Soviet weapons designed to use electromagnetic radiation to influence human behavior. +- [[Synthetic Telepathy]] - A technology using microwaves to induce audible sounds inside a person's head, blurring the line between psi and tech. +- [[Human Potential]] - The belief in untapped human capabilities, which drove much of the military's interest in creating "super-soldiers." +- [[Extraordinary Human Body Function]] - The Chinese government's term for psi abilities, which they studied as a new frontier of science. +- [[Mind Projection]] - A claimed psychic ability to influence or implant thoughts into another person's mind. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/MILITARY/Force de Frappe.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/MILITARY/Force de Frappe.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d6e0a0cc --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/MILITARY/Force de Frappe.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Military + - France +--- +Force de Frappe, meaning "strike force" in French, refers to [[France]]'s independent nuclear deterrent. Developed by the mid-1960s, its ambition was to independently target the [[Soviet Union]] with intercontinental missiles. The intellectual spokesman for the French nuclear program was [[Pierre Gallois]], who argued that the possession of nuclear weapons, even if unequally armed, made the status quo unavoidable.[^1] + +[[France]]'s *force de frappe* became the role model for [[Israel]]'s strategic planning and its ultimate decision not to count on the American nuclear umbrella. This concept influenced [[Israel]]'s decision to complement its new reactor with a major research effort to design and manufacture long-range missiles capable of targeting the [[Middle East]] and, eventually, the [[Soviet Union]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/MILITARY/Jericho I.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/MILITARY/Jericho I.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..9c08c59d --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/MILITARY/Jericho I.md @@ -0,0 +1,16 @@ +--- +tags: + - Technology + - Missile + - Israel +--- +Jericho I is a medium-range ballistic missile developed jointly by [[Israel]] and the [[Dassault Company]] of [[France]]. In 1963, [[Israel]] paid $100 million for its joint development and manufacture. It was anticipated that the Jericho I would be able to deliver a miniaturized nuclear warhead to targets three hundred miles away.[^1] + +By the mid-1960s, the Jericho missiles were rapidly being assembled by Dassault. [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] technical analysts were able to draw scale models of the system and even designed nuclear, chemical, and high-explosive warheads for it, predicting that [[Israel]] could successfully target and fire a nuclear warhead. However, intelligence about the Israeli missile was often suppressed or ignored within the U.S. government.[^2] + +The first field test of the Jericho I had mixed results, with the missile experiencing guidance problems and not yet capable of hitting its intended targets. Despite this, the missile program, code-named Project 700, was envisioned by [[Ernst David Bergmann]] as the final, costly step toward the [[Samson Option]].[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 3, 9, 13. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 11. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/MILITARY/U-2 Spy Plane.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/MILITARY/U-2 Spy Plane.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7b24d132 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/MILITARY/U-2 Spy Plane.md @@ -0,0 +1,17 @@ +--- +tags: + - Technology + - Aircraft + - Reconnaissance +--- +The U-2 Spy Plane is a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft developed by the [[United States]]. It was jointly developed by the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] and the Air Force under cover by the [[Lockheed Aircraft Company]]. The U-2 was capable of flying and gliding for almost eleven hours at heights greater than 65,000 feet, covering more than five thousand miles, while utilizing only one thousand gallons of fuel. Special lenses, cameras, and thin film were developed for it, enabling the spy plane to photograph a path from [[Moscow]] to [[Tashkent]] in one take.[^1] + +The U-2 went operational from a secret base in West [[Germany]] on July 4, 1956, with initial targets including Soviet long-range bomber bases and [[Leningrad]]. Its intelligence gathering was crucial for locating and photographing the industrial elements of the Soviet nuclear program, including reactors, heavy-water-production facilities, and uranium- and plutonium-processing plants.[^1] + +[[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] and his administration were infuriated by [[Israel]]'s attempt to mask its military buildup prior to the 1956 [[Suez Crisis]], and the U-2 was used to monitor sensitive areas, including the [[Middle East]]. In 1958, U-2 flights observed significant activity at an Israeli Air Force practice bombing range south of [[Beersheba]], which turned out to be the early signs of the [[Dimona]] nuclear reactor.[^1] + +Despite the clear evidence of the secret nuclear reactor at [[Dimona]], [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] showed no interest in a follow-up investigation, a decision that puzzled intelligence officials like [[Arthur C. Lundahl]] and [[Dino A. Brugioni]]. The U-2 continued to overfly the [[Negev]] desert, and by the end of 1959, Lundahl and Brugioni had no doubt that [[Israel]] was pursuing nuclear weapons, and that the Eisenhower administration was determined to look the other way.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Atoms for Peace.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Atoms for Peace.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d3187d67 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Atoms for Peace.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Program + - Nuclear + - Diplomacy +--- +Atoms for Peace was a program initiated by U.S. President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] in 1953. It aimed to promote the peaceful use of atomic energy and to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons by providing nuclear technology and materials to other nations under international safeguards. Under this program, the [[United States]] signed an agreement with [[Israel]] in 1955 for cooperation in the civilian uses of atomic energy, helping to finance and fuel a small nuclear reactor for research at Nahal Soreq. This agreement included inspection rights for the [[United States]] to ensure that nuclear materials would not be diverted to weapons research.[^1] + +[[Lewis Strauss]], then chairman of the [[Atomic Energy Commission]], was a proponent of the Atoms for Peace program.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2, 7. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Heavy Water.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Heavy Water.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e5f1fd1f --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Heavy Water.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Nuclear + - Technology +--- +Heavy water (deuterium oxide, D2O) is a form of water that contains a higher than normal concentration of the isotope deuterium, rather than the common hydrogen-1 isotope. It is used in certain types of nuclear reactors, known as heavy-water reactors, as a neutron moderator to slow down neutrons and increase the probability of nuclear fission.[^1] + +By 1953, Israeli researchers at the [[Weizmann Institute of Science]] had pioneered a new process for creating heavy water. This development was crucial for [[Israel]]'s nuclear ambitions, as [[David Ben-Gurion]] had repeatedly stated that [[Israel]] would build its own atomic reactor utilizing locally manufactured heavy water.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Hydrogen Bomb.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Hydrogen Bomb.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c7729b4f --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Hydrogen Bomb.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Nuclear Weapon + - Physics +--- +A hydrogen bomb, also known as a fusion device, is a nuclear weapon that derives its explosive energy from nuclear fusion reactions. It is far more powerful than a fission weapon. The development of the hydrogen bomb, code-named "Super," involved solving two central problems: how to ignite the fusion material and how to make it burn efficiently. Scientists at [[Los Alamos]] developed a two-stage device, where a fission bomb is triggered (the first stage) inside the warhead, and the radiation from this fission device then compresses and ignites a special thermonuclear fuel (the second stage). Deuterium or lithium deuteride can be used as the thermonuclear fuel.[^1] + +The first successful test of a thermonuclear device took place in 1952 at Eniwetok, an atoll in the western Pacific, producing a crater over a mile in diameter and 164 feet deep. This device was 650 times as powerful as the primitive device dropped at [[Hiroshima]]. The [[Soviet Union]] successfully tested its first two-stage hydrogen bomb in 1955, and in 1961, detonated the largest known hydrogen bomb with an explosive force of fifty-eight megatons.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 4. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/MUF.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/MUF.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3fcb944a --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/MUF.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Nuclear + - Accounting +--- +MUF, or "material unaccounted for," is a term commonly used in the nuclear processing industry. It refers to the difference between the amount of nuclear material that is supposed to be present in a facility and the amount that is actually measured. This discrepancy can arise from various factors, including inherent process losses, measurement uncertainties, and, in some cases, diversion of material.[^1] + +At the [[Nuclear Materials and Equipment Corporation|NUMEC]] plant, MUF became a significant issue, with over two hundred pounds of enriched uranium unaccounted for. The [[Atomic Energy Commission|AEC]] eventually worked out complicated rules for accounting for MUF, enabling private firms to estimate how much missing but accountable uranium was believed to be in a plant's air filtration system or buried in its waste pits. The AEC accepted these estimates as realistic and deferred assessments of penalties, assuming that no reprocessing firm would divert or steal uranium if it resulted in a stiff fine.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 18. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Machons (Dimona Facilities).md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Machons (Dimona Facilities).md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3d03d9d6 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Machons (Dimona Facilities).md @@ -0,0 +1,57 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Nuclear Facility + - Israel +--- +Machons are the various buildings and facilities within the [[Dimona]] nuclear complex in [[Israel]]. As described by [[Mordecai Vanunu]], the complex includes the reactor and at least eight other self-contained buildings, each with a specific function in the nuclear production process. The entire complex is a testament to Israeli ingenuity and secrecy, with significant portions constructed underground to conceal their true purpose.[^1] + +### Machon 1 (The Reactor) + +Machon 1 is the large, silver-domed reactor, sixty feet in diameter, prominently visible from the nearby highway. This reactor is cooled and moderated by heavy water, with uranium fuel rods remaining inside for three months. Unlike a typical nuclear power plant that would use the generated steam to drive a turbine and create electricity, the steam in Machon 1 is vented directly into the atmosphere. This process creates a radioactive cloud, which, according to Vanunu, was intentionally vented only on days when prevailing winds would carry it towards the [[Jordanian]] border, approximately twenty-five miles to the east. Such a venting was reportedly photographed by Army Colonel [[Carmelo V. Alba]] in 1965, providing the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] with concrete evidence that [[Dimona]] was operational.[^1] + +### Machon 2 (The Tunnel - Chemical Reprocessing Plant) + +Machon 2, informally known as the Tunnel, is the most essential and sensitive facility at [[Dimona]]. It is a six-level, highly automated chemical reprocessing plant, dug to a depth of eighty feet underground. Its surface appearance is that of an ordinary administration building—a nondescript, two-story, windowless structure, eighty by two hundred feet, containing a workers' canteen, shower rooms, offices, and warehouse space. The building features thickly reinforced walls, a safety measure given its location. A bank of elevators on the top floor was routinely bricked over before foreign visitors, such as American inspection teams led by [[Floyd L. Culler, Jr.]], were permitted to enter, effectively concealing the underground operations. No outsider is known to have ever entered the reprocessing plant itself.[^1] + +Within Machon 2, plutonium, a by-product of the fission process in the reactor, is chemically extracted from spent uranium rods. These rods must first be cooled for weeks in water-filled tanks to reduce radioactivity by several thousand times before reprocessing can begin. Even then, the rods remain lethal and are handled exclusively by remote control from behind lead shielding. The production hall, where the spent uranium rods undergo reprocessing, dominates levels one through four underground. Work here is monitored from a large control room, which includes an observation area known to technicians as "Golda's Balcony," a reference to [[Golda Meir]]'s frequent visits after she became prime minister.[^1] + +According to Vanunu, the chemical processing results in a weekly average of nine "buttons" of pure plutonium, with a combined weight of 1.2 kilograms. The Tunnel operates around the clock for thirty-four weeks a year, shutting down from July to November for routine maintenance and repair. The reprocessing methods employed are described as routine, utilizing industrial solvents and solutions similar to those used at the Savannah River Plant in [[South Carolina]]. If Vanunu's reported production rate of 1.2 kilograms weekly is accurate, the reactor would need to operate at approximately 120 to 150 megawatts—more than five times its officially stated output—and consume nearly one hundred tons of uranium ore annually, producing enough enriched materials for four to a dozen or more bombs a year, depending on warhead design.[^1] + +### Machon 3 + +Machon 3 is responsible for converting lithium 6 into a solid form, which is then prepared for insertion into nuclear warheads. Additionally, this facility processes natural uranium for use in the reactor.[^1] + +### Machon 4 + +This building houses the waste treatment plant, which manages the radioactive residue generated from the chemical reprocessing activities conducted in Machon 2.[^1] + +### Machon 5 + +Machon 5 is where the uranium rods, after being processed in Machon 3, are coated with aluminum. This coating prepares them for consumption within the reactor. Once stacked in the reactor's core, these rods provide the necessary fuel to sustain a chain reaction and capture weapons-grade isotopes of plutonium.[^1] + +### Machon 6 + +Machon 6 serves as a central utility and power facility, providing basic services and energy for the entire [[Dimona]] complex.[^1] + +### Machon 8 + +Machon 8 contains a laboratory dedicated to testing samples and experimenting with new manufacturing processes. It is also the site of Special Unit 840, where Israeli scientists have developed a gas centrifuge method for enriching uranium, specifically for weapons applications.[^1] + +### Machon 9 + +This facility is equipped with a laser-isotope-reprocessing system, which is used for the enrichment of uranium.[^1] + +### Machon 10 + +Machon 10 is where depleted uranium—uranium with very little or no uranium 235 remaining—is chemically isolated. This depleted uranium is then prepared for eventual shipment to the Israeli Defense Force or for sale to arms manufacturers in [[Europe]] and elsewhere, where it is used in the production of bullets, armor plating, and artillery and bomb shells.[^1] + +### Warhead Fabrication and Assembly + +Within Machon 2, on level five, the plutonium is fabricated by machine in a secure area. This is the only floor to which [[Mordecai Vanunu]] was denied access. This level contains separate, isolated rooms where weapons-grade plutonium, now in metal form, is stored inside sealed glove boxes filled with argon, an inert gas. Workers manipulate remote-controlled robotic devices by hand to mold plutonium pellets into microscopically thin hemispheres for insertion into nuclear warheads. Other chemicals crucial to the Israeli nuclear arsenal, such as lithium compounds and beryllium, are also machine-fabricated on this level. The milling process requires exquisite machinery due to the extremely tight tolerances necessary for a functional bomb core; even a microscopic flaw can significantly reduce the yield or lead to a failure.[^1] + +Once completed, the weapons parts are transported by convoys of unmarked cars, under armed guard, to another undisclosed facility north of [[Dimona]] for final assembly into warheads. Israeli officials have indicated that this final stage of warhead production occurs at a defense plant north of [[Haifa]], operated by [[Rafael]], [[Israel]]'s top-secret research and manufacturing agency responsible for its most sensitive weaponry.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 15. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Neutron Bomb.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Neutron Bomb.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..64702eeb --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Neutron Bomb.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Nuclear Weapon +--- +A neutron bomb is a type of thermonuclear weapon that utilizes enhanced radiation and minimal blast to kill living organisms within a limited range, with limited damage to property. It is a two-stage thermonuclear device that uses tritium and deuterium to maximize the release of neutrons. These weapons first came into the American stockpile in the mid-1970s.[^1] + +[[Mordecai Vanunu]]'s photographs provided evidence that [[Israel]] was capable of manufacturing one of the most sophisticated weapons in the nuclear arsenal—a low-yield neutron bomb. The opening of Unit 93 at [[Dimona]] in 1984, a new facility for large-scale production of tritium, suggested that full-scale production of neutron weapons began then, as up to twenty grams of tritium are used in each neutron warhead.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 15. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..37864863 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Treaty + - Nuclear +--- +The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) is an international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament. [[Iraq]] was a party to the 1968 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and its nuclear reactor at [[Osirak]] was inspected by the [[International Atomic Energy Agency|IAEA]] in January 1981 under the provisions of this treaty.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 1. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Nuclear Proliferation.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Nuclear Proliferation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..963f4984 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Nuclear Proliferation.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Nuclear + - Politics +--- +Nuclear proliferation refers to the spread of nuclear weapons, fissionable material, and weapons-applicable nuclear technology and information to nations not recognized as "nuclear weapon states" by the [[Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty|NPT]]. The [[United States]] government, particularly under President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], publicly opposed nuclear proliferation. However, the bureaucracy often mirrored the ambivalence and hypocrisy at the top of the American government regarding a nuclear-armed [[Israel]], pretending that American inspections amounted to proof that [[Israel]] was not building the bomb.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 11. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e56e7760 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Treaty + - Nuclear +--- +The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty refers to international agreements aimed at prohibiting nuclear weapons tests. By December 1960, [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] and [[Nikita Khrushchev]] had made steady progress in drafting a comprehensive treaty banning all nuclear tests, and such testing was suspended by both nations until September 1961. This success led to an overall heightened sensitivity about nuclear proliferation.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 6. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Samson Option.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Samson Option.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ccc8cbde --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/NUCLEAR/Samson Option.md @@ -0,0 +1,36 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Israel + - Nuclear +--- +The [[Samson Option]] is a concept deeply ingrained in [[Israel]]'s national security doctrine, referring to the idea that [[Israel]] possesses a nuclear arsenal that it would use as a last resort to prevent its destruction, even if it means causing massive destruction to its enemies. The name derives from the biblical figure Samson, who, captured by the Philistines, pulled down the pillars of Dagon's Temple, killing himself and his enemies. For [[Israel]]'s nuclear advocates, the Samson Option became another way of saying "Never again," echoing the sentiment of survivors of the Holocaust.[^1] + +[[Seymour Hersh|Seymour Hersh's]] book, *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*, published in 1991, details how [[Israel]] secretly became a nuclear power and how this secret was largely ignored or sanctioned by top political and military officials of the [[United States]] since the [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] years. The book also explores the origins and implications of this doctrine.[^2] + +### Origins and Development + +The concept of the Samson Option was a central argument for [[Israel]]'s nuclear advocates, who believed that only nuclear weapons could provide the absolute and final deterrent to the Arab threat. They argued that a nuclear arsenal would convince Arab nations, bolstered by rapidly growing Soviet economic and military aid, that they must renounce all plans for military conquest of [[Israel]] and agree to a peace settlement. This was seen as a way to ensure that there would be "no more Masadas" in [[Israel]]'s history, referencing the ancient Jewish stronghold where defenders chose mass suicide over defeat.[^1] + +Key figures like [[Ernst David Bergmann]], [[David Ben-Gurion]], and [[Shimon Peres]] were early proponents of developing [[Israel]]'s nuclear capabilities, with the public pursuit of peaceful nuclear energy serving as a cover for their weapons ambitions. They sought private financing from wealthy American and European Jews to maintain the secrecy of the program.[^3] + +### Political and Military Debates + +The pursuit of the Samson Option was not without internal opposition within [[Israel]]. Many senior members of the ruling [[Mapai Party]] viewed an Israeli bomb as suicidal, too expensive, and too reminiscent of the horrors of World War II. [[Levi Eshkol]], as finance minister and later prime minister, was a perennial critic of the nuclear program, arguing that the immense cost diverted funds from essential conventional military needs and social programs. He questioned the necessity of such an investment when no neighboring Arab nation possessed nuclear weapons.[^1] + +Old-fashioned military men like [[Yigal Allon]] and [[Yitzhak Rabin]] initially believed that [[Israel]]'s advantage lay in the quality of its conventional military personnel, viewing nuclear weapons as a great equalizer that would make a nuclear-armed [[Egypt]] far more dangerous. However, [[Moshe Dayan]] became a strong proponent of the bomb, convinced that [[Israel]] could not depend on [[America]] to deter a Soviet attack and that a credible Israeli nuclear threat was necessary to influence superpower actions in the [[Middle East]].[^1] + +### Implementation and Implications + +By early 1968, [[Moshe Dayan]] unilaterally pushed [[Dimona]] into full-scale production, leading to the manufacture of four or five warheads a year. This decision was made without a formal cabinet resolution, but was widely applauded by the top layer of national security officials. The first assembly line bomb was reportedly welded with the phrase: "NEVER AGAIN."[^1] + +The Samson Option implies a strategy of deliberate ambiguity regarding [[Israel]]'s nuclear capabilities. This "bomb in the basement" approach aimed to deter potential adversaries without explicitly confirming possession, thereby avoiding international condemnation and a regional nuclear arms race. However, this ambiguity also led to constant international pressure and scrutiny, particularly from the [[United States]], which sought to prevent nuclear proliferation.[^1] + +During the desperate early days of the 1973 [[Yom Kippur War]], faced with the imminent collapse of Israeli forces, the leadership resolved to arm and target its nuclear arsenal as a last resort, implementing the Samson Option. This drastic step was also intended to force the [[United States]] to begin an immediate and massive resupply of the Israeli military. The initial target list included Egyptian and Syrian military headquarters. While no weapons were targeted on the [[Soviet Union]], it was understood that the Soviets would quickly learn of the nuclear arming.[^4] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 10. +[^2]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Author's Note. +[^3]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. +[^4]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 17. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Eyeless Sight.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Eyeless Sight.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..70b7047a --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Eyeless Sight.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Eyeless Sight +tags: + - concept + - psi + - clairvoyance +description: Eyeless sight is a claimed psychic ability to perceive visual information without the use of the eyes. +--- + +[[Eyeless Sight]] is a claimed [[Psi|psychic]] ability to perceive visual information without the use of the eyes. It is a form of [[Clairvoyance]] and was demonstrated by [[Uri Geller]] in his stage performances, where he would, while blindfolded, accurately describe three-digit numbers or capital cities written on a blackboard.[^1] + +In [[China]], during the [[Extraordinary Powers Craze]], children were reported to possess similar abilities, being able to read with their fingers, hands, and feet. Chinese air force scientists even proposed that the children's minds could produce "rays similar to microwaves" that enabled this form of perception.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Mind-to-Mind Telepathy.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Mind-to-Mind Telepathy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c41527f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Mind-to-Mind Telepathy.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Mind-to-Mind Telepathy +tags: + - concept + - psi + - telepathy +description: Mind-to-mind telepathy refers to the direct mental communication of thoughts, feelings, or ideas between individuals. +--- + +[[Mind-to-Mind Telepathy]] refers to the direct mental communication of thoughts, feelings, or ideas between individuals without the use of conventional sensory channels. It is a form of [[Telepathy]] and a subject of study within [[Parapsychology]].[^1] + +In the context of the *Phenomena* text, [[Edgar Mitchell]], the Apollo 14 astronaut, conducted a secret mind-to-mind telepathy experiment during his Moon voyage. He acted as the sender, while a Swedish-born psychic named Olaf Johnson served as the receiver on Earth. This experiment, though its results were statistically close to chance, highlights the interest in exploring telepathy for long-distance communication, even in extreme environments like space.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Out-of-Body Experience.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Out-of-Body Experience.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..df80a673 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Out-of-Body Experience.md @@ -0,0 +1,26 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Out-of-Body Experience +tags: + - concept + - consciousness + - psi +description: An out-of-body experience (OBE) is a sensation of consciousness leaving the physical body. +--- + +An [[Out-of-Body Experience]] (OBE) is a sensation of consciousness leaving the physical body. It is a phenomenon often reported by individuals with [[Psi|psychic]] abilities or those undergoing [[Near-Death Experience|near-death experiences]]. OBEs are a subject of study within [[Parapsychology]].[^1] + +In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, several key figures reported experiencing OBEs: + +* [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] had out-of-body experiences as a teenager, sometimes using this ability to "float" to distant locations, which contributed to his interest in the paranormal.[^1] + +* [[Ingo Swann]] claimed to have OBEs and even used them to view objects hidden in a laboratory, which was one of the feats that brought him to the attention of [[Hal Puthoff]] at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]].[^1] + +* [[Pat Price]] also had OBEs, which he claimed to use for psychic spying, drifting around the globe at night to perceive events. His ability to perform "Scanex" (scanning-extended) remote viewing, an eyes-closed altered-state form of psychic spying, is related to OBEs.[^1] + +* [[Joe McMoneagle]] experienced a profound OBE during his [[Near-Death Experience|near-death experience]] in 1970, where he found himself standing upright, looking down at his physical, dying body. This experience significantly enhanced his psychic abilities.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Precognition.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Precognition.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..52041180 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Precognition.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Precognition +tags: + - concept + - psi + - parapsychology +description: Precognition is the claimed psychic ability to perceive or predict future events. +--- + +[[Precognition]] is the claimed [[Psi|psychic]] ability to perceive or predict future events. It is a form of [[Psi|psi]] ability and a subject of study within [[Parapsychology]]. While the future is often described as opaque and confused in remote viewing, there were instances where precognition appeared to work with remarkable accuracy.[^1] + +In the context of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], precognition was explored through various means, including [[Associative Remote Viewing|Associative Remote Viewing]] (ARV), where remote viewers would attempt to precognize future events by describing associated objects. [[Pat Price]] famously demonstrated precognitive abilities by predicting the ceasefire date of the Yom Kippur War and accurately describing the Rinconada Park water tanks, which had existed in the past but were not present at the time of his viewing. [[Hella Hammid]] also showed strong precognitive talents, accurately describing targets even before they were randomly selected.[^1] + +However, the book also highlights the challenges of precognition, noting that "time was the slipperiest dimension." Remote viewers sometimes found themselves in the past even when tasked with the present, and attempts to predict complex future events, such as the outcome of the U.S. Embassy construction in Moscow, often resulted in confused or inaccurate data, suggesting that the future is not always fixed or easily perceived.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Psi.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Psi.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c40b898c --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Psi.md @@ -0,0 +1,33 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Psi +tags: + - concept + - parapsychology +description: Psi is a general term in parapsychology for psychic phenomena, encompassing abilities such as extrasensory perception (ESP) and psychokinesis (PK). +--- + +[[Psi]] is a general term in [[Parapsychology]] for psychic phenomena, encompassing abilities such as [[Extrasensory Perception|extrasensory perception]] (ESP) and [[Psychokinesis|psychokinesis]] (PK). The concept of psi has been explored throughout history, from ancient shamans and prophets to modern scientific research. In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, psi is the underlying phenomenon investigated by programs like the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]] for military and intelligence applications.[^1] + +## Manifestations of Psi + +Psi can manifest in various forms, including: + +* **Clairvoyance**: The ability to perceive objects or events without the use of the known senses, often at a distance or hidden from view. [[Remote Viewing]] is a specific application of clairvoyance.[^1] + +* **Precognition**: The ability to perceive or predict future events. This was explored in techniques like [[Associative Remote Viewing|Associative Remote Viewing]].[^1] + +* **Telepathy**: The direct mental communication of thoughts, feelings, or ideas from one mind to another without the use of conventional sensory channels. The [[The Nautilus (Telepathy Project)|Nautilus (Telepathy Project)]] was a fabricated story that spurred Soviet research into telepathy.[^1] + +* **Psychokinesis (PK)**: The ability to influence physical systems, objects, or events with the mind, without physical interaction. This includes phenomena like metal bending, as demonstrated by [[Uri Geller]], or affecting the swing rate of a pendulum.[^1] + +## Scientific Investigation and Challenges + +Scientific investigation into psi has a long and controversial history. Early psychical research, which emerged from the study of hypnosis, later transformed into parapsychology, seeking to apply rigorous scientific methods to the study of psi. Despite efforts by researchers like [[J. B. Rhine]] and organizations like the [[Parapsychological Association]], psi research has largely remained outside mainstream science, facing skepticism and the "giggle factor" due to the lack of tangible, repeatable results and real-world applications that could convince the broader scientific community.[^1] + +However, government interest in psi, particularly from the [[Soviet Union|Soviet Union]] and the [[United States|U.S.]], led to covert research programs like the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], driven by concerns about a potential "[[Psi Gap|psi gap]]." These programs explored the operational utility of psi for intelligence gathering, despite the scientific controversies.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Psychokinesis.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Psychokinesis.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d6707aad --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Psychokinesis.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Psychokinesis +tags: + - concept + - psi + - parapsychology +description: Psychokinesis (PK) is a claimed psychic ability allowing a person to influence a physical system without physical interaction. +--- + +[[Psychokinesis]] (PK), also known as telekinesis, is a claimed [[Psi|psychic]] ability allowing a person to influence a physical system without physical interaction. This can include phenomena such as bending metal, moving objects, or affecting electronic equipment with the mind. PK is one of the core phenomena studied within [[Parapsychology]].[^1] + +In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, PK was a subject of intense interest, particularly in relation to [[Uri Geller]]'s demonstrations of metal bending and his apparent ability to scramble electronic equipment. While Geller's psychokinetic displays often occurred under less controlled conditions, leading to suspicions of sleight of hand, his feats spurred scientific investigation into the phenomenon at institutions like [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] and [[Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory]].[^1] + +Experiments were conducted to test PK, including attempts to affect magnetometers, clock pendulums, and even laser beams. The 1972 [[Controlled Offensive Behavior - USSR]] report highlighted Soviet interest in telekinetics as a potential military application. Despite the challenges in scientifically proving PK, its potential implications for military and intelligence applications, such as influencing enemy equipment, made it a subject of continued, albeit controversial, research.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Remote Action.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Remote Action.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..14b46ebc --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Remote Action.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Remote Action +tags: + - concept + - psi + - psychokinesis +description: Remote action is a term used in parapsychology to describe the influence of a person's mind on a physical system without direct interaction. +--- + +[[Remote Action]] (RA) is a term used in [[Parapsychology]] to describe the influence of a person's mind on a physical system without direct interaction. It is a broader term for [[Psychokinesis]] (PK) and was used in the context of the U.S. government's psychic research programs to describe the potential for individuals to affect physical objects or systems from a distance.[^1] + +The term was often used in conjunction with [[Remote Perturbation]] (RP), which refers to the specific act of disturbing or altering a physical system through mental influence.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Remote Perturbation.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Remote Perturbation.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..2ef77253 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Remote Perturbation.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Remote Perturbation +tags: + - concept + - psi + - psychokinesis +description: Remote perturbation is a term used in parapsychology to describe the act of disturbing or altering a physical system through mental influence. +--- + +[[Remote Perturbation]] (RP) is a term used in [[Parapsychology]] to describe the specific act of disturbing or altering a physical system through mental influence. It is a form of [[Psychokinesis]] (PK) and was used in the context of the U.S. government's psychic research programs to describe the potential for individuals to affect physical objects or systems from a distance.[^1] + +The term was often used in conjunction with [[Remote Action]] (RA), which is a broader term for the influence of a person's mind on a physical system without direct interaction.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Remote Viewing.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Remote Viewing.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..61f4e00d --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Remote Viewing.md @@ -0,0 +1,36 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Remote Viewing +tags: + - concept + - parapsychology + - intelligence +description: Remote viewing is a claimed psychic ability to perceive information about a distant or unseen target, often used for intelligence gathering. +--- + +[[Remote Viewing]] is a claimed [[Parapsychology|psychic]] ability to perceive information about a distant or unseen target, often used for intelligence gathering. The term was coined by [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]] at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] to describe a new, more scientific and sober approach to clairvoyance, distinguishing it from older, more sensationalized terms like ESP or psychic perception. It was the central focus of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], a U.S. government-sponsored program investigating psychic phenomena for military and intelligence applications.[^1] + +## Methodologies and Techniques + +Remote viewing encompasses various methodologies and techniques: + +* [[Coordinate Remote Viewing|Coordinate Remote Viewing (CRV)]]: Developed by [[Ingo Swann]], this method involves using geographical coordinates to precisely and economically direct a psychic's perception to a target without revealing its identity. This was a breakthrough in making remote viewing operationally viable.[^1] + +* [[Outbound Remote Viewing|Outbound Remote Viewing]]: In this method, an "outbound" experimenter visits a target site while the psychic, back at the laboratory, attempts to visualize the experimenter's surroundings. This allows for richer feedback, as the psychic can later visit the site themselves.[^1] + +* [[Extended Remote Viewing|Extended Remote Viewing (ERV)]]: This refers to deeper altered-state methods of psychic spying, often favored by the unit at [[Fort Meade]].[^1] + +* [[Associative Remote Viewing|Associative Remote Viewing (ARV)]]: A technique used for [[Precognition|precognition]], where objects or geographic locations are used as surrogates for numbers or other abstract data that are difficult to remote-view directly. For example, a teddy bear might represent a specific number in a lottery, and the remote viewer would describe the teddy bear to predict the number.[^1] + +## Characteristics and Limitations + +Remote viewing, like any human faculty, has limitations. Numbers and letters are generally difficult to remote-view accurately. Visually dramatic targets with fixed and long-established locations are usually easier to perceive. The longer a target has existed at a given site, the easier it is to remote-view. Conversely, the more a target moves, the more it blurs in the remote viewer's perception. Remote viewers often find it difficult to describe a target's surroundings in enough detail to pinpoint its exact location, and reading signs or specific alphanumeric data is challenging.[^1] + +## Aftereffects and Challenges + +Intense remote viewing sessions can have aftereffects similar to those of hallucinogenic drugs, including heightened sensory perception and a feeling of a "natural high." However, prolonged and monotonous tasking can lead to mental fatigue, emotional fragility, and burnout. The controversial nature of remote viewing also led to the "[[Giggle Factor|giggle factor]]" within intelligence communities, where skepticism and fear of ridicule often hindered its acceptance and utilization.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Telepathy.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Telepathy.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b92f4be7 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Telepathy.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Telepathy +tags: + - concept + - psi + - parapsychology +description: Telepathy is the direct mental communication of thoughts, feelings, or ideas from one mind to another without the use of conventional sensory channels. +--- + +[[Telepathy]] is the direct mental communication of thoughts, feelings, or ideas from one mind to another without the use of conventional sensory channels. It is a form of [[Psi|psychic]] ability and a subject of study within [[Parapsychology]].[^1] + +In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, telepathy gained significant attention due to the sensational 1960 French magazine article, [[The Nautilus (Telepathy Project)|"The Secret of the Nautilus,"]] which claimed successful telepathic communication with the USS Nautilus submarine. Although later debunked as a fabrication, this story spurred extensive Soviet [[Parapsychology|psi]] research, with figures like [[Leonid Vasiliev]] and [[I. M. Kogan]] focusing on telepathy experiments. Kogan, for instance, attempted to characterize psi data transmission in terms familiar to communications specialists, concluding that psi data could be transmitted at very low bit rates.[^1] + +Within the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], telepathy was explored, particularly in the context of "telepathic interrogations." [[Ken Bell]] famously used this technique to extract information from a [[KGB]] agent in South Africa, and [[Joe McMoneagle]] also employed it during the tracking of a Soviet T-72 tank. Experiments were also conducted at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] to augment ordinary telepathy with electroencephalograph (EEG) devices, aiming to develop a telepathic system for long-distance communication, potentially with submerged submarine crews.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Temporal Displacement.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Temporal Displacement.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5515c41c --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/PSI_PHENOMENA/Temporal Displacement.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Temporal Displacement +tags: + - concept + - psi + - remoteviewing +description: Temporal displacement in remote viewing refers to the phenomenon where a psychic perceives a target in a different time period (past or future) than the present moment. +--- + +[[Temporal Displacement]] in [[Remote Viewing]] refers to the phenomenon where a psychic perceives a target in a different time period (past or future) than the present moment. This can manifest as a remote viewer describing a location as it existed years ago, or even as it might exist in the future ([[Precognition]]).[^1] + +[[Pat Price]] demonstrated temporal displacement during a remote viewing session of a North African embassy, where he described the building as a dormitory or hospital from an earlier time period, without a large iron gate that existed in the present. This phenomenon highlights the complex and often unpredictable nature of psychic perception, where the boundaries of time can appear fluid.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Analytical Overlay.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Analytical Overlay.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..7dec5942 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Analytical Overlay.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Analytical Overlay +tags: + - concept + - remoteviewing + - bias +description: Analytical overlay refers to the conscious or unconscious imposition of a remote viewer's existing knowledge, beliefs, or biases onto their psychic perceptions, potentially distorting the accuracy of the data. +--- + +[[Analytical Overlay]] refers to the conscious or unconscious imposition of a remote viewer's existing knowledge, beliefs, or biases onto their psychic perceptions, potentially distorting the accuracy of the data. It is a significant challenge in [[Remote Viewing]] and other [[ESP]] phenomena, as the mind naturally tries to make sense of incoming information by fitting it into familiar frameworks.[^1] + +In the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], protocols were developed to minimize analytical overlay, such as using "blind" tasking where the remote viewer had no prior knowledge of the target. However, it remained a persistent issue, as seen in the search for General Dozier, where the volume of vague and disparate information from remote viewers made it difficult to separate signal from noise. [[Dale Graff]] worked to cull this information and narrow search parameters, recognizing the impact of analytical overlay on the data.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Associative Remote Viewing.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Associative Remote Viewing.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c136aded --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Associative Remote Viewing.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Associative Remote Viewing +tags: + - concept + - remoteviewing + - methodology +description: Associative Remote Viewing (ARV) is a precognitive remote viewing technique where objects or geographic locations are used as surrogates for abstract data. +--- + +[[Associative Remote Viewing]] (ARV) is a precognitive [[Remote Viewing]] technique where objects or geographic locations are used as surrogates for abstract data, such as numbers or letters, which are generally difficult to remote-view directly. The idea is that the remote viewer precognizes their own future perception of an object, rather than directly perceiving the abstract data itself.[^1] + +In the context of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]], [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] experimented with ARV, attempting to use it to predict Maryland lottery numbers. In these informal experiments, objects were assigned to numbers, and remote viewers would describe the objects they would be presented with on a future date, corresponding to the winning lottery numbers. However, these attempts were unsuccessful. ARV was also used in treasure hunt schemes, where remote viewers would try to narrow down search areas by associating impressions with locations on a map.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Coordinate Remote Viewing.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Coordinate Remote Viewing.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..c4d32e43 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Coordinate Remote Viewing.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Coordinate Remote Viewing +tags: + - concept + - remoteviewing + - methodology +description: Coordinate Remote Viewing (CRV) is a specific methodology of remote viewing that uses geographical coordinates to direct a psychic's perception to a target. +--- + +[[Coordinate Remote Viewing]] (CRV) is a specific methodology of [[Remote Viewing]] that uses geographical coordinates (latitude and longitude) to direct a psychic's perception to a target. This technique was proposed by [[Ingo Swann]] to [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]] at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] in April 1973. Swann believed that using coordinates would allow psychics to be directed to a target precisely and economically, without actually being told what the target was, thus preventing conscious imagination from interfering with the psychic impressions.[^1] + +Initially, Puthoff and Targ were skeptical of the idea, arguing that coordinate systems were arbitrary human creations and that a psychic's success might be attributed to eidetic memory or cryptomnesia. However, Swann persisted, and after informal tests showed promising results, the protocol was tightened, with coordinates being selected by a third party unknown to the researchers and the psychic. The accuracy of CRV was famously demonstrated in the Sugar Grove incident, where Swann and [[Pat Price]] accurately described a secret [[NSA]] facility despite being given coordinates for a different location.[^1] + +CRV became a fundamental technique within the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]] (also known as [[STARGATE PROJECT|Grill Flame]]), allowing for the operational application of remote viewing for intelligence gathering. It was distinguished from other methodologies like Outbound Remote Viewing and Extended Remote Viewing.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Extended Remote Viewing.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Extended Remote Viewing.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8131e316 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Extended Remote Viewing.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Extended Remote Viewing +tags: + - concept + - remoteviewing + - methodology +description: Extended Remote Viewing (ERV) refers to deeper altered-state methods of psychic spying, often favored by the Stargate Project unit at Fort Meade. +--- + +[[Extended Remote Viewing]] (ERV) refers to deeper altered-state methods of [[Remote Viewing]], often favored by the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]] unit at [[Fort Meade]]. This methodology involves the remote viewer entering a profound trance-like state to perceive information about a distant or unseen target. Unlike [[Coordinate Remote Viewing|Coordinate Remote Viewing]] (CRV), which often involves more structured protocols, ERV emphasizes a deeper immersion into the psychic experience.[^1] + +[[Mel Riley]] was known for his ability to enter a deep, trancelike state during remote viewing sessions, which aligns with the characteristics of ERV. The unit's move to quieter buildings at Fort Meade (2560 and 2561) was partly to facilitate these deeper states, as remote viewers in trance were highly sensitive to sounds.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Outbound Remote Viewing.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Outbound Remote Viewing.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5c7a8de7 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Outbound Remote Viewing.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Outbound Remote Viewing +tags: + - concept + - remoteviewing + - methodology +description: Outbound Remote Viewing is a remote viewing methodology where an experimenter visits a target site while the psychic attempts to perceive their surroundings. +--- + +[[Outbound Remote Viewing]] is a [[Remote Viewing]] methodology where an "outbound" experimenter visits a target site while the psychic, typically back at a laboratory, attempts to perceive and describe the experimenter's surroundings. This method allows for richer feedback, as the psychic can later visit the actual site to compare their impressions with reality.[^1] + +This protocol was used in early remote viewing experiments at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]]. For example, [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Earle Jones]] served as outbound experimenters for [[Pat Price]], who accurately described their location at Hoover Tower. Similarly, [[Frederick Atwater|Skip Atwater]] used this method in early sessions with [[Mel Riley]] at [[Fort Meade]]. The technique was also employed in experiments with [[Hella Hammid]], where she demonstrated precognitive abilities by accurately describing a site even before it was randomly selected for the outbound experimenter.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Outbounder-Beacon Experiment.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Outbounder-Beacon Experiment.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..841f06f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Outbounder-Beacon Experiment.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Outbounder-Beacon Experiment +tags: + - concept + - remoteviewing + - methodology +description: The outbounder-beacon experiment was a remote viewing protocol developed at SRI where an experimenter would visit a target site while the psychic attempted to perceive their surroundings. +--- + +The [[Outbounder-Beacon Experiment]] was a [[Remote Viewing]] protocol developed by [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Russell Targ]] at [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] for the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]'s psychic research program. In this experiment, two scientists or researchers, designated as the "outbounder team," would travel to a randomly selected target site. At a predetermined time, one of them would mentally survey the site, acting as a "beacon" for the psychic back at SRI.[^1] + +The psychic, typically in a [[Faraday Cage]], would then attempt to perceive and sketch what the outbounder was seeing and sending telepathically. This method allowed for richer feedback, as the psychic's impressions could be directly compared to the actual target site. The outbounder-beacon experiment was a key component in the early stages of the [[STARGATE PROJECT|Stargate Project]] and was used to test psychics like [[Ingo Swann]] and [[Pat Price]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Psychotronic Research.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Psychotronic Research.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..bab0d08a --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/RESEARCH_METHODOLOGIES/Psychotronic Research.md @@ -0,0 +1,19 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-22 +updated: 2025-07-22 +title: Psychotronic Research +tags: + - concept + - SovietUnion + - psi + - research +description: Psychotronic Research was the Eastern European pseudo-technical term for psi research, particularly focusing on the interaction between human psychology and electronics. +--- + +[[Psychotronic Research]] was the Eastern European pseudo-technical term for [[Psi|psi]] research, particularly focusing on the interaction between human psychology and electronics. In 1973, [[Hal Puthoff]] and [[Ingo Swann]] traveled to Prague for the First International Conference on Psychotronic Research. At this conference, Soviet and Eastern European psi researchers were particularly interested in how [[Stanford Research Institute|SRI]] managed to keep its psychic subjects mentally stable, suggesting that some of their own subjects had begun to experience serious problems.[^1] + +This field of research was part of the broader Soviet and Eastern European efforts in [[Parapsychology|parapsychology]], which contributed to concerns within the U.S. intelligence community about a potential "[[Psi Gap|psi gap]]."[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Animate Physics.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Animate Physics.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..85f7fba8 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Animate Physics.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Animate Physics +tags: + - concept + - physics + - biology +description: Animate physics is a term used to describe the study of physical phenomena related to living organisms, particularly in the context of consciousness and psi abilities. +--- + +[[Animate Physics]] is a term used to describe the study of physical phenomena related to living organisms, particularly in the context of consciousness and [[Psi|psi]] abilities. It contrasts with "inanimate physics," which focuses on non-living matter.[^1] + +[[Hal Puthoff]] became interested in animate physics, seeking to understand how quantum theory might account for biological life processes and the source of human energy. He explored the idea that there might be fields and forces involved in biological systems that are not accounted for in traditional physics, such as the theoretical subatomic particle, the tachyon.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Critical Mass.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Critical Mass.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..d544d88b --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Critical Mass.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Nuclear + - Physics +--- +Critical mass refers to the smallest amount of fissile material needed for a sustained nuclear chain reaction. [[Francis Perrin]], a French scientist, was the first to publish a formula for calculating the critical mass of uranium in 1939.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Waves.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Waves.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f89e80e0 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Waves.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Waves +tags: + - concept + - technology + - physics +description: Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) waves are electromagnetic waves with frequencies between 3 and 300 Hz, known for their ability to penetrate water and earth. +--- + +[[Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Waves]] are electromagnetic waves with frequencies between 3 and 300 Hz. They are known for their ability to penetrate water and earth, making them useful for communication with deeply submerged submarines.[^1] + +In the context of [[Parapsychology]], ELF waves were hypothesized as a possible carrier for [[ESP]] and [[Telepathy]]. [[Andrija Puharich]] and Jack Hammond conducted experiments using a [[Faraday Cage]] to test this theory, as Faraday cages do not block ELF waves. The idea was that if psychic abilities were not degraded inside the cage, it might suggest a connection to ELF waves.[^1] + +The [[U.S. Navy]] also invested significantly in ELF research for submarine communication. The alleged Soviet "rabbit experiment," where a mother rabbit's brain activity was said to correlate with the death of her kits on a submerged submarine, further fueled speculation about ELF waves as a medium for psychic information transfer.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Faraday Cage.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Faraday Cage.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..4cd528a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Faraday Cage.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Faraday Cage +tags: + - concept + - technology + - physics +description: A Faraday cage is an enclosure used to block electromagnetic fields. +--- + +A [[Faraday Cage]] is an enclosure used to block electromagnetic fields. It is named after the English scientist Michael Faraday, who invented it in 1836. A Faraday cage's operation depends on the fact that an external electrical field causes the electric charges within the cage's conducting material to be distributed such that they cancel the field's effect in the cage's interior.[^1] + +In the context of psychic research, Faraday cages were used to test the theory that [[ESP]] is a form of electromagnetic radiation. [[Andrija Puharich]] and Jack Hammond built a Faraday cage at the [[Round Table Foundation]] to test psychics like [[Eileen Garrett]]. The fact that Garrett's ESP scores were reportedly higher inside the cage suggested that some form of electromagnetic shielding might enhance psychic functioning. The only electromagnetic waves that can penetrate a Faraday cage are extremely low frequency (ELF) waves, which led to further research into the connection between ELF waves and ESP.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Kirlian Photography.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Kirlian Photography.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a04b2f55 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Kirlian Photography.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Kirlian Photography +tags: + - concept + - technology + - paranormal +description: Kirlian photography is a technique for capturing images of objects placed on a photographic plate connected to a high-voltage source, producing a glow or aura around the object. +--- + +[[Kirlian Photography]] is a technique for capturing images of objects placed on a photographic plate connected to a high-voltage source, producing a glow or aura around the object. It is named after Semyon Kirlian, a Russian electrician who discovered the effect in 1939.[^1] + +In the context of [[Parapsychology]], Kirlian photography was believed by some to capture the "aura" or "biofield" of living organisms, which was thought to be related to [[Psi|psychic]] energy. [[Dale Graff]]'s 1977 report, "[[Paraphysics R&D - Warsaw Pact]]," discussed Soviet research in Kirlian photography as part of their broader investigation into paranormal phenomena.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Nuclear Fission.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Nuclear Fission.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8f494406 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Nuclear Fission.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Concept + - Nuclear + - Physics +--- +Nuclear fission is a nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller, lighter nuclei, often producing gamma photons, and releasing a very large amount of energy. This process is the basis for nuclear power reactors and nuclear weapons.[^1] + +[[Ernst David Bergmann]] was introduced to the world of the atom and nuclear fission in the early 1920s as a student at the Emil Fischer Institute of the University of Berlin. He was part of a circle of eminent scientists who were at the cutting edge of unraveling the mystery of nuclear fission in the prewar years.[^1] + +### Footnotes + +[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 2. \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Tachyon.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Tachyon.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8a3a8362 --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Tachyon.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Tachyon +tags: + - concept + - physics + - theoretical +description: A tachyon is a hypothetical subatomic particle that travels faster than the speed of light. +--- + +A [[Tachyon]] is a hypothetical subatomic particle that travels faster than the speed of light. In theoretical physics, tachyons are not forbidden by quantum physics, and their existence has been explored as a potential explanation for phenomena that seem to defy conventional understanding.[^1] + +[[Hal Puthoff]] became interested in tachyons as a possible explanation for the unknown energy field or force that might be involved in [[Animate Physics]] and [[Psi|psi]] abilities. He hypothesized that if tachyons existed, they could provide a mechanism for instantaneous communication or influence, which could account for phenomena like [[ESP]] and [[Psychokinesis]].[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Taurus I.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Taurus I.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..90cbca5d --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Taurus I.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Taurus I +tags: + - vessel + - submersible + - technology +description: Taurus I was a state-of-the-art, five-man submersible used in Project Deep Quest to locate an underwater shipwreck. +--- + +*[[Taurus I]]* was a state-of-the-art, five-man submersible capable of traveling to a depth of 1,000 feet. It was 31 feet long and cost $3 million to build. It featured a large viewport and a claw to retrieve items from the ocean floor.[^1] + +In 1977, *Taurus I* was used in [[Project Deep Quest]], a psychic functioning experiment led by [[Stephan Schwartz]]. The submersible was used to investigate a location identified by psychics [[Ingo Swann]] and [[Hella Hammid]] as a potential shipwreck site. The project successfully located a previously unidentified shipwreck, with *Taurus I* pulling up several pieces of the wreck.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Zener Cards.md b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Zener Cards.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b61b9f2b --- /dev/null +++ b/50 - CONCEPTS & TECHNOLOGY/SCIENTIFIC_THEORIES_&_TECHNOLOGIES/Zener Cards.md @@ -0,0 +1,20 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: Zener Cards +tags: + - concept + - parapsychology + - research +description: Zener cards are a deck of five cards, each bearing a distinct symbol, used in early parapsychological experiments to test for extrasensory perception (ESP). +--- + +[[Zener Cards]] are a deck of five cards, each bearing a distinct symbol (a circle, square, wavy lines, cross, and star). They were developed by parapsychologist [[Karl Zener]] in the early 1930s and are primarily used in [[Parapsychology|parapsychological]] experiments to test for [[ESP]] (extrasensory perception).[^1] + +In these experiments, a sender concentrates on a card, and a receiver attempts to identify the symbol without any sensory cues. The results are then statistically analyzed to determine if the number of correct guesses significantly exceeds what would be expected by chance. [[J. B. Rhine]] extensively used Zener cards in his experiments at the [[Duke University Parapsychology Laboratory]].[^1] + +Zener cards were also used in various government-sponsored psychic research programs, including [[Andrija Puharich]]'s experiments with [[Eileen Garrett]] and [[Edgar Mitchell]]'s secret [[Mind-to-Mind Telepathy|mind-to-mind telepathy]] experiment during the Apollo 14 mission.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/80 - SOURCES/DOJ-OIP-INSLAW_1993.md b/80 - SOURCES/DOJ-OIP-INSLAW_1993.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..a067a5fa --- /dev/null +++ b/80 - SOURCES/DOJ-OIP-INSLAW_1993.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +aliases: ["DOJ-OIP-INSLAW_1993"] +--- +# DOJ-OIP-INSLAW_1993.pdf + +## Source: +U.S. Department of Justice. (1993). *Report of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua Regarding the Allegations of INSLAW, Inc.* (March 1993). Retrieved from [http://www.blackvault.com](http://www.blackvault.com) + +U.S. Department of Justice. (1994). *Report of the United States Department of Justice on the Review of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua's Report on the Allegations of INSLAW, Inc.* (September 27, 1994). Retrieved from [http://www.blackvault.com](http://www.blackvault.com) + +## Citations: +[^DOJ-OIP-INSLAW_1993_Bua_pX]: Nicholas J. Bua, *Report of Special Counsel Regarding the Allegations of INSLAW, Inc.* (U.S. Department of Justice, March 1993), p. X. +[^DOJ-OIP-INSLAW_1993_DOJ_Review_pX]: U.S. Department of Justice, *Report of the United States Department of Justice on the Review of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua's Report on the Allegations of INSLAW, Inc.* (September 27, 1994), p. X. diff --git a/80 - SOURCES/DOJ_1994_Report.md b/80 - SOURCES/DOJ_1994_Report.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..555c5630 --- /dev/null +++ b/80 - SOURCES/DOJ_1994_Report.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +aliases: [] +tags: + - Source +--- +# DOJ Report on Bua's Report (1994) + +U.S. Department of Justice. *Report of the United States Department of Justice On the Review of Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua's Report on the Allegations of INSLAW, Inc.* September 27, 1994. (Hereafter, "DOJ 1994 Report") + +This report summarizes the analysis and investigation undertaken by the Department of Justice following Attorney General Janet Reno's mandate to review Special Counsel Nicholas J. Bua's report and Inslaw's analysis of that report. It primarily reflects the independent conclusions reached after a detailed review of Bua's investigation and report, as well as documentation and testimony accumulated in several other investigations. The report also includes findings from new investigations into allegations raised by Inslaw after Bua's report was completed. + +The report recommends that the Attorney General adopt Bua's conclusions in their entirety, which include findings that there is no credible evidence of a conspiracy to steal PROMIS or injure Inslaw, no evidence of fraud or deceit in obtaining PROMIS, no improper influence in Judge Bason's reappointment, no improper conversion of Inslaw's bankruptcy case, and no destruction of documents. It also concludes that J. Daniel Casolaro's death was a suicide and recommends against appointing an independent prosecutor or authorizing additional compensation to Inslaw. diff --git a/80 - SOURCES/Profits of War - Ari Ben-Menashe.md b/80 - SOURCES/Profits of War - Ari Ben-Menashe.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b5bc038b --- /dev/null +++ b/80 - SOURCES/Profits of War - Ari Ben-Menashe.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Source +--- + +**Author:** [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] +**Publisher:** TrineDay +**Year:** 1992 (Reprint Edition) + +This book is a memoir by [[Ari Ben-Menashe]], detailing his alleged career in [[Israel|Israeli]] intelligence and his involvement in secret arms deals between the [[USA|U.S.]], [[Israel]], and [[Iran]], particularly concerning the [[Iran-Contra Affair]] and the release of the American hostages in Tehran. Ben-Menashe presents his first-person account of these events, often contradicting official narratives and other sources regarding his credibility and the nature of the operations he describes. + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. diff --git a/80 - SOURCES/The Secret Life of Plants.md b/80 - SOURCES/The Secret Life of Plants.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5c048ce2 --- /dev/null +++ b/80 - SOURCES/The Secret Life of Plants.md @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +--- +created: 2025-07-23 +updated: 2025-07-23 +title: The Secret Life of Plants +tags: + - book + - parapsychology + - plantconsciousness +description: The Secret Life of Plants is a 1973 book by Peter Tompkins and Christopher O. Bird that explores the concept of plant sentience and their alleged psychic abilities. +--- + +*[[The Secret Life of Plants]]* is a 1973 book by [[Peter Tompkins]] and [[Christopher O. Bird]] that explores the concept of plant sentience and their alleged psychic abilities. The book popularized the controversial experiments of [[Cleve Backster]], who claimed that plants exhibit a form of consciousness and can respond to human thoughts and emotions.[^1] + +While the book was a bestseller and sparked widespread interest in plant consciousness, it was heavily criticized by mainstream scientists for its lack of scientific rigor and its reliance on anecdotal evidence. Despite the criticism, the book contributed to the broader cultural fascination with [[Parapsychology]] and the potential for unconventional forms of perception.[^1] + +--- + +[^1]: Jacobsen, Annie. *Phenomena: The Secret History of the U.S. Government's Investigations into Extrasensory Perception and Psychokinesis*. Little, Brown and Company, 2017. diff --git a/90 - MISC/El Aqsa Mosque.md b/90 - MISC/El Aqsa Mosque.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..86adce2f --- /dev/null +++ b/90 - MISC/El Aqsa Mosque.md @@ -0,0 +1,13 @@ +--- +tags: + - Location + - Landmark + - Religion + - Jerusalem +--- +The [[El Aqsa Mosque]] is located on the [[Temple Mount]] in [[Jerusalem]], considered by Muslims to be the holiest place after [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]]. It is built over a rock imprinted with a footstep said to be that of the Prophet [[Mohammed]], who ascended to heaven from that spot.[^1] + +In August 1969, the [[El Aqsa Mosque]] was the target of an arson attack carried out by [[Michael Dennis Rohan]], an [[Australia|Australian]] member of the Church of God. [[Michael Dennis Rohan|Rohan]] believed that destroying the mosque was necessary for the rebuilding of the Third Temple and the return of Christ. This act outraged Muslims worldwide and led to calls for a jihad against [[Israel]]. [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] played a role in exposing [[Michael Dennis Rohan|Rohan's]] involvement and his connections with the [[Jewish Defense League]] (JDL).[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/90 - MISC/Entebbe Airport.md b/90 - MISC/Entebbe Airport.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..18828bc0 --- /dev/null +++ b/90 - MISC/Entebbe Airport.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Location + - Airport + - Uganda +--- +[[Entebbe Airport]] is located in [[Uganda]]. It was the site of the 1976 [[Entebbe hijacking]], where an [[Air France]] jet was diverted and landed. The hijacking led to a commando raid by [[Israel|Israeli]] forces to rescue the hostages.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/90 - MISC/Kibbutz Mishmar Hasharon.md b/90 - MISC/Kibbutz Mishmar Hasharon.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..b60512da --- /dev/null +++ b/90 - MISC/Kibbutz Mishmar Hasharon.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +--- +tags: + - Location + - Israel +--- +[[Kibbutz Mishmar Hasharon]] is a kibbutz in [[Israel]]. In 1969, [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] joined this kibbutz after he could not be drafted into the [[Israel|Israeli]] army due to his [[Iran|Iranian]] passport. While there, he studied Hebrew and performed volunteer work.[^1] + +It was at [[Kibbutz Mishmar Hasharon]] that [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] met [[Michael Dennis Rohan]], an [[Australia|Australian]] member of the Church of God, and an [[USA|American]] Baptist named Arthur. [[Michael Dennis Rohan|Rohan]] later carried out an arson attack on the [[El Aqsa Mosque]], an event that [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] helped to expose.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/90 - MISC/Liege.md b/90 - MISC/Liege.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..83330255 --- /dev/null +++ b/90 - MISC/Liege.md @@ -0,0 +1,9 @@ +--- +tags: + - Location + - Belgium +--- +[[Liege]] is a city in [[Belgium]]. It served as a hand-over point for [[USA|U.S.]] military matériel purchased from [[NATO]] stocks in [[Europe]] by [[Israel]]. [[Israel|Israeli]] chartered cargo planes would fly to [[Liege]] to pick up the matériel, and then return to [[Tel Aviv]] before transporting the weapons to [[Iran]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/90 - MISC/Marana.md b/90 - MISC/Marana.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ed074a08 --- /dev/null +++ b/90 - MISC/Marana.md @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@ +--- +tags: + - Location + - MilitaryBase + - USA +--- +[[Marana]] is a [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] airbase located near [[Tucson]], [[Arizona]]. It served as a collection point for weapons purchased by the [[USA|U.S.]] government for transfer to [[Israel]] and subsequently to [[Iran]].[^1] + +The first batch of weapons from [[Marana]] was flown out in October 1981. In February 1987, 4,000 [[TOW missile]]s were flown out of [[Marana]] Base to [[Guatemala]] and then shipped through [[Australia]] as part of a large-scale arms supply operation to [[Iran]].[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/90 - MISC/SIMWA.md b/90 - MISC/SIMWA.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..dec3ff4e --- /dev/null +++ b/90 - MISC/SIMWA.md @@ -0,0 +1,15 @@ +--- +tags: + - Agreement + - Military + - Israel + - SouthAfrica +--- +[[SIMWA]] (SADF-IDF Mutual Wartime Agreement) was a military cooperation agreement drawn up between the [[South African Defense Force]] (SADF) and the [[Israel Defense Forces]] (IDF). It was created in 1978-1979, after [[Ezer Weizman]], then [[Israel|Israeli]] Defense Minister, agreed with [[P.W. Botha]], Prime Minister of [[South Africa]], on a wartime alliance as the price for continuing nuclear tests.[^1] + +The [[SIMWA|agreement]] stipulated that if either country faced a shortage of matériel during war or military operations, the other country would provide supplies from its own stockpiles. It also included a provision for an annual meeting of the deputy chiefs of general staff, alternating between [[Israel]] and [[South Africa]].[^1] + +Under this [[SIMWA|agreement]], [[Israel]] sold 175mm artillery that could carry small nuclear devices to [[South Africa]]. [[South Africa]] also agreed to invest in [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear program and provide testing grounds in the [[Indian Ocean]] for [[Israel|Israeli]] nuclear tests.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/90 - MISC/Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.md b/90 - MISC/Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..f9910d70 --- /dev/null +++ b/90 - MISC/Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.md @@ -0,0 +1,10 @@ +--- +tags: + - Location + - RefugeeCamp + - Lebanon +--- +The [[Sabra and Shatila refugee camps]] are located in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]]. They were the site of the [[Sabra and Shatila massacres]] in September 1982, where [[Lebanese Christian militias]] carried out killings while the camps were surrounded by [[Israel|Israeli]] troops.[^1] + +### Footnotes +[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992. (Hereafter, "Profits of War") diff --git a/IMAGES/favicon-32.png b/IMAGES/favicon-32.png new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5f7d8602 Binary files /dev/null and b/IMAGES/favicon-32.png differ diff --git a/IMAGES/favicon.png b/IMAGES/favicon.png new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5f7d8602 Binary files /dev/null and b/IMAGES/favicon.png differ