UG#605 - The Institutionalized Shadows of Psychopaths (Histories of the CIA/FBI)

A two parter this week, first the FBI, then the CIA. What do these organizations do -- if anything -- which justifies their secret status and huge budgets? We begin with a recording of author Tim Weiner speaking in March 2012 at the London School of Economics on his new book, Enemies:- A History of The FBI. Weiner characterizes the FBI as being very much a product of its director of 48 years(!) J. Edgar Hoover, whom Weiner describes as 'a Machiavelli'. Although apparently a harsh critic of the FBI, he stops short of demanding a fundamental change of system, in fact concluding his speech with the unexpected sentiment that Americans are safer than a decade ago and just as free. "Let's keep our fingers crossed", he urges. I hope you'll find the depth of his scholarship on the FBI sufficient to overlook such a trivializing sentiment.

In our second hour, a vintage recording (1982?) of the classic cable TV show, Alternative Views. Alan Francovich speaks about his groundbreaking 1980 film, On Company Business - made after 5 years of research - which was the first to tackle the activities of the CIA in any depth.