CIA’s Lost Magic Manual Resurfaces

[Ichingcarpenter]

At the height of the Cold War, the Central Intelligence Agency paid $3,000 to renowned magician John Mulholland to write a manual on misdirection, concealment, and stagecraft. All known copies of the document — and a related paper, on conveying hidden signals — were believed to be destroyed in 1973. But recently, the manuals resurfaced, and have now been published as “The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception.” Topics include working a clandestine partner, slipping a pill into the drink of the unsuspecting, and “surreptitious removal of objects by women.”

This wasn’t the first time a magician worked for a western government. Harry Houdini snooped on the German and the Russian militiaries for Scotland Yard. English illusionist Jasper Maskelyne is reported to created dummy submarines and fake tanks to distract Rommel’s army during World War II. Some reports even credit him with employing flashing lights to “hide” the Suez Canal.


http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/11/cias-lost-magic-manual-resurfaces/



The Boston Globe has put together a great visual summary of some of Mulholland’s best tricks for the CIA:





http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/CIA_illusion/

[ck4829]

1. That guy on the right sure looks like Shrub

[ret5hd]

2. So your contention is that * waas the ultimate cia agent?

[tom_paine]

5. Probably not, but he was instructed by the Bush Family Personal Retainers, who ARE

The CIA HQ isn't named "The George HW Bush Building" for nothing.

the last 10 years have been a clear example of CIAtactics and techniques previously used to harm Third World Peasant Poluaces, especially those living on top of OUR resources,and turned their full might on the American Peasantry, instead with a vast and undefeatable success that continues to this day, is spite of Obama's election (and maybe because of it, since it allowed so many, including myself for a time, to continue the fantasy that the dog-and-pony-show is real)

[Raster]

3. Yes he does. That dumb, vacant stare those eight years was just a clever ruse.

Actually it wasn't just a ruse. Rethuglican central casting found the perfect rube and patsy in George W. Bush*. Poor guy, he really thought he was in control. And now he can't help but see that the biggest excuse/alibi/justification for the various nefarious acts of his pResidency was his supposed stupidity.

I maintain that one of the most courageous acts of his pResidency was NOT pardoning Libby.

[Sinti]

4. I can tell you that looking/acting dumb works

it's a great way to deflect people . Not only do people assume you incapable of having an agenda, they will talk about things that you should not be hearing while you are sitting next to them, because you look dumb.

They must have a whole different script now, if the book is for sale on Amazon. I bet it's still fun to read.

[juno jones]

6. George W. ain't the worst.

*cough* Palin *cough*.

Someone is 'running' her. Despite the fact that she is the ultimate champion high school mean girl (oh, look, she won something :evilgrin:...) and a bit of a moron, she manages to be a cheerleader for the wildest dreams of some people and is probably being used for just that reason. I haven't failed to notice that her career keeps getting resuscitated.

Levi better stay out of small planes, just sayin'.

[SpiralHawk]

8. "...someone is running her? Smirk." - Toddy (R - Mephistophelean First Dude)

[conscious evolution]

11. I agree

I have come to believe that she is the distraction to get us to look the other way while they infiltrate and subvert the Dem party.

[Octafish]

7. The Big Con at Dealey Plaza

Thank you for the most interesting information in your OP, Ichingcarpenter. KBR. This may add to the story...

The Big Con at Dealey Plaza

"President Kennedy’s assassination was the work of magicians," said Hevve Lemarr of French Intelligence. "It was a stage trick complete with actor’s accessories and props. And when the curtain fell the actors and even the scenery, disappeared. But the magicians were not illusionists, but professionals, artists in their own way."

JFKcountercoup
Friday, January 4, 2008

It’s natural that well planned and executed covert operations are seen to be like magic tricks. That’s why covert operators are often called spooks.

The "spooks" we’ve come to know in the Great Game rank as power playing Knights, Bishops and Rooks. E. Howard Hunt was known as "Knight," and David Atlee Phillips, who was born on Oct. 31 – Halloween, was known to some as Mister "Bishop."

Then there’s Ed Lansdale, Frank Wisner, William Harvey, and George Joannides, now legends in their field. Each had covert aliases and code names to conceal their identities, or as the Cubans called them, "war names."

The use of aliases is only one attribute all covert intelligence operatives have in common. Other similar attributes include the use of post boxes, dead drops, safe houses, microdots, codes and ciphers, as well as standard trade crafts as outlined in Allen Dulles’ book "The Craft of Intelligence."

Of those who standout in the history of espionage during he Cold War - Phillips, Hunt and Lansdale, one thing they all had in common was they were trained in the arts of psychological warfare by a man they considered a legend among legends – Paul Linebarger.

Paul Linebarger’s lack of recognition is a testament to his success.

CONTINUED...

http://jfkcountercoup.blogspot.com/2008/01/big-con-at-dealey-plaza.html

Remember Santayana.

[mrfrapp]

9. Robert Houdin

Wired misses the most famous example of a magician being deployed by his country. Robert Houdin quite brilliantly pacified French Algeria with magical tricks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Eug%C3%A8ne_Robert-Houdin#The_Magical_Mission

[Toucano]

10. Fascinating. n-t

[peacetalksforall]

12. The shoe laces are hilarious. It's so nine year old. I'm sure instructions come with that - such

as don't wear jeans that scrape the floor or boots. Do they practice reading the pattern upside down and sideways?

Should I be sorry that I am not showing respect?