Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"The pursuit of mind control by the CIA, driven by Cold War paranoia and a willingness to adopt unethical research methods, laid the groundwork for extensive and covert human experimentation." — AI Analysis
"We were just like, 'Alright, tell me the real shit, like really tell me the real shit. What really goes on?' And the Nazis would tell like, 'Yeah, you would not believe a man dies if you just pump him full of glue. He just fucking dies.'" — Ben Kissel
"The CIA, them getting a hold of this program is very bad for modern times. And the fact that it happened like this. Like, I really feel like if the if LSD went to maybe one of the other branches where like, yeah, they just blow people up. And there was really, really it's like not to be anything." — Ben Kissel
This episode delves into the origins of the CIA's mind control programs, tracing their roots from the perceived threat of Soviet mind control capabilities during the Cold War. The narrative highlights the creation of the Special Operations Division and its subsequent focus on discovering drugs and techniques for interrogation and behavior modification, ultimately leading to the exploration of LSD. The early experiments with LSD by Dr. Albert Hoffman are discussed, noting his initial intent to create a stimulant and his accidental discovery of its psychoactive effects. The report then details how this research was co-opted by the CIA, with L. Wilson Green at Edgewood Arsenal seeing potential for psychochemical warfare. The establishment of Project Bluebird and later Project Artichoke is outlined, emphasizing the clandestine nature of these operations, the use of "black sites," and the recruitment of former Nazi scientists to lead research. The episode critically examines the ethical implications of these experiments, including the use of unsuspecting subjects, torture, and the disregard for human rights, all conducted under the guise of national security.
The narrative progresses through the CIA's increasing involvement in drug testing and interrogation, including early experiments with biological agents in Operation Sea Spray. The establishment of Project Bluebird aimed to find methods for interrogation, leading to the development of "black sites" like Camp King, where various coercive techniques were tested. The episode details the significant influence of Allen Dulles, who expanded and intensified these programs, leading to the renaming of Project Artichoke. This project broadened the scope of experimentation to include more foreign locations and focused on a wide range of drugs and psychological tactics, including hypnosis and sensory deprivation. The segment concludes with the increasing power and resources afforded to key figures like Sydney Gottlieb and the formal establishment of MKUltra, setting the stage for future episodes.
The discussion highlights the CIA's systematic approach to circumventing ethical boundaries in the pursuit of mind control. The utilization of former Nazi scientists with expertise in human experimentation, such as Dr. Kurt Blum and Dr. Walter Schreiber, provided a foundation of knowledge that the CIA readily adopted. The episode underscores the development of "black sites" and the use of "expendable" subjects, often prisoners or refugees, in experiments designed to test drugs like LSD, mescaline, and heroin. The increasing involvement of individuals like Sydney Gottlieb, who served as the CIA's chief poison maker and director of mind control programs, is a central theme. The episode details Gottlieb's own experimentation with LSD and his conviction that chemical means were the future of mind control, leading to the authorization of Project Artichoke and its aggressive expansion.