Motives Behind Cointelpro Essay Research Paper The

Motives Behind Cointelpro Essay, Research Paper

The FBI has committed various crimes through their COINTELPRO (Counterintelligence Program). They have deployed various tactics in order to disrupt and destroy various radical programs and organizations. These tactics have ranged from spreading of false rumors all the way down to political assassinations. The use of these tactics has shown that the FBI is ready to step above the law to reach their goals. Despite their name, which implies that it is a bureau for investigations, the FBI has actively involved itself outside the domains of investigation to actively sabotage their targets as if it were some kind of terrorist group ready to explode with violence. In other words, use of any means necessary was allowed to its agents by the bureau and such tactics were even encouraged.

Nothing can be scarier than the government itself ignoring its own rules in order to achieve a specific goal. This is what happened with COINTELPRO. To determine what causes this kind of behavior out of the state is important. So this paper will try to determine the motives behind COINTELPRO.

Focus of paper:

What were the motives behind FBI s COINTELPRO and why did such extreme measures have to be taken by the FBI.

There is not a simple and clear cut answer as to what the motives behind COINTELPRO were. On an abstract scale, there is the general motive of the conservative elite who simply wanted to keep the good things they had no matter what the cost may be for others, and then there is a specific motive caused by racism in the FBI itself who were employing no more than 8 black employees out of 4,000 total during the late 60 s (those eight were typists). But in examining the possible motives for the COINTELPRO program we can see that they can be classified into three major categories: personal, political, and economic. Use of various examples from the activities of COINTELPRO with the Black Panther Party and the Native American Movement will enlighten these points further. I will focus more on the big picture behind COINTELPRO s operations since there is plenty of material out there on the specifics on how the COINTELPRO operated.

I. Political motives

Proof for political motives on the FBI s part is clearly displayed and summarized in the following document sent by J. Edgar Hoover himself to define the goals of COINTELPRO:

COUNTERINTELLIGENCE PROGRAM

BLACK NATIONALIST – HATE GROUPS

RACIAL INTELLIGENCE 3/4/68

[...]

GOALS

For maximum effectiveness of the Counterintelligence Program, and

to prevent wasted effort, long-range goals are being set.

1. Prevent the COALITION of militant black nationalist groups. In unity there is strength; a truism that is no less valid for all its triteness. An effective coalition of black nationalist groups might be the first step toward a real “Mau Mau” [Black revolutionary army] in America, the beginning of a true black revolution.

2. Prevent the RISE OF A “MESSIAH” who could unify, and electrify, the militant black nationalist movement. Malcolm X might have been such a “messiah;” he is the martyr of the movement today. Martin Luther King, Stokely Carmichael and Elijah Muhammed all aspire to this position. Elijah Muhammed is less of a threat because of his age. King could be a very real contender for this position should he abandon his supposed “obedience” to “white, liberal doctrines” (nonviolence) and embrace black nationalism. Carmichael has the necessary charisma to be a real

threat in this way.

3. Prevent VIOLENCE on the part of black nationalist groups. This is of primary importance, and is, of course, a goal of our investigative activity; it should also be a goal of the Counterintelligence Program to pinpoint potential troublemakers and neutralize them before they exercise their potential for violence.

4. Prevent militant black nationalist groups and leaders from gaining RESPECTABILITY, by discrediting them to three separate segments of the community. The goal of discrediting black nationalists must be handled tactically in three ways. You must discredit those groups and individuals to, first, the responsible Negro community. Second, they must be discredited to the white community, both the responsible community and to “liberals” who have vestiges of sympathy for militant black nationalist [sic] simply because they are Negroes. Third, these groups must be discredited in the eyes of Negro radicals, the followers of the movement. This last area requires entirely different tactics from the first two. Publicity about violent tendencies and radical statements merely enhances black nationalists to the last group; it adds “respectability” in a different way.

5. A final goal should be to prevent the long-range GROWTH of militant black organizations, especially among youth. Specific tactics to prevent these groups from converting young people must be developed. [...]

TARGETS

Primary targets of the Counterintelligence Program, Black Nationalist-Hate Groups, should be the most violent and radical groups and their leaders. We should emphasize those leaders and organizations that are nationwide in scope and are most capable of disrupting this country. These targets, members, and followers of the:

Student Nonviolent Coordinati

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