‘Eyewash’: How the CIA deceives its own workforce about operations

[jakeXT]

Senior CIA officials have for years intentionally deceived parts of the agency workforce by transmitting internal memos that contain false information about operations and sources overseas, according to current and former U.S. officials who said the practice is known by the term “eyewash.”

Agency veterans described the tactic as an infrequent but important security measure, a means of protecting vital secrets by inserting fake communications into routine cable traffic while using separate channels to convey accurate information to cleared recipients.

But others cited a significant potential for abuse. Beyond the internal distrust implied by the practice, officials said there is no clear mechanism for labeling eyewash cables or distinguishing them from legitimate records being examined by the CIA’s inspector general, turned over to Congress or declassified for historians.

Senate investigators uncovered apparent cases of eyewashing as part of a multi-year probe of the CIA’s interrogation program, according to officials who said that the Senate Intelligence Committee found glaring inconsistencies in CIA communications about classified operations, including drone strikes.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/eyewash-how-the-cia-deceives-its-own-workforce-about-operations/2016/01/31/c00f5a78-c53d-11e5-9693-933a4d31bcc8_story.html

[Xipe Totec]

1. There comes a point when you no longer know or trust anything in the cables

It the message real? Is it eyewash? If it says disregard the previous cable but trust this one, is that eyewash?

Is Faux News infested with CIA operatives, or is CIA infested with Faux News?

[bemildred]

2. Pretty soon it gets hard to tell the real lies from the fake ones. nt

[GoneFishin]

3. Sounds like a bullshit cover story to dismiss as "fake" any communications that reveal law breaking.

[leveymg]

4. Eyewash is the only conceivable legal explanation for Hillary's server: a disinformation conduit.

But, by this point, enough is enough. Just prosecute her or absolve her.

[Festivito]

5. I'd bet it's RW propaganda, keeping the troops gung-ho. And, it creeps out to the public.

I've had vets present their propaganda ridden publications to me as evidence of cons good libs bad. Having read as much as I have, I was able to dismiss all of it.

This stuff is insidious because it is considered secret so that it cannot be judged by people reading from public sources.

We know they're idiots and they think we are. Their belief being from compelling yet false information.

[MisterP]

6. stovepiping and discourse control is very tight in the Beltway

the neocons even said that the Salvadoran rebels applauded the Challenger explosion--a lie, but they've broken the ground for people to believe that to their dying day