We need a very strong congressional investigation of Soviet/Russian covert operations in the US since the 1920’s (the 1920’s through 40’s have already been covered by some committees, SPCUA, HCUA, with HCUA/HISC, SISS (Subcommittee), House Intelligence and Sen. Intelligence Committees or Joint Committees covering the 1950’s thru 80’s to about 1990.
Since then, there has been literally nothing since we don’t have an “Internal Security” congressional committee.
Examples of Soviet propaganda and disinformation operations include:
* “Save Our Sons” Communist Party USA front aimed at getting the families of soldiers serving in the Korean War to demand that we stop our participation.
* Soviet agents (both KGB or suspected KGB and identified/admitted CPUSA members) infiltrating, guiding, and handling legal issues/personal administrative affairs for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and his SCLC)
* Lies spread about Sen. Barry Goldwater in his 1964 presidential race against LBJ.
* The Soviet literature and propaganda publications distributed by id. CPUSA members Leroy Wolins (Veterans for Peace, 1965 CP front) and David Simon Canter (something like Transpacific Publications, a Soviet operation). Canter was a mentor of David Axelrod, Obama’s key political strategist, and according to his son Marc, “knew Obama”.
* Soviet involvement and funding of the 1980’s anti-Cruise Missile, Anti-ABM and anti SDI (”Star Wars) Defense systems which were proven in England (CND) and Netherlands (Nicholas Schoten, a protest leader, got KGB funds).
* Soviet KGB attempts to penetrate Congress and influence Representatives and Senators (including Sen. Ted Kennedy,, Fulbright, Hatfield, Mansfield, Eugene McCarthy, McGovern, Mondale, Muskie, Brooke and Rep. Robert Legget and Donald W. Riegle, Jr., among a few others. (FBI memo on “Contacts Between Representatives of the Soviet Union and Members or Staff Personnel of the United States Congress, Internal Security- Russia”.
The number of Soviet “contacts” of all types numbered, between 1967 - 1970 to date (July 28, 1970) as Senators = 170; Representatives = 94; Staff Employees = 800+ (Document full text can be found at www.keywiki.org, Search “Edward Kennedy” site.
Their have been other Soviet and Soviet Bloc operations in the US including one to get two indicted Soviet spies (Stern and Dodd) back into the U.S. by having an Attorney General under Pres. Carter drop the charges. Involved Rep. Don Edwards (D-CA), a hardcore FBI hater and communist causes supporter.
There are more stories out there about Soviet ops which should be fully exposed through additional congressional hearings, including the “Soviet Covert Action” hearings by the Select Committee on Intelligence, House of Representatives in the early 1980’s and other “Disinformation” programs exposed by the late Herb Romerstein and the USIA task force in the late 1980’s.
Soviet disinformation programs using American communists and so-called “liberals” also need to be exposed including those involved with the Marxist/Communist funded Institute for Policy Studies (See; S. Steven Powell, “Covert Cadre” about the IPS, 1987).
The Soviets/Russians are the best practioners of espionage, disinformation, and penetration operations in the world, esp. since they’ve been targeting the U.S. since the 1900’s, with the Communist Cubans and Nicaraguans/El Salvadoreans coming in a close second. Then the Red Chinese are making great inroads into American society through congresspeople, other politicians, business fronts, friendly journalists, and Chinese-American citizens (either threatened or sympathetic).
Just image what this would do to the Democrat Party - destroy it totally, and show that a lot of American political events were influenced by the Soviets/Russians. And “naming names” would help to fill the jails with Democrats and “socialists” traitors.
Excellent idea :-)
Speaking of that, it would be good to review some of the infiltration and espionage going on after the breakup of the Soviet Union, starting with the Clinton administration—the promotion of Morton Halperin, the capture of Aldrich Ames, the Wen Ho Lee case, the John Deutch pardon. . .
I've long marveled that attention is on "Russians involve themselves in our elections", while the bulk of damage is done against those already elected, "Russians involve themselves in making US public policy."
“We need a very strong congressional investigation of Soviet/Russian covert operations in the US since the 1920’s . . .”
I agree but I have no faith in any GOP committee conducting a thorough investigation that follows the evidence trail wherever it may lead and will provide an honest report to the American people. Issa, Chaffetz, and Goudy have all been major disappointments leading investigations in the House and Paul Ryan certainly doesn’t promote full disclosure. Look at the Wasserman-Schultz fiasco with government computers and Pakistani criminals. The House is doing nothing to investigate the criminal activity taking place on Capitol Hill because the Republican leadership is protecting the Democrat leadership. Paul Ryan and the rest of the Republican leadership should be screaming today about the Awan brothers scandal. Where is the outrage? There is none and will be none, much less an investigation.
The Senate is an elite social club first, a protection racket for the monied interests of the donor class second, a cushy career for its members third, a deliberative body fourth, and a representative of the states (its Constitutional purpose) fifth. An investigative organization, much less representative of the people, doesn’t even make the list.
No investigation by the US Senate is going to shed light into dark corners much less go digging for real information. Senator Burr, leader of the Senate Intelligence Committee, seems more interested collaborating with Democrats in undercutting Trump than ferreting out the truth. He talks bipartisanship while the senior Democrat on the committee, Mark Warner, enjoys playing the partisan hatchet man. I watched about 30 minutes of Burr and Warner in action during the recent public hearings and see it was a farce put on by bad actors. Even if Burr were really trying to accomplish something, McConnell, McCain, Murkowski, Collins, Graham, Corker, Hatch, Alexander, and other squishy Republican Senators would block any action by the full Senate. The Senate is a fraternity and friendship between members of the club is more important than the future of the nation to most of them.
The sad fact is our legislative branch has only a handful of representatives and senators who are not completely corrupt or compromised. Even though most of them are attorneys, expecting them to conduct a real investigation is an exercise in futility.
An investigation by congressional Republicans that might destroy the Democrat Party and wake up the average American citizen? Fantasyland.