CIA controlling minds through drugs
IN 1950s, CIA did LSD experiments on humans and animals under its mind-control program
LAHORE: (Daily Dunya) – The United States (US) is spending billions of dollars today to eradicate drug production in the world, but the same US had been using these drugs in the past to control people’s minds. The 50s were the beginning of Cold War when the former Soviet Union and the US were using all tactics against each other, other than the war. During those days, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the US reached the decision that it was vital to control enemy’s minds in order to defeat it. Therefore, a program, MK-ULTRA, was designed to experiment on the use of drugs to control people’s minds. They used a drug called LSD in order to experiment on people’s minds under this program.
LSD is a drug that creates illusions and it was first made in 1938 in a laboratory. It is a very powerful drug, also known as ‘acid’. It has a very strong impact on the human mind. Drug addicts often call it as ‘trap’, as its users start hallucinating as soon as they use it, hearing paranormal sounds and seeing strange things. Several countries declared this drug as illegal in the 60s. People using it often see horrific images while some get pure entertainment from it.
First experiment on its own agents
The first experiments of mind-controlling through the use of drugs were done by CIA on its own agents. The agents who agreed for the experiments were given small doses of LSD initially and their mental situation was noted. Later, the drug quantity was increased. Experiments were also conducted by giving them drugs without their knowledge. LSD was added to their morning coffee. But soon the agents found out about it and in the 1954 office party of the CIA, everyone seemed weary of the others. One of the agents was so cautious that he didn’t even touch the liquor presented in the party and kept drinking from his own bottle that he had brought. He didn’t let this bottle part from him for even a moment throughout the party to make sure LSD wasn’t added to it behind his back.
Learned tricks from thugs
In order to mix drugs into enemy’s eatables without their knowledge, CIA agents learned tricks from various thugs. CIA even hired John Mulholand, a famous trickster, to train CIA agents. He taught agents how to distract the enemy and mix a few drops of the drug into his/her whisky or tea. For example, if you’re on a reception, offer them a cigarette and add some drops of LSD into his drink while lighting it for him. John Mulholland also taught the agents to stick the drug with the matchbox and drop into the drink while lighting the cigarette.
John Mulholland - the magician
The plan to give LSD to Fidel Castro
After the success of Cuban revolution, the CIA was determined to kill Castro. 638 different plans were made therefore to kill him and they all failed one-by-one. One funny plan out of these was to spray LSD on Castro just before his address to the nation so that Castro would say stupid things during the address and dent his image in the public eye. The plan was dropped at the eleventh hour upon US government’s orders. US wanted to kill him, not shame him.
The story was originally published in the Sunday magazine of Daily Dunya and researched by Shafi Moosa Mansoori.
