The following is a very rough excerpt from the first iteration of my book draft. Since none of this material will appear in my current draft, I've decided to make it available here.
During the Cold War, the Central Intelligence Agency sought to develop the capability to create remote-controlled vectors for covert eavesdropping, as well as object retrieval and "executive action type operations". Logic (and logistics) determined that animal testing was a safe starting point...
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At the height of the Cold War, conventional warfare became but a distant memory in the eyes of the intelligence communities. Motivated largely in response to alleged Soviet, Chinese, and North Korean uses of mind-control techniques on U.S. prisoners of war in Korea, the CIA desired technological capabilities on par with, if not superior to, its enemies. To develop these new technologies, the CIA’s Project Review Committee approved the Technical Service Staff (TSS) Research Program on June 6, 1952. Although the majority of the projects were of standard fare in the intelligence community, a small percentage was deemed ultra-sensitive. Since the nature of these contemplated projects required the utmost secrecy, it was requested that the Director of Central Intelligence, Allen Dulles, authorize a research budget for fiscal year 1953 without the establishment of formal contractual relations. This dedicated program would become known as Project MKULTRA. Relegated to the CIA’s Office of Scientific Intelligence Research Branch, Dr. Sidney Gottlieb was named director of MKULTRA on April 13, 1953.
From its inception, Project MKULTRA had two extremely sensitive research programs in mind. While one of those programs remains shrouded in mystery, the other concerned:
"Research to develop a capability in the covert use of biological and chemical materials. This area involves the production of various physiological conditions which could support present or future clandestine operations. Aside from the offensive potential, the development of a comprehensive capability in this field of covert chemical and biological warfare gives us a thorough knowledge of the enemy’s theoretical potential, thus enabling us to defend ourselves against a foe who might not be as restrained in the use of these techniques as we are."
Due to the massive undertaking of assembling multiple covert studies under the two proposed programs, MKULTRA became an “umbrella project” under which certain sensitive subprojects were funded. One area of investigation would have interesting implications: The development of inconspicuous vectors capable of deployment and retrieval of specific objects, as well as covert eavesdropping. As a result, MKULTRA Subproject No. 94 would propose:
"...to conduct investigations...of the action of localized neurological and physiological stimulants on the balance mechanisms in mammals and bird[s]. The sponsor will have full control of species of animals to be utilized together with methods and procedures to be followed in the researches.
Special investigations and evaluations will be conducted toward the application of selected elements of these techniques to man.
Pilot experiments will be performed under field conditions to permit the critical evaluation of methods and procedures. The parameters of effectiveness and the action of potential interfering phenomena will be determined."
Approved for development, Subproject No.94 was granted a one-year budget of $45,000 in May of 1959. The initial research phase had been completed earlier; having worked out techniques and brain locations for imparting specific stimulation which activates and maintains directional control of selected mammals. The feasibility of remote control of animal activities including speed and direction of movement had been demonstrated by limited laboratory and field trials with rats and burros by utilizing permanent miniaturized electrode implants in specific brain center areas. By September 1959 the project was expanded to include experimentation with dogs. The investigations were being directed towards refinement of techniques with the ultimate objective being to provide practical systems suitable for operational application. All personnel associated with the planning and monitoring of the program possessed Top Secret clearance.
MKULTRA Subproject 94 continued to receive funding annually until was terminated in November 1962. Very little is known about the scope of Subproject 94 since the Technical Services Division (TSD, formerly the Technical Service Staff) had pursued a philosophy of minimum documentation in keeping with the high sensitivity of some of the projects. According to J.S. Earman’s internal investigation of MKULTRA in 1963, “…some files were found to present a reasonably complete record, including most sensitive matters, while others with parallel objectives contained little or no data at all.” There were just two individuals in TSD who had full knowledge of program operations and most of that knowledge was unrecorded. However, prior to the discontinuation of Subproject 94, another subproject was established to continue in that general area of research.
In May of 1962, Project MKULTRA, Subproject No. 142 was awarded a one year budget of $7,500. The purpose of Subproject No. 142 was to investigate “possible delivery systems for BW/CW agents or for direct executive action type operations as distinguished from the eavesdropping application”. The term "executive action" was the CIA's euphemism for assassination. Again the CIA cautioned that “at some point in the work which would present security problems if this effort were to be handled in the usual way.” There would also be different approach to the testing conducted under the project:
"It is proposed to carry out certain biological studies involving selective brain stimulation of cold-blooded animals. In addition to the various theoretical reasons for such studies, it appears that certain practical guidance systems involving more detailed behavioral control of both positive and negative sorts may be possible than are presently attainable in the warm-blooded animals being investigated. It is also possible that these simpler systems can accomplish the same operational goals with far less critical demands on the electronic parts of the guidance and control system."
According to the final report for Subproject 142:
"An experimental study followed the extensive library review. Morphological and behavioral studies were made, and a competence was built up...especially in the behavioral area of the study. An essentially complete set of techniques has been perfected in this study, and will be used in the continuing work. The original objectives of the study have not been achieved, but the work will be continued until they are. Technical reports will be made as information generated, and opportunity permits."
It remains uncertain as to when Subproject 142 was terminated. According to the CIA, all MKULTRA projects ceased in 1963. As mentioned in the Subproject 142 report, investigations of warm-blooded animals persisted, but documentation of these investigations does not exist.
By the early 1970s, the CIA had growing concerns that the MKULTRA projects were gaining public, as well as Congressional, attention. As a result, CIA Director Richard Helms ordered the destruction of all MKULTRA files. On January 30, 1973 all MKULTRA files formerly held in the CIA’s Records Center were destroyed. One box of material relating to environmental sampling for BW and CW manufacturing activity was also destroyed in January 1973. Prior to his retirement in June 1973, MKULTRA director Dr. Gottlieb ordered his secretary to destroy approximately one safe drawer of papers relating to his involvement with the covert operation. No detailed explanation to the specifics of these documents has ever been provided. However, roughly 20,000 improperly stored documents relating to MKULTRA were located and preserved in 1977. Because most of the MKULTRA records were deliberately destroyed, it is impossible to have a complete understanding of the more than 150 individually funded research projects sponsored by MKULTRA and the related CIA programs.
However, there is evidence that at least some of these CIA-funded operations continued on …
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Continued in History Highlights #2: "Operation Acoustic Kitty"
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