COINTELPRO

Oh, there's no place to run
No one can save me
The damage is done
--Bon Jovi

COINTELPRO stands for COunter INTELligence PROgram. Unlike intelligence programs aimed at gathering information on entities, counter intelligence focuses on infiltrating, discrediting and disrupting politically-oriented groups.

Since its inception, the FBI engaged in domestic COINTELPRO operations in the name of 'national security.' This continued until 1971 when an expose resulted in official termination of COINTELPRO activities.

Although COINTELPRO officially ended in 1971, there has been ongoing suspicion that the federal government still engages in acts of domestic subversion. These suspicions are escalating with the recent release of Glenn Greenwald's book, No Place to Hide, which tells the riveting story of NSA whisteblower Edward Snowden.

In addition to his story, Snowden released his NSA files to Greenwald. Greenwald has indicated that he is holding back Snowden's files that spell out names of US citizens that have been targets of NSA spying. He said that, consistent with a policy of saving the best for last, he plans to reveal those names this summer.

This has to frighten the federal government to no end, as such evidence would inform the public about present day COINTELPRO operations--perhaps against Tea Party and other groups deemed by the government as hostile.

Jacob Hornberger suggests that the Obama administration should come clean about any COINTELPRO operations ahead of the Greenwald release. Preemptive truth-telling usually merits some degree of leniency.

Given the opaque history of this administration, such openness seems unlikely. Perhaps Greenwald is bluffing, the administration might think. Better to resort to habitual tactics of diversion and discrediting, it might conclude.

If the administration does not come clean and Greenwald does release information that reflects COINTELPRO misconduct, then JH suggests that it would be difficult to find a better example of high crime worthy of impeachment under Constitutional law.