There is still much controversy over the Bush administration's use of torture during the Iraq war. Because the ACLU recently sued the CIA, documents providing the morbid details about the torture program were released. What happened at some of these prisons is repulsive and the fact that no senior official has been indicted is ludicrous. Unfortunately, this lack of accountability is nothing new as the CIA has a history of much worse covert operations that the general public is unaware of today. For that very reason, they must be addressed.
From 1953 to 1964 , the CIA was engaged in a project known as MK Ultra. It was basically the CIA's attempt to master mind control for interrogation purposes. The project consisted of dosing American and Canadian citizens with drugs. Test subjects suffered various forms of torture and coercion. All files related to the project were ordered to be destroyed in 1973.
Also during this time, the CIA had also helped orchestrate coups to help various fascist dictatorships come to power. Some of these include Chilean dictator Augosto Pinochet i in 1973, the Shah of Iran in 1953, and so on. The CIA went even as far as providing help to Saadam Hussein as he used mustard gas on Iran and his own people.
This must end. Contrary to Bernie Sanders's assertions in 1974, the answer is not to abolish the CIA. in fact, the CIA can be a great tool for national security. However, those in power must be held accountable for their actions. Those that engage in human rights violations must be punished. It's that simple.
