Is the CIA Censoring Its WikiLeaks Records?

A comparison between the "-Your search - WikiLeaks - did not match any documents-" responses given by the search engine used by the CIA's website and the multiple responsive records found Google, it appears the answer to the headline question appears to be Yes!

On a lark, I entered the term "WikiLeaks"  into the search engine used by the CIA's website. This was the response:

  

Curiosity piqued,  I entered WikiLeaks as a search term into the search engine of the CIA's website. This time I did more specialized search for "CSI" and "CSI Archive" results. CSI = Center for the Study of Intelligence. Here are the results.

Search of the CSI Archive for WikiLeaks

Search Results for "CSI" for WikiLeaks records:

An "Advanced search" by Google produces multiple "WikiLeaks" results"on the cia.gov domain.

How Strange: INSCOM Invokes Glomar on Bradley Manning Support Network Request

If the existence of an investigation into the Bradley Manning Support Network was odd, the respond of INSCOM to a FOIA request on the matter is straight-up strange.

In response to a FOIA request for their records pertaining to the Bradley Manning Support Network, INSCOM sent the out a letter informing the requesters that their request had been forwarded to the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division for processing. When the requesters followed up, seeking information as to whether INSCOM was still processing the request, they met up with brief resistance before Elaine Rogic informed the requesters:

Per DOD instruction, all inquiries relating to this matter must be forwarded to the U.S. Army Crime Records Center (CRC).  I am unable to answer your inquiry and recommend that you direct your inquiry to CRC.

Further inquiry by the requesters was ignored including a request for clarification as to whether or not INSCOM was invoking FOIA. Administrative appeals have been submitted.

In short, the Bradley Manning Support Network appears to be something special if INSCOM is unable to answer whether or not it has responsive records or even invoke Glomar by itself.

Below is the relevant email exchange provided to the Historiographic Anarchy by the requester.

INSCOM- BMSN Record

U.S. Army CID Targets Bradley Manning Support Network

In response to a FOIA request, the United States Army Criminal Investigative Division announced that it was engaged in “an active investigation … in progress with an undetermined completion date,” of the Bradley Manning Support Network. As a consequence of this investigation, the Army CID would not release any material responsive to FOIA requests at this time.

The US Army CID has invoked (b)(7)(f) to justify, in part, their denial. This means that US Army CID believes that release of these records will risk the physical well-being of individuals involved with the case.

With WikiLeaks records being withheld, in part, on (b)(7)(f) exemptions grounds, it seems that Army CID has decided that both WikiLeaks supporters and members of allied organizations are a threat to commit physical violence either against investigators or those who cooperate with the investigations.

Army CID- Bradley Manning Support Network Letter

Koch Brothers Firm, BP Targets of Terrorist Elicitation Attempt

Recently, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) put out an alert warning that “ Terrorists or criminals may attempt to identify critical infrastructure vulnerabilities by eliciting information pertaining to operational and security procedures from security personnel, facility employees, and their associates. Persistent, intrusive or probing questions about security, operations or other sensitive aspects of a facility by individuals with no apparent need for the information could provide early warning of a potential attack.”
Based on the information provided, it is possible to say that the Koch Brothers Flint Hill Resources refinery in McFarland Wisconsin was a target of a possible Islamist terrorist targeting in late November 2008.

Newly declassified records show that on November 21, 2008, “an Arabic gentleman” posing as an investigator for an never identified Atlanta law firm. The caller, seeking information as to "whether Flint Hills could track where the gas tankers were going" had a particular interest in BP shipments. His refusal to give a last name or state which legal firm he was working made the answering Flint Hill Resources employee suspicious causing him to refuse to give out the requested information and call in the FBI which launched a highly-classified investigation.

The six-month investigation by the FBI was ultimately closed without charging or identifying anyone after the FBI's Milwaukee field office decided that it had "exhausted sufficient investigative resources" and that "no potential criminal violations or priority threats to national security warranting further investigation were identified."

Flint Hills Resources FBI File

US Army CID Implies WikiLeaks is a "Physical Threat," Under Investigation

Citing “an active investigation … in progress with an undetermined completion date,” the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division refuses further releases of that agency's WikiLeaks-related material. In contrast to two previous FOIA requests <here and here> which were promptly answered with released documents featuring limited redaction, this policy shift represents a wholesale end to WikiLeaks releases for the indeterminate future.

Possibly more interesting than the denial of records itself is that US Army CID invoked (b)(7)(f) as a justifying exemption. Under the (b)(7)(f) exemption, records can be withheld if their release “could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual.” With the use of the (b)(7)(f) exemption, US Army CID is implicitly stating that WikiLeaks members pose an active, physical threat to those investigating WikiLeaks and/or those cooperating with the investigation.

Army CID WikiLeaks Letter

Intelligence- Preservation Complex: The CIA and Colonial Williamsburg

Few Americans-then or now- realized how much American culture was adapted, modified, hidden, destroyed, or created to serve as weapons against the Soviets during the Cold War. For example, if you've ever seen the cartoon version of Animal Farm, you'll notice significant differences from the book, including the eliminations of characters who served as critiques of capitalism and the creation of a new, positive ending. The reason for these alterations to the narrative is the CIA was funding the film. As documented in the book, Cultural Cold War, the CIA funded numerous festivals, fairs, and publications with the idea of battling Soviet influence.

A random search thrown at the CIA's CREST system uncovered CIA involvement with that historical site. In classified March 1951 memorandum from [redacted]Assistant to the Director to Chief, Foreign Division, the Director's Assistant asks Foreign to provide commentary on a report compiled by a gentleman named Kershaw Burbank who appears to been hired by a John D. Rockefeller III to adapt Colonial Williamsburg’s programming to the needs of the Cold War. Specifically Rockefeller thought "the institution might serve a more useful purpose if the stress were shifted toward portraying the democratic way of life which contributed to America's growth." We know that the Cold War and anti-Communism were driving forces behind these revisions to Colonial Williamsburg programming due to Burbank's desire to have feedback from CIA experts on Soviet Communism. Not to mention that his 26-page report is nothing but a harsh critique of communism and a promotion of capitalism.

In a May 1951 memorandum classified “Secret”, the Chief, International Communism Branch, Staff C writes to [redacted] Assistant to the Director and informed [redacted] that the requested review has been completed. The International Communism Branch, Staff C gave the report middling remarks. Part A of the report is described as having "useful restatement of some of the concepts underlying Soviet/Communist ideology," but then criticizes the analysis for lacking "progress in depth" except for quoting a few list authors and books. Part B is giving higher praise for being "well formulated". However, Burbank is again dinged for lack of depth in his analysis. They also recommend a "through study” of the “Communist/Soviet theory” of 'Democracy’.  Chief, International Communism Branch, Staff C expresses a willingness and desire to review additional reports created by Burbank.

Colonial Williamsburg- CIA

A Liar for God, a Stooge for the Soviets: A Billy Graham Tale

An undated CIA report "Dissent and Religion in the USSR" reveals that the Soviet regime used Billy Graham and other high-profile evangelists to further government goals. According to the CIA study, visits by Graham and others served Soviet propaganda goals and weakened religious organizations hostile to the government. When Graham and others preached in the USSR, the Soviets were empowered to claim that free of religion was present in the USSR.  Graham and others were allowed to “registered church” congregations which the CIA noted denied legitimacy to unofficial or illegal religious groupings which as documented by the CIA engaged in widespread, near- continual resistance to the regime. In contrast, clergy from registered churches were used by the Soviets for their own purposes. Some clerics served as "propagandists for regime policy," while the Russian Orthodox Church received additional support in the hopes it would poach adherents away from religions likely to pose a challenge to continue government domination. 

Undated CIA Report on Religion in the USSR