JFK files reveal CIA's illegal domestic spying operations

The recently released JFK files have provided new insights into the government's activities during the Cold War. While they do not change the narrative surrounding President Kennedy's assassination, they reveal details about the CIA's operations. One interesting finding involves a CIA effort to train birds for spying. The files indicate that these birds were tested to carry small devices for audio surveillance. Another document described a CIA memo from 1966, which recommended recognizing an official for innovations in detecting hidden listening devices. Among the more unusual operations was an action taken in 1962 where the CIA tampered with sugar shipped from Cuba to the Soviet Union, making it taste unpleasant. This incident aimed to cost the Soviet Union between $350,000 and $400,000 due to the sugar's ruined taste. However, not all revelations were benign. The files also contained the social security numbers of more than 400 individuals, including spies and former government officials. One affected individual, Christopher Pyle, expressed concern over the government's actions. An anonymous White House official stated that those affected would receive free credit monitoring. The National Security Archive (NSA) is extensively analyzing the JFK files. Their research has uncovered names of CIA officers involved in the assassination plot of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo. Additionally, they highlighted CIA counterintelligence actions, including a break-in at the French Consulate. Overall, these files will likely continue to generate discussions and insights as historians explore the documents further.