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in countries where the CIA had interests. In 1949, he moved up the chain of command within the OSO and held a GS-15 position. Angleton developed the philosophy, "If you control counterintelligence, you control the intelligence service". He quickly realised the significance of the B-29 detection of Joe-1, the Soviet's first atomic weapon detonation in August 1949, and knew that the technology acquired by the Soviets was not home- grown but the product of espionage. He immediately set out to discover who the moles were who passed on America's most guarded secret to Moscow. As with all covert actions, counterintelligence operated without specific mention in the National Security Act of 1947, so Angleton set out to acquire information on the most guarded secret of all. in countries where the CIA had interests. In 1949, he moved up the In 1951, he was assigned the all-important Israeli desk, which he chain of command within the OSO and held a GS-15 position. held under tight control for 20 years because it was a vital source Angleton developed the philosophy, "If you control of Soviet information in the Middle East. As more and more counterintelligence, you control the intelligence service". He UFO’ sighting reports made their way to CIA headquarters, quickly realised the significance of the B-29 detection of Joe-1, unevaluated reports were forwarded to Counterintelligence when the Soviet's first atomic weapon detonation in August 1949, and the locations were identified as coming from Soviet Bloc coun- knew that the technology acquired by the Soviets was not home- tries. During this period, Angleton established good links with grown but the product of espionage. He immediately set out to FBI contacts who were equally concerned with protecting vital discover who the moles were who passed on America's most atomic research facilities, and no doubt he read many domestic guarded secret to Moscow. As with all covert actions, reports as they came across his desk in the "L" Building across counterintelligence operated without specific mention in the from the Lincoln Memorial. National Security Act of 1947, so Angleton set out to acquire When Smith was coaxed away from his power base as DCI, information on the most guarded secret of all. Allen Dulles—Angleton's friend from OSS days—became the new Director. In late 1954, he promoted Angleton to the position ANGLETON AS CHIEF OF COUNTERINTELLIGENCE of Deputy Director and Chief of Counterintelligence, with direct Aside from the theft of atomic secrets, the most guarded secret access to Dulles and all foreign UFO intelligence from the within the CIA was the scientific and technical information Intelligence Advisory Committee (IAC) which had been estab- regarding new weapons developments, including the planned use lished to look into national security implications involving the of a new generation of thermonuclear UFO phenomenon.* In order to cement weapons and high-altitude reconnaissance Angleton's counterintelligence charter, platforms for spying on countries hostile to Dulles commissioned General James H. US strategic interests. One of the technical Doolittle to conduct an outside survey of secrets was the study and transfer of CIA counterintelligence operations. advanced electronics gleaned from US Air Doolittle concluded that the CIA was losing Force studies of unconventional aircraft and As more and more ground to the KGB, and recommended that missile research carried on at several Atomic UFO sighting reports more stringent and ruthless measures be Energy Commission facilities and proving i taken against Soviet penetration. Dulles grounds. made their way to endorsed the Doolittle Report by ordering a The FBI and the CIA were aware of Soviet CIA headquarters, more powerful tool to stop and interdict the espionage rings operating in the United moles within the CIA, and he personally States, Canada and the United Kingdom. unevaluated reports chose Angleton to head the CI Staff. The main task of these rings was to provide were forwarded to Perhaps this is why foreign and domestic any and all technical and scientific Fi Fi UFO sighting reports diminished in information on advanced technologies Counterintelligence number shortly afterwards. which would give an advantage to the when the locations During Dulles's tenure as DCI from Soviet Union in the event of another . see 1953 to 1961 (the longest in CIA histo- were identified as ¥ coming from Soviet world war breaking out. ry), Angleton enjoyed a privileged Bloc countries. By 1949, military intelligence author- position not shared by other directors. ities had classified the "flying saucer" This was despite the fact that Angleton phenomenon as Top Secret, and the reported to the Deputy Director of Army Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) Operations (DDO), and on many occa- had passed on information that the sions bugged the phones and resi- Soviets could have developed saucer- dences of various high-ranking US shaped aerial weapons, capable of Government officials and foreign dig- delivering atomic bombs or dissipating nitaries with Dulles's approval and radioactive materials over NATO coun- over the objection of the DDO. If the tries, as a stopgap measure to make up situation called for it, Angleton could for the nonexistent nuclear weapons arsenal. In early 1947, the go around proper channels to acquire personal data on anyone nonexistent nuclear arsenal in the United States was a closely within the CIA and other agencies, which was clearly outside the guarded secret as well; and no doubt this fact set in motion the CIA charter and violated FBI jurisdiction. nuclear arms race, which terrified Angleton. The OSO was prob- As the new head of CI, Angleton had to organise a staff, write ably aware of Soviet knowledge of the bomb gap existing within the rules and oversee all clandestine operations aimed at the both superpowers. Moreover, the flying saucer invasion of the Soviet Intelligence Service military and security organs, the GRU United States—reports of which crossed Angleton's desk—put a and KGB.’ The CI Staff was primarily tasked with preventing scare into Angleton's psyche which is reflected in a credo he penetrations at home and abroad and protecting CIA operations shared with other OSO staff members: "You who believe or half through careful research and analysis of all incoming intelligence believe, I can say this now, that I do believe in the spirit of Christ reports. By keeping the most vital and sensitive files to himself, and the life everlasting, and in this turbulent social system which Angleton became a storehouse of secrets, which helped him struggles sometimes blindly to preserve the right to freedom and consolidate his power base. Officially, Angleton was allowed expression of spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ, I leave you." access to everyone's personnel, operational and communications After General Walter B. Smith was appointed Director, Central files within the CIA, and he reviewed all proposed and active Intelligence (DCI), Angleton continued on with OSO Staff A (for- operations and approved the recruitment of agent assets. This did eign intelligence operations) inside the CIA's clandestine division. not engender trust or cooperation, but Angleton did not concern UFO sighting reports made their way to CIA headquarters, unevaluated reports were forwarded to Counterintelligence when the locations 60 = NEXUS JUNE — JULY 2000 As more and more were identified as coming from Soviet Bloc countries.