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Jonestown conspiracy theories

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The entrance to Jonestown.

The 1978 Jonestown massacre has prompted conspiracy theories claiming that the deaths were the result of mind control experiments or assassinations by the Central Intelligence Agency.

CIA conspiracy theories

According to Religious Studies scholar Rebecca Moore, "In the twenty-three years since the deaths in Jonestown, conspiracy theories have blossomed in number and sophistication."[1]

Joseph Hollinger, a former aide to Congressman Leo Ryan who was killed at Jonestown, claimed that Jonestown was a "mass mind control experiment" conducted by the CIA. Columnist Jack Anderson also claimed that the CIA was involved in the Jonestown Massacre and speculated that Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy to Guyana Richard Dwyer had ties to the CIA.[2] In 1980, the U.S. House permanent select committee on intelligence found no evidence of CIA activity in Jonestown.[3]

In 1987, The Jonestown Carnage: A CIA Crime (1978) (Russian: Гибель Джонстауна - преступление ЦРУ) was published in the Soviet Union, claiming that group members were assassinated by CIA agents and mercenaries to prevent further political emigration from the U.S. as well as suppress opposition to the U.S. regime.[4] Political scientist Janos Radvanyi cites the book as an example of Soviet active measures during the 1980s that "spread both disinformation stories and enemy propaganda against the United States", adding, "It's hard to imagine that anyone could believe so ridiculous a story".[5]

References

  1. ^ "Reconstructing Reality: Conspiracy Theories About Jonestown". Jonestown.sdsu.edu. Retrieved 2016-03-12.
  2. ^ Anderson, Jack, "CIA Involved In Jonestown Massacre, September 27, 1980
  3. ^ Peter Knight (2003). Conspiracy Theories in American History: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 379–. ISBN 978-1-57607-812-9.
  4. ^ "Джонстаун-1: bey". Bey.livejournal.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-14. Retrieved 2016-03-12.
  5. ^ Janos Radvanyi (1990). Psychological Operations and Political Warfare in Long-term Strategic Planning. ABC-CLIO. pp. 53–. ISBN 978-0-275-93623-5.

Bibliography