-Caveat Lector-
Dear List,
This is forwarded with permission of the author.
Sincerely, Neil Brick
Please note : I am forwarding this so that one of the authors has a chance to
respond to the original review. My forwarding this does not necessarily
constitute my endorsement of it.
Response to: "Secret Weapons: Whitewashing CIA Mind Control Atrocities," by
Uri Dowbenko.
by Cheryl Hersha.
The following will be a line by line response to Mr. Dowbenko's article.
"Secret Weapons: Whitewashing CIA Mind Control Atrocities," by Uri Dowbenko
"Ted Schwarz is an apologist for CIA mind control atrocities."
From the beginning, Mr. Dowbenko establishes his "alleged" review of
our book as a character assassination of Ted Schwarz, choosing to ignore the
fact that there were four author/contributors to "Secret Weapons," plus the
publisher's editing and comments. One can only wonder why Mr. Dowbenko
launches on a personal attack rather than conducting a balanced review of
the
book. It is apparent Uri Dowbenko hates the book; fine, that is his opinion
and he's welcome to it. However, I am deeply angered at the personal attack
against Mr. Schwarz in the form of a "book review." Thus, I am compelled to
write a balanced response, although, I am personally offended, and, quite
frankly, shocked, by the nature and tone of this, "review."
"His book, "Secret Weapons," is chock-full of specious reasoning,
flawed
logic and outright lies. Its intent is simple - to make CIA mind control
programs appear to be "science" rather than illegal Soviet/Nazi-like torture
and an outrageous abuse of human rights."
Our book's intent, was to get the truth of the CIA's Mind Control
experiments on children under Project MKUltra into the mainstream public by
the telling of my sister and I's true story, accompanied by verified facts,
the presentation of documentation, and within the frame of historical
context
and mind set of the Cold War.
As a survivor, I have experienced time and time again that the general
public, in my opinion, has to be given the truth within a frame of reference
they can relate to. Otherwise, they panic and dismiss, deny, and downright
refuse to believe what you are saying. Mr. Dowbenko, to my knowledge, does
not have the life experience of a survivor who has been through the pain of
the re-victimization of the victim. If he had, Mr. Dowbenko might have a
better grasp of the "why" behind the way the book was written. I do believe
that this is not Uri's personal style of journalism, and that he prefers a
more, "in your face" style of writing; therefore, I can understand his
disdain for our book's presentation, but cannot understand the vendetta
against author Ted Schwarz.
"Schwarz writes like a hack hired by the CIA to deliver a story on mind
control atrocities by government perps."
The above statement calls for support. None is given as he launches
into
the next statement:
"As a CIA spin doctor, Schwarz has definitely earned his blood money."
Mr. Dowbenko, here, writes his opinion as fact. Again, this strong
statement mandates supporting facts; where are they? Has Mr. Dowbenko ever
spoken with Mr. Schwarz? Does he know, for a fact, that Schwarz is employed
by the CIA and receives payment from them? Indeed, he has no supporting
evidence at all.
I, on the other hand, have known and worked with Ted Schwarz for three
years. He was checked and cleared before ever being contacted by the other
three of us for the book. For a fact, Ted Schwarz is not employed nor paid
by
the CIA. He and his family have suffered great financial hardship because of
his dedication to getting our story out. Personally, I am grieved, yet
grateful beyond measure, for the price he and his family have paid
willingly
and heroically for me and the other survivors of MKUltra. There's your
"blood
money" Mr. Dowbenko.
"The book Secret Weapons is well-crafted disinformation. It glosses over
egregious human rights abuses, as well as the illegal activities of the CIA."
Examples?
"The cover blurb claims that Schwarz is the "best-selling author of
more
than 100 books and over 2,000 articles."
For the record, Schwarz has written a biography of dead Illuminati
Grand
Dame Doris Duke, world-class scammer-businessman John DeLorean, and Cuban
asset, "Marita.""
For the record, Mr. Schwarz has done exactly what the cover blurb said,
and the way this is written leads the reader to believe he has written only
the three works cited.
"As a propagandist (the CIA actually has a job called "strategic
writer," or writer of disinformation for public consumption), Schwarz muddies
the waters of CIA crimes and cover-ups by framing the life-long abuses of
Lynn and Cheryl Hersha in the context of "training" to be "female James Bond
secret agent."
To quote from the book, "Cheryl, by contrast, was now spending school
vacation periods in Washington, D.C. But she was no longer Cheryl when she
traveled east. She had become Samantha Gooding, and like the fictional (my
emphasis) James Bond, she was licensed to kill." (165) In my opinion, it has
already been foundationally established that the foundational programming for
MKUltra personalities is trauma-based, full of torture and incomprehendible
suffering for the child. Again, this line is giving the reader a familiar
frame of reference to set the stage for the next chapter. Nothing more,
nothing less, in my opinion. I find this to be an accurate comparison to the
personality of Samantha Gooding.
"Schwarz's conceit, in effect, whitewashes the realities of
trauma-based
conditioning, mind control abuses, and the horrendous sexual and physical
abuse abuses endured by the sisters under the guise of "national security.""
Uri Dowbenko is certainly entitled to his opinion of the way the book
presents itself; I have no problem of that. However, in the above, he
continues his attack on Ted by stating, "Schwarz's conceit," and not the way
the book was written, is responsible for the alleged "whitewashing" of
government atrocities.
"Rationalizing the continuation of CIA mind control into the present,
Schwarz writes, " This is not to say that all other researchers had the
appropriate war mentality so pleasing to the CIA elite. Many were simply
looking out for the financial welfare of their families.(63)"
This line from p.63 is pulled completely out of context. But even
pulled out of context, I cannot see how this rationalizes the continuation
of mind control experiment into the present.
"In other words, don't judge them too harshly. Maybe Sid Gottlieb,
Jolly West, Allen Dulles, Ewen Cameron and the rest of the CIA criminal
elite were just trying to put food on the table."
In other words, Mr. Dowbenko successfully indicts himself by
contradictions in his own quotes and writings. The line from p. 63 states, "
the appropriate war mentality of the CIA elite," which, as those who are
knowledgeable of MKUltra know, Gottlieb, West, Dulles, and Cameron are those
elite. Then Uri proceeds by juxtaposing lines to fit his view.
"If he wrote a biography of Nazi mind control monster Josef Mengele,
Schwarz would probably point out what a sensitive cultured man Mengele was
since he played the violin so well."
This is purely speculative slander based on Uri Dowbenko's continuing
diatribe against Mr. Schwarz.
"Schwarz's own words will convict him.
"The scientists who designed the [mind control] project to which Cheryl
had been assigned probably would have preferred to work in a less offensive
manner," writes Schwarz. "Few wanted to hurt children if there was any
alternative. That was why there had been feverish activity on the part of
the
Central Intelligence Agency's Technical Services Staff (TSS) to develop
remote control killers. The idea was to use an implant in the brain that
could be stimulated to create behaviour. Unwitting adults, unconnected with
any of the intelligence agencies could have devices implanted that would
stimulate the desired behaviour without the person ever knowing what he or
she
has done. " (p.56)
(As if creating "remote control" killers by implants was less of a
crime
than traumatizing a child and creating a structured multiple to do the CIA
criminals' dirty work.)"
As previously, Uri Dowbenko pulls a paragraph out of context trying to
support his biased agenda. There is no mention of the criminal nature of
what
the researchers were doing in the paragraph from p.56 which he uses for his
support that "Schwarz's own words will convict him."
Whose words are really convicting in nature, Mr. Dowbenko?
"Schwarz's book is full of zingers. Here's another one: "In the last
few
years, a number of individuals have come forward to reveal being locked in
cages and used as laboratory rats. According to the thinking of those who
conducted and approved the original experiments,(my underline added), the
relative handful of people whose stories have a basis in fact were not
deliberately mistreated any more than they thought Cheryl was being
mistreated. She and the others were involved in pure science. All conditions
had to be identical for both the primary research subjects - the primates in
this case and the comparison control group of children."
"Pure science"? Locking up children in cages is "pure science"?"
The above lines from the book, which Uri failed to give a page
reference
for, is found on pages 93 - 94. Furthermore, we are presented with yet
another out-of-context paragraph to fit Mr. Dowbenko's agenda. Put back in
context, Schwarz presents the reader with the amoral, unethical "
justifications" the researchers played with in their psyches. (See my
underline above.) Ted never endorses what they did as "pure science".
"Schwarz's twisted arguments are simply beyond belief. He writes, " in
order to have human lab rats for the experiments who were children and thus
minors, a form was developed called proxy consent. It was created at a time
when Americans were sure that parents knew what was best for their children."
Schwarz's serpentine logic is impeccable.
"The young are often self-centered, their knowledge limited to little
more than home, school, the neighborhood and any religious institution to
which their families belong, he continues. "They cannot understand that
there
are times when it is necessary to think of the greater good of others.
[Huh?]
They cannot understand the important role a child can play in preserving the
future of democracy and the western world as we know it.{Like being
programmed assassins?} Only a parent can understand all that, especially a
parent who has served in the military and understands the concepts of honor
and duty and sacrifice.(89)
"Cheryl and Lynn's father Dick was such a parent," Schwarz concludes. "
When his children were selected[?] for experimentation, he signed the proxy
consent without hesitation."
Schwarz doesn't reveal if Cheryl and Lynn Hersha's parents were
compromised, black-mailed, or co-opted, or even under mind control
themselves.
This so-called proxy consent form would still be null and void, despite the
legal dressing of an unconscionable and illegal contract.""
The proxy consent form is a fact, not the contrition of author Ted
Schwarz. The unbelievable "reasoning" of the experimenters in creating this
is also fact, not a creation of ,"Schwarz's serpentine logic," as Mr.
Dowbenko contends. Put the paragraph back in context, and read the book.
Dick
hated my sister and I because we did not inherit Aryan coloring and body
composition, and was not under duress at the time of consent, FYI. However,
the reader is informed throughout the book that both parents were under mind
control at times.
By today's standard, the proxy consent is null and void because it was
not "informed consent," as the law now requires. Ted is presenting these
facts in the historical frame of the Cold War, the American society, and the
legal construct of those times. We had animal abuse laws before we had child
abuse laws in this nation, and they have only been established in the last
two decades, to my knowledge. While the U.S. chose to ignore International
Laws and Agreements, it was perfectly within its legal rights with the "
Soviet Threat," to do what they did. And, that, Mr. Dowbenko, is a
horrifying
fact in the history of the United States.
"Schwarz also has to get some internet bashing into his book, since the
internet is one of the few uncontrolled venues of information in the world."
Uncontrolled? Free of Big Brother? Private? No disinfo? No purposely
crashing someone's computer with "sensitive info" or stealing their files?
Do
you know how much of this happened to us in the writing of this book? No,
you
don't, do you?
""The problem is that some people, undoubtedly having troubled pasts,
are
seeking attention through the Internet," Schwarz exits whining. "Their
troubled reasoning was that just having been molested by their fathers was
not enough. They had to have been through something more horrible than that.
They had to have been victims of religious cults, government experiments,
and
even pedophiles in the highest offices of the land." (p.323)"
My sister and I were dismayed by these statements, and they do not
reflect our beliefs. I apologize to anyone who has been hurt by these lines.
Unfortunately, new to the publishing world, we expected to be able to
approve
the book before publication. Hindsight is 20/20; we now know everything has
to be in writing and cannot be expected based on word only. I agree these
lines are offensive and are injurious to survivors, and I am working to get
them stricken from future printing. In the meantime, I am on record about
how
my sister and I feel. I am doing many interviews, and plan to speak at
future
survivor conferences; my apologies will accompany my engagements.
"This sounds like a party line of the False Memory Spindrome
Foundation,
another notorious CIA front."
While I agree it sounds like FMSF bat guano, I resent our authors being
then implicated as the other CIA front.
"But Schwarz is a top notch spin doctor. He even knocks online survivor
support groups as much as he disdains the Internet."
Another strong statement along the writer's bias that he throws out
there without examples to support his contention. Schwarz never said he "
disdained the Internet." ? And as far as the Internet and Survivor groups
go,
they have been no less than my life savers; the other authors are aware of
this. However, it is also truth that many lists have been infiltrated and
disrupted, survivors framed and caught who have fled for safety by
themselves
or with loved ones and subjected to further programming, torture, and legal
penalties, and we all have suffered as a community because of these
incidents,
or individuals. The Internet, while extremely valuable in gaining and
disseminating information on Mind Control, is also a tool for "Big Brother"
spying and fraught with danger if you believe it is a "free" venue.
"Schwarz then puts in a good word for shock "therapy," trying to
explain
why the sisters can't remember so well.
"This may come about because such memory lapses are generated by the
use
of electro-convulsive therapy(ECT) which has also been used with some
frequency in legitimate psychiatric treatment for many years. It is
controversial treatment and the correct amount to be given is difficult to
ascertain."
"Obviously frying the Hersha sisters' brains to "help" them forget has
worked out just fine.""
I am sounding like a broken record, this is no more a "good word" for
shock therapy than it is to report that the cow did, in fact, jump over the
moon. If frying the Hersha sisters' brains to help us forget worked out just
fine, then why the hell did we write the book, Uri? It is NOT obviously fine
!
""For an excellent first-hand account of mind-control and recovery, read
Paperclip Dolls by Annie McKenna, an intelligently written book about
survival in the face of absolute evil (http://www.paperclipdolls.com)"
I absolutely agree with this statement! Annie McKenna is an incredibly
smart, gifted, and gutsy lady; she is also my dear friend and co-survivor. I
have not been able to read her book yet, because I did not want to "
contaminate" my story for those who have tried to rip me apart during
interviews, etc...
However, is it fair to compare a first-hand account, self-published
book,
to a collaborative effort in which true accounts are intermingled with
research and data from the investigations and views of five people in a
mainstream publisher's presentation? No. That is as invalid a comparison as
the FMSF's memory experiments on college students are to traumatic memory in
children.
"On the other hand, Secret Weapons is a great example of disinformation
and a spurious rationale for the U.S. Police State. The book's future is
clear. Secret Weapons is a textbook for PsyOps(Psychological Operations) -
how to fool people about mind control and get them to pay for it too. Sounds
like a twofer for the Agency."
And with that conclusion, Mr. Uri Dowbenko, not only have you completed
the public slander and libel of Ted Schwarz, but you have just stabbed this
survivor right through the gut. Mr. Dowbenko, we the authors and publisher
of
Secret Weapons are in no way perfect in what we say and do; however, we
have,
in fact, put our lives on the line for what we believe in, at personal costs
to our health, privacy, computers, families, etc...that you have no idea
about. I took the time to respond to your alleged "review" because I find
your action to be abhorrent and damaging to the efforts we the children of
MKUltra are making publically. You can hate the book, Uri, and that is
absolutely fine with me; but to publically assassinate a man who willingly
places his life, and all that goes with it, on the line for me? No way! And
I
find it cowardly that you neither reviewed the book fairly, nor spoke with
the man you publically condemn. Really, Mr. Dowbenko, you, of all people; I
feel absolutely betrayed all over again.
Before you go and point your finger again at people you allege are
helping the CIA continue to perpetuate the shroud of secrecy over the past,
and the diabolical psychological warfare that is ongoing against innocents,
you had better be standing in front of a mirror when you point and accuse.
Cheryl Hersha
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