The FBI: A Super Brief History and Why It Should Be Abolished
Throw Out the Baby, the Bathwater, and the Tub!
The FBI: A Brief History and Why It Should Be Abolished
From a 10/03/22 Article in The Hill
Nearly half of the country now has serious doubts about the FBI. Here’s why
Like it or not, the FBI finds itself standing on a thin precipice that seems to add a new crack each week. If polls are to be believed, almost half the country now lacks trust in the FBI over concerns it is doing the bidding of one political party over another. That is a disaster for the bureau — unprecedented in magnitude — and could translate into an existential threat to one of the nation’s most important agencies as political fault lines shift.
Millions of Americans have concluded that the FBI has been hyper-aggressive against Republicans, conservatives, and Donald Trump supporters while turning a blind eye or downplaying damning allegations against Democrats and leftists, from the Biden and Clinton families’ alleged pay-to-play schemes to Jane’s Revenge to antifa.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, or famously known as the FBI, is one of the most well-known agencies in the United States (probably because of all the movies, TV shows, crime novels, and FBI malfeasance: Ruby Ridge, Waco, etc).
Established in 1908, the FBI was initially created to combat the rise of so-called anarchist groups, which I think were probably just people who had some kind of legitimate beef against the government of the USA. Over the years, its role has expanded to include counterintelligence, “counter”terrorism, and cybersecurity operations. But with recent political turmoil and accusations of politicization, and the current regime’s obvious weaponization, it's time to examine the FBI's history and ask whether we really need it at all. In this post, we'll root around into the roots of the FBI, its evolution over the years, and ultimately why it should be abolished.
The inception of the FBI can be traced back to 1908, when Attorney General Charles Bonaparte ordered a small band of investigators to form a force to investigate federal crimes. Originally called the Bureau of Investigation (BOI), it underwent several name changes before settling on its current name in 1935. During this time, the FBI primarily focused on domestic threats and investigating high-profile cases such as bank robberies and kidnappings.
However, the FBI's role expanded during World War II to include counterintelligence and investigating espionage and sabotage (“investigating” or “perpetrating?”) on American soil. The Bureau also gained significant power during the Cold War, as it worked to combat communism and “extremist” groups. The FBI's stature only grew in the post-9/11 era, with its focus shifting to “counter”terrorism and cybercrime.
J EDGAR HOOVER’S REIGN OF TERROR
One man held the reins of the FBI and wielded his power with a merciless hand. J Edgar Hoover, the longest-serving director of the FBI, was more than just a law enforcement officer. He ruled over the agency like a tyrant and had dirt on everyone, from activists, to senators, to presidents. Let’s dig deeper into Hoover’s reign of terror at the FBI and how he maintained his grip on power.
Hoover came to power in the 1920s when he was made the head of the newly-formed Bureau of Investigation (BOI). Hoover saw the agency as his own personal fiefdom and he made sure nobody would ever challenge his authority. One of his first moves was to gather dirt on all FBI agents, from their sexual orientation to their political views, to ensure their loyalty to him. He also kept detailed files on public figures, including elected officials, civil rights leaders, and journalists. With these dossiers at his disposal, Hoover had the power to blackmail and bribe anyone who dared to challenge him.
One of the darkest aspects of Hoover’s reign was his COINTELPRO program, a series of counterintelligence operations aimed at suppressing dissent and undermining political organizations. COINTELPRO targeted groups such as the Black Panthers, anti-war activists, and civil rights leaders, and used illegal tactics such as wiretapping, infiltration, and even assassination attempts. Hoover saw anyone who opposed the government as a threat and used his power to crush them.
Hoover’s grip on power was also closely tied up with his personal relationships with those in power. He had a close relationship with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, whom he helped to establish the FBI as the premier federal law enforcement agency. Hoover later used his friendship with President Lyndon B. Johnson to expand the FBI’s powers and create a domestic intelligence agency with almost no oversight. He even managed to survive the Watergate scandal that brought down President Richard Nixon, thanks to his careful manipulation of the press and his own political allies.
With his numerous “faults” which seems ike such a mild word to describe him, J Edgar Hoover was a man who understood the power of information and how to use it to protect his own interests. His dictatorship over the FBI lasted for almost five decades, using his dossiers and dirty tricks to maintain his corrupt grip on power. His legacy is a deeply troubling aspect of American history, one that reminds us of the dangers of unchecked government power.
After Hoover, with this increased power came an increase in the political influence of the FBI.
Recently, the FBI has come under, mostly rightwing (much of the “left” now seem to be born again Feebies), fire for its handling of investigations into members of the Warp Speed Trump administration. The agency has been accused of bias against the former President and his supporters. Some even claim that the FBI has been used as a tool of partisan politics, rather than fulfilling its original mission of protecting the American people.
The FBI has played a questionable, and extremely shady, role in the history of the United States, in the 20th and 21st centuries, but recent events suggest that it may have outlived its arguable usefulness. From its inception as a force to combat citizens with beef against the government, and organized crime, especially during Prohibition, to its modern-day focus on “counter”terrorism and cybercrime, the Bureau's power has only grown over the years. However, with that power has come increased politicization and accusations of partisan bias. Given the FBI's checkered and troubling history, it's time to seriously consider whether it should be abolished and replaced with more effective systems of ensuring public safety, since ensuring public safety is rarely the common practice of the agency.
Do I think, absent the total collapse of the Empire, that the FBI will ever be abolished? Not likely, but my strategy is to advocate for the GREATEST good, then maybe we won’t keep getting the absolute sh!t? A granny can dream, can’t she?
This already long blog didn’t even get into how the FBI entraps disgruntled Americans and immigrants into false flag attacks, or how its been used to attack still those of us who speak out against the government: its forever wars and galloping fascism.
What do you think? I really want to know:
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Yes, definitely, the FBI is horrible and needs to go! Along with all the other shit they've done, there was a case here in Arkansas in 1987, when 2 boys were run over by a train. After an attemped cover-up, it became obvious that their bodies had been placed there after they were killed for having witnessed a drug drop out of Mena. If you don't know, it was common knowledge that Bill Clinton and his buddies used the airport there for their drug running. When the FBI got involved in the case, they covered up any evidence that would have confirmed that's what happened. The lead investigator, who was a high school friend of my husband, retired early, probably because of his guilty conscience. The families of those boys have never gotten justice, thanks to the rotten FBI.