Tag: Annie Jacobsen

The Pentagon’s Brain: An Uncensored History of DARPA, America’s Top-Secret Military Research Agency – Annie Jacobsen

On By Genyc79In American HistoryLeave a comment

I recently returned to one of my favorite authors, Annie Jacobsen, the author of best-selling books ‘Operation Paperclip: The Secret Intelligence Program that Brought Nazi Scientists to America‘ and ‘Area 51: An Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base‘. The time around she focuses on the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (“DARPA”), the brainchild of the Pentagon and its role in national defense. Prior to reading the book, I was aware of DARPA but was curious to learn what Jacobsen had discovered. And what she reports is informative and interesting without any trace of conspiracy theories or secret government plots. Of course, there are materials which are classified by the United States Military for distinct reasons, but the top-secret classification does not always mean nefarious. Jacobsen takes us deep inside DARPA to reveal a part of America’s defense network which has become invaluable.

The book opens by revisiting the Marshall Islands in March 1954 where the United States Government is conducting a secret nuclear detonation code named “Castle Bravo”. This test, which remains a dark moment in nuclear history is the key to understanding how America was preparing its defenses in the wake of both World War II (1939-1945) and the Korean War (1950-1953). I learned details about the test for the first time in this book and what I read left me speechless and sent a chill down my spine. But military leaders were undeterred, and the quest for advanced weaponry continued to escalate. DARPA is still several years away, and before we reach that point, a curious figure named John Von Neumann (1903-1957) enters the story. I admit that I felt a sense of shame as someone who works in information technology because I should have known about Von Neumann, the visionary whose ideas in the 1950s were premonitions of modern-day computer systems. His story and influence in the government are captivating, and one of the crucial parts of the narrative. However, the Department of Defense (“DOD”) was just heating up and in 1957, the Advanced Research Projects Agency (“ARPA”) (renamed DARPA in 1972) was born to the chagrin of military brass, and this where the book shift gears as the agency focuses on projects and ideas straight out of Hollywood.

Though DARPA is connected to the DOD, it is not a “military” agency but was driven by the goals of bolstering national defense and enhancing the performance of military personnel deployed in combat. And as one would expect, it attracted individuals who walked the fine line between genius and insanity. Jacobsen explores their backgrounds and how they ended up at DARPA. Admittedly, some of the ideas proposed by DARPA come off as far outside of the box, but others came to fruition through its efforts. The sections regarding placement of sensors on the Ho Chih Minh Trail and use of toxin Agent Orange during the Vietnam War (1954-1975) are both mind-numbing and shocking, but the creation of ARPANET supported by the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP), would change the world as we know it, when a concept called the internet gained traction. Without the protocols, Domain Naming Service (DNS) and other networking components, this blog would not exist.

The book is full of information, and I was pulled in from the beginning. In the wake of World War II, we can see the shift in focus from defeat of the Axis powers to concerns over Soviet expansion and threats unknown at the time. But one section which I found interesting was the discussing regarding Allen M. Dulles, Jr. (1930-2020) and the devastating injuries he suffered in the Korean War. At first it may seem unrelated to the story but as Jacobsen expands on ARPA’s research projects, it becomes clear how Dulles’s plight was a source of intrigue and incentive to further understand the human mind. Further, it sheds light on the traumatic brain injury and how doctors are still confronted with the daunting task of rebuilding a damaged mind.

As the years pass, new wars rise and DARPA is repeatedly tasked with confronting deadly issues such as IEDs and biological weapons. And the agency has success in some areas but failures in others. But what is clear is that DARPA is far more advanced of the public domain and responsible for technological advances we take advantage of daily. However, oversight is always needed and there are parts of DARPA which remain a mystery to the public. Technology can be a blessing and a curse, but we now live in a world where it is required. DARPA will remain in the race to develop innovative technology and secure the republic, but in doing so, the issues of morality and legality will always be front and center. The rise of artificial intelligence has changed the news cycle, and Chat GPT has found a solid footing on society. Dark visions of the fictional Skynet and other computer projects which have gone rogue fill imaginations and highlight the influence of motion pictures. But a question remains, is DARPA close to turning those visions into reality? As of today, man remains in control but is imperative to understand the motives behind the technological advancements propelling the planet forward and their impacts on our lives. Interestingly, DARPA has its own website; a benefit of the very networking concept it created decades prior. Annie Jacobsen nails it once again in a book which thoroughly explains a crucial yet overlooked part of our national defense network. 

“Carl Sagan once stated, “It is suicidal to create a society dependent on science and technology in which hardly anybody knows anything about the science and technology.”

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00RTY0GEA
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown and Company, September 15, 2015

Area 51: An Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base – Annie Jacobsen

On By Genyc79In American History, Investigative ReportLeave a comment

Of all the military installations, few are as mysterious as Area 51 which is located at Groom Lake in southern Nevada. The secretive military base has been the subject of rumors that the United States Government is holding the remains of an unidentified flying object (“UFO”) and extraterrestrial lifeforms. The theories are entertaining but remain unproven. This raises the question of what is Area 51? Annie Jacobsen, author of the best-selling book ‘Operation Paperclip: The Secret Intelligence Program that Brought Nazi Scientists to America‘, takes us on a deep dive into the history of Area 51 to reveal as much as possible about America’s most controversial and mysterious military base.

Prior to reading this book, I did not have any pre-conceived ideas about Area 51. Of course, I have heard and read of rumors that the United States Government is concealing alien lifeform and protecting dark secrets. The allegations are unfounded, but what we do know is that the area is heavily guarded and trespassing is forbidden. As a primer to the story to be told, Jacobsen discusses the controversial Robert “Bob” Lazar, a noted conspiracy theorist whose claims regarding secretive government operations have earned him an audience of likeminded individuals. To some he is a tin foil loyalist but was he completely off the mark? Well, the truth is complex but not as sensational as we might hope.

Looking back at the book, the crux of the story is the finale of World War II. We go back in time to 1945 when Allied commanders are on the brink of a Nazi defeat and a battered Japanese military. The development of the Manhattan Project was pivotal to the use of Little Boy and Fat Man against Japan in August 1945, and they were no secret to Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin (1878-1953). His counterpart in America, President Harry S. Truman (1884-1972), had been thrust into the role of commander-in-chief following the death of his predecessor Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945), and quickly learned of America’s secret weapon. Stalin’s infiltration of America’s military secrets set the stage for the next four decades and paved the way for the growth of Area 51, where research and development reached new heights.

The success of the atomic bombs Little Boy and Fat Man had convinced even the most pessimistic generals that air combat was equally as important as ground troops. But before the story kicks into high gear with the Cold War, Jacobsen discusses an incident in Roswell, New Mexico in July 1947 that provided the spark to the rumors of a hidden UFO. The incident reappears later in the story with a plausible explanation for its origins and a surprising revelation about the aviation parts discovered. However, some mystery remains as to what really happened in Roswell. Whatever took place was serious enough to warrant the attention of the United States military and America’s intelligence apparatus. Both would play crucial roles in the development of Area 51.

The book is engaging from start to finish, but Area 51’s story takes on a new dimension when Central Intelligence Agency (“CIA”) operative Richard M. Bissell, Jr. (1909-1994) is assigned control over the base, to the objection of Air Force Gen. Curtis E. Lemay (1906-1990), former commander of the Strategic Air Command and legendary veteran of World War II. Their feud would eventually come to a head in April 1961, when a new President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) agreed to a CIA mission doomed from the start. But while America was focused on Cuba, the Soviets continued their space program and surveillance on adversaries. The cat and mouse game between America and Russia heats up with U-2 spy flights, espionage, and the belief on both sides of a nuclear confrontation. In hindsight we know that nuclear war did not take place, but that did not stop research and development at Area 51. In fact, the bag of tricks only grew as innovative technology emerged to transform America’s military.

The U-2 spy flights, and the capture of Francis Gary Powers (1929-1977) are also discussed, and both are well-known historical events, but I found the section regarding the development of the aircraft interesting. The engineering behind the new stealth aircraft is surreal, but also not without tragedy through trial and error. Powers’ capture and ordeal made headlines around the world, but they did not stop operations at Area 51. Bissell was removed in 1961 following the Bay of Pigs disaster, but that did not stop Area 51. In fact, defense contractors found a new market as Soviet aggression increased, and a war loomed in Southeast Asia. And in the years to come, a modern technology known as a drone aircraft would take to the skies and change warfare forever. The development of the drone is another interesting section in the book, and we turned the corner with its introduction and use.

While I read, I realized that the book was more important than just Area 51. In fact, it is full of historical information, and Jacobsen’s writing style keeps the narrative going at the right pace. I was aware of some events discussed in the book, but I also learned added information about the height of the Cold War, and classified information which had remained hidden for decades. The more I read, the less I was focused on the existence of aliens or spaceships. It was clear that Area 51 was more than a dumping ground for UFOs. It is a core part of America’s defense and a hub of top-secret activity only those with a certain clearance level are allowed to see. I believe that some secrets of Area 51 will remain hidden for assorted reasons. However, I do not think it is because of sensational claims by conspiracy theorists but instead feel that its importance to the nation’s defense is far too critical to allow compromise. Area 51 will remain off-limits. But Jacobsen has revealed a wealth of information about the mysterious location in southern Nevada.

Readers looking for gossip about hidden aliens, UFOs and other strange items may be disappointed here, but readers interested in facts about the base, and its role in the Cold War and America’s defense network, will appreciate Jacobsen’s work. She admits that she could not learn everything about Area 51, and to be fair there are no public tours of the facility. However, this book is a thorough account of its existence, development, and importance to national security. I would have liked to learn more about engineer and scientist Vannevar Bush (1890-1974), a co-founder of Raytheon and will have to add a biography of him to my reading list. But in regard to Area 51, this book is exactly what I needed. Highly recommended.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004THU68Q
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown and Company
Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 17, 2011

Operation Paperclip: The Secret Intelligence Program that Brought Nazi Scientists to America – Annie Jacobsen

On By Genyc79In World War II1 Comment

paperclipOn April 30, 1945, Adolf Hitler fatally shot his wife Eva Braun and then turned the gun on himself as it became evidently clear that allied forces were closing on the führerbunker.  The fear of falling into Russian hands and a subsequent trial for war crimes proved to be too much for the top echelon of the Third Reich that remained in Berlin.  Many top-ranking officials  had previously fled and others had left Germany after realizing that all hope for a victory in the war had been lost.  As allied forces move in and occupied the country, the true horrors of the Nazi reign became clear and soldiers were faced with the grim discoveries of concentration camps, emaciated and dead prisoners.  The Final Solution had been revealed for the entire world to see.  In the aftermath of the war, several hundred Nazi party members were executed by allied forces. Others were acquitted or had their death sentences commuted to long-term imprisonment.  Another group consisting of scientists and doctors, found their way to America with the help of the United States Government in what became known as Operation Paperclip.  Their story is the focus of this incredible book by author Annie Jacobsen.

Government files regarding the secret operation had been marked classified and would have remained hidden if not for the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) which gave Americans a tool to learn the truth about many of the Government’s secrets. This tool was thoroughly employed by Jacobsen in discovering the truth of this story that was first disclosed by the New York Times.  Jacobsen explains herself that some of her FOIA requests are still pending and it is unknown if or when they will be answered.  Nevertheless, she has written the story that will shock anyone who decides to open the pages of this book.   Her focus is on selected former doctors and scientists of the Reich who had worked on the V-2 rocket program at Nordhausen and concentration camps in which medical and biological experiments had been conducted, with Auschwitz and Ravensbrück being high on the list.  I warn readers that this book is not for the faint at heart .  The atrocities that are revealed defy logic and reveal the very dark side of human nature.  And as the book progresses, the names of the former scientist and doctors will be seared into the reader’s memory as a reminder of the many secrets the Third Reich tried to hide as the military collapsed.   As horrible as the actions of the Reich were, the crux of the book is the courting and resettlement of former Nazis by the United States Government through a program that will cause consternation, shock and even anger in some readers.

The book begins as the German military collapses in defeat and allied forces are scouring Berlin and other parts of Germany on intelligence missions to discover the secrets of the Reich.  Britain and Russia are also conducting their own intelligence missions and a race against time develops as the three nations each seek to obtain as much information as they can from their defeated enemy.   As the author explains, the Cold War was looming in the distance and in the name of “national security”, government officials were more than willing to recruit former Nazis out of fears they would be recruited and resettled in the Soviet Union.  The V-2 rocket and nerve agents Tabun and Sarin, became hot items as superpowers prepared for the next world war which they believed would include the use of biological weapons.  The United States spared no expense and would not let Joseph Stalin have the upper hand.  The brilliant German minds behind innovations that exceeded allied capacity were to be recruited at all costs, even at the expense of morality.  Annie Jacobsen has captured the emotion and tense battles that raged as the State Department battled the military over a program that it found to be appalling.  The American public slowly became aware of this nefarious program and mounting opposition forced the Government to act in what could described as a war against itself.

The main focus is rightly on the secret intelligence operation but the author also includes a stead stream of facts about other members of the Reich and actions that were being taken behind the scenes throughout Germany as the tide of the war changed and defeat became a stark reality.  The entire cast of characters makes an appearance in the story. Some would escape Germany, fleeing to South America and others took their own lives rather than be tried, convicted and executed in a military trial.  Before the collapse of the Reich, officials went to great lengths to hide as much information as possible from the allied forces.  Today there is a strong possibility that secret tombs exist containing secrets of the Reich are still hidden across Germany.  Time will tell if all of them will be discovered or if they will continue to fade from public consciousness.

The amount of research that was conducted in order to produce this book is staggering.  Yet, there is still much we do not know about Operation paperclip as the Government claims files were lost or destroyed.  Some are still classified with no release date on the horizon.  At some point in time, someone will find out the truth about what truly did happened in the wake of World War II as America embraced German talent.  By then, anyone who participated in World War II will be long gone, rendering any type of prosecution or accountability null.  But the public will finally know just how complicit American officials and the White House were in recruiting war criminals for the technological advancement of the United States.  Jacobsen has given us a detailed roadmap with which to start and this book will undoubtedly stand the test of times as one of the finest works on the Third Reich.  My only complaint about this book is that I wished it had never ended.  I found myself glued to the book from the beginning and was unable to put it down.  The is the true story of Operation Paperclip, one of World War II’s darkest secrets.

ASIN: B00BAXFBI