What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is Declassified. Today, we examine a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record concerning the authorization of covert operations in January nineteen-fifty. This document is available on documents two dot the black vault dot com. This document was released under a Freedom of Information Act request to the Central Intelligence Agency. The original date of release is unknown, but it was declassified by an interagency review board. The document is a cable from the Director of Central Intelligence to several commands including Headquarters, Far East Command, and Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base. It is dated January tenth, nineteen-fifty. The cable states: “Decision of National Security Council assigns responsibilities to Director of Central Intelligence for planning and preparing for conduct of war game covert operations in coordination with Joint Chiefs of Staff. Joint Chiefs of Staff have authorized Director of Central Intelligence to provide liaison to your command in order that C-I-A plans for special operations may be coordinated to meet your operational requirements. This liaison will be effected only if you have such requirement and express desire to have it effected. For your information, special operations include any covert operations related to: Propaganda; economic warfare; preventive direct action, including sabotage, anti-sabotage, demolition and evacuation measures; subversion against hostile states, including assistance to underground resistance movements, guerrillas, and refugee liberation groups; and supporting indigenous anti-Communist elements in threatened countries of free world. Commanders are directed to limit distribution of this information to personnel who must know its contents.” The document is marked "Top Secret." This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. Find this document and more at storyflo dot com, at archive dot org forward slash download forward slash U-S-dash-China-dash-intel-C-I-zero-zero-three-one-two.

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

Case File · ARCHIVE-005Declassified

Filed NOV 12 · 2026Runtime 1 min

Today, We Examine A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated November 12, 2026

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◆ BLUF — The short version

This is Declassified. Today, we examine a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record concerning the authorization of covert operations in January nineteen-fifty. This document is available on documents two dot the black vault dot com. This document was released under a Freedom of Information Act request to the Central Intelligence Agency.

Date: NOV 12 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was Today, We Examine A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record about?: This is Declassified. Today, we examine a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record concerning the authorization of covert operations in January nineteen-fifty. This document is available on documents two dot the black vault dot com. This document was released under a Freedom of Information Act request to the Central Intelligence Agency.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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