DOD, Intel Agencies Look at Russian Mind Control Technology; FBI Considered Testing on Koresh

Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000500560005-7

#t DOD, Intel Agencies Look at Russian Mind Control Technology, Claims
FBI Considered Testing on Koresh.

ederal law enforcement
Hetteat considered

testing a Russian scien-
tist’s acoustic mind control de-
vice on cultist David Koresh a
few weeks before the fiery
conflagration ‘that killed the
Branch Davidian leader and
more than 70 of his followers
in Waco, Texas, Defense Elec-
tronics has leamed.

In a series of closed meet-
ings beginning March.17 in
suburban Northern Virginia
with Dr. Igor Smirnoviof the
Moscow Medical Academy,
FBI officials were briefed on
the Russian's decade-long ré-
search on a computerized

vice in Waco, he said,

“They wanted the Russians
to promise zero risk” in using
the device on Koresh, but the
Russians wouldn’t do that,”
the participant said. Another
obstacle was the fact Smimov
had only brought “entry-level

equipment” and more sophisti-

had to be rushed over from

Russia before the device could

>.

be used in an attempt to end

the standoff in Texas.

As a result, Koresh and his
band were not used as test sub-
jects for a demonstration of a
technology developed under

cated hardware would have '

versions of the device may
still be in the Russian military
inventory, and they expressed
fear during the meetings that

the technology could be ex-
ported to Third World nations

via the growing black market
-in military equipment from
.the formér. Soviet Union, he
said. ae

The main pur ois the
March me as de-

Dr. Nakamura could not be
redched for comment, but he
was described in the Psy-
chotechnologies memo as
being “familiar with U.S.
patents” in the area and that
“the Russians seemed to have
solved” mathematical prob-
lems “which had prevented
development of U.S. work be-

Dr. Green said through a

scribed in ‘the Psychotech-
nologies: memo“as to. “deter-
mine whether. psycho-correc-
tion technologies represent a
present or future threat to

U.S. national security in situ-

ithe former Soviet Union and

acoustic device allegedly ca-

_pable of implanting thoughts

apparently used against civil-

( jians in Seppe which is
. defense and in-

in a person's mind without/ why the U"

that person being aware of the

telligence communities were

source of the thought.

“It was suggested to us [by
other federal officials] that
they bring in the FBI, which
was looking for a viable op
tion to deal with Koresh,” said
a source who participated in
the Smirnov meetings who
agreed to discuss ‘the gather-

well-represented in the March
meetings in Virginia.
“There was a strong interest

among the intelligence agen-

ies because they had been
tracking Sinimov for years,”
the participant said, “and be-
cause we know there is evi-
dence the Soviet Army’s Spe-

ings only on condition of/? cial Forces used the technolo-

anonymity.

His account of the meetings
was confirmed by an execu-
tive summary memorandum
prepared by officials of Psy-

“gy during the conflict in

Afghanistan.”
Alcohol and drug abuse

among Red Army soldiers was |

so pervasive during the

chotechnologies Corp., a Rich- Afghan war that Soviet offi-’ :
mond, Virginia, based sim (Oats relied upon the technolo-

that owns the American right

gy in preparing troops for mis-

to the Russian technology. A

sions involving atrocities

ations where inaudible com-
mands might be used to alter
behavior.” .

The memo went on to note
that meeting attendees were
also interested in whether

“psycho-correction detection.

‘GM spokesmaa that he attend-

ed the Sraimev briefings in his
capacity as a mernber of a Na-
tional Academy of Sciences
(NAS) panel on Z1st Century
Amny tecdnologies. “This has
ho connection to anything
being done by GM,” the
spokesman said.

don’t have enough details yet

to really appraise it,” Dr.
‘owler Jones of University of

decoding and counter-mea-
sures pro -
dertaken by the ULS.” An ef-
fective psycho-correction de-
vice could be a military threat,
the memorandum continued,
if it were deployed to “nega-
tively affect morale of U.S.
troops in combat” or to “affect
judgement or opinions of de-
cision-makers, key personnel
or populaces” in a conflict.
Further, the memo said De-
partment of Defense (DOD
officials were concemed that
the technology could be used

in the protection of U.S. em-

copy Of the Psychotechnofo-_

against civilians,

pies summary, which has been
circulated among U.S. intelli-
gence executives, was ob-

tained by DE.

The Psychotechnologies

memo described the standoff

between federal agents and
Koresh in Waco as “an on-
going domestic hostage situa-
tion.”

After several meetings with
Smirnov, FBI officials, who
repeatedly expressed fears

describing requirements and
procedures for using the de-

during the discussions that Ko-

Officials from the Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA),
Defense Intelligence Agency
(DIA) and the Advance Re-
search Projects Agency
(ARPA) were also present, ac-
cording to the source. Spokes-
men for thase agencies did not
return a reporter’s telephone
calls seeking to confirm
whether individuals from their
organizations attended the
Smimov meetings.

Because the U.S. has nO.,.;
known counter-measuré to ‘the’

technology. intelligence com-
munity and ARP ici

are concemed that weaponized

bassies, military training and
in non-violently “clearing
areas of potential enemies,

snipers, etc.”
on-milltary participants

were also included in the
Smimmov meetings in Virginia,
as well as a series of subse-
quent briefings by the two
‘Russians at the University of
Kansas*Medical Center in
Topeka. The, non-military at-

tendees included Dr. Richard

Nakamura of the National In-
*Mental. Health and
torof General Motors Corp.
(GM) biomedical research de-

partment in Detroit.

“Kansas Medical Center's psy-
chology division told DE, “It
was really more of a presenta-
tion than an actual demonstra-
tion because, unfortunately. a
lot of the software we
couldn't get going.” Jones
said he and his colleagues at
the Kansas facility are look-
ing for funding sources for re-
search to determine whether
the Russian psycho-correction
technology can be used in
treating alcoholism and other
addictions.

The Psychotechnologies
memo described an agreement
company officials entered into
with Smirnov in March in
which “the Russian side
agreed to commit the psycho-
correction technologies still in
Russia and all related know-
how to the U.S. company in
exchange for stock. The Russ-
ian side has agreed to provide
all support necessary to recre-
ate current [psycho-correction]
capability in the U.S. and to
upgrade the capability using
U.S. components and comput-
er programmers. All necessary
developmental and existing al-
gorithms will be provided by
the Russian side.”

— By Mark Tapscatt

~ DEFENSE ELECTRONICS JULY 1993 17


ederal law enforcement
Petes considered

testing a Russian scien-
tist’s acoustic mind control de-
vice on cultist David Koresh a
few weeks before the fiery
conflagration ‘that killed the
Branch Davidian leader and
more than 70 of bis followers
in Waco, Texas, Defense Elec-
tronics has learned,

In a series of closed .meet-
ings beginning March:17 in
suburban Northern Virginia
with Dr. Igor Smimov:‘of the
Moscow Medical Academy,
FBI officiais were briefed on
the Russian’s decade-long re-
search on a computerized

vice in Waco, he said.

“They wanted the Russians
to promise zero risk” in using
the device on Koresh, but the
Russians wouldn’t do that,”
the participant said. Another
obstacle was the fact Smirmov
had only brought “entry-level

equipment” and more sophisti-

cated hardware would have ©

had to be rushed over from

Russia before the device could
be used in an attempt to end
the standoff in Texas.

As a result, Koresh and his
band were not used as test sub-

jects for a demonstration of a

technology developed under

versions of the device may

still be in the Russian military

inventory, and they expressed
fear during the meetings that

the technology could be ex-
ported to Third World nations

via the growing black market
in military equipment from
the former Soviet Union, he
said. 2}
The main purpose Of the

scribed in*the Psychotech-

nologies memo’as to “deter-

mine whether. psycho-correc-
tion technologies represent a

present or. future threat 10
U. S: national security in situ-

the former Soviet Union and

acoustic device allegedly ca-
_pable of implanting thoughts

apparently used against civil-

Pi i gh (5 jians in Afphanistan. which is
in a person's mind withoutC/ why the"U"S. defense and in-

that person being aware of the

telligence communities were

_source of the thought.

“It was suggested to us {by
other federal officials] that
they bring in the FBI, which
was looking for a viable op
tion to deal with Koresh,” said
. ;| a source who participated in
j “| the Smirnov meetings who
; agreed to discuss the gather-

well-represented im the March
meetings in Virginia.
“There was 4 strong interest
among the intelligence agen-
ies because they had been
: ‘ ——
tracking Smimov for years,

the participant said, “and be-

cause we know there is evi-
7 +

dence the Soviet Army's Spe-

tal Forces used the technolo-

anonymity.

His account of the meetings
was confirmed by an execu-
tive summary memorandum
prepared by officials of Psy-
chotechnologiés Corp., a Rich-
mond, Virginia, based firm

ings only on condition of,

“gy during the conflict _in

Afghanistan.”
Alcohol and drug abuse

among Red Army soldiers was
so pervasive during the

Afghan war that Soviet offi-’

cials relied upon the technolo-

that owns the American rights!

‘gy in preparing troops for mis-

to the Russian technology. A

sions involving atrocities

“sures pro

ations where inaudible com-
mands might be used to alter
behavior.” ~~

The memo went on to note
that meeting attendees were
“psycho-correction detection.
decoding and counter-mea-

jn-
dertaken by the ULS.” An ef-

fective psycho-correction de-
vice could be a military threat,
the memorandum continued,
if it were deployed to “nega-
tively affect morale of U.S.
troops in combat” or to “affect
judgement or opinions of de-
cision-makers, key personnel
or populaces” in a conflict.

: Further, the memo said De-

artment_ of Defense (ROD)
ffigals were concemed that
the technology could be used

‘in the protection of U.S. em-

‘copy _of the Psychotechnolo-

against civilians.

gies suramary, which has been
- circulated among U.S. intelli-
gence executives, was ob-

tained by DE.
The Psychotechnologies

between federal agents and
Koresh in Waco as “an on-
i going domestic hostage situa-
tion.”

After several meetings with
Smirnov, FBI officials, who
repeatedly expressed fears
during the discussions that Ko-
resh and his’ followers. were
suicidal, asked for a proposal
describing requirements and
procedures for using the de-

memo described the standoff

Officials from the Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA),
Defense Intelligence Agency
(DIA) and the Advance Re-
search Projects Agency
(ARPA) were also present, ac-
cording to the source. Spokes-
men for those agencies did not
return a reporter’s telephone
calls seeking to confirm
whether individuals from their
organizations attended the
Smimov meetings.

Because the U.S. has no.

known counter-measure to the

technology. intelligence com-"
munity and ARP

are concerned that weaponized |

bassies, military training and

in non-violently “clearins

areas of potential enemies,

snipers, etc.”
Non-military participants

were also included in the
Smirnov meetings in Virginia,
as well as a series of subse-
quent briefings by the two
Russians at the University of
‘Kansas Medical Center in
Topeka.:The non-military at-
tendees included Dr. Richard
Nakamura of the National In-

titute of Mental Health and

pher Green, direc-

or of General Motors Corp.
(GM) biomedical research de-

partment in Detroit.

LC*INTLERCEPTS |

Approved For Release 2000/08/11 : CIA-RDP96-00792R000500560005-7

mi DOD, Intel Agencies Look at Russian Mind Control Technology, Claims
FBI Considered Testing on Koresh.

Dr. Nakamura could not be
redthed for comment, but he
was described in the Psy-
chotechnologies memo as
being “familiar with U.S.
patents” in the area and that
“the Russians seemed to have
solved” ical_prob-
lems “which had prevented
development of U.S. work be-

_yond basic stages.”

Dr. Green said through a

GM spokesmas that he attend-

ed the Sminsev briefings in his
capacity as a member of a Na-
tional Acadeiny of Sciences
(NAS) pane! on Zist Century
Amny tecanologies. “This has
no connection to anything
being done by GM,” the
spokesman said.

“It looks promising. but we
don’t have enough details yet
to really appraise it,” Dr.
Fowler Jones of Universtiy of

ansas Medical Center’s psy-
chology division told DE. “It
was really more of a presenta-
tion than an actual demonstra-
tion because, unfortunately. a
lot of the software we
couldn't get going.” Jones
said he and his colleagues at
the Kansas facility are look-
ing for funding sources for re-
search to determine whether
the Russian psycho-correction
technology can be used in
treating alcoholism and other
addictions.

The Psychotechnologies
memo described an agreement
company officials entered into
with Smirnov ia March in
which “the Russian side
agreed to commit the psycho-
correction technologies still in
Russia and all related know-
how to the U.S. company in
exchange for stock. The Russ-
ian side has agreed to provide
all support necessary to recre-
ate current [psycho-correction]
capability in the U.S. and to
upgrade the capability using
U.S. components and comput-
er programmers, All necessary
developmental and existing al-
gorithms will be provided by
the Russian side.”

— By Mark Tapscott

DEFENSE ELECTRONICS JULY 1993 17