Ep 4. MK-Ultra Revealed
- May 5, 2022
- 42 min
The show Forbidden History takes a look at some of the world's biggest mysteries and uncovers hidden stories and long-held secrets. In season 7, episode 4, titled "MK-Ultra Revealed," the show delves into a controversial and dark chapter in American history.
The episode revolves around the CIA's infamous mind control program called MK-Ultra. The program was initiated in the 1950s during the Cold War, with the aim of finding a truth serum and a technique to control people's minds. It remained a secret for nearly two decades and was only revealed to the public in the 1970s. The program was hugely controversial and led to a public outcry about the ethical implications of using mind control techniques on unwitting individuals.
The show begins with an overview of the program, before revealing some of the horrifying and shocking ways in which it was used. Interviews with experts in psychology, history, and science help to provide context and insight into the motives behind the project. The program was not only unethical but also largely unsuccessful, with most of its experiments yielding no significant results.
The first segment looks at the program's early years, during which it was led by Dr. Sidney Gottlieb, a chemist and spy. He oversaw the development of drugs such as LSD and experimented with their use on unwitting individuals, including prisoners and mental patients. The show explores how these experiments were conducted and the devastating effects they had on those involved.
The second segment focuses on the program's connection to the counterculture movement of the 1960s. The CIA saw the movement as a potential threat to national security and aimed to use mind control techniques to neutralize it. The show examines some of the ways in which the program was used to infiltrate and disrupt anti-war and civil rights movements, including the assassination of prominent leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr.
The final segment takes a look at the aftermath of the program's exposure to the public. The show explores how the revelations changed public perception of the CIA and the US government. It also examines the long-term effects of the experiments on those who were participants, including the lasting psychological damage that many suffered.
Overall, "MK-Ultra Revealed" is a dark and thought-provoking episode that sheds light on one of the US government's most controversial and unethical programs. It raises important questions about the role of government and ethics in scientific research and leaves viewers with a greater understanding of the dangers of unchecked power and secrecy.